PCGamesN Monday, January 20, 2025 6:30 PM  We've already seen the brutal world of Mad Max realized in an open-world game, but what if those themes of survival and vehicular combat could emerge in a different form? Say, a top-down survival action game with RTS elements and a future sci-fi twist? Oh, would you look at that. Machine Mind has just been announced, and it fits that bill perfectly. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best strategy games, Best action games, Best survival games |
PCGamesN Monday, January 20, 2025 5:27 PM  With its satisfying card designs, gratifying multipliers, and occasionally stratospheric high scores, Balatro has cemented itself as one of the all-time great dark horse games. A single developer turning poker into a roguelike deckbuilder and taking the world by storm is a story for the ages, and as with all great successes, we may soon start to see a flurry of games that riff off of its concept. Well, here's one of the very first Balatro-likes, Aotenjo, which takes the popular game of mahjong and gives it that roguelike twist. It's just hit early access, and already players are singing its praises. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best card games, Best roguelike games, Best strategy games |
PCGamesN Monday, January 20, 2025 2:39 PM  Alongside the likes of Splinter Cell and Hitman, Assassin's Creed stands proudly as one of the most accomplished and popular stealth game series ever. Sure, there's been a couple of subpar AC games over the years, and there are more ways to play the more modern games than just parkour and sneaking. But Ubisoft's ol' reliable series is about to grow once again pretty soon with Assassin's Creed Shadows on the horizon, and in preparation, loads of past games in the series are dirt cheap at the moment on Steam. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPGs on PC, Best stealth games, Assassin's Creed Shadows release date |
PCGamesN Monday, January 20, 2025 1:28 PM  Settling down for a quiet evening of Command and Conquer back in the day was brilliant - well, it still is brilliant, in truth - but playing your friends or other random players online was where the RTS game really shone. It paved the way for competitive strategy games, and now you can (briefly) get a taste of that magic all over again with the new multiplayer demo for Tempest Rising, the upcoming strategy game that is as close to a new C&C game as you're going to get. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Tempest Rising announcement, The best RTS games, The best PC strategy games |
PCGamesN Monday, January 20, 2025 1:17 PM  Manor Lords continues to go from strength to strength. The medieval strategy game and city builder hybrid has been out in early access for almost a year now, and each update added is even more game-changing than the last. For developer Grzegorz 'Greg' Styczeń, these massive updates are a very conscious choice. So if you've been periodically coming back to Manor Lords with every huge update, that system is going to continue going forward. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Manor Lords early access review, Best strategy games, Manor Lords system requirements |
Siliconera Monday, January 20, 2025 6:35 PM
Pocketpair announced its future roadmap for Palworld, which will include a final boss and ending scenario. It also opened up a popularity poll in which you can vote for your favorite Pals in the Palworld. As a note, the implementation of a final boss and ending scenario does not mean that the game will end service in the planned future.
You can read all the details of the roadmap via the official X (Twitter) account for Palworld. To summarize it, though, future updates will bring co-op crossplay, world transfer for Pals, as well as new Pals and technologies. There will also be an in-game collaboration event with Terraria. Other things to expect from the new updates include adjustments, like improvements to world object placement and optimization.
As for the Palworld popularity poll, you can participate in it here. Each person can only vote once. When voting, you can choose as many Pals and faction leader as you want. However, right before you submit the poll, it'll ask you to narrow it down to three. These three Pals or faction leaders are the ones that'll ultimately count in the Palworld popularity poll. There's also a section in which you can fill out your demographic information, as well as send Pocketpair any feedback or requests you have.
Palworld is available on the PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and Windows PC. A macOS version of it will come out on February 7, 2025.
The post Here's the Palworld Future Roadmap and Popularity Poll appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, January 20, 2025 4:00 PM
91Act has added Hazama and Icey as new playable characters in BlazBlue Entropy Effect. The former is a BlazBlue series recurring character available via paid DLC, while the latter is a crossover guest accessible immediately to all players via the game's latest update patch.
The new patch comes with optional side quests that will unlock Icey as a playable Prototype character upon completion. 91Act has also added narrations for the new stages that take inspiration from the original game.
While the first post-launch DLC that added Rachel Alucard was available for free to players who purchased BlazBlue Entropy Effect early around its full release, all players must purchase the Hazama DLC pack separately. But even though the DLC pack is normally available at $4.99, players can purchase it with up to 32% discount within the first few days after release.
The first-anniversary update patch for BlazBlue Entropy Effect also includes a new original boss called Reki. In addition, 91Act brought in more features like LAN multiplayer, an even harder difficulty level called Transcendence Mode, and additional save slots for character Evotypes that are generated after finishing a playthrough.
91Act has uploaded a new launch trailer showcasing all the new content for BlazBlue Entropy Effect on the game's official YouTube channel:
BlazBlue Entropy Effect is available worldwide on PC via Steam.
The post Hazama and Icey Join BlazBlue Entropy Effect Roster appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, January 20, 2025 3:30 PM
For a limited time, HoYoVerse will offer daily login bonuses and rewards in Genshin Impact for the 2025 Lantern Rite. Rewards will include the usual of Primogems, Intertwined Fates, and more.
There are several promotions and campaigns in Genshin Impact for Lantern Rite, as it's the Teyvat equivalent of Lunar New Year, which is a major celebration in China. The first of them is Fortune's Coming, which will run from January 22 to February 11, 2025. In total, you will receive 10 Intertwined Fates, 80,000 Mora, 18 Mystic Enhancement Ores, and 8 Hero's Wit from this event. You can claim your rewards from the Fortune's Coming tab in the menu.
The second one is Old Memories, New Beginnings. Every day for five days, you'll receive four different types of rewards in your in-game mail. In total, you will receive:
The above rewards include Talent Books for Liyue characters, as well as five different dishes that they might eat at a Lantern Rite celebration.
The Lantern Rite this year will run from January 24 to February 9, 2025. In order to participate, you must reach Adventure Rank 20 and have finished the Archon Quest Prologue Act 3. While optional, HoYoVerse also suggests finishing Baizhu's and Hu Tao's Story Quests, and Archon Quest Chapter 5 Act 5. You'll also be able to claim a new outfit for Xiang Ling, as well as a free 4-star Liyue character. This includes Lan Yan, who will be a new character in the game.
Genshin Impact is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices.
The post Genshin Impact Lantern Rite 2025 Rewards Shared appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, January 20, 2025 3:00 PM
It's been years since the incarnation the Nikki series started with the mobile game Nikki UP2U, and although Infold cultivated a dedicated fanbase with the fashion anime-inspired titles, it never quite reached mainstream appeal. Each installment always entailed very linear gameplay, which is not inherently bad per se! But unless you're a massive fan of dressing up, there was not much else to do. That all changed with Infinity Nikki, as Infold went in a bold new direction and embraced an open-world environment that gives you so much freedom that it ironically turns one of its former weaknesses into its biggest strength.
There is so much to unpack with Infinity Nikki, but the story is a good place to start. For some background, this is technically a sequel to the previous title in the series Shining Nikki. However, if you've never experienced the series up to this point, no prior knowledge is needed to play. It is in an ideal position for newcomers. The story follows the pink-haired protagonist Nikki and her BBQ-fanatic feline companion Momo as they venture into the attic searching for the perfect outfit for an upcoming ball. While rummaging through the loft, they discover a gorgeous red dress hidden in the closet. Suddenly, before they can do anything, a mysterious force pulls them into a different world. They find themselves in an abandoned ruin. After wandering around the grounds, Nikki and Momo encounter a mysterious woman called the curator, who gives Nikki the Infinity Heart, an object that bestows special powers upon outfits. The curator then tasks Nikki with finding the Miracle Outfits in order to save the world.
The entire narrative encapsulates the feeling of an upbeat Studio Ghibli movie. Sure, there are a few cheesy scenes, but they add to the delightful and charming tone the game tries to achieve. I found it impossible not to have a goofy smile plastered across my face. Overall, the story is very enduring and kept my interest throughout. Nikki and Momo's dynamic is also downright adorable. It strangely reminds me a lot of Sakura and Kero from Cardcaptor Sakura. Of course, there are fundamental differences between the two, but the heroine is always the optimist, trying her best to help others, whereas the anamorphic animal companion has a sassy attitude and would have a good stab at trying to win an eating competition.
Infinity Nikki harbors a fantastic open world, and this is probably thanks to the Director Kentaro Tominaga, who previously worked on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It seamlessly blends fashion and RPG elements, almost like they are destined to go together like cereal and milk. In fact, the fashion elements can be seen in nearly every aspect of the gameplay, which is rather impressive. The most notable way this can be witnessed is by the outfits tied unique abilities unlocked via the Infinity Heart. Some of these powers will help you navigate the open-world environment, like floating in the air or purifying enemies (which is where you let out a blast to attack an enemy). This means every time you use a power, your outfit will momentarily change, which creates strong and distinctive imagery.
Other garments crafted by the Infinity Heart will allow you to participate in activities like fishing, catching bugs, and grooming animals. The resources you collect from these actions allow you to create new outfits and items, which will help you progress through the story. Think of it like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley. As you can imagine, this inevitably leads to many detours, but there is a nice flow between the storyline and gameplay that adds a novel brevity to these tasks. Honestly, collecting the materials for the outfits was probably my favourite part of the experience, as there was a cathartic repetition to it all.
Whether you're traversing the land or gathering resources, the core gameplay loop is downright fun. I can firsthand attest that it is easy to quickly lose track of time. One thing that is worth mentioning is some of the combat and platforming are super straightforward and, dare I say, easy. But on this occasion, this is not (entirely) a bad word. Infinity Nikki is clearly trying to attract a more casual audience, maybe individuals who are not traditionally into gaming, and this ties into the free-to-play model. Anyone can give it a go without any commitment or major barriers. Naturally, Infold is hoping to entice you with the paid gacha content later down the line. But if you put that to one side, Infinity Nikki nails this delicate line, and I would even go as far as to say that it would be an excellent first video game for someone.
The story in Infinity Nikki is divided into eight chapters so far, each featuring an array of quests to complete. You begin your fashionista journey in the charming town of Florawish, a picturesque and rustic settlement surrounded by lush greenery. After exploring the town, you can spread your wings and traverse the land. The real fun of exploring begins here, as the world is surprisingly vast. Just like the beautiful outfits, the landscapes are truly stunning. Some areas will be temporarily locked until you progress further in the story, but there is still a wealth of treasures for you to uncover and a strong incentive to explore, as you never know what you might discover. There is so much to do, like helping the locals, riding hot air balloons, and competing in fashion competitions, which are almost like mini dance-offs. You can easily get distracted from the main story and find yourself meandering through the world for several hours.
The fashion also helps you feel interconnected with the protagonist, as you can choose what clothes Nikki wears and customize her appearance. This can range from the basics like t-shirts, dresses and shoes. But you can also edit minor details, like your desired hairstyle, bag or hand accessories, and skin color. It really does provide the ultimate window shopping experience, allowing you to browse the countless clothes you have collected and envision the ultimate outfit—all without running between different department stores. However, while many clothes are available to craft with the right resources, some are locked behind a gacha paywall. This means you can only obtain them through draws.
Now, it's important to point out that you can complete the game without engaging with the gacha. The primary advantage you will have by participating in the draws (besides having a more extravagant outfit) is you will gain clothes with higher stats much more quickly, which is helpful when facing challengers. If you're determined to get your dream outfit from behind one of the fashion-themed banners, then the harsh reality is you're going to have to part with some of your hard-earned cash or really grind events to earn the Diamond currency and save up. The good news is Infinity Nikki is far more generous with its probability odds than other gacha games. If you pull a duplicate item, you will receive some currency back, which you can reuse for future draws.
Usually, I wouldn't bring up a photo mode in a review. But oh my, I spent so much time taking photos on my adventure that I'm considering adding photography to my CV. Infold knows one of the Infinity Nikki strengths is the strong aesthetics, and the photo mode encourages you to spend even more time collecting clothes and traveling the world to find the perfect outfit and backdrop. The graphics beautifully bring this out as well, as everything is so visually appealing. Only on a handful of occasions did I suffer any latency issues on the PS5, but this was primarily during the first few days of its release. The music was another aspect I liked, as it's so elegantly crafted and reflects the story's highs and lows exceptionally well. But hands down, the best song by far is the English theme song, "Together Till Infinity," performed by the renowned artist Jessie J. The powerful vocals create such an uplifting mood that I hummed along every time I started the game.
Infinity Nikki is part of a long legacy of games where fashion is a central part of the experience, and because of this, it may initially come across as it would only appeal to the "girly-pops". But beneath this facade lies an innovative, open-world experience that anyone who enjoys a lighthearted adventure can get behind. It gives you so much freedom that you will spend a lot of your time seeing what the world has to offer. Infinity Nikki completely blew away my expectations out of the water, and it's worth checking out, especially when you consider the game is free-to-play.
Infinity Nikki is now available for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices.
The post Review: Infinity Nikki Is a Fashion Extravaganza appeared first on Siliconera. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, January 20, 2025 3:10 PM On its official Twitter account. The post Sid Meier's Civilization VII Has Officially Gone Gold appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, January 20, 2025 2:57 PM Dynasty Warriors: Origins launched on January 17. The post Dynasty Warriors: Origins Surpasses 69,000 Concurrent Players appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, January 20, 2025 2:45 PM According to Team Cherry Head of Marketing and Publishing. The post Hollow Knight: Silksong is Still "Real, Progressing, and Will Release" appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, January 20, 2025 2:19 PM The game is rated M for Mature. The post Resident Evil 6 for Xbox Series X/S ESRB Rating Spotted Online appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
MonsterVine Monday, January 20, 2025 2:30 PM Get ready to take to the skies as Mika and the Witch's Mountain officially launches on January 22nd, bringing new content and launch discounts to PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. New Content, New Adventures Since its Early Access debut last August, Mika and the Witch's Mountain has seen two major content updates that […] |
MonsterVine Monday, January 20, 2025 1:30 PM Step into a haunting world of grief, resilience, and strategic combat as Death Howl, the latest game from Danish indie studio The Outer Zone and 11 bit studios, launches its playable demo today, January 20th. This atmospheric soulslike deck-builder invites players to explore a Nordic-inspired realm steeped in sorrow and survival. The demo is now […] |