TheGamer - TheGamer Originals

SDCC's Funko Fundays Was The Most Unhinged Experience Of My Life

Eric Switzer — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 00:43:12 GMT

I had never heard of Funko Fundays when my friend, a San Diego Comic-Con veteran, invited me to go this year. Even as he explained it, I struggled to fully grasp what exactly the event was. “It’s like a party and a game show with lots of prizes,” he said. “Audience participation is required. It gets very loud.” Sign me out. The last thing I need is to be surrounded by a few thousand people screaming their heads off for free Captain America Funko Pops. Then he explained what Fundays is really about. “On a bad year, I’ll make enough money to pay for my entire trip, hotel and all,” he explained. “On a good year, I’ll make a few thousand bucks on top.” Sign me back in.

I’m Not Ready To Move On From The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Andrew King — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 18:00:20 GMT

According to my Switch, I've played 105 hours of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom since it came out back in May. If you’re the kind of multiplayer fiend who has thousands of hours in Destiny or Overwatch, that may not sound like much. But, for me — someone who almost exclusively plays single-player games — it’s a lot. The last game I played for that long was Hitman 3 — which is the rare live-service game to get its hooks in me (or, rather, its garrote around my neck). Before that, it hadn't happened since Breath of the Wild in 2017.

Nick Brawl 2 Has All The Signs Of Being A Rushed Product

James Troughton — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 17:30:18 GMT

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl launched in October 2021, and now, less than two years later, a sequel is set to follow. It seems miraculous, especially considering art director Diego Hernández has said 98 percent of the game’s assets are built from scratch. But looking at how the first entry was at launch, I’m not optimistic.

Kingdom Hearts Is Perfect For Disney Lorcana

George Foster — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 15:46:18 GMT

Try as I might to understand what a planeswalker is or what the heck Red/Green means, I’ve never been able to get into tabletop games. Even bringing out a deck of cards at a party makes my brain turn into sludge and my head sink into my hands. Magic: The Gathering has been getting awesome Secret Lair sets based on things I love like Street Fighter and The Walking Dead, but it’s still never been enough to fully dedicate some brain space to it and turn myself into the card boy that I’ve always wanted to be.

I'm Going To Regret Sharing Lorcana With My Kid

Meg Pelliccio — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 15:30:20 GMT

My son is ten years old, and one of the many things I have learned about him is that — much like me — he’s easily swayed by shiny objects. Even if he doesn’t have a personal interest in something, it doesn’t take much for him to become obsessed with it. One surefire way for him to take notice of something is for me to show an interest in it first.

The One Thing This Year's Blockbusters Have In Common, From Oppenheimer To Barbie

Andrew King — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 14:31:19 GMT

Barbie and Oppenheimer made a great (and viral) double feature because the two movies seemed to have nothing in common. One was primarily targeted at women, the other at men. One had a bright pink, plastic aesthetic, the other alternated between muted grays, blacks, and browns and the bright orange of fire. One was a light fantasy comedy, the other was a harrowing true story about becoming death, destroyer of worlds.

Look, I Just Want To Talk About Disney Lorcana's Big Tinker Bell

Stacey Henley — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 14:00:18 GMT

I am no longer participating in this charade. Throughout TheGamer's Lorcana Week I have written a heartfelt summary of why Elsa matters so much to me, looked at the ruleset from a beginner's point of view, experimented with (Elsa-infused) deckbuilding, explored the narrative power of the cards, and written about why the game has so much charm in the first place - and steps it must take to keep it. My colleagues have been helping you all construct a perfect deck, analysing the game, offering their insights after 100 games, landing major interviews with game designers, and having existential crises about magic mirrors. But I can pretend no longer: I just wanna write about Big Tink.

Disney Lorcana's First Chapter Proves Any Character Can Have A Card

Joe Parlock — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 13:00:20 GMT

Disney Lorcana’s First Chapter spans an impressive range in the Disney canon. It would’ve been understandable if Ravensburger stuck with the big names like Frozen and Beauty and the Beast, but instead it decided to include a few deeper cuts, like Robin Hood, The Emperor’s New Groove, and The Three Musketeers.

Unraveling The Mystery Of Disney Lorcana's Floodborn

Eric Switzer — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 18:00:18 GMT

The launch of Disney Lorcana is mere weeks away, and at this point, most of our questions have been answered. There was a lot of mystery surrounding the game when those first seven cards were revealed at last year’s D23 Expo, but in the months that followed we learned all about the Inks and discovered that decks would be limited to just two of them. We saw our first Action card in December, then shortly after that saw all of the products that will be available for the first set. Then, TheGamer got to learn about the story from narrative designer Samantha McFerrin. We also broke the news on the Quick Start Rules, which finally gave fans the info they needed about how the game is played. We even got to reveal a few cards of our own, but don’t tell anyone.

Barbenheimer's Legacy Will Be Diluted Franchises And Trend-Chasing

James Troughton — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 18:00:18 GMT

Barbie and Oppenheimer are more than just an internet meme that exploded into such virality that even the British PM (read: Tory scum) took part—it’s a triumphant return for cinema in a post-pandemic world obsessed with inflated budgets and diminishing returns. It came off the back of the live-action Little Mermaid remake, the lukewarm Indiana Jones legacy sequel, another in a long line of awful Fast and Furious movies, a pseudo-Michael Bay Transformers, and insulting multiversal escapade The Flash, which resurrected the dead with CGI. Cinema has never felt so downtrodden and hopeless, but Barbenheimer brought a semblance of optimism back… until CEOs everywhere immediately stomped it out.

I Am Already Tired Of Mattel's Girl Power Nonsense

Tessa Kaur — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:31:20 GMT

You’ve probably already heard about the upcoming Polly Pocket movie, and that Lily Collins will be starring as lead with Lena Dunham attached to the film for writing and directing. This is just one of several Mattel movies slated for development, including a Daniel Kaluuya-produced, Spike Jonze-inspired Barney, a “grounded and gritty” JJ Abrams-produced Hot Wheels movie, an American Girl family comedy, and far more. Of course Mattel is going full-force into the movie realm – Barbie grossed an unthinkable $380 million worldwide in its first five days in theaters. They’ll be looking to replicate this, as many times as possible, and as often as possible. The world is burnt out on bad superhero movies, so they’ll feed us films about toys instead.

Planning Too Far Ahead Can Be A DM Mistake In Dungeons & Dragons/

Stacey Henley — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 17:01:22 GMT

It's a good thing my addictive personality drove me towards Dungeons & Dragons rather than heroin, otherwise I'd have nothing to write about today. Also I'd be addicted to heroin. Having spent the previous couple of years dabbling in playing D&D and having D&D-adjacent interests (Dragon Age, board games, fantasy stories), the last few months have seen me fall in deep, first trying my hand at DMing then quickly writing my own adventures, and mixing business with pleasure by frequently writing about Dungeons & Dragons and planning the site's coverage - another thing I could not do with heroin. But as I find myself drawn deeper and deeper into the pit of D&D, writing more and more, I realise there's nothing more stressful than other players.

I'm Struggling With Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest FOMO

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 16:00:21 GMT

For months now, I’ve been watching the Final Fantasy 14 community prepare for the first Fan Fest of 2023, which is taking place in Las Vegas this coming weekend. You can be assured that my social media feeds and relevant Discord channels have been abuzz with players preparing their cosplays, making cute little cards and gifts, and generally sharing in their collective excitement.

Apex Legends’ Latest Loba Quest Makes Me Yearn For A Campaign Mode

Ben Sledge — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 15:31:20 GMT

Apex Legends’ lore is a convoluted beast, spanning comics, novels, tweets, and more if you want to get the full picture of its evolving narrative. Even the voice lines that characters say to each other can have ramifications to the ongoing story that Respawn is trying to tell. There’s no good way to keep up with it all, and Respawn’s own lore compendium is solely internal at present. But the best elements of Respawn’s storytelling come when it gives us a playable level in the game with the sole purpose of telling stories and fleshing out its characters.

Defeating Ganondorf Has Never Been More Satisfying Than It Is In The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

Andrew King — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 15:00:21 GMT

This article contains spoilers for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Why Elsa Is Disney Lorcana's Most Important Card

Stacey Henley — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 14:00:19 GMT

If you've been reading anything I’ve written about Disney Lorcana during TheGamer's Lorcana Week, or indeed before it started, you'll have read a lot about Frozen’s Elsa. And if you haven't, you obviously know who she is anyway because she's probably the most famous Disney character of this century. She's not technically a Princess, but nevertheless acts as the lynchpin in my various hypothetical Princess Decks.

Disney Lorcana's Evasive Keyword Isn't As Scary As It Seems

Eric Switzer — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 21:18:22 GMT

Come on in y'all, have a seat. Lorcana 101 is now in session. I’ve spent the last five weeks smashing the starter decks into each other and studying the card list, and now that the entirety of The First Chapter has been revealed, I’m excited to be able to share some of the things I’ve learned. The first lesson is about Evasive, a keyword that immediately struck me as an especially powerful one when it was first revealed. Evasive characters can only be challenged by other Evasive characters, which makes them particularly difficult to deal with if you aren’t prepared.

Disney Lorcana's Story, Explained

Eric Switzer — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 20:06:20 GMT

With the launch of the Disney Lorcana companion app earlier this week, The First Chapter’s full list of 204 cards has finally been revealed. Players and collectors can now examine the entire roster, practice constructing decks, and build their wish list of most wanted cards ahead of the game’s September 1 launch (August 18 for local game stores in the US). Soon, the game will be in our hands, and we’ll all take our first steps into the magical realm of Lorcana, follow the call of the Great Illuminary, and become ink-wielding Illumineers. If that sounds like gibberish to you, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about the story of Disney Lorcana.

I Started Baldur's Gate 3 In Early Access And Regret It

Jade King — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 20:00:22 GMT

Of all the big games coming out this year, I didn’t expect Baldur’s Gate 3 of all things to get me so damn excited. I’m normally a fickle bitch when it comes to western fantasy, with many of my colleagues often badgering me for never playing Dragon Age or seeing all of the Lord of the Rings films. I’m getting around to them, I promise, it’s just taking me several decades.

Disney Lorcana's The First Chapter Belongs To The Villains

Eric Switzer — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 18:59:57 GMT

One of my favorite cards in Disney Lorcana’s The First Chapter is Captain Hook, Thinking A Happy Thought. Even though the card has lore text, it tells an entire story just with its art; in Peter Pan, the curmudgeonly captain is frequently thwarted by Peter, largely because he has the advantage of flight. Being stuck on the ground while Peter torments him from the sky eats at Hook, reminding him of his lost youth and the freedom that went with it. When he calls Peter a coward for flying away during their duel, he’s clearly betraying his jealousy. Captain Hook will never fly. He has no pixie dust, and he certainly doesn’t have any happy thoughts.

My Biggest Surprise Of The Year Is Pikmin 4

Andrew King — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 17:00:19 GMT

I picked up Pikmin 4 on a whim. When I was buying The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, I realized I could scoop up one additional game for only 30 bucks thanks to Nintendo’s 2-for-1 voucher which lets you get two full price titles for only $100. Given that TOTK is Nintendo’s first and (for now, at least) only $70 game, it was an easy decision to make and Pikmin 4 being the only other unreleased game on the list made it an easy choice for content purposes. People like to read about new games and this deal guaranteed I’d have a new game to write about.

The Oppenheimer Discourse Has Me Thinking About My Favourite Indie Game About War

Tessa Kaur — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 16:16:20 GMT

Oppenheimer has been a very divisive movie for those without baseline media literacy. Some are boycotting it because it doesn’t feature the Japanese people directly affected by the weapons of mass destruction that J. Robert Oppenheimer created, but I think it’s clear we’re seeing the world through Oppenheimer’s eyes and that indicates his lack of willingness to fully face the atrocity that he abetted. Others inexplicably believe it is government propaganda, which is a wild take on a movie that is explicitly about finding a way to live with yourself after doing something so objectively horrible that it has irreparably changed the course of history.

Disney Lorcana Would Have Changed The World When I Was A Kid

Jade King — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 16:00:19 GMT

Trading card games were banned in my primary school (elementary for you yanks). Even the rural wastelands of Wales couldn’t escape the allure of Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh. The former was banned before my time, but Konami’s effort was all the rage just as I was old enough to appreciate the draw of collecting rare cards and using them to battle against my friends. We would gather behind one of those shoddy looking temporary cabins and sit down by the steps with our decks in tow, ready to whittle down our life points in pursuit of victory. Well, mostly we just looked at the cool pictures and never bothered playing by the rules. Or at least used the anime’s logic.

John Arne Riise Will Save EA Sports FC 24

Ben Sledge — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:30:19 GMT

As another year of FIFA comes to an end, I once again try my hand at making a Liverpool past and present team. And once again, I run into the age old problem of not having enough defenders. I label this the Alan Hansen Problem, in that we could really use one of our greatest ever defenders being added to the game in the form of an Icon card so that I didn’t have to waste so many ‘present’ spots on my defense.

Everything Revealed In MTG's MagicCon Barcelona Preview Panel

Joe Parlock — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:23:28 GMT

Wizards of the Coast has given us our best look yet at the final three Magic: The Gathering releases of 2023, with extended previews for Wilds of Eldraine, The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, and Universes Beyond: Doctor Who.

Baldur's Gate 3 Could Have The Trans Character Creator We've Been Waiting For

Jade King — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:01:18 GMT

Much song and dance was made about Cyberpunk 2077’s character creator ahead of its 2020 release. It claimed to accurately represent transgender bodies in its dystopian future where the wonders of technology allowed one’s form to shift and change thanks to the endless powers of capitalism.

Star Wars And Marvel Shouldn't Be Anywhere Near Disney Lorcana

Stacey Henley — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:30:18 GMT

As the launch of Disney Lorcana rapidly approaches, there has been a lot of speculation about the next chapter of the game. Humans are inherently greedy, and so we're always thinking about the next thing. These new cards are great! When are we getting more? Lorcana had some great reveals in the run-up to the entire unveiling (TheGamer's reveal of Rapunzel being my unbiased favourite), but now that we know what all the cards are, attention has turned to what will come next. Disney has a deep bench, and there are classic songs and characters absent, but amongst all the requests, there's one I have above all - please keep Star Wars and Marvel out of it.

Call Of Duty's Whisker Tango Bundle Is The Perfect Kind Of Ridiculous

Jade King — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:00:20 GMT

Call of Duty players are outraged that Activision has decided to introduce a humanoid feline monstrosity into the live service shooter. The Whisker Tango Bundle is now available on the Warzone store and bags you a couple of horrifying new operators alongside a selection of equipment, charms and cosmetics. It’s par for the course, but some think the game has gone too far.

All I Want From Lorcana Is The Eighth Doctor

James Troughton — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 12:37:47 GMT

We recently did a feature for Lorcana Week asking who we at TheGamer most wanted to see get a card from across Disney’s evergrowing catalogue of IP–my answer was Jules Winnfield from Pulp Fiction because I’m a prick, to which Tabletop Editor Joe Parlock DM’d me, “You’re a nightmare I swear to god”.

It’s Always Fun To See An Old Console In A New Game Like Pikmin 4

Andrew King — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:31:19 GMT

Pikmin 4 is all about collecting treasure. Of that treasure, it turns out the thing I treasure most is my Cobalt Blue Game Boy Advance SP.

I Tried Using A PS VR2 Meditation App And Got Stressed Out

Mike Drucker — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:00:20 GMT

There is nothing harder for me than trying to relax. Maybe losing a loved one, but who knows? While my loathsome body yearns to never move, my brain is like a pinball machine created by some sneaksby who hates me. Imagine having a roommate in your head who yells at you about dishes and then looks over your shoulder as you do those dishes telling you that you’re wasting your life. Fortunately, I’ve met with medical professionals and specialists who’ve helped diagnose and improve these issues. Unfortunately, they don’t take my insurance so that’s fucking stressful, too.

Disney Lorcana Has The Old Disney Magic

Stacey Henley — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 16:31:19 GMT

One of my favourite things about Disney Lorcana is how pure it all feels. I’m sure it will make lots of money, with millions of cards printed as people in expensive suits sit in boardrooms and discuss manufactured scarcity and player retention rates, but versions of that are true for everything you loved as a kid. The Little Mermaid exists because someone at Disney in the '80s thought the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale could be made into a movie that would be a hit at the box office and lend itself to toys, merchandise, and VHS spin-offs. That's just the way the sausage gets made.

How One Indie Game Helped Me Confront My Traumatic Past

Jade King — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 16:15:18 GMT

Content warning: This article contains mentions of rape and mental illness.

Belle, Inventive Engineer Is The Key To Disney Lorcana's Dreamborn Cards

Stacey Henley — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 16:00:21 GMT

My biggest fear for Disney Lorcana when it was first revealed was that the cards would just end up being screenshots taken from the movies. What the cards look like doesn't impact how the game plays - just ask the guy who recreated Magic: The Gathering from memory while in prison - but relying on old screenshots would dilute the affection the game had for its characters, and in turn, the affection I had for it. I quickly got bored of The Simpsons: Tapped Out because it relied on soundbites from the show rather than trying to tell a new story. Thankfully, Lorcana features all new art, all perfectly curated. As TheGamer's Lorcana Week draws to a close, there is one in particular card and character I want to highlight.

Starfield Needs Its Own Version Of Skyrim's Wabbajack

Vaspaan Dastoor — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 16:00:20 GMT

One of the many reasons behind Skyrim's immense popularity is that it allows you to play as a character of any alignment you want. Your skillset, armour, and weapons will help play as any of these alignments, but isn't only related to your build, with it also shaped by the decisions you make in the game.

It Sucks That Side Quest Progress Doesn’t Transfer In Diablo 4 Seasons

Tessa Kaur — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:30:19 GMT

Diablo 4 has a surprisingly strong hold on me, considering it’s my first Diablo game and I’ve never really been into the ARPG genre at all. I was pushed to finally wrap up the campaign by the fast approach of Diablo’s first season, so I could dive head-first into the Season of the Malignant. Speaking to the developers about the season only made me more interested in jumping in, but since I did, I’ve been finding myself getting more and more annoyed. Everywhere, people are asking me for help, and I’m going out of my way to offer assistance. I consider myself a relatively helpful person, and it doesn’t really bother me to do these side quests, except for the fact that I’ve done a ton of them once before already.

Pokemon Sleep Is Actually Helping Me Sleep

Josh Coulson — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:01:19 GMT

Pokemon has gripped the world and changed the way we do things on so many occasions during its 25 years on top, so it should really come as no surprise that the latest project from The Pokemon Company to take everyone by storm is an app that gamifies sleep. Pokemon Sleep is a tracker that turns your Zs into Pokemon interactions, and even though no one involved with its creation wants to suggest it's a health app, because it most definitely is not, Pokemon Sleep has actually been helping me sleep.

Diablo 4's Equipment Vendors Are Completely Pointless

Tessa Kaur — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:30:20 GMT

I recently roped a friend into playing Diablo 4 with me, but he made the ill-advised decision of sprinting through the campaign so he could get to Season One by the time it started two days later. Because he was short on time, he asked me for pro tips to make his rushed journey a little easier. After listing off a couple of the basics, I added, “Don’t sell junk equipment, it makes more sense to salvage it.”

Please Don't Go Into Armored Core 6 Expecting A Souls Game

Jade King — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:00:18 GMT

Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon previews arrived earlier this week, and as expected, the majority of press are trying their darnedest to compare the mech shooter with FromSoftware’s more popular efforts. With Elden Ring taking over the world last year and Dark Souls being a long-standing gaming institution, it’s no surprise that one of the developer’s hidden gems is taking on a bunch of unnecessary baggage. It doesn’t necessarily deserve these expectations placed upon it.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Will Be Fine, Because The Rest Of The Year Is Low On Movies

Andrew King — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:31:18 GMT

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One had a great worldwide opening, before promptly getting swept off the board by the combined box office might of Barbie and Oppenheimer.

How To Build A Princess Deck In Disney Lorcana

Stacey Henley — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 17:01:18 GMT

When I think of Disney, I think of the Princesses. They’re in a league of their own for how iconic they are, not only in their own right as legendary movie characters, but as symbols for Disney itself. They rank as highly as Mickey as representations of Disney’s movie magic, and collectively are probably responsible for creating more Disney fans than any other group within the House of Mouse.Naturally, they already have a lot of Lorcana cards.

A Newcomer's Reaction To The Disney Lorcana Rules

Stacey Henley — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 16:31:15 GMT

I first fell in love with Disney Lorcana because it has pretty pictures. Exactly how it worked, or even what it really was, didn't matter to me - it was a shiny new thing and amongst its first things revealed were Stitch as a rockstar and a mystical picture of Elsa in a silk hood with ice magic twirling around her fingertips. I didn't need to know anything else - I was in. I kicked off TheGamer's Lorcana Week by discussing how and why the game would become my first TCG, but that was far more about vibes and connection to the game than actually playing it. Now that it approaches, however, I really should knuckle down and figure out how it plays.

Futurama’s Return Has The Same Old Problems

Stacey Henley — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 16:15:17 GMT

Futurama’s premise used to be a simple one - it was about a guy from the turn of the millenium who was transported a thousand years in the future. Celebrities are kept alive in jars! Robots drink beer! They call baseball blernsball! Oh the fun they had. But after it returned from its second cancellation, it suddenly became about a guy from the turn of the millenium who was transported 1,000 years in the future. That’s a subtle but distinct difference - no longer just a wacky picture of the future but a strained satire of our specific era.

The Existential Horror Of Disney Lorcana's Magic Mirror

Joe Parlock — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 16:01:18 GMT

I wasn’t expecting to have a philosophical nightmare thanks to Disney Lorcana. It’s a colourful card game where I can make Tigger and Cinderella fight, and maybe find a fun card of Stitch dressed up as Elvis Presley. There shouldn’t be any room for pondering the status of life or how murky the classifications between the animate and inanimate can be, and yet here we are.

Final Fantasy 16 Is Going To Age Terribly

Jade King — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 15:31:17 GMT

Final Fantasy 16 is an excellent game. However, it’s also a game that’s trying to be so many different things that it never quite solidifies its own identity. Naoki Yoshida made it clear he asked the entire development team to watch Game of Thrones during production, so there was a nuanced understanding about the sort of characters, atmosphere, and world the RPG hoped to depict. Square Enix seeked to create a game with global appeal that honored the series’ history while aiming to provide an experience that capitalised on the status quo.

Barbie's Allan Is One Of My New Favourite Portrayals Of Nontraditional Masculinity

Tessa Kaur — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 15:00:20 GMT

I love how contemporary media, especially blockbuster movies, have been giving us so many examples of what it means to be a man in modern society. I’ve written about Everything Everywhere All at Once more times than anybody cares to read about, and that’s partly because its portrayal of Waymond and radical empathy touched me so deeply. It was a nuanced portrayal of a man who refused to subscribe to traditionally masculine values, who chose not to fight with his fists but with understanding and forgiveness. In a world increasingly dominated by men indoctrinated into the idea of having to be alphas to succeed, these portrayals are all the more important.

How Did Exoprimal Make Dinosaurs Boring?

Ben Sledge — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 14:30:19 GMT

It should be impossible to make dinosaurs boring. I’d watch hours of David Attenborough describing how a Stegosaurus chews its plants to aid digestion, so firing a sniper rifle at an attacking T-Rex should be the most fun I could ever have. Dinosaurs are cool by default, why do you think Jurassic Park is considered such a classic movie? Steven Spielberg may be an all-time great director and Jeff Goldblum may be a smoking hot fountain of chaos, but the dinosaurs are the real stars of that film.

Games Workshop Is Finally Retiring Space Marines

Ben Sledge — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:16:17 GMT

If you know one thing about Warhammer 40,000, it’s likely a big, blue Space Marine. The Space Marines, more specifically the Ultramarines, are the Pikachu of Warhammer’s science-fiction wargame, minus the ears and plus a rifle filled with ammunition that explodes on impact. Don’t give Pikachu one of those.

Three Years On, The Queen’s Gambit Finally Has An Official Chess Video Game

Ben Sledge — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 16:00:21 GMT

Rockwater Studio pitched a Queen’s Gambit chess game to Netflix before Netflix Games was even a thing. In fact, Rockwater found out about the ambitious project attached to the streaming service minutes before it was due to pitch its idea for the game. With that new information in hand, the studio’s head of marketing Jamie Brayshaw ditched all his meticulously prepared slides and pitch notes to grasp this new opportunity. His flexible approach worked, and Rockwater was working with Netflix.

You Can Use Pokemon Go’s Master Ball More Than Once

Ben Sledge — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:30:19 GMT

When it comes to Pokemon, the Master Ball is nearly as iconic as Pikachu. In a game series that changes so much from generation to generation, it’s one of the few constants. We have an evil team set on committing animal rights abuses, a hot professor directing us on our adventure, and a single Master Ball that will catch any Pokemon in the game. Not even Pikachu is in as many main series games as the Master Ball, and the yellow rat is Game Freak’s most recognisable mascot.

Pokemon Sleep Is Changing Shiny Colours And It Could Have Huge Repercussions

Ben Sledge — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:00:19 GMT

Pokemon Sleep is a weird game. After such a long wait, it’s finally here and all I have to say about it is, yep, it’s definitely here. It measures your sleep and gamifies your health, but I’m not entirely sure it’s actually a game. I have a lot of questions about what the game is doing with my sleep data, why Pokemon Go needs that data if it’s connected, and what the point of it all is, but I risk getting too philosophical for this lighthearted opinion feature.

Report: Zenimax Is Doing "Nothing" To Combat Anti-LGBTQ+ Bigotry In ESO

James Troughton — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 14:48:12 GMT

Last month to mark the end of Pride, several hundred players celebrated queerness in The Elder Scrolls Online with a defiant display, marching through Morrowind together. The celebration was organised by Locke and fellow streamers, but supported by developer Zenimax who provided copies of Necrom to giveaway and an official blog post detailing the times of the parades and who was holding them.

Blue Protocol Hands-On: Amazon’s Next Big MMO

Harry Alston — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 13:00:20 GMT

Amazon Games has targeted MMO production and publishing in a huge way. Leveraging the pulling power of Twitch to promote its titles, both Lost Ark and New World broke records on Steam and were, for an admittedly short-lived period of time, two of the largest games in the world. Blue Protocol is Amazon’s next offering - the upcoming anime MMORPG has diverse class customization and a smooth action combat system up there with the best in its genre. Developed by Bandai Namco, Amazon Games are handling the publishing of the game in the West following the release of the game in Japan in early 2023. I have no doubt that this will be another massive launch for Amazon.

I've Played 100 Games With The Lorcana Starter Decks, Here's What I Learned

Eric Switzer — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 12:06:37 GMT

I don’t know what’s harder: waiting for Disney Lorcana to launch so you can finally start collecting cards and playing games with your friends, or having a whole bunch of Lorcana cards you can’t tell anyone about. I’m sure no one is going to feel bad for the guy that got the starter decks early, but trust me when I tell you sitting on this info and not being able to play with others has been torture. The only reason I didn’t lose it and start screaming about Mufasa and the Mad Hatter to anyone that would listen is the fact that I have a wonderful wife that loves Disney, and due to my persistence, now loves Lorcana too.

The Barbenheimer Double Feature Really Does Work As Intended

Tessa Kaur — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 17:30:20 GMT

I didn’t realise that people weren’t all fully serious about doing Barbenheimer double features until I started asking my friends if they would do one with me. “I am almost thirty, I am not sitting in a cinema for five hours on a single day,” one said. “Are you insane? I hate opening weekends,” said another. Here I was, thinking that everybody wanted to do this with me, like some kind of fool.

Starfield Is Going To Be Lonely In Ways Skyrim Never Could Be

Jade King — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 17:00:21 GMT

Bethesda Game Studios has been honest about the fact that many of Starfield’s thousands of planets will be relatively devoid of life. Larger cities and civilian settlements will be found on specific planets likely pertaining to the main quest and major side missions, while every explorable planet off the beaten path will be down to you to discover. Certain players have expressed dismay about the potential of most planets not being worth a visit, but for me, it’s the opposite. I cannot wait to stand upon daunting plains of extraterrestrial terrain with little idea of what awaits me. To bask in the solitude of an alien world that doesn’t belong to me.

Virtual Console Is Long Dead In The World Of Remasters And Remakes

Jade King — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:30:19 GMT

A few weeks ago Nintendo shadow dropped Pikmin 1+2 HD onto the eShop alongside a demo for Pikmin 4. Suddenly, two forgotten GameCube classics had a new home on Switch with a handful of modern bells and whistles. Except there was a catch - they each cost $30.

Barbie Would Make The Perfect Saints Row Game

Jade King — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:16:19 GMT

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie is an insightful examination of the patriarchal society we exist within and the unfair expectations placed upon men and women in the modern world, but it’s also extremely pink and a jolly good time. Editor-in-Chief Stacey Henley has already written about how the film is far more than anti-men in its intentions, so it’s up to me to carry the silly torch on behalf of TheGamer. As Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling explore the sunny beaches and gaudy artificiality of Los Angeles, the couple are blissfully ignorant of their surroundings and immediately find themselves in a variety of unrealistic hijinks.

Don’t Sleep On The Best Straight-To-Netflix Movie Of The Year

Tessa Kaur — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:00:22 GMT

I’m as aware as anyone that Netflix doesn’t typically release excellent movies. I’d go so far as to say the majority of straight-to-Netflix movies are mediocre to bad, and I now consider Netflix movies without a theatrical release immediate red flags. During my semi-monthly movie night with friends, we trawl through every streaming service available to us in an attempt to find just one film that looks good. It can be difficult sometimes, especially once you get into the Netflix exclusives.

How Disney Lorcana Became My First TCG

Stacey Henley — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 15:30:33 GMT

Cards have always been something of a blind spot for me. They should fall right into the sweet spot - video games and trading card games have a lot of crossover in audience and subculture, I like rules and collecting things, I'm a big fan of Pokemon, and I love both traditional board games and more complex tabletop adventures. But cards have always eluded me.

Who Does TheGamer Want To See In Disney Lorcana?

TheGamer Staff — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 15:01:25 GMT

One of the most exciting things about Disney Lorcana has been the speculation. Ever since it was revealed last September, we’ve been guessing which characters could appear, and which ones we’d really like to see.

Merlin, Self-Appointed Mentor Is The Hidden Gem Of Disney Lorcana's Art

Joe Parlock — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:30:24 GMT

Disney isn’t known for being the best creative collaborator. It is incredibly protective over its own properties, even dictating exactly how the famous three circles of the Mickey shape can be displayed. That projects like Who Killed Roger Rabbit, Kingdom Hearts, and now Disney Lorcana can even happen is a miracle.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters Just Keeps Getting Better

Ben Sledge — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:00:22 GMT

I didn’t expect much from Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters. I’ll play any Warhammer game, from Ork shmups to RTS classics, but few keep me hooked as much as this XCOM-like from Complex Games. I fully expected to still be on board the Darktide train right now, but instead I’m directing little Grey Knights across the virtual battlefield to purge the rot of Nurgle from every planet I come across.

No, The Barbie Movie Is Not Anti-Men

Stacey Henley — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 14:00:22 GMT

Barbenheimer is upon us. The pink bomb exploded in theatres, marking the best weekend for cinemas since Avengers: Endgame, as well as giving us the first time in history that two movies opened above $80 million together. The natural phenomenon of the pair propelled both to new heights, with audiences showing up in droves for something new. Both movies are very different, and that’s part of why Barbenheimer even became a thing in the first place. But they share one deep similarity: they are grossly misunderstood movies.

There Is No Perfect Race To Play In Dungeons & Dragons

Stacey Henley — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:43:47 GMT

A big question beginners will ask about playing Dungeons & Dragons, after 'why are you making me play this with you?' and 'how long will this take?' is 'what race should I be?'. At that point there's a conversation about how we don't say 'race' we say 'species' but that everyone's still getting adjusted to that, and eventually we face down the question - what species should you be? If you've come here looking for a definitive answer, I can't offer one, and that's because there isn't one. But it's still an interesting question to consider, no matter what your level of experience with the game is.

Playing Every New Game Will Only Burn You Out

James Troughton — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 17:30:19 GMT

Those who frequent social media are bound to feel FOMO at some point. If everyone is raving about the newest game, you’ll be inclined to pick it up so you can be a part of the conversation. But another new game just came out last week, and there’s another coming a week from now. All three will leave you on the sidelines if you don’t scramble to play them, but games are growing bigger with each new release—two of the ones I just mentioned are 60-hour RPGs. It’s a horrible cycle that ends only one way—burnout. You’re gonna turn a hobby into a chore and lose all love for it.

My Husband Keeps Ruining My Pokemon Sleep Research With His Snoring

Meg Pelliccio — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 17:00:22 GMT

I am not a big mobile gamer, but what I definitely am is easily sucked into the latest trends. Pokemon Go was the mobile game I played the longest, only losing interest after a good few years as new features were added and updates proved overwhelming, while my passion for Peridot fizzled out in mere days. The latest to hook me is Pokemon Sleep, a game I’ll gladly embrace as a serial nap-taker.

Everything You Should Do Before Playing Baldur’s Gate 3

Mike Drucker — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 16:31:19 GMT

Hey, everyone! You folks having a good summer? Everybody finish all those big, incredible games we’ve been playing the last few months? Wow! Zelda! Final Fantasy! So much to do in the incredible world of games we could just play forever! And that’s too bad because beep beep, it’s new game time, assholes. You better start running your Barbarian ass around Sanctuary on the double because there’s another game coming that we’re all going to have to pretend we finished when we talk about it: Baldur’s Gate 3.

Why Are We So Obsessed With Kazuma Kiryu's Virginity?

Jade King — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 15:30:21 GMT

Kazuma Kiryu is still a virgin. Rumours began spreading after a new Like A Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name trailer hinted that Kiryu had not only been around the block a few times, but was maybe even engaged and could have started a family. Fans across the world came to mourn in response. A man, who for years has been considered a precious cinnamon roll too pure for this world, had gone and done the nasty while we weren’t looking.

My Parents Were Anti-Gaming, Here’s How I Got Into The Hobby

Ben Sledge — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 15:00:19 GMT

My parents weren’t against video games per se, but they didn’t really understand them. It was the ‘90s, so the media was fervent with warnings about the horrors of ‘screen time’ turning your kids’ eyes square. Nobody understood the silent revolution that home electronics was undergoing; my parents’ generation grew up without mobile phones at all, let alone the omniscient devices that were about to hit our pockets over the next decade.

Fallout Developer Nearly Made A Lord Of The Rings Game

Ben Sledge — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 14:30:20 GMT

Lord of the Rings games are hit and miss, with the highs of Battle for Middle-earth being offset by the incredible lows of Conquest, where you play as Sauron taking over Middle-earth in an alternate universe where Frodo fails to destroy the Ring. That’s a cracking idea, sadly let down by the gameplay that Edge described as “ceaseless button-mashing” in its 2/10 review.

It's Where’s Waldo?, But Waldo Is Bees In This Relaxing Indie Game

Andrew King — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 14:01:19 GMT

The creator of I Commissioned Some Bees 0 did what the title says. This tiny free indie game offers 10 pieces of art commissioned by developer Follow The Fun, each hiding dozens of bees in plain sight.

Saw X And Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie Will Be My Barbenheimer

Josh Coulson — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 18:00:21 GMT

The big weekend is finally here - the weekend Barbie and Oppenheimer release in cinemas on the very same day. Some of you might have already seen both by the time you read this, meticulously planning your day so you can squeeze in both, potentially with activities before and after that pair nicely with your viewings. Brunch before Barbie and then a dark room with a whisky and a cigarette after Oppenheimer would be my running order of choice.

That One Week In October Will Kill Us All

Josh Coulson — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 17:01:18 GMT

There are always busy periods on the video game calendar, usually during Summer and the holidays. However, the pandemic has resulted in release dates bottlenecking to a more extreme level than usual. In February 2022 alone we got Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, and Dying Light 2, and last month we juggled Final Fantasy 16, Street Fighter 6, and Diablo 4.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons And Doom Eternal Are The Original Barbenheimer

Jade King — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 16:30:19 GMT

Barbie and Oppenheimer are finally here. The cinematic duo have dominated popular culture for months with their dual release dates and divergent subject matter. One is a film about the devastation of nuclear power, and the other is Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Both movies are already hits too, with critical reviews and word of mouth incredibly positive ahead of release and as audiences rush into screens for the first time. With two tickets booked for this weekend, I can’t wait to lose myself watching them back-to-back.

Final Fantasy XIV Community Spotlight: Esprit's Way Off Broadway Show

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 16:00:19 GMT

There’s no business like show business, even in the magical world of Final Fantasy 14. Macro dance troupe Esprit’s Way Off Broadway show treated us to numbers from all of our favourite musicals — and seriously, how much further can you get from Broadway than the digital world of Eorzea?

These Developers Are Making Games For The Love Of Art, Not For Money

Tessa Kaur — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 15:30:20 GMT

In the last few years, the use of generative artificial intelligence in the gaming industry has rapidly increased. Unity announced AI features to make developing games with its software easier (meaning it’ll probably repurpose existing stolen art and assets), games are increasingly using AI-generated art (such as High on Life), and voice actors are having their voices stolen and used in videos and mods without their consent.

What's Going On With The Immortals: Fenyx Rising Sequel?

Stacey Henley — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 15:00:19 GMT

Immortals: Fenyx Rising wasn't that good, which might be an odd thing to say about a game I'm clamouring for a sequel to, but it's true. Immortals: Fenyx Rising was only okay, but for a mid-budget open-world new IP with some fresh ideas, made by a studio most used to developing DLC packs and whose origins stemmed from a bug in Assassin's Creed's code, 'only okay' is a solid benchmark. I think the first Mass Effect game is only okay, and I think the second is the greatest video game ever to exist. Wonderful things can start from only okay. Immortals is perhaps not at Mass Effect's heights, and I doubt the sequel will reach Mass Effect 2's, but still, it deserves another attempt.

19 Years Later, The EA Spouse Still Has A Point

Ben Sledge — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 14:00:19 GMT

Game development has changed drastically over the past two decades. Development times and budgets have both skyrocketed, with series that formerly promised annual entries now spending more than five years on their sequels. Cyberpunk 2077 is arguably the most famous example of ballooning scope, being announced eight years prior to its release and a decade before its most playable versions hit current-gen consoles.

Diogo Jota Explains How IRL Football Knowledge Improves His FIFA Gameplay

Ben Sledge — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 10:00:20 GMT

“Every time we travel for away matches, I take the PlayStation with me,” Liverpool forward Diogo Jota tells me. “It makes time go smoothly, and keeps me entertained.” I’m wondering how he’s able to compete at such a high level in both football and esports, considering most pros in either arena dedicate their entire lives to mastering just one game. “This year I was the only player that was playing in the Champion’s League and the eChampion’s League,” he says with a smile.

Exoprimal Is A Return To Capcom's Dark Days

James Troughton — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 20:01:18 GMT

Digging through Capcom’s library in the 2010s is like looking at old tweets you made when you were 16. If they weren’t problematic, then damn were they embarrassing. It started with Resident Evil 6 in 2012—the series that founded survival horror finally shit the bed with a straight-to-DVD action movie vibe and shooting that felt like you were using Nerf pellets. 2014 then ushered in Dead Rising 4, where Capcom threw everything that made the first three great to the side and gutted co-op in favour of a grittier game as hollow as an empty box. 2016 marked the end of this streak of misses with Street Fighter 5, which had a barebones launch so bad, it lost 75 percent of its player base in mere months.

We're All Going To Play Stealth Archer Again In Starfield, Aren't We?

James Troughton — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:30:18 GMT

Starfield’s character creator looks incredible, with sprinkles of Fallout: New Vegas and Oblivion, making it far more in-depth than Skyrim’s and Fallout 4’s options. That means we can make some truly unique builds to explore the galaxy with, rather than defaulting to safe, tried and tested formulas. But let’s be honest - we’re all gonna make a stealth archer again.

I Need A Modern Zelda-Like

Stacey Henley — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:30:18 GMT

If I was to say to you, as I already have via the headline, that I wanted more Zelda-likes, you'd probably look at me and cross your eyes while swirling your finger around next to your ear, then realise that might be seen as ableist so sheepishly stop doing that while still thinking I'm very stupid. It's true, on the indie scene, we are drowning in Zelda-likes. Tunic is the most notable one in recent years, but many titles have been built around 'what if Zelda, but we make it?'. I still think we need a real contender to rise into the gap created by Zelda leaving its roots behind, but it's where Zelda has moved to that most interests me today.

Exoprimal Takes Way Too Long To Show Its True Colours

Jade King — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 17:00:16 GMT

Exoprimal isn’t your typical hero shooter. While I wasn’t kind to the game in my review, I am sticking with Capcom’s flawed live-service effort to see exactly where the future updates and developing story takes me. It’s already going to strange places, although I’m unsure its bold diversion from industry trends is doing it any favours when the fundamentals are so lacking.

Warrior Nun’s Return Is A Victory For Sapphic Representation

Sophie Ulanoff — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:45:18 GMT

After Warrior Nun was unceremoniously cancelled by Netflix in December 2022 after the release of its second season, the SaveWarriorNun movement was born from the cult show’s ashes.

Tears Of The Kingdom Is Too Afraid To Show Us Link's Balls

Jade King — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:30:17 GMT

Gamers are horny. Millennials and Zoomers are less prudish than the older generation when it comes to openly expressing their sexuality, which means the internet is home to thirst traps, horny posting, and frank conversations about the fictional characters we develop an attraction towards. Inevitably, we also end up touching on their balls, or a notable lack of them in the case of Tears of the Kingdom’s Link. He’s trans in my head so it makes sense.

David Hayter Says It's "Far Past Time" Unions Protected Voice Actors And Animators

Rhiannon Bevan — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:16:14 GMT

David Hayter has good reason to spend so much time raising awareness for ongoing strike action in Hollywood. For decades, Hayter has worked in multiple fields across the entertainment industry. Now, two of them - acting and writing - are embroiled in high-profile industrial action, fighting back against studios that think their work can be replaced by AI.

A Group Of WoW Redditors Successfully Trolled A News Website That Uses AI To Generate Articles

Tessa Kaur — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:15:16 GMT

Ever since I started writing for TheGamer, I’ve been accused of being artificial intelligence several times, despite the fact that I regularly write about how AI is hurting the industries we most care about. Every time I publish a take that readers don’t particularly like, I inevitably receive an email saying my work is ‘rage-baiting trash’ that’s ‘clearly written by an AI’. This isn’t actually true. I am very much a real person, and so are all my co-workers, as far as I know. AI couldn’t generate our completely inappropriate Slack chats, and thank god for that.

King Kong's New Games Look Terrible, So Play The Old One Instead

Jade King — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:00:20 GMT

Terrible licensed games are coming back into fashion. Gollum was trash, there’s an awful-looking Bumblebee game on the horizon, and now King Kong is joining in on the fun with a new title from GameMill Entertainment. Judging from the reveal trailer, it’s a third-person action experience with big insects, big dinosaurs, and a big gorilla beating the crap out of them all. It sounds good on paper, but looks a bit rubbish.

Commander Masters Visual Spoiler: Every Card Revealed – MTG

Ryan Hay — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:45:17 GMT

Masters sets are some of the most powerful Magic: The Gathering sets around. Full of reprints of all kinds of staples and powerhouses, shockingly we've gone this long without getting one specific for the game's most popular format, Commander.

Stardew Valley's Continuous Updates Are A Testament To Its Greatness

Jade King — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:30:20 GMT

Few games have the staying power of Stardew Valley. Since its release in 2016 the farming life simulator has sold millions of copies and been ported to every platform imaginable. This success will likely be replicated in the next project from developer ConcernedApe: Haunted Chocolatier. For now though, Stardew continues to receive lots of love through a constant audience of players new and old, alongside new content updates and a bustling modding scene. Seven years later, and few games in the world can equal its grandiose appeal.

Don't Assume Everyone Will Be An Elephant In Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Stacey Henley — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:01:19 GMT

When Super Mario Bros. Wonder was revealed at the most recent Nintendo Direct, the one thing everyone was interested in was Elephant Mario. After eating an elephant shaped fruit, Mario transforms into an elephant. In the short gameplay footage we've seen, there's no suggestion as to what Elephant Mario's powers might be, but we can assume it's something to do with increased size or extra strength. We can also assume that other characters turn into elephants too, since we can play as Luigi, Toad, Peach, and for the first time in a mainline Mario game, Daisy. Except, is that assumption really correct?

We Should Have Heard About The Rock's Big Video Game Movie By Now

Josh Coulson — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 14:30:18 GMT

I’m not sure if you heard, but The Rock is making a big, badass video game movie. Well, at least I think he is. It's been 18 months since the wrestler-turned-movie star casually dropped that reveal during an interview, revealing he was working on an adaptation of a video game he has been playing for years, promising to do good by gamers. I love The Rock, but those words filled me with a fear that hasn't really subsided in the year and a half since I read them.

Now We Know Who Venom Is, I Have A Lot More Questions For Spider-Man 2

Stacey Henley — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 14:00:17 GMT

It seemed obvious from the ending of Insomniac’s first Spider-Man game that Harry Osborn would be Venom in the sequel. In a twist on the typical 'Norman Osborn as Green Goblin' plot thread, Osborn is just regular capitalist evil rather than supervillain evil. His son Harry, Peter's closest friend, is absent during the game for a vacation that sounds more and more impromptu and suspicious as the game goes on. Finally, in the last scene, we see Harry suspended in a tank of green goo, baiting us with a Green Goblin reveal before the switcheroo of the Symbiote in the tank with him.

Pikmin 4 Has A Bunch Of Pointless New Features

Jade King — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:15:17 GMT

Pikmin 4 is great, and it might even be the strongest game of the series. However, in this advancement it can’t help implement new mechanics and means of approachability that dilute the once-challenging gameplay formula. Most of these features I never used once during my review playthrough, or felt confused about what exactly they’d add to the experience if I did. Nintendo takes it too far in one direction with no going back.

Why Are We Already Getting Ghostwire-likes?

Ben Sledge — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:00:22 GMT

I liked Ghostwire: Tokyo. I liked it a lot. It was that perfect level of double-A scope with triple-A polish that we expect from medium-level budgets these days. I liked the spirits and spellcasting, I liked the exploration of a misty, abandoned Tokyo. I can’t do horror but Ghostwire was just about my level of spooky, and it even got a spot on my Game of the Year list.

A $2 Switch Game Is My Favorite Horror Game Of The Year

Mike Drucker — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:30:22 GMT

All it took was seeing the words ‘Dread XP’ in the publisher section to get me to buy Fishing Vacation on the Switch. Well, that and it only cost $2. The $2 part is probably what stopped me dead in my tracks because, if you’ve read anything else I’ve written, I consistently buy strange games that make no sense. If your game is under $5 and looks batshit, there’s a good chance I’m going to regret buying it.

One Of 2023's Best Games Is Also Its Ugliest

Stacey Henley — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 15:00:16 GMT

Saying that one of 2023's best games is also its ugliest seems pretty straight-forward: I'm telling you there's a game that is a lot of fun but looks like garbage, right? That's not really what this is. The game, for all those Saved You A Click accounts salivating, is Bramble: The Mountain King, and by no technical measure is it the best. It runs awfully, and not in the frame rate/stability sense that we're supposed to care about these days. It runs badly in ways games used to in the good old days, like how when you jump for a platform you'll clip right through it, or you'll pass through a doorway and the level won't load. This game is made of bubblegum and sellotape. Also it's very ugly. I know I'm not selling it well. But Bramble: The Mountain King is one of the best games of 2023, and by 'best', maybe you should think of it as 'interesting'.

How Many Pikmin Would It Take To Carry A Dead Body?

Jade King — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 14:00:18 GMT

I would like to preface this article by making it clear that I’m not very good at maths. Every little thing about this hypothetical scenario is going to be defined by some diabolical napkin science bullshit fuelled by morbid curiosity and easy access to any answers I might require through a quick Google search. I’ve also never buried or even seen a dead body myself, promise, so please don’t put me on a list for exploring the long held question of how many Pikmin it would take to carry one. If I ever was to need help disposing of a dead body, hypothetically of course, I know I’d call on these lil’ dudes because they’re hella loyal.

We Spoke To Blizzard Devs About New Dungeons, Malignant Hearts And More In Diablo 4's First Season

Tessa Kaur — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 17:00:18 GMT

Diablo 4’s highly-anticipated first season begins on July 20, bringing new mechanics, Malignant Dungeons, and aspects to experiment with. While the player base has been working out optimal grind routes for the new season and wrapping up the campaign in order to access seasonal content immediately, there’s still much we don’t know about how the seasonal mechanics will work. We spoke to Diablo 4’s associate game director Joseph Piepiora, dungeon designer Michelle Piña, and quest designer Madeleine James about what we can expect from Season of The Malignant.