GamersHeroes Friday, March 14, 2025 4:31 PM The team at Saga Origins is partnering with video games startup GFAL (Games for a Living) to integrate agents into the upcoming 3D puzzle game Diamond Dreams. The post Saga Origins Partnering With GFAL for Diamond Dreams appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Friday, March 14, 2025 5:05 PM  Next week is a big one. Assassin's Creed Shadows launches on the heels of new reporting that Ubisoft is looking to spin off the franchise into a standalone company backed by Chinese conglomerate NetEase. The 2025 Game Developers Conference kicks off in San Francisco with talks from people behind some of the biggest… |
PCGamesN Friday, March 14, 2025 8:16 PM  March 15, 2025: There's a new Fisch code in after all that Hunt downtime. What are the new Fisch codes? Promising the pinnacle of exploration and progression of what Roblox fishing experiences have to offer, Fisch gets even better when you use the latest working codes to get free rewards. After launching in early 2024, the Stardew-inspired fishing game by WoozyNate has seen millions of visits, meaning even more players just like you can benefit from the bonuses on offer. Just like when using Fishing Simulator codes, getting extra items or currency will make the Roblox angling experience far easier since you'll be able to access or buy upgrades much faster. That's even the case when trying out Meme Sea codes too. This quick and easy Fisch guide will tell you about all the free rewards you can get so far. Continue reading Fisch codes March 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, March 14, 2025 8:11 PM  March 14, 2025: Another day means fresh new SpongeBob Tower Defense codes. What are the new SpongeBob Tower Defense codes? Bikini Bottom is in danger and only the sub-aquatic city's goofiest goobers can protect it. From SpongeGar to double Krabby Pattied-up Squidward, there's a wild cast of characters that can be called upon to aid the defense effort. Of course, these iconic faces come at a cost, requiring you to cough up Gems and Magic Conches to partake in the Roblox game's gacha system. Fortunately, the SpongeBob Tower Defense codes often reward you with these precious materials, so load up Roblox, dive into Bikini Bottom, and use the following codes to keep it safe. Continue reading SpongeBob Tower Defense codes March 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, March 14, 2025 7:15 PM  Slaying grotesque enemies, achingly beautiful and powerful melee weapons, and dark fantasy worlds - just some of the core ingredients for any good FromSoftware RPG. But what if Dark Souls went first-person, picked up the pace a bit, and incorporated flashes of Doom's hellish, metal aesthetic? Well, you'd get something that looks a lot like Voin. Made by a single developer, this already ambitious RPG just got even bigger and better with its first major content update that adds a new dungeon and fresh foes to the game. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best open-world games, Best fantasy games |
PCGamesN Friday, March 14, 2025 6:15 PM  When it comes to isometric action RPGs that are brimming with content, Path of Exile and Diablo have ruled the roost over the last decade or so. However, across that same time period, a pixelated indie rival has also been cruising along in the background, dishing up dozens of seasons of content and even undergoing a transformational 2.0 upgrade a couple of years back. I'm talking about Hero Siege, and with the release of its latest seasonal update, it's just set a new Steam player count record. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best indie games, New PC games, Best PC games |
Siliconera Friday, March 14, 2025 9:00 PM
Having not played an Atelier game since the first Ryza, I will admit this series from Gust and Koei Tecmo has never quite grasped me. Outside of my first game Atelier Rorona, which I still adore to this day, I haven't completed a single game in this series. Well, until now, with Atelier Yumia, which is by far the best game in the series I've played yet. While it takes some bold steps in unique directions, it still retains its core alchemist ideas while also being what I had hoped Tales of Arise would be.
For starters, this is an almost true open-world experience. There are four key regions the player is able to explore. Though most regions are locked at the start until you progress later on, they are seamlessly connected to one another. In addition, loading times when fast traveling is nearly instantaneous, even on the underpowered Steam Deck where I reviewed this title.
Atelier Yumia opts for a fascinating open-world experience that feels similar to survival games in some ways like Valheim, which directly inspired it. Instead of sprawling cities and towns to explore, it is a vast, diverse, and often beautiful land that is customizable to the player's liking in many areas. I will say the lack of true explorable cities with loads of NPCs and vendors is one of the few major gripes I have with the experience.
It takes some adjustment, but this is not the type of experience Gust seems to be going for. Instead, Atelier Yumia is all about building out your own bases. While you can't build anywhere, you frequently unlock home bases and campsites where you can customize to your heart's content. You might want to turn one location into a three-story mansion. In another place, it might be the custom headquarters for your party.
There is a lot of freedom in the building system to make what you want. However, it is welcoming to newcomers to this type of gameplay as well. There are blueprints you can create instantly for various types of places. Or, you can do what I did and just create your own home from scratch. The UI is intuitive, snappy, and easy to use.
The best part is how the building ties into the rest of gameplay. You use the materials you gather all throughout the world to build. This adds a neat dual nature to the materials that would normally just be for the alchemy. Speaking of which, alchemy is back and with a new system. It is a bit daunting and confusing at first, but it is actually quite simple. You can use almost any material to make any type of item, but there are bonuses for using preferred materials. This leads to an alchemy system that is far more welcoming and open. While I prefer some of the older games' alchemy still, it is certainly better than Atelier games in recent memory.
When not synthesizing weapons and recipes or building your dream fantasy home, you'll be exploring the four regions that is full of content. Fortunately, there is something interesting to do every few feet. I had a lot of fun doing the side content in Atelier Yumia, such as little minigames to restore a terminal or an optional boss battle. There are also welcome side quests as well. Some of them are short and sweet gather or battle sequences, while others are story quests with your party members that lets you learn more about them.
The battles in Atelier Yumia are also radically different and another example of the more mainstream approach this title takes. I would fully describe this as a true action RPG now, even more than the Ryza games. Battles take place in essentially a circular arena. There is a circle you can rotate 360 degrees around the enemy target. You use this to dodge AOEs and the like.
You can spam various skills in succession to create combos to deal damage to enemies. However, you are only able to use the skills on your face buttons (if using a controller) a few times before they run out. This then requires you to switch to the weapon items you craft. You basically have two hot bars of four skills each to constantly use to consistently be dealing damage.
In addition to this, there are two ranges within the circle. You can switch at a moment's notice between close range attacks and long range ones. These two ranges even come with their own set of skills to boot.
Then there is the ability to switch between party members, who all control radically different. For instance, Viktor is the dedicated tank, Rutger is the powerful scythe-wielder with underrated gun attacks, and so on. Without a doubt, Atelier Yumia has one of the most unique action RPG systems I've seen and it takes time to master. However, the depth is incredible and, while I still prefer traditional turn-based gameplay, it justified itself and felt far more enjoyable than Ryza's battles.
That said, the standout, most surprising parts about Atelier Yumia are the characters and story. This is not your usual friendship is magic, happy-go-lucky storyline right here. The backstory of the ancient empire that you're exploring the ruins of is immense and at the heart of the experience. Alchemy is forbidden in this world and the titular character Yumia has to combat this discrimination head-on.
The plot goes in some shocking directions that don't get too grim, but are far more serious and emotional than I expected. This is especially true with a couple of the party members. Yumia herself is the best protagonist in the series hands down; she is not overly positive, but is still passionate about the alchemy her mother taught her and her dreams.
Then there is Rutger and Nina whose writing really surprised me with how well done they are. The party members interact with one another so well, too. With the six party members and action combat, this game reminds me quite a bit of Tales of Arise, but it addresses all of my problems with that game. Instead of the six party members pairing up and really only having solid interactions with their "love interest," you see everyone have a relationship with one another. For instance, Rutger understands and respects Nina, bonds over shared circumstances with Yumia, has a healthy rivalry with Viktor, and constantly pisses off Isla. And this character depth is true for nearly all six party members, too.
Better yet, this rich character development even goes to the villains. The villains in this story are some of my favorites, both in design and writing, in a long time. I won't dare spoil them, but just know they make a tragically solid case for why they do what they do. In fact, there is at least one boss battle that was painful plot-wise for both myself and the main characters.
Overall, Atelier Yumia is an extraordinary and highly surprising direction for the series. It retains the core alchemy and strategic combat, but builds upon everything in fascinating ways. While the world doesn't have enough civilizations, it makes up for that with worthwhile content around every corner and a remarkable yet optional building system. The combat might switch fully to action, but it stands out with how uniquely deep and enjoyable it is. And then there is the story and characters, which is far and away better than anything Gust has done up until this point. This all comes together to make Atelier Yumia the best game in the series and the most widely appealing at the same time.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land releases for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on March 21, 2025.
The post Review: Atelier Yumia Is What I Wanted Tales of Arise to Be appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, March 14, 2025 8:30 PM
During the Genshin Impact Version 5.5 special program, HoYoVerse announced some new characters and events for the upcoming patch. There will also be a new region to explore in Natlan.
For starters, new characters Varesa (5-star Electro Catalyst) and Iansan (4-star Electro Polearm) will appear in the first phase of Genshini Impact Version 5.5. Xianyun will re-run alongside them. During the first phase, you'll also have the chance to pull for the Vivid Notions Catalyst, which is Varesa's signature weapon. Meanwhile, the second phase will star Xilonen (5-star Geo Sword) and Venti (5-star Anemo Bow).
Genshin Impact Version 5.5 will also debut two new Artifacts. Long Night's Oath will increase Plunging Attack DMG, making it perfect for characters like Xiao. Finale of the Deep Galleries will increase Cryo DMG, as well as Normal Attack DMG and Elemental Burst DMG when the character has 0 Elemental Energy. Thanks to the condition of 0 Energy, it doesn't seem like there are any characters in the game right now who can use the full set to its maximum potential.
New content in Genshin Impact Version 5.5 includes a boss (Lava Dragon Statue) and area (The Sacred Mountain and Sanctified Land). The flagship event will be the Tournament of Glory in Bloom, and you can complete it to obtain a free copy of Ororon. The picture for the event stars Iansan and Varesa, along with Ifa, who hasn't made his playable debut yet. Other events that'll appear later on in the patch include Quirky Quaking Arena and Rhythm Ball Meztli.
Genshin Impact is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. Version 5.5 will go live on March 26, 2025.
The post Here Are the Banners And New Content For Genshin Impact 5.5 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, March 14, 2025 8:00 PM
Junta Terashima will replace Showtaro Morikubo as the voice actor for Ifa in Genshin Impact. In the same announcement, HoYoVerse revealed Shouhei Komatsu as Cacucu, who is Ifa's Saurian buddy.
Though Morikubo had played Ifa during his brief appearance in Natlan, HoYoVerse had to remove him for "various reasons" in March 2025. Though the post did not give any specifics, many speculate that this is because Morikubo appeared in a reading of Inochigake no Shougen, which highlights the Chinese government's persecution of the Uyghur ethnic group. Morikubo also lost his roles in Arknights and Onmyoji, which adds credence to the theory.
Terashima is a voice actor who started his career in 2009. He also has a singing career separate from his job as a voice actor. Some of Terashima's more prominent roles include Hyoga Yukimura in Inazuma Eleven Go, Shiki Ando in Paradox Live, and Sugiura in Judgment. As for Komatsu, he appeared as Gaming in Genshin Impact and Hizen Tadahiro in Touken Ranbu.
In Genshin Impact, Ifa is a Saurian veterinarian from the Flower-Feather Clan, and a friend of Ororon's. Since he has a Vision and a unique design, he may appear as a playable character in the future. So far, he only made an off-screen appearance in the Natlan Archon Quest.
Genshin Impact is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices.
The post Genshin Impact Ifa Voice Actor Replacement Announced appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, March 14, 2025 7:30 PM
During the first Identity V Reveal Show of 2025, NetEase announced an upcoming crossover event with Ib. It'll start from April 17, 2025.
The official X (formerly Twitter) account has posted a picture of the key visual, which shows the logo for both Identity V and Ib in a cracked photo frame that's surrounded by red roses. While the global versions of the game haven't given a lot of information on the crossover, the Chinese version of the announcement already revealed the characters who'll receive collaboration outfits.
Of the three crossover characters, Garry is the only Hunter. NetEase likely chose the Ripper for him due to the Rose Cane (Blue) accessory. It's harder to pinpoint why NetEase chose Mary for Coordinator and Ib for Journalist, though.The Ib skins will appear in the shop, and one of them will be free after completing event quests.
Ib is a 2012 indie adventure horror RPG Maker 2000 game that kouri released for the Windows PC. Today, many view it as a cult classic and a highly influential title, with remakes and ports appearing since 2022. It follows the titular Ib, who's a young girl visiting an art gallery with her parents. After a blackout, she finds herself in an otherworldly version of the gallery that's full of hostile creatures. While trying to escape with fellow unfortunate soul Garry, they come across a bizarre girl named Mary, who seems to know more than she's letting on.
Identity V is readily available on the Windows PC and mobile devices. The Ib crossover will start in Identity V from April 17, 2025.
The post Ib Crossover Event to Appear in Identity V appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, March 14, 2025 7:00 PM
The Pokemon Company has reopened its Pokemon Center Tohoku physical store in Sendai, Japan. People living in the northern areas of Japan's Honshu island can now find the renewed outlet on the third floor of the Sendai Parco department store.
The fifth-generation mythical Pokemon Victini will greet visitors with Pikachu via the entryway logos. The new store also features an Ogerpon statue in its plush sales area.
In addition, the store has two areas dedicated to Pokemon games. One of them features games for mobile devices and Nintendo consoles, and the other is specifically made for the Pokemon Trading Card Game.
The Pokemon theme does not only appear in the indoor store. The company has also set up a Pokemon Center Tohoku Garden outside the second floor of the same building. People can sit in front of Pokemon-themed topiaries like Pikachu and the Poke Ball.
A good number of Pokemon Center outlets across Japan have been getting renewals in recent months. The Nagoya outlet had its renewal completed in October 2024. The Gyarados-themed Hiroshima outlet will be the next in line after Tohoku/Sendai, with its reopening date set for April 11, 2025.
Pokemon Center Tohoku is now available at Sendai Parco every day from 10 AM until 8:30 PM JST.
The post Pokemon Center Tohoku Reopens With Ogerpon Statue appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, March 14, 2025 6:30 PM
During the Nippon Ichi Software Untitled// program, Nippon Ichi Software announced some of the new titles it plans to release in the future. Currently, it's working on five different projects. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]
Project Curse will be a turn-based RPG in which you play as an adventurer trying to save a curse-ridden town. You will have to enter dungeons that contain monsters, traps, and treasure, so it sounds like there are rogue-like elements as well. There will be a hint of strategy as well, since you will need to decide how long you endure a curse before heading back. If you return to town with a curse and purify it, you can use it to power up your character. Project Curse is in development for the PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch, and it'll come out in 2025.
Project Gobble stands out for its American comic-like art style and animations. It was born from the yearly Nippon Ichi Project Festival, which is an internal competition. The winner, who is now the project's development manager, has only worked at Nippon Ichi Software for two years. Project Gobble will be a side-scroller action game, and it'll take place in a world that should've become peaceful after the defeat of the Demon Lore. You play as a boy who comes across a talking sickle. After defeating enemies, the sickle can consume them and use their powers as its own. Project Gobble will come out for the PS5 and Nintendo Switch in 2025.
Project Kyouran will be an action RPG in which you play as a mercenary in a vast world filled with various types of monsters. Its development manager, character designer, and composer all previously worked on the Disgaea series. In Project Kyouran, your job is to defeat them using various weapons and techniques, and then defeat the boss waiting for you at the end of each level. It's in development for the PS5 and Nintendo Switch, and it'll come out in 2026.
Project Renzu is a horror adventure game that focuses on curses. The protagonist is a writer for an occult magazine who visits a supernatural hotspot after hearing rumors of a deadly curse. However, they actually get cursed while they're there. As the countdown to their death continues to tick, they must solve puzzles to try and lift the curse from themself. It'll come out for the PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch in Summer 2025.
Finally, Project Shinigami Hime is the third game after The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince and The Cruel King and the Great Hero. Like the previous titles, you'll be exploring in a picture book-like world. It'll be an action adventure game following young girls suffering from trauma, who find themselves in a strange library in the bizarre world of picture books. It'll come out on the PS5 and Nintendo Switch in 2026.
More information on the various titles will appear later. Project Renzu will likely be the first as it's the only one with a more concrete release window.
The post Nippon Ichi Software Reveals Five Game Projects For 2025, 2026 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, March 14, 2025 6:00 PM
HoYoVerse has uploaded three illustrations to the official Honkai: Star Rail X (formerly Twitter) account to celebrate White Day 2025. This year, we have Jiaoqiu, Boothill, and Aventurine.
Like the previous years, a short description of the snack they give you accompanies each picture. Aventurine gives you a custom gift box that smells like golden kumquat and red currant, and it's full of different snacks from various regions. Boothill gives you a bullet with a satin ribbon around it. According to the description, this is a real bullet, and not a bullet-shaped chocolate. Finally, Jiaoqiu gives you a hot pot-flavored pastry inside a bamboo steamer. You can look at the White Day 2025 illustrations via the Honkai: Star Rail X account.
All three characters this year are limited 5-star units. Aventurine is an Imaginary Preservation, Boothill is a Physical Hunt, and Jiaoqiu is a Fire Nihility. Objectively, of the three, Aventurine is likely the most popular character. HoYoVerse released goods that draw inspiration from him in 2024, as well as announced a set of apparel based on his design in March 2025. Back in April 2024, before he even came out, some of his fans even adopted a peacock in the Dalian Forest Zoo in China and named it after him.
Honkai: Star Rail is readily available on the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. Mydei, the newest 5-star character, will make his playable debut on March 19, 2025.
The post Honkai: Star Rail White Day 2025 Stars Aventurine, Boothill, Jiaoqiu appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, March 14, 2025 5:30 PM
For White Day 2025, HoYoVerse shared three special illustrations of Genshin Impact characters giving the viewer a return gift. This year, we have Ororon, Sethos, and Seymour.
Like in the previous years, a short blurb of the character talking to you accompanies each picture. Ororon gives you some "sweeter-than-life" honey and "bitterness-begone" chocolate. He also protected the snacks from a potential thief. Sethos gives you "Mystery Candy" that tastes like the starry sky, while also commenting on the number of characters lining up to give you a gift. Finally, Seymour doesn't actually give you anything, though he teases Paimon about all the desserts she's imagining. You can check out the White Day 2025 illustrations on the official Genshin Impact X (formerly Twitter) account.
Both Ororon and Sethos are 4-star Electro Bow users in Genshin Impact, though they're from different regions. Ororon is from Natlan, while Sethos is from Sumeru. Meanwhile, Seymour is an NPC from a Fontaine world quest. The addition of important NPCs rather than using playable characters for all three White Day illustrations started on Valentine's Day 2024. Jeht was one of the characters giving you chocolate that day.
HoYoVerse also held a livestream for the upcoming Genshin Impact 5.5 patch. The stream gave more information on new characters, Iansan and Varesa. There will also be a new region to explore in Natlan. The new patch should come out on March 26, 2025.
Genshin Impact is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices.
The post Genshin Impact White Day 2025 Illustrations Include Seymour appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, March 14, 2025 5:00 PM
The Ghibli official Donguri Republic store in Japan opened pre-orders for planter sets based on the My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service films. The Totoro planter costs 12,320 (or approximately $82.83) and the Kiki's planter costs 11,220 yen (~$75.51.) [Thanks, Game Watch!]
Pre-orders are now open in Japan until April 29, 2025, and the planters are expected to ship between May 7-11, 2025. The new merchandise goods are available as part of the Mother's Day gift sets in Japan. The planters come each with different sets of carnations, as well as message cards featuring characters from each movie.
The My Neighbor Totoro set features the popular character alongside other smaller Totoros, and the planter itself is modeled after a big tree stump. Meanwhile, the Kiki's Delivery Service planter includes Jiji and the logo for the movie's namesake business. The container is modeled to look as stained glass flowers.
You can check out the My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service planter sets in more detail here:
As a reminder, a concept art collection from My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service director Hayao Miyazaki released in Japan on December 5, 2024, and it features art from the aforementioned films and more.
The My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service planter sets cost 11,220 yen (~$75.51) each. Pre-orders are open now and will close on April 29, 2025, with the release date set somewhere between May 7-11, 2025.
The post My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service Planter Pre-Orders Open appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, March 14, 2025 4:45 PM
Steam isn't known for its excellent selection of otome games, but if you dig deep enough you will find a number of gems. The Steam Spring Sale is the perfect time to dive into the romance genre, as many of the best games are available at a deep discount. If you're looking for some great otome games to expand your Steam collection then we've got ten that are worth picking up.
Here are the ten best otome games available during the Steam Spring Sale.
7'scarlet
7'scarlet is a supernatural mystery novel first and a romance adventure second but that doesn't mean it's lacking handsome husbandos to smooch. Our protagonist travels to the rural Japanese village where her brother was last seen, with the idea of staying at the local ryokan until she finds him. With the help of the people of the village she realizes that everything in this quiet town isn't quite what it seems.
7'scarlet costs $7.49 during the Steam Spring Sale.
Psychedelia of the Ashen Hawk
Another supernatural mystery, Psychedelia of the Ashen Hawk doesn't follow the standard otome formula. Rather than choosing a route, there is one common route and your decisions dictate what ending you get. There is no bad or good ending for each sweetheart, or even a true ending at the end of your journey. Psychedelia of the Ashen Hawk tells the story of a woman living life as a man, lest she be outed as a witch, in a town no one can leave that is set in perpetual winter. Another standalone game in the series Psychedelia of the Black Butterfly is also on sale.
Psychedelia of the Ashen Hawk is reduced to $7.49 during the Steam Spring Sale.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley isn't technically an otome, but it has romance options and is an amazing deal during the Steam Spring Sale. After inheriting a farm in Stardew Valley from your grandfather, you move to the village to start your new life. Alongside romancing the various residents of the town, you build and manage your farm, go mining, fishing, attend festivals, and everything else cute and cozy. A beautiful adventure that will make you dream of rural life.
Stardew Valley is available for $8.99 until the end of the Steam Spring Sale.
Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds
Both Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms are discounted during the Steam Spring sale, but you should definitely play Kyoto Winds first if you haven't tried the series before. Surrounded by hunky samurai from the shinsengumi during the Edo period in Japan, it tells an old-school story, with a supernatural twist. Hakuoki is known for its huge number of suitors, and if you don't mind letting your boyfriend drink your blood now and then, this is the game for you.
Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds is priced at $5.99 during the Steam Spring Sale.
Ozmafia!
Ozmafia! has 13 different love interests, vast branching routes with multiple endings each, and an overarching story, or Grand Route, if you manage to romance them all. Waking up with no memory in a war torn world, you get closer to those around you in the hope that you can all survive. A story that goes in every way possible with a huge pay off at the end.
Ozmafia! costs $17.49 until the end of the Steam Spring Sale.
London Detective Mysteria
London Detective Mysteria is one of the beefier otome games out there, with a large number of suitors and very long varied stories for each potential companion. Attending a detective school for those gifted in the art of deduction, you'll meet – and can romance – famous characters from crime fact and fiction, such as Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Arsène Lupin, and Jack the Ripper. The perfect otome game for those who want to spend a long time wrapped up in a single world.
London Detective Mysteria is $14.99 until the end of the Steam Spring Sale.
Taisho X Alice
An episodic visual novel based on popular fairy tales, Taisho X Alice is an otome for those who want to be carried away in the fantasy. Across the game's three episodes and epilogue you'll romance seven gender-swapped fairytale princesses like Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and Cinderella. An otome for those who like twists on traditional stories.
Every episode of Taisho X Alice can be purchased as a bundle during the Steam Spring Sale for $14.99.
Amnesia: Memories
Amnesia: Memories is a classic game in the otome genre, and is the first game that many fans of the genre played. Waking up with no memory, and a pixie called Orion that only you can see, you try to find out what your life was like before without letting those around you learn how vulnerable you are. Whether you want a man who women find irresistible, or one who doesn't understand social cues at all, then Amnesia: Memories is the classic for you.
Amnesia: Memories is just $5.99 during the Steam Spring Sale.
Steam Prison
In a world of the haves and the have nots, our heroine lives in the utopia of the Heights, looking down on all those who live in the Depths. However, after being framed for her parents murder she is dropped below, and must befriend the hunky civilians in order to survive. The overall concept is strong, but the characterization is a little weaker, so it's one we wouldn't recommend if you are just dipping your toes into the genre.
Steam Prison is $17.49 until the end of the Steam Spring Sale.
Nightshade
If you didn't get your fill of samurai hotties with the Hakuoki series, then Nightshade should fill the gap. More than just full of enticing romances, Nightshade has five routes, and goes heavy on the world building of the lives of people in the Sengoku period. An otome with a traditional story structure, but has made sure that everything is well put together.
Nightshade costs $19.24 during the Steam Spring Sale.
The Steam Spring Sale is on now and ends on March 20, 2025.
The post Ten Discounted Otome Games From The Steam Spring Sale appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 7:19 PM
As you progress through your Outlaw Keycard quests in Fortnite, you'll encounter an objective asking to purchase an item from an Outlaw Vending Machine. Where do you find these? How much do items cost? Are any of them worth it? That's what we're here to find out.
How to find an Outlaw Vending Machine in Fortnite Chapter 6, Season 2
Outlaw vending machines mainly appear in Seaport City, Masked Meadows, and Crime City. Throughout these landmarks, you'll find vending machine icons on your map, usually appearing alongside decorative machines. These three spots also have multiple vending machines, so you don't have to worry about searching an entire city for one location.
Each vending machine usually has one of Fortnite's outlaws' names, such as Joss, Skillet, or Keisha Cross. If you see a name along the lines of "Joss' Vending Machine," you'll know you're in the right spot. They usually have a bright and colorful appearance, differentiating them from regular decorative items around the map.
Every vending machine offers two Thermite for 100 gold bars and a Plasma Burst Laser for 600 gold bars. The third and final item differs from each machine, but it's usually an epic-quality gun like an AR, sniper rifle, or SMG. These weapons almost always cost 600 gold bars, so make sure to save up some money before visiting one. Even outside of quests, vending machines are helpful if you want to break into a vault and need Thermite or want a quick and easy weapon.
Getting enough gold for these items is pretty easy if you break into enough vaults, eliminate a few players, or open a bunch of treasure chests for loot. You can also break gold veins for some extra bars and the Gold Rush buff for a quick movement speed boost.
The post How to purchase an item from an Outlaw Vending Machine in Fortnite appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 7:04 PM
If you're a fan of Roblox and Tokyo Ghoul, Ghoul://RE will provide you with endless hours of joy on Roblox.
There are several units from the ever-popular manga that have already been added to the game. They're present as part of two factions, and each faction has different clans. You'll always need to be a part of a clan, but they're not all the same. Let's look at which ones are the best for you to consider.
Complete Ghoul://RE Clan tier list
I have used a four-tier system to separate all the available clans in the game.
Complete Ghoul://RE Clan S-tier list
Complete Ghoul://RE Clan A-tier list
Complete Ghoul://RE Clan B-tier list
Complete Ghoul://RE Clan C-tier list
The C-tier clans are the full list of all the common clans available inside the game. They don't offer any buff, so you should change them as quickly as possible. Thankfully, you can reroll directly using 99 Robux or using Wipe Character from the shop using 30 Ghoul Points or CCG Points.
Additionally, you can also participate in the Permanent Death event. You'll be able to join a new clan for the fresh character after the older one dies. While the chances are high that you'll get a Common clan, try going for either a Rare or Mythical.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 7:04 PM
If you want to survive more than 5 minutes in Roblox GHOUL://RE, you're going to need something strong to protect yourself. Humans wield Quinques, and Ghouls grow Kagunes, and not all of them hit the same.
To help you out, we made a tier list for each faction. Please bear in mind that since this game is still in early access, things are subject to change. We'll do our best to keep you informed so you know which Quinque to go for, and hopefully, we'll be able to say the same for Kagunes, too.
Picking your Kagune and Quinque
First things first, as a CCG member (Human), you get to pick which Quinque you want, provided you have the right blueprint (and you often don't). Unfortunately, as a Ghoul, you don't get to pick your Kagune, but at least you get it earlier than Human players. Is this balanced? Obviously, not, but the game is still in development, so, hopefully, things will change.
While this is faithful to the Anime/Manga, it can lead to some frustrating situations (like getting the same Kagune, no matter how many times we reroll a character, or not even getting to play as one faction). So, even though it's not always up to you what you end up getting, it's nice to know where you are when it comes to the meta.
Quinque tier list
While you technically get to pick your Quinque, you still need to find the correct blueprint before you make one. While this can also be annoying, we think it's better than getting stuck with a Kagune you don't like.
S-rank Quinqu tier list
A-rank Quinque tier list
B-rank Quinque tier list
Kagune tier list
Once you hit Rank C as a Ghoul, you'll be able to use your Kagune. Unfortunately, what Kagune you get is ultimately up to the RNG Gods. Hopefully, this will change as the game gets more updates.
S-tier Kagune tier list
A-tier Kagune tier list
B-tier Kagune tier list
If you aren't sure how to get any of these weapons, or are just confused how the game works, check out our Complete Beginners guide to GHOUL://RE.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 7:04 PM
Thinking of becoming a Ghoul or a CCG Investigator inside Roblox GHOUL://RE? Here's how each faction works, what you need to know, and how you can survive for more than a few seconds.
All factions in GHOUL://RE
There are two factions in GHOUL://RE: Humans (CCG) and Ghouls. When you first start your game, you'll be randomly assigned to one of the two factions. You can pay some Robux to change your faction, or you can wait for Delirum (the perma-death mode which happens every hour), die during the event, and then, hopefully, get reborn as the other faction.
You'll have different things to do depending on which faction you play as, but if there's one thing that applies to both of them, it's to kill everything in site. Yup, attack NPC, other players of the opposite faction, and even other players of the same faction as you. It doesn't matter, and there aren't really any penalties (yet!), so do what every other player does and just attack everything you can. You will die, other players will die by your hand, and the process repeats.
The only reason why you'd want to avoid killing other players would be if you formed a crew.
How to play as a CCG Investigator (Human)
You'll know you've spawned as a Human if nothing special happens when you gain control of your character. Quickly, make your way to the CCG building (refer to our guide on All locations in GHOUL://RE Roblox if you can't find it), talk to the receptionist inside and become an official Investigator.
You may also head upstairs and get your first quest (where you simply stalk a ghoul target) to get some money. As soon as you have 100 yen, buy one of the starting weapons. You have a choice between a Katana, Twin daggers, and a Spear. As of this writing, the Twin Daggers are the best, followed by the Spear and then the Katana.
From then on, accept bounties to hunt Ghouls, hunt other players and take part in events. Essentially, go out and kill. Occasionally, come back to the CCG building to see if you've increased your rank.
One thing you should definitely keep an eye on is looting all items you come across. Right now, the game has a horrible inventory system, but you can still gather materials like Gold, Metal, Blueprints, and others. Use them to craft weapons inside the CCG building upstairs.
When you reach Investigator Rank one, you can accept a quest to get your Quinque. Definitely try doing this one with a crew because failing it means paying the 1,500 Yen fee again.
That's all there is to it: become an investigator, choose a weapon, kill everything you can until you rank up, and craft better weapons in the meantime.
How to play as a Ghoul
You'll know you've spawned as a Ghoul if you see a bunch of scary words appear on your screen when you first spawn.
Playing as a Ghouls in GHOUL://RE is, in our opinion, a lot easier and more straightforward. When you spawn, you can essentially start killing anything right away, but you'll only have your fists. Fortunately, you can easily remedy this by attacking Human NPCs.
Visit Helter Skelter and grab a quest from the Bountry Board, preferably one where you get to kill a set amount of human NPCs. This will help you rank up faster, and before you know it, you'll be ranked C and will grow your very own Kagune.
After getting your Kagune, you'll become a force to be reckoned with. Other players can still kill you, but you'll hit harder, you'll get more skills, and will look cooler. While there are a couple of Kagune currently in the game, it's mostly random what type you get.
If you want to RP, like in the Anime, you can visit the Art Studio and buy a mask to hide your identity. Quite honestly, after days of playing GHOUL://RE, we've only ever seen one player wear a mask, so this is up to you.
That's all there is to it; start killing weak Human NPCs, grow your Kagune, and start killing everything as you get even more powerful. No need to work for the CCG, or craft weapons, just devour your enemies.
Have fun in GHOUL://RE. If you still need some pointers, check out our Ultimate Beginner's guide to GHOUL://RE.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 7:04 PM
GHOUL://RE can be quite overwhelming and really frustrating, especially when you first start playing. If you manage to get a moment of peace and avoid the mindless slaughter that's happening all over the map, you will start to wonder where you are, what you need to do, how to progress, and why are players in your own faction attacking you (seriously, why?).
To make your journey through GHOUL://RE a bit more bearable, we've made a list of all key locations with a brief explanation on what they do.
How to find your way in GHOUL://RE
Press the "P" button at any time to display the names of all the locations on your screen. For some reason, this will also dim your screen a bit. Simply face one of the locations and follow it, and you should be there in no time, provided you don't get slaughtered along the way, which can very easily happen. At first, we were frustrated the game didn't have a map, but later, we figured we didn't really need one as it would be more confusing than anything. The "P" option is realistically all you need to find your way around.
All locations in GHOUL://RE
Now that you know how to find your way around, here's every location in the game and why you'd want to visit it.
CCG
If you're playing as a Human, this is going to be your go-to place. When you first spawn, head here to register as an investigator, buy and craft weapons, take missions and bounties, and even a place to hide when a group of angry ghouls start chasing you.
Helter Skelter
This is, kind of, the Ghoul version of CCG. Here, you can see how much you need to progress and take bounties. There aren't really any Ghoul quests in the game yet, so Helter Skelter is the best Ghouls have at this time.
Anteiku
A neutral zone for both factions but more catered towards Ghouls. Either faction can take on delivery quests here and drink coffee for a small buff. Ghouls can also climb upstairs to access another bounty board.
Clothing Store
If you don't wear clothes in GHOUL://RE, every few minutes you will get stunned because of the cold outside. To avoid this, as soon as you have 100 Yen, visit the clothing store and buy yourself something to wear. Humans can also buy a CCG suit from the CCG building but it's a lot more expensive.
Art Studio
For Ghouls only (Humans can also enter, but there's no point). It may seem funny, given how freely everyone fights each other in this game, but Ghouls are supposed to hide their identity. As soon as you rank up as a ghoul, your rank will appear on the player list, so all players will know you're a ghoul.
Most Ghoul players don't seem to care about this, but you can buy a mask from the Art Studio in order to hide your Ghoul rank. On paper, this should make Humans attack you less, but in our experience, many players will attack you no matter what (be you Human, Ghoul, or anything else).
Park
The Park doesn't have much of a purpose in this game. There is an NPC inside who will buy all your stuff for very little Yen, so if you need some quick cash, this might come in handy.
Construction Site
Currently, there isn't any good reason to visit the Construction Site. However, we did find it to be a good place where Human NPCs spawn, so if you need a snack as a Ghoul, feel free to visit.
Hospital
You'd think this a place where you can recover health but, as of writing this, it's just a building with an NPC inside (presumably a doctor) who can check how much RC you have (if you're a Ghoul). Hopefully this location will become more relevant as the game gets updated.
Remember, no matter where you are going in GHOUL://RE, you'll be attacked, and you'll likely get killed. Our advice: Embrace the madness. If you still need help, check out our Complete Beginner's guide to GHOUL://RE.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 7:04 PM
If you're looking forward to the upcoming GHOUL://RE Roblox game, you're in the right place. Whether you are wondering about the combat, the crafting, or just when you can play the game, we've got the links, and we're here to share them. Here's everything you can find at the official GHOUL://RE Trello Board.
GHOUL://RE Trello Guide
First of all, here are all the links to everything GHOUL://RE:
We'll be keeping a close eye on GHOUL://RE, and keep you posted about changes, guides, and especially, codes (provided the game has any when it launches).
Here's everything you can learn about the game from the official Trello board:
GHOUL://RE Discord server
The official Discord server is lively and is a great place to ask questions, make suggestions, or just talk to other like-minded fans of the game. Joining the Discord is also a mandatory step if you want to get into early access. And, before you ask, YES, they do host giveaways on the server.
If you're planning to join the server, definitely keep an eye on the announcements and sub-announcements, as those are usually the first places the devs post updates on the game.
That's all there is to it for our Official GHOUL://RE Trello Board guide. Stay tuned to Destructoid for more GHOUL://RE guides and walkthroughs.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 7:04 PM
GHOUL://RE can be an absolutely abysmal experience if you don't know what you need to do. True to the nature of many Roblox games, you'll be thrown into the world, expect to know everything while a swarm of high level players absolutely destroy you. What fun!
This is exactly why we created this Complete Beginner's guide to GHOUL://RE, so you can have a better experience than we initially had.
Table of contents
Character Creation
The first time you log into the game, you'll get to choose between either being male or female, and picking a name for your character. Unfortunately, you won't get to choose the team you'll be playing on, which is probably for the best, but we digress.
You'll be randomly assigned to either CCG (Humans) or Ghouls. If you aren't happy with your choice, fear not, because you'll be seeing this screen relatively soon, and hopefully, you'll be able to try out the other team (hopefully).
Basic controls in GHOUL://RE
We highly recommend you take a look at the controls before you attempt to play GHOUL://RE. Definitely make sure you to remember the controls for grabbing (because it's used as a finisher), as you'll be using this one a lot.
Keyboard keybinds
Controller keybinds
As of writing this, the game doesn't have controller support. We played around with a controller for a bit, but all we managed to do was move, jump and navigate the UI menus. Unfortunately, we couldn't get our character to fight no matter what we tried, so until proper controller support is added, we recommend you stick with the keyboard + mouse combo.
How to progress in GHOUL://RE
GHOUL://RE describes itself as a hardcore PvP game, and it certainly lives up to that description. As soon as you spawn into the world, you are essentially a sitting duck, just waiting for high level players to destroy you, even if they gain nothing out of doing so.
To progress in GHOUL://RE, you need to kill other players (sometimes NPCs), not get killed by other players, and occasionally upgrade your skills and weapons. This is the basic gameplay loop regardless if you're playing as a ghoul or human.
One thing you definitely need to keep in mind is: you will die over, and over, and over again. If you're okay with that, cool, you'll fit right in. Otherwise, this may not be the game for you. You'll likely die less if you're playing in a group, but if you're going in solo (like we did), get ready for a less-than-ideal experience of you getting killed, spawn killed, and killed again until you figure everything out. Alternatively, you can read this guide and avoid all of that.
CCG Progression in GHOUL://RE
If you've spawned as a human, the first thing you need to do is visit the CCG building and become an Investigator. The CCG building is located around the middle of the map. Just look for a walled building with a little park in the walled area, and you're all set. You'll likely see other CCG humans coming in and out of the building. Walk in and talk to the receptionist to become a member.
From then on, you can accept missions, bounties and take part in events around town for the CCG. You can also buy and craft weapons from this building. Our advice is to pick up a starter weapon, find or create a crew of other humans, and go on a patrol to gain some experience so you can improve your Stats & Skills.
At Investigator rank 1, you'll be able to create your first Quinque. Definitely bring a crew with you for this because you may end up losing your money if you fail.
Unfortunately, if you're playing as a human, you'll likely have a harder time leveling up than playing as a ghoul but this should change for the better as development of the game continues.
Ghoul Progression in GHOUL://RE
As a ghoul you need to eat other human players and NPCs to increase your RC, which ultimately makes you stronger. While you can't regenerate your health as fast as humans, you have more health, are stronger and, yeah, you're more likely to win fights. The only annoying thing is you need to keep your Hunger in check by constantly eating, but that's just part of being a ghoul.
When you gain 5,000 RC, you can wake up your Kugane which makes you almost unbeatable to the point where the only thing other players can do is wait for your Hunger bar to drop.
Ghouls can also accept missions from Anteiku which can earn them ranks and some money.
How to reroll your faction in GHOUL://RE
Every server hour, there will be a perma-death showdown between all players - Delirum. You'll be given a warning when this is about to start, and you can choose to close the game and move to a different server. During the deathmatch, you earn improved rewards, better loot, but if you get killed, you lose everything, including your character.
While this may sound bad, it's also a chance for you to get reborn, or in other words, change your faction. If you die during the perma-death event, you'll be sent to purgatory, and you'll get a chance to be reborn again and start fresh. It's still random whether or not you'll be reborn as the other faction, but either way, you'll start from scratch no matter what you end up getting.
So, if you're sick of being a human, hopefully you can get reborn as a ghoul, or vice-versa.
That's all there is to it for our Official GHOUL://RE beginners guide. Stay tuned to Destructoid for more GHOUL://RE guides and walkthroughs.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 6:09 PM
The original Kingdom Come: Deliverance featured a brutal hardcore mode, bringing a new challenge for experienced players. The sequel promises a fresh twist on this, but it won't be available until after launch. Here's when you can expect KCD2's hardcore mode to finally make its debut.
When does Hardcore mode come out in KCD2?
According to the Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 roadmap, hardcore mode will be released sometime in the Spring of 2025. The new updates have already started rolling out with the latest Barber feature, and now Hardcore Mode is the next one on the list. This could mean it will arrive as soon as late March or early April.
While we have yet to get an official release date, the Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's official Twitter/X states that "hardcore mode is coming soon." I speculate that it will be coming in early April, given that the Barber Mode was pretty substantial (90 GB, to be exact). Having another major update in the same month may not seem promising, but there's still hope for an additional patch release.
If KCD2's hardcore mode is anything like its predecessor, there will certainly be a lot included with the upcoming patch. For example, the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance removed handy features like fast travel, Henry's health/stamina bar, and auto-saves. The second iteration will likely follow suit, but we won't know for sure until more details are revealed.
We'll also be getting horse racing either with the following update or sometime after hardcore mode's launch. You may want to start preparing for this by looking for the best horses in the game, particularly ones with high speed. By the summertime, you can look forward to the new bonus quests from the expansion pass. This includes the Brushes with Death during the Summer, Legacy of the Forge in Autumn, and Mysteria Ecclesiae in Winter.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 6:02 PM
Crucial disclaimer right off the bat: I like Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2. It's a great game that handles its subject matter well and delivers on all its promises with gusto. Regardless, I bounced off of its post-campaign Operations content because I just felt too weak, which was wild.
There's a bunch of context I'd like to go over for this article because all of it matters a fair bit, but the gist of my point is that the developer Saber Interactive has failed to deliver on a key aspect of the Astartes fantasy, and I can't help but feel that the newly announced Space Marine 3 will have those same issues.
Many Space Marine 2 players are unhappy with such a fast announcement turnover for its sequel because it might mean less post-launch support for the currently relevant game, but that's not the case with me. I'm very much looking forward to Space Marine 3, however long it might take for it to come out, but I fear it will fall into the same trappings as its predecessor did in Operations Mode.
Space Marine 2 makes you feel weak in Operations, and that's no good at all
The majority of my problems with Space Marine 2 don't apply to Campaign Mode. Or, at least, not its highest difficulties. The main Campaign is all well and good, and Titus is an appropriately powerful protagonist for a game such as this. Carefully curated combat encounters and properly balanced enemies ensure as much.
No, my issues stem almost exclusively from the post-campaign Operations Mode, which is supposed to keep players busy for dozens of hours on end. The thing is, you are extremely weak in Operations. So weak that even the regular run-of-the-mill enemies can melt tank-wearing Übermensch in mere seconds when push comes to shove. Now, I wouldn't mind the Astartes' apparently crummy armor all that much if I could grind my way through enemies at a reasonable enough pace. Yet, I cannot because Space Marine 2's vision of a Bolter is effectively that of a shoddy sub-gun. It takes ages to whittle down anything but the weakest of enemies in this game, and this only gets worse the further you go in Operations Mode.
Crucially, Operations' entire progression loop is centered around slowly upping the difficulty to access higher-grade weapon upgrades and resources. If you're not increasing the difficulty, you're not progressing, and the higher the difficulty, the tankier and harder-hitting the enemies get. Sure, your Astartes does get more capable over time, but there's such a ridiculous discrepancy between players and enemies in Space Marine 2 that it gets downright unplayable if you're not abusing meta strategies even at medium difficulties.
I fully understand and appreciate that Space Marine 2 generally gives you all the tools you need to overcome most situations in Operations Mode. Keep in mind that I also don't claim to be anything but average at this game.
My point is purely that at no time while playing Operations have I felt like an Astartes. Sure, my character's footsteps would echo and those Bolters sure did sound awesome, but they fired to no effect and I'd die to the faintest modicum of gunfire in key situations.
Saber Interactive can do challenging difficulties, but this failed to materialize in Space Marine 2
Before someone jumps at me in the comments, I'm reasonably well-versed in 40K lore and understand just how powerful a Tyranid Warrior or a Lictor truly would be. Having them tear down through Marines like a hot knife through butter makes sense at some level, but is that really what the game is supposed to be about?
Space Marine 2 pitches itself as a game about the Astartes: it should be able to sell the fantasy of controlling what is effectively a super-human tank. Instead, Space Marine 2's Astartes are underpowered in every sense of the word, and they face huge numbers of extremely tanky and hard-hitting enemies no matter where they go and what they do.
The strange bit, to me, is that Saber Interactive's prior flagship release, WWZ: Aftermath, did a much better job of cranking up its difficulty while still allowing the player to feel powerful. WWZ's challenge lies in its hordes of weak zombies, where even "special" enemies can be taken down quickly if you coordinate appropriately. In Space Marine 2, this is only possible if all players in your fireteam have many upgrades and an optimum combat loadout. Even then, it sometimes takes a while to get through encounters.
Space Marine 2 fails to deliver on a crucial aspect of the Astartes fantasy due to its overreliance on high health pools and a frankly subpar weapon roster. Do I really have to min-max my way through medium difficulty levels in Operations Mode?
The true kicker is that Saber Interactive hasn't changed how Operations Mode works after player feedback. Things are now better than they were on day one, yes, but the gist of the Astartes being fairly weak glass cannons hasn't changed. Will it be any different in Space Marine 3, then? I've got my hopes, but I've got my doubts, as well.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 5:46 PM
While you're exploring and battling your way through the monsters in the Mines in Fields of Mistria, you will come across various items and resources. If you want to complete the collections at the Museum, you'll need to find at least one of everything.
Tidestone is one such item, classed as an Artifact as part of the Tide Cavern Artifact Set at the Museum, but it is also used as a crafting resource. As such, it's worth gathering as many as you can and stocking up whenever you can.
Where to find Tidestone in Fields of Mistria
Tidestone can be found on floors 21 to 40 of the Mines, otherwise known as Tide Caverns. To get down to these watery depths, you'll need to break through the Water Seal on floor 20, which requires you to find and place the following items on the pedestals in front of the door:
All of these items can be found in the Upper Mines (floors 1 - 20), and none are considered rare. Once you've found them all and placed them on the pedestals, you'll gain access to the second biome of the Mines.
Tidestone is an Artifact, so you won't find it simply lying on the floor of the Mines. Instead, you'll need to find little bumps on the ground that signify a Dig Spot. Using your Pickaxe on these spots will reward you with an Artifact, but there's no guarantee it will be a Tidestone.
Alternatively, once you've reached Archaeology level 15, you can purchase the "Stoneturner" Skill Perk from Caldarus' Statue on the Farm for 40 Essence. This Skill Perk allows you to get Artifacts simply from breaking Stones in the Mines, so it's handy to have either way.
How to use Tidestone in Fields of Mistria
The main and first use for Tidestone should always be to hand the first one you find into the Museum as part of the Tide Cavern Artifact Set. Completing this set will reward you with unique rewards, depending on when you complete it, so that should be your first move when you discover your first Tidestone.
However, after that's done, Tidestone can also be used to craft a Toilet as part of the Bathroom Set. This set was added in the first major update and includes everything you need to create a full bathroom setup, including the toilet. While you can't actually use it (and have no in-game need to do so), it's nice to have the illusion.
To get the recipe for a Toilet, you'll need to visit Merri's Stall at the Saturday Market, and you can purchase the Toilet recipe (if she has it in stock on any given Saturday) for 200 Tesserae.
To craft a Toilet, you'll need one Tidestone as well as the following resources:
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 5:09 PM
The March update for Monster Hunter Wilds brought a tough new challenge: the Nightflower Pollen nerf. Farming these items just got harder, and even those using the traditional method will run into trouble. Find out how to get Nightflower Pollen with the new patch.
Table of contents
How to fix 'Nightflower Pollen not blooming during Full Moon' in MH Wilds
Upon the launch of Monster Hunter Wilds, players discovered a Nightflower Pollen farming method by participating in several quests. Now that this technique has been nerfed, you'll have to do it the old-fashioned way by waiting for the Full Moon to appear. However, you can't do the simple method of resting until Nighttime. You'll need to do this instead:
Although it seems quicker to rest until Nighttime, this method does not cause the Nightflower Pollen to bloom. Many players (including myself) had an issue with this, so you'll just have to do the waiting game from the Evening point. I personally tried out this technique, and it did indeed work.
All Nightflower Pollen locations in MH Wilds
To help you find Nightflower Pollen, check out these spots:
Windward Plains Area 3/4
At the top of Area 3, you'll find a Nightflower Pollen location. Travel to Area 4 (Mineral Cave fast travel works best) and use your Seikret to get up higher. Utilize some vines to reach an elevated area, and you'll find the pollen near some Mining Outcrops.
Windward Plains Area 10
Area 10's Nightflower Pollen location will be right out in the open. Nevertheless, you'll still need to be careful of any surrounding monsters.
Scarlet Forest Area 17
To reach Area 17, you must take the pathway on Area 14. While on your way up, you can see Nightflower Pollen when you reach the top of Zone 17. It'll be near some Honey and a Flashbug.
Look around these locations during the Full Moon to gather as much Nightflower Pollen as you can. While it's not as significant as the previous farming methods, it at least gives you quite a bit of them. Then, you can exchange them through Item Trades (in the same area as Material Retrieval), opening the door to Gold Relic Tickets and Hard Armor Spheres. Both items are crucial for upgrading your Armor, including rare Decorations for various buffs.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 4:45 PM
The FUT Birthday Challenge 4 SBC is now live in EA FC 25, and you can complete it to unlock a pack for almost free of cost.
The conditions for completing this challenge is pretty simple, and you should have most of the fodder available in your club. If not, the required cards can be purchased from the market directly in order to complete the SBC.
Let's take a look at how to finish the SBC, followed by the rewards on over.
EA FC 25 FUT Birthday Challenge 4 SBC tasks
The FUT Birthday Challenge 4 SBC has one tasks, and here are the requirements.
Task - FUT Birthday Challenge 4
EA FC 25 FUT Birthday Challenge 4 SBC solutions
Here's a solution to use in order to complete the latest fodder challenge.
After completing the challenge, you'll get a Rare Mixed Players Pack. This pack includes 12 items with 4 Rare Bronze, 4 Rare Silver, and 4 Rare Gold Player items. Any one of those 12 cards will be rated 81 or higher, and there's a chance to get a walkout/promo card.
At worst, you can use these cards to complete different SBCs that are currently live in Ultimate Team. The list includes some terrific ones like Karim Adeyemi FUT Birthday and Yaya Toure FUT Birthday Hero.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 4:36 PM
After the most recent update to Blood Strike, every Striker has received all new EVO skills as well as some much needed balancing and reworks. We've put together a Blood Strike Striker tier list to rank all the best strikers currently in the game.
Blood Strike Tier List
The goal of this Blood Strike striker tier list is to provide the best strikers in the game in a competitive setting, including Battle Royale, Squad Fight, and Hot Zone. There are currently 15 total strikers in Blood Strike as of the 1st anniversary update titled EVO Battlefield that released on March 14, 2025.
Our strikers in the S Tier are the best all around, offering versatile playstyles that allow you to dominate in all game modes of Blood Strike. Those strikers in the A Tier have solid toolkits that allow you to hold your own in most situations and are formidable options as well. Strikers in the B Tier have specific situations or scenarios in which they shine, making them worthwhile. However, our strikers in the C Tier are a bit weaker compared to the other strikers at the moment and hopefully get some buffs soon.
Here is our Blood Strike strikers tier list as of the EVO battlefield update including the best strikers currently available to play in all three game modes:
S Tier
A Tier
B Tier
C Tier
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 4:20 PM
Traits are one of the essential parts of your character progression in Verse Piece. Traits boost your damage and increase your stats, while some allow you to unlock weapons that make leveling a breeze. Find out which traits to go for when rerolling with our Verse Piece traits guide down below!
Verse Piece Trait Tier List
The above tier list ranks all Verse Piece traits from best to worst based on how much they increase your damage and stats overall. In general, higher damage multiplier values give you more DPS than flat Special and Sword stat bonuses. Defense stat bonuses are exponentially stronger if you pair them up with a race such as Half Cyborg.
How do Traits Work in Verse Piece?
In Verse Piece, traits multiply your damage no matter what Weapon, Spec, or Fruit you are using. This increase in damage becomes much more noticeable when you boost them with the right trait passives. Most traits in Verse Piece increase your stats as well. Some traits give you titles, like the Honored One, while others, such as Zenin and Heavenly Restriction, are used to acquire Maki and Toji weapons.
Complete Verse Piece Traits List
How to Get Traits in Verse Piece
You can reroll traits in Verse Piece by paying five gems to the Traits Reroll NPC. You can find them on the Frost Town island. There is a safety feature when rerolling that requires you to confirm if you want to reroll Legendary, Mythic, or Exotic traits, so reroll without worries. You can see your current trait in Verse Piece, the damage multiplier, and the stat points it gives you in your character menu.
How to Store Traits in Verse Piece
In Verse Piece, if you want to save one of the traits you rolled for later use in getting a weapon or a spec that requires it, you can store it in your trait storage. Keep in mind that you first need to unlock trait storage slots by using the Trait Storage material.
You can purchase Trait Storage from the Adventure Shop on the Merchant Island or trade for it with someone. Later, you will want to have at least one trait storage slot because it allows you to save your current trait before rerolling.
Verse Piece Trait Progression
When you just start out in the Verse Piece world, try to get traits like God-Like or Spiritual because of the stat boost they provide. For the mid-game, Zenin and Heavenly Restriction boost your damage while allowing you to obtain legendary-tier weapons, so go for them. However, later on, Mythic and Exotic tier traits are the way to go if you want to stay competitive in Verse Piece.
Honored One is the best Mythic trait because of the title you get with it, while Rage Revenge offers slightly more damage. Your end-game goals should be Monarch, Rejected Zenin, and the Betrayer, as they are the best traits in Verse Piece.
This is it for our Verse Piece traits guide. If you are looking to claim some freebies, including free Race Rerolls and Storage, then check out our list of Verse Piece codes.
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Destructoid Friday, March 14, 2025 4:16 PM
To accompany the just-released NVIDIA RTX Remix featuring DLSS 4 and RTX Neural Shaders, we can soon visit the classic horror level from Half-Life 2 featuring the complete RTX package. Technically, it looks great, but do we like it?
The remaster was made by Orbifold Studios, a community studio that clearly cares about the game. I love seeing Valve and NVIDIA not only allowing the existence of remasters such as these but straight-up promoting them via their official channels. Still, many fans likely won't be pleased by this trip down memory lane.
We don't go to Ravenholm RTX
Ravenholm looks very well-lit in RTX, probably too much so. Like, the game itself looks spectacular — especially for something that's over two decades old. Still, this is absolutely not the vibe we got from the original Ravenholm — and likely not what the devs had intended it to feel like when sending us in there.
Ravenholm is the most unique of all the locations in the two mainline Half-Life games. It was meant as a peculiar palate cleanser, one where the game would make a turn to full-on horror territory for one level, and people loved it. To this day, Ravenholm is one of the most well-remembered areas in the history of FPS games. Fans love it because it manages to perfectly adapt Half-Life 2's smart puzzles to this hellish survival horror-esque scenario. We know Valve also thinks Ravenholm is special because they've talked about it at length, but because they heavily featured it as far back as Half-Life 2's first gameplay reveal to showcase its excellent usage of the game's (then) new physics prowess.
Ravenholm also served as a great showcase for lighting by featuring an unnerving lack of lit areas. It used to be dark and scary, the place "you don't go to." Now it looks almost inviting, which probably isn't ideal for a horror level.
I'm sure many of the options will be customizable, meaning that we'll probably get to tweak RTX Ravenholm to be scarier, but I just don't get why they'd decide to show it in what looks like daytime.
Still, I'm glad that it exists because it doesn't replace the classic mode and is a neat addition that might bring in new fans. Also, I'm pretty sure the rest of the game can look fantastic through the RTX lens. For now, you'll be able to experience Ravenholm RTX on March 18.
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