Aug 10, 20:00


PCGamesN Sunday, August 10, 2025 4:58 PM
    

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MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Bingo Blitz credits, Best card games, Best PC board games

PCGamesN Sunday, August 10, 2025 12:00 PM
    

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MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Arkham Knight System Requirements, Best Batman games, Best superhero games

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Siliconera Sunday, August 10, 2025 3:00 PM
    

The Small-Animallike Lady Is Adored by the Ice Prince Manga Covers New Princess Problems

The Small-Animallike Lady is Adored by the Ice Prince is one of those shojo manga that honestly doesn't focus all that much on conflicts and drama. Which is great and a relief! We've got tons of those! Liliana and Prince William already know they are about each other, are fine with the engagement, and want to be together. This does mean that some of the conflicts that do come up in these types of tales end up handled a bit differently. So when we get to the third volume, dealing with a third-party who might be a possible rival in the form of the visiting Princess Marianne instead offers another approach to dealing with an interloper. As such, it means we see how Liliana deals with the problems of being a soon-to-be princess.

Editor's Note: There are some spoilers for volume 3 of The Small-Animallike Lady is Adored by the Ice Prince manga below.

The pace of The Small-Animallike Lady is Adored by the Ice Prince is rather swift for this type of manga. The first involved Liliana meeting the prince, being chosen as Will's fiance, and realizing what she'd heard about him early on wasn't quite accurate. That even though he seemed "cold," he is really just a quieter kind of person. The two honestly got on perfectly! Which means by the second volume, we're already seeing that while he's accepted he cares about her and does want to marry her, she's realized that he's "her" person too. Now that we're in the third volume, the two are a genuinely cute couple and seem pretty healthy. It's absolutely a honeymoon phase.

While Hisui's story does involve leaning more on the relaxed and positive side, it does play with shojo expectations by introducing a potential rival in volume 3 of The Small-Animallike Lady is Adored by the Ice Prince manga. Princess Marianne of Belluno headed to Zavanni for a diplomatic visit and, as future king, Will must act as host. While part of the drama here does involve rumors that she's visiting in search of a husband or possible arrangement with Will, things are handled in such a way that the concept doesn't provide the expected drama.

While it does eventually start to bother Liliana, and there is a concern about being abandoned, Hisui handles it in a clever way. The author takes a more mature approach and instead makes it about Liliana realizing something about herself. She knew she loved Will. She knew she felt uncomfortable. But we see her unable to understand or properly voice it, causing a bit of a block even though he's conveyed his own feelings about the situation. So instead of blowing things up more, we're watching her realize what's going on and how she can personally grow from that and fix things.

This also means that, again, part of the volume also deals with other incidental elements that come from now being basically royalty. Liliana can't dash off to see certain sorts of plays as she pleases. She needs to be more mindful of who she is and what her role as the prince's fiance means. We're watching how that develops and how she deals with that, which keeps the volume from feeling like it's dedicated to the possible "rival" problem.

Which means once again, The Small-Animallike Lady is Adored by the Ice Prince ends up feeling like a somewhat atypical shojo manga. There's a small wrench in the gears keeping the relationship from being 100% perfect. However, Hisui makes the actual approach to the problem feel a little more mature and realistic. Also, because it isn't completely the one and only focal point, we do get to see how life is developing for Liliana in the palace.

Volume 3 of The Small-Animallike Lady is Adored by the Ice Prince is available now, and Yen Press will release volume 4 of the manga on January 20, 2026. 

The post The Small-Animallike Lady Is Adored by the Ice Prince Manga Covers New Princess Problems appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Sunday, August 10, 2025 3:59 PM
    

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous

Adventure Escape Mysteries has numerous murder mystery stories you can unravel by unlocking chapters. Rendezvous, introduced in July 2025, follows the story of two characters, Kate and Melissa, as they search for Kate's sister, Allie, in France.

Let's dive right into a complete walkthrough of Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous, including every item you need to find to progress throughout its seven chapters.

Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous chapter one walkthrough

Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous's first chapter begins with Kate and Melissa talking about a mysterious package addressed to Allie, Kate's sister, and how to open it. Here's a complete step-by-step to solving this section:

  1. Follow the tutorial by opening the blue toolbox and closing its menu.
  2. Check under the couch pillow for a key.
  3. Use the key on the desk drawer and read the note.
  4. Collect the hidden star on the bookshelf, followed by the tutorial's free stars.
  5. Use the note's clues to turn the toolbox's dials so they read as "KEY." Claim the box cutter and the Phillips-head screwdriver.
  6. Grab the red mug on the desk and the blacklight on the bookshelf.
  7. Use the box cutter on the cardboard box to find a miniature Eiffel Tower.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter one intro room answers
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Tap on the Eiffel Tower. Use the box cutter on the barcode to reveal 54. Pay attention to its patterns.
  2. Use the box cutter on the bottom-left leg to reveal 27.
  3. Use the blacklight on the top-right leg to reveal the order of each number by their pattern. Some patterns overlap, requiring us to add certain numbers together.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter one eiffel tower answers
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Use the Phillips head screwdriver on the bottom-right leg to find a four-digit number puzzle. Using the pattern hint as a reference, input the following numbers:

    • 2+7 = 9
    • 5+4 = 9
    • 2+4 = 6
    • 7
    • Solution: 9967

  2. Read the scroll inside. Place the red mug atop the note to find an address, 53 Rue de Plauner.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter one mug
Screenshot by Destructoid

After solving this set of puzzles, Kate and Melissa will take a trip to France to find Kate's sister, Allie. You'll now have another batch of items to find and puzzles to solve, as detailed below:

  1. Collect the two name placards from the center table.
  2. Tap on the desk. Open the two right drawers to find computer chips and a blank ID card, followed by another name placard and a handwheel in the bottom-left compartment.
  3. Select the keycard printer next to the computer monitor. Insert the chips and connect each one by its color. You can rotate each chip by tapping on it. You'll find the exact solution below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter one computer chip puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Read the résidents and créateur de cartes d'identité files.
  2. Head back to the lobby. Tap on the phone inside the table's purse to call Murphy. He'll tell you Allie's birthday is March 24.
  3. Head to the computer and insert 5, 24, and 3 into each category before creating the card. Use your blank ID card on the card machine.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter one keycard answer
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Head back to the lobby. Use the handwheel on the golden pipe next to the couch. Grab the placard in the water.
  2. Use the four placards on the wall above the flowers. Rearrange them according to the symbols, as shown in the image below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter one placard answer
Screenshot by Destructoid

Completing this puzzle will reveal a card reader next to the elevator. Use your new keycard to unlock it, letting you access Allie's penthouse room. Here are your next steps to solving this section:

  1. Collect the purple flower from under the carpet.
  2. Interact with the hallway table's drawers to find a green flower and a stylus. Tapping on the plant will also give you Pampas grass.
  3. Pull open the curtain and collect the orange flower.
  4. Tap on the dark square under this same window to reveal a button. Use the Pampas grass to activate it and find a gold key.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter one hallway items
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Insert the three flowers into the flower painting to reveal a map puzzle. Your goal is to swap pieces to form a picture while using the arrow button to flip them horizontally, as needed. You'll find the solution in the image below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter one room puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Collect the diamond key from the completed puzzle.
  2. Tap on the window behind the curtain from before. Open its secret panel and use both keys to uncover another puzzle.
  3. Using the previous puzzle's camera values as a hint, insert the following numbers into each spot:

    • Mailroom: 8
    • Front entrance: 2
    • Gym: 3
    • Outside: 7
    • Pool: 5
    • Lobby: 9

Completing the puzzle above will reveal a keypad that unlocks the door. The panel appears as another puzzle that references the previous number set. This time, the set on its left side reveals the order in which you need to input each number.

With this in mind, use your stylus to input 275398 into the panel, letting you unlock Allie's room.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter one numbers to activate with a stylus
Screenshot by Destructoid

Finishing this puzzle will lead to a cutscene involving you, Allie, and Melissa. Watching it will wrap up Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous's first chapter, leading directly into its second part.

Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous chapter two walkthrough

As you begin Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous's second chapter, you'll learn more about Allie and her fiancé, Mark. You'll visit Mark's cafe gallery and witness a customer, Lynn, talking about the disappearance of her boyfriend, Luc. Your first objective is to disable the cafe's Wi-Fi before investigating further.

With these new clues in mind, take the steps below to start Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous's second chapter:

  1. Once Kate starts holding her phone, drag it over the doorway to discover that the Wi-Fi signal is stronger in the gallery.
  2. Tap on the gallery door and repeat the process to discover the router behind a poem next to the cafe's doorway.

  1. Select the router's display to find a colored dot puzzle. You'll find the solution by interacting with the line sculpture in the center of the gallery and imagining each color section combining into distinct numbers. Doing so reveals the following answers:

    • Blue: 6
    • Green: 2
    • Pink: 4

  1. With these three numbers in mind, tap on the audio exhibit's blue screen next to the cafe's entrance. Input the three numbers above to get the following hints:

    • 2 - River and mountain lap up the glorious sun. The deer takes it in.
    • 4 - Mountain calls to deer, arise and smell the roses like your friend the bird.
    • 6 - As the swift river meets the pond, the resting deer nibbles the berries.

  2. Now that we have these new hints, interact with the painting above the colored number sculpture. Using the audio exhibit's answers as a reference, connect each segment of the painting using the dots to find your three answers for the colored dot puzzle. You'll find each solution below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter two color dot puzzle solution
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Now that we have this final piece of the puzzle, activate each line within the dot puzzle to access its cables. Tap on it to find a dead remote and a USB.
  2. Before returning to the cafe, open the closet door next to the router to collect your first sculpture piece.
  3. Head back into the cafe and use the dead remote on the customer with the laptop to turn it into a charged remote.
  4. Talk to the customer with scissors and colored fabric in front of them. They'll ask you to turn the TV in the gallery on in exchange for their scissors.
  5. Use your charged remote on the TV to turn it on before returning to the cafe and collecting the scissors.
  6. Use the scissors on the router spot to deactivate the gallery's Wi-Fi. Collect the two sculpture pieces from under the table where the older customer was sitting and next to the gallery's entrance.

  1. Go behind the cafe's counter. Collect the sculpture piece before opening the cabinet and grabbing some paint.
  2. Activate the green button to uncover a panel on a wooden door.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter two cafe counter
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Return to the gallery. Tap on the painting in the far back corner of the area and insert your four sculpture pieces into its display. You'll find this puzzle's solution in the picture below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter two hole puzzle solution
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Return to the wooden door you recently uncovered. Match the colored numbers to their respective door spots. If there are multiple of the same color, use whichever circle size matches that of the door. Doing so reveals the combination as 72694.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter two Mark's door combination
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Opening the door leads you into Mark's studio. Pick up the electrical tape from atop the table next to the staircase.
  2. Grab the drum key off the floor and the empty cup on the blue chair's arm.
  3. Use the drum key on the drum set to open it, letting you pick up a small key and a second USB.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter two items in Mark's studio
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Return to the cafe's barista counter. Use the empty cup on the espresso machine to make an espresso.
  2. Go to the gallery and use the small key on the locked display under the colored number sculpture. Pick up the paint and art supplies from inside it.
  3. Climb back up to Mark's studio. Place the espresso cup on the chair's arm to unlock a secret compartment containing a third USB and some extra paint.
  4. Select the parchment on the table. Use the paint and art supplies on it to start a new puzzle.

There are multiple aspects to this next puzzle. Using the four paint colors and their numbers, you'll need to place paint drops based on each square's sum and the number of droplets they require, shown by the dots above each square. Here's how each square should look before completing the puzzle:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter two paint drops
Screenshot by Destructoid

Once you place every droplet, use your brush on each space to paint them in. If you accidentally use the wrong paint, you can use the paint knife to scrape it away. After completing all eight squares, press the arrows to process them and wrap up the puzzle.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter two paint puzzle solution
Screenshot by Destructoid

Finishing the puzzle will reveal a 3D printer with a USB beside it. Follow the steps below to finish the rest of the chapter:

  1. Pick up the USB next to the 3D printer.
  2. Head down to the art gallery. Use the electrical tape on the router to fix the Wi-Fi.
  3. Return to Mark's studio and tap on the PC in the back right corner. Insert all four USBs into it.

You'll now have one final puzzle to complete for this second chapter. Your goal is to insert each set of numbers into each square. You'll need to align them so that those below and above the equal signs match. Here are the solutions for all three parts:

Completing the puzzle reveals multiple plot points that Kate and Melissa will discuss in the next chapter. Following this conversation, you'll complete Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous's second chapter and be ready to begin part three.

Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous chapter three walkthrough

After Kate and Melissa tell Allie about their findings regarding Mark's AI usage, Camille's card, and Luc's disappearance, Allie will call Camille and Luc to see what's going on. The situation is suspicious, prompting Kate and Melissa to investigate further. Here are some initial steps to take:

  1. Collect the painting from under the couch. Move the purple blanket to reveal a puzzle.
  2. Pick up the candlestick from the table and the vase from next to the fireplace.
  3. Move one of the couch pillows to find a knob. You'll find another knob inside a cabinet next to the teal chair.
  4. Place the candlestick atop the cabinet.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter three Allie's room items
Screenshot by Destructoid

  1. Tap on the terrace door. Pick up the cheese knife from the small table.
  2. Grab the knob on the outer ledge and the painting before heading back inside.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter three terrace items
Screenshot by Destructoid

Now that we've collected every item from this area, it's time to solve a puzzle involving the couch pattern, the flowers on the cabinet, and the bedroom door's lock. Our first step is to look at the couch's puzzle. Each circle has a pattern, which you can match up with four squares on the cabinet's flower puzzle.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter three couch puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Using this as a reference, trace the flower puzzle's paths for each of the four patterns. You'll find the four paths and destinations in the images below.

As you mentally map out each path, note the locations of the flowers' dark petals. Head to the bedroom door and tap on each circle to match the four petals. Doing so will unlock the door, allowing you to explore Allie's bedroom for more clues.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter three door puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Now that we're in a new area, use the steps below to advance further:

  1. Pry the nightstand next to the bed open with your cheese knife to remove its knob.
  2. Use the sink to fill your vase with water.
  3. Use the vase of water on the fireplace in the living room to reveal another puzzle. Place the four knobs inside the puzzle.

With this puzzle, your objective is to place and rotate each knob until they're pointing to the number of knobs shown on their center circle. You need to do this for the ones already on the board and the four purple versions you picked up earlier in this chapter. You'll find the solution in the picture below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter three knob puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Finishing the puzzle will reward you with another painting and a note. Reading the note will give you a clue, "From east to west," with an arrangement that matches the paintings above Allie's bed. Return to her bedroom and place your paintings within the four canvases to begin another puzzle.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter three landmark puzzle hint
Screenshot by Destructoid

The solution lies beyond the terrace. There are four landmarks—the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Les Invalides, and the Tour Montparnasse. You'll arrange each painting by looking at the easternmost landmark and moving west while following the arrows shown on the note. The images below show the answer to this puzzle.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter three landmark puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Solving this puzzle reveals another note, telling you "the clock is the key. Turn the time to 3:08." Interact with the clock in the living room. Before Kate gets a chance to do so, a dart will fly at her, sending her through a trapdoor.

We're now stuck inside an underground cell. Follow the steps below to get Kate out of this predicament:

  1. Tap on the pillow and pick up the board underneath it.
  2. Cut open the mattress on the floor using your cheese knife. Pick up the glass pieces.
  3. Tap on the display on the glass door. Drag the glass pieces to the interface to start another puzzle.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter three cell items
Screenshot by Destructoid

For this puzzle, you need to place each glass piece onto the grid. They all have symbols with two traits—shape and color. Each shape has to share exactly one trait with those above or below it, while also sharing zero traits with those to its left or right. The picture below shows this puzzle's solution:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter three glass puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Now that you're out of the cell, pick up the number board underneath the TV stand and look at it. At first, you'll see dozens of numbers and arrows. Placing the board atop it will reveal your starting position and number: a one with an arrow pointing northeast. The arrow signifies which direction the next number is, while the number indicates how many squares away it is.

With this information in mind, tap on the display next to the red door. Select the square that matches the one on the number board and follow its directions to activate the rest. You'll find the full solution below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter three number board puzzle answer
Screenshot by Destructoid

After activating every square, you'll discover that it spells out "GRAY." You'll unlock a video surveillance area and gain an invitation. Once you're ready, grab the baguette from the desk and use it to knock over the key above the red door. Unlock the door to escape the underground area, find Melissa, and wrap up Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous's third chapter.

Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous chapter four walkthrough

In the last chapter, Kate found a party invitation that led her and Melissa to a castle. However, they're unable to get in, so it's up to us to find a way in. Here are some first steps to doing so:

  1. Collect the stone from under the dirt pile near the tree.
  2. Grab the well handle near the well.
  3. Use the well handle on the well. Collect the bucket that appears.
  4. Use the bucket on the tree. Tap on the branch to collect it.
  5. Use the branch on the boulder blocking the door to find another stone and a dagger.
  6. Use the dagger on the vine-covered wall. Do the same with the patterned stone on the well.
  7. Grab the bucket again and use it on the water. Splash the water on the wall we just uncovered.
  8. Use your three stones on the wall section.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four castle items
Screenshot by Destructoid

We now have a mysterious stone puzzle to solve. Starting with the two slots with outer designs as hints, your goal is to place each stone so that its sides match. You'll find the solution to this puzzle below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four stone puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Once you complete the puzzle, you'll find new cracks have formed around it. Use your dagger to break them and uncover the following codes:

  • A down 1
  • R up 1
  • P down 3
  • L down 5

You'll also find arrows pointing to each clue. A down 1 has one arrow pointing down to it, R down 1 has two, P down 3 at three, and L down 5 at four. With these clues in mind, we can now unlock the castle door.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four stone puzzle answers
Screenshot by Destructoid

Head out of this menu and tap on the door. The first dial is already set to A, so you can tap it once to bring it to C. From here, take the second dial and turn it until it's one letter above R. Repeat this using the hints above to get the solution, CLEF.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four door code
Screenshot by Destructoid

We're now inside the castle's wine cellar. Here's a step-by-step guide to solving this area:

  1. Open the two hidden compartments in the wooden door and wall. Collect the '04 bottle from the wall. Ignore the ropes for now.
  2. Open the drawer of the table to grab a wine opener. You'll also find a '91 bottle under the table.
  3. Use the wine opener to break open the panel in the stairs. Grab the '89 bottle.
  4. Open the wine display. Place each bottle in its correct slot, depending on its year.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four wine cellar
Screenshot by Destructoid

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four wine bottles
Screenshot by Destructoid

Completing this mini puzzle will reveal a hint, "00 79 89 96," underneath the display. Find these four wine sections and count how many bottles are in each and what direction they're facing. You'll end up with the following answers:

  • 00: Three down
  • 79: Four right
  • 89: One down
  • 96: Three left

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four wine bottle answer
Screenshot by Destructoid

Now that we know the answer, tap on the door up the stairs and input this code using the arrow dial. Doing so will open the door, leading you to a room connected to the ballroom.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four door dial
Screenshot by Destructoid

In this room, pick up the rope from the chair and tap on the purple curtain. Remember the heights of each chandelier. Now, head back downstairs and insert the rope into the door's compartment from earlier.

From here, you'll need to raise and lower each rope to match the chandelier heights. The image below shows the solution.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four rope puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Completing this puzzle will reward you with a blue dress to wear to the party. Along the way, pick up the plaque and hidden star inside the closet. Remember the hat's location.

With that done, head back upstairs and open the curtain to find the ballroom. From here, you can take the steps below to progress:

  1. Insert the plaque into the lion statue to claim some masks.
  2. Pick up the cane leaning against the table.
  3. Talk to the lady with the red dress. She'll ask for a champagne flute, which you can find downstairs underneath the table. Give it to her to receive a dance card.
  4. Use the cane to grab the two hats on the bear wall statue.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four ballroom items
Screenshot by Destructoid

Now that we have the dance card and two hats, we have three mini-puzzles to complete. To access the first, tap on the three pegs under the bear's head. Place the masks on them before filling out the mask section of your dance card with the three symbols that appear.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four masks
Screenshot by Destructoid

Next, we'll check out the animal painting next to the masks. Each animal has a colored bowtie. You'll need to check out the lion statue and bear head's symbols, alongside the eagle in the wine cellar. Here are each of their symbols:

  • Lion: Crown, dark blue bowtie
  • Bear: Swords, light blue bowtie
  • Eagle: Cross, red bowtie

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four animal statues
Screenshot by Destructoid

Our last puzzle involves the hats. Go to the hat from earlier and use your two hats on it. Selecting them will display colored ribbons and symbols. Jot this down on your dance card to complete it and begin a new puzzle.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four hats
Screenshot by Destructoid

You'll now dance with three partners. Each dance has 12 steps that follow each partner's symbol sequence, with each symbol appearing on a floor grid. You can only use each square once. You'll find the answer to this puzzle below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four dance puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Following a cutscene involving Mark, we'll find ourselves inside a dark room with scattered books and numbered shelves. Pick up the matches and light the candlestick to reveal four hourglasses. Tap on each hourglass to find two numbers, one on each half. One number shows how many books to put on each bookshelf, while the other reveals which shelf to place them on.

Using this information, we'll place the books in the following locations:

  • Shelf one: Three green books
  • Shelf two: Four gray books
  • Shelf three: Two blue books
  • Shelf four: Six orange books

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter four hourglass puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Solving this puzzle will immediately complete Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous's fourth chapter, letting you begin the fifth and get one step closer to discovering Allie's whereabouts.

Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous chapter five walkthrough

We're now in a dungeon-like room. Start by picking up the sparkling torch on the floor and using the lit torch to ignite it. You can now use your handheld torch on the chandelier to light up the room.

Here's a complete step-by-step guide to solving this first section:

  1. Clear away the debris pile. Pick up the stone that appears.
  2. Insert the stone into the hole next to the suit of armor. Grab the shield.
  3. Give the suit of armor the torch and shield. You'll obtain a box of candles to use on the candleholders near where you found the shield.
  4. Reclaim the torch and shield before moving forward.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five dungeon items
Screenshot by Destructoid

These candles are our first puzzle of this chapter. You'll find the answer by looking at the cell door. The heights of each candle need to match these lines in the order they appear. Use your torch to light them. You'll find the exact solution below.

Once you complete the puzzle, light the final candle to obtain a key. Unlock the door to find a new area to explore. You can now take the following steps to escape this area:

  1. Insert the shield into the empty spot on the wall.
  2. Pick up the oar stuck inside the gate's wheel.
  3. Pry the hammer out of the stone.
  4. Open the map unveiled in the first step and collect the hidden star from the bottom-left boat. Use your torch on the map to reveal the solution.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five boat room
Screenshot by Destructoid

Using the torch on the map will reveal six directional arrows. Rather than looking from our perspective, we need to envision it as if we're driving each boat and moving in the six directions shown. The only viable option is the one with 278 along its path.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five boat route
Screenshot by Destructoid

Tap on the pillar near the wooden boat to find the puzzle that requires this three-digit combination. Tap each dial until you get 278 to unhook the boat.

With this done, return to the previous room and use the hammer to open the chest. Grab the sword and use it to break the box, giving you some building supplies. You can gain additional building supplies by placing the sword and torch in the suit of armor's hands.

After reclaiming the torch and sword, return to the boat area and follow the steps below to progress:

  1. Use your sword on the net next to the staircase
  2. Repair the boat using your building supplies and an oar.
  3. Use the sword on the boulder to make a treasure chest appear. Remember this for later.
  4. Jam the sword into the gate's wheel. Tap on the gate to move onto the next area.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five repairing the boat
Screenshot by Destructoid

With every new area comes additional items to collect. Here are some steps to take to tackle this section:

  1. Grab the broken pipe at the top of the stairs.
  2. Collect the hidden star on the wolf head.
  3. Return to the other area and reclaim the sword. Put the pipe inside the wheel instead.
  4. Use the sword on the pillar slot. Pull it to reveal a hidden section of the wall.
  5. Use the torch on the hidden section and collect the metal overlay. Pull the lever here to uncover another puzzle. Remember this puzzle for later.
  6. Reclaim your torch from the previous step.
  7. Tap on the cubes at the top of the staircase for another puzzle.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five final room items
Screenshot by Destructoid

The key to solving this next puzzle is figuring out where each cube symbol is located. You can't rotate the cubes, so you'll need to use the process of elimination to determine their orientations before swapping each white dial. The easiest answer to start with is the top-left, as the top-right shows that the square is directly connected to the triangle and circle.

The picture below shows the solution to this puzzle:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five cube puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Completing this puzzle will unveil a second one that we'll tackle later. For now, return to the other area and head down the second path leading south. You'll find a total of three keys, which you'll need to fish out with your net. Use these keys on the treasure chest to receive some metal pieces.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five boat keys
Screenshot by Destructoid

With these pieces on hand, tap on the MP puzzle and place them in its display. You'll now have to fit every piece into the letters. A small hint you can use is checking if your piece snaps into place when you slot it in. You'll find the answer below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five MP puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

You'll receive a crossbow after completing this puzzle. Go through the tunnel where you found the keys and use your crossbow to shoot wooden boards on the ceiling. Every board has a symbol, which appears in the following order:

  • Feather
  • Anchor
  • Bird
  • Rose

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five crossbow minigame
Screenshot by Destructoid

Before we can do anything with this information, we need to find some gems for another puzzle. Here are the steps to doing so:

  1. Head to the suit of armor from the first room. Give it the sword and crossbow to claim an MP pendant.
  2. Reclaim the sword and crossbow.
  3. Open the candle puzzle and place the pendant on the "MP" initials to obtain a ruby.
  4. Go to the map puzzle and place the pendant on the "MP" initials to obtain another gem.
  5. Place the metal overlay on the map. Remember "8147."
  6. Go to the final area with your boat. Place the pendant on the "MP" initials next to the boat to collect an emerald.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five gems
Screenshot by Destructoid

We now have everything we need to solve the final puzzle. Tap on the sci-fi gate and insert all three gems. Input 8147 into the middle number orbs, and select the four symbols we found during the boat ride to unlock the final latch.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter five final puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Opening this door will wrap up Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous's fifth chapter. We're now ready to press forward with the game's sixth part.

Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous chapter six walkthrough

We've now arrived in a high-tech lab designed by Mark. Although Kate is confused, she's determined to find Allie and figure out what's going on. Here's an initial step-by-step guide to advancing through this area:

  1. Break the yellow flask on the desk to collect broken glass.
  2. Tap on the purse and grab the metal piece.
  3. On this same screen, use the glass to cut open the zipper pocket to claim a yellow keycard.
  4. Select the center machine and scan the keycard.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter six lab items
Screenshot by Destructoid

Following these steps will open a cell with Camille and Luc inside. You'll also find a hidden star under the bed. They'll give you a blue keycard, which you can use to open the yellow door in the top-right corner of the area. Insert the blue and yellow keycards here to proceed.

From here, you can take some additional steps to learn more about your current situation:

  1. Collect the dyes from the table closest to the screen.
  2. Pick up the metal piece from the back shelves.
  3. Grab the hidden star on the same shelf.
  4. Activate the 3D printer in the center of the room.
  5. Tap on the display under the back shelves to start a puzzle.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter six mask room
Screenshot by Destructoid

For this next puzzle, we'll need to combine pairs of blue squares to create numbers. They need to be in ascending order and can't repeat. Right away, we can eliminate seven as an option, as no pairs combine to make it. With this information in mind, we know that 3-6, 8, and 9 are the numbers we need to make.

The picture below shows which squares you need to combine to finish this puzzle:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter six number puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Inside this display is silicone and synthetic hair, giving you everything you need to use the 3D printer. Insert everything into the printer and tap on the face screen. Pick Allie to begin making a mask of her face before returning to the previous room.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter six Allie's mask
Screenshot by Destructoid

With the mask on hand, use it on the scanner next to the large green gate to deactivate its lasers. You can now enter another new room and take the steps below to progress:

  1. Collect the paper from the desk.
  2. Press the red button of the terminal. Grab the red laser that surfaces.
  3. Tap on the camera monitors. Read the paper once the cutscene is done.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter six final puzzle room
Screenshot by Destructoid

This next puzzle is a standard word search. In this case, you're looking for the five numbers that are on Allie's tracking code screen. The catch is that several of the numbers are unknown, so you'll need to find potential matches using the limited information you have.

Below is a picture of each number on the word search screen and the final solution:

Once you input the five codes, you'll learn Allie's whereabouts. Along the way, a cabinet will open, revealing a blue button and a key. Grab both before plugging the blue button into the empty slot next to the red one. Pressing it will cause a blue laser to rise from the table for you to grab.

If you attempt to leave the room from here, red lasers will block your way, preventing you from escaping. A panel will also appear, which you can slot the red and blue lasers into to begin another puzzle.

There are two phases to this puzzle. The first requires you to move four green sensors so that they fall within the lines of the red and blue lasers. You only have three moves to get all four into the correct spots. You'll find a working sequence below:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter six green sensor solution
Screenshot by Destructoid

The next version introduces a purple sensor that has to be hit by both lasers at the same time. You have four attempts this time. The picture below shows the solution for the second half:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter six purple sensor solution
Screenshot by Destructoid

Completing this puzzle will lower the lasers, letting you collect a third metal piece. Leaving the room will bring you back to your starting point, where you can give Camille and Luc the key you acquired earlier. Dozens of numbers will appear on the walls, with a fourth metal piece falling from the ceiling.

Leave this menu and take the metal pieces to the screen next to their cell. You'll encounter a cryptogram lock and several codes. It works like a normal cryptogram that has you deciphering letters based on their numerical equivalent, except this time, you're converting other numbers to their coded counterpart.

The easiest place to start is the two sets of three-digit codes that end in 8. When searching through the grey numbers, "4" is the only number that appears multiple times at the end of each three-digit sequence, which translates to 8 in this cryptogram. Tapping on the light blue spaces lets you set each box to its respective number, making them easier to track.

From here, it's a matter of using the process of elimination to determine each remaining number. The image below shows the correct sequence:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter six cryptogram
Screenshot by Destructoid

Completing this puzzle will activate another on the opposite side of the cell. The terminal will also turn into a black and white button, which you'll need to activate a couple of times for the next puzzle. For this second puzzle, you'll find six white and black shapes, which have matching pairs in Camille and Luc's cell. Initially, the cell is bright with lights on. You need to activate the button to darken it, revealing the second half of the number set.

Below shows exactly what six numbers you're looking for and the final number sequence:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter six cell code answer
Screenshot by Destructoid

Opening the cell will cause Mark to appear, wrapping up Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous's sixth chapter and leaving us on a cliffhanger. It's time to enter the final chapter and complete this storyline.

Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous chapter seven walkthrough

Following a lengthy conversation between Kate and Mark, we're now ready to wrap up Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous's story. Our first challenge is a maze puzzle involving Melissa and Kate.

During the puzzle, you have a limited number of moves between the two characters. You'll need to step on colored buttons to unlock doors, with the overall objective being to grab the golden key and reach the top-right corner of the map.

Here's a complete step-by-step guide to completing this puzzle:

  1. Move Kate right and up one space, followed by right two spaces.
  2. Move Melissa two spaces north.
  3. Move Kate one space down and one space north.
  4. Move Melissa left one space to grab the key.
  5. Move Melissa three spaces right, one space left, then one space right again. Lastly, move her north to enter the dressing room.
  6. Move Kate two spaces north to the dressing room.

Right away, Kate and Melissa notice that there's no Allie in the dressing room. Instead, you can find the following items:

  1. Open the vanity drawer to find a remote control. You can also move the stool to find a shoe.
  2. Move the curtain and the dress pile to find two more shoes.
  3. Tap on the cushion's top to find a makeup brush.
  4. Grab the green dress at the back of the room to find a hanger. Use the hanger on the closet to find a fourth shoe.
  5. Place all four shoes on the shoe shelves to unlock a drawer containing a note and key.
  6. Use the key on the vanity drawer to obtain some makeup powder.
  7. Use the remote control on the ornate panel next to the door to find a ring collection.
  8. Tap on the mirror. Use the makeup powder on it to uncover a clue. Remember the fox.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter seven dressing room
Screenshot by Destructoid

We now have everything we need for the ring puzzle. Starting with a heart-shaped ring, you'll follow the arrows to each adjacent ring until you find its endpoint. The shape of this endpoint is what you'll input into the door's combination lock. You'll need to repeat this three more times to uncover all four answers.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter seven ring puzzle solutions
Screenshot by Destructoid

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter seven ring puzzle inside a door
Screenshot by Destructoid

We're now inside a giant throne room. Remember the foxes for later. For now, tap on the thrones and focus on the left one. The rings around each pink button determine the order in which you press them. Start with the top-right button and move down, up diagonally, then down again to receive a gold pendant.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter seven left throne puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Alongside the pendant, you'll also find the answer to the right throne. Since the triangle is on the bottom in the answer, orient the answer around this. You'll receive another gold pendant for your efforts.

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter seven right throne puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Once you finish both puzzles, move the purple curtain to the right of the thrones to uncover two empty circles. Insert the pendants inside to reveal another puzzle. This time, we need to take a look at the foxes.

Each fox—the three from the throne room and one in the dressing room—has distinct traits. They're differentiated using the following in-game hints:

  • An orange-faced fox.
  • A fox face with a light streak down its nose.
  • A gray fox face.
  • A light colored fox face.

Every fox face is also surrounded by specific golden patterns that you'll need to match within the puzzle's display. You can determine their order by looking at the tapestry and counting how many of each fox is within the picture. Doing so reveals that you're one orange-faced fox, two gray foxes, three light streak nose foxes, and four light-colored face foxes.

With these hints in mind, we can deduce the following solution:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter seven fox puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

We're now inside a garden. Here are the steps you'll need to take to progress:

  1. Pick up the shears on the ground. Use them to cut the vines next to the staircase.
  2. Grab the chisel hammer and use it on the block of stone to transform it into a Cupid statue.
  3. Head into the throne room. Use the shears on the harp to obtain some string.
  4. Attach the string to Cupid.
  5. Grab the arrow from the two hearts on the wall.
  6. Return to the dressing room. Place the arrow on the red heart at the back of the room.
  7. Grab the heart necklace. Use it on the Kate statue.

Completing these steps will reveal a combination lock under the statue. Return to the throne room and use the shears on the tapestry to reveal the answer to this puzzle. Every colored line creates various shapes, which we can input into the lock based on how they combine. Below shows the solution to the lock:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter seven line puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

We've officially unearthed the bomb Mark planted in the castle. To finish this puzzle, you'll need to move each chip so the connected chips have different colors and shapes. It takes place over multiple rounds, with the first only having two moves. Here's a step-by-step guide for the first sequence:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter seven tutorial bomb
Screenshot by Destructoid

This was just a tutorial round. Now, we have a much larger array to work with. For this round, there will be one connection that shares a characteristic. You'll need to cut the wire between these using your shears. Fortunately, you have 50 rounds to complete this one when you only need around 20. There are also multiple solutions to it.

Here's an example of a solution you can encounter while completing this puzzle:

Adventure Escape Mysteries Rendezvous chapter seven final bomb puzzle
Screenshot by Destructoid

Finishing this puzzle will end in one final cutscene, wrapping up Rendezvous and readying you for Feline Frenzy alongside future Adventure Escape Mysteries storylines.

The post Adventure Escape Mysteries: Rendezvous walkthrough – All chapters appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Sunday, August 10, 2025 3:28 PM
    

Rui Costa FUTTIES card in EA FC 25

The FUTTIES Co-op Cup is live in EA FC 25, and you have a guaranteed way of obtaining a brand new FUTTIES card for free of cost.

The latest cup objective has several tasks to complete for players in order to get all the rewards. Let's take a look at how to complete all of them, along with the rewards available.

EA FC 25 FUTTIES Co-op Cup explained

The EA FC 25 FUTTIES Co-op Cup has seven tasks.

Task How to Complete Rewards
Play 6 Play 6 matches in the Live Ultimate Team Friendly: FUTTIES Co-op Cup. 85+ x3 Rare Gold Players Pack
Win 3: Portugal Win 3 matches in the Live Ultimate Team Friendly: FUTTIES Co-op Cup with at least 5 Portuguese Players in your starting 11. 86+ x2 Rare Gold Players Pack
Win 3: Serie A Win 3 matches in the Live Ultimate Team Friendly: FUTTIES Co-op Cup with at least 5 Players from Serie A in your starting 11. 84+ x7 Rare Gold Players Pack
Score 7 Score 7 goals in the Live Ultimate Team Friendly: FUTTIES Co-op Cup. 87+ x2 Rare Gold Players Pack
Assist 6 Assist 6 goals in the Live Ultimate Team Friendly: FUTTIES Co-op Cup. 84+ x5 Rare Gold Players Pack
Power and Precision Score 3 goals from outside the box in the Live Ultimate Team Friendly: FUTTIES Co-op Cup. 88+ Rare Gold Players Pack
Winger, Winger, Chicken Dinner Assist 10 goals in the Live Ultimate Team Friendly: FUTTIES Co-op Cup. Lewis Wing FUTTIES

Completing the full objective gets you the Rui Costa FUTTIES Hero item. The 97-rated card has decent in-game stats, and features four playstyle+. Unfortunately, the card can only play as a CAM, which is a huge limitation.

As a free card, it has decent stats, and the process of obtaining all the rewards is simple. It will be interesting to see when we get 97-rated evolutions, which will allow us to improve this Costa item and its stats.

The post All EA FC 25 FUTTIES Co-op Cup rewards and tasks appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Sunday, August 10, 2025 1:52 PM
    

Milinkovic-Savic as one of the best players to use in EA FC 25 Driven Prodigy Evolution

The Picasso Mode Evolution is now live in EA FC 25, and you can upgrade one of your lower-rated items to an overall rating of 98.

Your selected item will receive plenty of stat boosts, new playstyles, roles, and more. Naturally, you'll want to be perfect with your choice to make the most of this expensive evolution. There are lots of amazing options, but few stand tall from the rest.

EA FC 25 Picasso Mode Evolution requirements

Here are the requirements of the Picasso Mode Evolution in EA FC 25.

  • Overall: Max 96
  • PlayStyles: Max 10
  • PlayStyles+: Max 4

EA FC 25 Picasso Mode Evolution upgrades

There are five levels of upgrades, and here are the requirements.

Level 1 upgrades

  • Overall: +10|98
  • Pace: +4|96
  • Crossing: +24|95
  • Vision: +24|97
  • PlayStyles+: Tiki Taka|5
  • PlayStyles: Technical|7

Level 2 upgrades

  • Curve: +12|97
  • Long Passing: +12|97
  • Short Passing: +12
  • Free Kick: +16
  • Skills: +2
  • PlayStyles+: Pinged Pass|5

Level 3 upgrades

  • Balance: +12|97
  • Ball control: +6|97
  • Dribbling: +12|96
  • Long Passing: +12|97
  • Composure: +12|96
  • PlayStyles: Rapid|7

Level 4 upgrades

  • Agility: +24|97
  • Reactions: +12|97
  • Stamina: +16|95
  • Weak Foot: +2
  • PlayStyles+: Incisive Pass|5
  • PlayStyles: Dead Ball

Level 5 upgrades

  • Dribbling: +12|96
  • Short Passing: +12
  • Weak Foot: +2
  • Skills: +2
  • PlayStyles+: Technical|5

Level 1 upgrade conditions

  • Play 1 match in any mode using your active EVO player in game.

Level 2 upgrade conditions

  • Play 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.

Level 3 upgrade conditions

  • Win 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.

Level 4 upgrade conditions

  • Play 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.

Level 5 upgrade conditions

  • Win 1 match in Rush, Rivals, Champions, or Squad Battles on Min. Semi-Pro using your active EVO player in game.

Best players to use in Picasso Mode Evolution

Here are some of the best players to use in this evolution.

  • Will Trapp FUTTTIES
  • Vanja Milinnkovic-Savic Flashback
  • Granit Xhaka TOTS HM
  • Crystal Dunn FUTTIES
  • Zaire-Emery RTTF
  • Ruben Neves RTTF
  • Jean-Francois Showdown
  • Sam Kerr FUTTIES
  • Aurelien Tchouameni Fantasy FC
  • Alvero FUTTIES
  • Renato Veiga RTTF

Your club's evo chain candidates can provide unique solutions exclusive to your Ultimate Team squad.

The post Best players for EA FC 25 Picasso Mode Evolution appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Sunday, August 10, 2025 1:38 PM
    

Ronaldo FUTTIES Icon as one of the rewards from the EA FC 25 94+ Encore Icon Players Pick SBC

The 95+ Encore Icon Pack SBC is live in EA FC 25, and it's an interesting endgame challenge to earn guaranteed icons for your squads.

The latest version is similar to the last iteration, but the rewards are better. Cards rated 95 or higher have been added to the rewards pool, and you can also obtain the FUTTIES Icons if you're lucky enough.

Complete list of EA FC 25 95+ Encore Icon Pick SBC rewards

The SBC includes Icons from three promos: FUT Immortals, Shapeshifters, and FUTTIES. For FUTTIES, Icons from Team 1, right up to Team 4, have been included.

FUT Immortals

  • Angerer GK 95
  • Thierry Henry ST 95
  • Gianluigi Buffon GK 95
  • Ronaldo ST 96
  • Franz Beckenbauer CB 96
  • Mia Hamm ST 96
  • Eusebio ST 96
  • Pele ST 97

Shapeshifters

  • Steven Gerrard RW 95
  • Bobby Charlton CM 96
  • Homare Sawa LM 96
  • Cafu CDM 96
  • Iker Casillas CM 97
  • Ronaldinho ST 97
  • Michael Owen LW 97
  • Hristo Stoichkov CAM 97
  • Mia Hamm CM 97
  • Patrick Vieira ST 97
  • Rio Ferdinand ST 98
  • Erick Cantona CM 98
  • Eusebio LW 98
  • Johann Cruyff LM 98
  • Diego Maradona RW 98
  • Kelly Smith LB 98

FUTTIES

  • Luis Figo RW 96
  • John Barnes LW 96
  • Michael Essien CDM 97
  • Ronald Koeman CB 97
  • Lilian Thuram RB 97
  • Patrick Kluivert ST 97
  • Jill Foudy CM 97
  • Fernando Torrest ST 97
  • Peter Schmeichel GK 97
  • Carles Puyol CB 97
  • Paul Scholes CM 97
  • Ashley Cole LB 97
  • Marcel Desailly CB 97
  • Frank Lampard CM 97
  • Zico CAM 97
  • Frank Rijkaard CDM 97
  • Carlos Alberto RB 98
  • Roberto Carlos LB 98
  • Paolo Maldini CB 98
  • Gianluigi Buffon GK 98
  • Samuel Eto'o ST 98
  • Garrinchha RW 98
  • Gareth Bale RW 99
  • Franz Beckenbaeur CB 99
  • Andrea Pirlo CM 99
  • Ronaldo ST 99
  • Pele CAM 99
  • Johann Cruyff CAM 99

You'll get to pick between four options, which will have cards from the ones mentioned above. If you're lucky enough, you can even land a 99-rated FUTTIES Icon.

The post All EA FC 25 95+ Encore Icon Pack SBC Rewards appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Sunday, August 10, 2025 1:13 PM
    

Battlefield 6 aiming RPG at a helicopter

Battlefield 6 is on a rampage as its open beta attracts over 520,000 concurrent players. The game is yet to launch fully, and it's already stomping most of the competition, Call of Duty included. Mike Ybarra, former Blizzard exec, said this is a good thing—and he's absolutely right.

According to Ybarra, BF6 will "boot stomp CoD" in 2025, which should prompt Call of Duty to not be "lazy" anymore, in turn resulting in everyone getting better first-person shooters down the line. That might seem like a pretty straightforward take, but not everyone agreed with it. Lots of players, especially those favoring Call of Duty, disagreed with Ybarra's message, while those on Battlefield's side ran with it like their lives depended on it.

However, reality lies somewhere in the middle.

BF6 is the solution to a stale market

A battle scene in Battlefield 6 Open Beta
Battlefield 6's open beta is the biggest the franchise has ever had, and that should tell you everything. Screenshot via EA

Call of Duty maintains a large player base both on PC and consoles, selling millions of copies every year and topping charts across the world every time it launches. No matter what, the CoD franchise will almost certainly never fail, and it'll be a long, long time before we see Activision's pride and joy roll off a cliff (if ever).

What Ybarra is implying here is that Battlefield 6, given how popular it already is, will bash heads with CoD and, potentially, steal a bit of its market share (both BO7 and BF6 launch around the same time).

Given EA and DICE's decision to speed gameplay up a bit and lower the TTK (time-to-kill), a lot of CoD players are finding comfort in Battlefield 6, particularly its smaller-scale modes like Domination and King of the Hill, which they'll surely find familiar. Additionally, the game completely walks back most of the decisions made in 2024, making BF6 more akin to 4 and 3 than newer entries in the series, opening it up to veterans to come back and, hopefully, stay.

It is a win-win situation for two groups of players who have gotten tired of both EA's newer shooters and Call of Duty's yearly regurgitations, and the open beta numbers prove it.

What I hope ends up being true is that Battlefield 6 will maintain its popularity and dominance post-Oct. 10 when it fully launches, disturbing Activision hopefuls who believed they could just roll the same old dice again and rake in the millions. I mean, sure, they probably still will, but a few million less is certainly going to get some coats pulled, with the company rethinking how CoD can survive in this new market environment.

No competition killed CoD

Black Ops 7 key art work
The seventh installment of a sub-franchise. Activision is, genuinely, creatively bankrupt. Image via Activision

CoD hasn't had a proper competitor since Battlefield V, and even that was a lackluster release compared to its predecessor, Battlefield 1, which is by far the best Battlefield game ever made (at least, it is for me). With 2042's horrible launch in 2022, CoD has had free rein over the arcade shooter market, which, as we all know, saw its games get progressively worse since MW2, while Activision continues to chase trends and ludicrous partnerships.

Battlefield 6 thus stands to not only revitalize an ailing franchise, but to revamp the shooter genre as a whole, leading to both Call of Duty and Battlefield becoming bigger, better, more serious franchises with games that people actually like and love and do not whale out over.

It all depends on EA, though.

The post Mike Ybarra is right: Battlefield 6 stomping CoD will benefit both appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Sunday, August 10, 2025 12:33 PM
    

Far Cry's art

Unfortunately for some staffer at Ubisoft, the company has revealed that a Far Cry TV show is currently in the making at FX. In a now-removed news article on its website, Ubisoft detailed this upcoming TV adaptation of its long-standing franchise, including who will run it.

Though the post is now long gone and hopefully didn't get the staffer fired, users on the Far Cry subreddit were quick enough to note down everything it had to say. Far Cry is set to star Rob Mac (Rob McElhenney) known for It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, while Noah Hawley of Fargo fame will serve as the showrunner. Both Mac and Hawley are going to serve as executive producers, among others.

Far Cry
Far Cry is no stranger to Hollywood collabs. Image via Ubisoft

FX was purposefully chosen to work on the series, as its productions are often darker, grittier, and more serious in tone.

"This collaboration is really an embarrassment of riches. Far Cry is a psychological tailspin that doesn't shy away from the darkest and most absurd parts of humanity, which aligns perfectly with FX's bold and fearless storytelling style," said Ubisoft's film and television content chief, Margaret Boykin.

While this is by no means a comprehensive list of details regarding this upcoming Far Cry adaptation, one thing is certain: it's in the works and coming, hopefully soon.

Video game adaptations have been on the rise in the past few years and, to the shock of just about anyone, have been actually turning out good. Popular both among newcomers and hardcore fans, video game movies and TV shows are at the top of their game, washing away (most of) the stigma surrounding early 2000s attempts at the same.

How Far Cry will turn out is anyone's guess, and especially because of Ubisoft's overall track record this past decade, but the people involved certainly are promising.

The post Uh oh, Ubisoft has accidentally revealed a Far Cry TV show  appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Sunday, August 10, 2025 12:32 PM
    

A player dribbling past a tackler in Madden 26

The Franchise mode in Madden 26 and its gameplay are different from the typical online-based competitive action, and there are different game styles to pick from.

Separate from the in-game difficulty settings, Game Styles determine how the AI reacts and operates in the game. The three choices are all vastly different from one another—and one of them is definitely more suitable than the rest.

All Game Styles in Madden 26

The three options available this year are the same as the last game.

  • Arcade: Fast-paced game style that focuses on exciting and fast gameplay. Think of this as older Maddens, where the entire emphasis is on creating intense actions on the field. There are no penalties, injuries, or fatigue.
  • Simulation: Authentic NFL experience that focuses a lot on realism. Aside from penalties, fatigue, and injuries, you'll get some unexpected outcomes off the field. The Simulation mode has the slowest gameplay in general.
  • Competitive: The AI enacts how human opponents will play against you, and there's no emphasis on injuries or fatigue (dampened). It's almost entirely manual, and how you do it depends on how good your controller skills are.

Game Style settings in Madden 26
Screenshot by Destructoid

Best Madden 26 Franchise mode gameplay

While Competitive is usually the favorite for most players (it's the default for all online games), the best choice is Simulation. The beauty of Franchise mode isn't the action happening on the field. Instead, having unexpected outcomes is also part of the fun, which is where Simulation comes in.

For example, managing the workloads of your athletes is an important task for any NFL coach. If you're going with Arcade or Competitive, your players will never get injured. In Simulation, your athletes will pick up injuries, and more so, if you're not careful with your rotations. On one hand, this might seem irritating, but in the long run, injuries add a flavor of excitement in Franchise mode.

The realistic nature of on and off-field aspects makes Simulation the best choice in my books, and by some distance. To enjoy Competitive, modes like Ultimate Team and Online H2H is far more suitable.

The post Best Game Style for Madden 26 Franchise Mode appeared first on Destructoid.


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