PCGamesN Friday, December 29, 2023 1:08 PM  Get your hands on a brilliantly quirky indie puzzler that's only hit the Epic Games Store today. Snakebird Complete resembles an odd blend of Angry Birds and Snake and while it's easy to get into it's surprisingly hard to put down. It's today's EGS giveaway so if you're fast off the mark, you can get it absolutely free. Continue reading Brand-new 9/10 puzzle game is free to keep forever if you're fast |
PCGamesN Friday, December 29, 2023 12:00 PM  It's the year 2123. Half-Life 3 still isn't out yet. In a dark, dusty server farm, two explorers finally break through the wall to the inner chamber. Flashlights dance across strange hieroglyphics, ancient messages etched into the whiteboard - "Dead Space Remake is fire," "I totally ship Astarion and Gale," "lol how mid is Starfield?" Buried amid these decrepit slabs of black plastic and SSD trays, forgotten, forsaken videogames of a bygone empire. Once, they were adored by millions of people. Now, they are abandoned, left to rot in the Steam libraries of gamers past. It might be hard to imagine, a world where Baldur's Gate 3 and Counter-Strike 2 have become but relics. Time, however, is a brutal monarch. Even the best games are eventually left with zero players. Continue reading The best Steam games that have literally zero players MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dear Esther system requirements |
PCGamesN Friday, December 29, 2023 11:35 AM  Shadows of Doubt, shortlisted for this year's Steam Awards, is a sandbox detective sim that gives you a whole town's worth of crimes to solve. Or, if you'd prefer, you can go on the rampage through this procedurally generated, noir-style world. Either way, it's 20% off on Steam and it's not to be missed. Continue reading This Steam Award sandbox detective sim is 20% off in the Winter Sale MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best detective games, The best open-world games, The best indie games |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 29, 2023 1:00 PM  And thus, we arrive at the end of another year. A year filled with some very excellent games, and some very not excellent games. And through it all, the RPS guides team has been quietly toiling away, appeasing The Beast That Is Google with medium-rare slabs of SEO meat, and providing the answers to oft-asked gaming questions. It's important to me to have a moment in the year where we can step into the light for a little bit and celebrate everything the guides team has accomplished this year. Usually we stay well out of the spotlight, because people only like seeing guides if they're actively searching for it. But today, we're staging a coup. We're taking centre stage, and threatening the lighting technician with all manner of disagreeable bodily experiences unless they keep the spotlight fixed firmly on us for the duration of this post. 2023 has been an amazing standout year for guides. Let's take a look at the games that have defined the year for us, and celebrate some of the fantastic work our team has published. |
Siliconera Friday, December 29, 2023 5:00 PM
Shueisha announced that the release date for their combined Weekly Shonen Jump 6/7 Issue will be delayed in certain regions in Japan. The combined issue is scheduled to be released on January 6, 2024, but will be released later in select regions due to distribution issues. [Thanks, Game Watch!]
The following regions and prefectures will receive shipments of the Weekly Shonen Jump 6/7 Issue on January 8, 2023:
Okinawa Prefecture will receive shipments of the Weekly Shounen Jump 6/7 Issue on January 10, 2024. The social media post announcing the delay for the above-listed regions can be viewed below:
Weekly Shonen Jump is a weekly manga anthology which is published in Japan by Shueisha under the Jump magazine imprint. The anthology has been running since 1968 and has featured popular manga series like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Naruto, Bleach, Dragon Ball, and more.
The current series actively running in Weekly Shonen Jump include One Piece, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, Mission: Yozakura Family, Undead Unluck, Me & Roboco, Sakamoto Days, The Elusive Samurai, Witch Watch, Blue Box, Akane-banashi, Cipher Academy, Kill Blue, Nue's Exorcist, Martial Master Asumi, MamaYuYu, Kagurabachi, Two on Ice, Green Green Greens, and Shadow Eliminators.
The anthology costs ¥300 (~$2 USD), and the combined 6/7 Issue will be released on January 6, 2023, in some regions of Japan.
The post Weekly Shonen Jump 2024 6/7 Issue Will Be Delayed In Some Regions appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 29, 2023 5:00 PM
The official Pokemon YouTube account shared a brand new Pokemon short called The Adventures of Snorlax & Cubone. The new episode is a compilation of four shorts that were initially released on social media and focused on the growing friendship of Cubone and Snorlax.
The animation is part of a larger campaign called Project Snorlax, which focuses on merchandise, comics, animations, and other promotional materials highlighting Snorlax. Directed, storyboarded, and written by Yoshimitsu Saito (visual effects on Transformers: War For Cybertron Trilogy, Resident Evil Zero), The Adventures of Snorlax & Cubone shows the growing friendship of Cubone and Snorlax across the four seasons.
The beginning of the short shows Cubone crying alone under a full moon during the summer when suddenly a bunch of mushrooms begin to glow under the moon's light. Cubone is drawn into the forest, where more glowing spores float around, and the Pokemon stumbles across Snorlax, who is eating piles of glowing mushrooms. This interaction begins their unlikely friendship and shows how they start to care for each other.
The animated Pokemon short can be viewed below:
The animation studio behind The Adventures of Snorlax & Cubone is Polygon Pictures. This Japan-based 3DCG company has worked on highly acclaimed properties, including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Resistance, Love, Death & Robots, and Tron: Uprising. The studio also works on the 2024 Marvel Studios animated Disney+ series, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.
The post Pokemon Friendships Grow in the Adventures of Snorlax & Cubone appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 29, 2023 4:30 PM
Square Enix is bringing back FFXIV Heavensturn's 2023 items just ahead of their annual New Year's event, which begins on December 31, 2023. Players can purchase the Heavensturn Domaru attire and Crane Banner from the Final Fantasy XIV Online Store.
The Heavensturn Attire pack comes with the Heavensturn Domaru, Heavensturn Kote, Heavensturn Haidate, and Heavensturn Sune-ate, costing $5 USD. Square Enix describes this pack as a stylish set of armor made to commemorate Heavensturn in-game and serve as gear fit for adventuring. The armor comes in red and gold but can be dyed into alternate colors.
Images of the pack when worn can be viewed below:
The Authentic Heavensturn Crane Banner is a furnishing item for a house in FFXIV and features a bright, colorful crane design to bring luck to players for the new year. The Crane Banner costs $5 USD. Images of the banner when placed in a house can be viewed below:
FFXIV's Heavensturn 2024 event will allow players to complete the event quest "To Be a Mascot" by speaking to Ryu Metsuke in the Upper Decks of Limsa Lominsa. Upon completing the event quest, players will be rewarded with Ryunosuke, a Chocobo hatchling minion dressed in a small little dragon outfit. This chocobo hatchling minion is perfect to accompany players during the Year of the Dragon. For any players who are interested in obtaining the minion, the quest will only be available until January 15, 2024.
Players will also be able to have their fortunes told by purchasing an omikuji for 100 gil from the Far Eastern Omikujishi as part of the Heavensturn 2024 celebrations in the game. FFXIV's Heavensturn event begins December 31, 2023 and will run through to January 15, 2024. Players can purchase last year's event outfit and banner right now.
Final Fantasy XIV can be played on PS4, PS5, and PC.
The post FFXIV Heavensturn 2023 Items Return Before 2024 New Year Event appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 29, 2023 4:00 PM
Movic will release two Psycho-Pass replica watches based on the Wristlink from the anime series as part of its 10th-anniversary celebration. The Psycho-Pass replica watches will be available for pre-order until January 31, 2024, and are set to release on May 3, 2024. [Thanks, PR Times!] The two Psycho-Pass replica watches are designed off of the Wristlink found in the anime series, so the face of the watch is meant to give the impression that a hologram could appear. The wristband of the watches can stretch, allowing fans to wear the watch over the sleeve of their clothing or against their skin. The Psycho-Pass replica watches come in two styles: the Supervisor version and the Executive Officer version. The Supervisor version of the Psycho-Pass replica watch features a sleek silver design with a matte texture. It comes with a single chronograph that measures seconds. The Executive officer version of the Psycho-Pass replica watch features a glossy black design that gives off the vibes of a handcuff. It has a simple watch face with hour, minute, and second hands. Each watch will come packed inside a box with the logo of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Public Safety Bureau stamped in foil on the top. Images of the watches can be viewed below: [gallery columns="2" size="full" link="file" ids="1004723,1004724,1004725,1004726,1004727,1004728,1004729,1004730,1004731,1004732"] The Psycho-Pass replica watches are made-to-order for every customer who orders one, but additional watches may be sold after production. The watches can be pre-ordered from Animate stores in Japan, Animate Online Shop, and directly from Movic. The watches will cost ¥19,800 (~$140 USD). The post Psycho-Pass Replica Watch Will Make You Want a Wristlink appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 29, 2023 3:00 PM
After a week of PlayStation, Switch, Xbox and PC awards, we're finally here: Siliconera's Game of the Year 2023. Will a platform champ take the crown, or is there a shot for a surprise winner? There's only one way to find out. Come on, scroll down a little bit and see.
These awards represent the consensus of the Siliconera staff. For more of the year's award selections, check out our Game of the Year 2023 archive.
Honkai: Star Rail
Genshin Impact developer HoYoVerse tried its hand at a more traditional JRPG experience with Honkai: Star Rail, and the result exceeded our expectations. It may not have Genshin's fun exploration or interconnected world, but it turns out that the team's truly stellar writing and characterization can carry a game on its own.
Baldur's Gate III
Baldur's Gate III walks a fine line between nostalgia and modernity, not afraid to do things its own way when it serves the game well to do so but ultimately delivering a game that feels within the lineage of the first two games. It's fun with friends and as a collective stream experience, but without sacrificing the enjoyment of quietly playing on your own. But honestly, if we're the first ones telling you about Baldur's Gate III, we'd be surprised.
Siliconera Overall Game of the Year Winner: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
In a year of great games, Tears of the Kingdom earns our Game of the Year 2023 selection by being truly transcendent. The game reaching "new heights" is clearly an indulgent pun and we're absolutely guilty of considering that, but TotK undeniably gets where it does through the luxury of building on its predecessor. The new power suite changes the player's verbs enough that it doesn't feel redundant, and Breath of the Wild's world-building made many players want to return and see how that Hyrule is faring these days. It stands tall on the shoulders of giants, and we all benefit from the view.
The post Siliconera's Overall Game of the Year 2023 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 29, 2023 1:00 PM
All five Vtuber group Hololive English Advent members will receive new outfits for the 2024 new year. Their new outfits will be themed after the New Year's celebration and will debut on each member's official YouTube channel. The announcement revealing the decision for Hololive English Advent to receive New Year's outfits was posted on the official Hololive English Twitter (X) account. A teaser video showcasing each new style's silhouettes was released, along with the dates and times for each reveal stream. Each stream is scheduled to go live on January 1, 2024. See the official announcement and teaser video in the post below: [embed]https://twitter.com/hololive_en/status/1740583446140027322[/embed] Here is the complete schedule for Hololive English Advent's New Year's outfit streams:
The members of Hololive English Advent will receive their new New Year's styles on January 1, 2024. The post Hololive English Advent Gets New Year's Outfits appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 29, 2023 12:30 PM
Ahead of the official launch of Zenless Zone Zero, HoYoVerse has shared some wallpapers of the various factions from the game. They are all only available in one resolution.
According to a post shared on Twitter (X), this is to alleviate players' longing for New Eridu. Now that the Equalizing Test server shut down, not even the beta testers can get their hack 'n' slash fix. In total, there are five wallpapers to download, and you can check them out here:
In the Belobog picture, you can see Anton, Ben, Grace, and Koleda. This is an industrial group that mostly focuses on infrastructure and construction machinery within Hollows, and they're eager to regain their previous social standing. The Random Play picture shows the male and female Proxies, which are the main characters you play as. Victoria Housekeeping shows Corrin, Ellen, Lycaon, and Rina. They're able to clean homes and Hollows alike. The Gentle House (Cunning Hares) picture has Nicole, Billy, Nekomata, and Anby. This is the first faction you see in Zenless Zone Zero. Finally, Miyabi and Soukaku star in the Section 6 wallpaper.
Zenless Zone Zero is an upcoming gacha action game from HoYoVerse of Honkai Impact 3rd and Genshin Impact fame. You play as a Proxy in New Eridu, who works as an independent contractor in helping navigate people in Hollows. The world has a futuristic but modern aesthetic, with plot devices like a mysterious AI.
Zenless Zone Zero is in development for mobile devices, Windows PC, and unspecified consoles.
The post Zenless Zone Zero Wallpapers Shared Ahead of Release Date appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 29, 2023 12:00 PM
The Final Fantasy series isn't a stranger to sequels, as Final Fantasy X, VII, and XIII each received numerous follow-up entries in their respective franchises. Here are the Final Fantasy games we would like to see get sequels.
Final Fantasy games that deserve sequels
While some of the Final Fantasy games in this list do officially have sequels, it'd be nice to see more entries in these individual series. You can check out our small but compact list of FF games we'd love to see sequels, or more entries for, below.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
While Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles has a sequel and several games set within this franchise, it'd be great to see the series continue. However, with how the Crystal Chronicles Remastered rolled out, it doesn't seem like we'll get another entry anytime soon.
That said, a man can dream, and if Square Enix rolled out another multiplayer game in the vein of the original, it could probably be a big hit! Playing games together with friends is easier than ever, and who doesn't like to do a little bit of dungeon crawling and caravan wrangling as a group?
Dissidia Final Fantasy
With Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia coming to a halt and NT having no new content updates, it seems like Dissidia's time is over. But Square Enix could use this as an opportunity to reboot the series as a new kind of fighter.
The sequel could even be an Action-RPG where players get to play as their favorite Final Fantasy protagonists in a narrative set in the Dissidia universe. I'd be up for anything at this point, so long as it isn't an egregiously monetized mobile game, just to see the series live on.
Final Fantasy Tactics (Advance)
It's been a hot second since Square Enix has released a tactics-focused Final Fantasy game that isn't on mobile devices. Final Fantasy Tactics deserves another day in the sun, especially the Advanced series. Full of fun, strategic combat, and really well-written narratives, it'd be great to see Square Enix revisit this series to give new and old fans a taste of just how good these games were.
Final Fantasy Origin: Stranger of Paradise
Yes, Final Fantasy Origin: Stranger of Paradise is more or less a prequel game with a story that ends everything neatly. But the game was just so good, and Jack was such a fantastic character it would be great to see more of him in another story.
Given the way that Final Fantasy VII Remake went under Nomura's supervision, it wouldn't be out of pocket to see Stranger of Paradise take a similar route (which I won't share because of obvious spoilers), assuming this action-focused entry in the franchise got a sequel. Which it totally should.
Theatrhythm
Final Bar Line was definitely one of the best rhythm games I've played in a long time, and it's sad to see the series more or less come to a close. While it doesn't have a unique story, its RPG mechanics melded with so many unique ways to present rhythm-focused gameplay makes it a stand-out in both genres it occupies. These games are also a great way to showcase just how incredible the music in the Final Fantasy series is, outside of being loads of fun.
The post Final Fantasy Games That Deserve Sequels appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 29, 2023 11:30 AM
Yuffie will appear as a boss in Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis as part of the The Wily Hunter event. It'll start on January 1, 2024, at 12:00 AM JST.
For reference, 12:00 AM JST in Japan would be 7:00 AM PT/10:00 AM ET. It would also be on December 31, 2023, rather than January 1, 2024. So Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis players overseas will, technically speaking, be able to access this content while it's still 2023.
There is a short trailer for the Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis The Wily Hunter event, with Yuffie making a brief appearance. You can watch it here:
In it, the main party expresses awe at the New Year's decorations. Yuffie appears a bit later, talking about what looks like a piece of paper that calligraphers typically write on. There is a brief shot of her in 3D wielding her signature shuriken before the scene ends. Cloud also appears in a new outfit, holding a more traditional katana and wearing an outfit inspired by Japanese aesthetics. More information on the event will appear in the near future.
Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis first came out in September 2023 for mobile devices and in early December 2023 for the Windows PC. It is a retelling of the 1997 version of Final Fantasy VII, as well as all of the titles from the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII. It also uses a more traditional ATB system compared to the remake version of the game.
Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is readily available on Windows PC and mobile devices.
The post Yuffie Will Appear in FFVII Ever Crisis For New Year appeared first on Siliconera. |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, December 29, 2023 5:00 PM  Epic Games has a whole bunch of free games for you to try out and indulge in. I am prone to succumbing to the call of free games thanks to my mobile gaming origins, so overqualified to advise you on the best free games out there. The Best Epic Games Free Games for you to try Below is a list of the best free games that can be found on Epic Games for you to try out. Considering the invisible price tag, there's no reason why you shouldn't try them all out. It'll be easy to convince your friends, also, and they'll have no excuse not to give your recommendations a go, this time. This list isn't ranked, as these games cover all manner of tastes. These are simply the best ones from any genre available on Epic Games. So peruse the list and pick a game, any game. Fortnite Image: Epic Games I know what you're probably thinking. Either you either love the game or renounce it, I get it. I was in the renounce camp as I ... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, December 29, 2023 12:00 PM  World of Warcraft is, without a doubt, the world's most renowned MMORPG. It has transcended the medium over the years and the universe its players have been able to explore has only gotten bigger. Blizzard has given us some memorable moments and gorgeous lands to explore over the years. So, we're going to rank over some of the best WoW expansions below. World of Warcraft Top 5 Expansions Ranked WoW is nearing its 20th anniversary, and with the upcoming World Soul saga announced during Blizzcon 2023, there is no better time to look into the rearview and think about some of the best times within the game. From vanilla World of Warcraft to diving into The Maw and experiencing all that Shadowlands had to offer, players have been through it all within Warcraft, good and bad. However, these expansions are among the best the series has produced due to numerous factors such as end-game pillars, story, and the overall world. We're s... |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 29, 2023 5:37 PM "It's still an active project" The post A New Banjo-Kazooie Game Is Reportedly An "Active Project" appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 29, 2023 4:05 PM According to Jeff Grubb. The post Marvel's Blade is Reportedly Expected to Launch Sometime in 2027 appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 29, 2023 3:17 PM A new rating for the Switch port The post Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Gets ESRB Rating appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 29, 2023 2:29 PM Will be like the first-person survival horror game. The post Jurassic Park: Survival Will Reportedly Play Like Alien: Isolation appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Level Up Friday, December 29, 2023 12:00 PM With the year almost behind us, it's hard not to look back at 2023 with… |
Psycho-Pass began airing in Japan in 2012 and finished in 2013. The series is a psychological crime thriller set in a dystopian future where the citizens of Japan have their biometrics and psychological state monitored by a computer network called the Sibyl System, allowing the Public Safety Bureau to apprehend people who may potentially commit a crime.
Psycho-Pass: Providence, the latest movie entry to the anime series, was released in Japan on May 12, 2023, and in North America on July 14, 2023. The Psycho-Pass replica watches will be released on May 3, 2024.