GamersHeroes Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:49 PM Hosting a panel about programming NES games in assembly, Grayson Wendell will be a Special Guest at this summer's Fire & Ice RGX 2025 event. The post Grayson Wendell Special Guest at Fire & Ice RGX 2025 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:32 PM Set to launch June 11 in Nexon's MapleStory, the highly-anticipated Stargazer update brings with it The Star Guardian Sia Astelle, Challenger World, and more. The post MapleStory Summer Update Stargazer Launching June 11 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 7:00 PM  Elden Ring Nightreign has plenty of hard boss fights. The Nightlords, which are your final challenges after reaching Day Three, are among the hardest. Thankfully, there are some that are easier than others. |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:50 PM  In Elden Ring Nightreign, you'll face off against many difficult bosses. During Day Three, you'll fight the Nightlord, your final challenge. Hopefully, you've prepared over the first two days to take it on. |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:40 PM  Elden Ring Nightreign is home to many difficult boss battles, especially the Nightlords during Day Three. The Nightlords are your final tests at the end of every expedition, so hopefully you've managed to build a good enough character to take them on. |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:30 PM  If you like summoning spirits to help you in battle, you'll probably like Elden Ring Nightreign's second hidden character, Revenant. It won't take much to unlock her, but you'll need to know what to do and when to do it if you want to add this necromancer-style backliner to your list of playable characters. |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:20 PM  Elden Ring Nighreign is a challenging game that'll keep you and your friends on your toes during every tense run across its dangerous map. But in addition to punishing enemies and deadly traps, you'll also need to be aware of status effects, which can do quite a lot to disrupt your progress. Below, we'll give you a… |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:10 PM  Elden Ring Nightreign is a new multiplayer-focused spin-off title to 2022's Elden Ring. It's a combination that feels familiar and entirely new in equal measure. Having more in common with roguelikes and extraction games than with its predecessor's open-world Soulslike structure, this thrilling new direction may take… |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:00 PM  Few people would've expected 2022's mega-hit Elden Ring to get a multiplayer roguelike spin-off, but we live in strange times here in 2025. Elden Ring: Nightreign bucks developer FromSoftware's trend of making traditional single-player Soulslike titles in favor of a system that asks three players to tackle dangers… |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 5:41 PM  Elden Ring Nightreign's bosses can be a real struggle, even working alongside two other teammates. Solo, however, they're downright brutal. While the game allows fans to play offline by themselves, it's an experience best left to only the most hardcore Soulslike sickos. Will FromSoftware address that in a day-one… |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 5:40 PM  Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the top-rated games of the year and has sold over 3.3 million copies. And it did it all with a very small budget, according to publisher Kelpler Interactive. How small? Portfolio director Matthew Handrahan isn't saying, but he thinks everyone's guesses are probably wrong. |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 5:36 PM  A Black Panther action game that was in development at Electronic Arts has been killed and the studio behind it is no more. The Madden publisher announced it's shutting down Cliffhanger Games, previously formed by ex-Monolith Productions leadership, according to a new report by IGN. |
Kotaku Thursday, May 29, 2025 4:35 PM  The Activision Publisher Sale 2025 is happening now on Steam and ends on June 6. It includes some Crash Bandicoot and Spyro games as well as some older Activision-published PC games. But the big news for many is that nearly every Call of Duty game can be bought at a nice discount during the sale. |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:32 PM Is Elden Ring Nightreign down? It isn't often that you have to check the server status of a FromSoft game, but Nightreign is a different beast completely. While you have the option of taking on the game's many bosses alone, it's a much better experience with friends - but for that to happen, the servers need to be online. Thankfully, if the Elden Ring Nightreign servers are down, you can still jump in solo. As we mentioned in our Elden Ring Nightreign review, the solo experience can feel punishing for those who aren't already experienced with the roguelike game. Here is the Elden Ring Nightreign server status so you can plan your adventure accordingly. Continue reading Is Elden Ring Nightreign down? Current server status explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 7:08 PM What are Elden Ring Nightreign Remembrances? FromSoftware's games are known for having fairly confusing stories, as they're usually told through cryptic messages and hidden meanings. Unsurprisingly, the latest game in the Elden Ring series takes a similar approach, but with a multiplayer twist. Elden Ring Nightreign's story is told through events called Remembrances, providing you with missions that can be pursued during your expeditions, either in multiplayer or Elden Ring Nightreign solo. There are also rewards for completing Remembrances in the multiplayer game, including Relics, skins, and even additional endings. Continue reading Elden Ring Nightreign Remembrances explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:03 PM Want to play Elden Ring Nightreign solo? Elden Ring is one of the greatest RPGs of all time, and while it features multiplayer elements, for the majority of people, it's largely a single-player game. Nightreign is entirely different from its predecessor, focusing mainly on co-operative play, but there is a way to play all on your own. Elden Ring Nightreign has been designed as a co-op game experience first and foremost, so as we point out in our Nightreign review, we don't recommend picking this game up if you hope to play entirely on your own. While you can attempt to go on expeditions as a lone adventurer, you're going to have a tough time unless you put in the work to overcome the game's excruciating difficulty. Here's what you need to know about how to play Elden Ring Nightreign solo. Continue reading How to play Elden Ring Nightreign solo MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:01 PM What is the best Elden Ring Nightreign Recluse build? Nightreign's dedicated mage class sports some fabulously unique mechanics that separate it from its mainline cousin. This not only makes her a perfect fit in pretty much every team composition, but she's also arguably the most creative class in the game. Of course, it's all well and good having unlimited potential, but you won't be able to get the best out of Elden Ring Nightreign's Recluse without understanding what makes her tick in the soulslike game. With our guide in hand, you'll soon be making light work of the Elden Ring Nightreign bosses with the Recluse's monstrous magical mastery. Continue reading Best Elden Ring Nightreign Recluse build MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:01 PM What is the best Elden Ring Nightreign Raider build? Rip and tear your way through enemies as the Raider - designed purely to crush enemies with his blistering strength and impressive health to soak up damage. With so many Elden Ring Nightreign classes on offer, you should opt for the Raider if you want to protect your team from harm by soaking up damage like a sponge. Team composition plays a large role when it comes to defeating Elden Ring Nightreign bosses and Night Lords, so it helps to pick someone who can play both a defensive and offensive role. Every good Elden Ring Nightreign needs a DPS dealer to take care of business, and you could be that person with our Raider build. Continue reading Best Elden Ring Nightreign Raider build MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:01 PM What is the best Elden Ring Nightreign Guardian build? If a humanoid bird wearing a suit of armor wasn't already peak design, FromSoft has fully committed to the bit by giving Nightreign's avian avatar a halberd. However, the Guardian won't fly high if you clip his wings with a suboptimal setup. The Guardian is one of the easiest Elden Ring Nightreign classes to get your head around, but don't let that diminish the talon-ted tank's importance in your flock. Boasting solid team-wide utility and a clutch factor that comes with his innate survivability, the bird is the word when taking on the Elden Ring Nightreign bosses. Read on to learn how to get the best out of Elden Ring Nightreign's Guardian. Continue reading Best Elden Ring Nightreign Guardian build MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:02 PM How do Elden Ring Nightreign Relics work? After each expedition, you're rewarded with Relics, special items that enhance your abilities. While you're likely to use any old Relic when you first begin the game, there are some powerful ones you should look out for that can completely transform the way you approach combat. Elden Ring Nightreign doesn't allow you to select your equipment in the traditional soulslike game way, instead, you only have access to Relics which can be found at the Roundtable. You can sell any unwanted Relics to earn Murk, and then use that currency to improve your builds so you can breeze through all the Elden Ring Nightreign bosses on your expeditions. Continue reading Elden Ring Nightreign Relics explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:02 PM Want to know what Elden Ring Nightreign Shifting Earth events are? As with most roguelikes, there are dynamic elements that are designed to change your plans instantly. One of those mechanics is called Shifting Earth, switching one of the four corners of Limveld into an entirely different environment. While these Elden Ring Nightreign map locations are dangerous, they offer rare items that can be helpful on your expedition. Regardless of which of the Elden Ring Nightreign classes you pick, the rewards from the Shifting Earth events can help you negate the strengths of the Night Lords to make your victory that much easier. Without further ado, here's how to unlock the different Elden Ring Nightreign Shifting Earth events in the soulslike game, where they are, and the rewards that come along with it. Continue reading Elden Ring Nightreign Shifting Earth events and rewards MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:02 PM What is the best Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder build? If you're unsure which class to pick, Wylder is the easiest to get to grips with as he's a jack of all trades, capable of using most weapons you find on the battlefield. Wylder's stats are distributed in such a way that makes him good at almost everything, but you can take him much further by playing to his strengths. When you take a close look at all the Elden Ring Nightreign classes, there are some characters who have been designed to take up specific roles in a party. It's important to work with your team to identity your Elden Ring Nightreign roles early on, ensuring you have a strong party composition to take on all the Elden Ring Nightreign bosses without having to struggle. With the best Wylder build, your party will have a powerful DPS character to take the lead in any fight. Continue reading Best Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder build MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:02 PM How do you level up fast in Elden Ring Nightreign? You can bolster your key stats by leveling up on your expeditions, massively improving your odds so you can defeat the game's bosses with ease. After all, every bit helps, particularly in a game where taking one hit from an enemy can be the difference between victory and defeat. The higher your Elden Ring Nightreign level is, the more prepared you'll be during major boss fights at the end of each night. The max level you can reach on any run is level 15, but you need to be prepared with a route around the Elden Ring Nightreign map and a strong game plan to reach the level cap in the roguelike game. Here are some tips and tricks on how to level up fast in Elden Ring Nightreign. Continue reading How to level up fast in Elden Ring Nightreign MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:02 PM What are the Elden Ring Nightreign map locations? While there are dynamic elements that will force you to rethink your expedition plans, it's vital that you learn how the map works so you can set yourself up for success. Your goal in Elden Ring Nightreign is to defeat the Nightlord during Day 3, and you can accomplish that by leveling up fast, and hopefully getting lucky with your build. The items you accumulate will vary wildly from expedition to expedition, but by understanding how the Nightreign map works, you can stack the odds in your favor with all the Elden Ring Nightreign classes on offer. Continue reading Elden Ring Nightreign map - all key locations and where to go first MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:03 PM How do you use gestures and emotes in Elden Ring Nightreign? Emotes and gestures have been a staple in FromSoftware's soulslikes since the halcyon days of Dark Souls. Many have taken on new life as community in-jokes, while others are the backbone of its social etiquette. In Nightreign, they've never been more important. Elden Ring Nightreign is a multiplayer game that demands careful cooperation to survive, but with no integrated voice or text chat, the ability to communicate with your fellow Nightfarers is limited. That's where gestures come in. These character animations can help you get another player's attention and give you some personality beyond your chosen Nightreign class. Here's how to gesture and perform all emotes in this co-op adventure. Continue reading How to use Elden Ring Nightreign gestures and emotes MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:00 PM What is the best Elden Ring Nightreign Ironeye build? If you're tired of trading blows with bosses at close range, then look no further than the Ironeye. This long-range Nightfarer is ideal for players who prefer to pick off enemies at a safe distance. While all classes in Elden Ring Nightreign can benefit from a ranged weapon in their loadout, the Ironeye is the specialist for bows, crossbows, and cannons. It's the perfect choice for beginners who want to hang back while they acclimate to the soulslike game's combat flow, without the complexity and fragility of the Nightreign Recluse or Revenant. If you're looking to transform this verdant assassin into a bona fide bowman, we've got the best build for you. Continue reading Best Elden Ring Nightreign Ironeye build MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring Nightreign review, Elden Ring Nightreign class, Elden Ring Nightreign bosses |
PCGamesN Thursday, May 29, 2025 4:52 PM May 29, 2025: We've added new Anime Rangers X codes for UPD 1.5. What are the latest Anime Rangers X codes? This fresh new Roblox tower defense title brings easy freebie redemption back to the biggest genre trend of last year, granting it a quick boost of launch popularity against classics of the past. Looking to try the rest? Give these SpongeBob Tower Defense codes a go if you're into the silly yellow guy and its equally colourful cast of characters. For another anime game hit, give underdog Anime Last Stand codes a go, or Anime Vanguards codes and Anime Adventures codes a try for two of the most popular Roblox TD titles to date. Continue reading Anime Rangers X codes May 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 29, 2025 5:53 PM  Anyone that's ever been on the London underground, no matter their background, can all likely agree on one thing: that place is nasty. I mean, it's all underground, where's the dirt meant to go? And it's not like anyone's putting any money into getting the place cleaned. But, if you've ever fantasized about hosing down a Northern Line train for yourself, one, that's possibly slightly odd, and two, you'll be able to do almost just that in PowerWash Simulator's next and last update. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 29, 2025 4:36 PM  To be a person that looks forward to video games and DLC for video games is to also be a person that must do so knowing that, at this point in time, they are likely to be delayed. It is what it is! Perhaps the dismantling of our current economic system and rebuilding one that doesn't put profits first would mean developers could take their time, but that'll probably also take a while. As a result, we're in a situation where, earlier today, developer TaleWorlds Entertainment announced that Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord's first bit of DLC, War Sails, has been delayed. |
Siliconera Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:00 PM
HoYoVerse shared details about the Zenless Zone Zero Beard Papa cream puff crossover that will feature Anby and Burnice. The promotion will run in the US starting on June 8, 2025, and it will end on July 15, 2025. In addition to exclusive merchandise, there will also be Perfect Taste Bundle codes for in-game items.
Essentially, the Beard Papa promotion guarantees Zenless Zone Zero merchandise and codes if you get certain collaboration sets. The basic one is called ZZZ x Beard Papa's Operation Yum Collab 2-Puff Set. This gives you the Anby Key Lime Crumble Puff with vanilla bean filling and key lime topping and the Burnice Royal Raspberry Puff with vanilla filling and raspberry glaze. You also get one random pin with either of the two characters or a Bangboo mascot in the restaurant's costume and the Perfect Taste Bundle code. The 4-puff set comes with both of the limited edition cream puffs, two Original Vanilla ones, an acrylic standee of one of the two heroines and the code. Finally, a 6-puff set comes with two of the Anby puffs, two of the Burnice ones, two Original Vanilla ones, a standee, a random pin, and the code.
Here's how all of the Zenless Zone Zero cream puffs and merchandise will look. The Bangboo mascot is paired with the Original Vanilla option.
As for the Perfect Taste Bundle code, that gives anyone who claims it a Bangboo Beard Papa avatar, collectible, and namecard, a Stamina Item, three Senior Investigator Logs, and 30,000 Dennies.
This is the second recent Beard Papa crossover with a popular series. At the start of 2025, a Mashle event appeared. This involved both merchandise and specific cream puffs inspired by characters from the anime and manga.
Zenless Zone Zero is on the PS5, PC, and mobile devices now. The Xbox Series X version and 2.0 update comes on June 6, 2025. The Zenless Zone Zero Beard Papa Anby and Burnice
The post Anby and Burnice Star in Zenless Zone Zero Beard Papa Crossover appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, May 29, 2025 5:00 PM
It's taken 10 years, but Good Smile Company announced it will finally release a new Cardcaptor Sakura Tomoyo Daidouji Nendoroid. This latest figure isn't an update of the original, as it depicts an older version of the character from the Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card anime. It will cost ￥6,800 when it debuts in November 2025 in Japan, and it will be $44.99 when it launches in the US in Q2 2026.
Since this is an older version of Tomoyo, she wears her Tomoeda Junior High uniform for the figure. In the original, she wore the elementary branch's, which featured a simpler white skirt and a hat. She comes with an updated video camera accessory and a phone, both for taking pictures and footage of Sakura. Her school bag can be held in her right hand too. She comes with a neutral smiling face plate, one in which she's extra happy, and a new take on the "Sakura-chan is incredibly cute" expression. (The original Nendoroid featured a similar one with stars in her eyes.
Here are the first photos of the figure Good Smile Company shared with all of us via the shop.
Just like the first Nendoroid, there is a Good Smile Company Online Shop bonus. The initial one came with a Kero-chan figure. This one comes with extra hand parts for an additional pose, which you can see below:
This figure is designed to match another recent Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Nendoroid. One of Sakura Kinomoto appeared in 2024. Her and Tomoyo's uniforms will match. This could mean that, if you own both, you could swap their hand, arm, and leg parts for more potential poses.
The Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Tomoyo Daidouji Nendoroid will debut in Japan in November 2025 and worldwide in Q2 2026. Pre-orders are open until July 9, 2025. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.
The post New Cardcaptor Sakura Tomoyo Daidouji Nendoroid Based on Clear Card appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:00 PM
Whether you're an Elden Ring veteran or Soulslike noob, Elden Ring: Nightreign is a daunting experience at first since it's so different than everything that's come before it.
I've had my hands on Nightreign for some time now, and I'm still learning a lot about it as I play. But with some experience behind me, I've got some tips for you beginners who are looking to have an idea of what to expect or are maybe lost on what to do when starting out.
Here are some tips and tricks for Elden Ring: Nightreign as you're beginning your journey in the roguelike Soulslike with battle royale mechanics.
Table of contents
Elden Ring Nightreign: Tips and tricks for beginners
Plot your journey
Get used to opening your map a lot, the same way you might in a battle royale game. The map shows you the locations of everything from Sites of Grace to Evergaols to POIs with bosses you can defeat for loot.
As you're flying in with your team, note the surroundings around your landing spot and plot a course of what you will hit first while making your way through different areas, prioritizing things like Churches of Marika to upgrade your character.
Move and level up quickly
Once you and your team know where you're going, get ready to move and kill weak mobs as you do so. Clear out weak enemies for some quick levels at a Site of Grace, and then mark a new spot on the map to work together to kill a boss for some big power-ups or weapons before moving on. Rinse and repeat as each day wears on.
Speed is the name of the game in Nightreign, because you're on a timer, so don't dilly-dally too much. Kill things, loot things, and run, especially as the night circle begins to close in around you. Getting caught in that storm hurts a lot, so be sure to keep an eye on your map and be ready to move at all times.
The max level in each game is 15, which is ideally where you want to be when day two ends. If you can get there beforehand by spamming boss kills (bosses give 30,000 Runes or more), then that's great, but it's doable. I'd say the lowest you want to be is level 12 if you want a fighting chance against the selected Night Lord.
Find churches
Throughout each expedition, you can find several Churches of Marika throughout the map. Like in the base game, these are important because they give you an extra charge for your healing flask each time you find one. If you spot one in the distance or on your map, make sure to stop by and grab your flask upgrade.
Check out our guide for Nightreign's map icons and what they mean for more info on how to find Churches.
Find merchants
Merchants, like churches, are important because they sell valuable items like a pack that will allow you to carry one more consumable, smithing stones, and other consumables that will help you within each match. You can find these ghostly apparitions randomly around the map, sitting next to campfires like in the image above.
Use your mobility
Nightreign's mobility is way better and faster than the base game, so use it to your advantage. Make sure to use the Surge Sprint ability (L3 on controller) to move quickly, wall-jump to reach higher places or make your way around obstacles, use blue trees and their birds to "redeploy" into the air, and launch yourself at Spiritstreams.
Keep in mind that there is no fall damage in Nightreign, so use that to the best of your ability and keep on the move as you play in each match.
Optimize your gear
Yes, you need to move quickly, but you also have to occasionally stop to take some time and optimize your loot for your character and build to maximize your chances of success. Every weapon and item you find rolls with random abilities and buffs, so be sure to pick ones that suit your team and your needs best.
Stick together...for now
While you become accustomed to Nightreign and all it has to offer, stick with your team. Seriously. It's very easy to get overwhelmed by mobs, so make sure to use strength in numbers to your own advantage as well.
Plus, if you do go down and "near death," your teammates will be able to revive you and get you back into the fight. Once you become more comfortable with the game and level up a bit, it's a tad safer to go out on your own for some loot, but sticking together is recommended throughout each match.
Use those consumables
Consumable items like weapon greases and other items that buff your physical damage or damage negation can be found pretty frequently around the map, so don't forget to use them when you need to. It's worth it rather than dying and losing a level of progress.
You will have the chance to restock some items before fighting the Night Lord on day three.
Master one character
To begin with, I suggest sticking with one character to master. Try each of the eight classes to see which play style fits best for you, and then stick with it, beating bosses and unlocking new Nightfarer-specific Relics to make each expedition a bit easier on you.
Once you've made progress and beaten a few bosses, feel free to experiment while progressing each individual character's story.
The post Elden Ring Nightreign: Tips and tricks as you begin your journey into Night appeared first on Destructoid. |
Destructoid Thursday, May 29, 2025 4:51 PM
Nostalgia can take many forms for different people. For you, it may look like your first experience in an arcade, picking up a copy of The Legend of Zelda for the NES in the 80s, or trying out Diablo 1 in the late 90s. For me, it's playing colony sims and cooking games from the early 2000s.
While my first-ever video game was Heroes of Might and Magic 3, the most nostalgic is a colony sim that, although simple by today's standards, was surprisingly difficult for its time. At least for a young child, that is. Let me tell you all about Virtual Villagers, a game series I grew up with in my formative years and only just recently learned is still ongoing.
For those uninitiated, Virtual Villagers is a casual colony simulation game series where you, an almighty deity-like being, watch over and care for a group of villagers. Your villagers start by training their basic survival skills, from foraging berries to building huts and researching new technologies, all while discovering secrets within the village itself. These secrets come in the form of puzzles, and it's up to you to solve them based on clues around the map. Most of the titles in this series follow the same format, but the one that holds the most nostalgic value for me is the series' first entry, Virtual Villagers: A New Home.
Its concept sounds simple, right? Well, kind of. For today's standards, this is a very simple concept that we've seen time and time again, carefully crafted over decades of innovation within the gaming industry. Even for 2006, this wasn't the most challenging game out there, but it was enough to stump the likes of my child self, who needed several playthroughs to figure out that you could pause the game.
That's right—Virtual Villagers runs in real time. You could have your villagers set up for success, with a few buildings, one researching, and one or two foraging, only to come back a few days later and see everyone gone because they ran out of food when the berry bush ran out of fruit to harvest. There's a balance between actively playing and discovering secrets on the map and leaving before returning a few hours late to see how things are going. Let's just say I struggled to find this balance until I got a little older and learned some strategies. Until then, I had to restart several times because I overpopulated my village and ran out of food.
Overall, though, it follows a simple format you can apply to most playthroughs. You focus on food and research first before building up your village and increasing your population, so you can have more people working at once. You also need to look out for diseases, so having a local healer to help create medicine will prevent any unfortunate, unexpected mishaps from occurring. I only realized all this as I got older: my younger self mainly focused on breeding as many villagers as possible so I'd have more workers to take care of the village. This strategy was far from perfect, but it occasionally worked when I got a lucky run.
With all that said, how does Virtual Villagers hold up in the modern day? I can't speak for newer entries like Origins 2 or Divine Destiny, as my last Virtual Villagers game was The Tree of Life. For the four earliest titles I have played, though, it depends on a recent discovery I made: mobile versions.
After feeling nostalgic and diving back into Virtual Villagers, I learned that there are mobile versions of each game, including older and newer entries in the series alongside spinoffs like Virtual Families. While I don't think nostalgia carries the series enough to justify picking them up at their regular PC price, especially compared to high-quality indie games within the genre with similar (or even lower) price tags, I can't quite say the same for their much cheaper mobile counterparts.
At least for me, I've accepted that Virtual Villagers is a core memory in my mind that tugs at my heartstrings when I think about my childhood. I may return one day to experience a blast from the past on a different platform. For now, I'm content with trying new games and broadening my horizons while acknowledging the overall positive impact this series has on my gaming history.
How often do you reminisce about games from your childhood? Let us know in the comments below!
The post My most nostalgic game is a colony sim from two decades ago—how does it hold up today? appeared first on Destructoid. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, May 29, 2025 7:05 PM A demo for the upcoming superhero game. The post Dispatch PC Demo Available Now appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:39 PM The developer describes the game as the biggest update yet." The post Phasmophobia Chronicle Update Release Date Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:21 PM Showcases her abilities. The post Elden Ring Nightreign Gets New Revenant Trailers appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, May 29, 2025 5:49 PM On BlueSky. The post The Persona 4 Remake is Seemingly Confirmed by A Voice Actor appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
MonsterVine Thursday, May 29, 2025 9:00 PM When I first saw Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown, my eyebrow rose, not because I was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan, but because the premise of a turn-based Turtles game is pretty peculiar. Clearly, Strange Scaffold saw something I didn't because the game manages to be both a great TMNT game and a […] |
MonsterVine Thursday, May 29, 2025 8:00 PM Henry may only have half a head, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the ability to possess and control any object within their reach, obviously. Lululu Entertainment's latest title, conceived in a game design course several years ago, is launching its demo today, a couple of weeks before Steam Next Fest. Let's take a […] |
MonsterVine Thursday, May 29, 2025 7:00 PM Norwegian studio Megapop has announced Life Below, a city building game that has players planning reefs rather than cities. Set in a near-future Earth, the ocean is no longer what it used to be. What does that mean? I don't know! But Life Below was written by Rhianna Pratchett, so that's cool! We should probably […] |