Kotaku Saturday, August 16, 2025 1:30 PM
With so many levels, and all those subterranean depths you can punch your way through, how long will our favorite big ape's latest outing last you? The post How Long Is <i>Donkey Kong Bananza</i>? appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Saturday, August 16, 2025 12:30 PM
From whether you can play with friends on other platforms to how hard it is to earn all the achievements, we'll break it all down for you The post Everything You'd Want To Know About <i>Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4</i> appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Saturday, August 16, 2025 11:30 AM
Pressing X to slam into cover might feel strange, but if you want to play with your Xbox comrades, we have some good news The post With <i>Gears Of War: Reloaded</i> Emerging On PS5 Soon, Will It Support Crossplay? appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Saturday, August 16, 2025 10:30 AM
Ruffy and the Riverside has a free demo on Steam if you want to test drive this vibrant jump-a-thon without spending a dime The post You Can Knock Out This Fun 3D Platformer In Under 10 Hours appeared first on Kotaku. |
Kotaku Saturday, August 16, 2025 9:30 AM
Low-resolution graphics, and immersive rat-shaking gampeplay, how can you say no to that? The post If You're On The Lookout For A Short, Worthwhile Horror Game, Check Out <i>Ratshaker</i> appeared first on Kotaku. |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 16, 2025 3:31 PM Looking for the latest Grow a Garden Flower plants and fruits? If you're looking to make the most of the beanstalk event in the biggest Roblox game around, you'll want to cover your farm in flower-class plants. The rarer the better, too. Not sure if it's worth grinding away at the Roblox Grow a Garden beanstalk event? Check out the Grow a Garden pets tier list and Grow a Garden seeds tier list. You'll learn which pets are worth looking for, and which seeds to keep rolling for. We also have lists of all Grow a Garden prickly plants and berry plants and fruits for when you need them. Continue reading All Grow a Garden Flowers plants and fruits MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 16, 2025 3:00 PM ExpressVPN, like most other VPN services, is always coming up with limited-time promos to entice potential customers. The latest of these is a collaboration with Riot Games that nets new subscribers a bunch of free loot in League of Legends. Continue reading ExpressVPN is now giving out free League of Legends loot MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends ranks explained, League of Legends Mythic shop rotation, LoL tier list |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 16, 2025 2:51 PM What are the Grow a Garden berry plants and fruits? This crop classification is a fairly self-explanatory one you'll need to take into account when pitching in during the Beanstalk event. With over a hundred plants available in the game, creating an efficient garden around the beanstalk requirements can be a struggle. We're here to help. Wondering if the Roblox Grow a Garden beanstalk event is even worth attempting to complete? Check out our Grow a Garden seeds tier list or Grow a Garden pets tier list to see if the rewards are any good. With at least seven levels to boost it through, the more you put in, the better the rewards will be. Just be sure to hop into the portal whenever it spawns. Something is better than nothing, after all. You may also need the Grow a Garden prickly plants and fruits list. Continue reading All Grow a Garden berry plants and fruits MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 16, 2025 3:17 PM What are the Prickly plants and fruits in Grow a Garden? If that's a question you're asking, you're probably trying to grow the Beanstalk for some new seeds, pets, and garden decor. Given that the plant needed to grow the beanstalk rotates every hour, you'll need to hop on the new ones quickly. By submitting plants that fit the called-for type in the middle of the Roblox Grow a Garden, you contribute to the level of the beanstalk reaching high into the sky. Want to know if the rewards are worth donating your best crops for? Check out the Grow a Garden pets tier list. There's a Grow a Garden seeds tier list, too. That way, you can work out if the crops are worth selling or gifting to the beanstalk to potentially get more. We also have the list of all GaG prickly plants for when you need them. Continue reading All Grow a Garden prickly plants and fruits MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 16, 2025 12:52 PM Have you played Doom: The Dark Ages yet? Good, isn't it? id Software keeps finding new places to take one of the oldest formulas in gaming, and the fact it managed to get both a quasi-medieval setting and yet another big mechanical change of direction signed off is just as impressive as the feeling of those elements coming together when you're immersed in Dark Ages' viscera. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Doom The Dark Ages review, Doom The Dark Ages weapons, Doom The Dark Ages missions |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 16, 2025 12:49 PM After 15 years in development and three redesigns, space strategy game Archrebel Tactics has come full circle by securing a publishing deal with Microprose. Most heavily inspired by Rebelstar, the 1986 classic from original XCOM creator Julian Gollop, Archrebel Tactics puts you in charge of a small squadron of units completing missions on a hostile alien planet. Calling to mind beloved PC names such as Laser Squad and UFO: Enemy Unknown, it's now got the financial support needed to reach completion, and you can try a demo today. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best indie games, New PC games, Best PC games |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 16, 2025 11:23 AM With a name like Crusader Kings 3, it's no surprise that establishing a ruler is one of the founding pillars of Paradox's cutthroat medieval grand strategy game. The new Coronations DLC is set to give this core aspect a major makeover that feels substantial and meaningful. In a new developer blog, CK3 game designer Jason Cantalini reveals that the team wanted to try "something a little different" from past additions. "Where these prior event packs scattered little tasty flavor treats throughout the game, Coronations is instead one single, discrete bundle of highly visible and mechanically impactful content." MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Crusader Kings 3 DLC guide, Best Crusader Kings 3 mods, Crusader Kings 3 review |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 16, 2025 12:35 PM A fresh Slay the Spire 2 update from developer Mega Crit gives us a tantalizing look at some new relics and potions we'll have to hand in the long-awaited sequel, but it's a change to the UI that has me breathing the biggest sigh of relief. Watching the best Slay the Spire players in action always leaves me breathless. They blast through the legendary roguelike deckbuilder's toughest fights without taking so much as a pause, and yet, when I feel the confidence well up and attempt to copy their methods, I inevitably make a major blunder and send my run crashing into the gutter. But not any more. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best indie games, Best roguelike games, Best card games |
PCGamesN Saturday, August 16, 2025 11:38 AM August 16 - Included an update from Battlefield Studios aimed at reducing queue times. Barring an actual server browser for the Battlefield 6 beta, its new custom search feature is the next best thing, but EA's Battlefield Studios confirms that it's leading to "unusual wait times." The addition was introduced as a way to give everyone more control over their matches for the second open beta weekend. But with players waiting up to four or five minutes to get into games despite the test's record-breaking numbers, the delays have only furthered calls for BF6 to deliver a traditional server browser as soon as possible. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Battlefield 6 preview, Battlefield 6 release date, Best Battlefield 6 weapons |
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Siliconera Saturday, August 16, 2025 3:00 PM
Since 2020, Hallmark started a line of video game ornaments that reference classic consoles not only with their appearance, but with lights and sounds, and the Xbox 360 is the one for 2025. As usual, it's designed to bank on nostalgia and capitalize on the concept of continuing to collect each entry year-after-year for a full line-up for a tree. The good news is, this year's replica still looks as accurate as you'd expect. The bad news is, it isn't as exciting as the Dreamcast or NES ones.
The Xbox 360 ornament from Hallmark is based on the original model that debuted in 2005. This means you see the silver metal hard disk drive at the top, the silver disc drive, and the white face plate on the front. When you press the power button, it lights up green and plays the standard start-up sounds for the system. After that, it will play music from Halo 3. This is all in keeping with the standards for this collection. You get a system replica, it plays the startup noises if there are any, and then you hear music from one of the most popular or memorable games from it.
In general, the Xbox 360 replica is a solid one. The console design is accurate. All the ports are properly represented. The colors are accurate. The power button especially is works exactly how you'd expect on the console. I will admit the music didn't immediately scream Halo 3 to me, but it is probably the best choice. The only major criticism I have is that I'm not exactly a fan of the wireless controller depiction. It's fine and is recognizable. However, I felt it looked a bit cartoonish compared to the past replicas with other Hallmark video game ornaments. Especially when compared to the console itself with its accurate reactions of vents and ports. I almost wished it actually didn't include the controller or that the controller was a small, separate ornament included with it, so someone could display the system vertically on a shelf with the controller on top.
I do think some of the other Hallmark console ornaments did seem a bit more detailed than the Xbox 360. The initial NES one from 2020 felt special, since we had the cords leading to the controllers on the top and the ability to open the lid and see the Super Mario Bros cartridge inside. The 2023 Dreamcast edition, which included a light-up VMU in the controller with Sonic on the screen, is an absolute standout. While the 2021 SNES model didn't feature any moving parts, I again appreciated the idea of the controller positioning and cords. Of course, this Xbox 360 ornament incurs the same problem as, say, the 2022 Genesis and 2024 Xbox, as both are systems with fairly solid color schemes.
The Hallmark Xbox 360 console ornament for 2025 is a detailed one that features the sort of lights and sounds we expect from one of these video game ornaments. People with nostalgia for that older system will likely be pleased. Also, if you're already invested in this line, it's going to be another staple. I do think in terms of quality and special features, it can't top the NES or Dreamcast ornaments.
The Hallmark Xbox 360 video game ornament is available now.
The post Hallmark Xbox 360 Console Ornament Is Another Staple in the Collection appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, August 16, 2025 9:00 AM
There is a whole world of innovative RPG Maker games that we often sadly don't get to see due to things like language barriers and accessibility, and the horror ones especially get to be fascinating. Titles like Yume Nikki, Mad Father, and the original Corpse Party acting as examples of unexpected storytelling and ambiance development with limited toolsets. Daidai's The Aquarium does not dance is one of those games, but the text-heavy nature and multiple endings tied to choices meant that the free PC version on Steam wasn't exactly accessible. Now it is more accessible, with Frontier Works' updated release with a full localization, and it is both unsettling and artistic.
Suze is a young woman who is terrified of the water. It makes sense, given she almost drowned as a child. She regularly visits a child at the hospital where her mother works, and as a result gets a pair of special Bianca Aquarium tickets that involve all access and a guided tour from the director's fiance, Chrissy. However, what starts out as a beautiful trip with her best friend Lulu quickly turns bleak. When the trio gets to the empty tank that normally houses the white shark that is the main attraction, Lulu disappears. When Suze goes searching for her, she ends up separated from Chrissy as well and finds herself in a decidedly different version of Bianca Aquarium.
Those familiar with RPG Maker horror games like Mad Father and Corpse Party will quickly adapt to the story daidai tells in The Aquarium does not dance. This is a text-heavy exploration game with occasional sprite work CGs at pivotal moments. While there will be scares and opportunities in which you're dealing with clear threats, a lot of what's happening is very thoughtful and even involves solving puzzles. As an example of an early one, Suze will happen upon a series of fish tanks. Three of the four seem concerned about the last one. If you find a way to feed and help it, you get a code that unlocks a door and leads to a new puzzle.
Now, while the roots of The Aquarium does not dance are as a RPG Maker horror game, it still manages to look quite pretty and a number of additions in this updated release help take things a step further to ensure the presentation is on point and even better at establishing a mood. All five of the main heroines are voiced by Japanese voice actresses, which is a nice touch and helps at some especially pivotal moments. The event CGs I mentioned earlier are new, which also help accentuate interactions. Especially since the character designs are great. Even the standard sprites look amazing, with Suze, Chrissy, and Retro all being standouts. Like yes, we know this is an RPG Maker horror game, but the care in the character designs, new pieces of event art, and soundtrack all make it feel like something more.
There are also some other supplemental features. The Aquarium does not dance does feature multiple endings based on the choices you make. However, there are also two Another Story options in the main menu, with the new one being called "The Aquarium will always hunger." You do need to unlock them, but for the sake of avoiding spoilers it makes sense given the themes and details they touch upon.
It's all handled so well that I can really only think of two issues that might give someone pause before jumping into the game. One is that this is a rather short experience. You'll maybe spend about three or four hours on a run. However, since there are multiple endings, I consider that something of a good thing. I found there's no fatigue when replaying as a result of the length. The other possible issue is that I feel like The Aquarium does not dance isn't terribly scary. It's unsettling, unnerving disturbing, and even heartbreaking. But don't expect constant jump scares or the most gruesome story ever. (I mean, there is some gore and violence, but in some cases those are described or inferred with sprites.)
The Aquarium does not dance is one of the prime showcases of what someone can accomplish with a RPG Maker horror game. It's quite unsettling and haunting, and it's quite easy to feel for both protagonists and antagonists as you explore Bianca Aquarium. The sprite work is also wonderful. Pair that with new CGs, a lovely soundtrack, and great voice acting, and it's a game that deserves folks' attention.
The Aquarium does not dance is available on the Switch and PC.
The post Review: The Aquarium Does Not Dance Is Haunting appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 3:34 PM
Many of us who are playing BitLife right now are a little nerdy. Whether you're a D&D enthusiast or have a strong interest in a particular topic, we all have some nerdy tendencies occasionally.
Let's dive right into this week's challenge. BitLife's Nerd challenge has five objectives to complete:
Table of contents
BitLife Nerd challenge guide
You won't need any special career packs or expansions for this challenge. However, multiple objectives rely on luck, particularly those involving school clubs.
Be born in Texas
Our first objective during BitLife's Nerd challenge is to be born in Texas. When creating a new character, choose the United States as your country and Austin as your place. Austin is Texas's capital, making it the perfect starting spot for this challenge. Your starting gender is entirely up to you.
Your stats won't matter too much for this challenge. Although high smarts will make later tasks easier, it's entirely optional.
Wear glasses
Your next objective is to have your character wear glasses. The easiest way to do this is to age up and wait for your character's parents to show concern over your eyesight and request an eye exam. You'll have the option to pick "forget it, I need glasses," which'll automatically fail the exam and give you glasses.
Join the Science Club
While your character is in school, you'll need them to join two different clubs. You can do this by picking School, your school, and Activities. Our first goal is to join the science club.
You can start joining clubs in middle school, with additional options available in high school and university. If you don't see the science club right away, graduate from one school and recheck the list once you join another. You may have to wait until you're in university and pursue multiple degrees or graduate school if you get unlucky. Otherwise, you can recreate your character and repeat the process until you find the club you need.
Join the Dungeons and Dragons Club
Our second club is the Dungeons and Dragons club. Like before, you'll need to check your school's activity list for it and apply for the club once you find it. If you don't see it at one school, age up and check the next until you see it.
Become a computer programmer
You can become a computer programmer by graduating university with a computer science or information systems degree. After applying for university and finishing your degree, check your full-time job list for a computer programmer position before applying and passing the interview.
If the degree option doesn't appear right away, age up and recheck the list or close and reopen your BitLife app. Similarly, if you don't see a computer programmer position in your full-time job list, restart your app to refresh the list.
You'll complete BitLife's Nerd challenge after joining both clubs and becoming a programmer. Finishing weekly events rewards you with special cosmetics to use on your characters, letting you customize them however you wish. If you're interested in learning about previous challenges, check out how to complete the Bad Teacher challenge in BitLife.
The post How to complete the Nerd challenge in BitLife appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 2:45 PM
Roblox is currently facing down the hyperbolic firing squad after its developers banned Schlep, a popular Roblox player and YouTuber who worked to expose child predators using the game to find victims. Now, one of the loudest voices in true crime history might be interested in telling his story.
According to a reliable source, Chris Hansen, host of To Catch a Predator, is allegedly looking to make a documentary on Schlep's ongoing battle with Roblox Corporation. I hope someone is getting some chairs ready.
Schlep's supposed collaboration with Chris Hansen bodes ill for Roblox Corporation
The creator at the heart of the controversy, Schlep, is a well-known figure in the Roblox user community. A longtime Roblox player, Schlep has built a career around investigating and exposing predatory Roblox users looking to contact minors. While Schelp's work has made him incredibly popular, it recently led to him getting banned from the game for life by Roblox Corporation, which accused his investigations of violating the game's terms of service.
Schlep's banning sparked Vesuvian levels of backlash against Roblox Corporation. Things have only gotten more intense after Roblox Corporation's CEO, David Baszucki, filed a cease-and-desist letter threatening legal action against Schlep. In response, Schlep's defenders have made their opinion of Mr. Baszucki crystal clear, with a Change.org petition calling for his resignation racking up over 75'000 signatures as of writing. And if rumors from a credible source are accurate, Roblox players may not be the only ones demanding accountability.
Word of Chris Hansen's interest in Roblox Corporation's crusade against Schlep comes to us from notable fan-run Roblox news poster RTC on X (formerly known on Twitter).
Hot off the heels of this story. Louisiana has recently sued Roblox Corporation, accusing the company of fostering an environment that allows child predators to "thrive."
This is a developing story, and we'll follow up with additional information as it becomes available.
The post Roblox landed in hot water for banning a predator hunter. Now Chris Hansen is on the case appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 2:42 PM
The daily stresses of life are full of countless hardships, and it feels tougher and tougher each passing year to deal with the crushing inevitability that affects everyone. Yet this is life, and Garrett wants to get away from it all. He's had enough. The world doesn't need him back home. So he's packed his things and headed to the middle of nowhere in hopes of life inside a quiet sanctuary. But something's followed him there.
Are chopping trees, watering crops, feeding the stray cat, and selling whatever goods you can scrounge up enough of a distraction to keep you from thinking about why you left in the first place? There's something in the woods, and you brought it here.
 A farming sim for the lost soul
This is We Harvest Shadows, a first-person farming simulator with a dark twist. A true passion project from David Wehle, creator of The First Tree, invites you into a life of solitude. A cabin in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by acres of forest that house their own secrets, Garrett must come to terms with his own trauma if he ever wishes for a peaceful life. Moving away from the rest of the world simply won't cut it. Anxiety, depression, fear, love, and loss will follow you anywhere.
There is something incredibly powerful in We Harvest Shadows that I haven't seen in a video game in an awfully long time. Its simplistic game design makes it an easy one to sink hours into, using the cozy sim formula of a simpler life, away from the mundanity and stresses of our day-to-day. I'm not a big farming sim fan, but I respect it enough to always give them a go. I understand their USP and why games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing became a staple in peoples' lives during lockdown. We Harvest Shadows fills a similar void as it provides a calming escape—a means to get away from reality—if only for a little while.
But unlike the most popular farming sims (stemming all the way back to Harvest Moon),We Harvest Shadows handles dark and very personal themes that make it incredibly profound as it feels as though you're playing through a person's history, their soul in show for the world to see. I feel more and more drawn to the simplicity of We Harvest Shadows and the sentimental, dark story that encompasses Garrett as I (and I imagine many others) can relate to what he's going through.
 The suffocating comfort of loneliness
The setting is gorgeous and the gameplay has that satisfying loop that offers replayability with its exploration. You're welcome to do whatever you want or stick purely to completing Garrett's daily to-do list to move through the narrative as you unravel the mystery of Garrett's past. While there will be the option to play We Harvest Shadows as a pure farming sim, free from the terror that awakens every time the sun goes down, this title shines like tenebrescence because of its psychological horror elements.
I've played countless horror games that repeat the same psychological horror ideas. Rare instances of masterfully-crafted horror with psychological themes are Silent Hill 2, OMORI, Who's Lila?, SOMA, P.T., Eternal Darkness, and Luto. But I have high hopes that We Harvest Shadows will join the list for capturing the struggles of a spiralling human psyche and the internal journey every human goes through at least once in their life.
The darkness which surrounds Garrett is brilliantly portrayed through a Layers of Fear-style painting in his lonely home, showcasing his current psyche and telling us if it's safe to go outside. It's an interesting way of handling the sanity meter and immediately creates tension for you don't know what's waiting for you outside. But are you the curious type to go have a look?
 The mundanity of life has its horrors
We Harvest Shadows brings the darkness we all try to hide ourselves from out into the beautiful open, forcing Garrett to confront it. Like James Sunderland traversing through his Fog World, the hauntings that plague Garrett are desperately trying to remind him of something he just won't reason with. The setting and clever use of horror create mystery and invite you to explore the surrounding land. You're actively changing Garrett's reclusive nature by looking at the horrors that keep trying to invade his home—his thoughts—his memories.
I'm a huge fan of media that doesn't view or sell itself purely as a horror experience. Games that implement horror elements where the nightmare is brewing in the background, waiting for its moment to hit you, are significantly more impactful and realistic than any jumpscare. It's a slow-burning horror that takes its time to jump out at you, and even when it does, you just might miss its entire point. The loneliness of Garrett's setting is enough to create paranoia, for something could be lurking in the woods at any time. Are you truly ever alone, or do you just think you are? While the scenery is enough to lose yourself in, you can't let it distract you—for you never know when something might reach out and touch.
We Harvest Shadows has a demo on Steam, but there's no release date at the time of writing.
The post Destructoid's Indie Gems – Edition 7: Isolation has never looked so beautiful appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 2:07 PM
The East Side Enforcer Evolution allows you to upgrade one of your RBs in EA FC 25 and bring them up to an overall rating of 97 while getting new playstyles and roles.
The latest evolution is available to all for free. You have stat boosts, new roles, and playstyles on offer. This guide will help you narrow down your choices to the best available ones based on the upgrades and requirements.
Table of contents
EA FC 25 East Side Enforcer Evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of East Side Enforcer Evolution in EA FC 25.
EA FC 25 East Side Enforcer Evolution upgrades
There are five levels of upgrades, and here are the requirements.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 3 upgrades
Level 4 upgrades
Level 5 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade conditions
Level 2 upgrade conditions
Level 3 upgrade conditions
Level 4 upgrade conditions
Level 5 upgrade conditions
Best players to use in East Side Enforcer Evolution
Here are some of the best players to use in this evolution.
Your club's evo chain candidates can provide unique solutions exclusive to your Ultimate Team squad.
The post Best players for EA FC 25 East Side Enforcer Evolution appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 2:05 PM
The West Side Wall Evolution allows you to upgrade one of your LBs in EA FC 25, and take them up to an overall rating of 97.
The latest evolution is available to all for free. You have stat boosts, new roles, and playstyles on offer. There are plenty of amazing options to include, so let's take a look at the best possible choices based on the requirements and upgrades.
Table of contents
EA FC 25 West Side Wall Evolution requirements
Here are the requirements of West Side Wall Evolution in EA FC 25.
EA FC 25 West Side Wall Evolution upgrades
There are five levels of upgrades, and here are the requirements.
Level 1 upgrades
Level 2 upgrades
Level 3 upgrades
Level 4 upgrades
Level 5 upgrades
Level 1 upgrade conditions
Level 2 upgrade conditions
Level 3 upgrade conditions
Level 4 upgrade conditions
Level 5 upgrade conditions
Best players to use in West Side Wall Evolution
Here are some of the best players to use in this evolution.
Your club's evo chain candidates can provide unique solutions exclusive to your Ultimate Team squad.
The post Best players for EA FC 25 West Side Wall Evolution appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 1:29 PM
One of the best real-time strategy games, and arguably among the best Warhammer 40K games overall, is Dawn of War. With the launch of its new Definitive Edition, you can now enjoy the OG experience on modern machines without having to install a trillion patches.
Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War Definitive Edition launched on Steam on Aug. 14, 21 years after the original landed on the ashen shores of PC. It brings about a ton of improvements aimed at allowing modern players using all-too-powerful (literally) machines to play the game without a hitch. From updated graphics, widescreen support, and numerous tweaks here and there to make it as comfy as possible on a shiny new PC, the devs at Relic certainly did all they could.
Though there are a lot of caveats to this remaster, such as scuffed upscaling here and there and missing modern features like no WASD camera control, this is by far the best way to enter the OG Dawn of War experience. It's literally plug-and-play, never requiring you to go through a dozen steps to make the game usable in modern times. And, if you're a previous owner of Dawn of War titles on Steam, you get a nice little discount for your fandom and dedication.
Additionally, the remaster brings the entire Dawn of War experience in one big package and for a solid price, allowing newcomers to finally experience what it was being a kid during the golden age of RTS games way back when.
Dawn of War remains among the best RTS titles ever created, and certainly near the top of Warhammer 40K adaptations (though there are so many of those I've lost count). The Definitive Edition only serves to boost that fact, allowing the game to run better, units to have better pathfinding, and the player to have a much-needed modernized experience.
The cinematics, an arguable highlight of the game, also now come in a higher resolution and don't force you to watch them with 3/4 of your screen covered in black bars.
But behind that veil of "quality-of-life modernizations" lies a perfect, amazing real-time strategy title with an incredible story following a band of Space Marines before that storyline ever became as stale as it is today. The Blood Ravens, the chaos, and the carnage are unmatched in RTS storytelling, and I cannot for the life of me express how much I want you to hop onto Dawn of War right now.
There hasn't been a better time to do so since it was first released.
The post You can now play the OG Dawn of War on a modern machine without a million patches appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 1:28 PM
A lot of games come out each year. Some are unique, others are more generic. But rarely do we see a game trying to be everything all at once, and Sony is pushing precisely one like that at us. Enter: Neo Berlin 2087.
With a new trailer unveiled at Gamescom 2025, Neo Berlin 2087 showed off its various sci-fi vibes, which include, among others, a cyberpunk city, a Matrix-like narrative, both third- and first-person combat (akin to many similar games, primarily CoD and Killing Floor and Max Payne), robots, zombies, and so much more.
It's the ultimate everything game, trying its hardest to encapsulate any and all genre conventions. Hell, it even has 2087 in its name, similar to CDPR's RPG, while Neo Berlin evokes Akira and Neo Tokyo, to name a couple.
What's the most confusing bit is that this isn't some venture-capital-backed project or overambitious dream of a former executive like Mindseye was (and trust me, there are a lot of those vibes here as well). No, it's a game being helped by Sony, which makes one think it's a serious, real deal. However, from how it is presented, whether it's its lack of identity or appalling voice acting, I find it hard to believe this will be anything but another Unreal Engine asset flip.
Neo Berlin 2087 is being developed by German-based Elysium Game Studio, and it appears to be its first title. It's being marketed as a "detective thriller," with dual combat perspectives and a story characterized by "Justice, Friendship, Love, Guilt, Sacrifice, and Betrayal." Society is divided by class, cyberpunk corporations run the world, while you're fighting to unravel a "far-reaching conspiracy."
It does sound interesting when put into writing, but given the trailer, we'll see how that'll turn out in the end.
But, honestly, I won't be holding my breath.
The post This upcoming sci-fi RPG looks like Call of Matrix: Mindseye 2077, and I have no idea what to think of it appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 12:53 PM
Madden 26 offers a lot of freedom for every team inside the game when it comes to playbooks, but you can tweak them further to design your playstyle.
Whether you're playing in the default game modes like Exhibition and Friendlies, or specialized modes like Superstar and Franchise, you can make changes in all of them. The exact process differs slightly, so let's take a look at how to change the playbooks available by default.
Table of contents
How to change the default playbooks in Madden 26?
Return to the main settings, and you should be able to use the new playbooks when you play in Exhibition or Friendlies.
How to change playbooks in Madden 26?
To change playbooks in Franchise mode, you'll first need to start a new save. You can then change the offensive and defensive playbooks from team management. You can also tweak them in terms of how the passes and runs will take place.
If you're playing the Superstar mode, you won't have the option to change the playbooks, as this depends on the coaching staff of your franchise. This is the only mode where you have limited freedom in this regard.
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Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 12:38 PM
A tough pick for multiplayer, Wendy is widely considered to be one of the best characters for those looking to tackle The Constant alone in Don't Starve Together. Well, not alone per se, as she will always have Abigail by her side.
But although her sister's high DPS can be game-changing early on, picking the right skills is a must if you wish to awaken the true potential of the twins. To help you with that, here's a full look at Wendy's skill tree in Don't Starve Together, as well as a breakdown of all of her skills for those not in the mood to deal with the game's cryptic descriptions.
Table of contents
Don't Starve Together Wendy skill tree, explained
Thanks to their bond, Wendy's Don't Starve Together skills are focused on empowering Abigail above all else via new commands and Elixirs, as well as providing quality of life and gathering buffs. As we can expect, the picks part of her Lunar and Shadow Affinity Paths are also game-changers and can turn Abigail into a tank if paired with the right combinations. You can check out an overview of Wendy's skill tree below:
All DST Wendy Afinity Path Skills, explained
As mentioned above, Wendy has access to two paths: Lunar Sisterhood and Shadow Sisterhood. You can check out an overview of both below. Keep in mind that while unlocking the Lunar Sisterhood path demands defeating the Celestial Champion, unlocking the Shadow variant will require slaying the Ancient Fuelweaver.
We also highly recommend you check out our Don't Starve Together cooking recipes list to learn how to cook her favourite dish, the Banana Pop.
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Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 12:01 PM
Sometimes, Pokémon Go likes to make quests or items available on Twitch Drops for those who watch a few games or take part in a Pokémon World Championships.
Redeeming those codes, however, and gaining access to them, is far more convoluted than it has any right to be. You not only need to sign up on Twitch, but you also need to link and create multiple accounts to finally get your items.
It all seems a bit over the top, and I keep seeing a bunch of people wondering what to do. I thought I'd create a quick guide, complete with links to places to go, to simplify the process for everyone.
So if you want to earn Pokémon Go Twitch Drops, here are the steps you need to follow:
It's pretty messy overall, but hopefully this helps you complete any tasks you need to do to get your free in-game items or research tasks. Don't be discouraged if you didn't understand what to do prior. It is all pretty confusing.
Most Pokémon Go Twitch Drops revolve around the World Championship, so if you are here during those times, hope you enjoy the games and all the announcements going on during that weekend!
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Destructoid Saturday, August 16, 2025 8:00 AM
Heading into Day 2 of the Pokémon 2025 World Championships, the VGC side is seeing an unprecedented amount of various non-restricted and restricted Pokémon, but the old guard remains at the top of the standings.
To the surprise of no one, Incineroar and Calyrex are both leading in terms of usage going into Day 2, with top trainers utilising both in most of the top rosters. In fact, looking at some of the trainers who have made it into the top 604. It's hard not to see these two Pokémon dominate most teams, even though there are a few surprise picks among them.
The VGC subreddit has actually put together a list of stats going into Day two, later on, showing the usage of certain non-restricted and restricted Pokémon, as well as the top four restricted Duos. Most of it should be pretty expected for most VGC fans, with no real surprises on show this year.
The full list of top non-restricted and restricted Pokémon is as follows:
Top 12 Non-Restricted Pokemon
Top 8 Restricted Pokemon
Top 4 Restricted Duos
Incineroar has been a top Pokémon for some years now due to its great setup potential and overall being a strong pick. The major one difference we are seeing, though, is Pokémon like Landorus and Farigiraf (two Pokémon that people might remember fondly at the top last year) falling out of the top usage in day two, with Chi-Yu and Ursaluna seeing a rise.
Some interesting facts going into day two as well are the Pokémon that only have one total team spot in all the day two players, these include:
So while there have been a lot of expectations, there is still some chance for some upsets as we await to see who makes it to the top eight tomorrow during Championship Sunday. I, for one, would love to see Iker Rodrigo's Ditto team somehow pull off an upset and make the cut. But there are still a lot of games to play going into today.
The post Incineroar and Calyrex unsurprisngly dominate top Pokémon picks at 2025 World Championship day two appeared first on Destructoid. |
