Gamers Heroes recently spoke with legendary Composer Grant Kirkhope at GDC 2025 about his work on the Yooka-Replaylee soundtrack, what inspires him, and more - learn more with our interview.
Gamers Heroes recently spoke with SWERY at GDC 2025's ID@Xbox event to discuss Hotel Barcelona's collaborative elements with SUDA51, its horror elements, and even his favorite scary movie.
Gamers Heroes met with Pew Pew Games at GDC 2025 to discuss Terminull Brigade's Nullverses, distinct Rogueteers, and sheer passion - learn more with our preview.
March 23, 2025: We've added the latest Monopoly Go dice links for free dice rolls.
How can I get Monopoly Go free dice links? The household favorite board game has been reimagined as a free-to-play app on smartphones, allowing everyone to experience the thrills of Monopoly on practically any device. Everything that makes the board game special is here in Monopoly Go, so you'll be collecting properties and building hotels as you go around the board, and there are a variety of multiplayer minigames to get through along the way.
You're going to need to get your hands on Monopoly dice rolls, but they are difficult to come by no matter how far you are into the board game. There are ways to earn additional dice rolls, including logging into the game every day to collect daily bonuses, progressing further in the game, and inviting friends to try Monopoly Go. While you can also spend real money to unlock more dice rolls, you may want to give our list of Monopoly Go dice links a try instead, especially if you're waiting for the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event. Take a look at all the currently active Monopoly Go free dice links for today.
The recent release of Atelier Yumia is here. This brings with it the start of a new sub-series in the Gust series. Looking back at all games, what is the best Atelier game? This is a question our Siliconera staff wants to find out. Look below for our picks for the best Atelier game in the series. Some of the results may surprise you!
Screenshot by Siliconera
Siliconera Speaks Up: Our Favorite Atelier Games
I miss the Atelier Iris trilogy. I think it would be fantastic to see a remaster collection that brought all three games back for the Switch, PS5, and PC. I mean, we've seen NIS bring back its PS2 classics. It feels like it's time to revisit those JRPGs. -- Jenni
The Atelier Iris trilogy was fantastic. However, if I had to pinpoint my favourite entry from the series, it would be Atelier Iris 2. Not only did it have the most engaging plot, but the dynamic between the characters was surprisingly heartfelt. Hopefully, the trilogy will return in some fashion to modern consoles. -- Yasmine
Call me nostalgic, but I am still a sucker for the very first Atelier game I ever played: Atelier Rorona. Rorona has the right mix of simplicity in its 3D visuals and combat while still having enough depth in the synthesis mechanics. I also appreciate the daily system with requirements for completing objectives before time runs out. This gives the game an almost Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons vibe to it, which is quite different from the more open-world, action-packed adventures of more recent Atelier games. That said, the recent Atelier Yumia is a close second for me. It broadens the series in such smart ways with a fun open-world to explore and a surprisingly solid story. Strangely enough, Atelier Yumia is pretty much what I wanted Tales of Arise to be, though not necessarily what I wanted the Atelier series to be. That said, it is an incredible game if you look at it without the lens of the rest of the franchise. -- Cody
The Dream Big Objective is a really interesting set of tasks in EA FC 25 that can reward you with new packs, evolutions, and a promo player as the highlight.
The new objective set has several tasks to complete, and finishing all of them will require a fair bit of time. Let's take a look at all the available rewards, along with how to obtain them.
EA FC 25 Dream Big Objective guide
The new objective has ten tasks to complete.
Task
How to Complete
Rewards
Kick-Off Whistle
Play 1 match in Ultimate Team game mode
Ethan Nwaneri Dreamchasers 20 games loan
Chasing the Win
Win 6 matches in any Ultimate Team mode while using a Dreamchasers item in your starting eleven
1000 SP
Born to Score
Score 8 goals in any Ultimate Team mode while using a Dreamchasers item in your starting elven
82+ x10 Rare Gold Players Pack
Lights, Camera, Goals!
Score 10 goals in Rivals/Champions or Ultimate Team Friendlies while using a Dreamchasers item in your starting eleven
84+ x4 Rare Gold Players Pack
Long-Range Dreamer
Score 3 goals from outside the box in Rivals/Champions or Ultimate Team Friendlies while using a Dreamchasers item in your starting eleven
84+ x5 Rare Gold Players Pack
Hats Off
Score 3 goals in a single match in Rivals/Champions or Live Ultimate Team Friendlies while using a Dreamchasers item in your starting eleven
1 of 4 85+ Rare Gold Players Pack
Flying High
Score 1 bicycle kick in any game mode while using a Dreamchasers item in your starting eleven
1 of 2 87+ Rare Gold Players Pack
Finesse the Dream
Score 4 Finesse goals in Rivals/Champions/Ultimate Team Friendlies while using a Dreamchasers item in your starting eleven
Finesse Shot and Trivela base playstyles
Power & Precision
Score 4 Power Shot goals in Rivals/Champions/Ultimate Team Friendlies while using a Dreamchasers item in your starting eleven
Power Shot and Chip Shot base playstyles
Dream Through the Gaps
Assist 4 goals with through balls in Rivals/Champions/Ultimate Team Friendlies while using a Dreamchasers item in your starting eleven
Incisive Pass base playstyle
Screenshot via Destructoid
While the individual rewards are decent, the main reason behind the grind is the 90-rated Wilson Odobert RTTF card. This is the first special item of the Spurs wonderkid, and he can also secure upgrades in the future if his club can do well in the Europa League. A future evolution like Strike Force could improve this item massively, so make sure to complete the objective till it's live in Ultimate Team.
The Ole Gunnar Solksjaer Dreamchasers Hero SBC is now live in EA FC 25, and it offers a surprising balance of affordability and quality.
This is the best version of Solksjaer in Ultimate Team, and you'll have to complete all the tasks to obtain the item. Let's take a look at how you can complete the latest challenge and if doing so is worth your coins.
EA FC 25 Ole Gunnar Solksjaer Dreamchasers Hero SBC tasks
The new Dreamchasers Hero SBC has three tasks, and here are the requirements.
Task 1 - Manchester United
Min. 1 Players from: Manchester Utd
Min. 1 Players: Team of the Week
Min. Team Rating: 84
Task 2 - Premier League
Min. 1 Players from: Premier League
Min. Team Rating: 85
Task 3 - Top Form
Min. 1 Players: Team of the Week
Min. Team Rating: 86
EA FC 25 Ole Gunnar Solksjaer Dreamchasers Hero SBC solutions
Here's a set of solutions to complete the new Hero SBC in Ultimate Team.
Task 1 - Manchester United
Any 87-rated TOTW item
Savinho 82
Schmidt 82
Viggosdottir 84
Marta 84
Lobotka 82
Partey 82
Mane 84
Jorginho 82
Koulibaly 84
Casemiro 84
Task 2 - Premier League
Dallmann 84
Caruso 84
Doorsoun 84
Miedema 85
Buchanan 84
Le Sommer 85
Marta 84
Kimmich 86
Mane 84
Calhanoglu 86
Stones 85
Task 3 - Top Form
Any 88-rated TOTW item
Kelly 86
Baltimore 84
Alba Redondo 84
Little 86
Mac Allister 86
Alexander-Arnold 86
Foord 85
Girelli 85
Kimmich 86
Mahrez 85
Is the Ole Gunnar Solksjaer Dreamchasers Hero SBC worth completing in EA FC 25?
Screenshot by Destructoid
The new Solksjaer item offers incredible value, given that you have to spend less than 100,000 coins to get all the required fodder. It also offers 5* Weak Foot, along with 92 Pace and 94 Shooting. Press Proven+ is underrated in the current meta, while Finesse Shot+ remains as overpowered as ever.
This is an absolute bargain SBC you should complete to add a new bench option. There's a high chance for the card to improve in the future with the help of an evolution. In fact, this SBC overtakes the Dayot Upamecano Dreamchasers challenge in terms of value for fodder.
Controversial skater and Jackass personality Bam Marger will make a return to the iconic series, and there's an awesome reason behind it.
Margera had, up until now, been absent from the list of skaters present in the upcoming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, but according to the latest episode of The Live Club skate podcast, Margera will be indeed making a return, and because the Birdman himself insisted on it.
As caught by VGC, the podcasters explain that Tony Hawk himself called Activision and said that they were going to put Bam in the game. The game was already done, but Hawk was unflinching and had the studio fly Bam in last minute to get his body scanned to be in the game.
"The game was already done," host Roger Bagley explained. "Tony called up Activision and was like, 'hey, we're putting Bam in the thing,' and they were like, 'hey, we can't'. He goes 'no, you're gonna do it,' and basically made them fly Bam back out there to get body-scanned and everything else, and get him back in the game."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-PedsiljOc
Who is Bam Margera?
Bam Margera is a skater whose DIY CKY movie series paved the way for mainstream success with MTV's Jackass and its films, as well as his spin-off series, Viva la Bam. In recent years, Margera's longstanding struggle with drug and alcohol addiction has forced him out of the public eye and larger projects and even led to production of the latest Jackass installment, Jackass Forever, moving on without him.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 will be released on July 11 for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC; Collector's or Deluxe edition owners will get early access starting July 8. The game will also feature cross-platform multiplayer, and launch day one will be on Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
The GOAT Behaviour Evolution is now available in EA FC 25, and you can spend 100,000 coins to upgrade a card of your choice.
Despite not being free, the latest evolution offers substantial updates. There's plenty of stat boosts, along with new playstyles roles. Let's take a look at the evolution requirements and upgrades, followed by the best players to use.
Here are the requirements for GOAT Behaviour Evolution in EA FC 25.
Max Pos. 3
Overall Max. 89
Position RW
Max PS 10
Max PS+ 2
Pace Max. 91
Physicality Max. 82
EA FC 25 GOAT Behaviour Evolution upgrades
There are five levels of upgrades with certain conditions to unlock them in the first place.
Upgrade level 1
Rarity In-Progress Evolution
Role++ RW Inside Forward++
PlayStyle Technical (^10)
Overall +5 (^92)
Pace +10 (^91)
Crossing +30 (^90)
Vision +35 (^90)
Ball Control +35 (^92)
Upgrade level 2
Rarity In-Progress Evolution
New Pos. ST (^4)
Role++ ST False 9++
PlayStyle Finesse Shot (^10)
Overall +5 (^92)
Shooting +20 (^92)
Agility +30 (^92)
Dribbling (attr.) +35 (^92)
Upgrade level 3
Rarity In-Progress Evolution
PlayStyle+ Technical (^2)
PlayStyle First Touch (^10)
PlayStyle Trivela (^10)
Overall +5 (^92)
Pace +15 (^91)
Balance +30 (^92)
Fk Accuracy +50
Upgrade level 4
Rarity In-Progress Evolution
SM +4 ★ (^5)
PlayStyle Dead Ball (^10)
Overall +5 (^92)
Shooting +20 (^92)
Reactions +40 (^92)
Short Passing +40 (^90)
Curve +40 (^90)
Upgrade level 5
Rarity Evolutions III
PlayStyle+ First Touch (^2)
PlayStyle Low Driven Shot (^10)
Overall +2 (^92)
Physicality +25 (^82)
Long Passing +30 (^90)
Composure +40 (^92)
Upgrade level 1 requirements
Play 3 matches in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.
Upgrade level 2 requirements
Play 3 matches in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.
Upgrade level 3 requirements
Play 3 matches in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.
Win 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.
Upgrade level 4 requirements
Play 4 matches in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.
Win 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.
Upgrade level 5 requirements
Play 3 matches in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.
Win 2 matches in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.
Best players to use in EA FC 25 GOAT Behaviour Evolution
There are over 15,000 options, and here are some of the best cards to consider.
Michael Olise Thunderstruck
Jairzinho Base Icon
Viktor Ibarbo Streets Won't Forget
Rodrygo TOTW
Lamine Yamal Succession
Riyad Mahrez Globetrotters
Jarrod Bowen Winter Wildcards
Bukayo Saka Thunderstruck
Bernardo Silva Winter Wildcards
These items make the best choices considering the stat upgrades and new playstyle+ on offer. As an alternative, you can also include a chained evo item to upgrade it further.
The Strike Force Evolution is now live in EA FC 25, and it offers an excellent set of upgrades to a card of your choice.
To unlock the evolution, you'll have to spend either 500,000 coins or 1,000 FC Points. While the evolution is expensive, you get excellent set of stat boosts, playstyles, and roles. Let's take a look at the best possible cards to include in this evolution along with the requirements and upgrades.
Gamers Heroes recently sat down for a hands-on experience of WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers at GDC 2025 - see what awaits in this dark and fantastical world with our preview.
Gamers Heroes recently got a chance to check out Blades of Fire's forging, unique combat system, and nasty trolls at GDC 2025 - learn more with our hands-on preview.
This week saw the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows (read our review here) and if you're one of the many people flocking to feudal Japan this weekend, we've got an assortment of tips to help you get started. We've also got recommendations for honing your ground game in Civilization VII and some pointers for making…
Perhaps the most important aspect in creating a truly memorable first-person shooter is good sound design. It's something Doom gets extremely right, but the vicious intensity of Trepang2 matches it beat for beat. Drawing inspiration from classic PC shooters like FEAR, but with the potential for more high-octane glory that embraces true combat flow, Trepang2 has earned itself a mighty 93% Steam rating. If you've overlooked one of the most explosive, essential FPS games in years, you can get it at a whopping discount for a short time.
March 23, 2025: We've added the latest Monopoly Go dice links for free dice rolls.
How can I get Monopoly Go free dice links? The household favorite board game has been reimagined as a free-to-play app on smartphones, allowing everyone to experience the thrills of Monopoly on practically any device. Everything that makes the board game special is here in Monopoly Go, so you'll be collecting properties and building hotels as you go around the board, and there are a variety of multiplayer minigames to get through along the way.
You're going to need to get your hands on Monopoly dice rolls, but they are difficult to come by no matter how far you are into the board game. There are ways to earn additional dice rolls, including logging into the game every day to collect daily bonuses, progressing further in the game, and inviting friends to try Monopoly Go. While you can also spend real money to unlock more dice rolls, you may want to give our list of Monopoly Go dice links a try instead, especially if you're waiting for the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event. Take a look at all the currently active Monopoly Go free dice links for today.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Envisioned Land marks the 26th mainline entry in the long-standing series of alchemy-themed JRPGs that began back in 1997 with Atelier Marie: The Alchemist of Salburg. As it's branched onto PC, the games have begun to see increased popularity on Steam, with the recent Atelier Ryza trilogy proving a notable winner. Yumia's launch has been met with the game's highest numbers yet on the Valve platform, but reviews show that not everyone is happy.
In Cities Skylines 2, you start with a promising new world - a lush, empty peninsula where everything is possible. In Frostpunk 2, it's the opposite. The environment has been destroyed and even the simplest resources are scarce. Kaiserpunk, an ambitious new strategy game that has finally just arrived on Steam, takes place somewhere in the middle. This is an alternative history where the end of WW1 has fractured the entirety of Europe into tiny, dysfunctional city states. You can still dream big and build even bigger, but the existential threat of being invaded and conquered looms large. Mixing grand strategy with detailed production-line creation, this one has promise.
Hack-and-slash dungeon crawler Rotwood is now a lot more delicious. The chaotic co-op game from Klei Entertainment, developers of Don't Starve, Invisible Inc, and Oxygen Not Included, has continued to grow since its early access launch in April 2024. As we near its first anniversary, Klei has just dropped a packed free update that introduces more progression options, a cool family of 17 frost powers, and an overhaul for its Molded Grave biome.
Krafton's InZOI might be the first life sim to properly challenge EA's The Sims. I've been playing around in its gigantic dollhouse for the past week or so, and I'm now more excited than ever by its potential, even if it still has some way to go.
When you think of the best classic PC games, point-and-click adventures are always going to be high on the list. LucasArts brought us Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle. Revolution had Broken Sword, and Sierra delivered King's Quest. But Amerzone is one of those delightful curiosities you might have forgotten, yet stands alongside games like Myst as a true relic of the era, one that floods your brain with nostalgia at a mere mention. Whether you experienced it at the time, or it remains a complete unknown to you, the 1999 original can be yours completely for free right now, as developer Microids prepares a full remake.
Masumi is a seasoned musician and an accomplished actor you may have seen in the neon-bathed streets of Yakuza Princess. Her debut videogame role is Naoe in Assassin's Creed Shadows, the latest triple-A game to face a range of often ill-informed complaints on everything from its inclusion of African samurai Yasuke to Ubisoft's portrayal of Sengoku period Japan, with 'historical accuracy' being weaponized against it. Overall, the latest in the stealth-action turned RPG series has been subject to more online criticism and suspicion than perhaps any other major release in recent memory.
March 23, 2025: The remaining new Blue Lock Rivals codes for the Nel Isagi + Kurona update have arrived.
What are the new Blue Lock Rivals codes? While your metavision may let you play the perfect pinpoint pass, you'll need a little extra assistance perceiving all the freebies the Roblox game offers.
Blue Lock Rivals throws you into world soccer's biggest pressure cooker, putting your skills to the test as you channel the playstyles of the hit series' biggest hitters on the field. Whether you're consuming your opponents Rin-style, or sending them to the store with your Nagi-esque tekkerz, you'll need to be on your A-game to succeed in the Roblox experience. Read on to find out the anime game's latest codes and how to redeem them.
March 23, 2025: An extra new Five Nights TD code has landed to make up for the delayed release of UPD 41.
What are the newest Five Nights TD codes? The latest list of working Nights TD codes we've put together in this guide has been fully tested and is ready to grant you helpful rewards like in-game currency and other essentials.
Inspired by the original Five Nights at Freddy's games, this Roblox take on the iconic horror franchise has been immensely popular with thousands of active players. If it's other horror games you're after, be sure to try out the current Descent codes or Murder Mystery 2 codes. To make it through the night in Five Nights TD though, you'll need the rewards from the codes listed below for the best chance of survival.
Hello reader who is also a reader, and welcome back to Booked For The Week - our regular Sunday chat with a selection of cool industry folks about books! As a reward for sticking with this column for so long, I'm delighted to announce that we'll soon be rolling out the chance for you to write in with a detailed list of all your most subversive ideas and which books inspired you to hold them, and in return I'll send you an email alerts if those books ever appear in this column. Cormac McCarthy's The Road is widely considered a classic so I'll just call it 'McCarthyism' for simplicity.
This week, it's the co-founder of Finji - publisher of such luxury games as Tunic, Wilmot's Warehouse, and Night In The Woods - Bekah Saltsman! Cheers Bekah! Mind if we have a nose at your bookshelf?
In his irregular newsletter, Culture: An Owner's Manual, W. David Marx wrote about the age of the double sell-out. His argument is that, by the end of the 20th century, it was deemed acceptable for artists to sell-out because commercial activities were understood to pay for creative work, but now culture's most successful creators sell-out simply to sell-out further.
When I first heard about Assassin & Cinderella, someone told me the manga was like a sexier take on the Spy x Family formula. While I can see that, it wasn't my first response after finishing the first volume. Rather, it's more like an idealized fantasy with cute characters who probably don't get to enjoy ordinary life getting a chance to actually experience romance and fall in love.
I mean, it's absolutely still sexy.
But I just didn't expect it to also be so sweet.
Editor's Note: There will be minor spoilers for the first volume of the Assassin & Cinderella manga below.
Assassin & Cinderella doesn't begin with build up or any stage setting. Rather, we're immediately dropped into a scene in which a couple named "Mi" and "Ri" are reuniting. Mi is actually Neneko, a spy who is investigating an assassin and pretending to be an innocent, ordinary girl who becomes his girlfriend to do so. Except "Ri," whose real name is Omi, already worked that out. Her cover blown, she fears he'll kill her, because of course an assassin would do that to an enemy, right? Wrong. He actually fell in love with her, the real her he saw shining through during her "mission."
Image via Square Enix
Of course, her life would still be in danger, because she failed. But Omi has a solution for that too. He suggests a marriage of convenience. He gets to spend time with a woman he adores. She gets the safety of staying alive and not being held accountable to her organization via strategic information "leaks." And even if something went wrong otherwise, Omi points out he's strong enough to help her stay alive if the truth is ever exposed.
Which means the rest of the first volume of the Assassin & Cinderella manga gets to be mostly dedicated to actually watching them fall in love. Omi, due to his awareness of the situation, is already in that place, romantically. He caught on to what Neneko was up to. So we get to enjoy seeing her adjust to something of a normal life and as regular a relationship some people in such dangerous jobs can enjoy. He makes her breakfast. They go shopping together. They get married. He surprises her with a dessert gift for the first time. She meets his coworkers.
Yes, this also means that the elephant in the room is addressed. After all, Omi is still an assassin and Neneko is a spy. However, the latter half of the volume starts to bring up how such situations could begin to be handled by first introducing more people from Omi's organization. By gradually bringing in the faction, we're getting this reminder of what the series is about while maintaining the romantic (and yes, sometimes sexy) elements of the story.
The only issue I came across in the first volume of the Assassin & Cinderella manga is that Omi is nowhere near as well developed as Neneko. As such, his responses do really feel like they come out of nowhere. Since we're coming into the story in medias res, we don't see how she inspired such adoration and affection. I suppose in a way, it is to our benefit. We're caught off guard just as much and often as Neneko is. But I would have liked a bit more development on his part since he is the male lead.
In general though, the premise of Assassin & Cinderella is a fun one, and it does stand out among the many other shojo and josei romance manga out there. It's heavy on the wish fulfillment fantasy of a dangerous, yet also shockingly attentive and kind man suddenly adores a potential partner.
The first volume of Assassin & Cinderella is available now, and Square Enix will release the second volume of the manga on September 2, 2025.
Ground Shatter's Fights in Tight Spaces is one of those games you cite as a a roguelike that feels like it does something new and unique while building upon the deckbuilder concept so popular in recent releases. It's a tight, fast, fun game that's easy to enjoy over repeated runs. Knights in Tight Spaces attempts to follow up on that, with the developer's sequel adding a new theme and extra gameplay elements. There's promise and potential here, but I feel like those new additions also gum up the works.
While Fights in Tight Spaces featured a James Bond style theme with a single agent against multiple foes, the sequel Knights in Tight Spaces goes medieval with fantasy elements and a whole party of characters with different ranges and specialties. I almost like to think of runs as being more similar to Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, with a party of random folk being drawn together toward a common cause. You pick where you'll go as you travel the world, picking certain spots on the map to determine if you head into fights on small maps, each with their own objectives and foes of varying difficulty, or head to other stopgap spots where you can recover or build your deck up.
Of course, that whole party element ends up feeling like Knights in Tight Spaces' greatest selling point and weakness. When thinking tactically, it's a super cool idea! New types of attacks for handling foes. Different methods for clearing out stages. New approaches to keep runs fresh! I especially liked the magic users like the Sorcerer and Warlock, since you need to keep their unique traits and spells in mind when attacking and parties with them feel so different from Fights in Tight Spaces. However, the general melee and ranged units can also be quite fun. I regularly happened upon situations when I needed to think about how to best use what I had ahead of me.
And in general, these units can work really well and look good doing so. While Fights in Tight Spaces featured a stark, futuristic, minimalist approach, Knights in Tight Spaces features characters and locations that look hand-drawn. The cards in your deck look dated and aged, lending more authenticity. Yet everything is still quite detailed and well telegraphed. You can see the grid, know how your card-based movement will work, and can even immediately pick out opportunities to perhaps "push" opponents off the stage.
Images via Ground Shatter
Said deck is critical to success. Cards you acquire allow you to move about the aforementioned tight spaces. They let you attack. Some possess additional attributes that allow you to reposition enemies or yourself while performing skills or assaults. Many of these cards are tied to specific classes, though some movement or attack ones can be used by multiple kinds of characters.
It's there that the issue with Knights in Tight Spaces arises. This isn't a game in which potentially any party combination, deck, or equipment setup could result in success if you're smart. From my experiences, it is 100% advantageous to try and stick to parties that don't diversify, so you can guarantee the most efficient deck with enough movement, attack, and skill-based cards to get you through every stage and its goals. Too many classes, and by extension the cards you'd need to make them really great, and your deck is too bloated to be useful when plopped into certain spots. Which can lead to you losing even if you picked up the best equipment for your needs along the way, as you won't draw the cards that would let your party shine.
Images via Ground Shatter
However, I do think there's hope. Knights in Tight Spaces is still very early on in its lifespan. A patch already appeared that fixed a softlock situation that kept me from writing my review earlier. (I encountered "The Past Catches Up" problem before.) The things getting in my way from really getting the most out of it, such as balancing issues, could be addressed.
I enjoy Knights in Tight Spaces, but also feel like the game could use a few balancing patches and updates before it hits that roguelike sweet spot. With a few adjustments, this could be a sequel that is the equal of the original Fights in Tight Spaces. For now, it's just an entertaining game that might put you in a situation where you can't excel or, in some situations, really win.
If you want your Serena build to shine in The First Descendant, follow what we have below. We'll break down the playstyle, components, and recommended weapons for her to take on most of the content in the game.
Best Serena build in The First Descendant
This build will utilize her fourth ability, Redemption. Let's start with the module setup:
Skill Module: Divine Surge
Sub Module: Mid-Air Maneuvering
Decimator
Nimble Fingers
MP Conversion
Focus on Fire
Skill Expansion
Increased HP
Fire Amplification
Focus on Singular
Strong Mentality
Maximize Range
Screenshot by Destructoid
Using Divine Surge modifies Redemption into a divebomb ability similar to Valby's Hydro Pressure Bomb. It's great at mobbing and will deal tons of damage to mobs and bosses.
Cooldown and range are necessary to maximize the effectiveness of her fourth ability. Without these, you're going to have to wait or resort to shooting your weapons to deal with mobs.
With the mobbing setup, you're just going to spam the ability and clear waves. The trajectory and speed at which you dive will take time to get used to. Also, with eventual nerfs coming to popular wave clearers like Freyna and Ines, there's a good alternative here.
Next, here are the Reactors and Components you should use on this build:
Reactor: Burning Singularity Reactor
Stats: Skill Cost and Skill Cooldown
Other good stats: Fire or Singular Skill Power Boost Ratio
Screenshot by Destructoid
External Components
Hunter Set
The Hunter Set is good for maintaining your MP, as well as getting just a little more cool down for you to spam Divine Surge.
Slayer Set
The Slayer Set is one of the more versatile sets in the game simply for the Skill Power increase.
Rolls for External Components
The following are rolls you should get for your components beneath your Reactor.
Auxiliary Power: Max HP and MP Recovery Out of Combat
Sensor: Max MP and MP Recovery in Combat
Memory: DEF and MP Recovery Modifier
Processor: Shield Recovery Modifier and Max Shield
These are considered "god rolls" because you're maximizing your survivability and MP recovery. While not fully necessary, at least just go for the MP rolls on the Auxiliary, Sensor, and Memory.
Screenshot by Destructoid
Arche Tuning
You should either spec your Arche Tuning Factor levels either downward or to the right. Going down will give you more survivability if you take the HP route. The right side will give you stronger Skill Power and a reduction in Skill Cost. Either one is good here.
Most of these guns would be used for bossing since her Divine Surge will take care of mobs easily.
This build won't succeed too well when it comes to the Abyss boss or higher-level Void Erosion Purge, where enemy scaling is drastically higher than all other forms of content in the game.
Lastly, the Inversion Reinforcements will change every few months since we're on a seasonal cycle with The First Descendant. It's based on your playstyle and what you want here.
Just like every person in real life, your Sims in The Sims 4 need a goal to aim towards. It gives them a reason to live, something to get out of bed for, and they earn Satisfaction Points by completing milestones along the way to meeting their Aspiration.
Those Satisfaction Points are important because they allow you to buy perks and potions to help you during a Sim's lifetime. Here's everything you need to know about Aspirations and how they can help your Sims work towards these pre-defined goals.
There are currently a total of 77 Aspirations to choose from in The Sims 4. You can pick your Aspiration when creating a new character in Create a Sim, and the Aspirations are grouped into 15 different categories. Aspirations within a category will reward a bonus trait. This bonus trait will apply to your Sim for their lifetime, even if they later go on to change their Aspiration.
The 15 categories into which all Aspirations are sorted, and the bonus trait for each, are:
Category
Bonus Trait
Trait effect
Animal
Animal Affection
Relationships with animals begin at higher values
Athletic
High Metabolism
Sims gain weight more slowly but build muscle faster
Creativity
Muser
Gain boosts to experience gained when feeling Inspired
Deviance
Dastardly
Perform stronger and more successful mean interactions
Family
Domestic
Relationships with familiar Sims grow faster and stronger
Food
Essence of Flavor
Sims with this trait make higher-quality food and drink
Fortune
Business Savvy
Sims with this trait earn more money from all careers
Knowledge
Quick Learner
Increases the rate at which your Sim will build skills
Location
Home Turf
When in their home neighborhood, these Sims become happier
Love
Alluring
These Sims are more successful in love and romance
Nature
Collector
These Sims find rare collectibles more often
Popularity
Gregarious
Sims will build friendly relationships faster
Star Wars
Prepared Voyager
Sims will fill up their needs slightly while traveling
Wellness
Spa Membership
These Sims can get Spa treatments free of charge
Werewolf
Luna Confident
Gain a positive or negative relationship boost when introducing themselves to Werewolves, depending on behavior
Which The Sims 4 packs add new Aspirations?
Image by Destructoid
The base game of The Sims 4 features 25 different Aspirations to choose from, split between nine of the 15 different categories. The following packs will add new Aspirations (or whole categories):
Expansion Packs
Game Packs
Stuff Packs
City Living Cats & Dogs Get Famous Island Living Discover University Eco Lifestyle Snowy Escape Cottage Living Horse Ranch For Rent Lovestruck Life & Death Businesses and Hobbies
Outdoor Retreat Spa Day Vampires Parenthood Jungle Adventure StrangerVille Realm of Magic Journey To Batuu Werewolves
Nifty Knitting Home Chef Hustle Bust the Dust Crystal Creations
The Blast from the Past event, running during February 2025, also added one new Aspiration, "Sticky Fingers." Combined, owning all of the above packs and completing this event will leave you with a total of 77 Aspirations to choose between when making a new Sim.
How to complete Milestones in The Sims 4
Screenshot by Destructoid
Each Aspiration comes with a list of different tasks to complete to reach the next stage of the Aspiration, also known as a Milestone. An Aspiration will usually have four different Milestones to complete, but that varies. These Milestones and the tasks you need to complete to achieve them won't become clear until you've selected an Aspiration and entered Live Mode with that Sim.
To see the Milestones for your Aspiration, open up the "Aspirations" tab in Live Mode, and you'll see the current Milestone for your chosen Aspiration. You can also press the button with a star on it to open up the full Aspirations menu, where you can change your Aspiration at any time. Remember, you'll always keep your initial bonus trait, regardless of what you change your Aspiration to.
Image by Destructoid
For any of the Aspirations, you'll be able to see all Milestones and what you need to do to complete them here. As you complete these objectives, you'll progress through the Milestones and eventually be well on your way to fulfilling your Aspiration.
Aspiration cheats for The Sims 4
While putting in the hard work and reaching your goals through hard work is always the most rewarding way to do it, there are times when you just want to skip the stress and unlock the benefits without any additional effort. There are a few cheats you can use to skip through the Aspiration mechanics.
All of the following cheats need the "testingcheats true" command to be entered before they will work:
Cheat
What it does
"aspirations.complete_current_milestone"
Completes the current milestone for any Aspiration
"sims.add_buff points"
Adds 100 Satisfaction Points
"sims.give_satisfaction_points [#]"
Use to add a specific number of Satisfaction Points by changing the '[#]' to any number
Adding Aspiration Traits using cheats
Screenshot by Destructoid
Each Aspiration comes with a trait that is rewarded once you complete the Aspiration and all of its Milestones. You can add any of these traits to your character by entering the following cheat into the console:
"traits.equip_trait [trait name]"
To unlock a trait for your Sim without having to complete the connected Aspiration, you'll need to replace '[trait name]' with the name of the trait (bolded below) minus any spaces or punctuation. For instance, getting the Angler's Tranquility trait would require the full cheat of "traits.equip_trait anglerstranquility" to be entered into the console.
Here are all of the traits, which Aspiration they're connected to, and what they offer.
Base game Aspiration traits
Trait
Aspiration
What it does
Long Lived
Bodybuilder
Sim will live a longer natural life, accidents notwithstanding
Expressionistic
Painter Extraordinaire
Can create paintings with any emotional aura, regardless of actual mood while painting
Piper
Musical Genius
Sim learns four songs that can make other Sims act in certain ways
Poetic
Bestselling Author
Allows a Sim to create the Book of Life, which can resurrect a dead Sim
Mastermind
Public Enemy
Provides new interactions to cause negative moodlets in other Sims
Tormentor
Chief of Mischief
Gives a Sim the power to sabotage almost anything
Twisted Heart
Villainous Valentine
Sim gains bonus Social from Mean and Mischief interactions, while Sad and Embarrassed moods go away more quickly
Vicarious
Successful Lineage
This Sim will earn skill points while their child practices any skill
Matriarch/Patriarch
Big Happy Family
This Sim provides skill boosts to their children when they are closeby
Fresh Chef
Master Chef
Makes all prepared food of the highest quality, and prepared food never spoils
Potion Master
Master Mixologist
Allows this Sim to create drinks that can change the emotion of the drinker
Shrewd
Fabulously Wealthy
Receives a payment each week depending on Household Funds
Thrifty
Mansion Baron
Receive a 10% rebate on all Build Mode purchases each week
Professional
Renaissance Sim
Allows a Sim to write manuals about skills they have a high level in
Handy
Nerd Brain
Instantly fix or upgrade any object
Webmaster
Computer Whiz
Unlock new useful ways to use the computer, such as making money through playing games
Player
Serial Romantic
Never cause another Sim to get jealous, regardless of what they do
Companion
Soulmate
Unlock special interactions with a Sims spouse
Naturalist
Freelance Botanist
This Sim can never be harmed by fire and can extinguish any fire easily
Appraiser
The Curator
Allows a Sim to sell collectibles to the Simsonian Museum for extra cash
Angler's Tranquility
Angling Ace
Removes all negative moodlets while fishing
Hilarious
Joke Star
This Sim's jokes always land, and unlocks additional jokes for their repertoire
Perfect Host
Party Animal
Receive a boost to the score of any social event this Sim throws
Beloved
Friend of the World
Relationships with other Sims will never fade
Confidante
Neighborhood Confidante
Allows a Sim to avoid boring conversation and makes them more successful when meeting new people
Traits from Expansion Packs
Trait
Aspiration
What it does
Pack
Animal Whisperer
Friend of the Animals
Sims with this trait find it easier to train animals, and gain relationships with them faster
Cats & Dogs
Survival Insting
Extreme Sports Enthusiast
Always escape wildlife attacks, sports-related accidents, and more resistant to severe weather conditions
Snowy Escape
Worldly Knowledge
Mr. Komorebi Sightseer
Sim is better at socializing and gaining discounts at market stalls
Snowy Escape
Grand Champ Trainer
Championship Rider
Boosts horse training ability and skill-building, selling horses for higher prices
Horse Ranch
Nectar Know-It-All
Expert Nectar Maker
Allows a sim to craft pre-aged Nectar, and gains an iron bladder when drinking Nectar
Horse Ranch
World Renowned Actor/Actress
Master Actor/Actress
Never fail an acting action
Get Famous
Unstoppable Fame
World-Famous Celebrity
This Sim will not experience fame decay over time, and never react poorly towards the paparazzi
Get Famous
Muse of the Maker
Master Maker
Allows a Sim to fabricate items at a reduced cost
Eco Lifestyle
Pry of the Tiger
Seeker of Secrets
Become more successful when rummaging through junk mail, and unlocks the Tiger Inspector Badge to get out of trouble when breaking and entering
For Rent
Home Manager Maven
Five-Star Property Owner
Sim is more successful when dealing with tenants' emergencies and build stronger relationships with tenants
For Rent
Tomarang Expert
Fount of Tomorani Knowledge
Sims become more successful at actions performed in Tomarang and with its residents
For Rent
Neighborly
Discerning Dweller
Sim is better at negotiating rent and getting along with neighbors
For Rent
Higher Education
Academic
Gain more skill using the Electromagnetic Research Archive Machine, and earn more money selling Research Papers
Discover University
Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Historian
Have an easier time building relationships with ghosts, unlocks special interactions to discuss eerie findings
Life & Death
Motivational Speaker
Master Mentor
Allows Sim to give a Motivating Speech, which boosts skill gain for them and others
Businesses & Hobbies
Influential Individual
Eco Innovator
Everyone listens to this Sim when they speak, following their lead
Businesses & Hobbies
Beloved Brand
Esteemed Entrepreneur
Small Businesses run by this Sim will get more positive reviews
Businesses & Hobbies
In the Know
City Native
Get a massive discount at market stalls if this Sim haggles with vendors
City Living
Laid-Back
Beach Life
This Sim will never become tense
Island Living
Seasoned Romantic
Romantic Explorer
Romantic relationships between this Sim and others grow faster, and they get over embarrassment more quickly
Lovestruck
Affection Aficionado
Paragon Partner
This Sim will lose romantic satisfaction more slowly, less than 1% of the normal speed
Lovestruck
Nature Conversationalist
Country Caretaker
This Sim has improved relationships with animals, allowing the animals to live longer, and yield more from harvesting crops and get free grocery deliveries and a discount on their bills if they live in Henford-on-Bagley
Cottage Living
Natural Leader
Leader of the Pack
Earn club points much faster and overthrow leaders more easily
Get Together
Traits from Game Packs
Trait
Aspiration
What it does
Pack
I am the Master
Vampire Family
Command Powers used on this Sims children will always succeed
Vampires
A True Master
Master Vampire
Excel at Mind Control powers and have more Vampire Energy stores
Vampires
Regained Humanity
Good Vampire
Sims are more likely to give this Vampire Sim permission to drink
Vampires
Role Model
Super Parent
Give bonus character value scoring when near toddlers, children, or teens
Parenthood
Museum Patron
Archaeology Scholar
Become confident in museums and flirty when on a date there
Jungle Adventure
Treasure Hunter
Jungle Explorer
Occasionally find relics and treasure that other Sims would miss
Jungle Adventure
Slinger of Spells
Spellcraft & Sorcery
This Sim will create less charge when casting spells
Realm of Magic
Master Mixer
Purveyor of Potions
Rarely fail when using potions on this Sim
Realm of Magic
Hero of StrangerVille
StrangerVille Mystery
Receive fan mail and retell the story of your adventure
StrangerVille
Survivalist
Outdoor Enthusiast
This Sim doesn't mind living off the land and sleeping under the stars
Outdoor Retreat
A Gift of Credits
Hope vs Order
Receive a payment of Credits from your chosen Faction
Journey to Batuu
Heroic Presence
Paragon of Hope
Gain charisma more easily and inspire other sims easily
Journey to Batuu
Supreme Authority
Enforcer of Order
Have an edge during fights and are less likely to die from anger
Journey to Batuu
Sleight of Hand
Galactic Privateer
Pickpocket from other sims and never get caught cheating at Sabacc
Journey to Batuu
Clear Perspective
Inner Peace
Gain access to an action that grants a moodlet that prevents negative emotions for three hours
Spa Day
Self-Care Expertise
Self-Care Specialist
Increased skill gain in wellness activities, and clients pay more for services
Spa Day
Calming Aura
Zen Guru
Allows a Sim to generate a calming aura, affecting nearby Sims
Spa Day
Fanged Friend
Werewolf Initiate
Receive a boost to relationships with all Sims
Werewolves
Threatening Presence
Lone Wolf
Inspire fear in nearby Sims, aside from Greg
Werewolves
Refined Lupin
Emissary of the Collective
Generate less Fury over time
Werewolves
Chomp Champion
Wildfang Renegade
Sims turned by a Chomp Champion won't react negatively, and will instead join the Sims pack
Werewolves
Lunar Link
Cure Seeker
Once cured, this Sim will retain a link to benefits of the Lunar Cycle
Werewolves
Traits from Stuff Packs and other sources
Trait
Aspiration
What it does
Pack
Sacred Knitting Knowledge
Lord/Lady of the Knits
Craft unique knitted items, gain enhanced benefits when teaching others to knit, and free others from the Sweater Curse
Nifty Knitting
Enhanced Kleptomaniac
Sticky Fingers
Less likely to be caught stealing, even right in front of another Sim
Blast from the Past event
Batch Cook
Appliance Wiz
Always receive a duplicate of any recipe made using prepped ingredients
Home Chef Hustle
Booth Boss
Market Magnate
Set higher markups and be more successful convincing other Sims to buy items at Food Stands and Sales Tables
Home Chef Hustle
Fast and Fastidious
Perfectly Pristine
This Sim does not get negative moodlets or lose fun while cleaning, and they clean quicker using unlocked actions
Bust the Dust
Filth Dweller
Fabulously Filthy
Sim receives happy moodlets in dirty locations, gain he ability to befriend Filth Friends
Bust the Dust
Attuned
Crystal Crafter
Jewelery worn by this Sim will remain charged for longer and Sim can absorb energy from charged crystals
Iansan in Genshin Impact is a 4-star Electro unit and good support who can buff her party members' ATK and heal them, making her fairly valuable.
Here's a simple guide covering all the materials you'll need for Iansan's ascension and her talents, as well as how to farm them.
Iansan ascension and talent materials
Here are all the materials required for Iansan's ascension in Genshin Impact:
Vajrada Amethyst Silver x1
Vajrada Amethyst Fragment x9
Vajrada Amethyst Chunk x9
Vajrada Amethyst Gemstone x6
New local specialty item x168
Ensnaring Gaze x46
Sentry's Wooden Whistle x18
Warrior's Metal Whistle x30
Saurian-Crowned Warrior's Golden Whistle x36
Once you're done with Iansan's ascension, you can farm the following materials to level up her talents:
Sentry's Wooden Whistle x18
Warrior's Metal Whistle x66
Saurian-Crowned Warrior's Golden Whistle x93
Denial and Judgement x18
Teachings of Contention x9
Guide to Contention x63
Philosophies of Contention x114
Crown of Insight x3
Where to farm Iansan's ascension and talent materials
Vajrada Amethyst Silver, Fragment, Chunk, and Gemstone
Image via HoYoverse
You can obtain Vajrada Amethyst Silver, Fragment, Chunk, and Gemstone by defeating the following enemies in Genshin Impact:
Tenebrous Papilla
Electro Hypostasis
Electro Regisvine
Thunder Manifestation
Millennial Pearl Seahorse
Magatsu Mitake Narukami no Mikoto
Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom
Iniquitous Baptist
Luckily, Tenebrous Papilla also drops the boss material for Iansan; you may obtain random drops of the Vajrada Amethyst Sliver and its upper rarities.
Ensnaring Gaze
Image via HoYoverse
Ensnaring Gaze is a boss material that can be obtained by defeating the Tenebrous Papilla in Natlan.
New local specialty item
There's a new local specialty item in Natlan that you must farm for Iansan's ascension.
Sentry's Wooden Whistle, Warrior's Metal Whistle, and Saurian-Crowned Warrior's Golden Whistle
Image via HoYoverse
Sentry's Wooden Whistle, Warrior's Metal Whistle, and Saurian-Crowned Warrior's Golden Whistle are commonly dropped by the Saurian Warrior enemies found all over Natlan. You can also buy some of the drops from the in-game shop.
Denial and Judgement
Image via HoYoverse
You can obtain Denial and Judgement by defeating The Knave weekly boss in Fontaine.
Teachings of Contention, Guide to Contention, and Philosophies of Contention
Image via HoYoverse
You can farm Philosophies of Contention and its lower rarities in the Blazing Ruins domain only on Monday, Thursday, and Sunday.
As for Crown of Insight, you can obtain them as a reward from the flagship events.
MLB The Show 25 offers many customization options to players when it comes to squads, but you can also generate your ballpark and use it in different game modes.
The Stadium Creator option allows players to express their creativity and create a stadium of their dreams. The process is pretty simple, and this guide will help you create the ballpark of your dreams.
MLB The Show 25 Stadium Creator explained
To create your stadium, load the game and select the Create option from the top of your home screen. It's indicated by the paintbrush icon.
Image via Destructoid
Select Stadium Creator.
You'll find different options (as shown in the following screenshot). Choose Create a New Stadium.
You'll find the base of a ballpark with no additional constructions.
Start by putting in the stands. A small icon on the top will showcase your ground's attendance. The capacity will increase as you put in more stands, but make sure to place them systematically.
You can put plenty of decorative items like buildings to decorate your stadium.
Once you're happy with the stadium, make sure to save it.
Template Stadiums are also available for you to use. Since making the stadium can be a slightly tricky process, using a template will save you time and energy. Moreover, you can work on these templates and design them as you wish.
Image via Destructoid
The Vault is another excellent option to explore, as it helps you explore the creations of other players. There are two sections: one that includes the most popular uploads and another that shows you the most recent uploads. Press the Square button to get the options to save a stadium you like.
Once you have saved the stadium, you can use it in different MLB The Show 25 game modes, like Exhibition. It's a cool feature that allows you to add venues that might not be officially available from the developers. Just like custom stadiums, you can also create custom squads and make as many roster changes as you want. From creating ultimate fantasy lineups to mixing former legends with current-era superstars, the scope is endless.
From blowing up mako reactors to saving Disney princesses from the heartless, the Japanese RPG genre has a lot in store for anyone who decides to dive into it. 2025 Japanese RPGs include creating your very own weaponry with alchemy in the Atelier series and marrying your favorite villager in Rune Factory.
Here is a look at the diverse lineup in store for fans of the genre in 2025 and perhaps beyond, including remasters of long-beloved treasures. As more games get announced this year, we will update the list.
Image via Koei Tecmo
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & The Envisioned Land
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Release Date: March 21
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC (via Steam)
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & The Envisioned Land, from developer Gust and publisher Koei Tecmo, explores a stunning anime-inspired world that sees alchemy as an omen rather than a blessing. As Yumia, you'll likely change the minds of many of this land as she tries to figure out what happened to a fallen society that saw its downfall due to alchemy. This RPG revolves around the alchemy mechanic, letting you create bases, battle items, and exploration equipment. For those who don't like the turn-based mechanics in past entries, this takes more of a real-time element to its combat. Atelier Yumia is one of the most anticipated March 2025 releases.
Lunar Remastered Collection
Publisher: GungHo Online Entertainment America
Release Date: April 18
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC (via Steam)
Two beloved JRPG classics are finally coming back to modern consoles and PC on April 18 with the Lunar Remastered Collection. It includes the first game, Silver Star Story, and the sequel, Eternal Blue. Similar to Square Enix's Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, the Lunar Remastered Collection improves the visuals and audio, in addition to quality-of-life improvements.
According to a PlayStation Blog interview with the game's producer, Matthias Pergams, the new collection includes an adjustable Battle Speed-Up option and a toggleable option for a unified inventory system in the first Lunar game. You can also customize each character's AI during battle. These improvements should help modernize the classic JRPG. The game also supports both English and Japanese voice acting to suit your preference.
Image via Level-5
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time - May 21
Publisher: Level-5
Release Date: May 21
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC (via Steam)
Famed developer Level-5 is back with a new entry in the Fantasy Life series, The Girl Who Steals Time. This game takes a more relaxing approach to the JRPG genre, as you fish, cook, and shape your island to how you see fit. It's like Animal Crossing and an RPG had a baby. You'll be able to switch between 14 different jobs as you play through this game. If you want to experience this action RPG with friends, you can certainly do that through online multiplayer with up to four people. Get ready, as you'll be exploring an open world teeming with monsters.
Image via CyberConnect2
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3
Publisher: CyberConnect2
Release Date: May 29
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (via Steam)
CyberConnect2 is delivering the final chapter in the Fuga: Melodies of Steel trilogy on May 29. The children are on a journey to save their friend Malt as they board a tank called the Taranis that was once thought to be lost. The developer says on the game's Steam page that the battle system has "undergone substantial changes." You can now exploit enemy weaknesses and "deal escalating damage with every hit" when you utilize a weakness combo. You can also utilize assist attacks on your quest for victory.
Those new to the series might be able to try the third entry without playing the last two. The Steam page says, "It's not necessary to play Fuga: Melodies of Steel or Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2 to enjoy Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3." Hopefully, that is true.
Image via XSEED Games and Marvelous
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Publisher: XSEED Games, Marvelous, and Marvelous Europe
Release Date: May 30
Platforms: Nintendo Switch and PC (via Steam).
On the very next day, you'll be able to play the 2025 Japanese RPG Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma on Nintendo Switch and PC. In this entry, you'll be exploring a new Japanese-inspired country called Azuma. You'll be practicing Earth Dancer powers and taking down evil throughout the land to hopefully bring back hope to its residents. In what the publishers XSEED Games and Marvelous call a reimagined experience on the game's Steam page, we'll be rebuilding an entire village and farm to our hearts' content in between action-RPG battles outside.
As you fight monsters and start up a new society, you'll be able to romance the various characters that reside in your village. You may even marry one of them. The Steam page says the scenes between these characters and your protagonist will be voiced. They can also go to battle with you.
Image via Bandai Namco
Digimon Story Time Stranger
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Release Date: 2025
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Steam)
After almost a decade, a new entry of the Digimon Story is nearly upon us, as it currently has a vague 2025 release date. Like past entries of the series, you'll be battling other Digimon in the turn-based affair as you try to collect all of the digital monsters. The game takes place between the Digital World and the real world as you try to figure out the reason behind the planet's collapse.
An even wackier twist is that we'll be venturing through time and parallel worlds in an effort to change fate itself. The Steam page says there will be "an incredible variety of Digimon" and "deep customization options" that "provide limitless ways to approach the challenges of battle."
https://youtu.be/HzK94XSITVw
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Release Date: 2025
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC (via Steam)
Not much is known about the secondary Atelier adventure coming out in 2025. The trailer showcases an open world with multiple biomes, like a cave of diamonds and an open field. It has all new protagonists and features a narrative set in the canon of Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator. Damn, what is with these long names, Koei Tecmo!? Regardless, unlike Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator, this entry will be an offline title.
Image via Nacon
Edge of Memories could be considered a 2025 Japanese RPG
Publisher: Nacon
Release Date: Q4 2025
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Steam)
While this game is technically from a French developer called Midgar Studio, we're still counting Edge of Memories as a JRPG as it has hired some significant talent from Japan. It includes the likes of character designer Raita Kazama (Xenoblade Chronicles X), writer Swako Natori (NieR), and Mitsuru Yokoyama, the combat designer of Final Fantasy XV. The majority of the soundtrack is from Cédric Menendez. However, the final theme is by Yasunori Mitsuda, who has been a composer on JRPG classics like Chrono Trigger and Xenoblade Chronicles.
Edge of Memories is an action RPG that has you stringing fast-paced combos and customizing your companions to "inflict more damage at crucial moments" by "[using] their skills wisely." There is also a rage system involved in the combat. Additionally, Edge of Memories supports Unreal Engine 5 anime-inspired visuals.
The action RPG showdown is on! Zenless Zone Zero and Wuthering Waves bring fluid combat, rotational mechanics, and high-speed action, which are best-in-class in the market, but each executes them uniquely. But which reigns supreme? The answer isn't so simple, but it may surprise you.
My Expertise in Both Games
Before we start throwing punches, let's get one thing straight: I know both of these games like the back of my hand. I have completed all available endgame content in Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero with max scores. That means total clearing of Wuthering Waves' Overdrive content, Holograms, Tower of Adversity, and Whimpering Waste (triple-S this season). For Zenless Zone Zero, this means surpassing floor 100 in Battle Tower (both versions) and flexing over 30,000 points on all Deadly Assault stages this season.
Needless to say, if there's a challenge, I've conquered it. If there's a mechanic, I've mastered it. So rest assured, this isn't just speculation. This is a take from someone who has tested the limits of both combat systems.
Complexity vs. Control: A Matter of Approach
Wuthering Waves – The Freeform Fighter
Image by Destructoid
Wuthering Waves thrives on flexibility. It lets you string together attacks, abilities, and swaps in a way that feels organic and open-ended. Want to animation cancel into a parry? Go for it. Chain ability after ability into a rapid-fire onslaught? Absolutely. The game encourages experimentation, rewarding those who push its combat to the limit.
However, this freedom comes with its own set of problems. The fluidity of combat can sometimes feel a little too loose, making certain high-intensity fights harder to control. Worse, most event activities strip away the need for skill expression due to just how ridiculously easy they are. You have so much power under your control with the intricate combat system, yet there's hardly anything to use it on when it comes to Wuthering Waves events.
Endgame-wise, let's talk about Whimpering Waste, for example. It is one of Wuthering Wave's latest endgame modes, but it's all about mass AoE fights, which means you can clear it by spamming attacks with enough DPS rather than outplaying your enemies. There is a strategy to it, as many of the enemies in the game mode have large health bars, but it still boils down to "Do I have the AoE DPS needed to clear waves quickly?". There's not much else beyond that, which is why the mode is so disappointing to not just me but also the community in-large.
Zenless Zone Zero – The Precision Brawler
Image by Destructoid
On the flip side, Zenless Zone Zero is all about tight, controlled, momentum-based combat. Instead of overwhelming players with endless attack variations, Zenless Zone Zero refines its approach with timing-based dodges, tag-in combos, and a strong emphasis on synergy. Each character has a clear role, and executing a perfect counter or assist attack is as satisfying as landing a critical hit in a fighting game.
Rather than an open sandbox of mechanics, Zenless Zone Zero gives you structured tools and asks you to master them. And because the game's enemies are balanced around this structured system, fights feel consistently challenging, which is a big advantage over Wuthering Waves, where absurdly powerful buffs can often undermine combat depth.
Early Game Combat: Wuthering Waves Starts Strong
Image by Destructoid
If we're talking about which game throws you into the action faster, then Wuthering Waves takes the lead. From the very start, it forces players to engage with mechanics like parries, dodges, and cancel animations, rewarding those who learn its intricacies early. You're not just mashing buttons; you're actively learning how to master the game.
By contrast, Zenless Zone Zero's early game is a bit of a snoozefest. You can get by with basic attacks, and meaningful combat depth doesn't kick in until much later. When you start encountering enemies that demand counterplay and synergy (the later half of the game), only then does Zenless Zone Zero start taking itself seriously. While this isn't a deal-breaker, it does mean that Wuthering Waves provides a more engaging combat experience out of the gate.
The Great Parry Debate
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Parries are a huge part of both combat systems, but they're implemented very differently:
Zenless Zone Zero uses Defensive Assists, which act as powerful parries that deflect attacks and play a big role in staggering enemies. However, they are finite, so you must rebuild them over time. They are also rather forgiving, hence the limitation.
Wuthering Waves has a more skill-intensive parry system that requires precise timing but isn't as strong as Zenless Zone Zero's version. However, they can be done at any time, provided the enemy's attack can be parried in the first place.
Which one is better? Really, it depends on what you want. If you love a high-risk, high-reward system, Wuthering Waves has the edge. If you prefer a forgiving yet powerful parry that plays into structured team mechanics, Zenless Zone Zero wins.
High-Level Combat: Who Wins?
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Now, let's talk about real difficulty -- the kind that separates the casual players from the combat gurus.
While it is undeniable that Wuthering Waves has a higher skill ceiling and a more complex combat system, Zenless Zone Zero offers a more consistently rewarding challenge. The reason? Wuthering Waves rarely forces you to master its own mechanics.
Whimpering Waste is just a mass AoE fest. If you don't have the DPS, you won't be clearing it.
Tower of Adversity focuses more on rotational gameplay. Yes, some team comps get away from this, but the Intro Outro system in Wuthering Waves heavily encourages rotational play.
Many combat events grant buffs that let players easily brute-force fights.
Meanwhile, Zenless Zone Zero consistently demands precision, proper team synergy, and mastery of its mechanics. Battle Tower floors get excruciatingly difficult the further up you go, forcing players to actively use all available tools to win. Because the game is built around controlled, skill-based execution, it ensures that every hard fight is actually challenging.
So Which Game Has the Best Combat?
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While both games have incredible combat, Zenless Zone Zero currently holds the edge for one simple reason: its combat is consistently rewarding across endgame content. Wuthering Waves, for all its depth and creativity, often undermines itself with encounter design that doesn't always demand high-level play and buffs that trivial any sense of combat accomplishment the moment you enter a fight. Until Kuro Games provides more skill-intensive endgame challenges, Wuthering Waves will remain a game with amazing combat mechanics but without enough opportunities to truly utilize them.
So, if you want a combat system that is satisfying where it matters most (the endgame), Zenless Zone Zero takes the crown. But if Wuthering Waves ever gets the skill-expression-focused high-level content it deserves, it will undoubtedly be the ultimate action RPG. For now, we'll just have to see where the future takes it.
Destiny 2 is a solid game most of the time, but I do not blame you in the slightest if you're interested in jumping off that particular hamster wheel every so often. Heck, I did precisely that, and Destiny used to be a massive obsession of mine for five years.
The thing about Destiny 2, though, is that its astonishingly good combat gameplay and loot grind coddles you. There's much to complain about when it comes to Destiny, for sure, but it's a unique live-service experience with the kind of quality level you don't take for granted in other games. What if you're not keen on the live service bits, though? Or do you dread missing out on something great? Well, I might have just the thing for you.
I've assembled a list of a dozen games that are surprisingly similar to Destiny 2's gameplay loop in various ways. Crucially, these titles are mostly not live-service at all, or at least don't over-rely on teasing you with events you may miss to keep you coming back for more, so you can play them at your own pace no matter what.
The best games like Destiny 2 that actually respect your time
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#12: Godfall
Godfall isn't a great game, but it sure as heck is a decent game, and that's a hill I'm willing to die on. It's the kind of low-brow loot-grabbing, goblin-slaying gameplay you get out of Destiny 2's grindier sections, and I'm all for it. The obvious caveat here is that there's not much else to Godfall other than grind, but I find that the game lends itself phenomenally well to playing on the go if you have a Steam Deck of ROG Ally. There's not much in the way of guns here, either, but the combat is fast, chunky, and satisfying, and that's plenty good enough.
Image via Obsidian Entertainment
#11: Avowed
Surprised? I was, too, but Avowed leans heavily into a kind of combat and exploration fantasy that you usually get from exploring Destiny 2's new patrol zones for the first time. Crucially, the loot is usually bespoke and genuinely interesting, which cannot be said about Destiny 2's random-gen chests and whatnot. Just spec for Avowed's ranged weapons and spellcasting, and you'll be a non-Guardian Guardian in basically no time at all.
Screenshot by Destructoid
#10: Starfield
Say what you will, but Starfield's combat gameplay is rather excellent in its own right. On that front, it could provide the kind of FPS kick you might be looking for after ditching Destiny 2. However, the arguably more important element of similarity between the two games is the sense of exploration and discovery. Destiny and Starfield handle the idea of space magic with guns and grenades very similarly, and if this fantasy is what you're most keen on, here's your ticket. Throw some mods in, and you've got a real winner at hand.
Oh, and don't forget about Starfield's satisfying movement mechanics, either: with sliding, mantling, dashing, and a general penchant for verticality, the game rhymes with Destiny in more ways than not.
Screenshot via Destructoid
#9: Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077's baseline combat and RPG systems are those of a veritable looter-shooter. Though I'm not sure who decided this was a good approach to what is essentially a story-heavy FPS/RPG, the fact of the matter is that the result is an experience that's rather similar to that of Destiny 2.
Crucially, a lot of time and attention was spent on Cyberpunk 2077's weapon design. The guns are hefty, chunky, and satisfying, and the melee is about as snappy as it gets. Invest in the right perks and get the right loot drops, and things quickly start to feel properly Destiny-alike, even though these two games couldn't be further apart in practically every other sense.
Image via RyseUp
#8: Roboquest
If it's the actual Destiny combat loop you're yearning for, I cannot recommend Roboquest enough. This incredibly satisfying roguelite FPS takes some obvious cues from Bungie's seminal live-service hit and applies them to a fully offline experience. And what do you know: it works.
Seriously though, Roboquest is easily one of the best finished FPS roguelites on the market right now. There's a ridiculous number of wildly different guns and perks to choose from, and they all feel appropriately snappy to use. Since the runs are finished in about 20 minutes or so, too, you'll always be rotating your loadouts, keeping things interesting no matter how much you play.
Image via Airship Games
#7: Wayfinder
Wayfinder wasn't a good game on day one, but its revised and reformed non-live-service version actually fixes most of the problems players had with it. This is obviously a more fantasy-focused kind of experience, but the vibes are absolutely on point, and it'll keep you busy for dozens of hours. A great fit for Destiny fans looking for dungeon-crawling, puzzle-solving, and generally satisfying exploration.
Image via Digital Extremes
#6: Warframe
Everyone recommends Warframe to reformed Destiny 2 players for a reason, though there are some big caveats to keep in mind about it. Warframe is a live-service experience as well, though one that's far less keen on players missing out on content than Destiny's ever been. The biggest downside, however, lies in the fact that Warframe's simply not as polished, neat, or contained as Destiny 2, and this is going to be a no-go for some players.
These issues aside, Warframe is extremely content-rich and loaded with stuff to do. It will keep you busy for hundreds, if not thousands, of hours on end if that's what you're looking for, and most things are indeed earnable without resorting to real-world money purchases.
Image via Massive Entertainment
#5: The Division 2: Warlords of New York
Though it's been overlooked recently, The Division 2, with its excellent Warlords of New York DLC, is a phenomenal substitute for Destiny 2. Unlike most other games on this list, The Division 2 specifically apes some of Destiny 2's design choices and features, which makes the two experiences extremely comparable in all the ways that matter. If this scratches your itch, The Division 2 is also about to receive a new Battle for Brooklyn DLC at some point, so there's lots of support and content coming yet. This is a live-service title, of course, but it never made me feel l like I was missing out on anything if I didn't play, which means it qualified for this list.
Image via Gunfire Games
#4: Remnant 2
For those who enjoy Destiny's puzzle and mystery elements the most, there's nothing quite like Remnant 2 on the market right now. In a broader sense, Remnant 2 is an astonishingly good game that stands on its own two feet. For Destiny expatriates, though, it offers excellent gameplay and progression substitutes and a constant sense of discovery wherever you look.
Seriously, the sheer number of puzzles and secrets found in Remnant 2 is astonishing. Crucially, many of them have bespoke loot as the final reward, which makes exploration the kind of thing you'll keep coming back to over and over again.
Image via Gearbox
#3: Borderlands 3
Let's be honest here: Borderlands 3's story and dialogue are unpalatable, but there's a hell of a game to be played here in regards to how it actually handles. If you can stomach skipping through Borderlands 3's cutscenes whenever they crop up, and if you don't mind occasionally truly crummy dialogue, this is a phenomenal FPS that does not let up.
Borderlands 3's guns and abilities feel extremely similar to what you get out of Destiny 2, and the upgraded movement tech (i.e., sliding, mantling, and so on) helps elevate this particular FPS beyond most anything else in the niche.
Image via People Can Fly
#2: Outriders: Worldslayer
Outriders and its Worldslayer DLC tried and failed to deliver a sensible alternative to Destiny 2, but not without giving us a reasonable substitute in the end. Outriders has no live-service experience, and it doesn't have the kind of longevity you might be looking for, but it's a satisfying magi-tek shooter regardless.
Image via The Astronauts
#1: Witchfire
Upon playing Witchfire for the first time, I was awestruck by how similar it felt to Destiny 2 in movement, combat, and exploration. This is no mistake: the CEO himself outlined just how much Bungie's work has affected Witchfire in a practical sense, and you genuinely feel the similarities as you run and gun.
As a roguelite extraction shooter kind of experience, Witchfire's core gameplay loop is basically what you get out of Destiny 2's patrol zones, with a bit of Dungeon exploration and puzzling thrown in for good measure. Honestly, though, if you need a game that feels most similar to Destiny and even outpaces in some key ways, like progression and weapon balancing, Witchfire needs to be at the top of your list. No two ways about it.
Ambush Hitting is one of the new concepts in MLB The Show 25, and mastering it can be extremely rewarding when you're at bat in any game mode.
The new technique works on the skill of anticipating what the pitcher is going to do and increasing your chances of landing a successful hit. If you can land a correct prediction, your chances of hitting the ball will go up, which in turn will raise the chances of Home Run. This guide will help you to understand the basics and how the concept works in MLB The Show 25.
How does Ambush Hitting work in MLB The Show 25
Ambush Hitting is available at every at bat in the game, and it applies to all game modes. The job is simple: you try to guess the side of the incoming pitch before it's delivered. For every at bat, you'll choose whether the pitch is going to come towards the left side or the right.
If you manage to guess correctly, the Plate Coverage Indicator, or the PCI, will be bigger, and the timing window will also improve. If you guess it wrong, the reverse will happen, and your PCI and timing window will worsen, making it harder for you to hit the ball. Do note that you can still hit a ball after picking the wrong side before the pitch gets delivered.
Image via Destructoid
How to use Ambush Hitting in MLB The Show 25
It's not mandatory to use Ambush Hitting. If you want to use it, point the RS to your left or right. The selected side will be highlighted in grey, making it easier for you to remember your choice. If you want to reset your choice, press RS.
Mastering Ambush Hitting is all about when you're using it, as the controls are straightforward. If you're one strike away from being out, it's best not to be brave. Trying to guess when you're already struggling to hit the ball isn't going to make your life any easier. If anything, you will end up with your chance of getting struck out.
I also avoid using it when my hitter is significantly better in terms of stats. Such a hitter will already have a decent chance of hitting the ball, so Ambush Hitting becomes too risky for my liking. The best time to use the technique is when the pitcher has already delivered two Balls, and you're yet to get a single Strike.
I personally avoid using it when playing against a human opponent because AI is easier to predict. They will usually try to follow a set pattern when it comes to pitch direction, so guesswork works better. Ultimately, Ambush Hitting is all about predicting what the pitcher is going to do.
If you're learning the game, it's better to focus more on the basics and make sure that you get the hitting settings correct, as that will increase your chances of success in the long run.
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