GamersHeroes Monday, February 24, 2025 11:41 AM Featuring a handcrafted pixel art symphony, Ritual Studios and Playdigious announced that a demo of Fretless - The Wrath of Riffson is now available as part of Steam Next Fest. The post Turn-Based RPG Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson Demo Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Monday, February 24, 2025 11:13 AM The latest trailer for TAMSOFT and Bandai Namco's BLEACH Rebirth of Souls puts the spotlight on Coyote Starrk. The post BLEACH Rebirth of Souls Coyote Starrk Character Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Monday, February 24, 2025 10:23 AM Monster Hunter Wilds is the natural evolution of Monster Hunter World, and is an early front-runner for Game of the Year. Fans and newbies alike will find a lot to like in Wilds. The post Monster Hunter Wilds Review appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Monday, February 24, 2025 11:40 AM  A giant rooster that sets a desert sea on fire every time it brushes its beautiful but deadly tail feathers. A toad-like octopus that sends mini-tidal waves roiling through a thick jungle forest as it flops around like a violent puppy. These and other majestic creatures I've killed dozens of times in Monster Hunter… |
Kotaku Monday, February 24, 2025 10:15 AM  If you were to watch any trailers or marketing material for Obsidian's role-playing hit Avowed, it would be perfectly reasonable to assume the game is strictly a first-person affair. With this focus on first-person melee combat in every video around, you may be shocked to hear that it actually provides a third-person… |
Kotaku Monday, February 24, 2025 9:45 AM  The Marvel Cinematic Universe is now 17 years old and boasts a catalog of 35 movies and counting. With Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts* wrapping up Phase Five in the ongoing superhero saga before Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives this summer to kick off Phase Six, we thought we'd take a look back… |
Kotaku Monday, February 24, 2025 9:00 AM  Avowed has a wide variety of weapons that you can mix and match in any way you wish, ideal for shaping the game to your whim as you work your way through The Living Lands. With so many build combinations you have tons of freedom in how you approach combat—and then double it because you have two loadouts, giving you… |
Kotaku Monday, February 24, 2025 8:30 AM  Big Helmet Heroes is a pretty breezy 3D brawler (even on its hardest difficulty), but completing an entire level without taking any damage remains a challenge. But if you want to earn every trophy or achievement in the game, you'll need to do exactly that. Luckily, there's a nifty trick you can use to bypass an entire… |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 11:49 AM  Is Monster Hunter Wilds Steam Deck compatible? Valve's handheld struggled to run Monster Hunter Wilds during beta phases and, given that the recently released benchmark tool isn't offering any hope of optimized performance, all signs suggest this is one game that isn't suited to the Steam Deck. The Monster Hunter Wilds system requirements are notable for requiring upscaling to be used to hit 60fps at 1080p, even if you meet the minimum demands. This leaves the Steam Deck in a tricky spot, as the smaller base screen resolution and a forced reliance on AMD FSR means a combination of great performance and visuals may be a pipe dream, for now. Continue reading Is Monster Hunter Wilds Steam Deck compatible? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 11:36 AM  Razer is teaming up with the greatest League of Legends player of all time, Faker, for this brand-new Viper V3 Pro mouse. The five-time LoL world champion won his first four titles with a Razer Deathadder as his go-to clicker, but recently won his fifth title with a Viper shell, and now says he has designed this model as "a gift to my most loyal fans." For this collaboration, Razer chose its best gaming mouse for esports play and worked with Faker to create a one-of-a-kind design. You can read a complete breakdown of this mouse in my Viper V3 Pro review. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends ranks explained, League of Legends Mythic shop rotation, LoL tier list |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 11:24 AM  Who are the latest Fortnite NPCs? Fortnite NPC locations change with every new season, much like everything else, with more added throughout the season as well. This makes it difficult to keep track of the latest NPC locations. That's where we come in. There are a few reasons you might want to find a Fortnite NPC location in the battle royale game. You can hire Fortnite NPCs for a helping hand, get a rift out of the storm, or buy some of the best Fortnite weapons and items. There are often new hostile Fortnite NPCs to defeat too, but if you're looking for someone a little more friendly, we have every NPC location marked on the Fortnite map, as well as a list of all of the special items or services you can buy in Chapter 6, Season 2. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fortnite map, Fortnite skins, Fortnite weapons |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 11:29 AM  February 24, 2025: We checked for new Strinova codes What are the new Strinova codes? While you've got plenty of amazing agents and their awesome weapons to test out in the third-person tactical shooter Strinova, sometimes you just need a few freebies to get an edge on the competition. Thankfully, from time to time iDreamSky releases Strinova codes for free rewards. That could be anything from free EXP boosters, dream tokens, and emotes to skins or crystal boxes. So if you're looking for Strinova codes in the anime game, we've got you covered. We regularly test all of the codes in our list to ensure they're still working. Once they've expired, we'll then add them to a separate list down below. Continue reading Strinova codes February 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best anime games, Best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 11:17 AM  How do you install a CPU? While your graphics card is undoubtedly the main driver when it comes to gaming, it's also essential to upgrade your CPU now and then. With higher clock speeds, as well as new features such as AMD 3D V-cache, a CPU upgrade can keep your GPU fed with frame data at a faster rate than your old chip, preventing bottlenecks in your rig. What's more, this is a relatively easy upgrade, as long as you arm yourself with patience, time, and space to work. In this guide, we'll take you through the whole process of upgrading your CPU. In our tests, we've found that you don't need more than eight cores for gaming, so there's no need to splash a silly amount of money on a 16-core or 24-core monster CPU if your main priority is gaming. Instead, we recommend buying a six-core or eight-core chip with a fast clock speed if you're upgrading an Intel system, or with 3D V-cache if you're upgrading an AMD rig. You can check out our guide to the best gaming CPU to find the chip that best suits your needs. Continue reading CPU upgrade: How to install your new Intel or AMD gaming processor MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 7800 XT review |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 11:10 AM  In yet more troubling Nvidia news, an owner of a new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 has reported that their graphics card set itself on fire. According to the owner, their Asus ROG Astral RTX 5090, a card with a $2,799 price tag, completely burned out after an afternoon of gaming, destroying the graphics card and damaging the motherboard in the process. This incident is yet another power-related issue for Nvidia to investigate with its new graphics cards. While the RTX 5090 is now the best graphics card you can buy, its launch hasn't been smooth sailing, with extremely low stock availability and problems with melting power cables leaving the company in a difficult position. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 review, Asus ROG Ally X review, Best gaming motherboard |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 11:00 AM  Tempest Rising is always going to be compared to Command and Conquer. It's set in the '90s, Frank Klepacki does the music, and there are two campaigns where you play as two different factions. Even the finer details, like the talking head cutscenes, and the fact that the Tempest itself is an energy-rich, alien-esque crystal, just like Tiberium - I can imagine the pitch meeting where somebody said 'Westwood and EA aren't making Command and Conquer anymore, so we're going to do it'. But Slipgate's RTS game is way more than an homage; it's not just Command and Conquer for a post Command and Conquer world. Available to play right now, Tempest Rising has the potential to rise higher than its influences. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Tempest Rising announcement, The best RTS games, The best PC strategy games |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 10:31 AM  Once Human developer Starry Studio has finally revealed the release date for permanent servers; something that the community has been asking about for quite some time. You've not got long to wait either, as starting March 2025 every single server in the game (apart from private ones) will be converted into an indefinite one, with the new feature being expanded later in the year as well. So if you've been itching to stick to a specific server, there's a lot you need to know. Continue reading Once Human permanent servers are coming soon, with some huge changes MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sandbox games, Best open-world games, Best survival games |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 10:22 AM  What are the best Dragon Ball Sparking Zero mods? There isn't a game in the world that can't be improved with user created mods, and Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is no exception. While the PC version of the game may have its flaws, it more than makes up for this with its modding potential. Dragon Ball Sparking Zero mods lift the technical limitations that come with the console versions of the fighting game by unlocking the framerate and giving you additional stages on the map selection screen. The best mods even add new costumes to part of the Sparking Zero roster, with some deep cuts that hardcore fans will appreciate. Continue reading Best Dragon Ball Sparking Zero mods MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dragon Ball Sparking Zero roster, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero release date, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero system requirements |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 11:31 AM  The early hours of Monster Hunter Wilds are spent in the more muted colors of its 'Fallow' season. As I choose my starting weapon and the early hunts kickstart that specific flood of endorphins only Capcom's flagship RPG can bring, I can't help but start to miss the brighter tones of World and Rise. But then comes the 'Inclemency' - in this case, a raging sandstorm that floods the desert accompanied by vicious lightning strikes. Then, midway through my tussle with a giant Alpha Doshaguma, the storm clears as quickly as it came, and the world bursts into vibrant, gorgeous life; the 'Plenty' has arrived. It's a stunning moment that is everything I dreamed of and more. In many ways, it feels like an allegory for Monster Hunter as a series. If you can push through the struggle of those early hours, and survive to the 'spark' of finding the weapon that clicks for you, you'll reveal something truly beautiful. Continue reading Monster Hunter Wilds review - a worthy successor to World MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Monster Hunter Wilds monsters, Monster Hunter Wilds weapons, Monster Hunter Wilds review |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 10:13 AM  Trying to find out where to buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 GPU? Well, we're here to help you with that. We've checked the virtual store shelves of retailers around the world to find where Nvidia's latest mid-range gaming GPU contender can be pre-ordered, or where you can set up stock notifications for when the card launches later this year. With the RTX 5070 potentially set to be the best graphics card in its price range, including the supposed ability of the RTX 5070 to offer RTX 4090 performance, it's going to be in high demand. What's more, it may only be available in very limited numbers when the RTX 5070 release date window opens. As such, you'll have to be quick to grab one of these new Nvidia cards, especially if you don't want to pay inflated prices from scalpers buying the cards from trusted retailers, only to then resell them on the likes of eBay. The official RTX 5070 price is $549 / $549 CAD / £549 / AU$1,109 for the Founders Edition card, so that's the price you should be hoping to pay for Nvidia's own stylish card. Other cards from the likes of Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, Palit, PNY, and Zotac might demand more, but that's the ballpark figure you should expect to pay. While RTX 5090 stock and RTX 5080 stock are now available, no RTX 5070 stock is available yet and won't be for a little longer. However, some sites are now starting to show "notify me" services, so you can sign up to know when stock becomes available, and these may eventually switch to pre-order options too. Continue reading Where to buy 5070 - retailers to check for stock first MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Nvidia RTX 5090 review, Nvidia RTX 5080 review, Best graphics cards |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 9:44 AM  Do you want to know where to buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti? Well, we have some good news as we're updating this guide daily with links to retailers around the world, so you can find out where the new mid-range gaming GPU is in stock, or at least find where there are pre-order or notification options in place. The Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti is the mid-tier card in the company's new RTX 5000 series GPU lineup. While the RTX 5070 is your entry into the series, and the RTX 5090 is the range-topper, the RTX 5070 Ti could well be the best graphics card choice for those looking to maximize their bang for buck. A notable aspect of the RTX 5070 Ti is that Nvidia isn't producing its own Founders Edition card. As such there isn't an MSRP for that exact card. However, the guide price for stock-speed cards is $749 / $749 CAD / £729 / AU$1,109. These cards are manufactured by the likes of Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, Palit, PNY, and Zotac. The RTX 5070 Ti release date was February 20, 2025, although stock sold out quickly after the launch. Continue reading Where to buy 5070 Ti - Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti stock for February 24 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Nvidia RTX 5090 review, Nvidia RTX 5080 review, Best graphics cards |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 9:24 AM  If you want to find out where to buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, then you've come to the right place. We're updating this guide daily with links to retailers worldwide so we can let you know as soon as they get stock on their shelves. The RTX 5080 launch was in January 2025, so many retailers have not yet had time to replenish their stock after the initial influx of orders, but there are some ways to get hold of the card. The Nvidia RTX 5080 is a very popular option for those wanting to upgrade to an RTX 5000 series GPU. That's because, while our RTX 5090 review showed it to be the undisputed new best graphics card, it also offers relatively poor value for $1,999. The RTX 5080, though, is a more reasonable choice that offers reasonable value, as we found in our RTX 5080 review. Because of this expected popularity, and because the entire RTX 5000 series is currently in short supply with high demand, you're going to need to be organized if you want to secure a card for a sensible price. With an official price of $999 / $1,449.99 CAD / £979 / AU$2,019, Nvidia's own Founders Edition card is one of the most affordable options. Other cards from the likes of Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, Palit, PNY, and Zotac might demand more, but sometimes offer lower running temperatures, quieter fans, and more overclocking headroom. The RTX 5080 release date was Thursday, January 30, with the launch time being 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm GMT. With most stores already sold out, some are operating a "notify me" service, so you can sign up to know when stock becomes available again. Continue reading Where to buy 5080 - Nvidia RTX 5080 stock for February 24 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Nvidia RTX 5090 review, Nvidia RTX 5080 review, Best graphics cards |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 9:18 AM  I played Dredge on an eight hour flight to New York. I vividly remember turning into a tight valley in search of resources, only to be set upon by some terrifying Lovecraftian-inspired leviathan that stalked my little tugboat from below. Paranoia began to set in, the once idyllic ocean warping and twisting, eyeballs swimming before my vision, taunting me. I let out a terrified squeak, not only waking up my snoring dad, but also attracting the attention of the flight attendant, who offered me a bag to breathe into. I'm still not sure whether it's funny in hindsight, or absolutely mortifying. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best indie games on PC, Best horror games on PC, Best life games on PC |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 9:12 AM  Between Civilization 7, Manor Lords, Total War, and relative newcomers like Into The Breach and Tactical Breach Wizards, the strategy genre is as busy and full as it's ever been. But do you ever feel like it's gotten stuck? There are a lot of great games, but also, perhaps, a sense of endless 'iteration' - tweaking, revising, and improving, but not really driving forwards. Perhaps this is why Age of Empires 2, StarCraft 2, and Command and Conquer Remastered remain some of the most popular RTS games on PC. The new stuff doesn't feel that new, so you may as well replay the old stuff, because it's basically the same and at least then you get the nostalgia kick. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best strategy games, Best co-op games, Best new PC games |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 9:06 AM  If you still need to know where to buy the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, we have you covered. In this guide, you'll find links to stores around the globe that have either stock notifications, pre-orders, or actual stock available and we update it every day, to see if new stock has arrived anywhere. If you want to grab the most hotly demanded graphics card of the moment, you're in exactly the right place. With the new Nvidia RTX 5090 proving to be the undisputed new best graphics card in terms of raw power, demand for this GPU is currently huge. What's more, it's currently only dropping in very limited numbers, so you'll have to be quick on the draw to grab one in the coming months, especially if you don't want to pay inflated prices from scalpers on the likes of Ebay. With an official price of $1,999 / $4,449 CAD / £1,939 / AU$4,039 for the Founders Edition card, that's the price you should be hoping to pay for Nvidia's own impressively slim card design. Other cards from the likes of Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, and Zotac demand more, especially if they're overclocked, but that's the ballpark figure you should expect to pay. The RTX 5090 release date was Thursday, January 30, at 9am ET / 6am PT / 2pm GMT, with stock becoming available then, although most retailers are out of stock right now. Some stores are operating a "notify me" service, so you can sign up to know when more stock becomes available, so if you can't find the card you want you might be able to get a notification for when more arrives. Continue reading Where to buy 5090 - Nvidia RTX 5090 stock for February 24 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Nvidia RTX 5090 review, Nvidia RTX 5080 review, Best graphics cards |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 7:55 AM  What is the Splitgate 2 release date window? 1047 Games has finally broken its silence, revealing to the world its sequel to one of the best arena shooters out there. While Splitgate 2 is still filled to the brim with portal-popping action, there are new strategic layers to the shooter that could take it to the next level thanks to the introduction of class-based factions: Aeros, Meridian, and Sabrask. While plenty of new games are announced with a glitzy CGI trailer before going dark for a hot minute, 1047 has been quick off the mark to let Splitgate 2 gameplay out into the wild for us all to salivate over. We're not saying it's going to be one of the best FPS games of this year - it's too early for that. However, as firm Splitgate enjoyers, we can't wait to see how the studio incorporates its learnings from the original game into this shiny new endeavor. Here's what we know about Splitgate 2 so far, including information about the trailers, gameplay, and more. Continue reading Splitgate 2 release date window, trailer, gameplay, and more MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best free PC games, Best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 7:35 AM  Steam Next Fest is back again, and that means we're going to be swimming in new demos for some time. With more games coming to Valve's platform every year, though, it's getting harder and harder to find exactly what you want. This is a good problem to have, to be clear, but it still means that trying out as many games as possible is more difficult than ever. That's why I'm here. If you love Diablo, Vampire Survivors, roguelikes, and watching your character get stronger, you need to try the Tower of Babel: Survivors of Chaos demo. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelike games, Games like Diablo, Best RPGs |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 7:32 AM  February 24, 2025: The Marvel Rivals tier list has been updated for the early 1.5 meta, adding Human Torch and The Thing in the process. Who are the best Marvel Rivals characters? Marvel and NetEase's star-studded hero (and villain) shooter is filled with fan-favorite characters from across the multiverse. While each character brings their unique gameplay flair to the game, some are far mightier than others. Our Marvel Rivals tier list for Season 1.5 divides the multiplayer game's 37-strong cast into multiple bands of viability, taking into account their innate power and presence in the meta. Once you've found a top-tier Marvel Rivals hero to climb the ranked ladder with, learn all about them in our Marvel Rivals characters guide. Continue reading Marvel Rivals tier list for Season 1.5 - February 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Marvel Rivals codes, Marvel Rivals characters, Marvel Rivals tier list |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 7:20 AM  If you act fast, you could take advantage of this Acer gaming laptop deal and get yourself a powerful gaming rig at a bargain price. Packed with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 gaming GPU and a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, this 15.6-inch Acer Nitro V gaming laptop could be yours for just $749.99, saving you $350 on Best Buy's list price right now. This Acer laptop design is a firm favorite of ours, scoring a mention in our best gaming laptop guide as a great budget option for 1080p gaming. The model we tested in our Acer Nitro V review used a different AMD processor, but the core specs and overall design are the same here. That includes the Nvidia GPU in use, with the laptop RTX 4060 giving a big gaming performance boost over the integrated graphics often found in other budget laptops. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best gaming monitor |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 6:25 AM  With Half-Life 3 still just a potential twinkle in Gabe Newell's eye, the return of Valve's epochal PC shooter feels more like a pipe dream every day. The Steam maker did give us the excellent Half-Life: Alyx not long ago, but locking it behind VR headsets meant many of us didn't have the money, space, or hardware to make it work. That's why the Half-Life: Alyx NoVR project was such a godsend, because it means all you need to do is buy the game to play it as you would any other FPS. Now, the team behind the mod is making its own shooter called Chemical-Burn, and it looks like a true spiritual successor to Half-Life 2. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best old games, Best single-player games |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 9:40 AM  What are the best browser games? Modern computers are so powerful that you don't need a beefy rig to play great games. As long as you have access to a stable internet connection, there's a massive library of games that can be played from the comfort of your web browser. It can be difficult to coordinate with several friends to find a game that everyone owns. Gone are the days of worrying about your friend's empty Steam library or your low-spec PC - instead you can simply fire up these top browser games and start playing right away. Whether you're looking for a game to play for a few minutes before your lunch break ends or something to sink your teeth into after work, these free PC games have got you covered. Our list of the best browser games contains a mix of genres to ensure there's something for everyone. Continue reading Best browser games 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelike games, Best indie games, Best platform games |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 5:53 AM  What is the next Monopoly Go event? With so many limited-time events in Monopoly Go, it can be hard to keep track of the rewards you can get your hands on. Monopoly Go events can last anywhere from a few hours to a week, so bookmark this page as we'll keep it regularly updated with the next events and their start and end dates. Monopoly Go is the latest online board game sweeping the globe, but completing all of these events won't be easy without some free Monopoly Go dice links, so check out our daily updated guide for some freebies and rewards before you get started on the next Monopoly Go tournament. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 5:52 AM  February 24, 2025: We've checked for the latest Monopoly Go dice links for free dice rolls and tokens, and removed expired codes. 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. Continue reading Free Monopoly Go dice links February 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Monday, February 24, 2025 5:40 AM  What are the best Marvel Rivals skins? Marvel and NetEase is continually building out the spandex-filled wardrobes of Rivals' vibrant cast of heroes and villains, to the point where choosing which skin to go for next can be a dizzying task. Fortunately, we're here to help. Marvel Rivals skins and their associated bundle can set you back a pretty Unit, so having that extra affirmation that your costume of choice is a banger can help strip away any post-purchase regrets. Whether your fave Marvel Rivals characters sit atop the Marvel Rivals tier list doesn't matter, what's important is that you're slaying in looks in the FPS game, even if you're not slaying on the scoreboard. Continue reading The 31 best Marvel Rivals skins MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Marvel Rivals codes, Marvel Rivals characters, Marvel Rivals tier list |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 24, 2025 11:59 AM  Attention all eyeball eaters, flesh bicyclists, and shooter enjoyers who enjoy staring into nightclub toilets! I've just noticed that survival horror FPS Golden Light is free to keep on Steam… for the next hour only. The offer in question runs out at 6pm UTC today, 24th February. I swear I have only just discovered this. I swear I'm not trying to give you palpitations for the sake of a traffic spike. But if I am giving you palpitations, that's an appropriate start to your time with Golden Light, "a procedural dark comedy horror game with roguelike elements and an eerie atmosphere". Eerie? Do not sell yourself short, video game. Alan Wake is eerie. Golden Light is a game in which you can eat a bat's head just to see what happens. The last time I played I was murdered by a sink clog. The whole world is a deforming colon. Trailer! Quickly! |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 24, 2025 11:26 AM  I'm a bit late to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, which means that this review – while already a dismal failure in the glowing robot eyes of the Internet nowness machine – can at least factor in the context of the GPU's first few days on sale. Said context can be summarised thusly: Ah. Umm. Errrrrrrr. No, early life has not been kind to the RTX 5070 Ti. Inadequate stocks and the lack of an Nvidia-made Founders Edition, unlike those of the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080, have cut the chances of finding one at the intended £729 / $749 RRP to pretty much nada. Not to mention how some models are shipping with missing render output units, potentially hurting performance. It's a saddening start, made all the more unfortunate by the fact that the RTX 5070 Ti really isn't a bad graphics card in itself. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 24, 2025 11:00 AM  Among the bravest risks a game can take is making you play an arsehole. Afterlove EP's Rama isn't an arsehole, but he's getting there. He's a grieving indie rockstar who has fallen into self-neglect and hermitude - a gloom-sodden, guitar-cradling burden on friends who believe in and care for him, despite it all. As the player of this visual novel with a pinch of rhythm game, you are essentially one of those long-suffering friends. Your job is to help Rama escape his own labyrinth of bereavement, self-pity and tortured creativity. Your ally and enemy in this is Cinta, Rama's dead girlfriend, who is now a persistent voice in his head. She's his better self, sometimes, and at others, the voice of anguish and fear dragging him deeper into purgatory. I like Afterlove EP's deft writing, and enjoy its splendid and specific recreation of 21st century Jakarta. I also feel for developers Pikselnesia, who have made a game about grief while processing the loss of their own creative director, Coffee Talk creator Mohammad Fahmi. But I do not much like being Rama's friend, at this particular moment in his life. And by extension, I did not enjoy a lot of Afterlove EP, much as I admire it. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 24, 2025 10:00 AM  Much has been made of the simulation in Monster Hunter Wilds during the beta-filled run-up to its release. The ecosystem is teeming with beetles, fish and geckos. Seasons change. Carnivores go out hunting herbivores, and the herbivores wander around in a way that would make Sam Neill sit down in shock and exclaim that they really do move in herds. But those impressive details haven't had much impact on how I play this beast-whacking action game, or any effect on how my brain operates in the midst of a thoughtless crafting splurge. Pare back the vigorwasps and rockslides and sizzling steaks and what you find is a loot-the-loop straight out of an MMO, complemented with chunky combat that remains satisfying to those with the acquired taste for it and overwrought to those who crave simplicity. For many, it's exactly what you'd expect and want of Monster Hunter. But if the buzz of bashing beasts for stat-bumps quickly wanes for you, the final hours of its 20-25 hour campaign will pass with diminishing interest. When Monster Hunter Wilds finally lets go of your hand and says "okay, go do your own thing!" I felt like handing in my notice to the guild. I've seen enough of this monster to know that it's beautiful, swole, and not for me. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 24, 2025 9:32 AM  Pentiment, Pillars Of Eternity, and Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer says there's enthusiasm at Obsidian for a potential tactics game set in the same universe as Avowed and the Pillars RPGs, but he's not sure the audience is there for it. "Pillars Tactics is a thing that a lot of people at the studio would like to work on, and there are a lot of people that like tactics games," he recently said on a livestream, but they'd need to work out "a scope of development where it feels like it could actually make money." (Cheers, GamesRadar) |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 24, 2025 8:04 AM  Corporate gaming giant NetEase are hunting for more jobs to slash among their overseas studios, according to insiders who spoke to Bloomberg and Game File last week. The parent company recently cut a bunch of US jobs among their Marvels Rivals developers despite the game raking in a big profit. And it now looks like that was just the start of a larger mauling which may hit up to 20 of the company's non-Chinese studios. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 24, 2025 5:52 AM  "The cat is the fragrance, Nic," Ollie once told me when I asked the RPS Slack channel for alternatives to my essential oil diffuser, which I can no longer use for fear of my cat getting vanilla scurvy or lavender botulism or whatever else. I contemplated those words last night when she pounced into bed with me, curled up, and serenaded me to slumber with a briney fart. I remembered them again this morning when I learned of the ASUS Fragrance Mouse (thanks, Percy Gamer.) The mouse is ergonomic, wireless, and comes in plain or pink ("Iridescent White or Rose Clay"). Its innards house a refillable vial for scent oils. It features "delicate underglow lighting," a sell that would be easier to make fun of if most gaming hardware wasn't illuminated by a choice of either energy drink piss green or antiseptic gel blue. |
Twinfinite Monday, February 24, 2025 9:39 AM  |
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Siliconera Monday, February 24, 2025 12:00 PM
The newest Suikoden 1 HD Remaster teaser trailer calls attention to the recruitment process for Lotte, a young mage missing her cat named Mina. Konami shared a clip and ensuing screenshot in the name of Japan's National Cat Day on February 22, 2025.
The video features Tir, the hero of Suikoden 1 HD Remaster, happening upon Lotte in Rikon. She's upset as her beloved cat Mina is missing. She notes that if you can find the cat, she'll become a part of the Liberation Army.
A few hours after the Suikoden 1 HD Remaster video clip post showing Lotte mentioning her missing cat to Tir, the company shared the following tweet with a screenshot of the hero finding the animal in the town of Kaku. Interacting with Mina then will allow you to catch the feline, then return to Lotte to recruit her.
Lore about the first two games also appeared on the official Konami social media account.
Konami isn't the only Japanese company that honored the occasion. Atlus did too. It shared a poll on social media asking people to vote for the best cats from its games.
Suikoden 1 and 2 HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars will come to the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on March 6, 2025. The original games appeared on the PlayStation worldwide. They also appeared together in a collection on the PSP in Japan.
The post Suikoden HD Remaster Teaser Highlights Lotte and Her Cat Mina appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 24, 2025 11:30 AM
Bandai released a new Pokemon blind box collection focusing on the Paradox Pokemon from Scarlet and Violet. It came out in Japan on February 24, 2025, and it costs 242 JPY ($1.60) per box.
There are 16 Pokemon in total to collect. Aside from a little toy, you can also receive a soda-flavored gum. The species you can get in the Paradox Pokemon blind box collection are:
As a note, the Sinistcha (Masterpiece Form) toy is a special one. So if you get that one, you're extra lucky.
Not all the Pokemon are Paradox Pokemon, and the majority of them are Pokemon that debuted in Generation IX (Scarlet, Violet). It also includes classically popular Pokemon like Eevee and Milcery, as well as older Pokemon who received renewed attention from fans thanks to the introduction of new evolutions.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, or Generation IX, are the latest mainline entries in the Pokemon series. They came out in 2022 for the Nintendo Switch, and a three-part DLC story. GameFreak also announced Pokemon Legends: Z-A as part of Generation IX, but there's not been any information on it since the Pokemon Presents in 2024. However, more information on it may appear during the upcoming stream on February 27, 2025.
The Paradox Pokemon blind box collection is available in stores around Japan.
The post Pokemon Blind Box Collection Focuses on Paradox Pokemon appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 24, 2025 11:00 AM
The new Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX anime will start airing from April 8, 2025. Kenshi Yonezu's "Plazma" will remain the theme song of the show. [Thanks, Famitsu!]
The newest entry in the long-running anime franchise will air every Tuesday in Japan from April 8, 2025. It counts as a late-night show, and it'll air from 12:29am JST. Though GKids announced that it'll distribute Beginning, which is a compilation film of the first few episodes of the show, there's no information yet as to which English streaming service will have the show. Crunchyroll does feature quite a few Gundam series, including The Witch From Mercury, so there's a chance that it'll license GQuuuuuuX for streaming as well.
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is a joint production between Sunrise and Studio Khara. It takes place in an alternate Universal Century timeline, in which Char Aznable stole the RX-78-2 Gundam and led the Principality of Zeon to victory during the One Year War. The story follows high schooler Amate Yuzuriha, who fights in illegal Clan Battles using her Gundam. However, the emergence of the Red Gundam brings drastic changes to the world.
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX will start airing from April 8, 2025. The compilation film, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX: Beginning, will appear in North American theaters on February 28, 2025.
The post New Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Anime Air Date Shared appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 24, 2025 10:30 AM
The last few Bleach Rebirth of Souls characters involved members of Aizen's Arrancar, and the newest one coming to the new game is the Primera Espada Coyote Starrk. He also references Lilynette Gingerbuck in his introduction.
Coyote is in a unique situation in Bleach. This is because he and Lilynette are a two-for-one deal. The two are typically pictured together, and his Resurreccion Awakening in the game references her and shows them coming together. He becomes a close-range melee attacker then, while the typical moveset sees him using Los Lobos at range. His Signature Move is Alma Carma, and it almost functions like reloading since it lets him recharge his Spiritual Power for other ranged attacks. Spiritual Pressure Move 1 is the ranged Cero Automatico, which varies in power based on Spiritual Power. The Two of Us Make One temporarily removes his Spiritual Power cost for moves, however it will steadily make it decrease over time.
Here's the full Bleach Rebirth of Souls trailer for Espada Coyote Starrk.
Since Lilynette Gingerbuck is tied to him, it's unknown if she'll appear as a separate, additional character.
In case you missed some of the past reveals, here are all the other character trailers for the game so far:
Bleach Rebirth of Souls will come to the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on March 21, 2025. The Bleach anime, including Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, are streaming on on Disney+ and Hulu. Viz Media handles the manga series outside of Japan.
The post Primera Espada Coyote Starrk Joins Bleach Rebirth of Souls appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 24, 2025 10:00 AM
It can feel like Capcom walks a delicate balance between Monster Hunter games geared toward the core audience and ones designed to feel inviting to those outside, looking in at people having so much fun. Monster Hunter World definitely fell into the "more approachable for everyone" category, while installments like Generations: Ultimate and Rise can feel more geared toward those who've spent years honing their hunting skills. With Monster Hunter Wilds, I feel like the team veered back into a game for anyone while still offering sufficient challenge, the return of some fan favorite monsters, and tons of quality of life and environmental exploration elements that will delight people who've stuck with the series for over 20 years.
Monster Hunter Wilds begins with us watching the rampage and assault of the White Wraith. A number of villagers are attempting to escape its fury, with a man named Tasheen ushering a young boy named Nata through a cavern's cracks in the hopes of saving his life. He does, resulting in the child traversing even deserts until members of the Hunter's Guild happen upon him. As a result, they learn the foreboding Forbidden Lands aren't completely desolate. An expedition is mounted to both explore the area, return Nata to his home, and learn more about the mysterious Keepers tribe he belongs to. Naturally, players' avatars are one of the star Hunters picked to escort him on this mission.
While I usually don't come to Monster Hunter games for their narrative, I ended up incredibly pleased with the story Capcom had to tell in Monster Hunter Wilds. Nata is a sympathetic companion, and I did desperately want to help this kid get home and find a happy ending. The progression that stems from introducing new villages and people in the Forbidden Lands involves some pretty great pacing, as well as opportunities to tease new areas and "what's next" via occasional excursions into certain spots before the full campaign takes us there. It also involved moments that surprised me. Not to mention it builds upon other background elements and lore past games suggested in a satisfying manner.
As usual, you head into Monster Hunter Wilds with an array of options ahead of you. There are 14 weapons to choose from, and one of the new quality of life features allows you to "store" a second one at your Seikret mount and swap to them while on assignment. When you head off on a mission, your goal will be to take a gigantic, hostile creature down. In these extended fights, you'll often need to sharpen your weapon, heal, use items to heal your status, use other items to inflict status effects or trap an enemy, and wear the opponent down by breaking off parts. One of the other quality of life additions allows you to "focus" by holding down a trigger and target very obvious wounds to help break parts and get new materials. As you assault opponents, parts can break off. These net you specific items sometimes, as well as change the monster's physical appearance.
Yes, like Monster Hunter Rise, Monster Hunter Wilds features a mount in the form of the Seikret birds. The best analogy I can offer is the Final Fantasy Chocobo. Like the Palamute from Monster Hunter Rise, they'd designed to help with traversing terrain and speeding your way around the game's large maps. However, they're also an accessibility feature. There's a built-in autopilot that can take you directly to your next monster or campaign objective, which is optional since you can maintain manual control. This doesn't completely dumb down the experience, as there are moments in chapters that involve a person needing to go on-foot or actually use their own awareness and investigative skills to find someone or your target. It's basically there as a nice option to have, especially if you fall during a hunt and want to quickly catch up, but isn't forced upon you.
As far as weapons go, there's been significant balancing and retooling. All of them feel more effective as options for dealing out damage to enemies. For example, I felt like the combos for the Long Sword, my main, let me more effortlessly chain attacks together and take advantage of the skills tied to it. So I had a Spirit Gauge I could fill for additional attacks. If I swapped to my Gunlance backup, I could gain more survivability while still being an offensive force that could also rely on the Wyvern's Fire attacks and Wyrmstake Shots. If a monster was especially mobile and in a phase when it'd use AOE elemental attacks, I'd hop on the Seikret when these were being telegraphed, more nimbly move around for some strikes, then use the ability to attack while jumping of of the mount to deal more damage and perhaps even leap onto the monster. It just feels good.
In addition to building on over 20 years of experience with regards to ensuring weapons work well and combat feels tight, Monster Hunter Wilds further shows what the evolution of an open-world entry in the series looks like. We got a taste of that with Monster Hunter World, and it was great! I loved heading out at any time, without an objective, to explore and get into trouble. That's still present here! The fast travel system comes up immediately, to further facilitate that, as does the ability to find spots for pop-up camps and pay the fee needed to place them as additional points in each of the major biomes. So you have all these options for deploying whether you want to search for specific materials or wandering monsters (which are highlighted on the map) or just look around to see what would happen. I also appreciated the realism that comes from monsters happening upon said pop-ups and ripping them apart if you don't check in from time to time.
Another highlight in this richer than usual open world is the seasonal effects present this time around. Capcom introduces the Fallow, Inclemency, and Plenty seasons during the campaign, with early events forcibly changing them so we can see a marked difference. There are different weather conditions, which can make hunts more challenging! When the seasons change, certain monsters might come out. I even felt like this helped lend itself to more turf war opportunities, which are still so much fun to see. (Especially when it helped me out during a fight.) It feels so much more dynamic than before and also encourages someone to take time between missions to look around. Especially since Capcom even hints at taking a moment by suggesting someone "prepare" as an option before jumping into another chapter quest.
The only thing I could see as possibly holding Monster Hunter Wilds back is that you don't get immediate access to every biome and location on the world map or feature you may be familiar with in past games. These unlock as you go through the campaign. Also, when first venturing into spaces as part of these quests, there will be times when you're forced to stay on the Seikret and let "things happen" instead of wandering off on your own to assess. It's a minor annoyance sometimes, especially if you see a new mining outcrop you want to tap into or a smaller monster you want to assault for items like a Vespoid. Want Decorations to enhance your equipment? That happens once you're invested in the story. The capturing tutorial and paintball usage? That comes up later. Adjusting your Palico too? Eventually!
The funny thing is, I didn't miss that. I was so caught up in the story that I breezed through it. Especially since campaign quests sometimes do only take 15-30 minutes depending on your skill level, I felt like isn't long before you're done and able to go wander around. These story segments also provide valuable insight when it comes to exploring on your own. They all do take you through areas and are never isolated to a single "room" or "space." So you get an idea of the ecology, maybe run into other monsters from the region you've seen, and can take a moment when chasing down a wounded target to do some gathering on the way.
I will say that I didn't start feeling like it got really challenging until I'd invested a substantial amount of time into it, with only one monster in the second chapter actually managing to completely wipe me out. Granted, I've been playing these games for 20 years now. I'm accustomed to things, and the quality of life adjustments here are very good in Monster Hunter Wilds. I can tell some of these monsters' attack patterns and situations are fantastic, flashy, fun, and even cinematic. I think newcomers will even find them challenging! Those familiar with the series might not start feeling tested until they've faced 10-12 major opponents. Also, once you do reach the point where you're free to do whatever you want, there are additional challenges to undertake, Tempered monsters, and incredible equipment to work on.
That some of these issues are so minor show how incredible a game Monster Hunter Wilds is. This is a fantastic installment in the series that feels filled with opportunities. There's so much to do here, and a captivating campaign that moves along so well and properly introduces you to the monsters, region, and mechanics only helps enhance it all. Monster Hunter Wilds is a joy to play, a step forward for the series, and perhaps the best entry yet.
Monster Hunter Wilds will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on February 28, 2025, and the Benchmark Tool is available now for PCs via Steam.
The post Review: Monster Hunter Wilds Keeps an Audience Captive appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 24, 2025 9:30 AM
The official NieR account on X (Twitter) announced a live stream to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the game series. You can catch it on NicoNico and YouTube on April 19, 2025 from 6:00 PM, and it'll run for about two and a half hours. As a note, the above time and date is JST. It would convert to 2am PT and 5am ET on April 19, 2025.
If you have a NicoNico Premium account, there's an additional talk show after the stream. Also of note is that the talk part during the stream may contain spoilers for NieR, NieR Automata, and NieR Reincarnation. Aside from talking about the games, you'll also be able to enjoy a short concert.
Square Enix and the now-defunct Cavia first released NieR for the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2010. The Japanese version of the game, Replicant, was on the PS3 and featured the titular protagonist as a young man. Meanwhile, Gestalt came out on the Xbox 360 and featured an older version of the main character. The series is a spinoff of the Drakengard series, taking place after the fifth ending.
Nier was more a cult classic than anything, whereas its sequel, Nier Automata, is the one that most people today think of when they hear the series name. It sold over 9 million copies worldwide as of December 2024, and received multiple accolades and nominations in various awards between 2017 and 2018.
The NieR 15th anniversary live stream for the game series will run for two and a half hours at 6:00 PM JST of April 29, 2025.
The post New NieR Game Series Showcase Announced appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, February 24, 2025 9:00 AM
Forever Entertainment and MegaPixel Studio offered a chance to take a first look at The House of the the Dead 2: Remake during Steam Next Fest 2025 with a demo. The PC trial is now live on the storefront, though the companies didn't note how long it will be available. The announcement included a reveal that we can also watch members of the development team play the game.
We do know what's already in The House of the the Dead 2: Remake demo. The announcement confirmed if we download it, we can try the first level alone or with a friend. It also mentioned that we can choose to hear the original or remastered soundtrack while we play through this portion. It features the updated character designs, of course.
As for the stream, that was live as of 8:30am ET on February 24, 2025. Gameplay started at about 8am ET that morning. Part of that video involved getting to see the main menu and UI. We could see the Original and Arcade story, with options like Difficulty Level, Score Mode, and Multiplayer Mode showing up before someone heads into the shooter.
In case you missed it, here's the announcement trailer that appeared in January 2025:
The original The House of the Dead: Remake, which also came from MegaPixel and Forever, is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
The House of the Dead 2: Remake has a Spring 2025 release window for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation consoles, Xbox consoles, and PC, and the demo is live via Steam Next Fest now.
The post Try The House of the Dead 2: Remake Demo Now appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 11:00 AM
This week, Destructoid is made possible by Boot Hill Bounties, a throwback RPG in the style of 16-bit classics like Chrono Trigger and EarthBound. Gather your party and head out on a massive, spaghetti western adventure, now available on Nintendo Switch and Steam. This is a sponsored post.
In honor of the Switch release of Boot Hill Bounties, we're taking our hats off to games developed by a single person - or, at least, mostly by a single person. From Papers, Please to Stardew Valley, we have seven games that show just how far the determination of a developer can go.
Games are rarely brought to market by a single person, though, so keep that in mind as we make our way through. For instance, Boot Hill Bounties developer David Welch received help from chip-tune extraordinaire Jake Kaufman on the game's soundtrack, whose credits include Shovel Knight, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, and DuckTales: Remastered.
The Challenges of Solo Game Development
Video games are challenging to design. Drafting the story, programming gameplay systems, creating art assets, and recording sound effects and voices are just a few of the many pieces in the game-design puzzle box. It's an arduous process, and even game publishers with teams numbering in the hundreds and access to millions of dollars in funding have produced terrible games. So imagine how difficult it must be for one person to make a game with little to no outside help.
Without access to the same wealth of resources big-name game publishers have, solo game developers have to face all the challenges of designing a functional and fun game alone. Luckily, the best one-person game dev teams make up for their lack of resources with indomitable enthusiasm and a willingness to seek out the knowledge and support they need to make their dreams a reality.
How Solo Developers Overcame Development Hurdles
Many of the games we've listed below were made by people willing to play the long game. They took years, even decades, to learn the skills that helped them reach their goals. Some studied programming in college, while others used self-tutoring courses like Codecademy to teach themselves how to turn strings of numbers on a computer screen into virtual experiences loved by millions of players.
Of course, gaining experience won't make it easier to pay the bills that inevitably come in during the game design process. One way solo game developers have gotten around this hurdle is through crowd-funding. The rise of crowd-funding platforms like Patreon, Ko-fi, and Kickstarter has made it easier for developers to get the funding they need to bring their games to life.
That said, every video game begins with a good idea, and the ability to convince people that your idea is worth betting on is an essential skill in any indie developer's toolkit. This is why many indie dev teams work to create a social media presence, building a solid rapport with their potential fanbase. Some devs do this better than others, but the gaming public generally appreciates the effort.
Now that the preamble out of the way, let's check out some of the greatest success stories in indie gaming.
Boot Hill Bounties – David Welch
Boot Hill Bounties takes the tried-and-true formula of 16-bit era JRPGs and brings it into a whole new setting. It's an isometric RPG with up to 4-player co-op in the style of Final Fantasy III/VI and EarthBound. However, it ditches the high fantasy setting, favoring a Wild West spin.
Boot Hill Bounties came out on Steam a few years ago, but it just recently released on Switch, and the classic RPG experience pairs perfectly with Nintendo's handheld. Even if you haven't played its prequel, Boot Hill Heroes, you can still play Bounties. Welch developed the game with past and new players in mind, allowing anyone to jump in on the spaghetti western action.
Welch founded Experimental Game Studios to work on games that capture the same spark that made him fall in love with titles like Final Fantasy III/VI and Chrono Trigger. After releasing Boot Hill Heroes, Welch started the development of Boot Hill Bounties, eventually counting down to release day with 50 unique blog posts. These posts, colloquially known as the Corral Countdown, provide a rare glimpse behind the curtain of a solo game dev.
When he looked back on the experience, Welch said, "The great thing about being a solo dev is that you can be proud knowing that the work is entirely your own, but that can also be scary." That's an impressive feat, given the breadth of content in Boot Hill Bounties.
Undertale – Toby Fox
Undertale comes from developer Toby Fox, who worked on the game alone outside of some art assets. Although Undertale was Fox's first claim to fame, he had been working on retro-inspired RPGs for some time. Growing up, he used RPG Maker 2000 to create games with his brothers, and he produced ROM hacks for EarthBound in high school.
Following the tradition of weird, Fox went on to develop his own RPG, taking all of the conventions of 16-bit classics and flipping them on their head. Since then, Fox has released the start of another game, Deltarune, though most of his work is focused on composing now. He has composing credits on Little Town Hero, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Pokémon Sword and Shield.
Stardew Valley – Eric Barone
Stardew Valley was created by Eric Barone, who released the game under the alias "ConcernedApe." Originally intended as a way to bolster his resume, Barone set out to create a "fixed" Harvest Moon, feeling that the series had "gotten progressively worse after Harvest Moon: Back to Nature."
What started as a side project to show what Barone was capable of quickly grew into something much bigger. Although Stardew Valley is a very different game than Undertale and Boot Hill Bounties, Barone still cites the same references. Growing up, his older brother introduced him to Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, and EarthBound.
Papers, Please – Lucas Pope
Like David Welch, Lucas Pope is also the developer of two successful games (technically three, though one is a small, browser-based game). After working on Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Uncharted 2, Pope split from his position as a systems programmer at Naughty Dog to pursue his own creative aspirations, using the phrase "the pen is mightier than the sword" as his lighthouse.
Pope and his wife, Keiko Ishizaka, used that phrase to develop Mightier before creating a mobile game and browser game. Their first commercially successful game, though, was Papers, Please, propelling Pope into indie dev stardom.
Iconoclasts – Joakim Sandberg
Joakim Sandberg, who develops his games under the name "Konjak," has actually released six games, though only one of them is still readily available to download. Iconoclasts debuted on Steam's Greenlight program in 2015, though the game had been in development far before that. All the way back in 2012, Sandberg was allowing players to try out an alpha demo.
It wasn't until 2018 that the Metroidvania platformer hit virtual shelves. Pulling on his experience developing for the Game Boy Advance, Sandberg created a game that feels ripped straight out of the handheld's days, just with updated visuals. With his time at WayFoward, Sandberg worked on games like Contra IV and X-Men 3.
Braid – Johnathan Blow
Johnathan Blow has a long history in the video games industry, though not one directly working on games. After porting Doom to a set-top box, Blow founded a game studio in 1996, which went bust a few years later. With assets at the ready, Blow worked with IBM to turn the game he and his team created into a demo for the Cell processor, the computing unit featured in the PlayStation 3.
Although the demo was successful, the full game was not. Blow found himself in Thailand in 2004, $40,000 in debt with a stroke of inspiration. He created a time manipulation puzzle platformer demo, which would eventually turn into Braid. Upon release, the game quickly became the starchild for indie titles on console, eventually funding Blow's next project, The Witness.
Axiom Verge – Thomas Happ
Axiom Verge started as a side project for Petroglyph Games engineer Thomas Happ. Petroglyph Games is best known for its work on real-time strategy games like Star Wars: Empire at War and Grey Goo. Starting in 2010, however, Happ began work on Axiom Verge, hoping to release it that same year. It wouldn't be until 2015 that the game would see the light of day, though.
Instead of just a small homage to Metroid, Axiom Verge turned into a true spiritual successor. Following the release on PC in 2015, the game has since been ported to countless other systems, including the Switch, Wii U, Vita, and PlayStation 4.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 10:52 AM
Shatterscarp is a region in Avowed that holds plenty of secrets for you to find, and some of those secrets are locked behind doors that require a special key to open. One of those keys is the Ornate Pargrun Key.
Finding this key allows you to open a door that leads to a few special — if underwhelming — rewards in Avowed. Read the guide below to see exactly where to find and use the Ornate Pargrun Key.
Ornate Pargrun Key location in Avowed
For starters, let's find out where the Ornate Pargrun Key is located so you can head directly to the door it unlocks once you add it to your inventory.
The Ornate Pargrun Key is located in the Shark's Teeth region of Shatterscarp. This is found in the far northeastern part of the map and you can head there at any time after entering the map in Avowed. However, there are strong enemies here, so you want to ensure you have strong enough equipment and you're at a decent level before going there. If not, you might get wiped off the map before you're even able to find the key.
In Shark's Teeth, you're looking for the smaller Pargrun Cache area, which is located to the southeast of the "Shark's Teeth" text on your map. The Pargrun Cache can be entered in a couple of different ways, but the easiest is by getting up high on the ruins around you and jumping down into the cache. The Pargrun Cache has several different floors, so you're in for a task if you want to fully explore the area.
For the Ornate Pargrun Key specifically, though, you need to find the room with the four levers. This is accessed after destroying a gate with a freeze spell or an Eye of Rymrgand grenade.
The four-levers room is opened by turning a wheel on the wall in the first main room of the Pargrun Cache. After this, you can access the levers room on the second level and read a note on the desk to see how to orient the levers. All you need to do with the levers is interact with the far left and the far right levers, pushing them up. The levers in the middle need to stay down.
After you orient the levers correctly, a door next to you in the same room will open to reveal a purple chest. However, you can also push a button on the gold-plated square on the wall in the room that reveals another secret area. This has the Ornate Pargrun Key sitting on a desk next to a gold lockbox.
Pick up the key and then head out the way you came to use the Ornate Pargrun Key at a specific location, also in the Shark's Teeth region.
Using the Ornate Pargrun Key in Avowed
The Ornate Pargrun Key opens a door located to the northeast of the Pargrun Cache in the Shark's Teeth region. Specifically, you want to head to just above "S" in the "Shark's Teeth" text on your map. Here, you'll find a door that you can open with the Ornate Pargrun Key. You can't force the door open with a lockpick either, so you have to use the key. The door is on the ground level, so there's no climbing involved.
Inside the locked room is a dead skeleton with some loot on it. There's some gold scelling along with plenty of additional crafting materials for you to take. Unfortunately, that's all that you get for using the Ornate Pargrun Key. There's no additional loot anywhere else in the room and that's the only door the key opens in Avowed.
It might not be the haul you were expecting, but you likely wound up with more loot by exploring the Pargrun Cache to actually find Ornate Pargrun Key, so it all works out in the end.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 10:43 AM
Of all the remarkable titles in Capcom's impressive portfolio, the Monster Hunter franchise stands out, with Monster Hunter: World at the forefront, boasting millions of copies sold. The next chapter in the saga has come with Wilds, an epic RPG that promises to be the series' most extraordinary adventure yet.
Although I joined the Monster Hunter series a bit late, having only played World in recent years, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to start as a relative newcomer. Jumping into a long-running series like this can sometimes be overwhelming, but fortunately, that wasn't the case with Wilds. There's no lore dumping to throw you for a loop, nor do the mechanics veer into overly complex territory. Everything is easy to understand, even for someone like me who isn't the best at RPGs.
Monster Hunter Wilds (PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 [reviewed])
The monster-slaying journey begins with the captivating story of Nata, a young boy in need of rescue after fleeing from a fearsome beast. You'll find him at the borders of the Forbidden Lands, a place once thought to be uninhabited, yet this child claims to have lived there. As a member of the Hunter's Guild, you're tasked with helping Nata find his way back to his lost village and uncover the secrets behind the enigmatic monster that has been tormenting him. Joining alongside you is Alma, your personal Handler who keeps you on track with quests, and Gemma, the smithy extraordinaire who takes care of weapons and armor.
You'll then dive into the one aspect every RPG player has lost themselves in for countless hours: character customization. It's pretty amazing how detailed the Monster Hunter Wilds avatar system is, covering almost every aspect of coloring down to the hue, saturation, and brightness. Sizing is also thrown in there, letting you determine different parts of the body both horizontally and vertically.
Veteran players will encounter classic armor sets, including Leather, Chainmail, and the newly introduced Hope gear. While I am impressed by the realistic designs of the game's characters, the feline companion, Palico, is the real seller. They captured my heart in World, and now they've done so again in Wilds, bringing an adorable charm to its monstrous world. I'm a sucker for cats; what can I say?
Once the avatar customization is taken care of, you'll jump straight into the action as you control the new mount, the Bird Wyvern Seikret. You'll use it to guide you to a tremendous monster showdown, giving you the power to wield one of the 12 weapon types. It's almost impossible for you not to find a weapon designed for your playstyle, from the high-damaging Long Sword to the ranged Heavy Bowgun.
I went with the Dual Blades, one of the best tools any mobile enthusiast could ask for. Wielding it made me feel unstoppable, effortlessly darting across the battlefield and unleashing a flurry of devastating strikes. The moveset to inflict a monster's wound, in particular, is a marvel to watch as you perform a spinning attack across a beast's body. It almost reminds me of the legendary takedowns in Attack on Titan.
Whenever I defeated one of the many creatures in the game, I was ready to tackle the next one immediately. The combat is not only captivating but also incredibly addictive, leaving me craving more after each fight. Initially, I thought the concept of repeatedly defeating monsters might become tedious. However, in all my hours in Monster Hunter Wilds, it never got old. One of the biggest reasons for this is the fact that each monster is different from the last. They all have their own weakness, combat strategies, and a unique environment to switch up the pace every single time.
One moment, I'm locked in a brutal showdown with the octopus-like Black Flame amidst the blistering heat of Oilwell Basin, and the next, I'm soaring through the electrified chaos of Windward Plains, facing off against the fearsome Flying Wyvern, Rey Dau. The battlefield is relentless and ever-changing—like I'm Gandalf, standing tall against the Balrog in The Lord of the Rings.
You can bet that each battle becomes more challenging than the last, especially when the monsters are capable of one-hit kills. Luckily, you can rely on support from the multiplayer system or the Palico, who has the makings of one of the best companions I've had in a video game. They always come in clutch with healing and find ways to knock the enemy off their feet with a trap. Plus, you can use the environment to your advantage, from bringing down a pile of rocks onto enemies to using an elemental bug to counter a weakness.
It all becomes even more worth it when it's time to carve up some new gear with the monster pieces you've acquired. I love the anticipation of seeing what new outfit I would unlock with every fight, including a furry armor from the Doshaguma and the reptilian gear of Chatacabra. However, I will admit that the clothing can be unusual, especially with the Palico's K-Pop idol-like outfit. But, hey, a little weirdness never hurt anybody.
When you're not caught up in the chaos of battle, you'll find some well-deserved downtime at the Base Camp, where you can explore the vast, sprawling regions. The map is quite massive, offering unique locations like the molten forge of Azuz Village, the secretive Wudwud Hideout nestled deep in Scarlet Forest, and the winter wonderland of Iceshard Cliffs. Each area is teeming with hidden treasures, whether it's a perfect fishing spot or the thrilling discovery of a new monster. I particularly loved scavenging ingredients and unlocking fresh recipes that added new flavors to my cooking adventures.
The Seikret mount turns travel into a seamless experience, particularly with its handy auto-run feature. Whenever I didn't need to take in the sights, I'd just mark my waypoint, kick back with some videos on my phone, and let the Seikret do all the heavy lifting. Look, sometimes my attention span can wander during those long treks, so having a feature like this is a lifesaver.
It's not that the world of Monster Hunter Wilds isn't breathtaking—it absolutely is. I love how every region shifts and evolves with each biome, adding a variety of colors that blend together quite nicely. The cast of characters also breathes some life into each destination, where there's always a story to uncover at every corner. It's been a treat getting to know the residents across the Forbidden Lands and seeing how each approaches this monster lifestyle differently.
So, whether you're eager to dive into the Monster Hunter universe for the first time or you're a long-time fan seeking a new adventure, Monster Hunter Wilds offers everything you need for an unforgettable experience. Capcom has truly outdone itself with yet another exceptional game that you won't want to miss. I enjoyed every minute of my playthrough from start to finish, and there's even more stuff to discover with its fun-filled end-game content.
The year 2025 is shaping up to be a remarkable time for RPGs, with hits like Avowed and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Monster Hunter Wilds will likely seal the deal, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it take the top spot in Capcom's collection.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 10:39 AM
If you've been fiending for the next great Roblox MMORPG experience, you're going to love Rune Slayer. I've been counting the days up to the release, so when it finally dropped, there was no other option but to immerse myself. Want the same? Then the Rune Slayer Trello and Discord server are your next destination.
Rune Slayer Community Links
The community didn't waste any time getting things together, so they already have a fan-made Rune Slayer Trello, as well as an official Discord channel for players. Here's how you can access the both:
I was pretty pleased with the Discord, as it strikes a nice balance between informative and chaotic. As for the official Rune Slayer Community Group, there isn't much activity there. Your best bet is thus to join the Discord, take a look around, and ask any questions you might have.
Rune Slayer Trello Board
The Rune Slayer Trello board isn't official, but as far as I've been able to verify, the community is on top of things, and they fact-check every submission. Just like the Rune Slayer Discord, the main part of the server is devoted to basic information about the game and changelogs.
Just make sure you're reading the info from the latest version of the game (the one from February 22nd) and not the two botched released before that. Other than basic info, you can find things such as:
This is just the tip of the iceberg, as the whole Trello board looks like it was made by a professional. If you see anything amiss, the Discord community is ready and willing to assist you.
That's the long and short of it. Let's hope this third launch will be successful. If you want to jump onto the bandwagon, check out our Rune Slayer codes and try the game while it's still fresh.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 10:08 AM
The Totem of Revelations is the third totem quest in Avowed. It takes place in the Shatterscarp region and, as always, requires you to find seven unique Totem pieces. In return, you receive six massive buffs for your character.
Below, we'll go over the locations of each totem piece and how to fully complete the Totem of Revelations quest in Avowed.
Totem of Revelations locations in Avowed
Including the base of the totem, there are seven pieces needed to complete the "Eye of the Obscured" totem in Avowed. Like the Totem of Rightful of Rulership and Totem of Defiance from the previous two regions in the game, the Totem of Revelations can be placed at your party camp and grants you six unique buffs.
This guide shows you the exact location of every Totem of Revelations piece along with all six buffs that come with completing the totem. You can see the individual locations below:
Eyes of the Obscured (Totem Base)
First up, we have the Totem Base, which is called the Eyes of the Obscured. This is one of the easier pieces to find, as it's located right near the start of the map, south of Eagle's Reach. You have to enter the Shrine to Wael to find it sitting on a mantle surrounded by coral and mushrooms. The Shrine to Wael can be reached by jumping on some rocks on the outer edge of the large pink coral that arches over the road to the south of Eagle's Reach.
Ruby Eye
For the Ruby Eye, you want to stay inside the Shrine to Wael. Directly to the right of the mantle where you found the Eyes of the Obscured Totem Base, there's a small pathway inside the wall on the right that you can crouch into. Keep progressing down this pathway until you reach an opening, where an NPC named the Ward of the Eye is waiting for you.
Go through all the dialogue with the Ward of the Eye and say you want to take the Ruby Eye. Once the dialogue is over, you can grab the Ruby Eye that's sitting on the blanket on the ground and head out of the Shrine to Wael for good.
Agate Eye
Moving on from the Shrine to Wael, the next totem piece is the Agate Eye. For this one, you need to head across Shatterscarp to the Sand Sea Ruins, which is located on the far northeastern side of the map. It's just below Shark's Teeth but to the northeast of the Great Sand Sea. At the ruins, you need to ascend all the way to the top of a tower and drop down one level. You should be standing on a wooden platform right below the open ceiling.
On this level, head down a greenly lit path through an archway and you'll find the Agate Eye sitting on the desk in the room.
Amethyst Eye
Next up we have the Amethyst Eye, which isn't nearly as difficult to reach as the Agate Eye. The Amethyst Eye is located just southeast of the Ancient Lakebed. Travel on the main road that separates the Ancient Lakebed from the Abandoned Mine location, which is northwest of Thirdborn. Along the road, you can enter a small cave to find the Amethyst Eye sitting on a random rock that's surrounded by some pale blue mushrooms.
Topaz Eye
The fifth Totems of Revelations piece is the Topaz Eye, and you can find it inside a cave near the Leviathan's Hollow area of Shatterscarp. Leviathan's Hollow is directly south of the Naku Kabel Approach, which is a central story location in Avowed. You can also reach the area from the Deadfall Highlands. Leviathan's Hollow is a tricky place to navigate, as it involves swimming to different caves.
For the Topaz Eye specifically, you're looking for a cave that can be reached by swimming underwater but is also accessible through a hole in the cave wall. The Topaz eye itself is sitting on a desk near a health potion.
Emerald Eye
The penultimate Totem of Revelations piece is the Emerald Eye. This piece is located at the very top of a small pillar in the central part of the Shark's Teeth area of Shatterscarp. To reach the pillar, you want to go near the Pargrun Cache and head up the ramp that leads to the north. Where the pillar plateaus, look to the west and you'll see a pillar you can climb up via a wooden platform.
The Emerald Eye is sitting on a pillar near a lock box and a note. Keep climbing the pillar until you ensure you're at the top to successfully find it.
Sapphire Eye
Finally, the last Totem of Revelations piece is the Sapphire Eye. Without fully exploring Shatterscarp, you would never know where this piece is located. To find it, head to the Sand Sea Oasis, which is right near the Sand Sea Ruins in the far eastern part of the map. Notably, the Sand Sea Oasis is a location you'll visit for the One Last Drink side quest in Avowed.
At the Sand Sea Oasis, jump into the crystal clear pond and go towards the center of it. Down at the bottom of the pond, you'll find the Sapphire Eye sitting on a rock next to a skeleton. Dive down right on top of the "Sand Sea Oasis" text on your map.
All buffs for the Totem of Revelations in Avowed
Now that you have all seven Totem of Revelations pieces, head to any party camp and visit the totem rock on the edge of the camp. Place the Eyes of the Obscured Totem Base down on the top left rock and then follow up with the six fragments.
After a short cutscene that plays out with Wael, you can see all of the buffs you get from placing the entire Totem of Revelations at camp. Here's a list of all the buffs you earn after placing the full totem:
You now have some extra bonuses working in your favor in Avowed. Next up, you can find all of the totem pieces in the Galawain's Tusks region. But make sure to fully explore Shatterscarp, as it holds more secrets than just the Totem of Revelations.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 9:41 AM
Fires in the Mine is a side quest you can take on soon after reaching the Shatterscarp region in Avowed. The quest starts simple enough, as you just have to clear out some spiders from a nearby mine, but it evolves into something different by the end.
To see what choice you should make in the Fires in the Mine quest in Avowed, the guide below answers all.
How to complete Fires in the Mine in Avowed
Let's start off with the first part of the Fires in the Mine quest. Your job here is simple, find and destroy two spider nests located in the mine.
The mine can be difficult to navigate, but if you follow your quest markers, you should be able to find both spider nests without too much of a dilemma. Both spider nests come with dozens of spider enemies, so you need to clear them out before attempting to destroy the nests.
The nests themselves are located high up on the walls of the mine and they are surrounded by massive amounts of spider webs. To destroy the nests, throw a Magran's Fury grenade at the middle part of the nest or use a fire spell from a Grimoire of the Elements book.
Once you've managed to destroy both nests, head out the same way you came into the mine by following the quest marker on your map. You can also choose to explore the mine a little more, as there are several chests and a couple of unique items to find throughout its narrow pathways and secret rooms.
Should you blow up the mine in Avowed?
As you approach the exit to the mine, you'll find a soldier who wants to speak with you. The soldier's name is Darle and he's been sent into the mine with one clear goal: to blow it up. According to Darle, this is the best way to avoid war between Thirdborn and the Aedyrans. The mine holds plenty of explosive properties and if one side were to get their hands on the mine's benefits, the war would be extremely one-sided. By destroying the mine, no side gets to use explosives against the another.
Of course, you're given a choice after Darle explains why he should blow up the mine. You can either allow Darle to complete his mission or kill him to prevent the mine's demise.
Choosing to blow up the mine
If you allow Darle to blow up the mine, you and your party rush out of the mine as quickly as possible. Darle sacrifices himself to accomplish his goal and the mine explodes shortly after you exit it.
When the mine explodes, you return to speak with Ilena and Seyon, who ask you why you allowed Darle to blow up the mine. You can choose to lie or tell the truth, but it doesn't matter in the end, as both parties are furious at you for allowing the mine to be destroyed. After you speak with them, the Fires in the Mine quest ends and you'll earn just over 1,000 XP
Choosing to kill Darle and leave the mine
On the other hand, if you don't want to blow up the mine, you can kill Darle and then walk out of the mine normally. Speak with Ilena and Seyon outside the mine and choose to tell them the truth about what happened inside or lie about it. Your best bet here is to tell the truth, as both parties believe your story and choose to walk away from the mine amicably.
Your reward for taking this path is close to 1,000 XP and 900 Skeyt. If you lie about Darle and the mine, you won't receive these rewards.
In the end, it's up to you whether or not to blow up the mine. Your choice doesn't make a huge difference in the grand scheme of things, but you'll technically earn more rewards if you kill Darle and then come clean to Ilena and Seyon about what happened in the mine. However, seeing the mine blow up is also a cool sequence, so pick whatever you want.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 9:35 AM
If you've ever played a game like Avowed, then you might assume that enemies will respawn in an area after some time has passed. Naturally, this is a reasonable assumption, but the answer to the question is slightly nuanced.
Will enemies respawn in Avowed?
To be upfront, the answer is 'No' in most cases, and 'Yes' very sparingly, specifically in that order. I know that sounds peculiar, but hear me out. There's a reason.
Throughout most of your adventure in Avowed enemies will not respawn once you've cleared out an area. Defining 'respawn' here for clarity, the enemies you've once killed in an area will not come back to life almost under any circumstances. This, unfortunately, leads to situations where when you're backtracking searching for loot or materials, you'll have nothing to fight. Thankfully, the majority of experience you gain for your character in Avowed comes from quest completions over killing monsters, so this is rarely an issue throughout the game.
There is a situation, however, that can cause some monsters to 'respawn' in an area, if the criteria are met, and only once. If you're a thorough explorer first who likes to prioritize that aspect over completing quests, like I am, then sometimes you'll find quest-made locations with enemies inside. Avowed generally does not place obstacles in your path of exploration, so you can often go inside these questing areas and kill all the enemies within it.
However, if you explore a quest area and kill all the enemies inside before you have the quest associated with the location, sometimes enemies will respawn (only once) for the area after you obtain it. This isn't always the case, mind you, but you can test this phenomenon yourself using the Nacib bounty quest in Dawnshore.
All you need to do is enter the Ruinous Cavern side area, west of Paradis, before grabbing the bounty quest from within the city. Slay the spiders outside then enter the cavern and kill all enemies in the first area. Before dropping down deeper, exit the cavern and pick up the Nacib bounty quest from the Bounty Board in Paradis. Then, return to the cavern again. You'll find spiders that you definitely killed prior, roaming near the entrance of the Ruinous Cavern once again.
Is this a true respawn? I'd say so, but it will only happen once in my experience, and rarely at that. So, it's safe to assume that most enemies will simply not come back once you've gutted them out of existence.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 9:31 AM
Magic in Avowed isn't just about waving your hands since you need the right tools and knowledge to dabble. Grimoires hold powerful combinations of spells and you can learn, so here's how to master Essence weaving from these mystic tomes.
How to get spells from Grimiores in Avowed
Before you can even think about learning new spells, you first need to get your hands on a Grimoire. This is because you need to have seen a spell in a Grimiore to use it in any capacity. These mystical books serve as the foundation of magic in Avowed, containing various combinations of spells you can cast directly from them. Spells in these Grimoires can also be learned, granting you the benefit of being able to invoke magic without a Grimoire equipped.
Grimoires are found throughout the world of Eora, hidden in ancient ruins, guarded by formidable enemies, or sold by specialized vendors. If you're serious about learning magic, exploring every corner of the world is a must.
Not all Grimoires are created equal, though. Some contain basic spells, perfect for newcomers, while others hold powerful advanced spells that instantly change the tide of battle. Keep an eye out for higher-tier, higher-quality Grimoires, as they can offer game-changing abilities.
Learning Magic from a Grimoire
Owning a Grimoire doesn't mean you automatically know or can cast its spells. To actually use the magic within, you need to invest in the right talents. Tier 1 spells do not require talents to cast from a Grimiore, but if you want to invoke those spells without a Grimiore in hand, you will need to invest at least a point.
However, if you want to learn or use spells beyond the first tier, you'll need to invest Talent points in the Wizard tree, specifically in Grimiore Mastery. This talent comes in multiple tiers, correspondent to the tier of spells it unlocks, and allows you to cast advanced spells directly from a Grimiore that contains one.
With Grimiore Mastery Tier 1 allocated, for example, you can cast the Fireball spell from a Grimiore, without having learned the spell yourself. The opposite is also true. With Grimiore Mastery Tier 1 unlocked, you can now put a point into Fireball, thus, learning the spell. You will be able to invoke Fireball without a Grimoire equipped in this example.
If you have learned Fireball and still insist on casting it from a Grimiore you have equipped, it's not a waste of time. Casting a learned spell from a Grimiore will increase the level of the cast by one, meaning your Fireball, in the above example, will count as a 'Level 2' instead.
Grimoires and Magic Combinations
Every Grimoire you find will have different spell combos that you can utilize freely to define your playstyle.
Once you've learned a spell, practice makes perfect. Casting spells in combat will help you understand their strengths, weaknesses, and potential combos with other abilities. Experiment with different Grimoires and spell combinations to find a playstyle that suits your approach, whether that's raining fire from a distance or using arcane shields to tank enemy attacks.
Mastering magic in Avowed is about more than just collecting powerful books. It's about understanding, commitment, and investing in the right talents. By securing Grimoires, unlocking the necessary talents, and refining your spellcasting abilities, you'll be well on your way to becoming a true master of the arcane. Just make sure you have enough Essence before you start blasting.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 9:08 AM
After you are abruptly murdered in the streets of Paradis in Avowed, you have to find an NPC named the "Watcher" to give you a clean bill of health. The normal doctor in Paradis has, naturally, never treated someone who died, but the Watcher is a different kind of healer who deals with supernatural elements.
Unfortunately, the Watcher is a difficult NPC to find and reach in Avowed, so let's see exactly where she's located in Dawnshore.
The Watcher's location in Avowed
During the main story quest "An Untimely End," you're given a quest marker to the Watcher's location on the map. While this is a decent starting point for where to go, actually getting to the Watcher is a different story. The location of the NPC isn't a straight shot up a clear trail; instead, you have to traverse some difficult terrain and off-the-beaten paths to reach her.
Below, we'll give you a breakdown of exactly what you need to do to reach the Watcher in Avowed:
The trickiest element of this journey is freezing the water underneath the broken bridge. When you initially see the broken bridge, you might turn around or try to jump to the other side, which is impossible. However, all you need to do is bring a Grimoire of the Elements book, use a freeze spell from the Wizard's skill tree, or throw an Eye of Rymrgand grenade in the middle of the water under the bridge. You can also create multiple patches of ice by using more than one of those methods, but keep in mind the ice patches only last for around five seconds.
After you get across the bridge, it's smooth sailing, as there's a pretty clear path laid out for you from there. You have to travel around 100 more meters to get to Ruynd's House. There's also an NPC you can speak to just outside of her house as well as a dead body with a unique ring, the Wayfarer's Ring, that you can loot.
When you arrive at the Watcher's abode, head inside and speak to her to progress the An Untimely End quest in Avowed. After speaking with the Watcher, I recommend checking out her house, as there are some chests and other items lying around that you can take for yourself. One of the chests in the upstairs part of the house contains some much-needed Adra. But once the quest is done, you can return to Paradis and speak with the ambassador to continue the story in Avowed.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 8:51 AM
The Intimidating Feline Codpiece is one of the many Treasure Map quests you can solve during your adventures in Avowed. If you're not sure where you find this one, here's the solution for it.
How to solve the Intimidating Feline Codpiece Treasure Map in Avowed
Your treasure hunt begins right at the beginning of your adventure in Avowed. In Claviger's Landing, the bustling beginner hub in the Dawnshore region, you'll meet various traders hawking their wares at every passerby, yourself included. Among those merchants, you'll find Lynna, a merchant with an eye for the unusual and the cryptic. Speak with her and gaze upon her wares. For a modest sum of coin, she will sell you the Intimidating Feline Codpiece Treasure Map, to get you started.
The map itself is a cryptic, hand-drawn sketch depicting a ravine flanked by towering cliffs, with a small arrow pointing to a cave entrance. While it might not look like much at first, this scrap of parchment will lead you to one of the early game's best armor pieces.
Once you have the map in hand, it's time to decipher its clues. Your destination lies southeast of The Rise, northeast of the Yellowband Camp, where towering rock formations and eerie skeletal remains mark the entrance to a well-secluded cave.
The easiest way to confirm you're in the right spot is to look for a moss-covered natural archway leading into a secluded path.
Beyond this, a barricaded cave entrance waits, where you'll find a chest and the reward to the treasure map inside.
Intimidating Feline Codpiece Treasure Map Rewards
inside the chest, you'll find the Stelgaer's Pride unique chestpiece. This sleek medium armor isn't just for show as it comes with some powerful but specific perks that may be a great addition to your build. Its core stats are:
In general, Stelgaer's Pride is for builds that don't rely too heavily on Stamina or Essence to function. The damage reduction is typical of most armor of medium build, and the same can be said about the negatives as well. However, Stelgaer's Pride, being unique, has two additional perks that should not be overlooked:
Beyond the armor itself, the chest also contains extra coins and crafting materials, making this a worthwhile detour even if you're not planning to make use of this unique armor. Crafting materials are especially useful, as having an abundance of them means you'll never run into a scenario where you cannot upgrade build-critical gear.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 8:50 AM
Though Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 doesn't pull any punches early on, the game's economy kind of falls apart once you reach the Kuttenberg region. This may well be getting tuned accordingly, as per some recent comments from Daniel Vávra, the creative director of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
A phenomenally deep and complex RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 starts you off with just about nothing in your pocket, effectively forcing Henry to steal his way to success. That's just how it goes sometimes, after all. The thing is, by the time you've reached Kuttenberg, almost every single encounter will have at least one or two heavily armored foes, and armor sells really, really well in this game. So money is no longer a concern, and Warhorse Entertainment is well aware of this fact. More specifically, Vávra recently participated in a Czech charity livestream with streamer Agraelus, where he offered his thoughts on the matter.
Expect an economy rebalance update for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2... eventually
Please note that this information comes second-hand from a Redditor who speaks Czech. VincentVanHades gracefully posted a translation of Vávra's comments over at the Kingdom Come 2's biggest subreddit, as featured above. For Czech speakers, the full VOD is now available on YouTube, and it's a neat seven-hour watch if you're intrigued by the prospect and have some time to spare.
Back on track, Vávra said that Warhorse knows Kingdom Come 2's combat and economy are the biggest problems the game currently has. Combat will be difficult to balance, as Warhorse appears to be uncertain whether any changes made should be pushed into existing playthroughs, or perhaps as part of the upcoming Hardcore Mode update. Further, it takes weeks for Warhorse's quality assurance team to thoroughly test things out, which also slows down development.
The economy is, arguably, the bigger problem of the two. As soon as enemies begin to wear heavy armor, each fallen foe can net you over a thousand Groschen, easily. At the same time, traders only ever have up to 800 Groschen per resupply, which makes it easy to side-step money-earning activities as soon as you're reasonably well-equipped. Vávra appears to think it's very easy to earn money in Kingdom Come 2, mind, which means the likeliest fix is a massive nerf to armor trade pricing. Since this was just a random charity stream, however, expect to hear more about this in due time.
Also curious is the fact that Vávra may have hinted at the fact that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 3 might be on the way. When asked about the possibility of further sequels to Kingdom Come, Vávra did some of the classic smiling and smirking he did back when he was hinting at the existence of Kingdom Come 2, so make of that what you will. Remember, too, that we've got some DLCs for Kingdom Come 2 underway, so there's lots to look forward to if you're a new fan of Henry of Skalitz, too.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 8:05 AM
Despite the excellent sales of Dungeons & Dragons' 2024 revision manuals, Wizard of the Coast hasn't been doing great lately. According to ICV2, the company's tabletop sales went down 3% compared to the previous year, with the last quarter falling 22% from the highs of the fourth quarter of 2023.
Magic: The Gathering, in particular, took a hit, with Q4 2024 sales 19% lower than Q4 2023.
What sets the last three months of 2023 apart for Magic: The Gathering might be the many Universes Beyond releases, the popular crossover sets based on intellectual properties unrelated to MTG. The last three months of 2023 saw the release of the Lord of the Rings-based Tales of Middle-Earth set re-release, the new Jurassic World Collection set, 29 new Secret Lair cards, and the new Timeless format on the increasingly popular Magic: The Gathering Arena.
Compared to that, the not-very-exciting Foundations set and hefty but lonely Marvel Secret Lair crossover of Q4 2024 are quite underwhelming.
To be clear, Magic: The Gathering isn't going anywhere. It's still one of, if not the most popular card game on the planet. While their sales were lower last year, the dip is only sharp when comparing an amazing three months to a quite underwhelming quarter. Wizards of the Coast has a lot of tricks to play before MTG ever comes close to becoming irrelevant.
So, how is Wizards of the Coast planning to raise the sales of its most popular tabletop IP? In the immediate term, it's all in the hands of Final Fantasy. According to Chris Cocks, CEO of Wizards' owner Hasbro, the Final Fantasy set "has the potential to be the biggest 'Magic' release yet".
Hasbro has some good reason to bank on Final Fantasy to save the day. The uncharacteristically expensive preorders of decks, booster packs, and starter kits sold out immediately. While preorders selling out is expected of those events, the popular Tales of Middle-Earth set only reached this milestone a week after being announced. Final Fantasy took about an hour.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 7:57 AM
While making your way to the House of Hades and the summit of Mount Olympus in Hades 2, Melinoe can call upon the help of many Olympians. And while many fan favorites will aid the princess from the get-go, Ares will take a bit of convincing.
Here's how to unlock the Ares boons in Hades 2.
How to unlock the Ares boons in Hades 2
Much like how you can only access Demeter's after making your way to the surface in the original game, you can unlock Ares and his boons in Hades 2 by defeating Prometheus and reaching the summit of Mount Olympus once. There will be no need to defeat Typhon there but I recommend trying to at least reach the boss to make the most out of the chance. Upon the end of your run, simply start another to receive the first Ares boon and unlock the ability to get them in all following runs.
Make sure to also give the god one Nectar as soon as possible to get his Sword Hilt keepsake/relic. Although getting good amounts of Nectar will most likely not be a problem for you, you can make your own supply by performing the Sweet Nectar Incantation. To learn the incantation, defeat Eris and then select a couple of Aphrodite boons while carrying a Golden Apple and having her at +1 affinity (at least).
How to defeat Prometheus in Hades 2
A tough fight but only a preface for what is to come, Prometheus will offer a straightforward challenge where you must keep your guard up and get the most out of the openings he leaves following his devastating Liu Kang-style combos, projectiles, and AoE blasts. The true challenge. however, will start once he decides to take to the sky before raining fire upon Melinoe three times (or five once below 50% HP).
To avoid the attack and its 70+ DMG per hit, simply pay attention and move accordingly to the red markings shown in the arena, which will mark the path of the fllames and highlight their order.
If you still have a hard time with the attack's timing or just cannot trust your short-term memory —like me, sometimes— activating the Dark Side Hex or triggering any Impervious effect before the blasts can allow you to completely nullify them. If you have the gold to spare, Hermes' Paid Dues legendary boon will also allow you to get out scoot-free, even if hit.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 7:50 AM
Avowed has pretty unique character creation available to you at the start of a new adventure, and having Godlike Features will help you to stand apart among the NPCs (quite literally).
To be fair, you can enjoy a fair amount of customization inside the game, which goes a bit beyond what typical RPGs usually offer. If you're still not satisfied, you can enable the use of Godlike Features to make your characters look distinct.
Let's take a look at all the available options.
All Godlike Facial Features in Avowed
There are 14 different options in Avowed when choosing your character's face. The range of options can be checked at the time of character creation.
Here are all the facial features.
Godlike Facial Feature #1
Godlike Facial Feature #2
Godlike Facial Feature #3
Godlike Facial Feature #4
Godlike Facial Feature #5
Godlike Facial Feature #6
Godlike Facial Feature #7
Godlike Facial Feature #8
Godlike Facial Feature #9
Godlike Facial Feature #10
Godlike Facial Feature #11
Godlike Facial Feature #12
Godlike Facial Feature #13
Godlike Facial Feature #14
All Godlike Hair Features in Avowed
Just like the face of your characters, you can have Godlike Features for their hair. The number of options are limited to four, so the choices are relatively limited.
Godlike Hari Feature #1
Godlike Hair Feature #2
Godlike Hair Feature #3
Godlike Hair Feature #4
Should you use Godlike Features in Avowed
Just like Godlike Abilities, you can decide whether you want Godlike Features. There's an option available at the very start of the game that allows you to disable these Features partially or entirely. If you choose to keep them on, the NPCs you meet will react accordingly.
Ultimately it's up to you and how you want to progress on your adventure. I didn't like the mutations and how they're designed, so I've disabled them on my personal save. Ultimately, it's your adventure, so you can play accordingly.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 7:45 AM
I once dismissed gacha games as shameless cash grabs that thrive on fluent addiction. Now, I'm hooked on Wuthering Waves and Zenless Zone Zero. Somehow, they're not just competing with traditional RPGs: they're surpassing many of them.
So, what makes them so darn compelling? Well, I think I know why.
Jumping in Has Never Been Easier
One of the biggest reasons modern gacha RPGs are on the winning side is that they don't ask for much upfront. No $70 price tag, no massive time sink right out of the gate, no "please set aside 300 hours to complete this narrative masterpiece." Just download, press start, and boom, you're in.
Most of them are free-to-play, which means you can check them out with zero commitment. Traditional RPGs, on the other hand, demand you cough up cash before you even know if the game is your style or fancy. And if it isn't? Congratulations, you just paid $70 bucks for pure disappointment. Gacha RPGs let you test the waters before you drown in them, a big testament to their widespread success.
They're also playable everywhere. Phone? Check. PC? Check. Some are even on console. That means you can grind while lying in bed, on the bus, or pretending to listen during Zoom meetings. Try doing that with your giant RPG backlog on Steam and let me know how that works out for you.
Fun Without the Hassle
Traditional RPGs can be like that one friend who overexplains everything before you even get started. Before you get into the game properly, you're bombarded with tutorials, extraneous lore dumps, and menus stacked like a fast-food combo meal. Gacha RPGs keep it snappy. That isn't to say that gacha games are sinless here, but it's obvious which type of RPG has this occur more often.
It is in a gacha RPG's best interest to streamline gameplay and remove unnecessary grinding while still keeping things engaging. Auto-battle mechanics, daily login bonuses, and well-paced progression mean you can enjoy the game without feeling like you just took on a part-time job. Sure, some purists argue this makes them "too easy," or "not engaging", but who cares? Fun is fun, and gacha games deliver it in digestible bites. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the auto batte mechanics though. Ruins the whole 'interactivity' aspect of a video game. But, if it's fun for some people, who am I to judge?
And let's not forget combat. Traditional RPGs sometimes get bogged down with slow, turn-based mechanics. Gacha RPGs often throw in flashy real-time action, combo systems, or hybrid battle styles that keep things exciting. It's like choosing between a slow-burn novel and a high-octane anime fight scene. There's a time and place, and sometimes, you just want the action.
Free, Forever, and Longevity
One of the sneakiest things about gacha RPGs is how they just never end. Traditional RPGs give you a grand journey, sure, but once you reach the credits, that's usually it. Maybe there's some DLC down the line, but otherwise, it's onto the next game.
Gacha RPGs though? They don't know how to stop... or when. New characters, new events, fresh story content: there's always something happening. The moment you think, "Okay, I've done everything," the developers drop an update that drags you back in. It's like being in a long-term relationship with a game that keeps reinventing itself to stay interesting. That's not to say all "forever" gacha RPGs are created equal. The triple-A gacha RPGs might brag about their immortality, but the ones that... let's say, aren't exactly winning any awards, tend to get forgotten faster than a bad first date.
The free-to-play model also means you can stick around without spending a dime. Sure, there are plenty of ways to empty your wallet, but the best gacha RPGs let dedicated players progress without paying. Compare that to traditional RPGs, where once you finish the game, the only way to get more is to buy another full-priced title. Again, not necessarily a bad thing if the title is pure quality like Elden Ring or Monster Hunter, but not a good look otherwise.
The Fear of Missing Out
If there's one thing gacha RPGs do better than anything else, it's making you feel like you'll miss out on something incredible if you don't log in today. FOMO, or the fear of missing out, is what the industry likes to call this psychological phenomenon — and it is hardly a good thing. But Limited-time events, exclusive characters, and special rewards... it's like a never-ending party where the bouncers constantly tell you, "Get in now or regret it forever."
Traditional RPGs don't have this to lean on. Their biggest hook is usually, "Play this because it's good." Gacha RPGs? They add, "Also, if you don't log in this week, you'll never get this ridiculously overpowered swordsman with a tragic backstory." And suddenly, you're playing every day just to make sure you don't miss out.
It might sound exploitative, and it absolutely is, but wow does it work. Players keep coming back, staying invested, and actually engaging with the game long-term.
Mobile Games, Who?
There was a time when mobile RPGs looked like they were cobbled together in a weekend. Not anymore. Games like Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail have production values that rival big-budget console titles. Gorgeous open worlds, full voice acting, cinematic cutscenes; these games have it all.
Even traditional RPGs struggle to maintain that level of consistent polish. Indie RPGs often lack the resources, and even some big-budget ones take years to develop and still launch unfinished. Gacha RPGs, with their continuous revenue streams, can afford to keep things looking sharp all the time, and that is a massive benefit for them.
The Social Aspect
Traditional RPGs are usually solo affairs. You go on a grand adventure, save the world, and then... that's it. Gacha RPGs, though? They turn the experience into a shared event.
With co-op modes, leaderboards, and community events, these games make you feel like you're part of something bigger. There's always a discussion happening, whether it's about the newest character drop, the best team comps, or someone lamenting their terrible luck on the latest banner.
Social media also plays a massive role. Big character releases in gacha RPGs generate the kind of excitement usually reserved for major movie premieres. Just look at how much the Internet blew up with all the Burnice marketing that came out for Zenless Zone Zero. Cocktails, mixers, ice? It was insane. Meanwhile, traditional RPGs drop a new expansion, and unless it's Final Fantasy, Monster Hunter, or Elden Ring, most people don't even notice.
The Future of RPGs?
Despite their shady monetization tactics, modern gacha RPGs have figured out how to keep players engaged in a way traditional RPGs struggle with. They're easy to jump into, fun to play, constantly evolving, and visually impressive. And let's be honest, FOMO is one heck of a motivator.
Traditional RPGs aren't going anywhere, but they might have to start borrowing some of these tactics and improvising if they want to keep up. Love them or hate them, the gacha RPG has changed the game. And judging by their success, they aren't slowing down anytime soon.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 7:00 AM
The last few years have reminded people that board games are one of the best ways to spend time with friends and future enemies. Sadly, board games aren't the cheapest pastime, so it's best to pick something with both replay value and mass appeal.
So let's look at ten board games that will appeal to pretty much anyone.
Monopoly
Whenever you ask people born in the '80s or '90s about their best memories playing board games, chances are they'll remember dominating a random game of Monopoly. This game is basically a get-rich simulator and will make you feel smart and deserving of said riches.
On top of being a great game, Monopoly also provides an excellent lesson in how capitalism sucks. Yeah, despite passing as praise for the current system, Monopoly showcases how everything is fun and games while everyone has a fighting chance, but also how everything goes down the drain when one player inevitably hoards all the money and property.
One Night Ultimate Werewolf
One Night Ultimate Werewolf brings a welcome twist to the Werewolf formula. You no longer need a storyteller, as a companion mobile app will do that job and allow everyone to have a special role in the game.
Also, no more games that will go on for way too long, as, just like the title states, everything will be done in one night. Say goodbye to the frustration of almost winning after trying to convince your friends you were a good guy for an hour. All in all, One Night Werewolf provides a great alternative to the classic game — and doesn't prevent you from using the cards to set up a game of the classic if that's more your thing.
Whether or not you love the classic Werewolf or Mafia game, you should give One Night Ultimate Werewolf a shot.
Scrabble
If you're reading this, there's a very high probability that you like words, so the most famous wordplay board game ever is a no-brainer.
Make use of the letters at your disposal to make words and earn points. It's that simple. Still, Scrabble has been a mainstay at the top of the board game pile for so long because its random design prevents you from ever playing the same game more than once. Scrabble remains incredibly fun even when someone cheats, as few things beat the joy of telling a friend that "xxxavier" isn't a real world.
Battleship
War is a part of our history that we cannot get rid of, so we might as well enact it in the least violent and funniest way possible. I'm willing to change my mind, but right now the best way to achieve that is through Battleship, the game where two friends or enemies take turns going head to head while guessing the position of each ship of the enemy's navy.
If you ever feel like Battleship's ability to remain fun is starting to run dry, consider replacing the ships with shot glasses. Don't care about alcohol? Even better — you can fill the glasses with the spicy sauce of your choice. Happy warring.
Clue(do)
Ever wanted to flex your detective abilities on your colleagues? With Clue (or Cluedo outside of the US), you can do so without interfering with an actual criminal investigation. As expected, Clue has players gathering all the clues or relying on their gut (guesswork) to find out who the murderer is. It's extremely fun, as the game is designed so that everyone remains close enough to the truth to remain competitive till the end.
Cluedo's only downside is that it might get a bit same-old at some point, but it remains the best detective experience in video game format until it does.
Pandemic
Unlike most other games on this list, Pandemic provides a cooperative experience where you and your friends unite in the hopes of preventing a Pandemic from eradicating humankind. Honestly, it's one of the most enthralling games ever made.
Pandemic is one of the most recent board games on this list, but it's unlikely to exit the top ranks anytime soon. It's no accident, though, as Pandemic became a huge thing even before, well, you know what. It has since spawned a number of highly successful expansions, as well.
Catan
Catan is all about expanding on its peculiarly shaped landmass faster and better than your opponents. If that sounds simple, that's because it is, but it's in no way a detractor from the game. Catan, like most great games, is easy to learn, hard to master, and guaranteed to provide fun every step of the way.
If you're looking for a game where you can win by conquering the world (of the game) by non-violent means, then Catan is the game for you.
Gloomhaven
Do you love Dungeons & Dragons, or happen to like the idea, but find the original game missing something? Then perhaps Gloomhaven is the game for you. If you want the adventure, but not the roleplay elements, then Gloomhaven's co-op take on tactical combat might be your game forever. Yes, forever, as the daunting and pretty pricey box isn't just for show.
Gloomhaven holds hundreds if not thousands of hours worth of rich gameplay for anyone looking to team up with their friends to go on a monster murderin' spree.
Blood On The Clocktower
If you are into social deduction games, betrayal, and murder then Blood On The Clocktower is the game for you. Launched in 2022 after a successful Kickstarter, BotC dared to expand upon the potential of Werewolf to create the best and most complex social deduction board game in existence.
It's a bit expensive, but there's nothing better if you're looking into enjoying a complex adventure filled with drama and tension among friends.
Brass: Birmingham
Brass: Birmingham is currently the highest-rated game on Boardgamegeek dot com, and there's a good reason why. It's one of the most complex and enthralling games about surviving, building, and growing your business in the incredibly competitive times of England's industrial revolution.
If you find yourself loving Brass: Birmingham so much you hate needing to find people to play it with IRL, then you'll be pleased to know it also exists on PC, via Steam.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 6:10 AM
There have been rumors flying around that an official remaster of Oblivion may be in the pipeline. But I'll tell you what's not a rumor: Skyblivion. This is a project that's very real, and we're getting closer to a launch date (finally).
What began in 2012 has blossomed into something rather special. In the latest video from the team, the unofficial fan remake of The Elder Scrolls 4 is coming along nicely. In fact, it seems as though it's almost done. While we wait, the volunteers behind Skyblivion have treated us to another 40 minutes of footage, complete with general information about the game.
In the video above, we get to see a number of quests from Oblivion that have been lovingly recreated. However, the project still has some work to be done before it launches, and we're told that the team would have released it sooner were it not for the kinks that need ironing out.
So what is Skyblivion?
If you're unaware, Skyblivion is a complete rebuild of Elder Scrolls 4 done through the Creation Engine, i.e. the engine that was used to make Skyrim. Now you know where the team behind it got the name. It's not an official remake and is being helmed by fans and volunteers working tirelessly on the game.
It should also be said that this is not to be confused with the rumored Oblivion remaster, which may or may not be arriving in 2025. Coincidentally, Skyblivion is also set to release this year, according to the website. It's also going to be completely free and, if you want to help out, there is a volunteer form you can fill out.
So what will you need to have installed in order to play it? Again, the website can fill you in on that. Basically, you'll still need to have official copies of both Skyrim: Special Edition and Oblivion, as well as their respective DLCs, in order to check out Skyblivion, so do bear that in mind when the project releases.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 6:04 AM
Once you've started building up a selection of strong Pokémon in Pokémon GO, what better way to test their capabilities than the Pokémon GO Battle League?
This PVP arena allows players to take on other players using their best and most pumped-up Pokémon. There are three different Leagues to take part in, each of which is suited for Pokémon of a certain strength:
It's always a good idea to figure out which Pokémon are suited to which GO Battle League, enabling you to build the strongest possible teams. That's where tier lists come in. There's a tier list for each of the three Leagues.
Table of contents
Pokémon GO Great League tier list
Best suited for those just starting on the Trainer journey, the Great League only allows Pokémon below 1,500 CP. Here are the Pokémon you should try to bring to any battle in the Great League:
S Tier
A+ Tier
A Tier
B+ Tier
B Tier
C Tier
Pokémon GO Ultra League tier list
Once you've mastered the Great League and have a better understanding of what to expect from the GO Battle League in general, you can step up your game and enter the Ultra League. These battles are designed for Pokémon with a maximum CP of 2,500.
Here's the best Pokémon you can take to the Ultra League:
S Tier
A+ Tier
A Tier
B+ Tier
B Tier
C Tier
Pokémon GO Master League tier list
Considered the league for experienced players with strong Pokémon, the Master League does not cap the amount of CP entered Pokémon can have. This is great when you consider that some Pokémon, such as Black and White Kyurem and other Legendary Pokémon, can easily have close to or even more than 5,000 CP.
Here are the Pokémon considered the best for taking on the Master League:
S Tier
A+ Tier
A Tier
B+ Tier
B Tier
C Tier
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 5:44 AM
The Warsong update brought a series of major improvements and additions to Hades 2, which included the debut of a new wave of boons spearheaded by Ares himself. But as expected of the God of War, it was a given that some of his boons would be game-changing, to say the least. Here are the best Ares boons in Hades 2.
Table of contents
The best Ares boons in Hades 2
Hades 2 players have in the boons of Ares one of the game's best. Especially when the subject is dealing heavy damage. Although unable to apply the fan-favorite Doom effect, Ares' new Wounds mechanic will allow you to perform "Criticals" fairly quickly and early on.
Without further ado, here are the best Ares boons in Hades 2:
10. Visceral Impact
The first boon in our list, Visceral Impact allows you to get a huge boost in movement speed by acquiring Blood Drops. Unfortunately, though, the boon's specifics make it way less impressive when facing Guardians, as Melinoe will need to sacrifice a lot to build up enough stacks.
9. Rallying Cry
A must-have if you are either heavily investing in Ares or prefer to go to the field while pairing his boons with Hephaestus's, Rallying Cry will boost the damaging effects of your remaining boons by a stunning 50%. There's not much to be said here, as even if tricky to trigger, extra DMG will always be a welcome addition.
8. Mutual Destruction
The best boon for those who like to either live on the edge or are looking to clutch when in high fear, Mutual Destruction will boost the chances of your attacks dealing 200% DMG based on how low your health is. It's like they say right? High risk, high reward. Before you ask, yes, boon-related DoTs such as Zeus's bolts can also trigger the effect.
7. Single Elimination
Like Rallying Cry, Single Elimination is another straightforward boon that provides a massive overall DMG boost, this time when facing either lone targets or those away from the pack. Even if situational, I don't believe we need to highlight how impactful this boon can be, as pretty much all Guardians (except for the Sirens), will be eventually targeted by it. To add to that, its lack of requirements makes it a great joker pick no matter your build of choice.
6. Vicious Strike / Vicious Flourish
The foundation behind all of the Ares-focused builds in Hades 2, both Vicious Strike and Flourish will allow Melinoe's attacks to carry more weight and apply the Wounds effect on targets. Although we know their low DMG and the single damage focus of Wounds might make the boons unimpressive at first, don't let that fool you, as the effect was never the star of the show and instead will only enable what is to come.
5. Blood Spree
Remember the Aspect of Guan Yu in the original Hades? Blood Spree will offer pretty much the same effect, but better, as Melinoe will be able to use it no matter her weapon of choice. I cannot see a single downside for this boon, as having it at hand can allow you to save your Death Defiances and hex stacks for the moments where they will count the most. If you are looking to rock this boon, make sure to also get Mutual Destruction for a match made in heaven.
4. Meat Grinder
A must-have when looking for a casting-focused build, Meat Grinder will add a much-needed punch to your Cast, all while allowing you to use other top-tier DoT boons like Zeus' Storm and Demeter's Artic Ring. If paired with the Hostile Environment duo boon, Meat Grinder can also allow Melinoe to get access to her own makeshift Impervious Blade Rift call.
3. Profuse Bleeding
The best boon for those looking to build around Blood Drops, Profuse Bleeding will give you a chance to generate them after each strike against targets affected by Wounds. This boon shines the most when paired with multi-hit weapons capable of generating dozens of drops per Omega move performed — aka the Moonstone Axe, Black Coat, and the Sister Blades.
2. Sanguinary Favor
The finishing touch when looking to clear a run through the power of the God of War, Sanguinary Favor will allow you to double your Blood Drop effects for an unholy movement boost. As a Legendary boon, getting this will demand a heavy investment and a lot of luck. I am not kidding, it took me 40+ runs and dozens of rerolls to finally get it.
1. Grievous Blow
The best Ares boon in Hades 2 and my go-to when looking to see huge numbers on the screen, Grievous Blow allows you to massively boost the damage of all of your attacks when striking targets affected by the 3-second uptime of Wounds. I know the proc chance for the effect might be low when below Epic, but believe me, pairing it with the right Omega moves and DoT cast effects will allow Melinoe to make short work of all Guardians on her path.
The best Ares duo boons in Hades 2
Regarding duo boons, Ares has Demeter, Hera, Apollo, and Hephaestus as his best partners, with the Goddess of the Harvest also giving you access to one of the game's best casting-focused boons. You can check out an overview of each of their duo boons below:
If you want to get a duo boon early on, activate and equip The Queen Arcana Card as soon as possible. You can unlock the card by activating any cards at the bottom right of the board and then expending 40x Ashes and 1x Tears.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 5:23 AM
In Verse Piece, a tiny advantage in damage or HP can be the deciding factor in a close PvP fight. And in PvE, more damage means a faster grinding experience. The final step to really maxing out your stats in Verse Piece is limitbreaking them. So, we prepared the following guide on how to get Limitbreak Stones and limitbreak stats in Verse Piece to help you out.
How Does Limitbreaking Stats Work in Verse Piece?
When you limitbreak your stats in Verse Piece, you don't increase their maximum cap or get more stats. Instead, you increase the damage and HP scaling you get from the stats you currently have. You can see how far you have limitbroken your stats by the grades in the stats menu. From best to worst, grades are A, B+, B, C+, C, and D.
When you limitbreak your stats to the max (A grade), you will have around 8-10% more DPS and HP. When I did the testing for those numbers, I used the following:
Hot to Limitbreak Stats in Verse Piece
To Limitbreak your Stats in Verse Piece, use a Limitbreak Stone from your inventory and select which stat you want to enhance. In total, you will need 20 Limitbreak Stones to max out all of your stats fully. However, your limitbreak priority order should be Sword, Special, Defense, and Combat last. Also, you can't limitbreak a stat above the A grade, so don't worry about wasting your LBS.
How to Get Limitbreak Stones in Verse Piece
You can get Limitbreak Stones through three different methods: trading, fishing, and opening chests. Exotic chests have the best chance of containing a Limitbreak Stone, and you can get them by completing limited Verse Piece dungeons. Fishing is the best way to farm Limitbreak Stones in the long run. So, make sure to check out our Verse Piece fishing guide and start farming some LBS right away.
If you want to get some Limitbreak Stones in exchange for some other materials you don't need, you can always trade them with other players. To browse the offers of other players, visit the Verse Piece Discord server and search the #trading channel for LBS.
How to Further Limitbreak Stats Using Enchanted Limitbreak Stones
If you want to limitbreak your stats even further in Verse Piece, you will need Enchanted Limitbreak Stones. The Enchanted Limitbreak Stones work just like regular versions of them. However, they are extremely rare. In Verse Piece, you can get Enchanted Limitbreak Stones through fishing, opening chests, and trading.
Another thing you can do to get the Enchanted LBS in Verse Piece is to try and enchant ten regular Limitbreak Stones at the Enchant Limitbreak Stone NPC on Verse Island. Keep in mind that the success rate for this is only 10%, so on average, you need 100 LBS to get one Enchanted Limitbreak Stone.
That concludes our guide on how to get Enchanted and regular Limitbreak Stones and limitbreak your stats in Verse Piece. If you are looking to use the full potential of your stats in Verse Piece, then check out our guides on how to get Sung Jin Woo, Cid V2, and Toji V2 swords.
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Destructoid Monday, February 24, 2025 5:18 AM
Among the many companions you can choose from in Avowed, it is easy to see how Marius is one of the most versatile. Whether you need a strong ranger or a good support companion, he will do the trick. Let's see how to build him up to suit your preferences.
Best Abilities to unlock for Marius in Avowed
As you play Avowed, you can collect seven points that you can use to level up the abilities of your companions. You don't have to worry about choosing the wrong abilities or spreading your points out too much, as you can easily reset them with a few hundred coins.
With that in mind, these are the best abilities to prioritize for Marius:
Binding roots is unlocked right at the beginning for Marius, and it conjures roots that bind enemies in place for 8 seconds. It also damages them once upgraded.
By using it against bigger, more dangerous enemies, you can keep them at bay and deal damage without worrying about a counterattack. There are three further upgrades for the Binding Roots ability:
Overall, the combo of Constricting Roots and Grasping Roots can be quite effective for Marius. We prioritize these two but also make sure to get Thorny Roots so we can deal damage to the trapped enemies.
By using Heart Seeker, Marius can fire an arrow from anywhere, regardless of whether he can actually see the enemies. The arrow automatically targets an enemy and also deals a good amount of damage.
This ability should be prioritized, as it is his best – at least if you want Marius to help you during combat. You can further upgrade Marius' Heart Seeker ability by choosing the following upgrades:
Out of these three upgrades, the cooldown reduction in Quick Draw should be a priority, and then also the Twinned Shot ability so you can hit more enemies while using the ability only once.
Marius' abilities, explained
The other abilities that Marius has are Shadow Step and Wounding Shots. By using the former, Marius teleports to a target and slashes them up to three times, while Wounding Shots makes his arrows inflict Bleed on enemies, which causes damage over time.
While both abilities have their use, Wounding Shots is better as it pairs well with Binding Roots, especially with the Thorny Roots upgrade.
If you want a look into each perk for this best Marius build, here are all of their abilities with their respective upgrades and what they do.
Best Companion to pair with Marius in Avowed
Since Marius is not the strongest fighter, but can still be a key ally in delivering damage and preventing enemies from moving around too much, I recommend pairing him with a strong health support unit. Of course, I refer to the healer Giatta.
Her abilities couple perfectly with those of Marius. Not only can she provide last-minute healing in most situations by using her Purification skill, but coupled with Reconstruction, she will also gift the party passive healing so you and Marius can continue fighting.
If you are playing as a ranger, on the other hand, together with Marius, you can consider bringing along Kai. Coupled with Marius' abilities, Kay's unique skills (such as Leap of Daring) can be the key to keeping the enemies' focus elsewhere and dealing damage while they are being taunted.
The post Avowed: Marius Companion and Build Guide appeared first on Destructoid. |
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MonsterVine Monday, February 24, 2025 10:00 AM Monster Hunter Wilds walks a tight rope, offering the most approachable Monster Hunter experience to date, while still finding ways to give veterans of the series more to chew on. This balancing act is successful, with new focus attacks giving smart ways to target monster parts while adding another tool to use in combat. The […] |