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Best Gley build in The First Descendant: Skills, Weapons, Reactor & Modules Nexon Games / DexertoGley is a great character in The First Descendant. After hours of testing, this is the best build we’d recommend for Gley – including the ideal weapons, skills, Reactors, and Modules to use. As a Utility Dealer with a Non-Attribute playstyle, she has to rely on her Skills for maneuvering through enemies. She’s sitting at the top of our character tier list but she’s not ideal for beginners. She can be a bit intimidating as one of her abilities when activated increases damage output significantly, but reduces her health regeneration at the same time, unlike other Descendants. With that said, our build Gley guide has everything you need to know to make her a force to be reckoned with in The First Descendant. The First Descendant Best Gley build – Recommended Best Gley Skills Out of every Active Skill for Gley, these two can never go wrong: When Gley has her Frenzied state activated, her Firearm ATK and Penetration will increase but it’ll reduce her HP Recovery. This means she will be susceptible to attacks, especially when fighting bosses, but that can be countered with an Ajax in the team. Ajax’s Orbit Barrier will stop and deflect all attacks from enemies. – The second best active skill is Increased Sensory. It responds differently in Frenzied and Non-Frenzied states. While she’s Frenzied, Maximum Lethality gets applied and bullets are not consumed. During that time, her running, sprinting, and movement speed while increasing aim by 50%. – Contrary to that, using the skill during her Non-Frenzied state applies Maximum Recovery during which her Life Sphere generation increases. This means her health recovery amount increased by 8% of Max HP and lasts for 10 seconds. All skills Here are the available skills Gley has available in The First Descendant: Thirst (Passive): Reduces incoming damage. Defeated enemies have a chance to drop Life Spheres which grants Power of Life upon contact and helps in recovering HP. – Frenzied: Increased Firearm ATK and Penetration but comes at a cost of reduced HP Recovery. – Life Siphon: Deals damage to target within range and recovers HP, and the recovery amount increases based on how many enemies you’ve hit. In Frenzied state, it deals increased DMG proportionally to HP while in Non-Frenzied state, it gains Vigor. – Increased Sensory: Maximises Lethality during Frenzied state while applies Max Recovery in Non-Frenzied state. – Massacre: It equips a Unique Weapon where the number of bullets loaded is affected by the amount of Power of Life owned. In Frenzied state, it increases DMG proportionally to HP while in Non-Frenzied state, it inflicts Stun on enemies hit. – Best Weapons for Gley The best weapons for Gley’s build are: Thunder Cage (SMG) – Subconsciousness (Shotgun) – Tamer (Machine Gun) – No matter if your playstyle approach is aggressive or passive, the Thunder Cage SMG is the ideal weapon for Gley. The best thing about this weapon is that it emits Electric Shockwave, which deals additional damage to nearby enemies. Being an SMG, it has a high rate of fire, which complements Gley’s Frenzy state. Alternatively, the Subsciousness and Tamer are solid options for Gley. The shotgun can damage multiple enemies at once, and the Tamer is ideal to use against bosses. Best Reactors for Gley in The First Desencant The best Reactors for Gley are those focusing on Skill Power and Sub Attack Power. This would greatly increase her damage output, proving to be crucial during boss fights and Void Missions. Gley can be quite aggressive due to her Frenzy ability, which is why you must find Reactors that enhance her DMG and make her Frenzied state deadlier. Best modules for Gley The best modules available to Gley in the game are: Best External Components The best External Components for Gley’s build in The First Descendant are those with the following stats: HP Recovery – DEF – Max HP – These components are RNG-based, meaning you won’t always find the ones having all the stats we mentioned above. However, keep searching as you never know when you come across the perfect External Components. You don’t need to equip components having Max Shield stat, as she doesn’t have one, so it’ll be pointless. How to unlock Gley To unlock Gley you’ll need to get various items and crafting materials in The First Desecedant. These are: Gley Enhanced Cells 246 Monad Shard – 430 Silicon – 38 Cooling Metal Foil – Gley Enhanced Cells Blueprint – x200,000 Gold – – Gley Stabilizer 519 Metal Accelerant – 292 Flectorite – 60 Complex Carbon Activator – Gley Stabilizer Blueprint – x200,000 Gold – – Gley Spiral Catalyst 363 Nanopolymers – 408 Ceramic Composite – 99 Synthesized Artificial Biometal – Gley Spiral Catalyst Blueprint – x200,000 Gold – – Gley Code Intercept Battle: Grave Walker (Amorphous Material Pattern 002 required) – Intercept Battle: Dead Bride (Amorphous Material Pattern 069 required) – Intercept Battle: Molten Fortress (Amorphous Material Pattern 0124 required) – Location: Abyssal Void Fusion Reactor – Agna Desert Miragestone Deposit – – For a full breakdown of how to unlock Gley, our guide has all the information you need. That’s everything you need to know about the best Freyna build in The First Descendant. For more builds, check out our guides for Jayber, Gley, Bunny, and Ajax.

Best Grace Zenless Zone Zero build: W-Engine, Drive Disc, team comp & more HoYoverseWhile Grace is a powerful S-rank Electric unit in Zenless Zone Zero, learning about her W-Engine, Disc Drives, and more will help you utilize her further to the fullest potential. Zenless Zone Zero joined the ranks of Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail to mark another gacha title for HoYoverse. Like its predecessors, ZZZ features a limited banner system that headlines different S-rank and A-rank agents. Grace is an S-rank character with an Electric Attribute and an Anomaly Specialty. Other S-ranks include Lycaon and Ellen. S-rank characters are more challenging to get than A-ranks, but they tend to be a lot stronger. If you’re wanting to maximize Grace’s potential in Zenless Zone Zero, here is a full rundown of her best W-Engine, Drive Discs, and team composition. Best Grace build in Zenless Zone Zero While this covers an overview of the build for Grace, if you are interested in the individual components for the setup, you can find them in detail in the following sections. Best W-Engines for Grace Fusion Compiler The best W-Engine for Grace in Zenless Zone Zero is the S-rank Fusion Compiler. This W-Engine increases ATK by 12% for the wearer. Additionally, when using Special ATK or EX Special ATK, the Anomaly Proficiency of the wearer is further enhanced by 25. Since Grace is an Anomaly-based unit and scales off that stat, this W-Engine works the best for her. Electro-Lip Gloss An A-rank alternative W-Engine for Grace is Electro-Lip Gloss. When enemies are inflicted with Attribute Anomaly, Grace’s ATK will increase by 10% and cause her to deal 15% more DMG to opponents. While the damage output for this one isn’t that high, it works quite well due to the additional damage you deal on enemies. Best Drive Disc for Grace The best Drive Disc for Grace in Zenless Zone Zero is Freedom Blues. The set bonus for this Drive Disc is as follows: In addition to Freedom Blues, you can use Swing Jazz for the final two spots. The set bonus for this Drive Disc is found below: Grace promotion and skill-enhancement materials Promotion You will need to gather Basic Anomaly Certification Seal, Advanced Anomaly Certification Seal, and Controller Certification Seal for Grace. Here is the exact number of required materials: x4 Basic Anomaly Certification Seal – x32 Advanced Anomaly Certification Seal – x30 Controller Certification Seal – 800,000 Dennies – Skill Enhancement Materials Grace in Zenless Zone Zero needs Basic Shock Chip, Advanced Shock Chip, Specialized Shock Chip, Hamster Cage Pass, Living Drive, and Higher Dimensional Data: Destructive Advance. The exact number of required materials is below: Hamster Cage Pass x5 – Living Drive x9 – Higher Dimensional Data: Destructive Advance x60 – Basic Shock Chip x25 – Advanced Shock Chip x75 – Specialized Shock Chip x250 – 2.9 million Dennies – Best Grace team comp Using Grace in a team alongside Anton and Rina is recommended to inflict Shock onto enemies. With Rina as a Support, she can improve the Shock status placed on opponents. Additionally, Anton can deal improved DMG against enemies inflicted with Shock. You should choose Plugboo as your Bangboo to cause strong Electric DMG and inflict 100% more Anomaly Buildup. The latter effect can only be activated with at least two Electric characters on your team, making it a good fit for Grace and another Electric character. Grace abilities Basic Attack Dodge Assist Special Attack Chain Attack Core Skill Core Skill Enhancements Mindscape Cinema for Grace Mindscape Cinema are additional copies of the same unit that enhance their proficiency. Here are the Mindscape Cinema for Grace: Level 1- Recharge Chamber: When the fourth hit of Grace’s Basic Attack hits an enemy, all squad members gain 0.25 Energy. Within the same move, this effect can grant a max of two Energy to all squad members. – Level 2- Lightning Piercer: When Grace’s grenade hits an enemy during a Basic Attack, Special Attack, or EX Special Attack, the target’s Electric Resistance is reduced by 8.5%, and Electric Anomaly Buildup Resistance is reduced by 8.5%, lasting for eight seconds. – Level 3- Chief Mechanic: Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack levels increase by two. – Level 4- Burst Capacitor: When Grace uses her EX Special Attack, she gains six stacks of Charge (max six stacks). When her Basic Attack or Dash Attack hits an enemy, onestack of Charge is consumed, increasing her Energy Generation Rate of the attack by 20%. – Level 5- “Frosty Cold Iron Witch”: Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack levels increase by two. – Level 6- Detonation Trigger: When all Zap stacks are consumed to activate a Special Attack or EX Special Attack, Grace’s skill is enhanced, tossing an extra grenade and increasing each grenade’s damage to 200%. – Grace pros and cons While Grace is an S-rank unit, there is one disadvantage that you need to keep in mind: Trailer for Grace On June 16, 2024, HoYoverse posted Grace’s character demo on its official YouTube channel. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch the footage below: For more coverage of HoYoverse’s latest gacha game, read our guides for Zenless Zero codes and controller support.

Best gaming Funko Pop figures in 2023 FunkoWe’re rounding up only the best gaming Funko Pop figures available this year. If you’re in the market for the best gaming Funko Pop figures then you’re in the right place. In 2023, there’s a wealth of options in the wider video game landscape in terms of which iconic characters are represented. That means everything from modern franchises from Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Overwatch 2 to classic characters from the industry’s older veterans. That’s what’s most exciting about the best gaming Funko Pop figures, because no matter the console you play on, or the games you enjoy, there’s something for you here. Below, we’ve done our best to provide an encompassing selection of top options across established series to suit all preferences. Funko Pop Pokemon – Pikachu The best Nintendo Funko Pop Nintendo franchises don’t get more iconic than Pokemon, and few characters are as well-known as Pikachu. The yellow electric mouse-like creature is the most recognizable thing about the franchise and now he’s available as a Funko Pop. The larger head and black beady eyes work well with this design as his ears and tail mean he is still very familiar. What’s more, he’s one of the more affordable models as well, coming in around the $13 mark. Funko Pop Halo – Master Chief The best Xbox Funko Pop Master Chief is the poster boy for the Xbox brand and his helmeted design lends well to the Funko Pop formula. That’s because his helmet gives him a more distinct look than the regular black beady eyes these things usually have. This Halo Infinite edition version features John-117 in his trademark green power armor and is equipped with the MA40 assault rifle. Coming in around the $16 mark, this is one of the better-priced gaming Pop Vinyls, too. Funko Pop PlayStation – Jin Sakai The best PlayStation Funko Pop A newer hero in the PlayStation exclusives catalog, Jin Sakai from Ghost of Tsushima has quickly become a fan favorite. The Japanese former samurai has quickly become one of the most popular Sony protagonists and the Funko Pop certainly does him justice. This version of him features black armor with gold accents in the headband and teeth of the Samurai mask. Also, he sports his katana which looks great, too. He’s one of the pricier Funko gaming options, hovering around the $35 mark, but we think it’s more than justified given the detailing. Funko Pop – Sonic the Hedgehog The best retro gaming Funko Pop Sonic the Hedgehog has had a recent resurgence with the launches of Sonic Superstars and Sonic Frontiers recently, as the blue blur is back to his platforming greatness. This Sonic the Hedgehog Funko Pop is based on his modern design and comes complete with a green chaos emerald in hand. The manufacturers made a wise choice by opting for black eyes instead of green, too, so it serves as a way to keep classic and newer fans happy. Funko Pop Minecraft – Creeper The best Minecraft Funko Pop The simplistic aesthetics of Minecraft and the design ethos of Funko Pop go hand in hand with some of the nicer renditions of characters from the blocky survival title. What list would be complete without the Creeper, the staple antagonist and mascot for the building simulation? This Funko rendition has the looks you would hope to find combined with the ability to free stand thanks to its squared feet. Funko Pop Assassin’s Creed – Eivor The best Assassin’s Creed Funko Pop While there have been many Assassin’s Creed Funko Pops released over the years, the Eivor one takes the top spot in our roundup. This is due to its significantly cheaper price, better availability, and a higher level of detail when compared to prior releases. Male Eivor is rocking his braided blonde locks, blue war paint, his father’s axe, and Nordic-inspired Viking / assassin robes all for around $14. Funko Pop Fortnite – The Scientist The best Fortnite Funko Pop The Scientist is a legendary outfit in Fortnite and this Funko Pop goes a long way to demonstrate exactly why. Clad in red and black with its bulky high-tech armor, it’s an excellent reward for going the extra mile in the ultra-popular battle royale. Why not display your achievement like a trophy with this awesome Funko Pop version? Other excellent Fortnite Funko Pops include TNTina, Brite Bomber, and Ultima Knight. Funko Pop Overwatch 2 – Winston The best Overwatch 2 Funko Pop Overwatch 2 is an incredibly colorful and vibrant title and the Funko Pop adaptations are no exception. There are many awesome options out there, but Winston takes the win in our book. That’s because his larger, chunkier design gives him a unique look with his helmet, glasses, and beard on a wider head looking the part. He’s well-priced under the $20 mark, too. However, there are some other excellent Funkos in the range as well, such as Lucio, Sigma, and Junker Queen. Funko Pop Apex Legends – Bloodhound The best Apex Legends Funko Pop There are many excellent Apex Legends Funko Pop vinyls but we think that Bloodhound is the best of the lot. Not only are they rocking a detailed mask and the all-over gille-suit mesh armor, but their goggles are also accounted for, too. It also happens to be one of the more affordable options in the line at around the $13 mark. Equally strong are the Funko Pop vinyl for Bangalore, and Wraith for the trio squad. What are Funko Pop Games figurines? Funko Pop Games vinyl figures are those that are based on video game characters from classic characters to more modern offerings. 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Top 10 video games where you can pet the dog Video games allow you to immerse yourself in a plethora of activities, from eating food to petting an adorable dog. That being said, let’s take a look at some games that allow you to pet the dog. We have reached a point in video games where it takes more than just advanced graphics and textures to immerse the player; what sets them apart are the finer and more nuanced details. Studios like Naughty Dog and Rockstar Games understand this, allowing you to interact with the world in a very natural sense, making the world feel more lived in. Of late, many games have started inculcating this interesting detail where you can press a button to pet the dog and players can’t get enough of it. While this small little detail doesn’t change how the game progresses, it definitely does put a smile on your face. Let’s take a look at 10 video games that are sure to make you smile by allowing you to pet the dog. 1. Fallout 4 Dogmeat is a floofy companion that is sure to brighten players days in the post-apocalyptic setting of Fallout 4. This loyal German Shepherd acts as an optional companion that helps find hidden items and disarm enemies. Initially called Dogshit, the name was later changed to Dogmeat, derived from the 1975 film A Boy and His Dog. 2. Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain D-Dog, DD or Diamond Dog is as iconic as any other Metal Gear character. DD sports a cute eye patch, similar to that of his owner Venom Snake. Ocelot trained DD at the Mother Base thinking the pup would be of some help. DD later helps players on their missions by helping distract enemies and detect mines which definitely makes this floofy companion worthy of some pets. 3. The Last of Us Part 1 and 2 Buckley is a dog that appears in both The Last of Us Parts 1 and 2. While he is supposed to be a guard dog, the first time Joel is greeted by Buckley, Tommy tells him that Buckley is not much of a guard dog. You can give Buckley an unlimited amount of pets in both the games as you call him a good boy and give him a nice ear scratch. You can even unlock a PlayStation achievement literally called “Who’s A Good Boy?” when you pet Buckley in the first game. 4. Red Dead Redemption 2 Red Dead Redemption 2 boasts a wide variety of flora and fauna, with different animals roaming the wild, from a wild horse to a lovable dog, and players can spend hours patting the dogs. If you end up shooting a dog in Red Dead Redemption 2, your honor level decreases, even if it is an enemy dog, which goes on to show Rockstar Games’ love for dogs. 5. Far Cry 6 Far Cry 6 features an adorable range of animal companions called amigos that players can recruit to help in their quest in Yara. These amigos range from a ferocious black panther to a crocodile, all of which you can pet. However, among all these, the most adorable one is Chorizo, the small, adorable Dachshund pup who has a small wheelchair to support his legs, which were injured in an accident. While Chorizo might not fair well in combat when compared to other amigos, petting him is sure to outclass any perks other companions offer. 6. Undertale Undertale is a unique game and for a game like Undertale to have the petting option doesn’t seem farfetched. However, it bumps this feature up a notch as you are given the option to pet the dog instead of fighting it. Whether you choose a pacifist run or a genocide run, killing a dog is where most players draw the line making the encounter with a dog much more interesting in this absurd yet masterpiece of a game. 7. The Last Guardian The Last Guardian tells the story of a lost boy who befriends Trico, a legendary mythological beast. Unsure of whether the dog-like creature would be able to find its way out on its own, the boy urges it to accompany him through the ruins as he looks for his home. However, deep down, the story is simply about a boy and his dog’s journey, and interestingly, you can pet this floofy mythological doggo as well. 8. Spider-Man 2 Insomniac Games hasn’t shied away from showcasing their love for animals, be it the cat costume in Spider-Man: Miles Morales or being able to pet Kraven’s Tiger in the latest Spider-Man sequel. However, there is one side mission in Spider-Man 2 that is quite interesting, as the game puts you face-to-face with a hostile robot dog. However, instead of taking it down, Ganke uploads 10 million dog videos to the robot to neutralize it. The game then lets you pet the dog and play fetch with it. 9. Hades Cerberus is a three-headed hound in Supergiant Games’ Hades that guards the gates of the underground to prevent the undead from leaving. However ferocious and legendary Cerberus might seem, deep down he’s just an adorable doggo who loves receiving pets. Similar to Trico in The Last Guardian, Cerberus comes off as a mythological ferocious beast but deep down he just wants to be called a good boy. 10. Alan Wake 2 A campaign for Mayor Setter is advertised throughout Alan Wake 2, with slogans such as “won’t ROLL OVER on the issues” and “isn’t afraid of the ROUGH questions.” However, to players’ surprise, it is later revealed that Mayor Setter is, in fact, a really cute dog that you can pet however much you want. This was apparently inspired by the large number of dog mayors scattered across the US.

Best games to play on Switch OLED NintendoNintendo’s Switch OLED is finally here – but what are the best games that take advantage of the bigger, brighter screen? Nintendo’s new Switch OLED may have been lacking in 4K output, but its larger, brighter display is breathing new life into games that have been around since the console launched in 2017. That’s because colors have never looked better than they have on the Switch OLED, and while our review will follow in the coming days, it can’t be understated how much of a difference that new display makes. If you’ve just got yourself a new console, or are looking for a reason to pick one up, here are some games that look at their best on the Switch OLED. Contents The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Daemon X Machina – Metroid Dread – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – Hollow Knight – Katana Zero – Astral Chain – Monster Hunter Rise – Pokemon Sword and Shield – The best games to play on your new Switch OLED The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sure, if you’ve got a Nintendo Switch, there’s a good chance you’ve already played Breath of the Wild. On the Switch OLED, though, it’s that little bit more engrossing. Hyrule’s plains have never looked more verdant, its mountains have never felt more uninhabitable, and the bigger screen makes it feel like an entire world on your handheld device even more than before. Daemon X Machina While you may have played Breath of the Wild, you may have missed this mecha-style action game when it launched. Offering customizable giant robots duking it out across a desolate Earth, Daemon X Machina’s penchant for crimson red and flashy explosions makes it a perfect fit for your Switch OLED. Metroid Dread Launching alongside the Switch OLED, it’d be fair to say Metroid Dread, a game that’s been years in the making, represents a great reason to upgrade your console hardware. Planet ZDR is full of small details and touches, and whether Samus is sprinting through environments fleeing from robotic pursuers or trying to blast a path through its labyrinthine world, the Switch OLED relishes every missile, counter, and epic boss encounter. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Thoughts on Sora’s imminent arrival aside, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a must-play on whichever Switch you own – but the Switch OLED feels like the best place for it. Fights are easier to follow, and if you’ve spent any time in tabletop mode on your regular Switch then it cannot be understated how much the larger display helps when playing against friends. Hollow Knight Hollow Knight is an indie darling, but it’s not the most colorful of adventures. Instead, Hollow Knight highlights the deeper blacks possible of the Switch OLED. Hallowsnest has never looked darker or more mysterious, all without losing any of its detail or allure. Now, where’s Silksong? Katana Zero This 2D action-platformer gets a whole new life on Switch OLED, thanks to its vibrant colors, lightning-fast gameplay, and an incredible soundtrack that really helps show off the console’s improved stereo speakers. Slowing time, slicing through enemies, and dying over and over again has never looked so good. Astral Chain Platinum Games’s oft-forgotten Switch exclusive is another title well worth a reply on the Switch OLED. Set in a bizarre parallel Tokyo where monsters are popping out of another dimension, players take control of a special police force that battles these ‘Chimera’ while being bonded to monsters of their very own. Flashy effects and a dark, cyberpunk-infused world make this a must-play on your new Switch. Monster Hunter Rise Fight big monsters, carve them up, and use them as weapons against other big monsters – Monster Hunter’s core gameplay loop has never been more refined than it is in Monster Hunter Rise. Read More: Monster Hunter Rise review – On the Switch OLED, though, you have a larger canvas to take in those beasts before you get to swinging your sword made of its brother, and can check out your armor in more detail than ever before. Pokemon Sword and Shield Sure, it might have drawn plenty of ire from the fanbase when it launched, but the Sword and Shield generation of Pokemon has its moments. The Galar region absolutely pops off of the screen on the Switch OLED, and the Isle of Armor DLC, in particular, looks great. So, there you have it – the best games to play on your shiny new Switch OLED. Which will you jump into first?

Best games of 2023 It’s hard to remember a time when so many great games have been released in a single year – these are our picks for the top 10 best games of 2023. 2023 has been one of the most notable years in gaming in recent memory. Starting with the Dead Space remake in January, all the way up to Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora in December, big new releases across a range of genres demanded our attention every month. Fighting games, action games, even remakes of classics that you never thought you needed, there really was something for all players. It was a lot to keep up with – perhaps even impossible. For just about everyone who plays games, that ‘pile of shame’ they hope to get to one day grew. With that in mind, hopefully, we can help you decide which are the essential games that you shouldn’t miss from this year. Below is a top 10 list of Dexerto’s best games from the year as chosen by our gaming writers across the globe. 10. Street Fighter 6 Street Fighter 6 is, at its core, a high-speed game of chess. It also completely refines a tried and tested formula. Behind the flashy fireballs, and occasionally goofy characters of the latest game in the legendary fighting series, lies a test of skill. Street Fighter 6 specifically equips you with all of the tools you need to improve and climb the online ranks much better than any other game in the series. Fighting games can be incomprehensible, but Capcom aced the onboarding that has been desperately missing from previous entries. With a robust single-player campaign to lull you in alongside redesigned, newbie-friendly controls, it’s Capcom’s most accomplished fighter yet. Author: Sayem Ahmed 9. Assassin’s Creed Mirage Assassin’s Creed Mirage took a step back from its modern framework and honed in on the success of older titles. Ubisoft returned to the Middle East, placing you in the shoes of Basim in Baghdad. This was a tighter experience than the likes of Valhalla or Odyssey, with the developer instead focusing on one location and a smaller scope. That proved to be an amazing choice, thanks to Mirage’s perfectly-sized world, compelling characters, and renewed importance on the act of assassination. It manages to create a sound bridge between the Assassin’s Creed many once knew, and the best parts of newer entries. Author: Jess Filby 8. Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo’s biggest surprise this year was Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Clearly inspired by the community-led lunacy of Super Mario Maker and the increased expression of The Super Mario Bros. movie, Wonder is a game that does what every great Mario game does – takes what works and twists it. That twist came in the form of Wonder Seeds, a new item that Mario would pick up that would drastically remix levels, from Mario becoming an elephant or where pipes started spewing water into the level. Mario and the gang control fantastically, wild new powers elevate every second of gameplay, and from level design to audio, everything feels expertly placed by developers filled with decades of experience. Author: Nathan Ellingsworth 7. Diablo 4 Thanks to a compelling campaign, generally satisfying gameplay, and a cast of characters well worth going to Hell and back for, Diablo 4 more than earns its spot amongst the year’s best games. It failed to stick the landing in some other respects, however, as divisive monetization practices and the inconsistent quality of post-launch support left players worried about its long-term future. Fortunately, the advent of Season 2: Season of Blood marked Blizzard’s first steps towards righting that course. New gameplay features reinvigorated what some viewed as an increasingly stale combat loop. Meanwhile, balance adjustments, improvements to the Renown system, World Bosses, and other features even offered the most skeptical users a reason to dive back in. And the future looks brighter still, especially following the recent announcement of the Vessel of Hatred expansion. While Diablo 4 has hit numerous obstacles, the overall experience has proven unforgettable. Author: Brianna Reeves 6. Resident Evil 4 Remake Resident Evil 4 is one of the greatest games of all time, and it holds up to this day. That’s why Resident Evil 4 Remake was a risky move by Capcom. While do-overs of RE2 and RE3 have been successful, they were revamps of much older games into modern trappings. It made sense for those to see remakes – that logic doesn’t hold for Resident Evil 4. However, by updating systems, taking a few surprising twists, and making a stunning-looking game, Capcom somehow managed to not only honor what came before but also take it to new heights for a new generation. Author: Sam Smith 5. Octopath Traveler 2 The original Octopath Traveler did a brilliant job of taking elements of classic SNES-era JRPGs and infusing a modern twist – all while introducing the HD-2D art style that Square Enix has brought back for games like Triangle Strategy and Live A Live’s remake. Octopath Traveler 2 takes everything fans loved about the first game and improves it. All the elements of its unique battle system and storytelling are here, enhanced by quality-of-life changes and even more opportunities for its new cast of eight heroes to interact with each other. In a year packed with great games, it’s not surprising this February release was largely overshadowed, but Octopath Traveler 2 is well worth any RPG fan’s time. Author: Noelle Corbett 4. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 An exciting sequel that goes above and beyond expectations, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is one of the very best games of 2023. Insomniac Games has crafted an excellent follow-up, all set in a magnificently built New York City. With the introduction of iconic characters like Kraven The Hunter and Venom from the comic book franchise, the story takes a darker turn, challenging Peter and Miles at every step. Feeling more fluid and dynamic, the web-swinging and gliding web wings mechanics immerse you while navigating the open world. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a must-play for fans of the friendly neighborhood superhero as it truly embodies the spirit of what it means to be a hero. Author: Rishabh Sabarwal 3. Alan Wake 2 Alan Wake 2 is a remarkable achievement for Remedy Entertainment and stands out as an iconic entry to 2023’s volume of breathtaking single-player releases. Beneath its surface level of solid action gameplay and creative survival horror qualities is an unparalleled, dark, twisted story and surprisingly-meta analysis of the arts industry. Remedy’s sequel,14 years in the making, is one of the most unique single-player action games you are likely to play, as it continuously brings clever surprises and mindblowing details into its wider narrative. The final result is a rollercoaster experience that shocks and delights you in only the best ways possible. Author: Olly Smith 2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Overcoming the exceptional quality of Breath of the Wild was never going to be an easy feat, but The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has done just that. It not only surpasses Breath of the Wild with its time-traveling story and lovable cast of characters but also rejuvenates the well-trodden land of Hyrule, making it feel fresh and new. This is largely due to Link’s new Ultrahand ability – a mechanic that rewards players for their creativity and willingness to experiment. Whether it’s soaring through the skies in a rudimentary airship or facing off against Gleeoks within the confines of a hulking mech, “Tears of the Kingdom” consistently wows players with exciting possibilities, making it hard to put down. When combined with the deadly array of new enemies, a massive map expansion, and game-changing abilities, you have the recipe for an incredibly thrilling adventure. Tears of the Kingdom embraces the foundations laid down by its predecessor and builds upon them, pushing this beloved action-adventure series to ever-greater heights. Zelda fan or not, you owe it to yourself to play this Switch game. Author: James Busby Dexerto’s Game of the Year – Baldur’s Gate 3 Baldur’s Gate 3 is a once-in-a-decade type game. The Witcher 3 and Mass Effect come to mind when it comes to RPGs that shifted the landscape. Larian Studios hit those heights when it single-handedly revived the cRPG genre earlier this year. Putting you in the shoes of a traveler thrust into a world-ending situation, this is the best DnD campaign you’ll ever play – and all in the convenience of a 200-hour-long video game. If you’ve ever loved the RPG genre, this is a must-play, as the game allows you unparalleled freedom and a cast of genuinely unforgettable characters. No game exceeded expectations like Baldur’s Gate 3 this year. It came out in August and it’s still impossible to log on to X/Twitter and not see a beautiful piece of fan art of Astarion or Karlach. In terms of cultural impact, it’s hard to argue that anything hit quite like it. It’s all deserved, too. Larian proved it is the new standard when it comes to role-playing video games. Author: Patrick Dane Join us throughout the week as we reveal Dexerto’s Best Multiplayer Game, Best Ongoing Game, and Best Season/DLC. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Dexerto’s Best Games of 2022: Elden Ring, God of War & more Dexerto2022 was a huge year for video games, but which were our favorites? Here are the best games of 2022, as picked by the Dexerto staff. 2022 is almost over, and while 2023 offers a variety of exciting games like Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and Dead Island 2, but the holiday period is a great game to catch up on the best games of 2022 that you may have missed. And what a year it’s been — between deity-filled drama, to the return of Modern Warfare, to FromSoftware’s first open-world adventure, 2022 has been chock full of blockbusters, high-quality indies, and everything in between. So, without further ado, here are the best games of 2022, as voted for by the Dexerto gaming team. 10. The Quarry Narrative-driven games were in vogue in 2022, with the likes of The Dark Pictures Anthology, New Tales From the Borderlands, and more offering interactive movies where the player dictates the choices and fates of a group of characters, leading them down twisting paths that can either lead to salvation or a grisly death. From the same development team who brought us Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology, Supermassive’s The Quarry may be the studio’s best horror game yet. Taking cues from classic slasher films like Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp, the game involves a group of teens spending one last night at summer camp before something starts stalking them from the shadows. Depending on the player’s actions either everyone can survive the night, or the sun can rise on a sea of mutilated corpses. The fun is in trying to keep your charges alive until morning — or you can sadistically lead them to the slaughter – Sam Smith, Games Writer. Read our review of The Quarry here. 9. Overwatch 2 Overwatch 2 had a tough job ahead of launch to convince players it’s worth downloading, and the fact it replaced Overwatch 1 was certainly a rough pill to swallow, too. And yet, despite that, Overwatch 2 is on our list because it’s just so moreish. It’s ideal for just chipping away at a few challenges or playing a couple of ranked matches, but it’s just as much fun to boot it up and play for hours on end because of its diverse character roster and gorgeous (and meticulous) map design. While the switch to 5v5 was certainly a shock to the system, Overwatch 2 justifies it by placing a greater onus on teamplay and effective Tank usage, and the new seasonal model, while not without its issues, ensures there are plenty of reasons to log in regularly. It’s easily one of the best games of 2022 – Lloyd Coombes, Games Editor. Read our Overwatch 2 review here. 8. Disney Dreamlight Valley Disney Dreamlight Valley is a delightful farming and life simulator that combines adventure with the Disney magic many adore, perfect for a cozy night in or a break from the stresses of life. Despite being in early access, the title has taken the gaming world by storm, gaining unprecedented popularity through its exciting updates, adorable characters, and engagement with fans. Each update introduces new quests allowing Disney Dreamlight to keep fans engaged, and even when there are no more quests to complete, the cooking, farming, mining, crafting, and other activities keep any type of gamer interested and entertained. It’s certainly the kind of game you could spend hours playing without realizing it and still come out wanting more. Ultimately, Disney Dreamlight Valley has all the ingredients to create a recipe for success, and, despite only being out for four months, it’s undeniably delivered, making this one of our top games of 2022 – Jessica Filby, Games Writer. Read our Disney Dreamlight Valley review here. 7. Stray In a rather turbulent year, having a game as calm but enjoyable as Stray was clearly what the many needed. With a beautiful story, even more impressive visuals, and its adorable protagonist, Stray captured the hearts of gamers, and their pets, everywhere. The game managed to bring players into a world of love and tragedy with the sole goal of getting back home to safety. Such a tale, while only around five hours long, wonderfully encapsulated the twists, turns, hope, and personality throughout, — constantly shifting our emotions without saying a single word. Ultimately, Stray was perfectly timed, beautiful, clever, and an all-out star performance from developer BlueTwelve Studio. Such a cozy yet exciting game gave a ‘purrfect’ demonstration of creativity and thinking outside the box, which makes it one of the best games of 2022 – Jessica Filby, Games Writer. Read our Stray review here. 6. Pokemon Legends: Arceus While Pokemon Scarlet & Violet may have delivered the mainline series’ first truly open-world experience this year, it was January’s spin-off Pokemon Legends Arceus that really nailed the feeling of being a Trainer out in the wild. Set in a feudal-era Sinnoh known as the Hisui region, players were tasked with filling out the first-ever Pokedex by surveying several distinct environments and taking part in some terrifying Pokemon encounters, all at a much breezier pace than previous games had allowed. What made this spin-off so enjoyable is how alive each Pokemon felt – for the first time in a mainline game, you could observe wild Pokemon in their natural habitat, catch them on the fly without having to battle them, and even be attacked yourself by the more aggressive ‘alpha’ Pokemon. Bland visuals aside, Legends Arceus was the grown-up Pokemon game that longtime fans like myself had been waiting years for, giving the tried-and-tested formula a proper shakeup and once again inspiring that childlike wonder we all felt when we picked up our very first Pokemon game – Daniel Megarry, Senior Writer. Check out the full Pokemon Legends: Arceus review here. 5. Marvel Snap Hearthstone may have kickstarted the hugely popular digital card game genre in many ways, but Second Dinner’s Marvel Snap has opened it up to an entire new generation. Thanks to quickfire rounds and small decks of just a couple of handfuls of cards, Marvel Snap has become the go-to mobile game to kick back and enjoy in small chunks. Playing a huge number of matches in a short space of time might sound like a recipe for tedium, but with the inclusion of a trio of randomly selected locations and plenty of viable deckbuilding strategies, every match feels unique. Add in the huge (and growing) roster of Marvel characters and Marvel Snap could be around just as long as Hearthstone has been — and we’ll still be playing – Lloyd Coombes, Games Editor. Read our Marvel Snap review here. 4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Our review of Modern Warfare 2 concluded it was lacking in a few key areas (notably polish), but the Dexerto Gaming team clearly couldn’t get enough regardless. With a globe-trotting campaign that feels miles more exciting than Vanguard or Black Ops Cold War, and the usual series of unlocks and “carrots on sticks” to keep us playing for months on end, Modern Warfare 2 climbed our list like Captain Price reaching for a sniping perch. With plenty more content on the way and tight cross-progression with Warzone 2, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is our favorite CoD in years, and an easy pick for one of the best games of 2022 – Lloyd Coombes, Games Editor. 3. Horizon: Forbidden West After releasing around the same time as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild in 2017, it’s a shame Horizon didn’t get the plaudits it so richly deserved thanks to Link’s brilliant Switch debut. Fast-forward five years, and much of the same can be said about the sequel, Forbidden West, launching in the midst of Elden Ring. Still, Aloy’s second adventure earns a spot on our list because it’s an absolutely stunning technical achievement with some of the best third-person combat around, as well as a story that builds on its characters in a way its predecessor never did – Lloyd Coombes, Games Editor. Read our Horizon: Forbidden West review here. 2. Elden Ring Elden Ring took FromSoftware’s legendary Dark Souls formula and pulled it into the light, introducing legions of new players to the masochistic delights that have enthralled Souls fans since 2009’s Demon’s Souls. The game also provided a fresh and challenging take on the open-world genre, offering unparalleled freedom which lets the player explore the Lands Between at their pace and letting them be who they want to be with a variety of character builds that reward finding new ways to play. Elden Ring can be enjoyed as a solo adventure, or players can recruit other Tarnished warriors to aid them in their quest to overthrow an entire pantheon, become an Elden Lord and reshape the world as they see fit. Beware though, you’re not the only one pursuing such a lofty goal, as the game’s story takes several twists and turns, forcing the player to make a series of agonizing choices that impact the ending, your own character’s fate – and the fates of those around you – Sam Smith, Games Writer. Read our Elden Ring review here. 1. God of War: Ragnarok Dexerto’s Game of the Year is God of War: Ragnarok. How do you improve upon the 2018 reboot that gave us such depth of character? The answer, it seems, is to expand the roster of Norse Gods that Kratos and Atreus cross paths with, with each offering a complex web of emotions, wants, needs, and more. Naturally, combat is just as crunchy as you’d expect, and the game looks incredible, but it’s Ragnarok’s narrative that had me barely able to think about anything else during the review period. God of War: Ragnarok pulled me by the nose through a journey that was always surprising and always enlightening, showing dozens of facets to characters new and old that I didn’t expect. It’s a complex examination of grief, revenge, and forging one’s own path despite the cost, and for that, it’s our Game of the Year 2023 – Lloyd Coombes, Games Editor. Read our God of War: Ragnarok review here. What were your favorite games of 2022? Be sure to let us know on Twitter @dexertogaming.

Best games of 2022 so far: Elden Ring, Pokemon Legends Arceus, and more Guerilla Games / Tango Gameworks / Nintendo2022 is already proving to be a huge year for best-in-class video games, with the likes of Elden Ring, Ghostwire Tokyo, and Horizon Forbidden West leading the stellar lineup. After a year that delivered plenty of incredible highs including Resident Evil Village, Metroid Dread, and Deathloop, 2022 has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, there are loads of exciting games on the horizon to look forward to – with many available to play right now. Whether you want to step into the boots of DC’s most iconic supervillains, get your next open-world RPG fix, or experience your own extraordinary wizarding adventure at Hogwarts, there’s something for you below. Contents The best games of 2022 so far Here are the best games of 2022 that you can play right now. We thoroughly recommend every single one, but we’ve also included links to our reviews if you need a little extra persuasion. Pokemon Legends: Arceus Release date: January 28, 2022 – Platform: Nintendo Switch – Pokemon fans have been calling for a twist on the tried-and-tested franchise formula for years, and they got it with Legends: Arceus, an expansive prequel set in a feudal-era Sinnoh known as the Hisui region – long before Pokemon and humans lived in harmony. Trainers need to survey distinct environments, catch loads of Pokemon, and complete the region’s first-ever Pokedex. As well as original Hisuian forms and never-before-seen evolutions, longtime fans can expect new battle features, some terrifying Pokemon encounters, and loads of post-game content. Read our Pokemon Legends Arceus review. Lost Ark Release date: February 11, 2022 – Platforms: PC – Set in the stunning, medieval-inspired universe of Arkesia, Smilegate’s Lost Ark made an impressive mark not just on the MMOARPG genre, but on gaming as a whole when it finally got a wide release in February, reaching over 1.3 million players on Steam just one day after it came out. Combat is flashy and fast-paced, dungeons are vast and full of treasure, and there are loads of classes to choose between, from a Deathblade assassin to a magic Sorceress, with each one bringing something new to the game – so you can play how you want to. Read our Lost Ark review. Horizon Forbidden West Release date: February 18, 2022 – Platforms: PS5 and PS4 – For fans of post-apocalyptic adventure games, it doesn’t get much better than 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn – so you’ll be glad to know its sequel, the highly-anticipated Forbidden West, takes everything that was good about the original and improves on it in almost every way. With underwater exploration of lakes and seas, brand new tools like the Shieldwing and Pullcaster to play with, and an even bigger map than last time to explore – which looks absolutely stunning, by the way – it’s one of the most exciting releases of the year. Read our Horizon Forbidden West review. Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Release date: February 22, 2022 – Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC – While it’s not technically a new game, The Witch Queen is arguably the best expansion that Destiny 2 has received so far, earning it a spot on our ‘best games of the year’ list. Marking the beginning of the end of the Light and Darkness saga, it brought plenty of content including the twisted Throne World, a new Glaive weapon, and a Legendary Campaign. Most importantly, it helped breathe new life into a five-year-old game and made us excited about its future. Read our Destiny 2: The Witch Queen review. Martha is Dead Release date: February 24, 2022 – Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC – There was plenty of controversy surrounding Martha is Dead before it was even released, especially with the news that certain scenes would be censored on PlayStation consoles, but fortunately, the actual game more than lived up to the hype and it feels destined to become a horror classic. Set in Tuscany during the 1940s, the game follows Giulia as she hunts for the truth behind her twin sister’s traumatic murder. What follows is a psychological horror that pushes plenty of boundaries, but if you can stomach the gore and shock, it’s a brilliant game with a story that will stick with you beyond the credits. Read our Martha is Dead review. Elden Ring Release date: February 25, 2022 – Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X| S, Xbox One, and PC – From the minds of Dark Souls creator, Hidetaka Miyazaki, and the author of the iconic A Song of Ice and Fire novels, George R. R. Martin, comes Elden Ring. The long-awaited FromSoftware title finally arrived in February, and it didn’t disappoint, with many already calling it their favorite game of the year. There’s clear inspiration from Dark Souls, but with plenty of new features to enjoy like the impossibly big open-world map and the ability to fight on horseback. Combine this with a huge collection of unforgiving boss fights and tough-but-rewarding progression, and it’s easy to see why it’s won so much acclaim. Read our Elden Ring review. Gran Turismo 7 Release date: March 4, 2022 – Platforms: PS5 and PS4 – Gran Turismo has been bringing the racetrack to living rooms around the world for over two decades now, so naturally, expectations were high for its first foray onto the PS5 – and we’re pleased to say that it goes above and beyond them, becoming one of the best driving sims on PlayStation ever. In our review, we praised the “ridiculous array of content and absorbing racing mechanics” in the game, as well as the outstanding visuals and immersive use of PlayStation tech that helps it rise to the top. There are also plenty of gameplay modes that give it loads of replayability. Read our Gran Turismo 7 review. Ghostwire: Tokyo Release date: March 25, 2022 – Platforms: PS5 and PC – Ghostwire Tokyo was the surprise supernatural shooter hit of 2022, immersing players in a stunningly-realized version of Japan’s capital city while fighting off creepy Visitors – led by an occultist who wants to ‘cleanse’ the world – with a variety of magic powers. It’s one of the most unique titles on the PS5 so far, with a gallery of ghouls to take on and some exciting combat to enjoy. Besides, you can pet dogs and cats; what more could you ask for? Read our Ghostwire Tokyo review. Rogue Legacy 2 Release date: April 28, 2022 – Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC – Nine years on from Rogue Legacy’s release, the long-awaited sequel finally arrived in 2022 to rapturous applause across the board. It didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it did build on the legacy of the original to make a near-perfect roguelike game. There are dozens of hours of content to immerse yourself in, and it comes at a much more affordable price point than the year’s big AAA titles, so there’s no reason not to lose yourself in the world of Rogue Legacy. Read our Rogue Legacy 2 review. Hardspace: Shipbreaker Release date: May 24, 2022 – Platforms: PC – One of the more niche entries onto our list is Hardspace Shipbreaker, a sci-fi simulator that tasks players with carving and slicing spaceships to recover valuable materials in order to pay off their billion credits debt to an exploitative company known as Lynx. We called it a “genre-defining blue-collar space sim” when it came out, and we stand by that; It’s not for everyone, but if the prospect of an engaging sandbox with a compelling narrative and addicting gameplay sounds like your thing, then sign yourself up now. Read our Hardspace Shipbreaker review. The Quarry Release date: June 10, 2022 – Platforms: Nintendo Switch and PC – Fans of interactive horror games like Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology will lap up The Quarry, the latest big release from Supermassive Games that follows a group of summer camp counselors as they attempt to survive a night in the woods. With a brilliant cast that includes David Arquette (Scream), Justice Smith (Detective Pikachu), and Ariel Winter (Modern Family), it’s not only a brilliant horror movie-like experience – it’s also the most star-studded game you’ll play all year. Read our The Quarry review. Neon White Release date: June 16, 2022 – Platforms: Nintendo Switch and PC – Speedrunners will no doubt love Neon White, a unique first-person shooter and puzzle-platforming game in which players take control of an assassin who’s pulled from hell and given the chance to compete for a spot in heaven – by exterminating other demon slayers. The game exudes cool, with stylish anime graphics and a great soundtrack that amplifies the lightning-fast gameplay that will have you collecting Soul Cards to attack your foes and exchanging gifts to earn favor with your fellow sinners. Read our Neon White review. Biggest games still to come in 2022 Here are some of our most-anticipated games still to come in 2022. Not all of them have concrete release dates yet, but as long as there aren’t any delays, they should be out this year. MultiVersus Release date: July 2022 (Open Beta) – Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X| S, Xbox One and PC – With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate dropping its final DLC content at the end of 2021, fans of fighting games with ridiculous crossover rosters might want to turn their attention towards MultiVersus, a free-to-play alternative from Warner Bros. If you’ve ever wondered who would win in a fight between Batman and Shaggy from Scooby-Doo, or Wonder Woman and Arya Stark from Game of Thrones… well, you’ll soon be able to find out. The game will have an open beta across all consoles in July 2022. Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl came and went without much fanfare – it recently hit zero viewers on Twitch – so here’s hoping MultiVersus can stick around a little longer when it arrives later in 2022. Splatoon 3 Release date: September 9, 2022 – Platform: Nintendo Switch – Splatoon has become quite the surprise hit for Nintendo, offering all the fun of competitive online shooters while replacing gun-toting violence and trash talk with paint splatters and wholesome community content. The third-person shooter is now approaching its third outing, and while it doesn’t look drastically different from what’s come before, there are loads of upgrades to look forward to including fresh stages, a bow-shaped weapon, and new moves to help you evade and attack. Forspoken Release date: October 11, 2022 – Platforms: PS5 and PC – With a team consisting of Final Fantasy XV developers and writers with credits including Uncharted and Rogue One, there’s a whole lot of anticipation for Square Enix’s upcoming action-adventure RPG, Forspoken. The game follows a young New Yorker called Frey Holland as she’s ripped from her city lifestyle and transported to the “beautiful and cruel” world of Athia, where she gains newfound magical abilities and some slick parkour skills to take on the monstrous creatures that roam the land. From the footage we’ve seen so far, it looks stunning, and Frey (portrayed by Charlie’s Angels star Ella Balinska) is shaping up to be a very cool protagonist. It’s coming to PS5 and PC in May 2022. Gotham Knights Release date: October 25, 2022 – Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X| S, Xbox One and PC – In Gotham Knights, the next big release from the devs behind Batman: Arkham Origins, gamers will once again descend upon Gotham City – only this time, Batman is dead. Instead, it’s up to Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing, and Red Hood to keep the city safe from The Court of Owls. The game is designed with co-op in mind – although solo play is an option too – with each of the four vigilantes having their own set of skills; Batgirl is a hacker, Robin is trained in stealth, Nightwing is an acrobatics specialist, and Red Hood excels at combat. With an exciting cast of superheroes and the promise of open-world RPG action, Gotham Knights looks like it could be the premier superhero game of the year. God of War Ragnarok Release date: 2022 – Platforms: PS5 and PS4 – The long-running God of War franchise got a new lease of life in 2018 when, after countless sequels and spin-offs, it received a soft reboot that introduced fans to Kratos’ son Atreus and garnered universal acclaim from both critics and gamers. With the upcoming follow-up Ragnarok, the stakes have never been higher for Kratos; the titular prophecy looks set to be fulfilled, promising the death of Gods and the end of days itself, and the Norse mythology era of the series reaches its dramatic finale. There’s no official release date for God of War Ragnarok yet, although recent rumors have pointed to a September 2022 launch window. Fingers crossed all goes to plan. Hogwarts Legacy Release date: Holiday 2022 – Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X| S, Xbox One and PC – For Harry Potter fans who spent years secretly hoping for an invitation to Hogwarts to drop through their letterbox, the upcoming open-world RPG Hogwarts Legacy – which is set to release at the end of 2022 – looks like it’ll be the next best thing. Players will create a fully-customizable character and be at the center of their own magical adventure as they master spells, create potions, and battle Dark Wizards, ultimately deciding whether to use their powers for good or evil. It will be set in the 1800s, though, so don’t expect to see Luna Lovegood or Professor McGonagall make an appearance as you traverse the hallowed halls of Hogwarts. Several games that originally featured on this list, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, have now been removed as they’ve been pushed back to 2023. We’ll keep this page updated as new games are released or delayed.

19 games like Wordle you should try in 2024 Josh WardleWordle is a fun online puzzle game that has captured many people’s hearts since its release. If you’re in the mood for something different, however, there are many Wordle-like puzzles out the that cover various themes from geography to Star Wars. Wordle is a game that challenges players to guess a five-letter word in five tries, a clever creation by Josh Wardle that can be delightfully challenging. Wordle’s popularity has created a mass puzzle game craze worldwide, and various Wordle-inspired games are now available for puzzle lovers to enjoy. With so many, however, it can be overwhelming to decide which to play, so we’ve got you covered with a curated list of the very best games like Wordle that you should play in 2024 and beyond. Having said that, let’s dive in and check out the best games like Wordle for you to try. Games like Wordle Here are the 14 best games like Wordle that you should be downloading and checking out in 2024: Scrabble Scrabble is the undisputed king of all word-based board games, however, the brand has often struggled to make the transition to mobile gaming. There have been many different Scrabble apps over the years, but the current iteration is everything we wanted it to be. If you love playing the original Scrabble with your family and friends or are looking for an app like Wordle to test your brain, try Scrabble’s latest mobile offering. It’s hard to deny that Wordle has influenced this version, but let’s not forget — Scrabble influenced all mobile word games. Nerdle Nerdle is essentially Wordle but with numbers. It’s not going to be for everyone, but those who are keen to show off their math skills will enjoy it. It mirrors Wordle in many ways, too, using that game’s rules and mechanics, but with a numerical twist. If words aren’t your thing, but numbers are, then Nerdle will be a great way to get your own back on those who show off at Wordle. Get your friends to download the app, and let the mathematical mayhem begin. Make sure to check out our daily Nerdle guide for today’s answers and clues to the mystery equation. Dordle Dordle takes the word guessing formula a step further than Wordle as it offers players an extra challenge. When you log into Dordle daily, you’ll be presented with two words to guess instead of just one. Due to the extra word, you’ll get seven attempts to guess the correct answer instead of Wordle’s six. It’s double the challenge and the fun, providing players a real chance to test their word-guessing prowess! If you need some help guessing the mystery words, our daily Dordle guide has got you covered. Globle Globle is another geography-based guessing game where players are tasked with guessing the name of a country from anywhere in the world without any hints to help them. The only indication that you’re on the right track is by the red color palette the game displays whenever you guess. The hotter the color, the closer you are to the correct answer. This game can be a tough challenge but extremely rewarding for those who want to put their geography knowledge to the test. Quordle Quordle is perhaps the hardest of all the Wordle-inspired games. You’ve got to guess four words instead of just one every day in Quordle. If you’re up for a big challenge and want to test your vocabulary to the limit, this game is for you. You have nine chances to solve all four words, so make every guess count! The game also features a practice mode for those wanting to warm up before starting their daily challenge. Worldle While it looks like Wordle when written down, Worldle is an entirely different game. As the name suggests, this is based on geography rather than words. The game will show you an outline of a country and some basic facts about it and challenge you to name which one it is. Of course, some countries are easy; we could spot Italy or the UK, but the real fun begins when the app shows you pictures of land-locked nations. This is when your knowledge of the world map comes in handy. Waffle Waffle differs from Wordle as it’s all about unjumbling words rather than guessing what they are. The game provides a crossword grid full of different words and then challenges you to determine each one. It sounds easier than Wordle, as the letters you’ll need are already there, but to know what the word is, you’ll need to have it in your vocabulary. Even the most talented wordsmiths will be undone by Waffle occasionally, and it’s a great way to learn some new words. Word Hurdle Word Hurdle — previously called Wordle 2 — offers a similar challenge to the original game but tasks players with guessing a six-letter word instead of a five-letter one. You’ll still have five guesses to find the six-letter word, but Word Hurdle refreshes every 12 hours rather than the standard 24, so there’s less time to complete the challenges but more opportunities to succeed in a day. If you need a hand with the latest Word Hurdle answers, check out our daily Word Hurdle guide for the game. Crosswordle Crosswordle is a lot like Wordle but in the classic crossword format. The game gives you the answer at the bottom of the screen, but your challenge is to work backward to figure out what the rest of the grid is. The game is essentially Wordle in reverse — a novel idea that lends itself well to some classic crossword puzzles. If you’re a fan of either, this will be right up your street. Octordle Octordle is a word game that will put your vocabulary skills to the ultimate test. In this Wordle-inspired daily challenge, players must guess eight words in only 13 attempts. Each word contains five letters, but that’s where the similarities end. As with other Wordle spin-offs, the words won’t necessarily relate to one another. If you’re looking for a real challenge to get your brain started daily, then Octordle could be your game. Words With Friends 2 Wordle is the spiritual successor to Words With Friends and, in many ways, owes its existence to it — at least in part. Words With Friends was massive when it was first released and set the standard for mobile puzzle games for years. While Wordle would go on to inherit its crown, a sequel to Words With Friends was released in 2017. This game takes the template of the original and expands on it, creating a much more streamlined and engaging experience. If you enjoyed the original Words With Friends and love Wordle, then you owe it to yourself to try Words With Friends 2. Squabble Squabble is a lot like Wordle but with an additional bonus: multiplayer. It borrows elements from Wordle and Words With Friends, merging them into a new experience; the game even has Battle Royale-style play. Here, a group of players can enter a match where each player tries to guess a word. Wrong answers eventually lead to players being eliminated one by one until only the champion remains. If you’ve ever wanted to dominate a group of strangers or friends in a word-based battle of wits, then Squabble will let you do just that. Jumble Jumble is a Wordle-inspired game that tasks players to solve several anagrams daily. It’s an exciting take on the word puzzle formula and can often provide quite a challenge for those looking to really test their wordsmithing abilities. Check out our daily Jumble guide if you’re struggling to solve today’s anagrams. SWordle This game is the perfect daily challenge for fans of the Star Wars franchise. SWordle is a pop-culture-inspired spin on Wordle that gives players six opportunities to guess a five-letter word, and the answer will always relate to Star Wars. With how vast the Star Wars universe has become, SWordle is just as much about trivia knowledge as a guessing game. It’s bound to challenge even those who know everything about a faraway galaxy. Absurdle As the name suggests, Absurdle is an absurd Wordle that doesn’t have any limits on the number of guesses you can take. It stands out by not having a set word to guess as the game’s algorithm makes up a word as you start guessing. For eg. you can start with the word “poise” and the game will just go along with it. The official description of the game describes it as “being up against a system that sends you in random directions” or “an adversarial version of Wordle.” Heardle Heardle is a Wordle-inspired game to guess songs. You get to hear a small snippet of the intro to the song. As you take a wrong guess or skip a turn, more of the song is revealed to you. You get six tries, if you can’t guess the song in six tries, the song is then revealed to you. This is a fun take on the Worldle concept that utilizes your music knowledge too. Phoodle Phoodle is similar to Wordle in rules, you get the green and yellow squares and five chances to get the answer. The only catch is that you have to guess word related to the food world. As the word is revealed to you, the game then offers a Phoodle Fact about the word related to the culinary world. Tradle Tradle is the economic trade counterpart of Wordle. The game begins by providing you with the economic share of several products, such as 5% Petroleum Gas and 1% Milk and you’re tasked with guessing which country exports these products. You get to have unlimited guesses and with each guess, the game tells you how far you are from the actual country (answer) and in which direction it is located in contrast to your guessed country. Sweardle Sweardle, as you might’ve guessed, is a version of Wordle where you’re made to guess swear words. You get four chances to guess the word, and you have to figure out the right four-letter word. The game updates every day with a new word. So there you have it: the 19 best games like Wordle. You can also take a look at some of the best multiplayer games or best Roblox games in 2024.

8 best games like Hogwarts Legacy to play in 2023 Avalanche SoftwareHogwarts Legacy is one of 2023’s best games and has captivated millions of players. If you’re hungry for more experiences akin to the magical wizarding world, then we’ve got a whole bunch of similar ideas here for you to consider and enjoy. Making a fully immersive Harry Potter RPG is a tough task, which is why no one has attempted to make one – until now. Avalanche Studios accomplished this superbly with Hogwarts Legacy. Packed full of gameplay, players have toiled away at the game’s countless activities from solving puzzles to observing and studying beasts. Hogwarts Legacy delivered an authentic Harry Potter experience. With the game in the rearview mirror for many though, it’s left people with a desire to enjoy familiar-feeling titles. With that being said, we’ve whipped up a big list of the best games like Hogwarts Legacy that players will be able to feel right at home with practically from the get-go! Best Games like Hogwarts Legacy Our selections will be playable on most major formats, so there should be few restrictions you’ll come across. They will share a lot of Hogwarts Legacy’s RPG elements, feature side quests, deep combat, and traits that’s made Avalanche’s title so endearing and popular. Forspoken While it’s not been everyone’s cup of tea, Forspoken certainly embraces some of the more fantastical and magical elements that comprise the Harry Potter universe. You’ll have a great time with the combat and the game’s graphics flicker with mesmerizing flashes and eye-catching twinkles that will make you feel right at home. You check out our Forspoken review right here. Final Fantasy 16 While its serious story has more in common with the likes of Game of Thrones than the often fuzzy nature of Harry Potter, Final Fantasy 16 is rife with mystery and wonder. Clive Rosfield can use magic and transform into spectacular Eikons capable of engaging in truly cinematic battles. Throw in a gripping story and lots of side quests, and Hogwarts Legacy players looking for the best games of this nature should be satisfied. You check out our Final Fantasy 16 review right here. World of Warcraft We’re rolling back the years here, but World of Warcraft is still ever-present in gaming even in 2023! Blizzard’s epic MMO allows you to create a character, sink your teeth into hundreds of hours of gameplay, kill monsters, complete quests, and use a plethora of magic if you so chose. The Elder Scrolls: Online / Skyrim It doesn’t matter which option you decide upon here, Bethesda has built up a sterling reputation over a couple of decades for creating utterly compelling RPGs. The Elder Scrolls Online is essentially a paid monthly version of the series with new content being added, whereas Skyrim is the fifth entry in the franchise. Either game will feed your need for magic, and quests, and you’ll no doubt hunt for loot with a top story to boot. Dragon Age: Inquisition Curiously, it’s been quite some tie since the last Dragon Age game – Inquisition – but it still holds up in 2023. Harry Potter fans will recognize the dialogue options for conversation as BioWare are one of the leading forces in the industry for this mechanic. It’s further served by a whole host of customization options and liberating combat choices. Elden Ring Now, we fully appreciate that while Hogwarts Legacy has some challenging enemies and encounters, it’s not the hardest title in the world, whereas Elden Ring absolutely is. If you can overlook and overcome the difficulty grind, then there’s a truly exceptional RPG game here. It ticks off all the boxes like any other game on this list and its sturdy foundation is built on a deeply freeing, textbook, multi-faceted combat system. You check out our Elden Ring review right here. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Hogwarts Legacy fans looking for the best games should look no further. TOTK is one of the few games that can genuinely stake the claim of not only being better than Hogwarts Legacy, but it’s probably worthy of the 2023 GOTY crown. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a more than worthwhile sequel to BOTW and excels in every department. The land of Hyrule is littered with secrets, missions, subquests, bosses, and fun activities to complete. You check out our The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom review right here. The Witcher 3 The Witcher 3 is a few years old now, but in fairness, CD Projekt Red’s RPG will still be relevant in 10 years’ time. Geralt of Rivia’s trek across the monster-filled world of The Witcher 3 is iconic as every aspect of the game is perfect. Gameplay, story, graphics, combat, and anything else you can think of. If you’ve still not played The Witcher 3 and have played Hogwarts Legacy, then this is worth your consideration. For even more detailed Dexerto features, check out a ton of our other content we have on-site for you: Best gacha mobile games | Games like Wordle | Best Need for Speed games | Best open world games like Skyrim | Co-op games like It Takes Two you must play | Best games like Animal Crossing | Best JRPGS of all-time | Best Assassin’s Creed games, ranked | Best Souls-like games to play | Best Steam Deck games | 8 games like Genshin you should play

10 best open world games like Skyrim to play in 2024 From Software / CD Projekt Red / BethesdaSkyrim is considered one of the best open-world games ever made. However, there are other games that are just as celebrated. So, we’ve got ten of the best open-world games for you to try out. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is undoubtedly one of the best open-world games ever made – but it’s not the only one. The journey to Tamriel’s northern province offered an adventure that arguably changed the open-world genre forever. So it’s no wonder so many are excited about Elder Scrolls 6. However, as iconic as it is, Skyrim isn’t the only fantastic open-world game out in the wilderness. There are plenty of other, similar games out there for Skyrim fans to enjoy. Let’s look at some! The Elder Scrolls Online The Elder Scrolls Online is a very different experience to Skyrim – it’s an MMO, so the ever-updating gameplay is focused on multiplayer rather than solo adventuring. The basic premise of questing around Tamriel is the same, though, and you can even explore Skyrim over 1000 years before the Dragonborn rose to prominence. Those looking for more Elder Scrolls before the eventual sixth main entry arrives will be well served. Just remember, this is an MMO first and foremost, so it won’t be suited to every Dovakhin’s tastes, especially with the vast amount of races and classes you can enjoy. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt In our view, The Witcher 3 is a game that finally gave Skyrim a run for its money. Whether it was better than Bethesda’s masterpiece is a matter of individual opinion, but Geralt’s third gaming outing was undoubtedly something special, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our quest in Tamriel’s northernmost province. Like Bethesda’s games, The Witcher 3 is filled with morally grey, often uncomfortable, choices that allow you to influence the game world in subtle ways and control the narrative. However, the real star of the game is the polished open world that really raised the bar in terms of design and exploration. The next game in the series is also in development as is a remake of the first adventure. Dragon Age Inquisition Inquisition is the third Dragon Age outing and the first game in the series to be released on PS4 and Xbox One. This meant it was much more visually impressive than earlier games and it still holds up today, especially on PS5 or as part of Xbox Games Pass. A classic Dungeon and Dragons-styled adventure, Dragon Age Inquisition doubles down on the high fantasy, but it also tells a story filled with political intrigue, conspiracy, and betrayal. While it wasn’t as iconic as Skyrim, it’s a must-play for fans of the genre. BUY DRAGON AGE INQUISITION ON AMAZON Fallout 4 Believe it or not, those looking for more Skyrim would be well served by Fallout 4, despite it being set in a completely different genre. Rather than being a medieval fantasy adventure, Fallout 4 is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, centuries after the world was ravaged by nuclear war. However, as the Fallout series (today) is developed by Bethesda, the gameplay has a lot of similarities. Fallout 4 is even developed using the same engine as Skyrim, and this becomes immediately apparent when the NPCs start talking. BUY FALLOUT 4 ON AMAZON Dragon’s Dogma 2 Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the sequel to the original game released almost 10 years ago. Capcom yet again combines elements of Skyrim, Dark Souls, and their own Monster Hunter series to create an open-world fantasy sandbox. The game’s main draw is the Pawn System, a mechanic that lets you summon other players’ characters as NPC companions. While not perfect, Dragon’s Dogma 2 builds upon its predecessor by providing an even bigger open world to explore with a plethora of new and interesting mechanics to interact with. Middle-Earth: Shadow of War Set in Peter Jackson’s interpretation of Tolkien’s Middle Earth, Shadow of War is the sequel to the also impressive Shadow of Mordor. The game is set in between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings and sees the Ranger Talion take on Sauron in a bitter war over the Ring of Power. The game is a fantasy adventure like Skyrim, but its main selling point is the Nemesis system. This is a mechanic that lets players create rivalries with NPC enemies based on previous battles. Other games, including some racing simulators, have even adopted similar systems after seeing it work so well. BUY SHADOW OF WAR ON AMAZON Kingdom Come: Deliverance Kingdom Come strips out the fantasy and instead tells a brutal, grounded tale of medieval life set in fifteenth-century Bohemia. There are no dragons or magic in Kingdom Come: Deliverance, but the game still manages to be compelling. Much of the gameplay resembles Skyrim and The Witcher 3, but Kingdom Come’s more realistic approach raises the stakes for the player. You either learn how to master your bow, sword, and the other elements of medieval life, or risk becoming a footnote in someone else’s story. BUY KINGDOM COME DELIVERANCE ON AMAZON The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Breath of the Wild took the world by storm when it was originally released for the Nintendo Switch. It was hard to imagine how a sequel would surpass a game like that but Tears of the Kingdom is in almost all aspects one of the best sequels to be released. With a larger emphasis on the story this time around, Tears of the Kingdom adds a groundbreaking building mechanic allowing players to build their own vehicles and weapons with the only limit being players’ imagination. BUY TEARS OF THE KINGDOM ON AMAZON Elden Ring Following in the footsteps of Skyrim, Breath of The Wild, and The Witcher 3, Elden Ring represents the next evolution in open-world gameplay. The game took the tried and tested Dark Souls formula and expanded it into an epic sandbox adventure – raising the standard for both dungeon diving and open-world games at the same time. The game is primarily a single-player experience, but it’s possible to summon co-op allies into your world through summoning pools. This is especially useful against tough bosses. With the release of the highly anticipated Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on the horizon, now would be the perfect time to jump into Elden Ring. Hogwarts Legacy While perhaps a step away from the chilly and unforgiving realms of Skyrim, Hogwarts Legacy is a highly rated and popular open-world experience with all the magic, mystery, and madness many love to see in games like Skyrim. Ultimately, Hogwarts Legacy is a thrilling adventure filled with collectibles, exploration, spells, and adorable beasts to find and tame. It may be a little kinder than Skyrim but sometimes that’s an extremely welcome experience. Now that you’ve seen the best games like Skyrim, you can take a look at the best Batman games ranked if you’re a fan of superheroes. You can also check out some of the best Soulslike games if you enjoy challenging games.

11 best games like Animal Crossing to play on Switch & PC (2024) Pathea / NintendoAnimal Crossing has set the benchmark for cozy games. However, there are a lot more relaxing games just like New Horizons you can pick from. Animal Crossing is one of the most popular cozy games out there, you can still find tons of similar titles to enjoy on their Switch and PC. The Nintendo Switch is known for its relaxing laid-back games. But fret not, even if you don’t own a Nintendo Switch, our guide covers games similar to Animal Crossing which are available on PC too. We’ve got all the best games for you to try out if you’re looking for a little escape from either the world or the ever-increasing amount of Bells you owe Tom Nook. Stardew Valley Stardew Valley is a fantastically cozy RPG where you get to farm, mine, fish, make friends with the villagers, and much more. It closely resembles Animal Crossing in this way and will likely not be a huge jump from the game you know and love. The open-ended nature of Stardew Valley allows you to create the farm of your dreams throughout hours of gameplay that will likely fly by. In the same way, you get engrossed in Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley is extremely tough to put down. Disney Dreamlight Valley Despite being in early access, Disney Dreamlight Valley has taken the gaming world by storm. Upon its initial release, many players were comparing the game to Animal Crossing, highlighting that Disney Dreamlight Valley takes a similar game and improves upon it in loads of ways. Disney Dreamlight Valley has it all: Familiar characters you can interact and make friends with, fishing, farming, cooking, mining, and the ability to decorate the valley and your home however you want. Whether you’re a Disney fan or not, if you liked Animal Crossing, you’ll love Disney Dreamlight Valley. My Time at Portia My Time at Portia is one of those fantastic hidden gems that deserve more players than it has. It’s got a similar story to Stardew in the sense that you inherit your grandfather’s estate. Only this time, it’s a workshop rather than a farm. Instead of farming, players are encouraged to explore the post-apocalyptic world they find themselves in and befriend the villagers and battle monsters. It’s a joy from beginning to end and brings just enough new elements to make this feel separate from Animal Crossing yet still oddly familiar. Garden Paws If you adore the cute animal designs of the villagers in Animal Crossing, you’ll love Garden Paws. In this game, you become adorable animals and build up your farm and the town you live in. It’s essentially Animal Crossing but with more animalistic characters. Perfect if you don’t want to stray too far from the traditional playstyle. Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town Combining cute animation with even cuter animals, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town almost feels like a rite of passage when getting into cozy life sims. It’s a highly well-known title, partly due to its similarity with Harvest Moon, and is filled with all the activities you love from games like Animal Crossing. You have to go from a tent to a house, make friends with villagers, and tend to the land around you. All these similarities will help this game feel familiar yet totally different. Spiritfarer While there are plenty of cute cozy life sims where you can farm, fish, cook, and more, sometimes it’s best to stray a little from the traditional tropes of what you know. Spiritfarer is precisely that. It takes the player on a journey through life, death, and the process of death, all through a cozy management sim guaranteed to make you smile as much as it will make you cry. Essentially, you play as a boat farer, tasked with helping people ‘go through the gate’ at the end of their lives. You go on adventures, complete quests, make friends, cook, and plenty more similar events to Animal Crossing, only this is entirely unique and is an experience no one should miss out on. Slime Rancher Slime Rancher takes a little more of a chill approach to gaming and is perfect if you only have a few hours to spend yet still want to experience something with few restrictions and plenty of adorable creatures. The game drops you into an unknown planet and creates an adorable farm filled with some rather mysterious Slimes. While tending to the farm, you can complete quests, explore the planet, and even find hybrid slimes if you’re in the right place. If you’re looking for something easy and calming, this is the game for you. Littlewood Littlewood feels a lot like a combination between Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. It’s got the pixel-art style of Stardew Valley but the cozy openness of Animal Crossing. Either way, Littlewood is a fantastic experience filled with great quest lines and even better jobs to complete. Along with the typical crafting, farming, and fishing, you can play challenging card games within Littlewood and collect an impressive variety of items like bugs, just like in Animal Crossing. It’s a little more quest-heavy than Animal Crossing, but that just gives you something to achieve while getting friendly with the villagers. Cozy Grove Cozy Grove introduces the same tropes as Animal Crossing but combines them with mystery, the supernatural, and a considerable amount of cooking. With that combination, the entire experience is both entertaining and extremely cozy, especially since it’s filled with the most adorable animal creatures for you to interact with. It feels close to Animal Crossing but instead introduces the spooky elements all fans of Halloween or horror will adore. Sun Haven Sun Haven feels like a cross between Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, and Dungeons & Dragons. It’s a fantastic farming simulator where you can play as devils, angels, and other mystical creatures, all with magical powers to help you on your way as a farmer and an explorer. There are quests, exciting NPCs, and an art style that will draw you into the game and cause hours to pass in what feels like minutes. It’s the perfect game to get engrossed in for a cozy gaming session. While it’s not yet available for the Switch, the game’s roadmap does suggest this will be coming soon, so be sure to check back soon when we update this page. Forager Inspired by the likes of Terraria, Zelda, and Stardew Valley, Forager combines the best parts of cozy adventure games and encapsulates them in a simplistic yet effective experience. Forager doesn’t necessarily have the high-quality graphics many gamers are used to, but it does contain an adorable pixilated world that has a distinct capability to engross you into the game. Filled with resource gathering, crafting, building, exploring, and puzzle solving, Forager manages to be a title where players can drop in for half an hour or stay for the entire day without struggling to find something to do. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Now that you’ve seen the best games like Animal Crossing, you can take a look at games like Stardew Valley if you’re into cozy games. You can also check out the best mobile games to play in 2024.

12 best Apple Arcade games for iPhone, iPad & Mac in 2024 AppleApple Arcade offers a vast selection of games for iOS users. We’ve compiled a list of the top Apple Arcade games for iPhone, iPad, and Mac to play in 2024, considering there are so many amazing options. While Apple Arcade’s subscription model mirrors that of Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus Extra, it sets itself apart by offering titles that are compatible with Mac, iPhone, and iPad, as opposed to PC and console games. The service costs $4.99 a month and offers big hitters in franchises like Monster Hunter, as well as new games from the likes of PlatinumGames. With around 200 titles included, it can make it tough to settle on your next download. Thankfully, we’ve rounded up the best Apple Arcade games you can play right now. What The Golf? Golf isn’t for everyone, but What The Golf? is no golf game. Every level breaks free from the game’s core concept in interesting new ways, like hitting your own character into a hole, or, uh, hitting a hole into another. It’s truly off the wall and always surprising. Bleak Sword If you’re looking for a grim 8-bit throwback with Dark Souls and Undertale vibes, then check out Bleak Sword. While the gothic retro art style won’t be for everyone, the game’s combat is remarkably fluid. It’s also highly addictive and difficult to master. Be warned, this one’s definitely a throw risk. Beyond Blue Beyond Blue feels like you’re living in a David Attenborough documentary as your character explores the ocean and its wildlife. It is undoubtedly one of the best Apple Arcade games on offer. Its story is also as deep and immersive as the environments you’ll explore, and it’s a great technical showcase on all platforms. Grindstone Grindstone is an addictive color-matching puzzler that takes the genre’s cutesy appeal and flips it on its head. Instead of matching gems, you’re actually slaying monsters, grabbing “Grindstones” to change color midway through and keep your streak going. It’s incredibly addictive, with fun bonus objectives and boss battles, too. Monster Hunter Stories Monster Hunter Stories is a little different from the base Monster Hunter game, swapping slaying monsters for taming them and raising them — not unlike Pokemon. This Apple Arcade version features the entirety of the first game that was originally released on the Nintendo 3DS. Sayonara Wild Hearts This neon-tinged adventure is like a playable music album. It’s full of stylish visuals and incredible music, and while the experience is short, it’s utterly unforgettable. Music fans, or fans of rhythm titles should really download this. Oceanhorn 2 Oceanhorn 2 is a real improvement over the first game. It also wears its Zelda Breath of the Wild inspiration clearly on its sleeve. While some will criticize Oceanhorn 2 as unoriginal, it’s actually a very fun experience. It’s also the closest thing you’ll ever get to Zelda on Apple Arcade. Assemble with Care This relaxing, puzzle-solving Apple Arcade game will have you putting treasured items back together. From tape players to cameras, it’s a delight that makes excellent use of the touch screen to let you manipulate analog technology. Hitchhiker Hitchhiker is a tense mystery game that really deserves more attention. The premise is that the protagonist is hitchhiking across the country to a mysterious destination, chatting to drivers as they go. The fun is piecing together why you’re going there, and who you really are. Those who enjoy immersive single-player experiences with access to Apple Arcade should really give this a look. Fantasian Coming from Hironobu Sakaguchi’s Mistwalker studio, Fantasian carries forth a lot of Final Fantasy DNA while also adding a unique twist. Much of its backgrounds and environments are dioramas, giving it a dreamlike feel, with excellent turn-based combat. World of Demons As you’d expect from PlatinumGames, World of Demons is full of stylish action. It also offers a stunning cel-shaded art style that really pops on newer iPhones and iPads, as well as the ability to summon monsters to fight alongside you. Gris+ Gris was a gorgeous adventure full of stunning colors and landscapes when it launched back in 2018, and thanks to Apple Arcade, the entire game is playable on your Apple device through your subscription. There really are few games that look this good, particularly on more recent devices. So, there you have it – the best Apple Arcade games you should play in 2024. For more list content, be sure to check out the following: Best Pokemon games | Best games like Animal Crossing | Best open-world games like Skyrim | Best gacha mobile games | Best MMO games | Best mobile games | Best co-op games like It Takes Two | Best cozy games | Best Nintendo Switch RPGs | Best games like GTA | Best JRPGs of all time | Best free games | Best games on the Steam Deck

6 best co-op games for couples The conventional dating world has become practically non-existent over the last year, but don’t worry! We have compiled our six best games for online dates – just in time for Valentine’s Day – that you can try from the comfort of your gaming chair. 2020 and 2021 are pretty determined to kill off romance as we know it. With public spaces closed for the foreseeable future in most countries, being able to take that special someone literally anywhere has become an impossible quest in itself. While Pokemon Go has come up with a week-long, fun-filled Valentine’s Event it’s limited to, well, Pokemon fans. So, if you’re not too into your Pikachu, we’ve got a list of awesome titles that are perfect for you and your crush to try out. Or, alternatively, for you to vet whether or not that person on your online dating app is quite who they say they are – but the first is more romantic! Best Valentine’s Day games for couples Portal 2 If your crush hasn’t heard of Valve’s Portal series then you really need reconsider your life choices, but if you’re feeling charitable then Portal 2 is definitely one of the best games for couples. Available on Steam, the title perfectly balances humor alongside fiendishly difficult puzzles. The game’s co-op mode offers an ever-changing array of challenges make it both entertaining as well as difficult. Read More: Pokemon Valentine’s Day gift goes viral – In order to weave your way through the Aperture laboratory, you’ll have to work as a team coordinating your blue and orange portals to ensure that you don’t end up falling to your doom. Plus, there’s cake involved so that’s a nice little date night treat, right? Animal Crossing On the very opposite end of the spectrum, we have Animal Crossing, the game that literally everyone had back in the Nintendo DS days. With the title made a resurgence back in 2020 with New Horizons on the Switch, fans everywhere decided that it was the perfect tool to escape from our perplexing world. So what better date night game than the adorable adventure game? Featuring some of the gaming sphere’s cutest characters in a cartoon realm designed to be user-friendly, you and that special someone can escape to your own little island for a slice of tranquility. If you fancy being a little more active though you can catch some bugs together, chill in each other’s homes or go on a fishing date. Hopefully, you catch some rainbow trouts instead of some old boots though… League of Legends League of Legends might strike you as a strange one on this list, but the bottom lane of Summoner’s Rift has become Runeterra’s prime romantic location. It’s also available for free on PC and runs smoothly on low-level machines, making it perfect for everyone. If you fancy a walk through the lush terrain of the Rift you can partner up as ADC and Support in the bot lane, where you’ve got a whole host of dynamic characters to choose from. Teamwork is key, so make sure you’re ready to work together to shatter some turrets and blow up the enemy nexus. If you’re feeling extra romantic, though, suggest to your partner to run Xayah and Rakan or Senna and Lucian. LoL’s resident couples have unique voice lines that, if you direct them at your partner, will make them blush. Who said esports couldn’t be romantic?! Just make sure you mute the chatbox before you go into a game. Stardew Valley If you’re looking for a slightly less explosive title, Stardew Valley is the one for you. Available across a whole range of platforms, it’s not too difficult to get your hands on. At its core, the game revolves around farming, planting crops and managing your own little patch of happiness. However, there’s a lot more to the title than originally meets the eye. The multiplayer feature allows players to group up as three and interact, whether that’s fighting monsters or just hanging out. Another aspect of the game is the relationship-building mechanic though, so if you’re looking to get a little more serious but can’t quite make it happen due to the current situation, then you can work towards blossoming together amid the quaint hills of the Valley. Second Life Fancy going to a concert? Going shopping? Or even just hitting the clubs? These are all things that the modern world prohibits us from doing at the moment, but the virtual world of Second Life doesn’t have all that red tape to wade through. Available across Windows and Mac, the title is a massive open world with no active objective. It literally is an alternative life where you can do as you please. Once you and your partner have created your avatars you can start exploring together. You can channel your inner Autumn Ashdene (pictured above) and take a cute walk in the snow, or head to a bar for a more traditional date night. Not a fan of either of those? No problem. Second Life literally has every activity you’d ever want, all you have to do is look. In a world where normality seems a long way off, sometimes it’s nice to taste it again. Valorant Spike Rush Yes, I hear your question marks. Valorant is one of the best games for couples? Really? Riot Games PC exclusive shooter hardly seems the title for a chill dating session, but there’s method in my madness (maybe). While dodging bullets and rapid-paced rounds might not be everyone’s couple of tea, Spike Rush is a great introduction to the Valorant universe. The lightning-fast game mode is full to the brim with fun power-ups, tactical challenges and team-centric gameplay. Sure your aim is to blow up the area which hardly seems romantic, but Future Earth can be the perfect place to lay the foundations for a second date. Why am I so sure? Well, let’s just say I have Valorant to thank for my own little slice of happiness. So that’s it for our list of games to try out with your special someone. Of course, there’s a whole host of games that we haven’t included, but what matters here isn’t the exact game you play. After all, as long as you’re having fun and staying safe, then that’s what’s important.

These are the 100 best games of all time Bioware, Microsoft, Larian, Sega, SquareEnix, Nintendo, SonyFrom exciting RPGs to action-packed first-person shooters, Dexerto’s list includes the 100 best video games of all time. Gaming has come a long way since the days of Computer Space and Pong. In fact, it’s gone from a niche hobby to a multi-billion dollar industry, and each year, developers across the world release exciting and new games that players can’t wait to get their hands on. This, of course, raises one big and important question. With so many games coming out each year, which are the best? Well, to answer such a question, you’d need to have an encyclopedic knowledge of games… luckily our talented team has exactly that. Yes, that’s right, as it’s Gamescom week (and we’re very excited), the Dexerto gaming team has come together, like a less rubbish version of the Justice League, to bring you a definitive list of the best video games of all time. We’ve got everything from thrilling superhero games and MMOs to shooters and RPGs. Basically, we left no stone unturned while writing this list, and… yes, there may have been a few arguments (I’m sorry, Pokemon Crystal fans), but we got there in the end. So enjoy Dexerto’s list of the 100 best games of all time. 100. WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain (2003) What it’s about: WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain was the fifth title in the WWE SmackDown! series and featured some amazing additions, such as an improved grappling system, an immersive Season Mode with a revamped rivalry system, the Elimination Chamber match type, and much more. Why we like it: Here Comes the Pain was the last title from the WWE Smackdown! franchise – before it was rebranded to WWE Smackdown! Vs. Raw. A quietly revolutionary game, Here Comes the Pain offered incredible replay value owing to the variety of player choices, branching storylines, and a much more engaging rivalry system. Best of all, it featured the biggest roster of characters at that time, including several WWE legends. Words by Titas Khan 99. Doom (2016) What it’s about: Demonic forces in the far-flung future have overwhelmed a Union Aerospace Corporation research facility on Mars. Should the demons triumph, Earth will soon be overrun, too, so to prevent the apocalypse, scientists awaken a lone Marine to wipe out the legions of Hell. Why we like it: A love letter to the Doom game of old, Doom 2016 embraces and elevates what came before in what was easily the fastest and most chaotic game in the series (pre-Doom Eternal, at least). Boasting propulsive gameplay, over-the-top finishers, and a genre-defining heavy metal OST, there’s a Hell of a lot to love in Doom 2016. Ok, we’ll admit the reboot doesn’t have a compelling story, but that won’t matter to those who believe gameplay is king. Words by Brianna Reeves 98. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (2018) What it’s about: Set in Ancient Greece, the game focuses on the elder of two siblings (Alexios or Kassandra), a legendary mercenary known as the Eagle Bearer who got exiled from Sparta after trying to save the younger sibling from being killed. While you work to reunite your family, you’ll uncover the secrets behind an obscure cult and the war between Athens and Sparta. Why we like it: Odyssey is, without a doubt, one of the best Assassin’s Creed games. Set during one of the most interesting periods in history, the game offers a huge open world full of missions to complete, iconic historical figures to meet, countless secrets to uncover, and plenty of unforgettable battles across land and sea. Unlike its predecessors, Oddysey puts more emphasis on combat, with an impressive skill tree that unlocks fun and distinctive mechanics that will aid you through your journey. Words by Raissa Jerez 97. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003) What it’s about: When the evil Darth Malak threatens to unleash a Sith armada on the Galactic Republic, you must take control of a Jedi Kight and save the day. How you do so is entirely up to you, though, so will you walk in the light or fall to the Dark Side? Why we like it: The years might not have been kind to KOTOR in terms of graphics and gameplay, but when it comes to a story, few RPGs can compete. Honestly, KOTOR remains one of the best-written games of all time, and people still talk about its shocking twist. Arguably, though, the game’s legacy is the introduction of Darth Revan, a Sith Lord so cool he’s still spoken about with Revan-ence (sorry, not sorry) 20 years later. Why do you think Disney kept him canon? Words by Tom Percival 96. EarthBound (1995) What it’s about: Technically, a sequel to the first Mother game, Earthbound lets you take control of Ness as he explores the country of Eagleland and battles Giygas – an alien force that has consumed Earth and turned animals, humans, and bugs into malicious creatures. Why we like it: The daddy of JRPGs, Earthbound proved that all you needed to make an RPG great was charm, wit, and childlike playfulness. Arguably, though, what makes Earthbound so memorable is its brilliant writing, which puts us in the shoes of kids playing make-believe. Words by Jeremy Gan 95. Need For Speed: Underground 2 (2004) What’s it about: Need For Speed: Underground 2 picks up right after the first game, and would you believe it? It’s all about street racing! Why we like it: Need for Speed: Underground 2 changed things quite a bit for the Need for Speed series. While NFS already had several well-received titles under its belt – such as Hot Pursuit and Porsche Unleashed – Underground 2 brought a necessary sense of style to the series. Underground 2 was the first NFS game to feature an open world, new race modes, and a soundtrack so iconic that you could race to the beats without caring about the story. While NFS: Most Wanted might be the best-reviewed Need For Speed game, Underground 2 set the standard for all future games in the franchise. Words by Melvin Mathew 94. Firewatch (2016) What’s it about: Firewatch is an adventure game that puts you in control of Harry, a fire lookout at Shoshone National Forest who uncovers the National Park’s dark secret. Why we like it: Firewatch is one of those stories that can only be told through the medium of gaming. With an emphasis on exploration and dialogue, the game relies on visuals and dialogue over outright action. On paper, that sounds a bit dull, but, in fact, it all contributes to the game’s mysterious and uneasy atmosphere. Indeed, it’s that sense of unease that drives the player to explore and figure out what’s really happening. Firewatch might not be for everyone, but if you give it the time it deserves, it will stay with you forever. Words by Melvin Mathew 93. Mortal Kombat 11 (2019) What it’s about: Following the events of the last Mortal Kombat, a corrupted Raiden decides to take a more proactive approach to the villains threatening Earthrealm, upsetting a god of time in the process. Why we like it: Mortal Kombat 11 is a divisive entry in the franchise, thanks to a terrible combination of microtransactions and the daft amount of grind. Still, MK 11 remains an incredibly fun game thanks to stellar gameplay and a deep fighting system. Even better, we get some cool guest fighters (who thought Rambo would ever take part in an Earth Realm tournament), and it’s as gory as a school trip to the slaughterhouse! What’s not to love? Words by Tom Percival 92. Sonic 2 (1992) What it’s about: The second major outing for Sega’s blue mascot improved upon the original lightning-fast platformer in every way, cementing Sonic’s status as a gaming icon. Why we like it: Sonic reached its apex on the Sega Genesis with Sonic 2. From a mechanical standpoint, the sequel improved on its predecessor in every perceivable way. It was better looking, the levels better designed, and the gameplay was dramatically improved. Even two decades later, Sonic 2 stands out as one of the best games in the franchise. Of course, we’d be remiss, not to mention the game’s impeccable music, most notably Chemical Plant and Casino Night, both of which have been remixed countless times. Words by Joe Pring 91. Dead Space (2008) What it’s about: Something has gone wrong with the USG Ishimura. Sent to investigate, Isaac Clarke couldn’t possibly imagine what he’d find in the deeply troubled spacecraft. With Necromorphs lurking around every corner, just waiting to pounce, this brutal horror game has you uncovering the fate of the ship’s inhabitants while trying to eradicate the nightmarish infection. Why we like it: Show don’t tell: Three words Dead Space lives by. With minimal UI elements and an overall lack of exposition, you’re largely left to fend for yourself as you uncover the terror onboard the Ishimura. A chilling experience take on the survival horror formula, this spacefaring shooter is a bloody good time that’s sure to send shivers down your spine even on your tenth replay. With a slew of weapons to find and upgrades to equip, it’s one you’ll continuously want to improve at, though the Necromorphs never become less unsettling. Words by Brad Norton 90. Phantasy Star Online (2000) What it’s about: Sega’s groundbreaking MMO placed players in the role of a HUNTER tasked with investigating the strange behavior of Ragol’s wildlife and the whereabouts of their boss’ daughter, Red Ring Rico. Why we like it: A pioneer of the genre and the first-ever MMO to be released on a console, Phantasy Star Online served as a gateway to massively multiplayer experiences for mainstream audiences. Maintaining the trappings of a traditional RPG – no open world; instanced environments — but with an eye for arcade-like ease of access, Sega’s streamlined approach to character progression and emphasis on hunting for cool loot made it unique among its contemporaries. A testament to its longevity and forward-thinking design, the Dreamcast title lives on today through numerous fan-run private servers, some of which continue to add new content and enjoy sizable, dedicated communities. Words by Joe Pring 89. Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005) What it’s about: In this social simulation game, players move into a village of (mostly) friendly anthropomorphic animals. From there, they can pretty much play however they want, whether that involves catching bugs, decorating their house, befriending the other villagers, or connecting with real-world friends over Wi-Fi. Why we like it: New Horizons’ (coincidentally) perfectly timed release may have made the game a juggernaut, but Wild World arguably made Animal Crossing what it is today. In addition to fine-tuning the original title’s gameplay, the Nintendo DS really allowed the series to grow thanks to both its handheld nature and Wi-Fi capabilities. Wild World was the first Animal Crossing game to allow players to connect online, visiting each other’s villages. Animal Crossing: Wild World may have only made incremental changes to the gameplay loop rather, but its successors’ leaps wouldn’t have been possible if Wild World hadn’t perfected that core formula first. Words by Noelle Corbett 88. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2004) What it’s about: A paper-ized Mario sets off to save the kingdom and uncover the secrets of the Thousand-Year Door. Along the way, he’ll explore Rogueport and recruit fun teammates. Why we like it: Paper Mario TTYD isn’t just the best Mario RPG; it is likely one of the best Mario games of all. Look I love an RPG, but the genre is tied to fantasy, pathos, and some serious themes across those hours of gameplay. What TTYD offers is a shorter version of these epics, but with just as much discovery, and then a sprinkle of Mario magic with some fantastic platforming and addictive battles. Seriously, the real-time and reaction-based battles here are borderline perfect and make even the smallest match a blast. The story and characters add even more, and the colorful cast of characters is still fondly remembered by fans decades later. Rawk Hawk for Smash, let’s do it, folks. Words by Nathan Ellingsworth 87. The Sims 3 (2009) What it’s about: The Sims 3 is a lifestyle sandbox simulation game with the option to either explore pre-made characters or tell your own story through custom characters. Why we like it: The Sims is the most iconic franchise in the sandbox subgenre and The Sims 3 is treasured by many fans as the best in the series. It’s deeply immersive and engaging, with a surprising amount of lore, but it still manages to give players utter freedom. It’s possible to play the game with intriguing pre-made characters or to handcraft your own to explore the fully customizable worlds. Combining that with a fiercely dedicated modding community makes it a joy to play through as a fan of simulation games. Words by Em Stonham 86. Diablo 4 (2023) What it’s about: The fourth mainline Diablo outing sees the world of Sanctuary recovering from the last Prime Evil assault. Meanwhile, Lilith, the demonic mother of humanity, returns to claim her children. Why we like it: Diablo 4 borrows from the most celebrated parts of Diablo 2 and 3 to create a new experience that unites the fanbase. For the most part, it succeeds and also leans fully into the live service elements that previous games dabbled with. In doing so, Diablo offers a modern version of the classic hack-and-slash formula that’s captivated players for over twenty years. The best part is that the game will add an expansion pack every year going forward rather than simply adding one. Its seasonal content is also going from strength to strength. Words by Sam Smith 85. Soulcalibur 2 (2002) What it’s about: A tale of souls and swords, this sequel sees several heroes battling to get their hands on the holy blade, Soul Calibur before the tyrannical Nightmare can restore the evil Soul Edge. Why we like it: Tekken with swords is a reductive way to talk about the Soulcalibur franchise… but that’s basically what it is. Still, it’s a hell of a lot of fun, and Soulcalibur 2 remains the high watermark by which all these games should judge themselves. The combat was smooth and fluid, the character roster was full of interesting and unique fighters, and best of all, the GameCube version let you play as Link. A classic fighting game! Words by Tom Percival 84. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (2019) What it’s about: A Sci-Fi title from Vanillaware that splits its gameplay between real-time strategy combat and side-scrolling adventuring. Why we like it: 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is an incredibly unique game that splits its gameplay between intense strategy combat and a compelling narrative. To say much about the story would ruin the experience for anyone yet to play it, but basically, you play as 13 high-schoolers who are all connected to one another. The non-linear narrative is experienced during side-scrolling segments that highlight the game’s gorgeous watercolor-like art style. Between story beats, the students have to jump into powerful mechs to defend humanity against hostile Kaiju threats. 13 Sentinels is unlike any other game. It’s a masterwork of character writing and storytelling that everyone should try at least once. Words by Tyler Constable 83. PUBG (2017) What it’s about: PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) is a multiplayer battle royale game in which players parachute into shrinking territory, scavenge for guns and gear, and battle to be the last person or team remaining. Why we like it: Forget Fortnite, it was PUBG that set the bar for Battle Royale gameplay. PUBG’s distinctive twist comes from mimicking guns from the Call of Duty franchise and providing in-game attachments, transforming each weapon into a lethal masterpiece. Although the current frenzy over PUBG has subsided, it will always be remembered as the first Battle Royale experience for many players. It paved the way for a slew of comparable games, including Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Call of Duty Warzone, which helped shape the genre’s future Words by Rishabh Sabarwal 82. Tomb Raider (1996) What it’s about: A third-person platformer about a British archaeologist-adventurer named Lara Croft, who explores a series of ancient ruins across the world in search of an ancient artifact. Why we like it: With her signature plaited hair, dual pistols, and turquoise leotard, Lara Croft’s iconic design is a tale as old as time and owes greatly to the Tomb Raider franchise’s popularity over the decades. An early example of 3D platforming, Tomb Raider’s grid-based movement and weighty controls gave the game a structured sense of traversal. Lara’s climbing, running, and jumping are all measured in squares, which brings a great manner of challenges to the game. But it really meant you’d have to calculate the exact combination of button presses needed to get across a room successfully. It’s one of the best examples of adventure games that really require you to use your brain. Words by Olly Smith 81. DOOM Eternal (2020) What it’s about: Doom Eternal follows the Doom Slayer as he fights throughout hellish worlds to preserve Earth from a demonic invasion. Why we like it: Doom Eternal recreates the same atmosphere of classic Doom with updated visuals and some of the finest monster-mashing maneuvers. The game rewards an aggressive playstyle and is the ultimate gore-fest, where every kill and dismemberment you engage in is a visual feast. Words by Rishabh Sabarwal 80. Metroid Prime (2002) What it’s about: Despite being the first game to bring everyone’s favorite spacefaring bounty hunter into the 3D realm, Metroid Prime was a resounding success. It takes players on an adventure across Tallon IV Why we like it: It’s one of the first games to take the Metroidvania format outside of being a 2D sidescroller, giving players a rich and varied world to explore. You’re constantly getting new upgrades and figuring out how to best use them for both exploration and combat. The experience of the world around you being an ever-unfolding puzzle sprinkled with engaging combat encounters makes Metroid Prime an unforgettable experience, even for those who didn’t play the original games. It may not be Nintendo’s most popular series, but Metroid consistently delivers some of the best gaming experiences. The sense of awe and wonder that comes from exploring Tallon 4 is near-unmatched. Words by Carver Fisher 79. Age of Empires 2 (1999) What it’s about: Age of Empires 2 is a real-time strategy game set in the Middle Ages, and you must manage resources, build a town and battle your rivals. Why we like it: The late ’90s were a glorious era for PC strategies, and where Civilization was dominating the turn-based scene, Age of Empires was making similar moves in a real-time setting. Ensemble Studios’ third game was an unbelievable improvement, offering a raft of changes and new features that the community scarcely thought possible at the time. The real strength of AoE II was its ability to excel in both single-player and multiplayer formats. It featured five separate campaigns (all of which offered something unique), and multiplayer support was consistent and impressive for the time, even if everyone just resorted to turtling. The subsequent remaster built on that success, and the game has continued to thrive almost 25 years after its initial release. Words by James Lynch 78. Fortnite (2017) What’s it about: Fortnite has cemented itself as a flagship title in the gaming ecosystem by introducing building mechanics to the Battle Royale genre. Why we like it: Fortnite was released at a point of time when Battle Royale titles were on the rise, and while the initial hype over the genre has died down, Fortnite continues to be one of the most-played and even most-watched games. The game has stayed relevant with countless collaborations and in-game events with gaming as well as real-world brands. All of these have allowed Fortnite to maintain its ties with contemporary pop culture. Additionally, the game offers cross-platform play along with a highly immersive Creative mode where you can team up with your friends and build your custom games. Words by Titas Khan 77. Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood (2010) What it’s about: Set in Rome during the 1500s, Ezio, now a master Assassin, takes the fight to the Templars, attempting to rebuild the Assassin Brotherhood in Italy, liberating the city from their tyrannical reign. Why we like it: Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood is unlike any other AC game. Sure, it has hidden blades, massively oversized hoods, and extensive parkour, but Brotherhood also has recruitable allies, which completely changed how many experienced the classic franchise. After all, who wouldn’t want to rescue tons of innocent civilians and turn them into deadly Assassins to help destroy the faction that rules over Italy? The feature was so pivotal back when it was released that even 14 years later, I can still see the team of recently initiated Assassins riding across Italy on their hordes. We even see the same style being implemented throughout Black Flag, Odyssey, and many more, proving just how well-received it was. Words by Jess Filby 76. Spec Ops: The Line (2012) What it’s about: A tactical, third-person shooter, Spec Ops: The Line, follows Captain Martin Walker, who leads his Delta Force squad through a war-torn and sandstorm-ravaged Dubai on a rescue mission. However, the reality surrounding the ongoing conflict turns on its head the deeper Walker and Company get into the capital city. Why we like it: The most provocative entry in the Spec Ops series, this installment bears the same thematic framing as Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now, yet explores it in a way unique to video games. Spec Ops presents its commentary on violence and war through a lens that depicts Walker as the hero but bends the player’s perception in a manner that forces them to question his morality and sanity. Unfortunately, Spec Ops is let down by its gameplay, and its combat and movement mechanics feel dated and stale even by 2012 standards. Still, what Spec Ops lacks in gameplay is offset by its ambitious story, characters, and final player-centric choice. Words by Brianna Reeves 75. Return of the Obra Dinn (2018) What it’s about: Return of the Obra Dinn sees us as the Chief Inspector for the East India Company, sent to investigate what happened to the Obra Dinn after it had mysteriously disappeared and then reappeared. With our stopwatch, the Momento Mortem, to go back to a singular point in time, we look back to the years of the Obra Dinn to piece together what happened on the vessel. Why we like it: In what world is document filling an interesting gameplay mechanic? Well, in the hands of Lucas Pope, he turns it into the most riveting storytelling tool known to man. Everything about this game shouldn’t work, from its garish 1-bit graphics to a convoluted maritime mystery story and its gameplay loop of going back in a singular moment in time and noting down details on your document. However, it all works wonderfully. With a fascinating plot, addictive mechanics, and absolutely charming visuals, it’s a unique game and is Pope’s magnum opus. Words by Jeremy Gan 74. Street Fighter 4 (2008) What it’s about: Following M. Bison’s battle with Akuma in Street Fighter 2, the mysterious Seth organizes a new World Fighting Tournament in the hopes of luring out the world’s strongest fighters so he can complete his terrifying bioweapon. Why we like it: It’s potentially contentious to put Street Fighter 4 on this list over 2, but I’m sorry the future is now, and this is the game that dragged the series into the 21st century. Street Fighter 4 brought back fan-favorite characters (after their inexplicable absence from Street Fighter 3), introduced 3D models (while keeping 2d gameplay), and ultimately saved the entire franchise from obscurity. I’m sorry, there might be technically better games in the franchise, but the only reason the series still exists is because of Street Fighter. Words by Tom Percival 73. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997) What it’s about: Several years after Richter Belmont defeated Dracula, trouble starts to brew again when Dracula’s castle returns and Alucard encounters a Richter that seems very different. Why we like it: It’s beautiful when you can pinpoint the start of a genre, and while a few games that fit into ‘Metroidvania’ predate this game, the RPG mechanics and sprawling gothic castle here feel like the nexus point of this type of game for so many. There’s a good reason for the success as well, as Symphony of the Night is a dream to control, as Alucard (fittingly) glides around Dracula’s castle while using a huge library of satisfying weapons to destroy the minions of Hell. It’s made all the better by a soundtrack full of stone-cold classics, that satisfying crawl of XP as you climb up the levels, and an expansive late-game shift to the world that still makes my jaw drop. Many have tried to emulate in the decades since, and very few have even come close. Words by Nathan Ellingsworth 72. Fire Emblem Three Houses (2019) What it’s about: Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a tactical RPG set on the continent of Fódlan with three nations connected by the Garreg Mach Monastery. You control a former mercenary named Byleth, a teacher at this monastery, and lead your students in combat. Why we like it: Fire Emblem: Three Houses took the series to a whole new level. The game offers endless replayability, and despite its gigantic cast of characters, each of them has a developed personality. Honestly, Three Houses is arguably one of the best turn-based strategy games because of its engaging gameplay both on and off the several available battle maps. It’s also a great starter choice for people wanting to get into the Fire Emblem series, leaving players eager to dive into the franchise’s many entries. Words by Cassidy Stephenson 71. Counter-Strike: Source (2004) What’s it about: Counter-Strike: Source was an FPS title developed and released by Valve as a remake of the original Counter-Strike using the Source game engine. Why we like it: Building on the stage already set by Counter-Strike and 1.6, Source aimed at having a strong balance between tactical gameplay and intense action with optimized maps and well-designed gun mechanics. The initial release of the game had the CS community split between 1.6 and its successor. However, Source brought forward a lot of changes and new additions that would then go on to become an integral part of the game franchise. From an improved net code allowing smoother gameplay to an overall update to the game engine along with a revamped user interface and customizations, Counter-Strike: Source is one of the best video games ever created. Words by Titas Khan 70. Sea of Thieves (2018) What it’s about: Sea of Thieves lets you live out your dream of sailing the Seven Seas, fighting skeletons, mythical sea creatures, and other pirates as you hunt down treasure, solve riddles, and get as rich as possible. Why we like it: Pirate games have come and gone since the moment video games were invented. Skull and Bones tried it and failed; Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag mastered the single-player design, but Sea of Thieves perfected the multiplayer. Sea of Thieves is a masterclass on how to perfect a multiplayer PvP pirate adventure, all while catering to every type of player. Its PvP is epic, its quests are exciting, and its adventures are unforgettable. In Sea of Thieves, you make the story great, and whether you’re alone or with friends, it’s guaranteed to be fun. Words by Jess Filby 69. Kingdom Hearts 2 (2005) What it’s about: Kingdom Hearts 2 reunites players with Sora, Goofy, and Donald as they try to put a stop to the sinister machinations of Organization XIII. What we like about it: Kingdom Hearts 2 holds an important place in JRPG history. Originally launched on the PlayStation 2, Square Enix pushed the boundaries of what people thought the console was capable of visually while also telling a rich and emotionally driven story. What makes Kingdom Hearts 2 particularly special is the main character’s moral compass. Players were able to connect to Sora and his drive to save and protect his friends as he battled against forces he couldn’t understand. Kingdom Hearts 2’s influence can be seen in almost every JRPG of today, and it remains the best title in the series without question. Words by Laura Gray 68. Yakuza 0 (2015) What’s it about: Set amid Japan’s economic bubble era, Yakuza 0 takes place in the seedy underbelly of Kamurocho and Sotenbori. It’s here where players are introduced to our two Tojo clan protagonists, the fiercely loyal Kazuma Kiryu and the disgraced but comically unhinged Goro Majima. It’s in the neon-soaked city streets where payers will need to unveil the mysteries surrounding the empty lot, an area of land that local Yakuza organizations wish to acquire no matter the cost. Why we like it: Yakuza 0 is everything I love about Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio’s beloved action series. Not only does it serve as an origin story for lead protagonist Kazuma Kiryu, but it provides an incredibly heartfelt look back at Goro Majima’s past – an area that perfectly reflects why he became known as the “The Mad Dog of Shimano”. The story of the empty lot may seem like a simple who-done-it-style mystery. However, some excellent twists keep you on your toes. Combine this with the series’ brutal brawl-style combat, a slew of silly mini-games, and a stellar cast of iconic characters, and you have a recipe for a truly unforgettable adventure. Yakuza 0 is also responsible for increasing the series’ popularity in the West, and without it, we may have never received subsequent title releases – like the brilliant Isshin spinoff and subsequent mainline titles following the new boy on the block, Ichiban Kasuga. Words by James Busby 67. Dota 2 (2013) What’s it about: One of the most popular titles from the MOBA genre, Dota 2 features a steep learning curve with a very high skill ceiling. The game features a free-to-play model while also boasting some of the highest prize pools at The International. Why we like it: Dota 2 features a unique blend of strategic depth with various micro and macro actions that play a massive role in the outcome of every match. Additionally, with more than 120 heroes with multiple facets and countless items on offer to choose from, the possible combinations that you can create in every match are virtually endless. Dota 2 also features a thriving esports ecosystem with several Majors being held across the year. However, the crowning jewel of the Dota 2 professional scene has to be The International, an annual championship featuring the top teams from across the globe, making it one of the most viewed esports tournaments in the world. Words by Titas Khan 66. Nier: Automata (2017) What it’s about: Nier: Automata is a grand, 40+ hour epic that follows a group of androids through a refreshingly unique take on what the post-apocalypse might look like. Saying anything specific beyond that would ruin the plot. If you haven’t played this game yet, you should. Why we like it: Visionary director Yoko Taro’s eye for storytelling has always been a keen one, though the gameplay side of his prior projects always served as a barrier of entry that most weren’t willing to climb. However, thanks to working with veteran developer Platinum Games, Taro was finally given a backbone that could support his storytelling ambitions to deliver one of the best narrative experiences ever made, along with an ever-changing gameplay experience that throws surprises at the player for dozens of hours. Nier: Automata is one of the only games that’d comfortably hide 80% of its story behind starting a “New Game”, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Words by Carver Fisher 65. Ico (2001) What’s it about: An adventure game where a horned boy seeks to rescue a princess from the secured fortress where they are both imprisoned. Why we like it: Part of what made Ico so special was its insistence on being different from other games of its genre. Game director Fumito Ueda deployed a “subtracting design” philosophy to the game – this meant stripping out any features that interfered with the intended experience. This meant no HUD, very limited combat, and features that emphasized the connection between the player character and Yorda, the princess. The game ensures you’re always focused on getting her to safety by escaping from the fortress. What results is a concentrated adventure game without any of the unnecessary bloat, and an experience you’ll never forget after rolling credits. Words by Olly Smith 64. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004) What’s it about: GTA: San Andreas is the third game in the GTA 3D universe set in Los Santos. The story follows Carl Johnson (CJ), who comes back home after his mother’s passing, only to realize that corruption and gang war are tearing the city apart and he needs to take back control of the streets. Why we like it: Whether you’re a gamer or not, GTA: San Andreas is a game that everyone has played at some point in their lives. It tells a compelling story with a plot twist that hits you like a gut punch. However, the main draw of San Andreas, as is the case with any GTA game, is its open world. The graphics may look dated, but the attention to detail is impeccable. San Andreas features a dynamic body mechanic that allows CJ to gain or lose weight in real-time. This is a mechanic that hasn’t been seen in any Rockstar title since. Features like this are one of the reasons why San Andreas still holds a special place in many players’ hearts. Words by Melvin Mathew 63. Persona 4 Golden (2008) What’s it about: Turn-based JRPG full of dungeons to explore and compelling life-sim gameplay. Why we like it: Persona 4 Golden is a fan-favourite entry in the Persona franchise, and it’s easy to see why. Whether it’s the small town setting of Inaba, the loveable main cast, or the excellent turn-based combat, there’s so much to love in this JRPG gem. What begins as a quint countryside adventure for the protagonist quickly unravels into a compelling murder mystery that will keep you hooked for hundreds of hours. The core cast is some of the most well-drawn characters in any JRPG, and the town of Inaba is sure to capture your heart by the time the credits roll. It’s a masterpiece of the genre that cemented Person as one of the all-time greats. Words by Tyler Constable 62. Borderlands 2 (2012) What’s it about: A sequel to Gearbox’s Borderlands, this game is an action-packed looter shooter that takes place 5 years after the original game and tasks players with adventuring across the planet of Pandora to stop the tyrannical Handsome Jack. Why we like it: Borderlands 2 takes everything great about the original Borderlands and amps it up to 11. There’s even more loot to find, new Vault Hunters to play as, and the vibrant world of Pandora to explore. Handsome Jack is not only the best antagonist in the franchise but one of the very best video game characters of all time. His narcissistic but charming personality makes every interaction memorable and ultimately results in the story being one of the best in the looter shooter genre. Ultimately, this is even more Borderlands on a huge scale, with a standout villain and countless content to enjoy. Words by Tyler Constable 61. Civilization 4 (2005) What it’s about: The fourth installment in the incredibly popular turn-based strategy game series, Civilization 4, allows you to build your own mighty nation. Will you pursue peace, head to the stars, or conquer the world? The choice is yours. Why we like it: Civ 4 is the game that modernized the Civilization series and arguably cemented its position in the pantheon of RTS games. The game offers beautiful 3D graphics, an elegant UI, and improved AI (although Gandhi was still a bit nuke-happy). The introduction of religion also added a fun new mechanic to the game. Still, while gameplay is brilliant, it’s not what we remember most about the game. No, it’s Leonard Nimoy’s iconic tech quotes, my personal favorite, “beep…beep…beep-Sputnik”!” Words by Tom Percival 60. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) What it’s about: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a stealth-action game set during the Cold War in which players take control of Naked Snake on a mission to rescue a scientist and avoid a nuclear danger. Why we like it: The iconic Metal Gear Solid series didn’t just invent stealth gaming; it perfected it. While the first two games are beloved classics, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is arguably the best in the series. This prequel introduced a groundbreaking survival system where managing food and medicine added unprecedented realism. The camouflage feature was particularly noteworthy, allowing players to blend in with their surroundings. Plus, who can forget Cynthia Hall’s Snake Eater in the endless ladder climb scene? Also, the boss battle with The End, which may last hours and is a cat-and-mouse race in a vast forest area, exemplifies Kojima’s ingenuity since only he can make a game appear like a movie. Words by Rishabh Sabarwal 59. Resident Evil (2002 Remake) What it’s about: A crack squad of special forces operatives infiltrate a remote mansion to find its inhabitants turned into the walking dead. Why we like it: Rarely do remakes succeed in bettering their original counterparts, but Capcom pulled off exactly that feat with 2002’s Resident Evil. Boasting a ground-up recreation of Spencer Mansion and its surrounding outbuildings, the S.T.A.R.S. team’s first encounter with Umbrella’s heinous machinations is as enjoyable in 2024 as it was 22 years ago. But then, that’s hardly surprising, is it? This is, after all, an ambitious remake of the survival horror title that helped to popularize the genre. Capcom came close to one-upping itself with its stellar remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 4 but still hasn’t quite managed to capture the magic that lives inside Spencer’s zombie-infested home. Words by Joe Pring 58. Gears of War 2 (2008) What it’s about: Acting as a sequel to Epic Games’ breakout Xbox 360 hit, Gears of War 2 sends Marcus and his crew back into the depths of the earth to combat the Locust threat. From big setpieces like getting eaten like a giant worm to the rare quiet character moment, it’s a roller coaster that keeps you glued. Why we like it: Gears 2 is often seen as the pariah of the series, with its cliffhanger ending leaving some players reeling. However, this game has aged like wine over the years. Its massive setpieces are arguably the best in the series, making the hellish struggle Marcus is forced through a sight to behold. The way these experiences bind you to GoW’s characters makes the third entry hit that much harder. That, combined with this game making significant strides in both competitive multiplayer and co-op with horde mode, make it an essential milestone for the series. Though Gears of War 2 is kind of a pain to get your hands on in the modern day, it’s worth it, especially if you can grab some friends and hit horde mode. Words by Carver Fisher 57. Celeste (2018) What’s it about: This brutal platformer has heavy themes of self-acceptance and perseverance. It follows Madeline as she attempts to conquer both a literal mountain and the symbolic mountain of anxiety in her mind. Why we like it: With a cult following in the precision platformer community – yes, it’s a real thing – Celeste is known for being both beautiful and immensely challenging. The story is emotional yet inspirational, which contrasts heavily with the tricky gameplay style. Celeste punishes the player for failure, but not to the extent where the game becomes miserable – which is unique for the subgenre. Every chapter feels rewarding to work through, both for the player and Madeline herself. It’s a gaming experience that’ll test even the most seasoned of players, yet it’s undoubtedly worth the time and tears. Words by Em Stonham 56. Apex Legends (2019) What it’s about: By taking the best elements of Titanfall and turning them into a Battle Royale, Respawn managed to make Apex Legends one of the most popular games in the world. The BR formula is a hard one to perfect, but Apex Legends comes pretty damn close. Why we like it: In a genre partially defined by the graveyard of live service games it left behind, Apex Legends managed to claw its way past the ill fate most late 2010/early 2020 BR games faced. Buttery smooth gunplay, a diverse roster of characters, consistent content updates, an inconceivably high skill ceiling, and a bustling esports scene all make Apex worth putting on this list. Many multiplayer games have come and gone since Apex originally came out; few capture the speed, stakes, and satisfaction that come from running through an entire lobby of players and racking up badges. Though this game has had its fair share of issues, it’s an absolute masterclass within its genre, and it’s here for a reason. Words by Carver Fisher 55. Hitman: World of Assassination (2021) What’s it about: An action stealth game about Agent 47, the world’s greatest assassin, as he takes down a mysterious organization controlling global affairs. Why we like it: The Hitman franchise has always shined as an action puzzle experience with many fun, creative ways to tackle each stage. And World of Assassination is the best the series has ever been. What exactly makes Hitman so fun is down to personal taste. Here’s your target, here’s a bunch of methods to eliminate them, and here are the reins. The amount of freedom you’re given is unparalleled with any other video game, as it’s completely possible to repeat the same stage a thousand times without ever having the same experience. Words by Olly Smith 54. Batman Arkham Asylum (2009) What’s it about: Batman: Arkham Asylum is the first game in the Arkham trilogy and made Rocksteady Studios a household name by kicking off what is considered to be one of the greatest video game stories of all time. Why we like it: It’s rare to witness a studio that comes out of nowhere and changes the gaming landscape forever. Such is the case with Batman: Arkham Asylum, as Rocksteady took one of the most iconic comic book characters of all time and cemented its legacy as a pop culture milestone. Equipped with a slew of gadgets, you could stealthily take down enemies while watching them tremble in fear as you attack from the shadows, or you could take on the enemies head-on to make for the most satisfying combat. Be it the Detective Mode that every game seems to be using these days or the game-changing (pun intended) rhythm-based combat, Rocksteady made you feel like you were the Dark Knight. Words by Melvin Mathew 53. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020) What it’s about: A non-linear life simulator game where the player moves to a deserted island after buying a gateway package from a travel agent called Tom Nook. There, the player must complete tasks, gather money, and craft items to develop the island and customize it for the community that resides there. Why we like it: Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a huge improvement on its predecessor, offering players a lot of freedom and new cool features like terraforming, outdoor decorations, and a fully stuffed DLC. Plus, it came out during the COVID-19 lockdown, and people really delved into it, having business meetings inside the game, virtually visiting family and friends, and most importantly, staying connected through a game that gave pure joy. In a very dark time, people found an escape with Animal Crossing: New Horizons, using it to go fishing or bug hunting, as well as a way to develop their collector or artistic side, all at their own pace. Words by Raissa Jerez 52. Outer Wilds (2019) What it’s about: A first-time alien astronaut must navigate a lethal time loop, uncover the words of an ancient, vanished species, and endure more than a few ignoble physics-based deaths as they unravel the mysteries of their solar system. Why we like it: Outer Wilds is gaming’s greatest double-edged sword. It sticks with you for years, but its very nature resists replaying. Outer Wilds has no power-ups, no skill trees, no stats to buff. Information is your reward and your greatest weapon. You fling yourself into the abyss again and again, scraping off a few more shards of the game’s great mysteries each time. This is a game for players who love discovery, great writing and characters, worlds in miniature, and ideas so massive they can barely be contained. For anyone who’s felt a connection with others across great distances, who ever looked up at the stars and felt scared or safe or both. Words by Jack Bye 51. Gran Turismo 4 (2004) What it’s about: Want to race some of the fastest (and most expensive) cars in the world around some of the trickiest tracks in the world from the comfort of your couch? Then Gran Turismo 4 is the game for you. Why we like it: The definitive Gran Turismo, this game offers quarreled realism and an expansive roster of cars. This sequel took everything that made its predecessors good and fine-tuned them until they were perfect. Words by Tom Percival 50. Chrono Trigger (1995) What it’s about: Chrono Trigger is a classic RPG that transports players through different periods, such as the Middle Ages, Prehistoric times, and a post-apocalyptic future, to prevent a gigantic global disaster. The game’s events begin to unfold after Crono, Marie, and Lucca accidentally travel to the year 600 AD. Throughout their journey to save the world from an evil sorcerer named Magus, the group of adventurers recruits more party members from various periods to prevent the summoning of Lavos. Why we like it: Unlike many JRPGs, Chrono Trigger deviates from featuring random encounters, and instead, enemies appear on the map while exploring. It is truly ahead of its time, considering its release in 1995 before popular JRPGs like Final Fantasy VII came out. Chrono Trigger was a masterpiece in the audio and visual departments, thanks to a soundtrack composed by Square legends Yasunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu. The game’s exciting battle mechanic combined with a rich story that features multiple endings makes Chrono Trigger not only a top-notch RPG but also one of the best video games ever made. Words by Cassidy Stephenson 49. Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening (2005) What it’s about: An undeniable PS2 classic, Devil May Cry 3 features demon hunter Dante taking down the forces of evil and looking damn good while doing it. From getting haunted by a strange demon clown to fighting a giant, heavy metal ghost chariot, it’s hard to know what this game’s going to throw at you next. Why we like it: DMC 3 revived the series after DMC 2 nearly buried it. Acting as a much-needed soft reboot, it gave Dante the over-the-top, devil-may-care attitude he’s known for today. Fast-paced and frenetic combat, fantastic boss fights, inventive level design, and a bangin’ soundtrack make this game a must-play even today. If the original Devil May Cry created the blueprint for character action games, DMC 3 refined and perfected it. It’s a relentlessly charming romp that’s hard to put down. Screw style over substance, Devil May Cry 3 has both in spades. Words by Carver Fisher 48. Modern Warfare 2 (2009) What it’s about: As America’s war against the Russian Ultranationalist heats up, culminating in an invasion of Washington DC, it’s up to you and your squadmate on Task Force 141 to put a stop to Vladimir Makarov and bring peace back to the world. Why we like it: As exciting as it was controversial (we still remember the horror of the airport massacre), Modern Warfare 2 balanced a thrilling campaign mode with what is, in my mind, the quintessential multiplayer experience. Yes, I know the game didn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but it arguably refined it, and when I think of Modern Warfare, this is the title I think of. Words by Tom Percival 47. League of Legends (2009) What it’s about: Though it’s come to be known for having one of the most toxic player bases in gaming, League of Legends’ mix of strategy, mechanics, and coordinated teamplay make it one of the best multiplayer experiences out there. It didn’t invent the MOBA formula, but it’s certainly the best version of it. Why we like it: From its free-to-play model revolutionizing multiplayer games to building esports into the giant industry it is today, League of Legends pioneered many of the trends that define the modern video game landscape. Additionally, the continuous flow of updates and patches keeps LoL fresh and engaging despite it being over a decade old. Its variety of playable characters, seemingly endless depth, and inconceivably high skill ceiling make League of Legends the sort of game you could never get tired of. And, though toxic interactions can sour the experience, the highs that come from hard-carrying a game are genuinely unmatched and make all the time spent learning this game worth it. Words by Carver Fisher 46. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) What it’s about: Nintendo’s flagship platform fighter returned in 2018 with its most jam-packed version yet, bringing back every character from past games and more with the ultimate celebration of gaming as a whole. Why we like it: When it comes to crossover fighters, there is no game crazier than Smash Ultimate. With a roster of over 80 characters, including Mario, Cloud, Solid Snake, Pikachu, Sora, Kazuya, and even Steve from Minecraft, Ultimate’s tagline was spot on: everyone is here. Ultimate’s smooth gameplay, collection of modes, stages, and match options make it a near-perfect party game. It’s pick-up-and-play, for sure, but it has the depth to make for a truly competitive experience if that’s what you fancy. Securing the rights to all these characters and implementing them so naturally is a special feat and something that may never happen again, which puts Ultimate in a league of its own. Words by Michael Gwilliam 45. Uncharted 4 (2016) What it’s about: Nathan Drake gets pulled into one last job by his estranged brother, but it ends up putting his relationship and life at risk. What it’s about: Naughty Dog took the end of Nathan Drake’s story seriously and used a generational leap to provide a gorgeous globe-trotting adventure that spends as much time exploring its characters as they do exploring the globe. Drake himself feels vulnerable, his brother is a great new addition, and Elena’s turn as the loving wife who just wants Nate to do better is justified and immensely satisfying. But it’s not just the story, as Uncharted 4 feels like a cheery on top for a franchise that is full of show-stopping action sequences. Using every scrap of PS4 processing power to deliver iconic, gorgeous levels filled with that classic Uncharted gameplay that feels like Indiana Jones on steroids. A fitting end that still makes me cry to this day. Words by Nathan Ellingsworth 44. Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018) What’s it about: After Spider-Man finally takes down the Kingpin, a new deadly villain known as Mister Negative tries to take over New York City’s criminal underworld. As Spider-Man battles to keep the Big Apple safe, however, he uncovers a far deeper, more sinister conspiracy. Why we like it: Deftly balancing one of the most amazing Spider-Man stories of all time with some truly spectacular gameplay, Marvel’s Spider-Man isn’t just a great Spider-Man game it’s the ultimate Spider-Man game. Perhaps what’s most impressive about Marvel’s Spider-Man, though, is the web-swinging. It’s fundamental to any game featuring the Wallcrawler, but few other titles have captured the speed, grace, and fluidity of Spidey’’s signature move quite like this. Words by Tom Percival 43. BioShock (2007) What it’s about: Initially considered a freak accident, Jack’s flight crashes into the ocean. Thought safe after swimming to a nearby lighthouse, he quickly discovers a dark secret beneath its innocent facade. Why we like it: Besides earning huge props for its incredible Art Deco aesthetics, Ken Levine and 2K’s spiritual successor to System Shock (from a gameplay perspective, at least) did the unthinkable in the mid-noughties. Making the player reflect on their unquestioning nature and eagerness to follow the rules laid out by a game remains one of the most memorable narrative subversions in the medium. Outside of its iconic plot twist, BioShock was always asking questions. Were you a monster for killing Little Sisters? Was Andrew Ryan really the bad guy? Was it your place to decide Rapture’s fate? BioShock is the thinking person’s FPS, a rare breed indeed. Words by Joe Pring 42. Left 4 Dead (2008) What it’s about: An all-time classic multiplayer title, Left 4 Dead, has become synonymous with the zombie genre as this iconic FPS pits teams of four against waves of the undead. With little story to worry about, this one is all about chaotic fun with friends. Why we like it: Left 4 Dead is still played by thousands every day. That should tell you everything, as fans have been pumping hundreds if not thousands of hours into this endlessly enjoyable bloodbath for more than a decade. Simplicity is key here, with just a few mechanics and features that keep an even playing field as you fend off hordes of mindless Zombies. Special Infected makes this one all the more enjoyable, though, with Smokers, Hunters, Witches, Tanks, and everything in between never failing to provide a fright or challenge. Words by Brad Norton 41. Fallout: New Vegas (2010) What it’s about: New Vegas sees us take on the role of The Courier after he’s ambushed by the villainous Benny. But, Benny is a small part of the story as you become embroiled in a political conflict involving the NCR, Caeser’s Legion, and Mr House, all vying for control over the Mojave Desert, and whoever you choose to side with will determine the future of the wasteland. Why we like it: To be only given 18 months to design, write, and code a Triple-A game and to be heralded as the best entry for its franchise is a miracle, which is what makes Fallout: New Vegas so unique. It refused to approach the wasteland the way its predecessors (and eventual follow-ups) did, offering some of the most morally complex writing that challenged personal beliefs, gameplay that never held babied you, and showed the harsh realities of the apocalypse, with a map packed with so much charm in its design. Words by Jeremy Gan 40. Journey (2012) What it’s about: Journey is a wondrous indie game combining breathtaking visuals with a Grammy-nominated soundtrack as players navigate through a desert, all in hopes of reaching a mysterious light atop a mountain in the distance. Why we like it: As one of the most breathtaking indie games still to this day, with its elegant design and enchanting score, Thatgamecompany’s 2012 release is in a class of its own with regard to environmental storytelling. Without a single spoken word, this game conveys its narrative in inventive ways, tugging at the heartstrings from start to finish, especially with its online surprise. While not a game you’ll go back to often; your first experience is bound to be one of your most cherished gaming memories. Words by Brad Norton 39. Overwatch (2016) What it’s about: Overwatch was a 6v6 (now a 5v5) hero-based arena shooter that has the players take control of super-powered heroes, facing off against teams in objective-based matches in highly competitive multiplayer matches. Why we like it: Overwatch as a franchise gets a bad rep. That’s understandable. While the game is as supported as ever now, its sequel never realized its goals, and it stopped being supported for two years with little to show for it. That made it easy to be the butt of jokes to the wider gaming audience. That said, Overwatch is still popular despite all that, with its sequel now on a more stable course. However, even outside of that, the game, when it launched in 2016, was unlike anything that came before. No game, despite some challenging the throne, even came close to matching the feel, fluidity, and competitive side in the hero shooter genre. No matter if you still play religiously or you’ve fallen all the way off, almost everyone had an Overwatch phase where they had an excellent time with the game that Blizzard still endures with. Words by Patrick Dane 38. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012) What’s it about: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) was the crown jewel of the CS franchise and also the first title to feature the in-game economy system. It is also remembered as the title that unified the CS 1.6 and the CS Source communities. Why we like it: CS:GO was released at a time when the entire CS community was split into two factions. One faction supported CS 1.6, while the other half supported CS Source. However, the release of CS:GO, a title that tried to retain the best parts of both 1.6 and Source, slowly but surely unified the community. Although the game had a rocky start with initial bugs and glitches, Valve’s updates ensured balanced gameplay, revamped versions of familiar maps, and a thriving competitive scene, which gave us some of the most iconic storylines across all of esports. Although the game has now been replaced by Counter-Strike 2, CS:GO will always be remembered as the game that set the stage for CS to become a truly international esports title, attracting competitors from every continent on the planet. Words by Titas Khan 37. Mario 64 (1996) What’s it about: The first 3D Mario game, released for the almost mythical N64 as one of its flagship launch titles. Why we like it: Mario’s first foray into three dimensions was remarkable. Coming at a time when it was difficult to see why Nintendo would break from the formula that had proved so successful, Mario 64 was as spectacular as it was innovative. Mario 64 has everything fans would expect from a game in the series and more, with pitch-perfect gameplay and a soundtrack that immediately transports a generation of players back to their living rooms in the mid to late 90s. It holds up remarkably well, with a thriving speedrun community and genuine warmth from fans, many of whom see this as the pinnacle of Mario’s adventures. Words by James Lynch 36. Shadow of the Colossus (2005) What’s it about: Shadow of the Colossus follows the story of Wander, who wishes to resurrect his dead lover by traveling to the Forbidden Land and destroying sixteen massive beings referred to as colossi. Why we like it: Shadow of the Colossus is one of those games only some know or talk about owing to its minimalistic setting and simple story. It is a slow burner and might even get annoying at times owing to its janky controls, which adds to the game’s difficulty. However, once you finish the game, you unravel a heartfelt story with one of the saddest endings that catches you off guard. While most games put you in the shoes of a character to make you experience the story from their perspective, Shadow of the Colossus makes you feel the consequences of your actions, making you the villain of the story. Words by Melvin Mathew 35. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017) What it’s about: Nintendo’s flagship racing series has its biggest entry yet on the Nintendo Switch, with more tracks, racers, karts, and the new ability to hold multiple items at once. Why we like it: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the biggest entry in its franchise in every sense of the word. Not only does it have the same tight gameplay and all of the content of its predecessor (including the devilishly hard 200cc mode), but it improved the battle mode and threw in a ton of tracks & racers, especially if you factor in the DLC. You don’t need us to tell you how amazing Mario Kart is, so we can break it down with figures. According to Nintendo’s own financial statements, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has a near 44% attach rate with the Nintendo Switch, which itself is one of the best-selling consoles of all time. That’s a crazy level of popularity for a full price game. One thing is for sure: Mario Kart is the real MVP at Nintendo. Zelda, Smash Bros., Animal Crossing, and even the mighty Pokemon all kneel before the Blue Shell’s throne. Words by Scott Baird 34. Silent Hill 2 (2001) What’s it about: A survival horror game about a man who explores the ghost town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his dead wife. Why we like it: Often considered to be one of the greatest horror games of all time, Silent Hill 2 focused much of its gameplay and atmosphere around the themes of guilt, trauma, and punishment. From the twisted enemy design to the warped presentation of the town itself, the game remains a prestigious example of interlinking themes with the mechanics in pursuit of its subtext. The emphasis on exploring psychological themes within a video game was still a relatively new concept in 2001. Horror games were still focused on gore and cheap scares at the time, and this helped Silent Hill 2 to stand out from the crowd. Words by Olly Smith 33. Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) What it’s about: A mercenary named V finds themselves in a situation way over their head when a job goes badly wrong, beginning a race against time involving corporate agents, immortality, and the cyber-ghost of a washed-up rock revolutionary. Why we like it: The fall and rise of Cyberpunk 2077 has been nothing short of miraculous. Few expected the game to be released in such an unpolished state, and even fewer expected just how much would be improved by the time the Phantom Liberty expansion rolled around. CD Projekt RED’s RPG mastery returns in full force here, with an endless array of bleak and beautiful stories to uncover, weapons to wield, and chrome to customize your V with. Night City may be utterly hostile, sucking the eddies, blood, and eventually soul out of anyone who stumbles into its jaws, but this world shines so bright as to be irresistible all the same. Words by Jack Bye 32. Undertale (2015) What it’s about: A young child has fallen into an underground kingdom full of monsters. You can choose whether you want to befriend and show mercy to the creatures you meet or decimate them on a bloody path to the surface. Why we like it: Most RPG players never question the morality of their actions. A Slime draws near? Just murder it for the experience points and keep moving. Who cares about a Slime when you have a world to save? Undertale is a game that turns the mirror towards the player and gives them consequences for the bad things they do. It treats the casual murder of an RPG video game with surprising seriousness. Undertale remembers everything you do to an almost frightening degree, and it never forgets a murder. This choice between pacifism and violence leads to drastically different playthroughs, with multiple runs required to explore all of Undertale’s story. Undertale’s true genius isn’t what it has to say about static NPCs in a fictional world but what it reveals about the player. A Final Fantasy might be fine with you massacring goblins, but Undertale gives those creatures lives and personalities, and if you choose to act like a typical RPG protagonist, then it proves that the true monster is you. Words by Scott Baird 31. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (2010) What it’s about: Somehow, Mario returned… to space. In his second galactic escapade, Mario must once again explore the cosmos to defeat Bowser, but this time with the help of his trusty steed, Yoshi. Why we like it: Do you ever play a game so good it makes you reevaluate the games that came before? Super Mario Galaxy did that for me. An astonishing achievement that raised the bar for platformers forever. Then, a couple of years later, Nintendo somehow made an even better game. Sanding off a couple of the rough edges, Galaxy 2 is a “kitchen sink” game with a bewildering amount of mechanics thrown at the player, and each dangled at you just long enough to remain an absolute joy. Yoshi adds some new moves that feel amazing to control; there are even some great new suits like the Cloud and Rock powers. Then, the hub world and level selection just feel like the perfect additions to this sort of game. Play both of them, but definitely play this one. Words by Nathan Ellingsworth 30. Inside (2016) What is it?: Inside is a moody puzzle platformer that follows a nameless and faceless boy as he explores an authoritarian landscape and factory where he ventures in to find its unsettling secrets. Why we like it: There is no perfect game. No game that is flawless or nails absolutely all of its aspects. However, if ever there was a contender, Inside might be one of the closest. This all comes down to its expert execution. This isn’t the most expansive or ambitious game ever made. However, this puzzle platformer feels like one of the tightest experiences in all of the games. Tasking you with bringing a boy through a factory full of nasties paired with an oppressive authoritarian vibe, this feels like one of the best executions of the feeling the best SCP entries give you. If Limbo was the proof of concept, Inside was Playdead’s masterpiece. Words by Patrick Dane 29. Hades (2018) What’s it about: You play as Zagrius, the son of Hades, the god of the underworld, who wants to escape the underworld and make it to Olympus. However, Hades won’t let you without a fight, so you’ll need to defeat various enemies, bosses, and unexpected foes in order to make it. Why we like it: If there are two things Supergiant Games get right it’s combat and art style. From the moment you set off into the Underworld, you’re met with mesmerizing character design, all with some stellar voice acting to boot. Their cartoonish yet powerful looks bring the Greek heroes to a brand new light and make them somewhat human despite their unfortunate positions. Then, when you get into the battles, you face a viscous yet satisfying hack-n-slash through the smaller monsters and a tricky tactical battle with the bosses. Naturally, being a roguelike, you do get stronger as you go, making it both extremely satisfying and empowering on every single run. While it’s not the first roguelike, Hades is by far one of the best. Words by Jess Filby 28. Stardew Valley (2016) What it’s about: Stardew Valley is a cozy farming simulation with a hidden agenda. Players grow their farms, raise animals, and fall in love – all while deciding the fate of the town as the evil Joja corporation attempts to suck the community dry of resources. What we like about it: Stardew Valley is a farming game that lures you in with adorable chickens and then leaves you fighting for the sake of the community against a mega-corporation. The complex elements of the plot are enhanced by a cast of relatable, realistic characters – that struggle with mental illness, poverty, homelessness, and complex relationship hurdles – and it servers too ground the game in realism instead of an idealized fantasy. This makes Stardew Valley incredibly relatable and enhances the player’s connection to their little farming town. Words by Laura Gray 27. Destiny 2 (2017) What it’s about: Destiny 2 is a first-person shooter game that has players taking on the role of Guardians, who fight for humanity’s survival through unique PvE activities such as Raids and dungeons, while offering PvP between players too. Why we like it: While the game has certainly seen better days, taken as a whole, Destiny 2 is a one-of-a-kind shooter. While, like the first game, the sequel stumbled out of the blocks, it finally reached greatness with Forsaken. There have been ups and downs since, but that all culminated with an exceptional The Final Shape, which capped off an emotional 10-year journey with triumph – something that very, very few live service games get to do. Bungie brought its players on an unforgettable journey even during low points, and just about any live service game would want to be Destiny 2 in its prime. It set the bar for shooter feel, the construction of modern live service games, and best-in-class social systems. When Destiny 2 has been at its best, there is so little that’s ever been like it. Words by Patrick Dane 26. Minecraft (2011) What it’s about: Minecraft is an open-world sandbox game that allows players to shape their world via crafting and exploration. Why we like it: Minecraft is the definition of creative freedom. Whether you are playing alone or in a group, the vast, moldable world can become anything. Players can choose to build epic communities with friends or work to defeat every in-game battle and puzzle, but at the end of the day, Minecraft is particularly special because it can be anything. Words by Laura Gray 25. God of War (2018) What’s it about: God of War follows Kratos and his son Atreus on a journey across Midgard as they attempt to spread his wife’s ashes. Along the way, he’ll fight Norse gods and monsters while navigating the obstacles of parenting. Why we like it: Santa Monica Studio’s God of War is nothing short of spectacular, and it offers a perfect single-player experience. The emotional depth, masterful storytelling, superb voice acting, and engaging gameplay set a new standard in the industry and resonated deeply with millions of players worldwide. One of the standout features of this game is its single-shot cinematography, which maintains a continuous camera shot throughout the entire game without any cutscenes. This innovative approach provided an immersive experience that many players describe as one of the best they’ve ever encountered. Honestly, the 2018 God of War set an unprecedented benchmark for video game franchise revivals that few games are likely to surpass. Words by Rishabh Sabarwal 24. Half-Life 2 (2004) What it’s about: An FPS about a scientist who is thrust into a dystopian, futuristic Earth, and joins a resistance force to liberate the planet from its alien conquerors. Why we like it: Half-Life 2 was groundbreaking at the time of release, and even playing it in 2024, it’s still a marvel of game design. Valve opted to tell an entirely new story, with only little bits of hangovers from the original Half-Life, rather than creating something that was just retreading old ground. The upgrade to the Source Engine also ended up being great for the game. Not only did Half-Life 2 have some of the best graphics of its time, it also meant physics puzzles, big levels, and buttery smooth movement became some of the most memorable elements of the game. And with the engine being used in countless games ever since, it’s proved to be one of the best decisions Valve has ever made. Words by Olly Smith 23. Halo 3 (2007) What it’s about: Halo 3 continues humanity’s ongoing war against the Covenant, the alien race that seeks to rule the galaxy. However, this time Master Chief also must contend with a new threat – The Flood. Why we like it: Not only does Halo 3 have some of the most iconic campaign missions from the series (we’re looking at you, Halo), but its fantastic multiplayer still remains one of the finest examples of FPS fun. Whether it’s queueing up for intense survival rounds of Infection, narrowly winning a close Capture the Flag match, or just taking part in regular TDM battles of Slayer, there’s a lot to love. Halo 3 was also the first game to include Forge, the beloved multiplayer map editor that enabled players to create their own custom game modes. It essentially transformed Halo 3 into one big party game, spawning popular minigame modes like Jenga, Cops & Robbers, and Hit-and-Run. Forge alone brought near-infinite amounts of fun, and it’s this magic formula that has yet to be recreated from the series since. It’s not hard to see why so many Halo fans hold the third installation as not only the greatest Halo game of all time but also one of the best FPS games to ever grace our screens. Words by James Busby 22. Ocarina of Time (1998) What it’s about: Link sets forth on another quest under Princess Zelda’s orders as he once again attempts to prevent a great calamity in Hyrule. Why we like it: Arguably the most iconic game of the N64 generation, Ocarina of Time was as close as we got to a perfect game during that era. The Zelda series was already a big player in the space, but this release changed everything. Link’s adventure across Hyrule sees him attempt to claim the titular Ocarina before evil series antagonist Ganondorf. From the gameplay to the narrative to the all-time great soundtrack, there’s a reason that Ocarina of Time is the most critically acclaimed game ever. Words by James Lynch 21. Tetris (1984) What it’s about: A puzzle game all about lining up falling blocks with perfect precision and clearing as many of the blocks as you can to maintain a high score. Why we like it: Tetris could be the perfect video game. A distillation of the marriage between user entry and virtual feedback, play Tetris for just a few minutes, and you’ll understand why it is so satisfying to say sayonara to those pesky blocks. It’s not just moving things in a nice way, though, as the increasing feeling of pressure is also crucial, as just as soon as you start to feel like a master of the titular Tetrominos, the speed kicks in and tests your thumb twiddling. Recent titles like Tetris Effect, Puyo Puyo vs Tetris, and even more prove that the core formula is timeless and could be released as a classic today. Plus, the original theme still slaps. Words by Nathan Ellingsworth 20. Dark Souls (2011) What it’s about: The spiritual successor to 2009’s Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls involves an undead soldier’s desperate quest to rid themselves of their curse before it consumes them. Why we like it: Dark Souls is a grim but enthralling adventure through a rotten, depressing world where nearly everything wants to kill you. It became notorious for its punishing difficulty and epic boss fights, later becoming a cult classic. The game’s trial-and-error gameplay has a compulsive element, making players want to overcome every obstacle for the sense of triumph it brings. Dark Souls also reminded many players why they enjoyed gaming to begin with, bringing a distinct retro feel to its world and style. Words by Sam Smith 19. Grand Theft Auto V (2013) What it’s about: Three criminals from wildly different walks of life come together to pull off some of the biggest heists in the history of San Andreas. Why we like it: There’s a reason why Rockstar’s riff on American culture is the second best-selling game of all time. It’s a sandbox where every city block, inch of countryside, and off-road strip mall is given extra care and attention. So too, are its characters. Franklin, Michael, and Trevor’s intertwining story – coupled with the incredible ability to swap between all three in real-time – represents the most complete and immersive narrative a mainline GTA has ever offered. The trio represents a first for GTA. You care about these people, despite their detestable actions and blatant lack of morality. A technical marvel even now, it’s tough to see how GTA 6 will improve upon the formula besides boasting a prettier coat of paint over its predecessor. Words by Joe Pring 18. World of Warcraft (2004) What it’s about: An epic MMORPG adventure with a twenty-year history under its belt, set in the mystical lands of Azeroth (and beyond). Why we like it: Of all the MMORPGs to have come and gone over the last 30 years, none have made the same impact as World of Warcraft. From the setting to the memorable cast of characters and impressive class system, it’s a complete offering that continues to draw millions of players. The resurrection of the older eras of WoW was a masterstroke, and the Classic version of the game holds up just as well as it did in 2004. Blizzard captured lightning in a bottle with World of Warcraft, and though many have tried to replicate it since then, none have managed to strike that magic balance that sets WoW apart from its immediate peers. Words by James Lynch 17. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015) What it’s about: Infamous monster hunter Geralt of Rivia slays his way across the Continent as he tracks down Ciri, a world-hopping prophecy child, staying one step ahead of her other terrifying pursuers. Why we like it: While each chapter of CD Projekt RED’s Witcher series has legions of dedicated fans, it was this third game that fully transformed the franchise into a pop-culture juggernaut. Previous entries in the series took on pitch-dark European fantasy with a sardonic wit, but Wild Hunt allowed a little more heart to shine through The Witcher’s rugged exterior and was all the better for it. Geralt and Ciri’s complicated father-daughter relationship is the heart of Wild Hunt, but the genre-best supporting cast, fully developed world, endlessly engaging quests, and finely-honed, steel-and-silver combat make the game sing. And while much has been made of Henry Cavill’s commitment to the live-action role, VA Doug Cockle’s Geralt is one of gaming’s greatest creations. Words by Jack Byez 16. Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver What it’s about: HeartGold and SoulSilver put you in control of a new trainer as they set off on a grand adventure across Johto. Of course, while the game may have new mechanics and Pokemon, the mission’s the same: you’ve still got to catch them all and be the best that you can be. Why we like it: For a certain generation of Pokemon players (myself included), Silver and Gold were the definitive Pokemon games. It’s unsurprising, then, that the remakes that fuse improved gameplay with the power of nostalgia remain a fan favorite. It’s true, that they didn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but these impressive remakes captured (not in a Pokeball) everything we loved about the originals and added a fresh coat of paint that made the experience feel new again. The enhanced graphics, updated mechanics, and additional features like the Pokéwalker accessory, which let you take your Pokémon on the go, all contributed to the sense of adventure. And let’s not forget the thrill of seeing your Pokémon follow you around, a feature that made the world feel more alive and your bond with your Pokémon even stronger. Words by Tom Percival 15. Halo: Combat Evolved (2001) What’s it about: An FPS set in the far future, where you play as Master Chief, a genetically-enhanced super soldier as he battles a genocidal alien species on the mysterious ring-world known as Halo. Why we like it: As a new console, Xbox needed its “killer app,” and Halo: Combat Evolved proved to be one of the most crucial launch titles ever. With solid shooting mechanics, a memorable story, and advanced artificial intelligence for the time, Bungie was able to make a game that innovated the FPS genre and modernized it for the 21st century. Beyond its campaign, Halo really thrived on the multiplayer scene. The perfect balancing between each of its weapons and the variety in maps meant people were sticking with the game’s versus modes well after they’d rolled credits. LAN Parties were common thanks to Xbox’s “System Link” capabilities, and the game is still remembered today as one of the best multiplayer experiences of all time. Words by Olly Smith 14. Skyrim (2011) What it’s about: The fifth and biggest game in the Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim takes you to a mythical world infested with Dragons. As the Dragonborn, it’s your duty to explore the land, uncover its secrets, solve political problems, and, above all, use your great power to solve the Dragon crisis. Why we like it: An intergenerational classic, Skyrim is a widely beloved game that revolutionized the RPG genre when it was released back in 2011. Boasting an intriguing storyline, riveting side quests, and a seemingly endless list of things to do and ways to play, is it any wonder people are still playing this game now? All the features above were further enhanced by Skyrim’s modding community, which is vibrant even in 2024. Words by Rishov Mukherjee 13. Final Fantasy 7 (1997) What it’s about: The planet is dying, thanks to the Shinra Electric Power Company draining its life force to turn into cheap energy. A terrorist group named Avalanche tries to overthrow Shinra, but an even greater threat from the past has emerged, one that wants to destroy all life. Why we like it: Final Fantasy 7 is one of the most important video games of all time. It helped the PlayStation gain a foothold in the industry, brought JRPGs to a massive audience, and helped establish Square Enix (then called Squaresoft) as a global entity. The achievements aren’t what fans remember, though. This is a game that feels special off the bat, dragging you into its world and the struggles of its characters with a single incredible opening cutscene. Beyond that Final Fantasy 7 is loved for its characters, epic scope, customizable battle system, and powerful story with themes that still resonate to this day. Words by Scott Baird 12. Super Mario World (1990) What it’s about: While vacationing on Dinosaur Land, Princess Peach is kidnapped by Bowser, and Mario and Luigi must save her. During their quest, they come across a green dinosaur called Yoshi, who’s also in need of help, as his friends have been captured by Bowser’s Koopalings. Why we like it: Super Mario World not only introduced Yoshi as a ridable enemy-eater dinosaur, but it also happens to be one of the most iconic and well-remembered Mario games of all time, having been ported to almost every Nintendo platform since the SNES. Filled with colorful levels, a lot of action, new items, an incredible soundtrack, and plenty of secrets to unveil on its huge map, Super Mario World is a very well-designed platformer that’s a ton of fun, proving that you can be simple as well as challenging. Words by Raissa Jerez 11. Resident Evil 4 (2005) What’s it about: The fourth entry in the Resident Evil series focuses on Leon S. Kennedy as he is tasked with rescuing Ashley Graham, the US President’s daughter kidnapped by a mysterious cult and held captive in Spain. Why we like it: Resident Evil 4 redefined the Resident Evil series when it came out in 2005. The earlier Resident Evil games employed a janky movement system and fixed camera angles to take control away from the player. RE4 switched things up by using a fixed over-the-shoulder camera perspective revolutionising the mechanic as we know it today. While the game is not that scary (Editor’s note: Speak for yourself), it does get really tense. Ammo is scarce, and most of the enemies are bullet sponges, making it a nightmare-fueled experience. While you would expect a horror game to have dark, gloomy characters, RE4 is chock-full of fun and eccentric characters, providing comic relief from time to time. Once you hear the iconic weapon merchant scream, “Ah! I’ll buy it at a high price!” you’ll never forget him. Words by Melvin Mathews 10. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) What’s it about: The first CoD to depict modern warfare, it sees players take control of British SAS officers and US Army soldiers fighting against Russian Ultranationalists and a separatist group led by Khaled Al-Asad. Why we like it: The roots of the modern era of CoD can be traced to the OG Modern Warfare, in its good and bad. MW set the standard of confrontational campaigns with its anti-war message (and still stands as the franchise’s best), and its multiplayer mode would also pioneer the live service model with its DLCs. It went on to herald a string of Activision’s finest CoD entries, marking it as the start of CoD’s era of cultural dominance. Words by Jeremy Gan 9. Bloodborne (2015) What it’s about: Trapped in a city full of plague and savage beasts, a lone hunter sets out to combat both threats and end the cycle of death and despair they’re trapped in. Why we like it: Bloodborne is a spiritual successor to both Demon’s and Dark Souls and keeps the formula that made both so successful. However, this time, the adventure is set in a bleak nightmarish city and abandons the backdrop setting for something more Victorian. This allows players to use guns, ditch shields, and generally fight more aggressively. Bloodborne also leans into the Lovecraftian and adds a survival horror vibe, further separating it from Souls games that came before. However, Bloodborne is still very much part of the FromSoftware Souls family, and fans continue to cry out for a remaster or a sequel. Words by Sam Smith 8. Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023) What’s it about: After a Mindflayer forces a deadly tadpole into your brain, you must go on a perilous journey to the city Baldur’s Gate. Along the way, you’ll forge alliances, break hearts, and kill enemies as you battle to rid yourself of the curse. Why we like it: Baldur’s Gate 3 took over the world when it was released. Comparable only to Skyrim, this open-world DnD adventure won the hearts of RPG players around the globe. There’s a reason it retains a steady playerbase a year later, though. The companions are incredibly well-rounded, the quests are addictive, and there is always something new to find or defeat. Really, though, we have its unbelievable storyline to thank for its success. Ultimately, when considering the best video games of all time, it’s almost impossible not to include one of the most highly awarded and popular adventures of the last decade. Words by Jess Filby 7. Mass Effect 2 (2010) What it’s about: Commander Shepard recruits a squad of loyal companions from across the galaxy to help him continue his battle against the Reapers. Why we like it: Not before or since has another RPG managed to make freedom of choice feel like an integral gameplay feature rather than a gimmick. As Shepard, how the player interacts with every potential Normandy crew member, from helping them put personal ghosts to rest to solving long-standing racial squabbles, has a meaningful, long-lasting impact. Choose to ignore a crewmate’s inner conflict and snub their requests for help, and you won’t be able to count on them when it comes time to face the Reapers. Show genuine interest and deepen those interpersonal relationships however; and your colleagues (now family) will show unwavering loyalty to your cause even when faced with extinction. Words by Joe Pring 6. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017) What’s it about: After a century-long slumber, Link awakens with no memories in a devastated Hyrule that’s been thrown into chaos by Ganon. Players must explore a wide-open world to help Link remember his mission and, ultimately, save Zelda and the world from Calamity Ganon’s terror. Why we like it: What can be said about Breath of the Wild that hasn’t been said before? Arguably one of the best launch titles of all time (and the best Zelda game) Breath of the Wild helped the Nintendo Switch become one of the best-selling consoles of all time. It’s no wonder, too, as the game brilliantly turns Hyrule into the world’s most exciting sandbox. Breath of the Wild really lives up to the “go anywhere, do anything” promise of the open-world genre. Sure, there are certain goals and plot points you probably should be heading toward, but there’s always something else to check out. BOTW’s Hyrule truly rewards you for exploring rather than spoon-feeding objectives and cluttering the screen with waypoints. While longtime Zelda fans may begrudge the game for its lack of traditional Zelda dungeons, the impact of Breath of the Wild cannot be overstated – something that’s solidified by its clear influence on games that have come since, like Genshin Impact and Elden Ring Words by Noelle Corbett 5. Portal 2 (2011) What it’s about: Portal 2 puts us back in the Long Fall Boots of silent protagonist Chell for a second time, tasking players with navigating previously unseen areas of Aperture Science Labs. Why we like it: Through increasingly difficult puzzles, mind-bending storytelling, and smartly written characters like beloved antagonist GLaDOS, this sequel expands upon the foundations laid by its 2007 predecessor in every conceivable way. Advanced physics systems and the addition of a cooperative mode open the door for more sophisticated test chambers, for example. Meanwhile, new mechanics like Gels further complicate the puzzle challenges as players bounce and slide their way across everything from sterile test environments to industrial-looking spaces with a 1950s aesthetic. Words by Brianna Reeves 4. The Last of Us (2013) What it’s about: 20 years after a civilization-ending outbreak, a smuggler named Joel is tasked with escorting a teenage girl, Ellie, halfway across post-apocalyptic America. Joel’s cynicism and hesitance to make emotional connections puts the two at odds early on. However, navigating terrifying encounters with infected and the worst of humanity unites the pair in more ways than one. Why we Like it: Following in the footsteps of Resident Evil 4, The Last of Us ups the ante with its survival-action gameplay. Picking off regular infected like Runners mimics standard zombie fare, yet Clickers and their hyper-sensitive hearing subvert the usual undead tropes, such that stealth proves ideal more often than not. Still, TLoU especially shines in terms of its storytelling. While the premise is far from original, few games had presented complex characters so cinematically, a feat made possible by the performances of Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, along with the development team’s incredible attention to detail. Words by Brianna Reeves 3. Persona 5 (2016) What it’s about: In a world ruled by the corrupt, a group called the Phantom Thieves seeks to cleanse the hearts of the wicked. Unfortunately, they’re also teenagers, so you have to balance your reality-bending superhero antics with the most difficult task of all: high school. Why we like it: It’s weird to associate an RPG with style, but few games have as much flair as Persona 5. It revels in its anti-authority aesthetic, with graffiti and hot jazz being the order of the day. This seemingly innocuous element of the game filters into everything, with a combat system that’s fast and exciting despite being a turn-based RPG. The aesthetic is important, as Persona 5 is a long game, and you’re going to be seeing a lot of it. Luckily, the banging soundtrack and flashy combat never get old, but those aren’t the real reasons to keep playing, as the game refined the formula established in its predecessors to an incredible degree. Not only is the story of the Phantom Thieves engaging, but the drip-feed of content via Social Links and the dungeons is what makes Persona 5 so fun. Managing your time in the pursuit of power and waifus has never been more fun, and it’s why so many people were sad to see the credits roll, even after 100 hours of play. Words by Scott Baird 2. Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018) What’s it about: Red Dead Redemption 2 is the third entry in Rocksar’s Red Dead series and acts as a prequel to Red Dead Redemption. Set against the backdrop of the Wild West era nearing its end, the game follows the exploits of the Van der Linde gang, a group of criminals opposing the corrupt system of powers and living by their own morals. Why we like it: Red Dead Redemption 2 is arguably one of the most realistic games ever made. You can spend hours doing various activities and interacting with different NPCs without touching the main story. Each area of the map is crafted with meticulous attention to detail. While the main missions of the game are mostly linear with little room for experimentation, the open world rewards you for exploring every nook and cranny of the map. From uncovering wild serial killer murder mysteries to spotting literal ghost trains, RDR2 is brimming with obscure details. That said, the game tops this off with an amazing story with a heart-wrenching ending that ought to leave you in tears. Words by Melvin Mathew 1. Elden Ring (2022) What it’s about: Elden Ring is a soulslike game where you play as a Tarnished adventurer, exploring the Lands Between while taking on some of From Software’s most formidable bosses ever made. Why we like it: Many have strong opinions about what the best FromSoftware game is. Purists may say the original Dark Souls or Demon Souls. Aggressive and horror-inclined players may gravitate to Bloodborne. And total masochists swear by Sekiro. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find many to argue against how excellent Elden Ring is. Elden Ring feels like a culmination of all of FromSoftware’s previous work rolled into one. It’s the most open game they’ve ever made, with a huge world to explore and near-endless build customization. It’s also easily FromSoftware’s most approachable game and empowers you to find what works for you. Whereas a game like Sekiro wants you to master its demands with belligerent rigidity, Elden Ring is a game all about expression. You can be a big tough warrior with a shield, sport a grim-reaper-esque bleed build with a scythe, someone who likes to spread Scarlet Rot, or a sorcerer who deals in death magic. The Lands Beyond is a broad canvas, inviting you to find yourself amongst its many dangers. Adding to all that, the game is just one of the most beautiful worlds ever conceived, with a haunting but compelling tone that permeates every pore. It’s a master class in space and feel, making it one of the most cohesive, beautiful expressions ever given to the medium. Even if you struggle with Souls games, Elden Ring’s on-ramping is generous, and you owe it to yourself to experience this world at least once. It’s a fantastic, complex, and deeply compelling world. Simply put, it’s one of, or going by our voting, the best games ever made. Words by Patrick Dane And that’s it for our list of the best games ever made. if you want more of our hot takes then check out our list of the best video game characters of all time. Or if you’re into that console war stuff, you’ll probably like our list of the best Playstation games or our best Xbox games list. Finally, be sure to check out our Gamescom schedule so you can stay up to date on all the latest news from Cologne.

Best gacha mobile games for 2024: Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, more Cognosphere PTE / Devsisters CorpFrom RAID Shadow Legends to Genshin Impact, the gacha game market is massive in 2024 but which ones are the best? We’ve got you covered with a list of the very best gacha games you can enjoy on mobile devices. The easy pick-and-play nature of gacha games as well as their accessibility on most mobile devices make them ideal for anyone who wants to get some quick gaming in during their commute to work or to put hours into once you get home. With so many gacha titles available now however it can be difficult to know what games are really worth you investing your time (and potentially money) into but we’ve got a rundown of some of the best gacha games you should play in 2024. Azur Lane Blending unique interior design with fantastic naval warfare, Azur Lane couldn’t get any more unique. It’s filled with beautiful artwork, an adorable story, and gameplay that will leave you occupied for hours. This is one of the best gacha games of 2024, purely because it’s an underrated joy to play. Nevertheless, while perhaps underrated, this game is getting constant updates and just has such a unique style that any anime or gacha fan will adore. Limbus Company Limbus Company was one of the most anticipated games of 2023 for the gacha community. The game features an intriguing story, distinct characters and well-translated dialogues. The game focuses on Limbus Company, a Fixer Office made up of twelve Fixers who have been assigned the mission of searching for the Golden Boughs, which are the key to the company’s energy-producing technology. While the story might be engaging with charming characters, the UI might be a bit overwhelming for some players. The prologue does explain a few things but it will take some time for players to fully absorb it and get used to the game’s mechanics. Honkai Star Rail Honkai Star Rail is the latest game for Genshin Impact developers, HoYoverse. Like its predecessor, it features a large character roster and vibrant anime-inspired visuals but it swaps out action combat for more traditional turn-based gameplay. In this Sci-Fi adventure, you’ll join a band of fighters in their space train called the Astral Express and travel to a variety of unique worlds while battling all kinds of enemies. Many of the game’s strongest characters can only be obtained by pulling on banners – the game’s gacha system – so you’ll want to save your in-game currencies if you’ve got your eyes on a specific hero. With stunning graphics and an engaging story, Honkai Star Rail is certainly going to give Genshin Impact a run for its money and it’s one of the best new gacha games on the market right now. Arknights Arknights is a gacha mobile game that sets the bar for what a title of this genre should look like. It’s got a gripping storyline, lovable characters, and a challenge everyone will want to take on. All that combined with graphics and designs that fit perfectly makes this a game no one should miss. It’s undeniably one of the best gacha games of 2024 and is one that brings together the joys of tower defense and moving stories that will leave you obsessed. Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes If you’re a fan of Star Wars and a fan of gacha games then look no further than Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes. It’s a little slower than other games of this genre with it being a turn-based experience, but don’t let that put you off. It’s got over 50 million installs and ratings that are primarily praising its brilliant gameplay and fantastic link to the famous franchise. After all, who doesn’t want to fly in the iconic ships or play as your favorite character? This is the gacha mobile game where you get to live out your Star Wars dreams. Reverse: 1999 Reverse: 1999 is a 20th Century Time-Travel RPG that takes place in a universe where time is continuously regressing. The human age has gone backward since 1999 as a result of some unexplained weather phenomena dubbed the “storm”. You play as the Timekeeper who serves as an observer of eras and is free to travel through these eras after each Storm and find other Arcanists who can sense the coming Storm, and save them from disappearing from the timeline. Reverse 1999 is one of the best gacha games out there at the moment. The plot, dubbing and art, and are all of the highest caliber. The game seamlessly blends retro and modern aesthetics giving the game the feel of a moving painting. Dragon Ball Legends In the same way that Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes is ideal for Star Wars fans, Dragon Ball Legends is the go-to gacha mobile game for Dragon Ball fans. It’s got brilliant battles, customizable characters, and even a bit of PvP for when you want to rain some devastation down on another player. It’s a great experience for any Dragon Ball fan, or just for someone who wants to level up deadly anime characters and watch them fight. Fire Emblem Heroes Fire Emblem Heroes is a fantastic mobile gacha game where players get to engross themselves in the already-established world of Fire Emblem. However, with this game, you get to compete in duels and play the game a bit more strategically. The duels and strategy keep you thinking while the story and the recognizable characters keep you drawn into the game throughout. It’s well worth a try. Cookie Run: Kingdom Taking the world by storm, the adorable Cookie Run: Kingdom will leave you wanting more and feeling a little hungry for some cookies. It’s got classic kingdom-building mechanics combined with a wonderful story, some adorable characters, and enough levels to keep you playing for hours. You can go in and hope for the best or face a battle with strategy and the right cookies. How you play is up to you. Genshin Impact With thousands of players joining this game each day, it’s not a surprise that Genshin Impact has a popular following on mobile. It’s such a successful game and seems to be paving the way for gacha games both in the present and in the future. Not much needs to be said about Genshin Impact aside from the fact you have to experience it to understand the hype. As soon as you start playing, you’ll see why this is such a popular mobile gacha game, and why it’s rising in success at an unprecedented rate. Marvel Strike Force Marvel Strike Force is a turn-based role-playing mobile game composed of all your favorite Marvel superheroes. It involves multiplayer, single-player, RPG, and Gacha elements meaning loves of almost any genre can enjoy playing Marvel Strike Force. You’ll get to play and collect all your favorite Marvel characters as well as kit them out in some interesting cosmetics. Alchemy Stars Alchemy Stars is a popular mobile gacha game that’s often being compared to the likes of Arknights and other staples in the genre. Essentially, it’s a turn-based strategy game that’s filled with beautiful characters, fantastic designs, and an ever-expanding roster of unique characters, each with their own positives and negatives. If you’re into futurism with a touch of magic, Alchemy Stars is the gacha game for you. Raid: Shadow Legends Complete with fantastic graphics, a gripping storyline, and some fantastic heroes, you can’t really go wrong with Raid: Shadow Legends. After all, it’s one of the biggest mobile gacha games out there and certainly lives up to all the adverts many have seen. On top of the great graphics and gameplay, there are also regular code updates meaning you can always snag a few freebies using our regularly updated code page. Aether Gazer When it was first released in 2023, Aether Gazer was thought to be a Honkai Star Rail rip-off. However, the game has come a long way since then. With fluid animation, easy-to-grasp UI and immersive music, Aether Gazer is one of the best gacha games to enjoy in 2024. While the combat is satisfying, it might be too easy at times so if you don’t like games which are easy going, this might not be your cup of tea. Those are the best gacha mobile games available to play in 2024. You can also take a look at some of the best mobile games to play in 2024. Additionally, if you’re a fan of comforting games, check out games like Stardew Valley.

Best game deals on Epic Games Store’s Halloween 2023 sale Epic GamesThe much-awaited Epic Games Store Halloween sale is back for the 2023 season and brings epic deals on some top horror-themed games. To make things easier for you, here are the best game deals you can get during the promotional period. For gamers, Halloween isn’t only about scary costumes and eerie attractions. The annual Halloween Sale at the Epic Games Store, one of the world’s largest digital distribution platforms, has turned this spooky season into a gaming bonanza. When it comes to video game discounts, nobody does it better than Epic Games Store, and the Halloween Sale is no exception. There is a great variety of games, from indie masterpieces to AAA releases all in the horror genre. The store is well-known for its dedication to exclusive titles, and this sale could be your chance to pick up some of these games at a discount. Here are the best game deals you can grab with the 2023 Halloween sale that runs on Epic Games store from October 18 to November 1. Best scary games to get on Epic Games Store Halloween 2023 sale 1) Dead Island 2 – 30% off Unlike its predecessors which were set on islands, Dead Island 2 takes place in sunny California. Urban regions, beaches, and suburban neighborhoods are all part of this new open world’s landscape. The second Dead Island installment continues the series’ tradition of gory violence while slashing zombies. An improved melee combat system, new character classes, and a wider selection of weaponry are all in store for players. You can now grab this title for 30% off during Epic Games’ Halloween sale. Original Price: $59.99 | Deal Price: $41.99 on Epic Games Store 2) Remnant II – 20% off Remnant 2 is a follow-up third-person shooter in the genre of souls-like games. In the game, players can also use up to two firearms in addition to their melee weapon. Character archetypes are also chosen at the start of the game. As players advance through the game, they will unlock the ability to dual-class. Each playable character has its own set of abilities that can be activated at will. Players all over the world have been intrigued by its blend of third-person shooting, demanding co-op action, and a dark, interesting universe. The game is on sale on Epic Games Store at a 20% discount. Original Price: $49.99 | Deal Price: $39.99 on Epic Games Store 3) The Last of Us Part 1 – 20% off The world of The Last of Us is a bleak and harsh place, where mankind fights for its own existence. The Cordyceps fungus, which transforms its victims into terrible, violent zombies, is responsible for the destruction of the United States in this video game. The protagonists of this story are Joel, a jaded middle-aged survivor, and Ellie, a resourceful young girl who may be the key to saving humanity. To sum it all up, The Last of Us was a financial and critical triumph. And the game was so well-received by audiences that HBO adapted it into a series. The Last of Us Part 1 on PC features enhanced graphics and is now on sale on Epic Games Store for a 20% discount. Original Price: $59.99 | Deal Price: $47.99 on Epic Games Store 4) Dead By Daylight – 50% off An asymmetric multiplayer game, Dead by Daylight pits a group of survivors against a single killer. The killer’s objective is to track down the survivors and kill them in order to appease the Entity, a malicious power that thrives on the hope and fear of people who are trapped in the game’s nightmare regions. Both survivors and killers are drawn from well-known horror series, including Halloween, Stranger Things, Silent Hill, Saw, and Resident Evil. Each playable character has their own set of skills and abilities, which makes the game more interesting and challenging. It is also one of the best horror multiplayer games and is now available on Epic Games Store at a 50% discount. Original Price: $19.99 | Deal Price: $9.99 on Epic Games Store 5) Dying Light 2: Stay Human – 50% off The infected, a zombie-like threat spawned by a global pandemic, have seized the fictitious city of Villedor in Dying Light 2. Players take on the role of Aiden Caldwell, a skillful and nimble protagonist, and make their way through the perilous streets of the city with multiple factions competing for power. Dying Light 2: Stay Human is an exciting and engaging adventure set in a carefully built world of survival and personal choice, and it’s not just another zombie game. Its unique combination of parkour, fierce fighting, and a story full of moral ambiguity makes for a riveting experience that will have you going back for more. The game is now available on Epic Games Store at a 50% discount. Original Price: $59.99 | Deal Price: $29.99 on Epic Games Store 6) Killing Floor 2 – 80% off Killing Floor 2 is a moniker that strikes fear into the hearts of players who enjoy intense action, gory graphics, and team-based gameplay. This first-person shooter from Tripwire Interactive revolutionizes the survival horror subgenre of cooperative play. It takes players to a nightmare future where mutant, ugly creatures called Zeds have destroyed society. Players assume the roles of mercenaries attempting to live while holding off an onslaught of Zeds. The game is now available on the Epic Games Store at an 80% discount. Original Price: $29.99 | Deal Price: $5.99 on Epic Games Store 7) The Outlast Trials – 20% off The Outlast Trials takes place in the same universe as the other games in the series but with a major change. Players aren’t on their own this time. In the first two games, you played as a lone journalist trying to make your way through a nightmare; in the third, you can team up with your buddies to face the terrors together. This game is perfect for fans of the horror genre because it takes players on a terrifying trip into the depths of human evil and the unknown. Players are required to complete tasks while evading certain monsters. The game is now available on Epic Games Store at a 20% discount. Original Price: $29.99 | Deal Price: $23.99 on Epic Games Store 8) World War Z Aftermath – 50% off World War Z became famous in the genre of zombie apocalypse video games due to its challenging co-op gameplay and swarms of voracious zombies. After the success of the first game, developer Saber Interactive released a new and improved sequel called World War Z: Aftermath, which featured extended gameplay, graphical enhancements, and even more gory zombie mayhem. The sequel improves upon its predecessor in every way, providing even more frenetic and bloody zombie-killing mayhem. A thrilling and horrifying experience, Aftermath is impossible to rival in the world of zombie games because of its cooperative gameplay, upgraded visuals, new settings, and player-versus-zombie mode. The game is now available on Epic Games Store at a 50% discount. Original Price: $29.99 | Deal Price: $14.99 on Epic Games Store 9) Evil Dead: The Game – 50% off Players in Evil Dead: The Game assume the roles of recognizable characters like Ash Williams as they struggle to stay alive under an onslaught of Deadites and other evils. Fans of the Evil Dead franchise will find everything they love about those films here, from the really terrifying to the hilariously absurd. Evil Dead: The Game promises hours of funky fun for horror-comedy enthusiasts, cooperative multiplayer aficionados, and anyone searching for a fun and chaotic horror experience. The game is now available on Epic Games Store at a 50% discount. Original Price: $29.99 | Deal Price: $14.99 on Epic Games Store That’s it – all the best deals on games that you can purchase on Epic Games Store during the Halloween 2023 sale. For more games, check out our guide content: Best gacha mobile games | Games like Wordle | Best Need for Speed games | Best open world games like Skyrim | Co-op games like It Takes Two you must play | Best games like Animal Crossing | Best JRPGS of all-time | Best Assassin’s Creed games, ranked | Best Souls-like games to play | Best Steam Deck games | 8 games like Genshin you should play

Best Funko Pop & Tee bundles Ultimate guide to the 15 best Funko Pop and Tee bundles – must-have figure/apparel sets for collectors and fans. Funko has transformed from a small company selling bobblehead figurines in the late 90s into one of the largest toy companies in the world. Their hit collectible line of stylized Pop! vinyl figures take much of the credit. Funko continues to expand the Pop universe with inventive offerings, including Pop & Tee bundles that pair an exclusive figure with a custom shirt. For Pop collectors and fans of apparel alike, these set releases capture lightning in a bottle. The figures capture the spirit of beloved characters with charming irreverence, springing off the shirt design that supports them. There is no better way to take your fandom on the go. Below are 15 of the most impressive Funko Pop & Tee sets that have hit store shelves recently. Any collector would be proud to have these bundles lead the charge in their collections. Sonic The Hedgehog Pocket Pop! & Kids Tee This vibrant set celebrates a beloved gaming icon, bundling a pint-sized Pop with a fun tee touting checkered patterns in Sonic’s signature style. The 2-inch vinyl makes an ideal sidekick for anyone on the move. Demon Slayer Pop Rui & Tee (Glow) The hit anime gets a fittingly dark bundle pairing glow-in-the-dark Rui with an ominous tee depicting the malicious demon unfurling his veiny spider lilies. It’s a macabre match for any hardcore fan’s closet. Dragon Ball Z Majin Vegeta Pop! & Tee (Glow) Dragon Ball Z explodes with energy in this amazing Majin Vegeta set. The attack-ready figure perfectly mirrors the intense graphic, awash with light, on the accompanying shirt. It’s electric for any DBZ buff. Darth Vader Pocket Pop & kids Tee set You can pledge allegiance to the Dark Side with this pocket-sized Darth Vader paired with a “Join the Dark Side” tee. It’s the perfect starter gear for the tiny Sith in your family. Pop! & Tee E.T. with Candy Celebrate an extraterrestrial icon and Spielberg’s landmark film with an adorable, candy-toting vinyl E.T. that comes bundled with a radiant tee depicting the lovable alien. Phone home in style with this sweet combo. Pop! & Tee Harry Potter Dementor (Glow) Conjure a Patronus to fend off this fearsome, glow-in-the-dark Dementor that haunts an artistic tee with its swirling brothers in arms. It’s a Potter-iffic package for wizarding devotees. Pocket Pop! & Tee Harry Potter Dobby Free every sock in your hamper with this charming Dobby figure, standing proudly beneath lettering that asserts the Dobby’s hard-won independence. The pairing provides cute, pocket-sized power. Pop! & Tee Warner Bros Bugs Bunny as Fred Jones (Flocked) Bugs Bunny assumes the identity of another mystery-solving icon in this flocked figure, crossing pop culture streams atop a Scooby-inspired tee. It’s a delightful mash-up for Looney Tunes and Scoob fans. Pop! & Tee The Mandalorian Grogu with Cookies (Flocked) Take snacking baby Yoda with you wherever you go with this cute flocked rendition of Grogu, munching cookies with a Tee that says “Mandalorian“. This is the way to roll as a Star Wars fan. Pop! & Tee Jurassic World Dominion The Apex Predator T-Rex Declare your dinosaurs’ dominance in this striking Jurassic World tee and tiny T-Rex figure. It’s a dynamic duo fit for those who look to a more ancient apex. Pop! & Tee Star Wars Stormtrooper “For the Empire” Crush rebel scum beneath the boot of imperial power with this sharp Stormtrooper tee and exclusive silver chrome trooper. Glory waits for any who join this figure-shirt alliance. Pop! & Tee Disney Stitch with Ukulele (Flocked) Island vibes abound in this flocked Stitch, strumming tropical tunes atop a sunset-soaked tee that transports collectors away to paradise isles. But that’s not all! The Tee comes with a matching Pop of Stitch playing Ukulele. Pocket Pop! & Tee Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Michelangelo (Mutant Mayhem) Cowabunga, dudes! This tubular Michelangelo glows crazy under black light atop a tee touting the TMNT’s cinematic Mutant Mayhem. Radical, man! Pop! & Tee Disney Halloween Donald (Glow) Mr. Duck gets a spooky centerpiece in this Halloween set, donning candy corn attire between trick-or-treat lettering on the tee. The glow makes an eerie accent after dark. Pop! & Tee Dragon Ball Z Frieza 4th Form Power up your collection Dragon Ball Z style with this exclusive Frieza figure capturing the tyrant warlord in final form. The matching backdrop propels any fan into battle mode. Any of the pairs highlighted above would make stellar additions to a personal set. With Funko continuing to push boundaries in the space, fans can expect even more exciting Pop & Tee collaborations to arrive soon. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

10 best free-to-play shooter games in 2024 DexertoAre you wondering what some of the best free-to-play shooter games to play solo or with your buddies are in 2024? Well here are the 10 best free-to-play shooter games you have to try out. Single-player games can be pretty fun with all the beautiful stories, graphics, comprehensive characters, and more. However, the adrenaline rush and feeling of winning a match in a shooter game remains unmatched. However, getting that feeling doesn’t always need to cost you a fortune as there are plenty of shooter games in 2024 that are completely free-to-play. So, if you are in search of some free-to-play multiplayer shooters, you’re in the right place as we have some great recommendations. Apex Legends Apex Legends might be on the lower end of the Battle Royale spectrum, but it’s still one of the best free-to-play shooter games to play in 2024. With a plethora of characters known as Legends and a continuous flow of content every couple of months, Apex Legends is now bigger than ever, making now a perfect time to join in the fight. Call of Duty: Warzone Call of Duty: Warzone is another Battle Royale title that falls under the best free-to-play shooter games category in 2024. It’s been four years since it was released and still stands as one of the most enjoyable competitive shooter games out there. Combine fast-paced gameplay with a multitude of weapons and tactical realism, and the action that you get out of Warzone remains unmatched. Counter-Strike 2 Counter-Strike 2 is the latest 5v5 competitive shooter from Valve that took over after CS:GO, carrying on the legacy that initially started as a Half-Life mod. CS2 is completely free-to-play and has both casual and ranked modes, serving as a perfect battleground for having fun and testing your skills to the fullest. If you get skilled enough, squad up with your friends and compete to become the best esports team on the planet. Destiny 2 Moving away from competitive free-to-play shooter is Destiny 2. This game is based on a “mythic science fiction” world and has both PvE and PvP elements. It has a rich lore and although the expansions need to be purchased, Destiny 2 potentially maximizes your team’s coordination, thanks to its in-depth and lengthy Raids. Fortnite Epic Games’ popular game, Fortnite, has a more casual approach to the battle royale genre when compared to Warzone and PUBG: Battlegrounds. But don’t be deceived by the looks of this free-to-play shooter as one of its core mechanics comes with a steep learning curve. However, if you want to chill in Fortnite, it has a Zero Build mode too that eliminates a stressful aspect. Halo Infinite Halo Infinite was released in 2021 as a first-person shooter game with a free-to-play multiplayer mode for Xbox consoles and PC. It started out pretty strong and its playerbase fell off since then, but it still is one of the best modern-day multiplayer games for all the Halo lovers out there. With a plethora of game modes, it’s sure to keep you engaged for a long time. Overwatch 2 Overwatch 2 is the free-to-play sequel to Blizzard’s 2016 competitive shooter and is one of the most popular games in 2024. In Overwatch 2, you get to choose from three roles, Tank, DPS, and Support. These classes have a multitude of heroes you can select and start playing without paying anything. PUBG: Battlegrounds Although PUBG: Battlegrounds has dropped down in popularity, there’s no denying that it used to dominate Twitch during the 2017 to 2020 era of video gaming. PUBG is now a free-to-play shooter but still has the X-factor that made the game popular back then. Being free-to-play means you and your buddies can hop on anytime and experience a realistic Battle Royale. The Finals Embark Studios’ The Finals is the new kid on the block that brings a fresh perspective to the shooter genre and is completely free to play. It’s chaotic and fun but the best thing about the game is you can cause mass destruction, unlike other games mentioned earlier. Like Overwatch 2, you can choose from three classes and squad up from different platforms as it has full crossplay support. Valorant Valorant is another 5v5 free-to-play shooter that Riot Games released in 2020, and it has a feel similar to CS2. To start with, there are multiple characters to choose from, known as Agents, with unique abilities that are crucial to win you rounds if used correctly. It’s also one of the most popular Esports titles right now along with the likes of Counter-Strike 2 and Overwatch 2. XDefiant XDefiant is the latest First-person shooter developed by Ubisoft. The game is meant to tackle the likes of Call of Duty, CoD players even praised the game calling it a “promising competitor.” Xdefiant also features factions featuring various agents from different Ubisoft games such as Splinter Cell, Far Cry, and The Division making it a promising game for fans of Ubisoft titles. If multiplayer games aren’t your cup of tea you can check out the best single-player games to play in 2024 or the best Souls games if you like punishing games with a vast lore. We also have a list of the best games to play on your mobile if you don’t have access to a PC or console.

Best Freyna build in The First Descendant: Skills, Weapons, Reactor & Modules Nexon GamesFreyna can be a powerful force in The First Descendant if you’ve got the right build. But, you’ll need the right skills, weapons, reactor, and modules to succeed. Acting as a powerful Damage over Time dealer, this Venom-obsessed Descendant is fantastic for those who like to slowly take their enemies down without needing to hit too many times. We currently have Freyna sitting in B-tier in our tier list of best characters. Freyna is a great character, but, like the others, you’ll need the right build to truly succeed. So, let’s look at what we’ve found the most success with, from skills to modules. Best Freyna build in The First Descendant – Recommended Best Freyna skills Freyna has access to five skills in The First Descendant, and, if used correctly, all of them can be extremely powerful. However, your MP is limited, so spamming abilities aren’t always the right approach. Here are the abilities we would recommend using most: Defense Mechanism You can’t go wrong with Defense Mechanism. Sure, there are plenty of attack Skills you can use, but sometimes a little extra protection is vital. It’s key to have this close to hand in case the enemies get a little too close for comfort. Toxic Trauma Toxic Trauma is one of the best Active Skills for Freyna in The First Descendant. When you combine the poison from a range with the best weapon, you have a perfect combination. Not only does the poison deal damage to the enemies from range, but it also inflicts Room 0 Trauma, dealing even more damage and poisoning them for longer. Decomposed Poison Decomposed Poison is another fantastic Active Skill to have on hand. Similarly to Toxic Trauma, it’s a great ranged AoE ability and will poison your enemies, working perfectly with the best weapon. On top of this, it deals fantastic damage and spreads thanks to the Toxic Footprints, keeping those deaths coming. All skills explained Below are the five available skills for Freyna in The First Descendant: Contagion Links (Passive): Increases Toxic Skill Power by the number of nearby enemies inflicted with Poison from Freyna’s skill. – Toxic Trauma: Throws poison to attack target enemy with damage and inflict Room 0 Trauma onto nearby enemies. – Defense Mechanism: Significantly increases DEF. There is chance of inflicting Room 0 Trauma to enemies upon attack. – Decomposed Poison: Throws toxins to form a Toxic Swamp. Enemies entering the Toxic Swamp receive continuous damage and become inflicted with Poison and Venom-Soaked. Enemies inflicted with Venom-Soaked leave Toxic Footprints as they move, and enemies that touch Toxic Footprints also become inflicted with Poison. – Venomous Baptism: Changes current Firearm to Venom Baptism. Enemies hit with Venom Baptism bullets are inflicted with Room 0 Trauma. – Best weapon for Freyna The best weapon for Freyna is undeniably the Fallen Hope Assault Rifle. It has a fantastic Unique ability with a direct effect on every poisoned enemy, working perfectly with her kit and poison status effect: Perdition: After hitting a Poisoned enemy, Firearm ATK is increased and applies this buff to the attack. When you defeat a Poisoned enemy, the enemy will trigger an Explosion with a certain chance, inflicting additional damage to nearby enemies. – The synergy Freyna’s kit has with this weapon makes it an almost irreplaceable boon for her, and it’s worth farming for this gun if you plan to take her into the late game. However, her other weapon slots are open and up to personal preference since Freyna can excel at any range. If you’d like to see which guns are universally the best options, check out our Ultimate weapon guide. Best Reactor for Freyna in The First Descendant In true Freyna fashion, the best Reactor you should choose are those that focus on Toxic and Tech (Mechanics). As such, we recommend picking up the following Reactors: Toxic Phase: Boosts Toxic and Dimension types – Toxic Mechanics: Boosts Toxic and Tech types – Freyna practically lives and breathes Toxic and poison, so capitalizing on those types is the best bet in battle. Best Modules for Freyna With her specialties in Poison and damage over time, you’ll be able to easily capitalize on the likes of Contagion, Nimble Fingers, and Focus on Toxic to spam more powerful skills over to the enemy and take them down. They’ll also help her be a little less vulnerable during refreshes. Best External Components While External Components are purely RNG-based drops, it’s not too easy to focus on the best. Nevertheless, there are a few worth looking out for: DEF – Max Shield – HP Recovery – Max HP – Upping a character’s DEF is never a bad thing, and when you combine that with Max Shield, Freyna should be staying up a lot longer. It can also give you the confidence to spend more time aiming her Poison and using those skills in new ways. In a similar way to DEF and Shield, Freyna’s HP is vital to keep track of. After all, you need to outlast the enemy, and HP is exactly how that’s done. We recommend buffing your Max HP and HP Recover as a priority, to help make Freyna a little more sturdy. How to unlock Freyna Like the majority of Descendants, you’ll need to get hold of specific items and crafting resources to unlock Freyna. Enhanced cell parts x192 Repton – Metal Accelerant x270 – Hyper Cube x5 – Freyna Enhanced Cell Blueprint x1 – x150,000 gold – Stabilizer parts Monad Shard x402 – Semiconstant Plasma x225 – Monite Stone x16 – Freyna Stabilizer Blueprint x1 – x150,000x gold – Spiral Catalyst parts Superfluid x384 – Semiconstant Plasma x225 – Arche Receptor x15 – Freyna Spiral Catalyst Blueprint x1 – x150,000x gold – Code parts Freyna Code x1 – Once you’ve got them all, just speak to Magister Anais and research Freyna for 400,000 Credits. That’s all you need to know about the best Freyna build in The First Descendant. For more builds, check out our guides for Jayber, Gley, Bunny, and Ajax.

Best free mobile games 2023: Genshin Impact, Fortnite, Pokemon Go, and more Supercell / miHoYoFantastic free mobile games are easy to miss but can be rewarding to play and so simple to download. Here are the best free mobile games of 2023. One of the best things about mobile games is that you can play them wherever you want. They’re the most portable gaming style and one of the cheapest, thanks to the plethora of free games available in the store. However, such free games often get overlooked due to ads or just people assuming they’re no good. Nevertheless, some fantastic free mobile games are waiting to be enjoyed. Whether they’re brand new experiences or titles you know and love, here are the best free mobile games you have to try out. Alto’s Odyssey If you’re looking for a relaxing experience where you have to be engaged in the game at all times, then Alto’s Odyssey is perfect. Alto’s Odyssey holds two things close to its heart, relaxation and beauty. It’s not the kind of game that requires a considerable amount of talent, leaving you to enjoy this fantastic free mobile game’s stunning visuals and entertaining gameplay. Hearthstone While Alto’s Odyssey may not require too much skill or strategy, Hearthstone is the polar opposite. However, it is equally as popular among mobile. Hearthstone is a collectible card game with over 50 million downloads and is often ranked as one of the best mobile card games available. Rightly so, really, as it has plenty of new updates that introduce fantastic items, spells, characters, and more. If you like free CCG mobile games, Hearthstone is the game for you. Runescape Packed with nostalgia and simplistic gameplay, Runescape is a fantastic free mobile game you must download. It’s simple to play, has a beautiful community, and is the kind of experience you can pick up whenever you want to. Essentially, Runescape is an MMORPG that has been perfectly transferred to mobile. The game feels like it’s lost nothing on such a transition, and you’ll get the same enjoyable experience as you would on PC. Sunrise Village: Family Farm While not a particularly recognizable brand, Sunrise Village is what many expect from mobile games but much better. Sunrise Village takes the management idea and spins it into this beautiful farming simulator. You can live out your farmer dreams and complete adventures and challenges for great rewards. All that is perfectly complimented by the creator’s attentive attitude to fixing bugs and rolling out updates. Clash of Clans Clash of Clans has been out for what feels like a decade, in fact, it was released in 2013, so it is almost precisely that old. Don’t let the age put you off the game; however, it’s still one of the main experiences that inspire many MOBA-style games on the mobile store. Clash of Clans allows you to build a village and attack other players in a strategic and battle-heavy scenario. Combine that with the frequent updates and many events taking place, and you have a game you won’t be able to put down. Path of Adventure Roguelikes and free mobile games are two categories you wouldn’t typically put together. However, after playing Path of Adventure, that mindset may just change. Path of Adventure is a fantastic roguelike text-based experience in which you play as a hero who traverses the story, taking actions, casting spells, and hopefully making the right decision. It feels like D&D, roguelikes, and mobile all came together to make one fantastic game. Subway Surfers Subway Surfers rose in popularity when it was released in 2012 and currently has over 1 billion downloads to its name. Thanks to that, it’s polished, constantly updated, and one of those games you can’t put down. It’s got a simple concept, you sprayed graffiti onto a train and get caught. That begins a pursuit through the train lines, where you must escape the guard by jumping up and over trains, among other obstacles. If you haven’t played Subway Surfers yet, this is the time to try it. League of Legends: Wild Rift League of Legends is one of the world’s most popular games, but its mobile spin-off, Wild Rift, feels right at home on touchscreen devices. While the Champion roster is still catching up to the main game’s eye-watering total, regular updates have seen plenty added since launch. Essentially, League of Legends is a 5v5 MOBA with all the best bits of League of Legends on your phone. It’s got great wins, frustrating losses, and names everyone knows and loves. If you’re a fan of League of Legends, then this is the next natural step. Pokemon Go Thousands look upon the release of Pokemon Go fondly. It created a movement no one has been able to replicate and seems to be holding onto its fans years after release. That’s primarily due to the ease of gameplay, the adorable Pokemon, and the many events dotted around the globe. It’s a fantastic addition to the Pokemon franchise and is something every fan needs to try. Genshin Impact Starting out on mobile, Genshin Impact is one of the best free mobile games in 2023. It’s got everything you need it to have while still being able to impress at every corner. With Genshin Impact proving to be so successful on PC and console, it’s undeniably worth trying it out on the platform it originated on. After all, it’s still a free mobile game. Those are the best free mobile games of 2023. While you’re waiting for them to install, why not check out some of these: The best mobile games to play in 2023 | Genshin Impact Version 2.8 details | Cookie Run: Kingdom tier list | Cookie Run Kingdom toppings guide | Pokemon Unite tier list | Dragon Ball Legends character tier list | Cookie Run: Kingdom codes | Best gacha mobile games for 2023

Best free games to download & play on PC, PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch Epic/EA/Microsoft/ActivisionIt might not be easy to choose the finest free-to-play games, especially since the list keeps growing every month. We’ve put together a list of the best free games available for download in 2024. The best thing about free games is that you don’t need to spend a single penny on them. If you’re new to gaming, they let you get started without costing you a cent. The best free games naturally tend to offer additional paid extras such as cosmetics or battle passes, but if you jump in without spending anything you’ll still have a great time. So, here are our picks for the best free games in 2024 for you to download on PC, PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch to play right now. Apex Legends Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC EA may have sent Titanfall 2 to die back in 2016 up against Battlefield and Call of Duty, but the best thing to come from it was Apex Legends. A spin-off of sorts that in many ways has eclipsed the original, Apex Legends is a battle royale with unique characters called Legends. Each has its own set of abilities, which combine with fluid movement and shooting mechanics to create a squad-based battle royale that feels unique from others in the genre. The Finals Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, PC The Finals was revealed as a surprise during The Game Awards as the game was released right after the trailer was shared during the show. Owing to this, there was a lot of hype for The Finals, and rightfully so. This FPS allows players to battle their teammates in virtual arenas. The combo of a first-person shooter with in-game chaos is really fun to experience in a multiplayer game making The Finals a must-play if you’re looking for a fun free-to-play game. Brawlhalla Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, iOS, macOS Brawlhalla is one of the most popular free-to-play fighting games. Apart from the fact that you don’t have to spend a single penny to buy the game, Brawlhalla has a vast roster of characters from across pop culture. From Ezio to Aang, you can select any character and brawl with your friends and the best part is that the game is cross-platform which means you can play with your friend playing on a console while you play the game on your phone or any other platform for that matter. Counter-Strike 2 Platforms: PC CS2 or Counter-Strike 2 is the successor to the global phenomenon that was CSGO. Counter-Strike arguably is the grandaddy of tactical shooters. The game is highly competitive and one that rewards quick thinking and even quicker reflexes, while also being one of the longest-running and most popular esports in history. Valve’s shooter may offer weapon skins that can cost more than a car, but you can try it out for nothing – making it an ideal choice for one of the best free games in 2024. Doki Doki Literature Club Platforms: Linux, Microsoft Windows, Mac Doki Doki Literature Club looks like a standard dating sim. However, that is exactly what the game wants you to think. What begins as a dating sim soon turns into a brutal and extremely disturbing psychological horror experience. That being said, the game is not for the faint-hearted and features gore and violence. If you do intend to play it, however, it’s best to just jump in blind to get the true grotesque experience. Dauntless Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC Dauntless takes the core Monster Hunter formula of killing giant beasts to turn them into weapons and armor, but strips out a lot of the more impenetrable elements and boils it down to a great co-op action title that won’t cost you a penny. The game keeps growing, and offers cross-play and cross-progression, too, meaning you can pick up where you left off. Destiny 2 Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC Working as a bizarre hybrid of a first-person shooter and an MMO, Destiny 2 has some of the most satisfying combat, with the story focusing on more personal moments. While the free-to-play version has been cut down considerably, there’s still plenty to see and do, and it’s great to play with friends, too. DOTA 2 Platforms: PC DOTA 2 is as complex as it is addictive, building from humble beginnings to become one of Steam’s most popular titles. Sharing to MOBA crown with League of Legends, DOTA is full of powerful heroes and tactical considerations. It may take you hundreds of hours to feel like you’ve gained a strong grasp of its deeper mechanics, but there’s nothing quite like it when it clicks. Fortnite Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC No list of the best free games in 2024 would be complete without arguably the biggest game in the world right now. Fortnite has continued to adapt and evolve over the years adding various new modes, characters, and collaborations. If not for the competitive Battle Royale, you can check out Fortnite for its collaborations with iconic artists such as Weeknd and the latest record-breaking Eminem Big Bang Event. Halo Infinite Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC While Halo Infinite’s campaign is very good, it’s multiplayer that’s likely to keep players logging in over the coming months. Capturing the magic of Halo 3, this free-to-play suite offers plenty of maps and modes, as well as a battle pass to earn unlocks for free. Halo’s unique pace will take some getting used to, but Halo Infinite rewards skilled players while also making newcomers feel at home with a lengthy tutorial and a bot-based playlist. It’s worth noting, though, that the game’s community has dwindled since launch due to a lack of sizeable content updates – here’s hoping it’ll grow again soon. Genshin Impact Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC While many laughed off Genshin Impact as a Zelda clone back at its unveiling, the game has become nothing short of a phenomenon. Sure, there are plenty of visual similarities, but the game also offers its own unique identity. Using a Gacha system, players will undoubtedly need to grind to earn Genshin Impact’s best characters and loot, but it’s well worth the time. The game offers a huge open world to explore, while also including satisfying action RPG combat that makes it one of the best free games — and one of the most generous. Rocket League Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC Rocket League is perhaps one of gaming’s simplest concepts to explain, even to non-gamers — it’s football (or soccer), but with cars. Don’t expect anything as basic from the gameplay, though, as Rocket League has one of gaming’s most notoriously high skill ceilings. While it’ll take time to find your feet (or should that be wheels?), you’ll soon be flying through the air to score a stunning, tournament-winning goal in one of the best free games you’ll find today. Valorant Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC, Xbox Series X|S Riot may be dominating a lot of this list, but Valorant is the developer’s latest free-to-play sensation. Standing on the shoulders of what came before (in this case, it’s CS: GO), Valorant is an insanely popular shooter that rewards precision and patience. With regular updates adding new Agents, maps, and more, the game has become an esports juggernaut already. Warframe Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC Ninjas are cool, there’s no questioning that, but space ninjas? They’re even cooler. Warframe smartly wraps this understanding into every facet of its ever-expanding universe. Not only does Warframe offer diverse character classes, but it also keeps growing. What began as a corridor shooter now has open-world segments, huge ship-to-ship battles, and multiple single-player storylines that weave a universe’s worth of lore throughout. XDefiant Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC XDefiant is the latest free-to-play game released by Ubisoft, and the best way to describe it is as a blend of Overwatch and Call of Duty with many weapons similar to COD. The game features various factions from different Ubisoft IPs, such as Far Cry, Splinter Cell, Watch Dogs, and Ghost Recon. That said, the gameplay is fast-paced and dynamic, with each weapon having its own identity, which makes for satisfying gunplay. Best upcoming free-to-play game Marvel Rivals is Marvel’s version of Overwatch, with a superhero twist set to release on December 6, 2024. The game recently ended its Closed-Beta run in July after receiving a positive reception. Now that you know the best free-to-play games in 2024, you can take a look at the best Assassin’s Creed games ranked, and the best multiplayer games to play in 2024.

Best Free Horror Games to play in 2021 Reminiscence ProjectHorror is a genre that has managed to consistently capture the attention of many avid gamers who enjoy a jump-scare or two. However, not everyone has the means to purchase every title that releases. From the classic Slender games to the short but terrifying Reminiscence, we’ve compiled a list of the best free-to-play horror games of 2021. Halloween is drawing closer, and that means the hunt for horror games is on. While there are plenty of premium horror titles that are worth your time. This list aims to look at some free-to-play experiences that may have flown under the radar over the years. These are the best free Horror games on the internet in 2021. Best Free Horror Games Port of Call Port of Call dumps you right into the middle of a story, a feature that is seemingly meant to keep players off-balance for the entire experience. The player wakes up suffering from amnesia, and the only helpful soul around is the captain of a ferry boat. He enlists your help, and once you’re on board, you start investigating the other occupants of the ship. Pretty quickly you discover that these people know more about you than they’re letting on. While the premise is fairly basic, Port of Call excels as a part of interactive media. You’ll begin to piece together the mystery right on time, and the game leaves you with the impression that there’s much more to know about the world around you. The game achieves everything that it sets out to in a bite-sized thirty-minute runtime. You can download Port of Call on Steam Slender: The Eight Pages The Slender series has reached cult classic status among the Horror community. Even if you haven’t played it for yourself, you’ve likely seen the game elsewhere on the internet, thanks to names like Pewdiepie and Markiplier. The main mission of Slender: The Eight Pages is for players hunt down eight notes that are scattered throughout a dark forest. It won’t take long for you to notice the horrifying presence of the Slender Man, a being of folklore that is said to have a special connection with abducting children. While the gameplay and premise are both simple, the execution is perfect. Slender: The Eight Pages creates a haunting environment, and never lets your heart rest for too long. After the game saw viral success in the mid-2010s, a sequel was released called Slender: The Arrival, which builds on the minimalistic concepts of the original. If you’re interested in playing, you can download Slender: The Eight Pages here The Static Speaks My Name The gameplay in this one is pretty disturbing and we don’t recommend playing it if you’re sensitive to death. You play as Jacob Ernholtz, a man who is obsessed with a particular painting from an artist named Jason Malone. Most of the story revolves around Ernholtz’s relationship to the painting and to the man who painted it. This one is extremely short, with the average playtime being around fifteen minutes, but it uses every minute to craft a terrifying narrative and leaves you with more questions than answers. While psychological horror may not be for everyone, if you’re a fan of the genre then this one is a must-play. You can down download The Static Speaks My Name here. Reminiscence The horror genre is rife with overly long games that sacrifice a fulfilled narrative in favor of keeping you in the creepy environment for as long as possible. That’s not the case with Reminiscence. The entire game can be played in thirty minutes. That short time span packs a punch though, and you’ll be thinking about long after it ends. Set in the 1950’s, you play as a time-traveler who has to explore two versions of his house to find his missing wife and child. The first version of the house is the platonic ideal of a family home. It features all of the things that one would expect from a happy household. The other version is the complete opposite of that. Set in the modern-day, the house has now become completely unrecognizable. This alternate reality holds the key to solving the mystery, but there’s so much more than meets the eye in this alternate reality. You can play Reminiscence on Steam Cry of Fear Sitnikov Valeriy made one of the internet’s most beloved free-to-play titles of all time with 2013’s Call of Fear. You play as a young man exploring a mystery inside an old Scandinavian town. As the story progresses, both the protagonist and the mystery begin to unravel. While the premise is similar to Silent Hill, Cry of Fear relies far more on gunplay and shooting your way out of each bad situation. Despite being free-to-play, Call of Fear showcases so many trademarks of premium games – the campaign is around eight hours long and has multiple endings, so you’ll never feel like your journey wasn’t worth it. Though it was originally designed as a mod for Half-Life, Cry of Fear is now a standalone product and can be downloaded via Steam. That’s all for our list of the best free horror games. If you’re looking for a more communal experience, check out our list of best Horror games to play with your friends.

Best Football Manager 23 wonderkids for every position and price range Sports InteractiveFootball Manager 2023 brings a new set of wonderkids for players to uncover, develop, and turn into superstars. But who are they and where can they be found? Here, we’re running through the best FM23 wonderkids for every position and price range. Football Manager 2023 is set to release on November 8 but, as is the case every year, the beta dropped a few weeks prior so fans can already delve into their new saves. Alongside which clubs boast the biggest transfer budgets, a major topic every year are wonderkids, with players eager to uncover the best and brightest young talent in the game. However, not every player opts to start out at Man City or Newcastle and so won’t have millions to splash. As a result, we’re setting out the best wonderkids for every position but also diversifying our picks based on their starting transfer values. Naturally, the better players tend to cost more but bargains can still be found in the most unlikely of places. The value columns below detail the range between approximate player value and expected transfer fee (hence why some vary considerably). Finally, we’ll be ignoring the most obvious choices – everyone knows about Jude Bellingham, Pedri and Erling Haaland. Best FM23 wonderkids: Goalkeepers (GK) Best FM23 wonderkids: Defenders (RB, LB & CB) Best FM23 wonderkids: Central Midfielders (CDM, CM & CAM) Best FM23 wonderkids: Wingers (RM, RW, LM & LW) Best FM23 wonderkids: Forwards (ST & CF) Naturally, players will vary between games and, depending on how their respective careers pan out, they may not reach their full potential or may be available cheaper or more expensive than the stated price ranges. Regardless, these youngsters are some of the best players in SI’s latest title so get your scouts and wallets ready and make them as good as they can be.

Best Five Nights at Freddy’s Merch and Gifts in 2023 Universal PicturesWe’re rounding up all the best Five Nights at Freddy’s merch and gifts available for fans of the new movie and the hit game franchise. The best Five Nights at Freddy’s merch and gifts are perfect for those wanting to show their love and deepen their experiences for the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie. It’s currently showing in theaters across the US and the UK and is also streaming on Peacock Plus. As the Five Nights at Freddy’s games have blown up in popularity over the last 10 years, there are so many options for toys and merch to choose from. This is due in part to just how recognizable the central antagonists and the setting are, the vast majority of which appears to have translated from the games to the cinema screen seamlessly. Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, and another dozen or so animatronics are just one side of the story, there’s a surprisingly deep well of lore to delve into as well. That’s why below, you’ll find all of our top options for the best Five Nights at Freddy’s merch and gifts. We’ll be highlighting game compilations, action figures, Funko Pops, plushies, and everything else to do with the popular horror series now that the film has been released in the US! For our thoughts on the new movie, here’s our Five Nights at Freddy’s movie review; we really enjoyed it, and hopefully you will too. Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Core Collection The best piece of merch you can get for yourself ahead of the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie is to check out the games that inspired it. Fortunately, Five Nights at Freddy’s: The Core Collection includes the first four games and the spin-off title Sister Location which should get you up to speed. This is incredible value for money and is available on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One, with the latter options backward compatible with PS5 and Xbox Series X. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach While the original games have their place in history, they are quite primitive compared to the latter entries. That’s where Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach comes in, which is a greatly expanded and fully immersive game world to roam around in, with improved visuals and a much longer story than any of the first games in the franchise’s early days. It’s available on all major consoles, too. Funko Five Nights at Freddy’s – Survive ‘Til 6AM While the video games are great, the Funko Five Nights at Freddy’s Survive ‘Til 6AM board game reimagines the core concept as an affordable two-player experience. It’s got a rapid-fire pace with 20-minute rounds as well, so there’s no chance of getting bored. What’s more, there are 96 camera cards, and 13 clock cards included in the box, so plenty of room for strategy and replay value. The Official Five Nights at Freddy’s Cookbook Have you ever been playing the FNAF games and thought, “Wow, that pizza looks bussing?” Us too. That’s why it’s neat that you can get your hands on the official Five Nights at Freddy’s cookbook which promises over 40 recipes based on the game series. Pizza seems to be the number one priority, but it looks like pasta, burgers, hot dogs, and shakes are also on the menu, too. What’s more, you can currently save 25% by getting a pre-order at just $14.98. Funko Five Nights at Freddy’s Series 1 Action Figure set One of the pricier options in our roundup, the Funko Five Nights at Freddy’s Series 1 action figure set bundles in Freddy, Chica, Foxy, Bonnie, and Golden Freddy, alongside pieces needed to construct Springtrap in his entirety. With this set, retailing just under the $100 mark, you’ve got a total of six high-quality and instantly recognizable characters from the games and movie, working out to be $16 each. Five Nights at Freddy’s Graphic Novel Trilogy We touched upon the deeper lore of the FNAF series, as the expanded media certainly has you covered there. While the games only flirt with the deeper, darker themes, the graphic novels go into more overt, and visual detail, in and around the core narrative of the series. Unlike other video game adaptations, these graphic novels are written by series creator Scott Cawthon, so the lore and storytelling are authentic. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted Five Nights at Freddy’s: Helped Wanted serves as a remake of the original FNAF trilogy with greatly updated visuals and gameplay mechanics for the definitive core experience. While it was previously a VR-only title, it’s since got a regular console release and sells for a discounted price. Five Nights at Freddy’s plush toys Given the animalistic nature of the series antagonists, of course, there was going to be plushies. Fortunately, there’s a wealth of options including Sundrop and Moondrop from Security Breach, Foxy, Bonnie, Freddy, and three packs available, too. Prices range from $10 to $30 depending on the character. Five Nights at Freddy’s Funko Pop Advent Calendar If you’re in the market for something more seasonal around the upcoming holiday period then you may want to consider the FNAF Funko Pop Advent Calendar. This 24-pocket pop set includes a miniature Christmas-themed Five Nights at Freddy’s vinyl for each day leading up to the holidays for a very competitive price. The set retails for $50, however, discounts have brought it down to around the $42 mark. This means each FNAF pocket pop works out to being around $2. Best Five Nights at Freddy’s Merch and Gifts – FAQs Who are the most popular FNAF characters? From the classic trilogy of games, Foxy stands out as one of the more popular among fans, however, animatronics like Springtrap, Chica, and Freddy himself are also incredibly beloved by the community. What is the best FNAF game? It’s widely believed that either the original Five Nights at Freddy’s or Sister Location is considered the best of the current run. However, it all depends on the atmosphere you like and whether you’re going in for the story or scares. Is the FNAF movie rated R? No, the Five Nights at Freddy’s movie is rated PG-13 for strong violent content, bloody images, and language. That means older teens will be able to enjoy the experience, but you’ll want to leave the kids at home for this one. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best Football Manager 21 free agents | FM21 FA’s It can be difficult to decide which players are worth picking up in Football Manager 21. It’s often a good idea to sign free agents who are no longer under contract. Here’s a list of free-agent players that you might be interested in signing. It can be difficult to pick up players who are locked under a contract in Football Manager 2021. Clubs will often request extortionate amounts of money for a buyout agreement. However, a great option is to look for players who are currently not under a contract. This negates the huge upfront fees associated with buying a player from another club. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best players in Football Manager 2021 that are currently not in a contract with a club. This list was put together using the FMScout database. It’s worth noting that none of these players are world-class and a lot of them are coming to the end of their career. However, they’re still great players who would make a solid addition to any team. Hopefully, this list will help you pick up some players to fill out your squad that don’t cost an enormous amount to sign. Although these players are not in their prime, for the price they’re certainly worth signing.

7 Best Fighting Games you need to play in 2024 DexertoFrom Street Fighter 6 taking the helm as one of the best fighting games to Mortal Kombat 1, 2023 was an amazing year for fighting games. With the release of Tekken 8 right around the corner this year, we’ve compiled a list of the best fighting games you need to immerse yourself in. Be it the Shoryuken or the brutal fatalities, it wouldn’t be an understatement to say that fighting games have had a huge influence on gaming history and pop culture as a whole. From movie adaptations to iconic collaborations, fighting games have been around since the 1970s, when Sega released the first game to feature fist fighting called Heavyweight Champ. This was when the golden age of arcade video games began. The likes of Tekken and Mortal Kombat were still far off, and what ruled the roost were classic retro games like Space Invaders and Street Fighter II. After almost 50 years of releases, there are definitely some fighting games that stand out when compared to the rest. Let’s take a look at some of these games. Mortal Kombat 1 What better game to start off the list than the one that literally became the cause of age ratings back when it was first released? There have been a total of 23 Mortal Kombat games since the first game came out in 1992. While there are certainly some better than the rest, Mortal Kombat 1 serves as a good starting point for the series. After 11 mainline games, Mortal Kombat has accumulated a ton of stories and rich lore, which, even though it is really fun to immerse oneself in, might overwhelm new players. Mortal Kombat 1 resets the timeline after the events of the last game serving as a soft reboot to the franchise. Furthermore, the game even has a road map set for various DLC characters from pop culture media, such as Homelander from The Boys and Omni Man from Invincible. If not for the brutality, Mortal Kombat 1 definitely deserves a try for its diverse roster of characters. Guilty Gear Strive Being over the top might prove to be quite a hassle when games like Mortal Kombat are out there. However, Guilty Gear Strive strikes the perfect balance setting the gold standard of anime-style fighting games with intricately designed characters and fast-paced action-packed fights. Although Guilty Gear Strive isn’t the first game in the series, Arc System Works’ flagship game didn’t achieve widespread success until Guilty Gear Strive, and for good reason. It’s brash, extravagant, and features some of the whackiest characters ever put on screen. Brawlhalla If Mortal Kombat 1’s DLC characters weren’t enough to hook you in. Worry not, as Brawlhalla features probably one of the biggest and most diverse rosters of characters, ranging from Ben 10 to Shovel Knight. Brawlhalla is an amazing game to play with your friends, as the game supports up to eight players at a time. Unlike other games on this list, Brawlhalla is free and supports cross-platform gameplay, which essentially means that you can play the game even on your phone or handheld console, even if your friends are playing it on PC or PlayStation. Street Fighter 6 Almost every time fighting games are talked about, the first image your mind might conjure up would be Ryu and Ken fighting in 2D poses as Ryu strikes with a Shoryuken. This is a testament to the level of impact Street Fighter has left on fighting games as a whole; some might even call the franchise a cultural media milestone. Street Fighter 6, the latest entry in the legendary series, doesn’t disappoint and goes over and beyond to deliver a phenomenal fighting game experience that continues the legacy of Street Fighter while also making a name for itself. The game goes on to refine the already distinctive visual flare that established the series, making it one of the best next-gen fighting games to experience. Dragon Ball FighterZ Anime fans have always been lucky when it comes to fighting games, with games like Granblue or even Guilty Gear providing exquisite gaming experiences. Dragon Ball Z, the Shonen cult phenomenon, has had a plethora of fighting games throughout the years, with the likes of Budokai Tenkaichi still being praised by fans to this day. FighterZ stands apart from other Dragon Ball games in this regard. Developed by the same team as Guilty Gear Strive, Arc System Works, FighterZ is a game in the vein of Mortal Kombat that offers a good mix of technical fighting and brutal combat. The game allows you to pick from an ensemble of characters drawn from every chapter of the Dragon Ball saga. It’s among the greatest fighting games ever made, even better than its predecessors. Tekken 7 With Tekken 8 set to release in 2024, players are looking forward to seeing Jin Kazama go face-to-face with his father, Kazuya Mishima, in what seems to be the final confrontation of this renowned duo. While we’re yet to see how the game will fare when compared to its predecessors, until then, you can count on Tekken 7. Bandai Namco wanted to show that it was still the best at 3D combat, and with Tekken 7, they certainly delivered. With precision-based controls and a large roster of characters to choose from, Tekken 7 is one of the finest games in the series, with some even comparing it to the critically acclaimed Tekken 3. Whether the game is better than the legendary Tekken 3 is up for debate, but it definitely delivers when it comes to brutal combo systems and an overall enjoyable fighting game. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Ever wondered who would win in a fight against Rocket Racoon and Phoenix Wright from Ace Attorney? Well, now you can find out thanks to Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3! Capcom delivered what can be considered the most outlandish game on this list, as it allows you to pit well-known Capcom characters such as Dante and Vergil against the whole host of Marvel characters. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 lets you focus on using your teammates and special powers rather than worrying about remembering combos and buttons. This means you can just mash buttons and see your favorite characters brawl it out on the screen. Those were 7 of the best fighting games you should play in 2024. For more gaming content, check out some of our other recommendation lists below: Games like Honkai Star Rail | Games like Stardew Valley | Best Xbox Game Pass games | Best Souls games | Best Oddworld games | Best OLED Switch games | Best survival games | Best scary Roblox horror games in 2023 | Best survival games | Best Apple Arcade games | Best mobile games | Best MMO games | Best LGBTQ+ video games | 9 best Final Fantasy games ranked

Best factory base layouts and locations in Satisfactory DexertoTired of your factory burning through resources while barely producing anything in Satisfactory? You’re in the right place. In Satisfactory, building an efficient factory is the difference between churning out endless supplies or watching your machines sputter out while you scramble for fuel. After all, you wouldn’t want your factory to be stranded in the middle of the desert with no nearby resources or fuel to be found. In this guide, we’ll share the tips, layouts, and prime locations that’ll make sure your Satisfactory factory runs like a well-oiled machine. Tips for choosing the best factory layout and location Here are some of the recommendations I wish someone had told me when I began building my factory in Satisfactory: Always build close to resource nodes to cut down on transportation time. For water-based buildings like refineries, stay near water. – Find a spot with plenty of room to expand, like wide-open fields or coastal areas. If you can score a scenic view while you’re at it, even better. – Start by placing machines, then worry about belts. Use manifolds to distribute materials evenly and keep similar processes together in modular layouts. Always leave extra space – you’ll need more than you think. – Stack belts, place splitters at corners, and use conveyor floor holes to move items between levels. – If you’re about to log out, leave signs. Label everything so you don’t forget what you were doing later. – You should try to find the flattest terrain you can. If you need to smooth things out, use explosives, the chainsaw, and place foundations. – Best Iron, Copper, or Ore factory layout Start with a 9×5 platform. – Place four Smelters in the second row. Set these to produce the desired ingots, like iron or copper ingots. – Behind each Smelter, add Splitters. For the belt between the Splitters in the fourth and fifth columns, use a Mark 2 Belt to handle the extra throughput. – In the third row (in front of the first Smelter), add another Splitter. – On the fourth row, place five Constructors (one per column). The first two constructors should connect to the Splitter. The remaining three will be fed directly from the Smelters. Set the first two to make iron rods or other equivalent products and the last three to make iron plates or other equivalent products. – From here, you can continue to personalize based on the ore using Splitters, Mergers, and Constructors to refine your products. – When you’re happy with the outcome, add Storage Containers, connect everything to power, and link the iron ore supply with a Mark 2 Belt. – Best factory location to farm ores The best location for your factory is determined by the ore you’ll be using as your main resource. If you’re looking to make an Iron factory or Copper factory, the best farm location will be the Dune Desert in the northeast corner of the map. That’s because the largest concentration of those ores is in that area. For a Coal factory, the ideal spot is in the Middle West or Middle East of the map, where all the Pure Coal nodes are. The key is to always set up your factory close to the best resource spots for each type of ore. Best Concrete factory layout Add a 3×5 area somewhere in your factory. That’s all you need for this layout. – Place three Constructors in row 2, one in each column. – In row 1, column 2, place a Splitter and belt it to all three Constructors. – Set all Constructors to produce concrete. – Place a Merger in row 3, in front of the second Constructor. Connect all Constructors to this Merger. – Add a Storage Container in front of the Merger and belt everything together. – Connect power to the system and link the belt to your limestone source. – Best factory location to produce Concrete The best location for a Concrete factory is in the Rocky Desert, which is northwest of the map. Here, you can find the largest concentration of Limestone, which is used to produce Concrete. Best Reinforced Iron Plates factory layout Place four Smelters. Then, add a manifold Splitter line in front of these Smelters. – Use a Mark 2 belt between the third and fourth Splitters to handle the extra load. Set all Smelters to produce Iron Ingots. – In row 3, place a Splitter in front of the first Smelter. Then, add five Constructors in row 4, one in each column. Connect a Splitter to the first two Constructors and set them to produce Iron Rods. Belt the next three Smelters directly to the remaining Constructors and set these to produce Iron Plates. – Place a Merger in row 5, in front of the second Constructor. Connect the first two Constructors to this Merger. Add another Merger in front of the fourth Constructor and connect the remaining three Constructors to this Merger. – Add a Splitter in front of the Merger in row 6. In row 7, place three Constructors in columns 1-3 and belt them to the Splitter. Set these Constructors to produce Screws. Place a Splitter in front of the middle Constructor and Merger in front of the other two Constructors, ensuring their outputs face forward. Connect the Constructors to the Merger and Splitters. – Add the first Assembler so its first conveyor hole lines up with the lower Merger. Place the second Assembler next to it, aligning its second conveyor hole with the same Merger. Connect the lower Merger to the first Assembler and the other Merger to the second Assembler. Place a Splitter above each Merger with the entrances facing right, and belt them into the Assemblers. – Bring the Iron Plate line from the lower Merger up, connecting it two notches away from the Splitter. Merge the output from both Assemblers. Add a Storage Container in front of the final Merger. Set both Assemblers to produce Reinforced Iron Plates. – Connect power to all machines and link the first Splitter to your Iron Ore belt. – Best Reinforced Iron Plates factory location The best spot for a Reinforced Iron Plates factory is the Dune Desert in the northeast corner of the map, thanks to the high concentration of Iron in that area. Best Steel factory layout Start with an 8×5 platform. Then, place three Foundries in row 2. Add a Splitter under each Foundry. – Add three Splitters stacked next to the existing one. Make sure the third Splitter’s entrance is from the left. Remove the bottom two Splitters. – Place Conveyor Lifts between each Splitter and Foundry. – Set Foundries to produce Steel Ingots. Underclock the third Foundry to 30 Steel Ingots per minute. Add Merger in front of the first Foundry (facing forward), and a Splitter and Merger in front of the second and third Foundries. – Use Mark 1 belts to connect Splitters and Merger outputs. Belt Constructors to the Merger and Splitters. – Place Constructors in front of the Merger and set them to produce Steel Beams and Steel Pipes. Add Merger in front of the second Constructor (facing forward) and belt to Storage Containers. – Add two Storage Containers. Belt them from the Constructors and Merger. – Set up power and connect the ore lines. – Best Steel factory location The best spot for a Steel factory is the Dune Desert in the northeast corner of the map, thanks to the high concentration of Iron in that area. Now that you’ve mastered building a top-tier factory, it’s time to show off: invite your friends to check it out on a dedicated server. Or, even better, set out on a hunt to get all the hard drives in the game.

10 best feel-good games to buy in 2024 FJRD Interactive / Bandai NamcoThere are so many feel-good games you can buy in 2024. Here, we have ranked the top 10 for you to help make a decision on what to play next. For many, video games are the perfect escape from tough times. They offer comfort and allow you to fully immerse yourself into a world away from your own, which can be particularly helpful during what many consider to be tougher months of the year. So, let’s get together the shortlist for you. We’ve got a stellar selection of soothing titles – from creative cozy games that’ll make time fly by to RPGs with worlds you’ll end up losing yourself in. Stardew Valley Genre: Cozy farming sim – Platforms: PC, Switch, Mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Mac – No feel-good selection is complete without Stardew Valley. You play a character who, after the loss of their grandpa, is given his farm in the middle of a small town. Escaping the bustle of the city, you head to the farm and create a loving landscape by planting crops, mining, taking care of animals, and finding love with the NPCs. There’s something special about Stardew Valley. Whether you’re into farming, combat, or just making friends, you’re guaranteed to spend hundreds of hours in this game without getting bored. Combine that with the outstanding soundtrack and simplistic visuals, and you have one of the best cozy games ever. Coffee Talk Genre: Interactive visual novel – Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox, PlayStation, Mac – It may feel a little stereotypical, but few things make a person feel as good as when they have a nice hot (or cold) drink and can snuggle under a warm blanket. Combine that with Coffee Talk and you have a combination made for feeling good. You act as the barista in a nighttime coffee shop who gets the chance to listen in on your patron’s conversation, while occasionally creating delicious drinks for order. It’s in no way stressful, and the characters are so lovable that you’ll just fall straight into the world without looking back, investing greatly into their wonderful stories. Then, if that’s not enough, try out Episode Two. Tetris Effect Genre: Arcade puzzle game – Platforms: PC, Switch, Mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Meta Quest – Whether you find Tetris calming or stressful depends on your love for puzzle games. On one hand, keeping your brain working hard is a great way to provide a distraction from the outside world, but on the other, it can be a little frustrating. That’s where Tetris Effect comes in. It’s essentially the zen version of the original game and introduces a calming design thanks to the fantastic music, backgrounds, effects, and so much more. It almost feels like ASMR mixed with dreamy visuals and is particularly eye-catching in VR. Cat Quest Genre: Open-world RPG – Platforms: PC, Switch, Mobile, PlayStation, Mac – If you’re a cat lover and an RPG fanatic, then Cat Quest is a feel-good game for you. Essentially, through its shorter length, you play as an adorable cat set to take down the evil Drakoth and save your sister. While doing so, you get to explore a delightful map, delve into dungeons, and meet some undeniably loveable characters. Many have described it as Skyrim for Cats, so if that’s the genre you adore, then you should definitely try out Cat Quest. What’s more, there’s a Cat Quest 2, and an upcoming Cat Quest 3, so if you’re done with the original, you can always dive into its counterparts and go all over again. Skyrim Genre: Open-world RPG – Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox, PlayStation – Whether you’ve played Skyrim before or not, you should dive into the game. No title promises to immerse you quite like this outstanding RPG. After all, it’s not considered one of the best RPGs of all time for nothing. Skyrim has the distinct ability to cater to everything you need when you need it. You can explore, complete quests, battle creatures, create a home, and even fish, all while enjoying the stunning medieval fantasy world around you. If immersion is the aim of your feel-good experience, Skyrim should be one of your first thoughts. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Genre: Open-world action adventure – Platforms: Nintendo Switch – No game fits the portable experience like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – and just because you can take it around, doesn’t mean it’s harder to feel immersed or engaged in its gameplay. After all, there’s nothing quite like embodying Link once again and exploring Hyrule in all its glory. Breath of the Wild gives off the same addictive and immersive nature as Skyrim and is ideal for anyone looking to just fall in love with classic video games. Minecraft Genre: Sandbox – Platforms: PC, Switch, Mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Mac – Sure, diving into fantastic RPGs or adorable cozy games are a lot of fun, but there’s something special about being given complete creative freedom in a world made for such creations. Minecraft is a classic. It’s perfect for whatever you want to do from exploration, combat, farming, building, and even fighting thanks to a few key servers. On top of that, you can explore all those features with friends thanks to its multiplayer capabilities. Slime Rancher Genre: Adventure life sim – Platforms: PC, Switch, Mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Mac – In Slime Rancher, you play as Beatrix LeBeau, a new rancher who lands on a planet with the sole responsibility of wrangling mischievous slimes. As such, the gameplay is extremely colorful, loveable, a little chaotic, and just all-out adorable. It’s worth mentioning, that there’s a touching ending to the game, but that almost makes the title all the more bittersweet and therefore feel-good. After all, the joys you experience throughout the game make the ending so worth it. Among Trees Genre: Survival – Platforms: PC – While it’s different for everyone, there are times when a good walk or trip outside will cure some negative feelings. This is why Among Trees is so fantastic. It allows you to explore the world without leaving the comfort of your sofa, bed, or home in general. You’re essentially dropped into the stunning wilderness which is filled with secrets, nature, animals, and materials to help you expand your home and better survive. It’s one of those games where you can just dive into nature and enjoy every minute of its adventure. Combine that with the adorable pet fox you can get and you’re in for a fantastic time. Katamari Genre: Third-person puzzle-action – Platforms: PC, Switch, Mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Mac – Not all feel-good games need to have complex stories, large open worlds, or even long storylines. Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a good bit of mindless fun, especially when it involves picking up random items to make into a large ball, that in turn, can pick up even more items. Katamari is just so much fun to play. It’s simplistic, doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is one of those games where you can just switch off entirely and enjoy what’s in front of you, even if it’s a little tricky at times. If you want a feel-good game that doesn’t take too much to enjoy, Katamari is the game for you. So, those are all our top picks for the best feel-good games to help your 2024 feel a little smoother. While installing your chosen title, take a look at some of our other recommendations for the best cozy games or the perfect game to play with a friend. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best F1 24 Settings guide: Camera, controller, graphics, display, more EABefore you can get racing in F1 24, you’ll need the best settings possible to enhance your on-track experience. Here are the camera, controller, graphics, and display settings you should be using in EA’s latest Formula 1 game. The community is asking plenty of questions about the new F1 game including if Braking Point is returning and what game engine it runs on. However, there’s one bigger question that surfaces every year: What are the best settings to use? Setting up F1 24 can be complicated as there are so many options to work through. Working it all out yourself is a hassle, which prevents you from focusing on the actual point of the game, the racing. This comprehensive settings guide will make optimizing your F1 24 experience much more straightforward. Here are all the major settings you’ll want to change before getting on the track. Contents Best F1 24 camera settings – Best F1 24 controller settings – Best F1 24 graphics settings – Best F1 24 On-Screen Display settings – Best F1 24 camera settings Here are the best camera settings to use in F1 24 to be as competitive, and make sure your perspective provides as much information as possible. You can only change camera settings while on track, so it’s recommended to load up into Time Trial via F1 World to apply these: Camera: TV Pod Offset – Field of View: -20 (This can be adjusted for preference) – Offset: Lateral: =12 – Offset Horizontal: 0 – Offset: Vertical: 0 – Angle: -15 – Near Clip Plane: 20 – Mirror Angle: 0 – Camera Shake: 0 – Best F1 24 controller settings These are the best controller settings to use in F1 24 to be competitive, and make racing feel as responsive as possible: Calibration Steering Rate: 100% – Steering Deadzone: Ideally 0, but slightly higher if your controller has stick drift – Steering Linearity: 30 – Steering Saturation: 0 – Throttle Deadzone: Ideally 0, but slightly higher if your controller’s right trigger is faulty – Throttle Linearity: 10 – Throttle Saturation: 0 – Brake Deadzone: Ideally 0, but slightly higher if your controller’s left trigger is faulty – Brake Linearity: 30 – Brake Saturation: 0 – Vibration & Force Feedback Vibration & Force Feedback: On – Vibration & Force Feedback Strength: 100 – On Track Effects: 100 – Rumble Strip Effects: 100 – Off Track Effects: 100 – Pit Stop Effects: 50 – Wheel Damped: 50 – Maximum Wheel Rotation: 280º – Control Scheme The Control Scheme can be left alone, with F1 24’s default controls being perfectly serviceable regardless of skill level. However, it is still worth experimenting with certain controls like gearing, the Team Radio, and MFD to find the perfect fit for you. Best F1 24 PC graphics settings These are the best graphics settings to use in F1 24 to make your game both look good and run well. If these settings don’t quite work for you, try using the in-game Benchmark Mode tool to experiment and fine-tune each option. General graphics settings Gamma Adjustment: 110 – Motion Blur Strength: 0 – Steering Animation: On – Advanced graphics settings Detail Preset: Custom – Ray Tracing Quality: Medium – Ray Traced Shadows: Off – Ray Traced Reflections: Off – Ray Traced Ambient Occlusion: Off – Ray Traced Transparent Reflections: Off – Ray Traced DDGI: Off – Lighting Quality: High – Post Process; High – Shadows: Medium – Particles: High – Crowd: Medium – Mirrors: High – Car and Helmet Reflections: High – Weather Effects: High – Ground Cover: Medium – Trees: Medium – Skidmarks: High – Skidmarks Blending: On – Ambient Occlusion: Off – Screen Space Reflections: Off – Texture Streaming: Medium – Variable Rate Shading: On – High Quality Hair: On – NVIDIA Reflex: On + Boost – Chromatic Aberration: Off – Video Mode graphics settings Display Adapter: Your graphics card – Resolution: Your monitor’s max resolution, usually 1920×1080, 2560×1440, or 3840×2160 – Display Mode: Fullscreen or Windowed (Fullscreen) – Aspect Ratio: Auto – VSync: Off – This is known to cause input delay when turned on – VSync Interval: Auto – Refresh Rate: Maximum for your monitor, usually 60, 120, 144, or 240Hz – Frame Rate Limit: Off – Output Monitor: Select your main monitor – Anisotropic Filtering: 16x – Anti-Aliasing: Varies depending on your GPU NVIDIA RTX: Nvidia DLSS – AMD: AMD FSR2 – Intel: Intel Xe Super Sampling (XeSS) – Other: TAA and FidelityFX Sharpening – – Anti-Aliasing Mode: Quality – Anti-Aliasing Sharpness: 90 – Frame Generation: On if using RTX 40XX Series GPU – Dynamic Resolution: Off – Best F1 24 On-Screen Display settings These are the best On-Screen Display settings to give you as much information as possible while racing: On-Screen Display: On – On-Screen Display (Cockpit View): On – Speedometer Units: Preference – Temperature Units: Preference – Track Map: Full Track Map – Makes it easier to see where other cars are on the track – Delta Time: On – Proximity Arrows: On – Driver Tags: On – Start Lights: On – Virtual Rear View Mirror: Preference – Although useful, it is awkward to position without obscuring your vision – Permanent Session Timer (P/Q): Preference – Always Display Objective Panel: Preference – That’s all for the best settings to use in F1 24. For more Formula 1 guides, check out the game’s full track list, system requirements, and featured teams. You can also find out more about how to play with these guides on crossplay support and this breakdown of whether F1 24 is on Xbox Game Pass.

Best Enzo build in The First Descendant: Skills, Weapons, Reactor & Modules NexonServing as a vital support character in The First Descendant, Enzo is an asset to any team. But only if you build him correctly with the right skills and weapons. There are tons of characters to choose from in The First Descendant, and if you’ve got past the relatively impressive starter roster, then you’re likely looking for a change-up. This is where Enzo comes in, as the resident powerful support, whose primary job is to help his team take down those enemies and bosses with ease. Enzo is currently sitting in C-tier in our tier list of best characters, which means he isn’t the best of the bunch. However, with the best build this Descendant can truly shine. Best Enzo build in The First Descendant – Recommended Best Enzo Skills So, here are the three best abilities we recommend using for Enzo: Start Supply is one of the first skills you want to release in The First Descendant. It’ll grant you and your allies more bullets and keep you fighting for much longer. It’ll be a blessing in disguise against tons of enemies or a boss. – Shoot Support is the next skill you should activate as Enzo. It increases their ammo capacity, meaning they can benefit more from Start Supply. You can also increase your rewards, which no one will complain about. – Lastly, it’s worth using Explosive Drone while in combat. This can be stacked and deals some great AoE damage, ensuring you’re part of the enemy destruction too. However, if you don’t want to deal too much damage and prefer support, we suggest choosing Perfect Support instead. – All Enzo Skills Below are the five available skills for Enzo in The First Descendant: Enhance Combat Suit: Summons a Shield Recovery Comms. When the Shield Recovery Comms is first summoned, recovers Enzo’s Energy Shield by a certain amount, then continues to recover the Energy Shield through Enhance Combat Suit effect. – Explosive Drone: Launches an Explosive Drone forward. The Explosive Drone explodes on contact with an enemy or a terrain object, dealing damage. – Perfect Support: Summons a Small Supply Ship to himself and his allies. The Small Supply Ship periodically provides Supply Bullets and grants Perfect Support to allies. The Small Supply Ship attacks enemies in front while it is active, and when the skill ends, it fires a missile forward that causes a big explosion at its destination – Shoot Support (passive): Grants Fire Support to allies within an area around Enzo, increasing their max ammo capacity. Efficiency increases when Enzo disarms the security of the Encrypted Vault, and rewards increase when this happens. – Start Supply: Summons a Bullet Supplying Device at the designated location. Supplies bullets to allies that approach the Device. – Best Weapons for Enzo The best weapons for Enzo to use are: Smithereens (Shotgun) – Nazeistrea’s Devotion (Hand Cannon) – Thunder Cage (SMG) – The best weapon for Enzo is undeniably the Smithereens Shotgun as damage isn’t at the forefront of his skillset so a powerful gun like this makes up for that. Its Unique Ability, which will guarantee critical hits is particularly useful: Fearlessness: On hitting the enemy with all fired bullets, increases the Firearm Critical Hit Rate and Firearm Critical Hit Damage of the attack. Upon landing a Critical Hit on an enemy, grants the Firearm’s unique ability Amplification. – Aside from the shotgun, we’d also suggest trying out Nazeistra’s Devotion and Thunder Cage with Enzo as they’re some of the best weapons in the game. Best Reactor Since Enzo doesn’t really focus on any particular elements for his damage, you’ll want to focus on Non-Attribute damage. As such, we suggest choosing the following reactors: Materialized Singularity: Boost to Non-Attribute and Singular type – Materialized Phase: Boost to Non-Attribute and Dimension type – Best Modules for Enzo You can find a full breakdown of the modules Enzo should use below: Increasing Enzo’s survivability and skills are vital for this build. Since he’s a support character, you need to stay alive and use those skills to help your teammates. As such, Skill Extension and Skill Expansion are vital, as well as Increase Shield and Skill Cost Optimize. However, where these modules really stand out is through Reinforce Front Line, which will fantastically buff your party’s ATK. Best External Components The ideal External Components for the best Enzo build in The First Descendant lie within the Annihilation Set. Just because you’re a support, it doesn’t mean you can’t deal a little bit of damage. The Annihilation Set is perfect for this, while also increasing your Skill Duration. We recommend actively aiming to take damage until your health gets to 50%, then using your Enhance Combat Suit to maximize your ATK damage. On top of this, it’s worth looking out for the following External Components, if the full Annihilation Set is eluding you: Max Shield – Max HP – HP Recovery – DEF – These aren’t the best for Enzo, but will improve his survivability while you grab the Annihilation Set, so they’re worth focusing on in the meantime. How to unlock Enzo Enzo can be unlocked by gathering multiple crafting resources and items. These are: Enhanced Cells Monomolecular Extractor x499 – Flectorite x292 – Inorganic Biogel x58 – Enzo Enhanced Cells Blueprint – Gold x200,000 – – Stabilizer Silicon x430 – Nanopolymers x363 – Advanced Neural Circuit x90 – Enzo Stabilizer Blueprint – Gold x200,000 – – Spiral Catalyst Semi-permanent Plasma x290 – Ceramic Composite x408 – Positive Ion Particle x42 – Enzo Spiral Catalyst Blueprint – Gold x200,000 – – Code Intercept Battle: Dead Bride (Amorphous Material Pattern 025 required) – Intercept Battle: Hanged Man (Amorphous Material Pattern 053 required) – Agna Desert: Abyssal Void Fusion Reactor – Agna Desert Miragestone Deposit – White-night Gulch: Void Fusion Reactor – White-night Gulch Hatchery – – When you’ve got all the items, just speak to Magister Anais and research Enzo for 400,00 Credits. That’s the best build for Enzo in The First Descendant. While leveling him up, check out some of our other build guides for Ajax, Bunny, Freyna, Gley, Kyle, Lepic, and Valby.

Best Esiemo build in The First Descendant: Skills, Weapons, Reactor & Modules Nexon GamesEsiemo is a character in The First Descendant whose main strength is doing massive DPS damage. Here’s the best Esiemo build you can use in the game. Unlike other characters in The First Descendant, most of Esiemo’s offense is done by using bombs and chain explosions to stack damage against opponents. Getting caught in one of Esiemo’s attack patterns can lead to death for most enemies when done right. He’s currently sitting in the C-tier of our tier list and can be a formidable fighter if you’re using the best build. Best Esiemo build in The First Descendant – Recommended Best Esiemo Skills While some characters in The First Descendent benefit from prioritizing certain skills and using others as backup, we found that the best way to play as Esiemo was to take advantage of all four of his Active Skills. However, while Guided Landmine and Arche Explosion are helpful, we found we used Time Bomb and Blast the most. Using both skills together allowed us to control when the bombs exploded and create chain reactions after we had baited other players into our trap. Guided Landmine was more effective in one-on-one encounters, but the fun of playing as Esiemo is in creating elaborate chains or opportunistic bursts that catch enemies unawares. It’s worth pointing out that using Time Bomb and Blast while under the Madness state caused by Arche Explosion makes this strategy even more deadly. Unlike some other characters, Esiemo’s Passive Skill doesn’t really aid or boost any of his Actives, so you won’t need to incorporate it into this strategy. All Esiemo Skills Here’s a rundown of all five of Esiemo’s abilities: Adventitious Habit (Passive) – Drops a bomb on the ground when the shield is completely depleted. – Time Bomb – Launches a Sticky Bomb forward. The Sticky Bomb attaches to an enemy or terrain feature on contact. – Blast – Instantly detonates attached bombs. Bomb damage increases with the number of attached bombs. – Guided Landmine – Places a Guided Landmine at current location. Once placed, the Guided Landmine will fly to an enemy within its detection range and attach to it. – Arche Explosion – Starts moving forward fast. On collision with an enemy while charging, inflicts Knockback. When the movement ends, deals damage to nearby enemies and removes buffs from them. After the skill ends, Esiemo enters Madness state. Adventitious Habit skill Esiemo The First Descendant Adventitious Habit – Best Weapons for Esiemo The best weapons for Esiemo are: Thunder Cage (SMG) – Tamer (Machine Gun) – Restored Relic (Rocket Launcher) – Thunder Cage is the optimal weapon for Esiemo. It emits a shockwave, dealing electric damage to enemies. Couple this with the DPS damage Esiemo already does from his bombs and you’re onto a winning formula. Sadly, Esiemo’s attacks don’t conduct electricity like Valby’s do, but that doesn’t stop it from being a helpful tool to do extra damage. After equipping the Thunder Cage, add the following mods to increase your damage output: Rifling Reinforcements – Boosts your Firearm ATK – Fire Rate UP – Boosts your Fire Rate – Consume Magazines – Faster Reload & minor boost to Weak Point Damage – Action and Reaction – Boosts Firearm Attack and Recoil – Better Insight – Boosts Firearm Critical Hit Rate – Better Concentration – Boosts Firearm Critical Hit Damage – Weak Point Insight – Boosts Weak Point Damage & minor boost to Firearm Critical Hit Rate – Alternatively, the Restored Relic and Tamer are good weapons for Esiemo to wield. The Tamer is fantastic for taking down bosses. The Restored Relic has the chance to fire Guided Rounds which can receive Ancient Fire and burn the enemy inflicting greater damage. Best Reactor for Esiemo in The First Descendant One of The First Descendant’s more fun features is Reactors, powerful modifiers that allow you to tweak the damage you do and add some elemental damage or a status ailment. When selecting your Reactor, it’s important to add one that gives you the most benefit based on your Active and Passive Skills. For Esiemo, you’re going to want to prioritize skills that boost his Fusion and Fire damage output. Therefore, select skills that fall into the Skill Critical Hit Damage category. It also pays to add some skills that boost Tingling damage once you’ve equipped the Thunder Cage Submachine Gun. Best Descendant Modules for Esiemo The best Descendant Modules available to Esiemo are: This is a solid set-up for fighting general enemies as well as bosses. Best External Components for Esiemo External Components help keep you safe and allow you to boost the attributes most important to you. As Esiemo’s main value is in doing DPS damage, we recommend using these four defensive Components to ensure that aspect of your build isn’t ignored. Max Shield – Max HP – HP Recovery – DEF – The fun behind playing as Esiemo is running around planting bombs and watching them explode in glorious chain reactions. However, if you die before you can complete your fireworks display, you’re soon going to become frustrated. This is why we’ve focused on defensive Components, as you’ll need to stay alive if you’re to truly enjoy the destructive power of your handiwork. How to unlock Esiemo Like other Descendants, Esiemo is unlocked by collecting specific crafting materials and items. These are: Enhanced Cells Flectorite x292 – Shape Alloy Metal x462 – Deformed Biometal x76 – Esiemo Enhanced Cells Blueprint – Gold x200,000 – – Stabilizer Ceramic Composite x408 – Reverse Charging Coil x455 – Organic Biogel x26 – Esiemo Stabilizer Blueprint – Gold x200,000 – – Spiral Catalyst Semi-permanent Plasma x290 – Nanopolymers x363 – Specialized Biometal x56 – Esiemo Spiral Catalyst Blueprint – Gold x200,000 – – Code Vespers: Abyssal Void Fusion Reactor – Vespers Moonlight Lake – Kingston: Abyssal Void Fusion Reactor – Kingstone Grand Square – Agna Desert: Abyssal Void Fusion Reactor – Agna Desert The Storage – Hagios: Abyssal Void Fusion Reactor – Hagios Corrupted Zone – – After you’ve got all the resources, talk to Magister Anais and you can research Esiemo for 400,000 Credits. That’s the best Esiemo build you can use in The First Descendant. For even more builds, check out our guides for Kyle, Gley, Ajax, Freyna, and Bunny.

Best Emma Laurent Solo Leveling Arise build: Skills, stats, weapons, Artifacts NetmarbleEmma Laurent has proven to be a formidable force in Solo Leveling: Arise. However, you’ll need to level up certain stats and skills, as well as use particular Artifacts and weapons to create the ultimate build. Laurent is one of Arise’s best all-around hunter characters, offering a wealth of support, breaking, and damage-dealing benefits. Despite not being included in the original series, fans have quickly warmed to her Fire Damage skills and abilities, which has seen her ranked as an A-tier hunter in our ranked tier list. Here are all the best skills, stats, weapons, and Artifact sets you need to construct the best Emma Laurent build in Solo Leveling: Arise. Best stats Health and Fire Damage are the most important stats you should focus on leveling up when creating the ultimate Emma Laurent build in Solo Leveling: Arise. Emma Laurent is one of the most versatile hunters you can use in Arise due to her high Damage Per Second capabilities, distinctive Burn effects, and support benefits. Whether you want to build Laurent as more of a support or DPS member of your hunting team, focusing on boosting her Health and Fire Damage will still be the stats you will want to prioritize. Not only does increasing her Health make her harder to beat as a Tank character, but the majority of her skills convert a percentage of her Health to deal some serious Fire Damage and activate several effects, such as her overpowered Burn effect. Best skills Emma Laurent’s best skills are her Basic Attack Flare Strike, the Basic Skills Burn Up and Flame Cleave, Special Skill Flame Judgement and her Ultimate skill Burning Pride. Laurent’s skills center around activating the Burn effect, which deals 17.77% of her max Health over a 3-second period. Therefore, increasing Health stats is key to inflicting the most damage on targets. The best ones to focus on are the Flare Strike Basic Attack at the start, and then the Burn Up and Flame Cleave Basic Skills, which will become your two main damage dealers. These all share very similar effects and damage dealt, but their cooldowns, Burn effects and Break damage dealt slightly differ. As you progress further, the Flame Judgement Special QTE Skill will become key, as it not only deals enormous damage but also buffs both Basic Skills damage by 10%. Lastly, the Burning Pride Ultimate will also need some attention to give its multiple Fire effects and damage a rise. Best weapons The best Emma Laurent weapon to use in Solo Leveling: Arise is her own hunter-exclusive SSR weapon Night-Thoughts. The hunter’s own special weapon in Arise is always the best choice for any character due to the exclusive effects she can use by equipping it. If you don’t already have Night-Thoughts, the Ancient Grimoire is a worthy replacement for non-exclusive weaponry. Ancient Grimoire gives Laurent a boost to her Power and Health stats, which are vital for getting the most of out her abilities. In particular, the Health boost allows her to deal even more damage from her skills due to most of their damage output being based on a percentage of her Health. Best Artifacts Solid Analysis (New Hunter) and Noble Sacrifice (Holy) are the best Armor Artifact sets and Executioner (Behemoth) and Outstanding Connection (Aquamarine) are the best Jewelry Artifact sets to equip with Emma Laurent. Whether you want to build Emma Laurent as a main damage dealer or support character for your hunting team, will decide which Artifact set combinations you will need to choose. For a DPS build, the Solid Analysis Armor set will be your best choice to buff her Break abilities and increase her Fire Damage. This is then best paired with the Executioner Jewelry set, which will significantly boost her Attack damage, especially when using all four pieces. Meanwhile, if you want to use Laurent as more of a support character in your hunting team, then the Noble Sacrifice Armor set’s Health and hunting team Attack buffs give you the best of both worlds. The Outstanding Connection Jewelry set then allows you to switch to high-damage dealers in your hunting team during fights to provide some sizeable Attack buffs for the whole team. For Solo Leveling: Arise we have also provided the best build for Sung Jinwoo and strongest character Cha Hae-In, as well as the best Artifact sets for every hunter character. If you need free Arise codes or are wondering what the current and next banners are, then we have you covered.

Best Ellen Zenless Zone Zero build: W-Engine, Drive Disc, team comp & more HoYoverseWhile Ellen is a powerful S-rank Ice Attack unit in Zenless Zone Zero, knowing the best W-Engine, team comp, and Drive Discs to build her with will make her the best that she can be. Ellen arrives as part of the first limited banner unit in Zenless Zone Zero and hails from the Victoria Housekeeping faction in New Eridu — and she’s great for both free-to-play players and heavy spenders. If you’re wondering whether you should spend your Polychrome right at the first banner, you can do so without worrying too much, as she’ll carry you through the early game and stand her ground once you hit the mid-to-end game. So if you’ve pulled for Ellen and are unsure about how to get her combat-ready, we have you covered. Best Ellen build in Zenless Zone Zero While this is a summary of the entire build that you’ll want to use with Ellen overall, to learn more about the respective components of the setup as a whole, the following sections have a more in-depth overview. Best W-Engines for Ellen Deep Sea Visitor The best W-Engine for Ellen is the S-rank Deep Sea Visitor. The W-Engine is specific to characters who have Attack Specialty and it increases the Ice DMG of the wearer by 25%. When an enemy is hit by a Basic ATK, the wearer has their Crit Rate increased by 10%. When the wearer performs a Dash Attack, their Crit Rate is further enhanced by 10%. The duration of both these effects is calculated separately. Ellen is a character who specializes in Ice Attacks making the Deep Sea Visitor a signature W-Engine for her. Street Superstar This A-Rank W-Engine is a decent substitute for Ellen. This W-Engine creates 1 stack of Charge whenever a squad member uses a Chain Attack. This effect can stack up to 3 times. Upon unleashing the Ultimate ability, all stacks are consumed with the wearer’s skill DMG enhanced by 15% for 3 stacks. This is more of an all-purpose W-Engine and can be used until you get access to Deep Sea Visitor. Best Drive Disc for Ellen The best Drive Disc for Ellen is Polar Metal, and the set bonus for this Drive Disc is as follows: In addition to Polar Metal, you can use Woodpecker Electro for the final two spots. The set bonus for this Drive Disc is as follows: Thus, with this Drive Disc combination, Ellen gains massive damage as well as Crit Rate which provides consistency. Ellen promotion & skill-enhancement materials Promotion With Ellen being an Attack unit, you will need Basic Offense Certification Seal, Advanced Offense Certification Seal, and Pioneer’s Certification Seal. The exact number of materials you need are as follows: Basic Offense Certification Seal x4 – Advanced Offense Certification Seal x32 – Pioneer’s Certification Seal x30 – Skill Enhancement Materials Ellen in Zenless Zone Zero needs Basic Freeze Chip, Advanced Freeze Chip, Specialized Freeze Chip, Hamster Cage Pass, Ferocious Grip, and Higher Dimensional Data: Murderous Obituary. The exact number of materials you need are as follows: Basic Freeze Chip x25 – Advanced Freeze Chip x75 – Specialized Freeze Chip x250 – Hamster Cage Pass x5 – Ferocious Grip x9 – Higher Dimensional Data: Murderous Obituary x60 – Best Ellen team comp Ellen performs best in an Ice team comp, so you’ll want to pair her alongside Lycaon and Soukaku. In this team, Soukaku is the support who will protect Ellen through well-timed parries and also recover Energy through Chain Attacks. Lycaon is the Stun specialist in this team who can stagger enemies and deal damage to them. He also opens up opportunities for Ellen to deal with damage without the fear of being interrupted. Finally, you can use the Butler Bangboo with Ellen’s team. While Soukaku is easy to get, Lycaon is not since he is an S-rank unit. In that case, you can go for Anby in place of Lycaon who is a lot easier to get and can slot in the Stun role within the team. Ellen’s abilities Basic Attack Dodge Assist Special Attack Chain Attack Core Skill Core Skill Enhancements Mindscape Cinema for Ellen Mindscape Cinema is similar to the constellation system from Genshin Impact. Here are the effects of all the Mindscape Cinema levels for Ellen: Level 1- Glacial Omen: Upon hitting an enemy with a Swift Scissors strike during Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush, the obtained Flash Freeze Charges are increased to 3. Upon hitting an enemy with a Charged Scissors strike, the obtained Flash Freeze Charges is increased to 6. For each Flash Freeze Charge consumed, Ellen’s CRIT Rate is increased by 2% for 15s, stacking up to 6 times. The duration of each stack is calculated separately. – Level 2- Arctic Ocean Predator: The 3rd hit of Basic Attack: Flash Freeze Trimming can be directly followed up with EX Special Attack: Sharknami. When using an EX Special Attack, each Flash Freeze Charge increases the current attack’s CRIT DMG by 20%, up to a maximum of 60%. – Level 3- Overtime Intolerant: Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2. – Level 4- Endless Hoarfrost: Whenever a squad member Freezes or Stuns an enemy, Ellen gains 6 Flash Freeze Charges and the Quick Charge effect, and recovers 4 Energy. The Energy recovery effect can trigger once per 10s. – Level 5- Adequate Sleep: Basic Attack, Dodge, Assist, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2. – Level 6- The Feast Begins: When Ellen uses an EX Special Attack, Chain Attack, or gains Quick Charge, her PEN Ratio increases by 20% for 6s. She also gains 1 stack of The Feast Begins, up to a maximum of 3 stacks. With 3 stacks of The Feast Begins, using a Charged Scissors strike during Dash Attack: Arctic Ambush consumes all stacks, increasing the DMG of the current attack by 250%. Ellen pros & cons As an S-Ranked unit, Ellen has few downsides to using her within your team comp: Trailer for Ellen Now that you know the best way to build Ellen, for more on the game, check our guides for Zenless Zero codes, controller support, and pre-registration rewards.

Best Elsa Bloodstone Decks in Marvel Snap: Bounce & Move Second DinnerElsa Bloodstone bursts onto the scene in Marvel Snap with a versatile new ability that’s set to shake up the meta. Join us as we uncover the best Elsa Bloodstone decks in Marvel Snap. Elsa Bloodstone is the featured card of October 2023’s “Bloodstone” season and will be up for grabs to all those who purchase the season pass. Just like other seasons, Elsa Bloodstone will become available in the Token Shop once the season ends in November. While not a “must-have” card, players who acquire Elsa Bloodstone will be able to diversify their decks with a card that promises adaptability, significant power output, and synergy with a variety of many of the most common cards. Our guide provides insights into the best Elsa Bloodstone decks in Marvel Snap, ensuring you’re ready to dominate during the “Bloodstone” season and beyond. Elsa Bloodstone’s Ability in Marvel Snap Elsa Bloodstone joins Marvel Snap as a 2-cost, 2-power card with text that reads: “If you play another card to fill a location, give it +3 Power.” This card stands out due to its versatility, allowing it to be played effectively both early and late in the game. Elsa Bloodstone synergizes exceptionally well with cards like Mysterio that help to fill up the board quickly. It also integrates seamlessly with Move cards like Jeff, Nightcrawler, and Vision, enabling continuous play and value generation, especially in Move decks. Furthermore, expect the Bounce meta to make a return as Elsa Bloodstone can continually cash in on her unique ability. However, Elsa does pose challenges. It requires strategic play to ensure buffs are applied effectively, and it’s crucial for players to be mindful of its late turn order buff and the necessity for cards to be face up to receive buffs. Despite these, Elsa Bloodstone’s adaptability, synergy with top meta decks, and potential power output make it a formidable card, promising to be a game-changer in Marvel Snap. Best Elsa Bloodstone Decks in Marvel Snap Check out the top Elsa Bloodstone decks in ranked and conquest mode below: Elsa Bounce Deck Kitty Pryde – Bast – Luke Cage – Nightcrawler – Elsa Bloodstone – Angela – Mobius M. Mobius – Mysterio – Bishop – Hit Monkey – Beast – Sera – Brace yourselves because Bounce decks look set to make a return. Elsa Bloodstone’s ability buffs cards that fill a location, and there are not many decks out there that can have the same kind of impact on the board as Bounce decks do. Elsa Bloodstone works incredibly well with the likes of Angela and Bishop that reward cards played. Nightcrawler can help fill up a location and then simply move out of the way, and Beast is here to help you replay cards again and again. Bounce decks have remarkable consistency and explosive turn-six potential, and now, with Elsa Bloodstone in the mix, they’re set to become one of the most dominant decks in Marvel Snap again. Substitutes: Legion, Shang-Chi, Lizard Elsa Move Deck Nightcrawler – Kitty Pryde – Kraven – Angela – Jeff – Elsa Bloodstone – Silk – Spider-Man – Miles Morales – Vision – Legion – America Chavez – Elsa Bloodstone also gives yet another much-needed option for Move decks, synergizing well with cards like Spider-Man, Miles Morales, and Silk. By filling locations and then moving cards elsewhere, players can make use of the bonus power to set up easy wins. Other move cards such as Jeff, Nightcrawler, and Vision all represent great versatility and powerful synergy with Elsa Bloodstone, as well. Substitutes: Shang-Chi, Alioth, Iron Lad See our other best deck guides for recent Marvel Snap cards here: Mobius M. Mobius | Ravonna Renslayer | Alioth | Loki | Silver Samurai | X-23 | Daken | Mirage | Legion | Echo | Jean Grey | Phoenix Force

Best Electric Pals in Palworld POCKETPAIROf all the different elements involved in Palworld, Electric-types may well be the most instantaneously devastating in combat. Though Fire is the better option for continuous damage over time, none can blow away the opposition like their high-voltage brethren. There are nine elements in Palworld for players to contend with, each with their own particular strengths and weaknesses. Though weak against Ground Pals, Electric-types have far more to offer in terms of raw damage than many of the other elements in the game. Additionally, there are a ton of Water-type Pals to collect in Palworld, including some of the best Alpha Pals in the game, and the right Electric companion makes working through those epic encounters a relative breeze. Here are the best ones to go for on the way to Level 50. Rayhound Element: Electric-type – Partner Skill: Jumping Force – Can be ridden. Can double jump while mounted. – Work Suitability: Electricity Lv. 2 – Though it isn’t the most helpful companion in a base-building setting, Rayhound is an absolute monster during combat. Outputting some of the best single-target and group damage in the middle levels, it’s nearly capable of clearing dungeons on its own. It has excellent utility thanks to its ability to serve as a mount, and it’s a great stop-gap before finding an extra-fast flying mount. There are a few better options around this level, and a Rayhound is absolutely worth grabbing. Relaxaurus Lux Element: Electric/Dragon-type – Partner Skill: Missile Party – Can be ridden. Can rapidly fire a Missile Launcher while mounted. – Work Suitability: Transporting Lv. 1, Electricity Lv. 3 – Much like its Water-Type equivalent Pal, Relaxaurus Lux is a brilliant choice for challenging combat. Not only does its immense health pool make it a tough customer, it can be ridden, providing a great vantage point to use the rapid-fire Missile Launcher against unfortunate enemies. It has a very capable Lv. 3 Electricity ability for later game activities around camp, and it’s a capable transporter of goods, though there are better options in the latter department. Univolt Element: Electric-type – Partner Skill: Swift Deity – Can be ridden. Applies Electric damage to the player’s attacks while mounted. – Work Suitability: Lumbering Lv. 1, Electricity Lv. 2 – It isn’t easy to separate Univolt and Rayhound in a list because they are genuinely similar in design. Both can be ridden as a mount and output incredible damage against enemies. That said, Univolt has two distinct advantages over its canine brethren. The first of these is its Partner Skill, which adds Electric damage to any attacks the player completes. This is preferable to the double jump boost of the Rayhound, mainly because it’s helpful in more situations. Univolt also offers a little more at the base, able to start Lumbering as well as outputting Electricity. Beakon Element: Electric-type – Partner Skill: Thunderous – Can be ridden as a flying mount. Applies Electric damage to the player’s attacks while mounted. – Work Suitability: Transporting Lv. 3, Electricity Lv. 2, Gathering Lv. 1 – One of the few Electric-type Pals that can be used as a flying mount, Beakon is a great companion in almost every regard. Not only does it apply the same Electric buff to player attacks, but it also carries immense damage-dealing abilities in its own right. Not only that, but Beakon is a fantastic companion to have working on the base. As with many of the Pals on this list, it has Lv. 2 Electricity, but it also adds Lv. 1 Gathering and an immense Lv. 3 Transporting to its repertoire. Get one of these, and you’ll have those goods moving around camp in no time at all. Mossanda Lux Element: Electric-type – Partner Skill: Grenadier Panda – Can be ridden. Can rapidly fire a grenade launcher while mounted. – Work Suitability: Handiwork Lv. 2, Lumbering Lv. 2, Transporting Lv. 3, Electricity Lv. 2 – Don’t be fooled by its cute Orange Panda appearance; Mossanda Lux packs a significant punch. As well as its high damage ceiling, it also allows the player to mount up and fire a Grenade Launcher while mounted, in a similar mechanic to Grizzbolt and Relaxaurus Lux. Its real strength comes in camp, however, where it is one of the most well-rounded Pals in the entire game. It has three of the best general skills in the game at that level, and it adds Lv. 2 Electricity to the equation for further utility overall. Grizzbolt Element: Electric-type – Partner Skill: Yellow Tank – Can be ridden. Can rapidly fire a minigun while mounted. – Work Suitability: Handiwork Lv. 2, Lumbering Lv. 2, Transporting Lv. 3, Electricity Lv. 4 – Grizzbolt is arguably becoming the most iconic Pal in all of Palworld and the face of the franchise overall. As the first Tower Boss Pal that players face in the game, it doesn’t take too long to realize what an absolute wrecking ball it is. Add to that the minigun that can be fired after mounting the Pal, and there are few who can stand in its way. Almost unbelievably, Grizzbolt is also extremely useful around the base. It’s a highly effective transporter of goods and has the highest Electricity output in the game (with Orserk). It can also pitch in with Handiwork and Lumbering. Orserk Element: Electric/Dragon-type – Partner Skill: Ferocious Thunder Dragon – While fighting together, Water Pals drop more items when defeated. – Work Suitability: Handiwork Lv. 2, Transporting Lv. 3, Electricity Lv. 4 – Deciding whether Orserk or Grizzbolt is the best Electric-type in the game really does feel like the flip of a coin. They both share three of the same Work Suitabilities and they output similar levels of personal damage in combat (though Orserk does come out slightly on top). Orserk’s main advantage comes with its additional Dragon typing, which allows it to take on some of the greatest threats in Palworld more easily than Grizzbolt. It’s also a better Pal to use for farming, thanks to its Partner Skill loot bonus. Palworld Fusion guide: Best Fusion breeding combos | Palworld Paldeck | Does Palworld have multiplayer or co-op modes? | How to get and farm High-Quality Pal Oil in Palworld | How to get & farm leather in Palworld | Best ways to level up fast in Palworld | How to get & farm honey in Palworld | Palworld Zoe & Grizzbolt guide | Palworld complete weapon list | Does Palworld have mod support? | Do Pals evolve in Palworld? | Are there Shinies in Palworld?

Best Egyptian build order for Age of Mythology Retold World’s Edge / DexertoWhen using the Egyptian Pantheon in Age of Mythology Retold you will need to follow the best build order to strive forward in your quest for victory. In AoM Retold, the four Pantheons have a range of diverse characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses, which result in you having to carry out different build strategies to give yourself an advantage. The Egyptian Pantheon has a range of unique benefits, the biggest being that every building is free to build and Pharoah’s can use their Empower ability to increase resource collection and population cap. This means that you can advance much faster than others if you follow an optimal build sequence. Here’s the best build order for the Egyptian Pantheon, including the goal of each age, and the order in which you should make certain villagers, military units, and buildings as you advance through each age. Archaic Age Goal: Establish a strong economy and advance to the Classical Age quickly. You will primarily be focusing on Food and Gold during this age to advance quickly to the next age, as Wood is useless to you until the later stages. The Pharoah will be key throughout, but especially here to maximize your Food collection speed. Here is the best Egyptian build order for the Archaic Age: Send 3 starter villagers to collect Food. – Order 2 villagers to mine Gold. – Build a Granary next to Food Source. – Make Pharaoh Empower Granary to obtain more Food. – Order 2 villagers to collect Food. – Build Monument. – Build House. – Order 1 villager to mine Gold. – Order 3 villagers to collect Food. – Build Temple – Advance to Classical Age – Classical Age Goal: Increase population, maintain economic growth, and start military production. With no building costs, you can take advantage of this by instantly setting a villager to build several houses straight after you reach the Classical Age. However, Wood will instead be important for making military units and for upgrades the more you progress. You will therefore need to move some villagers around at this point to balance your resource collection to prioritize Gold, meanwhile still obtaining decent amounts of Food and Wood. This will ensure you are well prepared to start building your army. Here is the best Egyptian build order for the Classical Age: Build 9 houses. – Order 2 villagers to collect Wood. – Order 2 villagers to mine Gold. – Place 6 villagers on Food, 7 on Gold, and 5 on Wood. – Make Pharaoh Empower Mining Camp to obtain more Gold. – Order Gold Mining upgrades from Mining Camp. – Build Monument. – Build 2 Barracks. – Order 15 military units (5 Spearman, 5 Axemen, and 5 Slingers). – Build Armory. – Advance to the Heroic Age. – Heroic Age Goal: Expand your army with stronger units, make efficiency and military upgrades, and scout nearby areas for resources, relics and enemies. During the Heroic Age and onwards, your build order and overall strategy will become more fluid due to in-game situations, such as your opponents potentially attacking. Wood starts to become useful here, but Food and, increasingly, Gold will take precedence. Here is the best Egyptian build order for the Heroic Age: Increase your villagers to a total of 25 (8 villagers on Food, 10 on Gold, and 7 on Wood). – Scout nearby areas with 5 military units and a Priest to collect Relics. – Build 3 houses. – Build Monument. – Build Market. – Upgrade farming, mining, and woodcutting to increase efficiency. – Double your military units to around 30 regular units. – Upgrade military units. – Build another Town Center if possible to increase the Population Cap. – Order 3 Donkey Caravans to travel between your two Town Centers to produce passive Gold. – Build Fortress. – Advance to Mythic Age. – Mythic Age Goal: Establish dominance and attack your enemies or strive for the final Wonder Age. You must ensure that your resource economy is still in place because, by this point, the surrounding resources will be drying up. If your opponents haven’t attacked you already, they most likely will. The key is to build a massive, well-balanced army as soon as possible, including powerful Myth units, ordinary soldiers, Siege units, and, of course, a Titan. Here is the best Egyptian build order for the Mythic Age: Build 4 houses. – Build Monument. – Make Pharaoh Empower Town Center to increase Population Cap. – Build more military buildings for the units you use to improve efficiency. – Upgrade farming, mining, woodcutting. – Double your army size again to around 75-100 units in total. – Build Final Monument. – Upgrade military units. – Research the Secrets of the Titans from the Town Center. – Build a Titan gate when you reach enough Favor. – Use Market to purchase any needed resources or use Pharaoh to Empower the resource you need for a Wonder. – Build a Wonder. – A Wonder will cost you 5,000 Gold and 7,500 Food to reach the Wonder Age. This is the easiest Wonder to construct in AoM Retold, as Food is quick to obtain, and you can always Empower your Gold source with your Pharaoh. Wonder Age Goal: Maximise your army’s potential and wipe out all your enemies with the benefits. Though it isn’t a game finisher per se, the Wonder in Retold assists in finishing games. Your Egyptian units get stronger as you go through the Wonder Age, and you can recast God Powers more quickly and affordably. When you get to the finish line, concentrate on using your entire army to strike and decimate your opponents. Make sure that, if your soldiers are beaten, you have improved everything and constructed any essential military structures near enemies for fast reinforcements. When playing against more skilled people online or AI with a higher level of difficulty, build orders are subject to alter in response to enemy movements, your selected God, and unforeseen circumstances. The predetermined build sequence will apply to the first two stages, but starting in Stage 3, these will likely change due to enemy attacks and various factors. We have provided the best build order guides for every other Pantheon in Age of Mythology Retold, including the Atlanteans, Greeks, and Norse. You can also check out every cheat available and how to use them during your matches.

Best Elder Scrolls: Oblivion console commands on PC BethesdaPlayers should use console commands in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to expand on the game’s mechanics and unlock new, fun features. So we’ve found the best ones to use on PC and put them in this handy guide. Despite being a fair few years old now, Bethesda’s unbelievable RPG title is still one of the finest ever crafted. Oblivion took the Elder Scrolls series to new heights, and players still find themselves going back and replaying the adventure time and time again. Even though Skyrim’s multiple rereleases have replaced Oblivion as the de facto Elder Scrolls title, Oblivion is still a classic. Skyrim has its own console commands, and so does Oblivion. From enabling to God mode to changing how the world around you looks, Oblivion’s console commands provide a lot of freedom to customize the game. Contents Basic Oblivion console commands – Targeted console commands – Quest console commands – Player console commands – Misc. Oblivion console commands – Basic Oblivion console commands Your first selection of console commands is full of very basic ones that can tinker with Oblivion’s moment-to-moment gameplay. These small manipulations of the game’s mechanics can make the world of difference and offer a completely different experience to what you’d find normally. Targeted console commands If you want to change how NPCs behave or act then targeted console commands are the perfect way of doing this. Find out all the different ways in which you change character behavior below.

EA FC 24 best Ligue 1 players ranked: Mbappe, Marquinhos, Dembele, & more ratings EA SportsDespite some uncertainty around what stars will still be in France by the end of the summer, the league has plenty of young talent to keep an eye on. Here are the best Ligue 1 players in EA SPORTS FC 24, which includes -arguably- the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe. A tumultuous season blew up PSG’s roster, but The Parisian giants still won a domestic title. The star-studded roster floundered in the Champions League, and tensions ran high on every level. PSG fans booed Messi after his Argentina team beat France in the World Cup final, surrounded Neymar’s house, and demanded he leave the club. PSG’s sporting director even came down from his box seats to berate the manager and players during a match. Mbappe ended up staying in Paris, and Ousmane Dembele joined from Barcelona, but it will be interesting to see how much of an impact the loss of Messi, Neymar, and even Marco Veratti makes. EA SPORTS FC’s top 10 Ligue 1 player ratings Here are the best Ligue 1 players in EA SPORTS FC 24. More EA FC 24 player ratings Kylian Mbappe scored the third most goals in Europe, finishing the season with 29 goals and 5 assists. Right behind him, in one of the most remarkable stories of the year in football, Alexander Lacazette scored 27 goals. In 2017, Lazazette left France for Arsenal and never found his footing in England. After five up-and-down seasons, the French striker returned to his boyhood club, Lyon, at the start of the 2022 season and went on to have one of the best seasons of his career. So, there you have it. Those are the best Ligue 1 players in EA FC 24. For more content on the game, check out the list below. EA FC 24 Best Strikers | EA FC 24 Web App guide | EA FC 24 Best Young Players | EA FC 24 Best Defenders | EA FC 24 Evolutions | EA FC 24 Crossplay | All EA FC 24 Teams | EA FC 24 Best Midfielders | EA FC 24 Fastest Players | EA FC 24 Pepsi Promo | EA FC 24 FUT Heroes

Best Dungeons & Dragons gifts 2023: Dice sets, books, apparel & more Wizards of The Coast / AmazonFrom dice sets to beautifully illustrated guidebooks, we’ve got you covered with the best gifts for Dungeons & Dragons players. Dungeons & Dragons is huge. It has players all around the globe who are always looking for the next great D&D item. Thankfully, with so many different D&D gifts out there, buying something for your favorite fan has never been easier. What isn’t easy is finding the perfect present for your fellow player, DM, or D&D loved one. So, to help narrow that search, here are the best Dungeons & Dragons gifts in 2023. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a different set of gifts to buy a friend, family member, or loved one, be sure to check out the best Lego sets, 2023’s best Stranger Things gifts, the best Pokemon toys to buy, or our recommendations for the best Minecraft gift. Dice Sets Whether you believe in dice being lucky or you know how imperative it is to have a set that matches your character, you can’t play Dungeons & Dragons without a good set of dice. Thankfully, there are tons to choose from, which can be a little tricky. So, here are the best D&D dice on the market, from cheap and beautiful to handcrafted unique designs. Ocean Blue Purple Sharp Edged set – Blood Antique Iron metal set – Pink metal dragon set – 26 colorful dice sets – Dice Bags If you’re looking to buy your favorite D&D player or DM a Dungeons and Dragons gift, there is no better choice than a dice bag, especially if you’ve just found some sets you adore from the links above. Dice bags are imperative for any player, sorting all your sets in one place and letting you feel like a true D&D player. Here are some great dice bags to choose from, whether you have 1 or 100 sets to squeeze in. Leather Dice Bag with Lion’s Head – Mimic Dice Chest – Immense Dice Bags with Pockets – Dice Mat with Leather Folding Dice Bag – Dungeons & Dragons Books You can’t really play D&D without books, specifically some of the core rulebooks. So, whether you’re buying your favorite D&D player the book with their chosen race inside or your DM a new adventure book you’d just love to play, the choice is plenty. For all available D&D 5e books, take a look at our guide featuring a little about each book and where you can grab them. Tabletop Miniatures D&D is a roleplaying TTRPG filled with imagination and immersion, and nothing helps increase such immersion like tabletop miniatures. Specifically of the player’s character or a monster, they’re soon to fight. There’s such a wide range of minis to choose from so here are a few classics to help you out. Animals & Trolls collection – Descent Into Avernus Infernal War Machine – Colossal Onslaught Miniatures (Dragon, Lich, Beholder, Basilisk) – Mimic Mini’s – Adventurers and Heroes – Dungeons Master Screen A Dungeon Master’s Screen is an essential tool for every DM. So, if your DM’s birthday is coming up, or if you just want to thank them for working tirelessly to bring a fantastic session to your table every time you play, you’ll want to get them a DM’s Screen. They come in various designs and can be made to feel a little more personal. Here are our top picks. Faux Leather Dungeon Master Screen with Customizable Inserts – Wine Red Wooden Dungeon Master Screen – Dragon breathing fire print Dungeon Master Screen with Customizable Inserts – Classic Dungeon Master’s Screen – D&D Apparel Not all D&D gifts need to be for the table, some can be for the player who loves to show off their passions outside the room using some fantastic D&D T-Shirts, hoodies, and apparel. After all, why keep the love for D&D behind dice, a character sheet, and a table? Houses and Humans T-Shirt – Choose Your Weapon D&D Dice T-Shirt – Cyber-style D20 Hoodie – D&D logo Hoodie – Dungeons and Dragons Game Red and Grey Striped Beanie – D&D Pins D&D Apparel might not be great for some players and they may want to show off their passions in either a more subtle way or by adding to their pin collection. Either way, there’s so much potential for D&D pins from class-specific collections to classic comedic creations. Dungeons & Dragons Limited Edition Premium Pin Badge – D20 D&D Pin Badge – “Guess I’ll Die” D&D Natural 1 Enamel Pin – Misadventure Awaits D20 Pin – D&D Art and Arcana: A Visual History What do you buy the D&D fan that has everything? After all, plenty of players have their own Miniatures, dice, dice bags, and setup for their games. This is the moment when you need to buy them something more, something to display or learn from. This is where D&D Art and Arcana: A Visual History comes in. It’s a visual compendium that provides an in-depth exploration of the history and evolution of Dungeons & Dragons and is a fantastic gift for anyone. Adventure Grids and Battle Maps Adventure Grids and Battle Maps are a great gift for the same reason miniatures work perfectly, for greater D&D immersion. Whether you’re planning out your next battle, want to know where you’re characters are in respect to the enemy, or if you just want to present a more immersive experience, Adventure Grids and Battle Maps are the best gift for your group. D&D Board Games Sure, some D&D players prefer the roleplay aspect of their games or the strategic combat, but it’s pretty typical of a Dungeons and Dragons fan to also love the element where they get to sit around the table with friends and share in a common objective. So, naturally, most are also into board games – and what better than to combine the two with these D&D board games? Lords of Waterdeep – Dungeons & Dragons: The Yawning Portal Game – Tyrants of The Underdark – Dungeons & Dragons: Bedlam in Neverwinter – There you have it, those are the best Dungeons and Dragons gifts of 2023. While waiting for your next purchase to arrive, take a look at some of our other D&D content: How to play Dungeons & Dragons | The best tabletop RPG games in 2023 | All D&D 5e books | How to put Legend of Zelda’s Master Sword into your D&D game | How to add The Legend of Zelda’s Link into your D&D game | How to add Zelda’s Ganon in your D&D game If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best 10 Doki Doki Literature Club mods to download in 2021 Team Salvato, DexertoDoki Doki Literature Club has etched itself into gaming history as one of the most bizarre horror visual novel games out there, but it also as a selection of mods to totally transform the story. Team Salvato’s iconic 2017 title, Doki Doki Literature Club, has cemented its place in the horror game hall of fame. Set in what appears to be your average Japanese high school, the player is tasked with romancing one of the game’s four characters, but it turns out one of them will stop at nothing to ensure that you choose her. We won’t spoil it here, but the game sure takes a dark turn. If the game’s bonkers storyline is a little too much for you, or alternatively you want to inject a few more surprises into the game, here’s 10 of the best Doki Doki Literature Club mods. BEFORE WE BEGIN: We should note that this article contains spoilers for mods tied to specific plot points. If you’ve not finished Doki Doki Literature Club yet, then it may be worth returning once you have. Contents How to install mods in Doki Doki Literature Club – 10 best Doki Doki Literature Club mods – How to install mods in Doki Doki Literature Club If you’re looking to change the Doki Doki Literature Club storyline, you’ll need to know how to install your mods first. The process is thankfully pretty simple: Ensure that your DDLC is unmodded. – Download the mod’s zip file. – Extract the contents into the “game” folder of your DDLC directory. – Playing DDLC will now load the mod. – Importantly, some mods may require you to merge, replace or overwrite other files. Only install these if you’re completely sure that you want to. Read More: Best Sims 4 mods to download in 2021 – The game can be uninstalled and reinstalled multiple times, though, so if you download a mod that isn’t for you, don’t worry! Just uninstall it, reinstall it and you’ll have the original base game back. 10 best Doki Doki Literature Club mods While some of these mods are all fun and games, several touch upon Sayori’s suicide at the end of Act 1. If you wish to skip this content, we advise avoiding Rainclouds and Memorial. Doki Doki Blue Skies Have you ever wondered what it would have been like if Doki Doki Literature Club was literally just the romance sim that you assumed it would be? Doki Doki Blue Skies does just that. With Monika no longer self-aware, this version of the game adds in several new characters and locations for the player to explore. Maintaining a strong focus on mental health, Blue Skies is a must-play for fans of Doki, as well as dating sim players alike! Dokis and Dragons In a take on Dungeons and Dragons that would leave Wizards of the Coast scratching their heads, this mod sees the girls and their suitor get together to play the iconic tabletop RPG. With Monika as the dungeon master that bends the game to her whim yet again, will this treacherous fantasy journey end in a similar way to the main Doki storyline? The Yuri Parable One of the title’s most popular mods, the story revolves around, Yuri, a transfer student who gets embroiled in the crazy world of the Literature Club. Basically adding an entirely new chapter of gameplay with new locations, the amount of content on offer is insane. Inspired by the iconic Stanley Parable, Yuri can navigate her way through multiple different story threads, with even the smallest of choices changing the way that the game plays out for her. Will you get a good ending or a bad one? Only time will tell. Doki! Doki! Rainclouds Boasting an extra six hours of gameplay, Rainclouds isn’t for the faint of heart. Viewed through the eyes of Sayori, the unfortunate victim of Act 1, this mod focuses on whether or not the protagonist could have done anything to save her. Read More: Best Stardew Valley mods to download – With a major focus on mental health and dealing with depression, Paul Chartes’ mod brings a very real issue into the virtual world and gives players insight into how to tackle their own internal feelings. It also provides them with the tools needed to recognize when a friend or colleague is struggling. Doki Doki: The Festival Again seeking to right the wrongs of Act 1’s heartbreaking climax, The Festival mod allows players to continue the game as though everything remained normal. Adding Monika to the list of romanceable characters, players will finally get to see the festival that everyone has been talking about! Adding two new endings, alongside a whopping 22 poems, The Festival is a must-have for people who just wanted everything to end nicely. Monika After Story Again one of the title’s most popular mods, Monika After Story sees her bizarre vision of virtual love become a reality. Your eternal life together starts now, but are you prepared for it? With players finally getting to live out their dating sim fantasy (even if she is a fourth-wall-breaking psychotic monster,) you’ll be able to get up close and personal with your new maniacal girlfriend. Doki Doki Literature Club: The Purist With Act 1’s original storyline banished into the annals of history, The Purist mod contains four different storylines for each different girl. They’re all romanceable this time around, and the focus is on helping them try and overcome their demons. Read More: Best Minecraft mods to download Again a more traditional dating sim, there are still good and bad endings, but nothing quite in the style of Monika’s original DDLC frenzy. Doki Doki: Dimensions While Monika’s infamous schoolgirl appearance has been etched into the hearts of Doki players, one of her original designs gave her a more sci-fi-focused look. Playing off of this, one mod sees the girls transported into a futuristic timeline. A sequel to the original story, there’s no forced romance, a bit of swearing, and, of course, the odd death or two. If you’re interested in seeing the Dokis take to sci-fi, then this is absolutely the mod for you. MC’s Revenge Ever wanted to get your own back on Monika for all of the chaos she causes? MC’s Revenge is the way to do that. As you progress through Act 1, your character will start to notice graphical errors, realizing that he is, in fact, in a game. Read More: Best Baal Genshin Impact build – Your choices determine his state of awareness, as well as his understanding of the life-shattering chaos that the Doki Doki president is creating. However, will he realize early enough to stop her? Doki Doki: Memorial For those uncomfortable with dealing with mental health-based topics, we do not advise that you play this mod. Focusing on Sayori’s death at the end of Act 1, this mod delves into the feelings of the main character, dealing with his grief at the loss of his best friend. While not the happiest mod out there, the message is incredibly moving and is designed to equip those who have dealt with intense trauma with the tools to handle loss. So that’s it for our top ten Doki Doki Literature Club mods! If you’re looking for more gaming-related content, head over to our dedicated Gaming page If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, or know anyone that is, and you would like to talk to someone, please reach out and call the Suicide Prevention Helpline 1-800-273-8255 (USA), the Samaritans 116-123 (UK), or Lifeline 13-11-14 (AUS).

Best XDefiant Double Barrel build: Class loadouts for recoil & damage UbisoftThe Double Barrel offers a classic shotgun option in XDefiant for those who prefer gunslinging to modern, tactical combat, and with this loadout, it can consistently two-tap enemy players with ease. Alongside the M44, XDefiant also has the Double Barrel, another legacy firearm from years gone by. Thanks to its prevalence in Doom as the Super Shotgun, Double Barrel Shotguns have become iconic in video games. Given this, it’s only natural that XDefiant would feature its very own rendition. Though far from a jack-of-all-trades weapon like the M4A1, the Double Barrel is excellent when used correctly. Be it for defending a point or locking down a room, there are situations where this shotgun outclasses everything. For that to be true though, you’ll need a meta build. Here’s the best Double Barrel loadout to use in XDefiant and dominate multiplayer. Best Double Barrel build XDefiant – Recommended loadout Barrel: Choke – Rear Grip: Quick Draw Grip – Stock: Lightweight – As it only has access to three attachment slots, the Double Barrel shotgun is an easy enough gun to build. By far the most impactful attachment is the Choke barrel, which boosts damage by 15%, making the Double Barrel shotgun two-tap enemies much more consistently. With the Choke barrel being the only attachment that impacts damage output and range, the other two slots should be used to improve mobility and handling. For this, there is nothing better than the Lightweight stock, which bumps up ADS Walking Speed by a massive 20%. This is great for strafing around corners, and catching other players off guard before they can react. Last but not least is the Quick Draw rear grip, which speeds up both the Double Barrel’s Sprint-Shoot Time and ADS Speed by 10%. This does come with an ADS Stability penalty, but due to the nature of the gun, this is negligible and the improved handling is easily worth the trade-off. The best secondary weapon to pair this loadout with is the D50 Desert Eagle which will deal a hefty amount of damage along with the Frag Grenade which will help you clear out objectives easily. Best Double Barrel loadout for low recoil Barrel: Choke – Rear Grip: Heavy Grip – Stock: Padded Stock – Since you don’t have any alternate barrel, the Choke Barrel is the only available Barrel attachment you can choose for the Double Barrel. This attachment increases short and medium range by 10% each and boosts hipfire spread by 5%. Additionally, the Heavy Grip will reduce horizontal recoil by 2.5% which when paired with the Padded Stock will greatly reduce recoil as a whole. The Padded Stock will help you take stable shots while also aiding in recoil recovery. Best Double Barrel loadout for high damage Rear Grip: Quick Draw Grip – Stock: Lightweight Stock – As you might notice, the Choke Barrel is omitted from the loadout. This is because the Double Barrel can only shoot two bullets before having to reload, which means your playstyle has to be very aggressive while being really close to enemies when you shoot them. Since the Choke Barrel affects the shoot-sprint time, it’s best to not use it, especially when going for an aggressive playstyle with high damage. That being said, the Quick Draw Grip, boosts ADS speed and sprint-to-fire time by 10% each which will help you maneuver in a close-range firefight better. Lastly, the Lightweight Stock will increase ADS movement speed and recoil recovery. This will improve your aim movement speed which will further help you take out enemies quickly at close range. Pair this with the D50 as your secondary weapon which packs a punch and can be used efficiently if you happen to run out of ammo. Finally, equip the Frag Grenade to get out of pesky situations How to unlock Double Barrel in XDefiant? The Double Barrel shotgun is unlocked by completing the following Base Challenge in multiplayer: “Get 10 Shotgun Hipfire Kills.” This is one of the easiest weapon unlock challenges in XDefiant, as all you have to do is take out enemy players without aiming in. The best game mode to do this in is Occupy, where most gunfights take place on the point, making it easier to predict where enemies are and get up close. Best Double Barrel alternatives in XDefiant The M870 is a direct competitor to the Double Barrel, with both being strong weapons best suited to close quarters. The pump action shotgun has slightly better range than the Double Barrel but is much more punishing if you don’t get a one-shot kill. That’s all for the best Double Barrel loadout in XDefiant. For more top-tier builds, check out this comprehensive Best Weapons guide. Alternatively, try using these meta loadouts for the M16A4, MP7, AK-47, and ACR 6.8.

Best Doctrines to choose in Cult of the Lamb Massive MonsterDoctrines are all-important through your rise to glory in Cult of the Lamb but with a wide variety to choose from and limited space to lock them in, which should you go for? Here’s a full breakdown on some of the best Doctrines in the game. By improving follower loyalty throughout camp, you’ll soon have an abundance of Commandment Stones at your disposal. Three at a time you can trade them in for powerful new Doctrines. These Doctrines function as unique upgrades for your cult, be it in the form of new Rituals or widespread effects to help along the way. Each time around, however, you’ll have to pick from two different options, making it tricky to land on the absolute best. So if you’re wondering which Doctrines to pick in Cult of the Lamb, look no further. We’ve got you covered with the absolute best options you should seek out right away. Best Doctrines in Cult of the Lamb Law & Order 1 – Ascend Follower Ritual First on the agenda is to begin the Law & Order skill tree. Through your very first choice, be sure to pick the Ascend Follower Ritual. Death is unavoidable in Cult of the Lamb. No matter how great your camp might be or how healthy you keep your followers, father time eventually gets to them all. But rather than having them collapse in the middle of camp and make everyone else sick, it’s best to give them a graceful departure. With the Ascend Follower Ritual, you can pick one particularly old member of camp and ensure they go out the right way. Not only does this help avoid those aforementioned issues of illness and even losing faith, but it also helps boost loyalty for your remaining followers, making it an essential early-game pick in Cult of the Lamb. Sustenance II – Grass Eater Trait If you’re struggling to keep up with enough food for your followers, it’s well worth investing in the Sustenance skill tree to unlock the Grass Eater Trait. While it may seem a little cruel, this ability ensures followers can make do with the bare minimum. Just by handing them a dish made purely from grass, they can get their daily nutrients and carry on with their business. Although it’s not advisable to feed grass to your followers all the time, it’s great to have as a backup play just in case you run out of more substantial ingredients. Possessions III – Ritual of Enrichment Next up, comes the Ritual of Enrichment, an absolute must-have in Cult of the Lamb. Unlocked at tier three in the Possessions tree, this Ritual guarantees you’ll never run short of Gold Coins again. Once you’ve found your footing and hit the double-digit follower count, using the Ritual of Enrichment will help line your pockets. In just a matter of moments, you can go from barely a few Gold Coins to a few hundred. Combined with the faster Ritual cooldown ability through the Divine Inspiration tree, you’ll be able to spam this effect multiple times a week and soon have a limitless pool of wealth. Work & Worship IV – Glory Through Toil Ritual As a final recommendation, there’s no looking past the effectiveness of the Glory Through Toil Ritual in Cult of the Lamb. Unlocked at tier four of the Work & Worship skill tree, this Ritual forces your followers to work overtime. For three days and nights, this Ritual keeps your followers awake. This means camp will stay productive, harvesting crops, gathering resources, and worshiping at your shrines for three days on end without a break. To make matters even worse for your cultists, this effect can also be abused with the faster Ritual cooldown unlock. Soon your followers will rarely be sleeping as you repeatedly execute this powerful Ritual.

Best Discord bots in 2023 for music, moderation & games DiscordChoosing the best Discord bots plays a huge role in developing and growing your own server, and our guide lists some of the best bots for music, moderation, and games. Keep reading to find out everything you should know before adding these bots to your server in 2023. Discord bots offer various forms of features and functionalities that can massively enhance the experience for users. Be it playing games with your friends or having a tool to generate engagement, there are plenty of bots for you to choose from. However, finding the perfect fit for you as well as those who are a part of your server can be tricky. For this reason, you need to know everything that a bot has to offer before you add them to your server. Having the right bots not only makes your server more interactive but also provides a fun environment for all the members. With that being said, let’s dive in and take a look at some of the best Discord bots for music, moderation, and games. Contents Best Discord Bots for 2023 – How to add bots to your Discord Server? – Best Discord Bots for 2023 Given everything that Discord has to offer, there are multiple bots available to serve various purposes. However, we are going to focus on the three specific types of bots that you might require for your server. Without further ado, let’s dive into the best Discord bots for music, moderation, and games to help you make your server even more interactive and engaging. Best Discord bots for Music 3 – Lofi Radio Bot This 24/7 music-playing bot is completely free and features a bunch of unique perks. On top of continuously playing high-quality audio with a lag-free experience, Lofi Radio Bot never gets automatically disconnected. Once invited into a voice channel, the bot keeps playing until someone manually disconnects it. Although this bot doesn’t allow you to choose the music you are playing, the preset playlist of lo-fi songs serves as a perfect addition to any Discord server. 2 – ChampBot ChampBot can fulfill various requirements in your server. From being able to stream music of your choice directly in voice channels to playing fun rounds of Akinator in text channels, ChampBot can take care of almost all your requirements for your server. Apart from that, the bot is also capable of tracking your server activity, providing weather updates, testing your trivia skills, and a lot more. Given everything that ChampBot has to offer, it will definitely make for a great addition to any server. 1 – Jockie Music A bot specifically designed for music, Jockie Music is definitely the best Discord bot available for your server. Apart from being able to play music across several platforms such as Spotify, Soundcloud, Vimeo, and several others. On top of everything that the bot has to offer, the one thing that makes it stand out is that there are four different versions of Jockie Music, all of which can be added to the same server to play different music in various voice channels at the same time. This feature definitely makes Jockie Music a must-have for your Discord server where multiple users enjoy listening to music separately in different voice channels. Best Discord bots for Moderation 3 – ProBot ProBot is a lot like other moderation bots for Discord. However, this bot does have its own bit of uniqueness when it comes to managing your server. Apart from auto-moderation features, ProBot also allows you to set customized welcome messages to new users while setting the tone for your server using this bot. On top of these, the bot also allows you to set custom punishments for members who break the rules. Additionally, you can also set a word filter to ensure a safe and respectable environment for everyone on your server. So if you’re looking for moderation tools, make sure to give ProBot a try. 2 – Double Counter One of the best bots for high-level moderation, Double Counter prevents members from using multiple accounts on the same server. The bot verifies every member that joins your server and uses their IP address to check for alternate logins from other accounts. This nifty little feature ensures that banned and kicked members are unable to rejoin your server by simply creating a new account. On top of this, you can also block users from accessing your server while using VPNs to prevent unwanted users from forcing their way back into the server. 1 – MEE6 Undoubtedly one of the most popular bots to ever exist for Discord, MEE6 provides a bunch of features for your server. Apart from having one of the most extensive toolkits for moderation, you can also activate push notifications from various platforms to keep your server updated with the latest information. Additionally, you can also set custom roles that users can claim by reacting to specific messages. MEE6 also allows you to set custom bot commands for the members of your server to use. On top of all these, the bot also features a premium section which unlocks a lot more perks and benefits for the user. Best Discord bots for Games 3 – Chess Bot One of the most iconic games ever, you can now enjoy an intense round of Chess with your friends on Discord itself. While there’s not much to say about this bot, the experience that you can have in your server with the Chess Bot can be highly enjoyable for many members. 2 – GamesROB The GamesROB offers a variety of games for you to choose from. Ranging from Hangman and UNO to Minesweeper and Russian Roulette, you will have a bunch of games to choose from. With everything that the bot has to offer, you should definitely consider adding it to your server. 1 – IdleRPG This text-based role-playing game can be an excellent way to spend some fun time with your friends. From creating your own character and going on various quests with them to extensive backstories about the lore, this bot is an excellent addition to any Discord server. How to add bots to your Discord Server? Adding bots to your Discord server is a fairly simple task, so here’s a series of steps to help you along with the process: Make sure that you are an admin with invitation rights in the server where you want to add the bot. – Head over to the official website of the bot. We have made sure to add hyperlinks for all the bots mentioned above. – Click on the Invite to Server button and select the server where you want to invite the bot. – Complete the captcha that pops up to complete the process. – Following this series of steps will allow you to add any bot to your Discord server with ease. So there you have it – that’s all you need to know about the best Discord bots to use in 2023. If you’re looking for upcoming games and new releases, make sure to check our release pages for the following. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 | Hogwarts Legacy | Forspoken | Ghostwire Tokyo | Assassin’s Creed Infinity | Diablo 4 | Overwatch 2 | Crysis 4 | Street Fighter 6

Best Divine Inspirations to pick early in Cult of the Lamb Massive MonsterChoosing the right Divine Inspirations can make or break your run in Cult of the Lamb, especially in the early stages. So to ensure the best odds of survival and to help your camp thrive out of the gate, here are the best picks to lock in as soon as possible. All the Devotion in the world from your loyal followers isn’t worth the hassle if you’re unsure how to invest it. With so many Divine Inspirations to pick from in Cult of the Lamb, each with their own unique effects, key choices have to be made early into the game. From building basic necessities to optimizing your growth as a leader, there’s plenty you need to consider when making your mind up. So if you’re struggling and looking for guidance, we’ve got you covered. Here are the absolute must-pick Divine Inspirations to get the ball rolling in Cult of the Lamb. Best Divine Inspirations in Cult of the Lamb Always prioritize the middle path As a general rule of thumb when starting out in Cult of the Lamb, be sure to prioritize the middle path of upgrades through the Divine Inspiration tree. While these particular unlocks are gated off at distinct tiers, requiring a certain amount of progress before you can claim them, they’re always worth picking first as soon as they’re available. Here you can advance your overall cult level from 1-4, increasing the amount of Devotion that can be held in your central shrine. Moreover, the middle path also unlocks the Refinery, a crucial tool necessary for consecrating resources and unlocking more effective buildings. Sleeping Bags & Shelters all around Beyond that general rule, however, the first essential pick is to unlock Sleeping Bags. It doesn’t matter how great of a leader you are, if your followers have nowhere to sleep, they will quickly turn against you or worse, fall sick. Therefore, it’s crucial you pick Sleeping Bags right away and build enough so that every follower has a place to nap. You’ll soon realize they’re not foolproof though, so that’s where Shelter comes in. As soon as it can be unlocked, be sure to pick Shelter from the Divine Inspiration tree. From here, you can upgrade your existing beds to ensure they don’t collapse as often. Farm Plot & Farming Bundle Next on the list is the simple Farm Plot. While it may not look like much and by itself, doesn’t accomplish a great deal alone, the ability to grow your own food is one of the most important features in Cult of the Lamb. Once unlocked, you can section off a chunk of your land to grow fruit, flowers, and the like. At first, you’ll have to do the work manually. This means planting seeds, watering the plots, adding fertilizer when possible, and eventually picking the rewards yourself. However, you can soon have loyal followers put in the effort for you. Through the Farming Bundle pick in the Divine Inspiration tree, you can automate much of the process, allowing followers to place new crops and grow new items in your absence. Lumberyard & Stone Mine With the first few picks out the way, the next essential unlocks are Lumberyards and Stone Mines. As their names suggest, these two buildings help amass two of the most valuable resources in Cult of the Lamb. By placing a cluster of these around your camp, Lumber and Stone will be flowing in at an incredible rate. Thus, it’s well worth grabbing as early as possible to help you out in the long run. The sooner you have piles of these building materials at the ready, the easier everything else becomes. Tabernacles With the essentials now locked in, here’s where you can really start snowballing things out of control. Tabernacles are extremely powerful as they allow followers to generate more Devotion beyond just your central shrine. If you’re out of camp on a lengthy crusade, for instance, having a few Tabernacles around camp means you’ll return to far more Devotion than before. Considering every little bit helps in Cult of the Lamb, these are a great early game pick to help swing momentum in your favor. Cheaper Rituals & Ritual Cooldowns Last but not least, the moment you can, be sure to unlock both Cheaper Rituals and Ritual Cooldowns from the Divine Inspiration tree. These two are arguably the most important picks for any run through Cult of the Lamb. As you’ll be performing Rituals on a near-daily basis to keep followers happy and well-fed, it’s obviously that much sweeter being able to execute them on the cheap. Not only that, but having the potential to repeat the strongest Rituals after barely a few in-game days is a real game-changer. Before long, you’ll be unstoppable with a camp full of followers never questioning your leadership.

Best Digimon games of all time: from Rumble to World Digimon AdventureDigimon has spawned a lot of video games over the years that have spanned a variety of genres. From 2D fighters to traditional JRPGs, these are our picks for the best Digimon games of all time. Digimon as an IP started life as a simple pet simulator and has since evolved into a mammoth franchise that more than rivals Pokemon. Video games have become a huge part of Digimon’s identity and fans have had plenty to play over the years. In the lead-up to the release of Digimon Survive – the franchise’s latest game that coincides with the Digimon Adventure 25th anniversary – we’re looking back at 10 of the best Digimon games of all time. 10. Digimon Rumble Arena Digimon Rumble Arena was the first fighting game spin on the Digimon franchise and it holds a nostalgic place in many fans’ hearts. Released for the PlayStation, Rumble Arena is a 2.5D platform fighter similar to Super Smash Bros. During the campaign, players control a single Digimon and battle their way through the story, unlocking new characters along the way. The full character roster consists of 24 Digimon who are all drawn straight from the Digimon anime series. Rumble Arena wasn’t the most in-depth or immersive fighting game for its time, but it has to make our list for introducing the franchise to the fast-paced genre. 9. Digimon Digital Card Battle As the name suggests, Digital Card Battle is a video game based on the Digimon collectible card game. Compared to the other entries on this list, Digital Card Battle is perhaps the most unique Digimon video game due to its strictly card-based mechanics. Players have the option to choose their partner card at the beginning of the game – Veemon, Hawkmon, or Armadillomon – three Digimon from the Adventure 2.0 anime. As you win matches and progress, your partner will gain experience, and their skills can be modified. At its core, Digimon Digital Card Battle is a simple but faithful recreation of the card game that fans and card enthusiasts alike can sink hours of time into. 8. Digimon World Dawn and Dusk Dawn and Dusk were essentially Digimon’s take on the traditional Pokemon formula of releasing two games at once. These Nintendo DS RPGs served as sequels to Digimon World DS, however, they don’t share any relation to the Digimon World series (which can be confusing due to their localized names!) In Dawn and Dusk, the players take control of a Digimon tamer who embarks on a journey to uncover the cause of an earthquake that has disrupted the digital world. The gameplay loop involves training your Digimon through engaging turn-based combat. At a quick glance, Dawn and Dusk may seem like the most outright Pokemon-inspired titles but the hub world and dungeon-based structure, and specific requirements needed to evolve or de-generate Digimon make these stand-out titles compared to Pokemon counterparts. 7. Digimon World Re:Digitize Digimon World Re:Digitize was released exclusively for the PlayStation Portable in 2011 and was intended to be a modern remake of the original Digimon World game. In Re:Digitize a young boy named Taiga is transported into the Digital world and is tasked with recruiting Digimon to join the city. Digimon are recruited after they’ve been defeated in battle and various conditions have been met. A lot of creatures found in the original game make appearances here for veteran players to enjoy, and there are a handful of unique collectibles. One of the biggest features is the ability to customize your Digimon’s appearance with everything from hats to bandanas. Re:Digitize isn’t the best iteration of Digimon World overall but it’s still a very beloved game in the community. 6. Digimon Adventure Digimon Adventure was another PlayStation Portable exclusive that was released to commemorate the anime’s fifteen anniversary. It follows the story of seven children who are mysteriously transported into the Digital World while away at summer camp. The kids soon meet their individual monster companions known as Digimon and set out on an adventure to save both the Digital and the real world. The game was a faithful retelling of the Digimon Adventure anime that featured performances from the original Japanese voice cast, and also included the events of the movie, “Our War Game!”, which takes place after the series. 5. Digimon World The original Digimon World follows an unnamed protagonist after he’s transported into the Digital World and ends up on File Island where he meets the digital monster Jijimon – who tasks him with saving the Island by recruiting Digimon to join File City. The gameplay revolves around obtaining a Digimon in its digi-egg form and raising it to eventually reach it’s Ultimate form. The stronger your Digimon becomes the more Digimon can be recruited to File City, however Digimon will “fade away” with age and regenerate with better base stats. Alongside battling, the player will have to take care of their partner’s needs, which include everything from food to going to the toilet. The gameplay loop truly made Digimon World a unique, addicting pet simulator that paved the way for a large portion of the Digimon gaming franchise. 4. Digimon World: Next Order Digimon World: Next Order is regarded by many as the true modern successor to the original Digimon World despite being the sixth entry in the series. Next Order is once again set in File City and tasks players with recruiting as many Digimon as possible while raising their own. The biggest change in Next Order was that players had two partners. Upon starting the game, there’s also the choice to play as a male or female protagonist, adding a small element of personalization to the story. Overall, Next Order packages everything great about the original game into an addictive, enhanced experience. 3. Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory Hacker’s Memory is the direct follow-up to Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth. Released in 2017, this sequel builds on the fundamentals introduced in Cyber Sleuth while featuring a new cast of characters and a unique story. Hacker’s Memory is a turn-based JRPG where players take control of protagonist Keisuke Amasawa who is the victim of a cyber attack that leaves him framed for a number of crimes. He soon joins forces with a group of hackers called “Hudie” who set out to find the real culprit by exploring Cyberspace with their Digimon partners. The game features a turn-based combat system where the player can command up to three Digimon at a time. With over 350 different Digimon to battle and collect in total, Hacker’s Memory has been praised by fans for its impressive roster. 2. Digimon World 3 Digimon World 3 (also known as “World 2003”) was the third installment of the World series and the first to shake up the formula. The gameplay systems in 3 were adapted to feature JRPG mechanics of the time, including a turn-based battle system akin to Final Fantasy 7. This change resulted in 3 playing much more like a grand adventure than its pet simulator predeccessors. The game follows the story of Junior – a boy who enjoys playing the MMORPG “Digimon Online”. After becoming trapped within the game, players take control of Junior and must find a way back home. Despite initially receiving unfavorable reviews, World 3 is beloved by the Digimon community with many still hoping for a remake. 1. Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth is a critically acclaimed game that played a big part in reigniting Digimon’s popularity in the West. Originally released on the Vita in 2015, the game was met with praise for its graphics and return to the Digimon World formula. A complete edition was released for the Nintendo Switch and PC in 2019 that came bundled with Hacker’s Memory. Players take control of a male or female protagonist in Cyber Sleuth and are thrown into a story shrouded in mystery. There are over 240 Digimon to battle and collect throughout, and an addicting turn-based combat system to enjoy. Cyber Sleuth isn’t just a fantastic JRPG but it was a return to form for Digimon games that completely rejuvenated the enthusiasm for the franchise in the modern era. That’s why it’s widely considered to be the best Digimon game of all time. That’s our list of the best Digimon games of all time! While you’re here, check out some more video game rankings below: 10 Best Mario games of all time | Best animal games | Best LGBTQ+ games | Best starter Pokemon ranked | 5 best games you didn’t play in 2021 | Best open-world games | Best Metal Gear games | Best Assassin’s Creed games | Best Call of Duty games | Best games of 2022 so far

Best Development Points to unlock in Manor Lords Hooded HorseIf you want to know what the best Develop Points to unlock are in Manor Lords, then here are all the upgrades you need to choose to get rich quickly and maximize your settlement’s efficiency. To build the best Manor Lords settlements, you will need to make sure you choose the best Development Points to unlock. Every time you increase your settlement level, you will earn a Development Point for you to spend on new skills and capabilities. These are vital for optimising your efficiency when gathering resources such as food, fuel, currency, and ores. However, with so many to choose from in Manor Lords, figuring out which Development Point upgrades are the best to unlock has proved tricky. Best Development Points to get in Manor Lords 1. Forest Management Upgrade: Doubles the maximum capacity of all your berry deposits Forest Management doubling your berry yield will be especially key at the start and only costs one Development Point, as well as requiring no previous upgrade. This will ensure you’re able to feed your growing town with a stable food supply, making it the strongest first pick. You will want to make sure you assign plenty of villagers to the Forager Hut from the beginning so that all berries around the surrounding areas are collected before winter strikes. Berries grow in the spring, but die quickly as soon as winter comes, so having a decent stash will be key. Not only are berries useful as a food source, but it can also used to dye clothing different colors and also unlock the Dyer’s Workshop industry, which has proved to be highly profitable in the early game. The only main negative to Forest Management is that if your settlement is not located in a highly dense berry region, then you may be forced to go for alternatives of Advanced Skinning or Trapping to give your hunting skills a boost. Aside from this, unlocking Forest Management doesn’t give you access to any further skill branches, opposed to others. 2. Sheepbreeding Upgrade: Allows you to produce infinite sheep for trading To become a rich lord fast, you will need to prioritize trading in the game, and unlocking Sheepbreeding will get you off to a hot start. Best of all, you won’t need to spend any resources to keep infinitely breeding your sheep and they can then be easily sold at the Livestock Trading Post. However, to keep your Regional Wealth-making machine running efficiently, you will need to make sure you keep expanding your Pasture space, as the maximum sheep capacity will be determined by this. 3. Charcoal Burning Upgrade: Unlocks Charcoal Kiln building that lets you make Charcoal to double fuel efficiency By selecting building a Charcoal Kiln as part of your settlement, you will be able to greatly improve the efficiency of your fuel supply to maintain constant refueling. To make Charcoal using the kiln, you will just need 1 firewood, which will create 2 pieces of Charcoal. As you progress your settlement level further, you will need to stay on top of this as higher-level buildings will require increased fuel demands. These include the Smithy for Tools, the Bloomery for making Iron Slabs, and the Malthouse to convert Barley into Malt for Ale production in your local Tavern. The only downside is that you will need to stock up on Firewood before winter comes, as you can easily find yourself without any in the harsher months. 4. Trade Logistics Upgrade: A new Trade Route will always costs a maximum of 25 Regional Wealth Building Trade Routes is essential to creating a profitable trading network that is vital throughout the game. Therefore, ensuring these are capped at just 25 Regional Wealth, will allow you to keep your costs low and avoid the expensive prices found when purchasing different routes at Trading Posts. It will also give you access to the next trading upgrade of Better Deals, which reduces all import prices by 10 when you import foreign goods. 5. Deep Mining Upgrade: Unlocks Deep Mine building that lets you infinitely mine ore Deep Mining will instantly stop you from running out of ore. Simply, just place the Deep Mine building that it unlocks over a strong ore deposit and you will have created a bottomless ore supply. However, you will need to make sure that it is actually a rich ore deposit before building on it, otherwise you will eventually run out. Similar to Forest Management though, it is also limited by the need of a rich deposit, so you may have to explore neighboring lands to find one. 6. Heavy Plow Upgrade: Unlocks Plowing Station building that allows you to use oxen to plow fields and transport crops much faster The Heavy Plow Development Point upgrade is essential to maximize your farming yield. Using workers to plow by hand is incredibly slow as you will soon realise, therefore switching them for Oxen is a no brainer. Even though berry harvesting and even meat hunting will suffice at the beginning, you will want to use farming to be able to produce enough food to feed your growing population in the later levels. Manor Lords has launched in early access, therefore the best Development Points are subject to change when the game fully releases. Check out more Manor Lords guides: How to build and use the Sawpit | Manor Lords system requirements | Is Manor Lords on Game Pass? | Does Manor Lords run on Steam Deck?

Best Devices in XDefiant ranked & explained UbisoftWhen building your loadout in XDefiant, you are going to want to find the best Device to go with it. These are all the gadgets that can either disorient an enemy or completely blow them sky-high. There are only five Device options available in the game at the moment, and knowing which ones are the best is key to making your build the best it can be. This is why we have compiled a list of the best XDefiant Devices and how they ranked against each other. 5. EMP Grenade The EMP Grenade is a great tool that will destroy or stop any enemy abilities and devices that have been deployed. When used right, this skill is a useful tool that can change the tide of a battle. However, it is only effective if there are devices or abilities to counter in the area. Because of this, its use case is a little niche, making it rank the lowest on the list. It’s good to keep in your back pocket in case the enemy team has some devices you need to take out or abilities you’d like to interrupt. You can unlock the EMP Grenade by dealing 400 damage to Enemy Equipment using Devices. 4. Flashbang Grenade The next entry on this list is the Flash Grenade, which when thrown causes enemies to see a blinding white light and dull their hearing, allowing you the chance to take them down in a vulnerable state. Like the EMP Grenade, when used properly, it’s a huge advantage in a firefight. It’s just that it still isn’t enough to become dominant in XDefiant, and if the grenade doesn’t go off right in front of an enemy, they won’t get the full effect. Flashbangs were adjusted slightly in the Season 1 patch, which made the white light less intense but kept the disorientation effect with doubled vision. To unlock the Flashbang Grenade, you will need to kill 20 enemies suffering from a Status Condition. 3. Sticky Grenade Now we are entering into the world of damage output with Devices with the Sticky Grenade. This Device will stick to the surface it is thrown at before exploding to dish out pain to any enemies nearby. You can even stick it to a target so that they can’t avoid the explosion. If you can develop the right accuracy for it, you can become an absolute monster with the Sticky Grenade. To unlock the Sticky Grenade, you will need to inflict 25 Status Conditions to enemies in the game. 2. Frag Grenade Despite being the default Device in the game, the Frag Grenade is a great option. It’s versatile and easy to use, while also being able to clear out an objective or room easily. Sure, you need to get the hang of cooking it so that you don’t give your targets time to run away, but it isn’t hard to do. The Frag Grenade is available to use as soon as you start out in the game. 1. Proximity Mine The Proximity Mine is topping this list of XDefiant Devices due to how annoying it is to encounter as an enemy. It’s a Device that can be placed anywhere and waits for an opponent to run by before detonating. Its explosion can also kill in a heartbeat with its powerful impact. It truly is difficult to avoid once you realize you have triggered it, which is what makes it so good. And if you are a sniper who is hunkering down in one spot, this is the perfect defense. To unlock the Proximity Mine, you need to deal 1,000 damage with Devices in the game. You need to know which meta weapons to use these Devices with, so check out the game’s best Assault Rifles, SMG’s, and the top LMG’s.

Best defense tips for College Football 25 EA SportsEven seasoned football veterans will get burnt from time to time on defense in College Football 25. However, it only takes a few adjustments and decisions to make you a better defender. Like actual College Football, defenders often miss tackles, mess up assignments, and get run over by ball carriers in EA’s latest football sim. College Football 25 is leaning into the frenetic nature of the sport by creating an arcade-like experience that is full of highlight-reel plays. This comes at the expense of defense, often making it hard to stop an offense consistently. If you are struggling like many others, there are a few defensive tips that will help. College Football defense tips Match personnel While on defense, you should let your opponent choose a play first. From there, a graphic will appear in the top left-hand corner of the screen showing them how many running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers are on the field. If the offense has two wide receivers or less, it makes more sense to run a 4-3 or 3-4 defense or any formation that has more defenders at the line of scrimmage in preparation for a run play. However, if there are three receivers on the field the nickel formation adds an extra corner back to account for them. And if there are four, dime and dollar have four corner backs on the field. This doesn’t apply to zone defense formations, but you still want to make sure you properly match up with what your opponent is running. Make pre-play adjustments Your job isn’t finished after selecting a play. Once you have a good idea of how the opposing offense operates, you can start making adjustments to counter them. Here is a full list of defensive adjustment options: Press left on D-Pad for the defensive line – Pres right on D-Pad for linebackers – Press in on the right stick and then triangle on PlayStation or X on Xbox for secondary – Press in on the right stick and then X on PlayStation or A on Xbox for individual players – Press R1 on PlayStation or RB on Xbox for full defense – Since players don’t have much time to manually adjust every position group on the field before the ball is snapped, players should focus their attention on making small adjustments, when needed. If an opponent is running the ball to the left, shift your linebackers and defensive linemen to the left. If there is one more play in the half shade and you know your opponent is going to throw deep, shade your defense over the top and have your secondary give cushion. Or, if your opponent has a mobile quarterback, employ a QB contain or contain from the edge rushers. Making small adjustments like these goes a long way in forcing your opponent out of their comfort zone. Disguise your defense Disguises are a new feature in College Football 25 that allow players to hide what defensive formation they are in. For example, if you are in a cover 3, you can show a cover 2 to catch your opponent off guard. When you access your secondary defensive adjustments menu, there is an option to show different defenses by pressing left or right on the left stick. Depending on which defense you are aligned in, there will be different options. When playing against newcomers to the series, it isn’t as important to disguise your defense. However, in a match against a seasoned veteran, pulling this maneuver out of your back pocket could be a game-changer. Take advantage of new switch stick To intercept a pass in College Football 25, you must press the triangle on PlayStation or Y on Xbox while controlling the defender closest to the incoming pass. Players can use the new switch stick feature to switch to the defender closest to the incoming pass. By flicking the right stick in the direction of the incoming pass, you will switch into a different defender and have a chance to make a play on the ball. The switch stick feature makes it easier for you to jump in front of a pass and intercept it, and is a great option with plenty of opportunity for use. Don’t spam pass rush moves on the defensive line Blue dots over a defensive lineman’s head indicate how many pass rush points they have. If a player performs a successful pass-rush move, they get to keep the dot, which is indicated by a green check mark. However, if a defensive lineman fails to get past an offensive lineman, they lose a dot. Players with more dots have a higher chance of completing a pass rush. In addition, if you use the same pass rush move too many times, the offensive lineman will develop resistance. The more filled with red, the more resistant to rush moves that blocker is to the current player you’re controlling. With that in mind, mix up which pass rush moves you use on the defensive line, to have the best chance of making stops on defense. Use the best defensive formations For beginners or players of any skill level, there are a few defensive concepts that work well for most situations. Cover 2 man is one of the safest coverages in the game and prevents too many plays over the top, because of the two deep safeties. Along the same lines, Tampa 2 in the cover 2 concept does a good job of keeping plays in front of you and limiting what offenses can do. Next, cover 3 and cover 3 sky protect deep better than cover 2, and provide a good mix of rush and pass defense. For blitzing, the man blitz concept has several plays. They have six rushers which are indicated by red lines. Since there are only five offensive linemen, use a play that rushes six, and one player will have a free shot on the quarterback, unless the opponent adjusts their blocking. Avoid guessing plays Pressing in on the right stick before a snap on defense opens up the menu to shift a defense or guess a play. We recommend staying away from the guess play feature, unless you are absolutely certain what to expect. For example, if the ball is at the one-yard line and you know the offense is going to run the ball. Guessing a run up the middle could result in a stop. However, if you are in the middle of the field, and you guess a run up the middle, but it’s a pass, The offense will score an easy touchdown because all of your defenders will rush. It is also ok to guess pass if it is a third and long situation, or a QB is throwing a deep pass to end the half, but these are all situational. Guessing plays is a high-risk, high-reward feature that often hurts more than helps. Be patient One of the hardest feats to pull off on defense is an open-field tackle. Juke moves often break ankles and cause defenders to fall. To avoid getting caught with your pants down, we recommend sitting back on defense and waiting for the right angle and opportunity to pounce on a ball carrier. This sounds easier said than done, but if you bide your time and line up a hit rather than lunging in, making tackles becomes much easier. For more on College Football 25, check out our guides on how to kick or throw different types of passes.

Best Deadlock PC & Steam Deck settings for FPS: How to get the best performance ValveIn a competitive game like Deadlock, it is crucial to dial in the best settings to get the best performance on PC and Steam Deck. So, here is everything you need to know. After months in a not-so-secret playtest, Valve has finally acknowledged Deadlock, allowing the world to see the hero shooter MOBA crossover in an early form. With the stamp of approval from its enigmatic devs, Deadlock has already gained considerable hype, with thousands of players already online. If you’re one of those lucky players who managed to gain access to the playtest, you may notice there are some performance issues, no surprise since it’s in very early access. So, here are the best settings to get as much FPS as you can from the game. Best video settings Here are the best settings to maximize your FPS in Deadlock: Window Mode: Borderless Window – Aspect Ratio: 16×9 – Resolution: Preferably 1920 x 1080 on 144 Hz to 240 Hz – Upscaling: Stretch – Render Quality: 70% – Anti-Aliasing: None – Screen Space AO: Low – Distance Field AO: Low – Texture Quality: Low – VSync: Off – Distance Field Shadows: Off – Displacement Mapping: Off – Post Process Bloom: Off – Effects Bloom: Off – Area Lights: Off – Depth of Field: Off – Distance Field Reflections: Off – MBOIT: Off – Depending on your PC specs, you can expect to at least get triple-digit FPS, although fair warning the graphics won’t look the prettiest. With these settings, you’ll be able to squeeze as much FPS as you can from your PC with as low a latency as possible. As for the Resolution, it would be best if you had a monitor that is 1920 x 1080 with a refresh rate of at least 144 Hz or better, but we understand not everybody has that. Regardless, do at least choose the 1920 x 1080 option and use the highest refresh rate your monitor can handle. However, if you do want to tweak these settings to make things look nicer, Valve helpfully added descriptions of what each setting does. This will let you choose whether or not you need to turn an option up higher depending on what you want to stand out. Best Steam Deck settings Below you can find the best Steam Deck settings for Deadlock: Resolution: Use Native Resolution – Rendering: Direct3D 11 (-dx11) – Upscaling Technology: Stretch – Render Quality: 70% – Anti-Aliasing: FXAA – Screen Space AO: Off – Distance Field AO: Off – Texture Quality: Med – VSync: Off (Unselected) – Standard matchmaking is currently unsupported on Steam Deck. However, there is a workaround. Go to Deadlock in your Steam library and select Properties > General > Launch Options. Here, in the launch options text box, bring up the built-in keyboard and type: SteamDeck=0 %command% Despite this fix, Deadlock still isn’t optimized for Steam Deck. (Which is likely why matching was unsupported in the first place.) First off, Deadlock doesn’t have controller support on Steam Deck. This makes playing the FPS on Steam Deck incredibly awkward. Even while browsing through various recommended, or community-created, button layouts, the game’s tutorials will reference the PC controls making it difficult to progress and play. At the default settings, the game also runs anywhere between 25-30 FPS on the handheld — not ideal for a first-person shooter. It’s also a huge battery drain, only producing up to 2 hours of playtime on a fully-charged OLED model Deck. Our recommended best settings can help improve the performance on Steam Deck further, with the FPS boosted to an average 45 to 50 FPS. However, with the game still in early development, we’d recommend waiting for Valve to finish working on optimizing the brand-new FPS for its own hardware. Best audio settings Below you can find the best audio settings for Deadlock: Master Volume: Your preference – Game Sound: 100% – Menu Music Volume: Your Preference – Voice Chat Volume: 50% – Speaker Configuration: Headphones – Mic Trigger Threshold: 0% – Open Mic: Off – Push To Talk: V – Audio is quite personal, so don’t take this as gospel, but rather as a template to start finding the right settings that work for you. We’ve left the Master and Menu Music volumes up to you as everyone has their own preference. We’ve completely turned off the Menu Music and have the Master at 85%, but it will be different for you. Additionally, we’ve left the Mic Trigger Threshold at 0% and turned off Open Mic. This is just so you aren’t disturbing your teammates with unwanted noises that other players won’t want transmitting into the game. We’ve also changed the default Push To Talk button to V from the default T because most players are used to having V as their mic button. Other than that, all these settings are just suggestions and you don’t need to follow them exactly, so make sure you experiment a little. You can also check out our mouse and keyboard settings guide if you haven’t set up your keybinds and sensitivity just yet.

Best Deadshot build in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Rocksteady StudiosLooking to hit the mark every time with Deadshot in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? Here’s the best build for the character in the game. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is quite the departure from the Arkham series, as players are thrown into the roles of the notorious squad composed of villains. King Shark, Deadshot, Harley Quinn, and Captain Boomerang form the Suicide Squad to save the world from Brainiac and the brainwashed Justice League. Floyd Lawton, aka Deadshot, is the team’s sharpshooter, who excels in weaponry at long-range. He plays as the conventional soldier in-game, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he can’t take over a fight. Build him up a certain way, and you’ll demolish the opposition. With that said, let’s dive into the details of the best Deadshot build in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Best Deadshot Build Much like Overwatch’s Soldier 76, Deadshot is Suicide Squad’s gunhead who’s pretty well-rounded. He’s given an assault rifle and a sniper rifle, while he has a melee-packed set of pistols that can do damage from close range. He also has a jetpack that allows him to hover around the battlefield once he gets over his fear of heights. Deadshot has three unique playstyles recommended when building him up — Sharpshooter, Tactician, and Bomber. For the best build, we’re following the Sharpshooter playstyle, although the Bomber build is just as good, if not a bit more fun, due to its chaotic nature. Playstyles and Talents Below, you’ll find the Sharpshooter build, which focuses on prioritizing Deadshot’s long-range capabilities and increasing critical hit damage. Weapons and Mods Of course, aside from skills, you’ll need to have the weapons and mods to match. With the Sharpshooter build, you’ll want to have a Sniper equipped, and the second weapon can be whatever you prefer. Technically, you can run two Snipers, which is what we did. Also, keep in mind that you’ll need to hit level 30 to have access to all the item slots in-game. If you use the weapons and mods recommended above, you’ll be able to unleash Deadshot’s full potential to aid the Suicide Squad. Check out more Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League content before you head out to Metropolis to save the day: How long is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? | How to get Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Twitch drops | Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League file size | Is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League on Steam Deck? | Is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League coming to Nintendo Switch? | What is the max level | Does Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League have crossplay and cross-progression? | Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League voice actors | Is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League open-world?

Best Deadlock keyboard & mouse settings: Finding your sensitivity and keybinds ValveTo be the best at Deadlock you’ll need to find the best settings for your own playstyle. So, here is what you need to know about the best keyboard and mouse settings, as well as some suggestions for optimal sensitivity and keybinds. Deadlock has finally been acknowledged by Valve, allowing the world to talk about the hero shooter MOBA game in full. Now that it’s finally in the hands of testers, it’s gaining a tremendous amount of hype. Being a shooter means that before fully diving into the game, you’ll need to fine-tune your mouse and keybind settings to options that fit you, especially since the game relies heavily on your aim and timing. So with that in mind, here are the best keyboard and mouse settings for Deadlock on PC. Best mouse settings for Deadlock Below you can find the best mouse settings for Deadlock: Mouse Sensitivity: 2.10 – Zoom Sensitivity Ratio: 1.00 – Invert Mouse: Off – Toggle Zoom: On – None of the settings above should be taken as gospel, however, we’d recommend using them as a base and adjusting it to your preference from there. These mouse settings were set to 400 dpi. With this selected, it should allow you to do a 360 in 24.7 centimeters, which will be just right for most players. Though obviously, you are free to make the sensitivity higher or lower as you see fit. If you are using a higher dpi, you will need to reduce the sensitivity if you want the same 360 distance as us. For every dpi you exponentially increase, you will need to decrease the in-game sensitivity by half. So, if you’re at 800 dpi, you’ll put the sensitivity at 1.05, if you’re at 1600 dpi, you’ll put the sensitivity at 0.53, and vice versa. Generally, it’s best to set the Zoom Sensitivity Ratio to 1.00 as it will be the same speed as the hipfire, but if you’d prefer your zoom sensitivity to be faster or slower it’s best to adjust it to your liking. Additionally, we’ve opted to turn on toggle zoom as that’s what we’re used to, but if you’re more comfortable without it then do turn it off. Best keybind settings for Deadlock Keybinds in Deadlock are quite tricky. By default, most abilities are bound to your number row, and the items are bound to your traditional buttons for abilities (ie. the Z, X, and C buttons). However, if you come from other hero shooters like Overwatch 2 and Valorant, you may find the default keybinds for Deadlock to be quite confusing and not in line with your muscle memory. So to that end, we’ll recommend two different keybind settings, one of which is more in line with the default and the other a setup Valorant and Overwatch 2 players will be more used to. Best Keybinds for Deadlock beginners Keybinds in-line with default: Move Forward: W – Move Backward: S – Move Left (strafe): A – Move Right (strafe): D – Jump/Mantle: Space – Dash: Left Shift – Crouch/Slide: Left CTRL – Fire: Mouse 1 – Zoom: Mouse 2 – Item 1: Z – Item 2: X – Item 3: C – Item 4: E – Melee: Q – Ability 1: 1 – Ability 2: 2 – Ability 3: 3 – Ability 4: 4 – Melee Parry/ Throw Held Item: F – Cancel Ability: Space – Push to talk: V – Ping: Mouse 3 – Scoreboard: Tab – These settings are relatively close to the default, and if you don’t have much experience with hero shooters coming into Deadlock, these settings might be just right for you. For these settings, we’ve made V the push to talk, as that is what most are used to. Additionally, we’ve changed the keybind for Item 4 into E for easier access. Other than those small changes, the settings largely remain similar to the default. You are of course free to modify it as you see fit as this is just a template to find your right keybinds. Best Keybinds for Valorant and Overwatch 2 players in Deadlock Keybinds for Valorant and Overwatch 2 players: Move Forward: W – Move Backward: S – Move Left (strafe): A – Move Right (strafe): D – Jump/Mantle: Space – Dash: Left Shift – Crouch/Slide: Left CTRL – Fire: Mouse 1 – Zoom: Mouse 2 – Item 1: 1 – Item 2: 2 – Item 3: 3 – Item 4: 4 – Melee: Z – Ability 1: E – Ability 2: C – Ability 3: X – Ability 4: Q – Melee Parry/Throw Held Item: F – Cancel Ability: Space – Push to talk: V – Ping: Mouse 3 – Scoreboard: Tab – These settings are a good template for players with experience in Valorant or Overwatch 2. We’ve played a lot of Overwatch 2, so we’re used to having the Ultimate, called Ability 4 in Deadlock, bound to Q. However, if you are a Valorant player you may be more used to having X as your ult. Overall, if you are used to other hero shooters, it is best to have the E, C, X, Q, Z, and F keys as your abilities, as these are all buttons close to WASD and are normally used as ability buttons in other hero shooters. It’s best to just use the number row for your items. However, you may notice that Deadlock has way more buttons and actions than your average hero shooter. For this reason, we’d also recommend binding actions to your side mouse buttons, if you have one that is. In our own settings, we have Melee set to Mouse 4 and Melee Parry/Throw Held Item to Mouse 5. We would highly recommend testing in the Hero Sandbox and trying out different button configurations to suit your style of play. That is all you need to know about the best mouse and keyboard settings for Deadlock. Once again, these are all suggestions, so be sure to experiment with different keybinds and sensitivities to see which combination suits you best.

5 of the best dating sims to play for Valentine’s Day 2022 Who needs love when you’ve got dating sims, right? Whether you’re after cute and sweet or something with a little dark humor, here are some of the best you can play right now. Gaming might be dominated by first-person shooters and explosive action-adventure titles, but if you’re looking for something a little more relaxing, dating sims are a great alternative, allowing players to live out their ideal romance without the risk of real heartbreak. Fortunately, dating sims are more plentiful (and accessible) than ever before, with loads of quality indie titles pushing the genre forwards with unique takes on relationships – but with so many around, it can be hard to decide which one’s are worth your time. Whether you’re happily single or being swept off your feet this Valentine’s Day, we’ve rounded up five of the best dating sims for you to play, from the pun-filled Dream Daddy to the bizarre cult classic Hatoful Boyfriend. Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator This lovingly hand-drawn dating sim follows a single dad who moves to the sleepy seaside town of Maple Bay, where every other dad is conveniently single (and very dateable). There are seven dads, loads of mini-games, and multiple endings to explore, giving it loads of replayability. It’s a surprisingly wholesome dating sim that explores themes of single parenthood and the importance of community, with more bad dad jokes than you can shake a stick at… what’s not to love? Monster Prom Monster Prom is part ‘choose your own adventure’ and part post-modern dating sim, where you’ve got just three weeks to find a date for the biggest event of the school year. The writing is clever, the dating options are diverse, and there are countless absurd situations to get through. What makes Monster Prom stand out from other dating sims is the fact that it can be played with up to four friends in Couch Multiplayer mode, adding a real competitive element if you all have the same potential partner in mind – just think of the drama! Boyfriend Dungeon Boyfriend Dungeon offers a unique take on the dating sim genre, where every picturesque partner is actually a weapon – from artistic dagger Valeria to sharp-suited estoc Isaac – who can accompany you on your demon-slaying, dungeon-crawling adventures. Sounds romantic! Read More: Best survival horror games – The game’s approach to dating is also refreshingly forward-thinking, with male, female, and non-binary romance options, as well as the ability to enter platonic relationships – because who wouldn’t want to be best friends with a cat that can turn into a pair of brass knuckles? Stardew Valley Okay, so Stardew Valley may technically be a farming sim, but the best thing about this critically-acclaimed indie title is that you can invest your time however you want – whether that’s tending to your crops, fighting monsters down in The Mines, or simply trying to woo all of your neighbors. There are 12 potential partners in the farming town of Stardew Valley, from arrogant jock Alex to loveable artist Leah, each with their own unique personality and interests. There are no restrictions on who you can date – or marry – meaning all kinds of relationships are welcome here. Hatoful Boyfriend The most bizarre dating sim on this list is without a doubt Hatoful Boyfriend, a game that’s gained a cult following thanks to its… interesting premise. You’re the only human student at St. PigeoNation’s Institute, the world’s greatest school for birds, and the sound of romance is cooing softly through the air. There are 10 potential avian partners to choose between as you roam the school halls, but it’s not all fluttery wings and rainbows, as there are some pretty dark conspiracies to discover if you go down the wrong path. Hatoful Boyfriend is short and simple, but very enjoyable if you’re into quirky games. While you’re here, check out our roundups of the best party games to play with friends, the games you probably missed in 2021, and our list of the biggest games to look forward to this year.

Best Deadlock crosshairs: Optimal crosshair settings explained ValveAs a shooting game, finding crosshair settings that fit you is a must in Deadlock, and we’ve got all the information you need about adjusting them here. After months of secret playtesting, Valve has finally acknowledged Deadlock, allowing the world to talk about it and get a proper glimpse of the game in its early stages. A unique take on the hero shooter and MOBA genre, it’s attempting to balance the two worlds. Being a shooter also means it requires some mastery of aim mechanics in comparison to your average MOBA. Having the best crosshairs in Deadlock can drastically improve your sessions, and we’ve got a full list of options below, as well as some key tips to keep in mind when you’re customizing. Things to know when adjusting your Deadlock crosshair Being in early access, our crosshair options are quite limited in comparison to Valve’s other games like Counter-Strike 2. However, there are still enough options to make simple adjustments. But be warned, because of its early-access nature, there are quite a few bugs in the game. Here are some to be aware of before customizing: Making Gap zero only makes the crosshair gapless when the height is at 20 – The dot in Dot Opacity is slightly misaligned – Depending on settings, Pip Opacity can make your crosshair completely black – Of course, these are just early bugs and will no doubt be patched out soon. We’ll be sure to update you here when they are. Nonetheless, if you’re making your own crosshair, you should keep these issues in mind. Deadlock console commands Due to the bugs, you’ll need to use a fair few console commands to amend the problems. Below we have listed all the commands for crosshairs and a quick explainer of what each does: citadel_crosshair_color_b: Controls how blue the crosshair is – citadel_crosshair_color_g: Controls how green the crosshair is – citadel_crosshair_color_r: Controls how red the crosshair is – citadel_crosshair_dot_opacity: Controls the opacity of the colored dot – citadel_crosshair_dot_outline_opacity: Controls the opacity of the dot’s outline – citadel_hit_marker_duration: Controls how long hit markers stay on screen – citadel_crosshair_pip_border: Turns off or on line borders – citadel_crosshair_pip_gap: Control the crosshair gap – citadel_crosshair_pip_height: Controls how long the crosshair lines are – citadel_crosshair_pip_opacity: Controls the opacity of the colored lines – citadel_crosshair_pip_width: Controls the width of the lines – To access the console commands you will need to press F7, or you can rebind it in the settings. Generally, most players will have problems with the gap not closing when it’s set to 0. To amend that you’ll need to head into the console and type citadel_crosshair_pip_gap [insert number]. Going into the negatives will result in the gap closing. How to add custom crosshairs While there’s currently no official way to copy custom crosshairs, the Deadlock Crosshair Generator is a fan-made third-party tool that gives players the option. This is how to use it: Visit the applications webpage – Once it’s open you can choose from a variety of crosshair pre-sets – Line size, color, opacity, and the center dote can all be edited to your preference – When you’ve finished, hit the Copy config button found on the bottom right of the page – Launch Deadlock and press the F7 key to open the in-game console – Paste your code and press the enter key – The new crosshair will now be active in Deadlock. If you find yourself wanting to use a different one, you can easily remove it by opening the Settings menu and selecting Reset to Default. So, with that out of the way, these are some ideal crosshair settings to use: Best Deadlock crosshairs Basic crosshair Gap: 0 – Width: 0 – Height: 10 – Pip Opacity: 1.00 – Show Pip Border: Off – Dot Opacity: 0 – Dot Outline Opacity: 0 – Red: 255 – Green: 255 – Blue: 255 – Console Command: citadel_crosshair_pip_gap -2 – This is as simple as it gets, a basic white crosshair that will fit almost everybody out there. You may notice that even though the gap is put at 0 there is still a gap, that’s because Deadlock’s crosshair has a few bugs that we’ve mentioned above. So to fill in the gap you’ll need to go to the console and input citadel_crosshair_pip_gap -2 to close it. Basic cross with dot Gap: 3 – Width: 0 – Height: 15 – Pip Opacity: 1.00 – Show Pip Border: Off – Dot Opacity: 1.00 – Dot Outline Opacity: 0 – Red: 255 – Green: 255 – Blue 255 – This crosshair is a relatively simple cross and dot, quite similar to the default one but cleaner and less opaque. Generally, this will be most player’s pick for a crosshair, as it’s just big enough to see what you’re doing, with a dot in the middle to help you accurately aim at targets. You may notice that the dot is misaligned, that’s another bug, and hopefully Valve patches it out soon. Dot crosshair Gap: 0 – Width: 0 – Height: 0 – Pip Opacity: 0 – Show Pip Border: Off – Dot Opacity: 1.00 – Dot Outline Opacity: 1.00 – Red: 255 – Green: 255 – Blue: 255 – Console commands: citadel_crosshair_pip_gap -5 and citadel_crosshair_pip_height 0.6 – If you’d prefer a simple dot as your crosshair, this will be for you. You may notice the colored dot is slightly off-center from the outline, it’s yet another bug. It would normally be centered. To try and remedy this, we’ve used the citadel_crosshair_pip_gap -5 and citadel_crosshair_pip_height 0.6 commands to try and get a dot right in the middle, but doesn’t completely fix it. So if you are a dot crosshair user, you may just have to live with the misalignment until Valve fixes it. Green crosshair Gap: 0 – Width: 0 – Height: 10 – Pip Opacity: 1.00 – Show Pip Border: Off – Dot Opacity: 0.65 – Dot Outline Opacity: 0 – Red: 0 – Green: 255 – Blue: 0 – This crosshair is quite a simple one that we use, turning it green so it contrasts better against the red enemy outlines and environment. We’ve also turned down the Dot Opacity to 0.65 so we aren’t distracted by the slight off-centering of the dot, but still useful enough to help us aim. Purple crosshair Gap: 0 – Width: 2 – Height: 13 – Pip Opacity: 1.00 – Show Pip Border: Off – Dot Opacity: 0 – Dot Outline Opacity: 0 – Red: 200 – Green: 67 – Blue: 200 – This is another simple option, this time it’s purple for anyone who prefers that color. It should be just large enough for you to aim quickly, but still small so you can aim precisely. We’ve also opted for a slightly lighter shade of purple because that’s what works best for us, but your eyesight and monitor are different from ours so do adjust the colors to your own liking. Shroud’s crosshair Gap: 0 – Width: 2 – Height: 6 – Pip Opacity: 1.00 – Show Pip Border: Off – Dot Opacity: 0.7 – Dot Outline Opacity: 0.9 – Red: 0 – Green: 255 – Blue: 255 – Console command: citadel_crosshair_pip_gap -2 – Shroud’s Deadlock crosshair is almost identical to his CS2 crosshair, being a small cyan crosshair with an outlined dot in the middle. To achieve the perfect gap, he uses the citadel_crosshair_pip_gap -2 command in the console. So if you’re someone who likes using his settings in Counter-Strike 2, this should be perfect for you. That’s all you need to know about crosshairs in Deadlock for now. As it’s still in an early playtest, more crosshair options and types will certainly be coming in future patches, so we’ll update you here as work on the game continues. For more on the game, check out our character tier list, and the best builds for Vindicta, Infernus, Pocket, and Shiv.

Best Dark Souls 3 PvE & PvP builds: Bleed, Quality, Holy Knight & more FromSoftwareLooking for an edge to survive the brutal world of Dark Souls 3 to finally see the end of this tragic story of gods and monsters? Then you’ll need the right build! Here are some of the best PvE and PvP builds in Dark Souls 3. Those who’ve done everything there is to do in the Lands Between may be keen to check out some more of FromSoftware’s work such as the Dark Souls series – at least while we wait for Elden Ring DLC. Dark Souls 3 is the final chapter in the trilogy that shares so many similarities with Elden Ring. The story involves a lone Undead coming back to life while looking for a way to escape an endless cycle of death and rebirth. Like Elden Ring, Dark Souls 3 features some addictive PvE boss battles, and players can team up in co-op, or invade each other’s worlds to engage in some frantic PvP. For each, you’ll want a build to serve you well in the trials ahead. So below, we’ve listed some of the best Dark Souls 3 PvE builds as well as some of the best PvP builds to help you survive the horrors of Lothric. Contents Best PvE builds in Dark Souls 3 Here are some of the best PvE builds you can use in Dark Souls 3: Classic Mage The Classic Mage is often considered ‘Easy Mode’ in Dark Souls games as traditional magic can be overpowered at times. When it comes to this build, it pays to create a glass cannon, piling most of your stats into Intelligence and magic-based stats to boost the power of your spells and how many you can use. It also pays to stick to light armor (that buffs your magic) while also pumping some points into Dexterity. Not only does this boost your casting speed, but it also means you can equip some melee weapons for close-quarter encounters. This is something you can equip in your off-hand while you primarily use a staff for your main weapon. The staff you use largely depends on the spells you want to specialize in, but the Court Sorcerer’s Staff is our choice. As for rings, consider the Sage Ring and Magic Clutch Ring to boost your offensive capabilities. When it comes to armor, consider light wizards’ robes. However, we like using Leonard’s Garb along with the Crown of Dusk. Battle Mage This is a custom build that involves using both magic and melee. There’s often more synergy in using an Intelligence plus Dexterity build, as these two stats work well together. Unlike the above Classic Mage, this build involves also pumping points into Dex, not just to improve casting time, but also to create a dangerous melee specialist who can also cast magic from afar. We like using the Crescent Moon Sword as it stacks with both stats, but we also like to use a staff in our other hand, especially one that stacks with Dexterity. This way your magic spells benefit from both, just like your melee attacks will. There’s a lot more flexibility in this build when it comes to rings and armor, so we’d recommend equipping whichever gear helps you cover for any shortfalls while crafting the build. As with any custom builds, this pay-off will be at the endgame. Remember to change gear when required, as the build evolves and becomes more powerful over time. Quality build A quality build is for those who want to take advantage of Strength and Dexterity weapons, as well as leveling both stats to maximize the damage output of a weapon. It can take a while for the build to really pay off, but once you reach a high level you’ll have a solid choice of weapons to use and every one of them will do decent damage. We’d advise using weapons that stack with Strength and Dexterity equally, such as both being D scaling, or one C and the other D. This also lets you switch between Strength-based weapons like axes and greatswords, or katanas and other skill/speed-based weapons. Just be aware that unless you’re going to commit to a quality build, it can be more effective to pick a stat like Strength or Dex and stick to it. Remember, as you’re pumping points into both Strength and Dexterity, there’s little room for Magic. So, be prepared to have very basic spells at your disposal, if any. We’d recommend the Old Wolf Curved Sword as a primary weapon for this build as it stacks nicely with both Strength and Dex. It also increases the damage you deal with each successive hit and heals the user. If you equip the Pontiff’s Left and Right eye rings, you’ll also double the healing and extra damage rates as these will stack with the sword. When it comes to armor, there’s a lot of flexibility but it mostly depends on you and how much you can carry. As you’re a melee-heavy build, we’d advise prioritizing defense. Best PvP builds in Dark Souls 3 Here are some of the best PvP builds you can use in Dark Souls 3: Bleed build While this build is even more powerful in Elden Ring, it’s still pretty deadly in Dark Souls 3, especially in PvP. The idea is Bleed status builds up as you land subsequent hits on your opponent before it procs doing massive damage. It also works well against a lot of bosses. The Bleed build is a classic Dexterity build, but one that emphasizes weapons that cause Bleed to increase the frequency of the proc damage. Dual-wielding weapons can help cause bleed build-up, as there are two blades slowly causing the status effect. Sharp Warden Twinblades are a good choice, just make sure you upgrade them on the Bleed path. You can also cast the Miricle Dorhy’s Gnawing to increase Bleed build-up to cause even more damage. Don’t forget to pump a few points into Faith to be able to do this. When it comes to armor, stay light and mobile. Also, consider the Chloranthy Ring to keep your stamina refilled. Classic Strength build The classic Strength build is the most tempting one to make and is often the first one Souls players do. That’s because it closely resembles builds from other fantasy RPGs. In the right hands, a strength build can be deadly, but it can also be disastrous in the wrong hands. In PvP, they can be very effective, but you’ll need to stay mobile and have some secrets up your sleeve if you’re to outwit the sneaky Dex-build players. To craft this build pump most of your stats into Health, Endurance, and Strength. This way you can wear heavy armor without being slowed down. The Ring of Favor and Havel’s Ring are a great help for this, greatly increasing your encumberment so that you can wear the heavier gear and still remain quick. As for weapons, most Strength-based gear should work, but we’d recommend something that also inflicts a status ailment on your opponent. That way rather than focusing on rolling away from you, they scramble to heal this aliment while you close in for the kill – which with this build, will only take you a couple of hits. Holy Knight The Holy Knight is a Strength / Faith hybrid build that involves making a heavily armored knight who can also perform Micracles to smite their enemies. What’s great about this build, is that many opponents in PvP will assume you’re a traditional Strength build and won’t see your Faith-based spells coming. They can also hinder your opponent while buffing you. The main mistake many Strength builds make is that they don’t put their blue skill bar to good use, assuming this is only for casters. Here, you’ll be putting every tool at your disposal to good use. To create this build, put points into Faith as well as the standard Strength build stats. Remember, because you’re doing this, you won’t be able to use some heavy armor sets and you’ll never be as physically tough as standard Strength builds, but that’s okay, as your Faith based skills will make up for it. Use a melee weapon that stacks with both Strength and Fairth such as a Faith-infused Claymore. You can also use a shield if you’re using a one-handed weapon, this also helps you switch between that and your Talisman to cast Miracles against your enemies. Choose rings that buff the stats that need a boost while you craft the build. So that’s some of the best builds you can use in Dark Souls 3. If you’re looking for content based around its spiritual successor, Elden Ring, then check out some of the below guides: Elden Ring Stonedigger Troll | Elden Ring Margit the Fell Omen | Elden Ring Flying Dragon Agheel | Elden Ring Tree Sentinel | Elden Ring Grave Warden | Elden Ring Pumpkin Head | Elden Ring Soldier of Godrick

Best XDefiant D50 build: Class loadouts for recoil & damage UbisoftIn XDefiant, it’s not just the primary weapons that you need to pay attention to, but also the secondary options like the D50 that can provide solid damage output, especially with these meta builds. Typically, you won’t be using your sidearm unless you run out of ammo in the middle of a fight, yet this pistol can take out enemies in a matter of seconds, thanks to its low recoil and high power. The D50 is especially rewarding for high-skill players who are confident in their aim. Headshots deal a huge amount of damage, giving it a TTK comparable to XDefiant’s best weapons. However, it needs to be kitted out properly, so here are the best loadouts to use with the D50 in XDefiant, to make this rendition of the iconic Desert Eagle as strong as possible. Best D50 build XDefiant – Recommended loadout Use these attachments with the D50 to make the heavy-duty hand cannon great for close to medium-range gunfights: Muzzle: Barrel Extender – Magazine: Lightweight Mag – Rear Grip: Heavy Grip – Optic: Reflex Sight – The best loadout for the D50 focuses on its damage, while also giving you a little bit of extra reload speed when using it. This well-balanced loadout makes the D50 as effective as possible, with the pistol’s lethality being comparable to some primary weapons. This starts with the Barrel Extender to boost the weapon’s range, extending out how far the D50 remains an effective option. To make hitting shots from further away easier, you’ll also want to use the Reflex Sight optic. The Heavy Grip is going to provide excellent recoil control so that you can get several shots off in a row, without having to worry about gunkick. Finally, the Lightweight Mag not only decreases reload time but also gives you four extra magazines. Best D50 loadout for high damage You will want to use the following attachments to maximize the damage for the D50: Muzzle: Barrel Extender – Magazine: Extended Mag – Rear Grip: Heavy Grip – Optic: Reflex Sight – This includes using the Barrel Extender to increase the effective range of the pistol, which makes it even stronger when used at a distance. In addition, you can rely on the Reflex Sight to help aim from afar, as lining up long-range shots with this gun’s iron sights can be tricky. You will also use the Heavy Grip for better recoil control, so you won’t lose control of the D50 when firing. Finally, the Extended Mag will give you a few more shots in each clip, which is one of the weapon’s initial shortcomings. This gives you more damage per magazine, making it easier to secure kills without running out of shots. Best D50 loadout for low recoil If you are looking to have more of a focus on recoil rather than damage, you should use the following attachments on the D50: Muzzle: Brake – Magazine: Lightweight Mag – Rear Grip: Grip Tape – Optic: Reflex Sight – The first attachment on this list is the Muzzle Brake, which will give you greater recoil control at the cost of some drop in effective range. Next up, the Lightweight Mag will ensure you move around faster and can quickly ADS, which is great for playing more aggressively. This loadout’s improved recoil control helps to play fast without having to worry about gunkick, so it makes sense to use a speed-focused attachment like this. The Grip Tape is included as it further improves both recoil recovery and control, with the Reflex Sight rounding off the build, offering an easy-to-use optic for easier aiming. How to unlock the D50 in XDefiant To unlock the D50 in XDefiant, you’ll need to deal 1000 damage using secondary weapons. This can be done with any secondary weapon that is available to you. That’s all for the best D50 builds in XDefiant. Ubisoft’s FPS game has an ever-evolving meta, and you’ll want to stay on top of it by knowing the best weapons to pair with the D50, like the M4A1, MP7, and ACR 6.8.

Best Dark Pictures Anthology games ranked: Switchback, Devil in Me & more Supermassive GamesThe Dark Pictures Anthology is a great franchise full of intense survival horror gameplay, and immersive cinematics but which game is the best? Here are our rankings for every title in the spooky series. Supermassive has delivered some fantastic horror titles over the years, including The Quarry and Until Dawn, as well as The Dark Pictures Anthology. As the name suggests, these games each tell their own unique survival horror story and they play out like interactive movies where each character’s fate is in your hands. Some entries in the series are stronger than others which may leave you wondering what Dark Pictures Anthology games are most worth picking up, so we’ve got you covered with a ranked list of every tale in the Curator’s library. So, here are all The Dark Pictures Anthology games ranked from worst to best. 5. Switchback VR Switchback is an on-the-rails shooter (much like Until Dawn: Rush of Blood) VR game that borrows from previous Dark Pictures chapters for its sections. It’s a game for VR owners who enjoy the Dark Pictures universe and serves as a celebration of its first season. The gameplay is different from the slow, cinematic, survival horror we’ve come to expect from the series, but it’s a fun distraction while we wait for Season 2. You’ll need to own a VR set to take part, of course. 4. A Little Hope Being set in a town full of ghosts is just as scary as it sounds, and the second entry of The Dark Pictures Anthology can actually be the scariest in many ways. A Little Hope, as a town, takes lots of inspiration from Silent Hill and the developers really increased the creep factor for this entry. The issue is that A Little Hope does little to push the series forward from a technical point of view and is just as janky as Man of Medan. The tale it tells is also not quite as good as others in the Anthology, despite the setting being one of the most spine-tingling. 3. The Devil in Me Taking inspiration from the real-life murders of H.H. Holmes, as well as fictional slashers like Halloween, with a dose of Saw thrown in, The Devil in Me sees a documentary film crew trapped in a house of horrors while a relentless serial killer tries to pick them off one-by-one. It’s tense, scary, and full of grim surprises, but it often leans too heavily on the Saw influence and less on the awesome atmosphere it builds up at the start of the game. It also needlessly pads out the adventure with boring exploration sections that kill the tension rather than build it. Previous entries got this balance right, whereas here it just feels like filler. Dark Pictures games benefit from their bitesize runtimes due to their replay value, so The Devil in Me falls short here. 2. Man of Medan The original and first chapter of The Dark Pictures Anthology is still a superb playable horror movie if you can look past its wonky controls and the stilted movements of the characters. However, a group of rich kids stuck on a ghost ship being stalked by pirates is still one of the scariest settings ever. Imagine Captain Philips meets Until Dawn with a sprinkle of Resident Evil Revelations and you’ve got the vibe. Those who’ve played games like Until Dawn or The Quarry and are looking for a nice entry point into The Dark Pictures Anthology owe it to themselves to start here. It’s dated compared to the more recent chapters, but it’s still one of the strongest. 1. House of Ashes House of Ashes pits a group of CIA and US Army soldiers in a deep underground tunnel system in the Middle East while they are stalked by ancient vampire creatures. Relations between the protagonists are fraught as each character works to not only stay alive but to exorcise their inner demons – and avoid getting eaten alive by the real-life ones hunting them. The game is the strongest entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology so far, being set in a terrifying environment while monsters, prejudice, and paranoia threaten to literally and figuratively tear the group apart. It mostly wins the top spot due to it having the most interesting cast of characters when compared to other entries in the Anthology. In this game, not only do you need to work to keep your characters alive, but you find yourself wondering if you even should. Does everyone deserve a second chance or redemption? Don’t forget, Season 2 of The Dark Pictures Anthology kicks off with Directive 8020, possibly in Fall 2023. It’s also worth checking out Supermassive’s other horror games, The Quarry and Until Dawn. Check out more horror gaming lists below to find plenty of exciting titles to play: All Resident Evil games in order | Best scary Roblox horror games in 2022 | Best VR horror games | Best indie horror games | Best free horror games | Best multiplayer horror games | Best horror games to watch on Twitch

Best Cyberpunk 2077 merch in 2024 CD Projekt REDWith this Cyberpunk 2077 merch, you can capture all the flashiness of Night City with none of the deadly drawbacks. With the release of its Phantom Liberty expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 is truly back in business. Finally shaking off the dark cloud that had blanketed its reputation since launch, Cyberpunk is ready to step into the spotlight once more. To celebrate the launch of Phantom Liberty, we’ve compiled a selection of the best Cyberpunk 2077 merch out there. From gaming in comfort to learning more about the world of Night City, there’s an option here for everyone. So get out there and rep your ‘runner status, choom, we promise it’ll be worth your while. Cyberpunk 2077: Dark Horse Deluxe Johnny Silverhand Action Figure Johnny and V may not start out as the best of friends in Cyberpunk 2077, but dangerous circumstances force their reluctant partnership to evolve and deepen. Whether you love Johnny or you hate him, there’s no doubt that his story has a huge impact on your Cyberpunk playthrough. Given V’s status as a customizable character, Johnny Silverhand is arguably the most recognizable character attached to the franchise. Keanu Reeves played a huge part in the game’s marketing, and Johnny has become an iconic figure in gaming in the years since, almost indistinguishable from the Cyberpunk brand itself. Fittingly for the star of the show, Johnny is headlining our selection of Cyberpunk merch. This figure stands proud on a Samurai emblem base stand, a great fit for wherever you decide to place him. The figure itself is impressively detailed, accurately recreating Johnny’s in-game appearance, including his iconic pistol and robotic arm. The eternal rocker comes equipped with a guitar and combat vest, ready to play to a crowd or take the fight right to Arasaka’s door. Cyberpunk 2077: Trauma Team Graphic Novel Paperback Cyberpunk 2077 is a colossal game, an RPG with real meat on its bones, with a dynamic and expansive world to explore. But even then, the setting is so detailed that you’ll run into parts of it that you wish you could visit in more depth. Cyberpunk’s graphic novels do great work in expanding the world of Cyberpunk 2077, giving you a look at aspects of Night City life that are otherwise only hinted at in the base game. Trauma Team has a small but crucial role to play in both Cyberpunk 2077 and the acclaimed Edgerunners anime. While their screen time may be limited, they certainly have a big impact on players, setting the scene and expanding on the casual corporate brutality of the Cyberpunk world. Now, you can see the inner workings of Trauma Team in this thrill-ride comic collection from acclaimed author Cullen Bunn and artist Miguel Valderrama. Cyberpunk 2077 Secretlab TITAN Evo chair Ready to really lock in and spend some time with Phantom Liberty, but feel like you can’t quite focus? If you’re looking for the most comfortable, engaging experience possible, the Cyberpunk 2077 Secretlab TITAN Evo chair will set you up for the long-awaited DLC in style. Secretlab chairs are renowned for their performance and comfort, and the Cyberpunk 2077 model is no different. Featuring back support, adjustable height, reclining, and more, this Secretlab chair has everything you need to game in comfort for hours on end. Befitting Cyberpunk’s corpo-run world – it’s also an excellent piece of office kit. Whatever your reason, if you’re spending a decent chunk of time sitting around, there’s no better way to do it than with this Cyberpunk edition seat. Xbox Wireless Controller – Cyberpunk 2077 Limited Edition While Cyberpunk’s initial console launch was a notoriously rocky one, the release of the 1.5 patch brought stability, improved performance, and next-gen accessibility. Far removed from its difficult beginnings, the console versions of Cyberpunk 2077 are a wonderfully engaging way to play the game. This Xbox One wireless controller works flawlessly with Cyberpunk 2077, letting you comfortably engage in big-screen thrills. Featuring an inspired duel design, the controller blends the sleek steel look of corporate Arasaka with the beaten-up anarchy of Night City’s streets. With custom button mapping and headset compatibility, this is a strong contender for the best controller you could use to dive into Cyberpunk 2077. SteelSeries Arctis 1 wireless Cyberpunk headset With the number of improvements that Cyberpunk has received over its lifespan, it’s worth investing in the best gaming experience possible. Graphical fidelity is one thing, but Cyberpunk 2077 has one of the most fully realized worlds in modern AAA gaming, and you should experience the best of its sounds as well as sights. With the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless headset, you can settle into Cyberpunk 2077’s immersive soundscapes, the rattle of gunfire and the roar of engines right at home next to a radio’s hum, or the chatter of bright, big-screen ads. Not to mention kick back with the custom-recorded songs in one of the game’s many radio stations, too. Alternatively, if you’re a more social gamer, there’s nothing stopping you from calling your friends while cruising around Night City’s neon-drenched streets. Cyberpunk 2077 is arguably more popular than ever, whatever your preferred style of play, these headphones will allow you to engage with it. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best crosshairs in The Finals: How to change crosshair and best crosshair settings Embark StudiosThe Finals is a team-based PvP shooter that includes all the features you will find in a conventional first-person shooter. This makes the crosshair a crucial part of your kit, and here is how you can change it in the game. The Finals is an all-out PvP game, which means it has both casual and competitive aspects. Hence, if you want to perform within the game and ensure that your shots do not miss a good crosshair is as important as everything else. As it happens, you can make tweaks and changes to the crosshair in The Finals depending on your comfort level. However, if you are confused about the best crosshair to go for we have got you covered. Here is a guide on the best crosshair settings for The Finals. Best crosshair settings in The Finals The best crosshair settings you can go for in The Finals have been discussed in the following table: It is also important to mention that even though the settings mentioned above are quite optimal, you can further experiment on them to suit your playstyle. How to change your crosshair in The Finals In order to change your crosshair in The Finals, go through the following steps: Open the Practice Arena – Open the main menu by pausing the game – Open Settings – In the Gameplay tab, you will come across the Crosshair option where you can make the changes you desire – This is all you need to know with regards to the best settings and changing your crosshair in The Finals. If you found it informative, do not forget to check out some of our other guides at Dexerto. Best The Finals Heavy build | Best The Finals Medium build | Best The Finals Light build | The Finals best settings: Max FPS & competitive advantages | Does The Finals have aim assist? | The Finals file size on PC, PS5, Xbox | How to change your name | Is The Finals on PS4 and Xbox One? | Is The Finals on Xbox Game Pass? | How to add and invite friends | How many players play The Finals | The Finals system requirements: Minimum and Recommended PC specs | Can you play The Finals on Steam Deck?

Best Crown Offerings to pick in Cult of the Lamb: Crowns & Fleeces to get first Massive MonsterCrown Offerings are the key to acquiring new Crowns and Fleeces in Cult of the Lamb but which should you pick first? Here are the best options to select as soon as possible. As you progress throughout Cult of the Lamb, you’ll have the opportunity to unlock powerful items through the Crown Offering system. Here, you can exchange rare resources to pick from 10 unique rewards. With four Crowns and six Fleeces to choose from, which order should you pick them in? Some are objectively better than others but a select few are outright game-changing in the right hands. So to give you some guidance, here’s our breakdown of the best Crown Offerings to choose right away in Cult of the Lamb. How to unlock Crowns in Cult of the Lamb First things first, it’s essential you know how Crowns are unlocked in Cult of the Lamb. With only four available throughout the game, you may have already connected the dots. With four main areas and four bosses tied to them, that’s your key to acquiring Crowns. Just by clearing a region’s boss for the first time, you’ll be given a Crown to then unlock a powerful ability. But which should you choose first? More on that below. Strongest Crown to get first in Cult of the Lamb Without question, Omnipresence is the Crown you want to grab first in Cult of the Lamb. This particular unlock enables you to ‘focus’ and instantly return to home base while in the middle of a Crusade run. Regardless of how far through you might be, or how dire your situation is, this Crown can send you back to your camp immediately. Not only is it handy when on the verge of death so you don’t lose valuable resources, but it’s also great if your followers are in a crisis. At various stages throughout Cult of the Lamb, there’s a high chance multiple followers may fall ill or even die when you’re out on a Crusade. Typically, you’d have to continue the full run and reach the ending to teleport back and deal with the fallout. But with the Omnipresence Crown unlocked, you can head back immediately to help the rest of your cult recover. How to unlock Fleeces in Cult of the Lamb Next in the Crown Offering system are Fleeces. With six unique items of clothing available for your lamb protagonist to wear, there’s plenty to choose from. But first, you’ll need Holy Talisman Pieces to unlock them. Four Holy Talisman Pieces are required for each Fleece and they can be earned in a number of ways. Mainly, it’s worth hearing out every NPC you come across and completing their questlines as soon as possible. From collecting rare fish to playing Knucklebones, almost all side characters in Cult of the Lamb offer up Holy Talisman Pieces as rewards. While some quests are more challenging or resource-intensive than others, most can be ticked off without too much manual effort. So once you’ve got a completed Holy Talisman at the ready, here’s which Fleece you should unlock first. Best Fleece to unlock first in Cult of the Lamb While the right Fleece for you ultimately boils down to personal preference, our advice is to pick the Fleece of the Fates before any others. On your Crusades out in the wild, you’ll stumble upon randomized tarot cards to buff your character in a number of ways. Be it extra health or bonus damage, they’re powerful boosts to help on any given run. With Fleece of the Fates equipped, you’re able to start every Crusade with four of these tarot cards already in effect. There’s no wasted time searching each room for an upgrade. Instead, you get to start every run at maximum power, making it the optimal Fleece in Cult of the Lamb.

Best cozy games to buy in 2024 Spry Fox / Thunder Lotus gamesSometimes all you need to unwind is a good game. We’ve put together the best collection of relaxing games for Switch, PC, and other platforms—perfect for a quiet gaming session. Amidst the fast-paced gaming world of horror and action-packed titles, cozy games provide a much-needed respite. They offer a unique experience that is both soothing and engaging, perfect for unwinding. The genre has seen exponential growth following the launch of the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, making cozy games more sought after than ever. This is certainly a win for most gaming enthusiasts, yet it does make it pretty tricky when searching for the finest cozy games. But fret not, whether your preference is a simple game on the switch or a trending title on your PC, we’ve got your needs addressed. Here are the best cozy games to delve into in 2024. Best cozy game on Steam: Disney Dreamlight Valley Disney Dreamlight Valley Key Features Disney Characters – Worldbuilding/decorating – Quests – Multiple jobs – Free-to-play on Xbox Game Pass – Early Access – Available on PC / Switch / Console / Mac – Disney Dreamlight Valley is perfect for anyone looking to have a nice calm experience, whether you like Disney or not. Through this customizable and directional title, you’ll be able to design your village, home, and character, all while completing quests and helping the adorable characters around the village. Whether you love to cook, mine, fish, or collect fruits around the many regions, you’ll never be stuck with jobs to do in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Combine that with the multiple updates, Star Path, and hundreds of Recipes to find and you’ll never be bored. A cozy game about grief: Spiritfarer Spiritfarer Key Features Quests – Intense storyline – Side jobs – No time pressure – Exciting optional minigames – Available on PC / Switch / Console / Mac / Mobile – Despite being primarily about grief, Spiritfarer is a calm and cozy game on Steam providing an engrossing experience where love, adventure, and acceptance are the main focus. Essentially, you play as the captain of a boat, tasked with bringing loveable characters to the doorway between life and death, but only when they’re ready. On this boat, you complete their last requests and craft your way into better rooms, equipment, and certain characters’ favorite meals. It’s an explorative title where the story is just as pivotal no matter how long it takes to complete. It’s perfect for those players that want to be guided through an experience without needing to rush the journey. Best cozy Switch game: Animal Crossing – New Horizons Animal Crossing: New Horizons Key Features Multiplayer capabilities – No quests – Lovable characters – Free to explore and play as you like – Collections and decorating – Available on Nintendo Switch – When it comes to finding a fantastic cozy game on your Switch, or really any other platform, none are as popular as the likes of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This title took over the gaming world upon release and still continues to be that perfect escape many players are looking for. Create your own home, catch bugs, craft items, explore your island, and make friends with the adorable villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Ultimately, no matter what you want to do, this game has it all, allowing you to fully escape from the world around you. Perfect for story lovers: Coffee Talk Coffee Talk: Key Features Story heavy – Fantasy – Atmospheric sound design – Immersive barista gameplay – Easy to learn and explore – Available on PC / Switch / Console / Mac – While many cozy games have the player constantly moving around, Coffee Talk prefers to keep players relatively still, instead of having the world around them moving in and out of their cafe. Coffee Talk is all about brewing delicious coffee and having heart-to-hearts with your unique characters. Through small conversations and some well-made drinks, a delightful story begins to unravel, enveloping any player and allowing them to fully be emersed in the small world of this adorable coffee shop. Ultimately, whether you’re a sucker for a good story, or just love making coffee, Coffee Talk is a wonderful cozy game to try out. Best cozy farming game: Stardew Valley Stardew Valley: Key Features Open adventure – Quests – Character engagement – Multiplayer capabilities – A variety of activities – Available on PC / Switch / Console / Mac / Mobile – A lot of cozy games on Steam are either made to be a few hours long, or endless in their nature. Stardew Valley is one of the titles that can go on forever, with players farming to their heart’s content and fully embedding themselves into the adorable town around them. You play as a tired worker who was left a farm by their grandfather. Upon reaching the farm you are tasked with building it up to fruition and making the world around you a true paradise. Whether you want to mine, farm, bring up animals, or find love in the local town, Stardew Valley has it all. No matter whether you play alone or with friends, this experience will keep you cozy for weeks. Cute creepy camping: Cozy Grove Cozy Grove Key Features Create friendships – Crafting – Large exploration – Sketched art-style – Side quests / main story – Hours of gameplay – Available on PC / Switch / Console / Mac – Cozy Grove feels a lot like Animal Crossing in its style and story based around an ever-changing island but still manages to bring something different to the life-sim genre. The story behind Cozy Grove places the player on a haunted island where you camp, explore, and speak to the local ghosts. It’s a perfect blend between calm and creepy and manages to encompass the joy and creation many cozy games have. If you like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, Cozy Grove is a must-buy. Farming done differently: Slime Rancher Key Features Addictive gameplay – Colorful design – Single-player – Simple controls – Available on PC / Switch / Console / Mac – Slime Rancher takes a new perspective on the traditional cozy game and instead brings a little chaos and fun into the calming exterior. You play as a farmer, but rather than planting crops, you collect adorable slimes to feed and take care of. Armed with what is essentially a vacuum and a world of slime, your only objective is to make a fortune wrangling different slimes and being the best rancher out there. This is a great cozy game for those who want something they can jump in and out of without feeling like they need to dedicate hours to catching creatures. Stardew Valley in 3d: My Time at Sandrock Key Features Exploration – Crafting – Interact with townspeople – Upcoming multiplayer – Quests – Available on PC / Switch / Console – As one of the more recent cozy games to release, My Time at Sandrock quickly garnered a sizeable following with many fans thrilled at the 3d experience. You play as a fledgling Builder who arrives at Sandrock with their trusty toolbox, dedicated to making a life for themselves and saving the town from economic ruin. Throughout the story you can craft, explore, make friends, and even fall in love, making it strongly resemble the likes of Stardew Valley. However, this game is still unique in its own right, sporting a more construction-based experience filled with beautiful art design and thrilling stories. Farming Down Under: Dinkum Key Features Exploration – Crafting – Online co-op – Sandbox building – Available on PC – If Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley had an Australian baby it would probably look something like Dinkum. This cozy farming game has you start a simple life in the Australian Outback as you explore everything The Land Down Under has to offer. On your journey, you’ll be tasked with building up a community with like-minded characters. The best part of Dinkum is that it has sandbox building letting you make your town exactly how you want to. It’s extremely well done and easy to use too letting you just kick back, relax, and build whatever you want. It’s an early access title so there’s still room for improvement, but don’t let that make you think it’s lacking polish. Dinkum is a wonderfully crafted game that can deliver on all your chill gaming needs. History meets cozy: Roots of Pacha Key Features: Romance – Great cooperation – Town interaction – Pets – Mounts – Exciting events – Available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 & Mac – Roots of Pacha is essentially Stardew Valley if it was set in the Stone Age. You’re part of a clan and it’s your job to help them grow in prosperity. What really sets this game apart is its promotion for collaboration. Rather than earning money, you earn prosperity. The more prosperity you earn and contributions you make, the more the town learns from taming animals to irrigation for plants. Add that with the thrilling events that keep all players happy, and you have yourself a fantastic cozy game. A stunning sequel: Coffee Talk Episode 2 Key Features Story heavy – Fantasy – Atmospheric sound design – Immersive barista gameplay – Easy to learn – Available on PC / Switch / Console / Mac – If you enjoyed the original Coffee Talk, then you’ll love its sequel. It brings back beloved characters, touching stories, and some great coffee making. One of the best elements of Coffee Talk Episode 2, aside from its immersive sound design, is its hands-off nature. If you choose to, you can simply watch the texts scroll by on the screen, listening to the customers’ tales and only really reaching for your controller or device to make drinks. It almost feels like a cozy movie with all your favorite characters. Venba Key Features: Cooking – Story driven – Distinct retro graphics – Engaging gameplay – Available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S PC – Set in the late 80s, Venba is a narrative-driven cooking game that follows the story of Venba and her family who migrate from South India to Canada. What follows is a cultural shock as Venba and her family face problems coming to terms with the new language and culture. You as the player take on the titular role of Venba, a homemaker who tries to instill the values of her culture in her son as he grows up in Canada. Each chapter in the story is beautifully told showcasing a different year in Venba’s life. Ori and the Blind Forest Key features: Calming music – Interesting platforming puzzles – Heartfelt story – Beautifully detailed environments – Available on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One – Ori and the Blind Forest is quite an old game but still looks incredible by today’s standards, be it its music, whimsical setting, or the story that tugs on your heartstrings as it leaves you craving for more. It’s evident that Moon Studios’ team really put their heart and soul into the game with everything it offers. Gareth Coker, the composer for Ori and the Blind Forest who has produced music for Halo: Infinite and various other titles delivers a masterful score that goes hand in hand with the profound story players get to immerse themselves in. The game even has a sequel, Orie and the Will of the Wisps, if you find yourself wanting more. Those are the best cozy games you should try out on your Switch, console, or PC. While waiting for the next one to load, take a look at some of our handy guides for your next favorite cozy game: All Realms in Disney Dreamlight Valley | Stardew Valley cheats | Best Stardew Valley farm ideas | How to get Iron Nuggets fast in Animal Crossing | Animal Crossing island names Please note that if you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

The best cooking games that will satisfy your tastebuds Team17Cooking games are everywhere in the gaming space, with simulator and mini-game experiences riddled throughout the console, mobile, and PC spaces. What are the best cooking games you should be checking out though? We’ve got a list here. Video games and cooking seem to go hand-in-hand, with countless mobile titles as well as bigger console and PC releases managing to feature some element of cooking. In almost any and every RPG title, cooking mechanics features as a way to help players recover health. However, some games don’t simply place cooking in the backburner but instead have it be the whole premise and aim of the game. In real life, cooking is a fun hobby for many. A way to unwind and relax after a long day at work or better yet, a way to experiment and get the creative juices flowing. For others, cooking can feel like a chaotic and at times, stressful experience. Luckily, the best cooking games manage to cover all of these experiences. So without further ado, here’s our list of the best cooking games out there. Overcooked When the first Overcooked game released in 2016, it was an instant hit, in large part due to the pure chaos the game encouraged. Videos online of friends and families playing the game helped elevate the game to what is now a widely popular series. What makes Overcooked a classic cooking game is the multiplayer elements it leans into. While you are able to play the game single player, the true Overcooked experience shines when two or more people are bustling about in the kitchen. Read More: 5 best games you didn’t play in 2021 – The game requires players to make a variety of dishes. From simple orders such as soup to burgers, fish and chips and so much more. The game does a fantastic job of having each level’s setting mirror the menu, with a killer soundtrack also adding to both the hilarity and energy of the game. This is the sort of game that could lead to some bickering and fighting so be sure to pick your fellow chef’s wisely. Cooking Mama It’s rare to find a Nintendo DS user who doesn’t own at least one Cooking Mama game and it’s for good reason. Cooking Mama operates like a series of mini games, with chopping, frying and other cooking steps all featured to then create one big dish. Once the cooking is complete, the dishes served get rated on a scale of bronze, silver and gold medals. Anyone who grew up on Cooking Mama knows the perils of getting a near-perfect dish or better yet, competing against friends to see who could make the better meal. While popularity for the series isn’t quite what it was in the mid 2000s, new titles are still being made. The latest entry, Cooking Mama: Cookstar, was released on Playstation 4 in March 2021. This is also the first Cooking Mama to get a non-Nintendo console release. Imagine Happy Cooking While Cooking Mama was of course the big cooking hit of the Nintendo DS, the Imagine games franchise did whip out a cooking game that was a great and often slept on title. The game has players take control of a young girl named Lisa, who is taught how to cook a variety of dishes so that she can surprise her father when he comes back home after his travels. One night an angel appears from the sky and what follows is a cute little kitchen partnership between the angel and Lisa. Players who must chop, fry, stir and boil the ingredients as well as plate up and garnish their food. The game also featured lots of fun mini games that really rounded at what the cooking from home experience can be like when making a three course meal. Good Pizza, Great Pizza One of the newer titles on this list, Good Pizza, Great Pizza is a 2019 game that, in its own words, has the goal of becoming the greatest pizza simulation game of all time. It is a solid cooking game, and one that pizza lovers and cooking fans should give a red hot go. While there are of course, a lot of pizza cooking games out in the world, Good Pizza, Great Pizza is unique in its design and visual presence. The visuals encapsulate a traditional and rustic pizza making experience, something that the game really leans into. It’s not chaotic or a visual masterpiece but it is in fact simple and relaxing. In terms of the actual cooking mechanics, the game itself is an authentic pizza making experience and really recreates the process of pizza preparation and cooking from start to finish. Cook, Serve, Delicious! Cook, Serve, Delicious! is a cooking simulator, one that incorporates all the elements of a conventional cooking title but with an added realism and attention to detail that is rare in most cooking games. Since the first title, two more Cook, Serve, Delicious games have been developed. So for any fans of the original, there are two more experiences at your disposal and ready for you to sink your teeth into. While it is realistic and offers up a gaming cooking experience unlike any other, it does lead to a fair share of chaos. Like all good cooking games, the freedom of being able to serve up whatever dish and design you like can lead to some ridiculous looking food but hey, that’s part of the fun. Sushi Go Round Sushi Go Round started out as a small free to play game on Miniclip. While it may not be known to everyone, those who have played the game adore it. The premise for the title is simple. Players are in charge of running a Sushi restaurant. The game has seven levels which signify each day of the week. Each day you must create the dish customers ask for whilst also keeping stock of ingredients, ordering whatever you need to when items run out. To complete each level players have to earn enough money. Each day, the amount required increases as well as the number of customers and variety of sushi recipes. By the end of the game, the fast paced nature becomes almost out of control and is a fun and authentic take on what it would be like to manage a fast-paced restaurant. Battle Chef Brigade Battle Chef Brigade is one of the most unique cooking games to date. As the name suggests, it’s a cooking-based fighting game that boasts some beautiful anime-inspired visuals. Read More: The best games of 2022 so far – Published by Adult Swim Games, Battle Chef Brigade is part tile-matching color game, part-brawler all disguised in a fun and fresh cooking experience. What’s even more amazing about the game however, is the story about how it came to be. In 2014, developer Trinket Studios crowdfunded over $100,000 in a Kickstarter campaign, with the money raised then being put towards the development and creation of the title. Papa’s Franchise Flipline Studios struck gold when they first released Papa’s Pizzeria, a cooking game that yep, you guessed it, involves making Pizza. However, since its initial release in 2007, a massive franchise of cooking games have been developed and is commonly referenced to as the ‘Gameria’ series. In 2022, there are sixteen Gameria titles that exist, all of which are cooking based and center around a separate food item or cuisine. Anything from tacos, hot dogs to pasta, the Gameria series has it all. Like most cooking tites, the aim of the game is to run a successful restaurant and appease all the customers who come in. For those yet to play through the Papa’s Gameria games, most are available on the iOs and Android app stores as well as PC. Cooking Fever Mobile gaming is full of cooking games and simulators. So for those who love the genre, mobile is definitely the place to be. In saying that though, the quantity of cooking titles doesn’t always mean quality. While there are many to choose from, one of the standout mobile cooking experiences is Cooking Fever. While you can play the title on PC, most will have first come across the game on their phone. Part of what makes Cooking Fever such a great game is the expansive content it has. Players go from restaurant to restaurant, cooking food and serving drinks until they then amass enough money to purchase a new restaurant chain. Each restaurant can be upgraded so that the decor is more expensive and the equipment used for cooking and creating dishes is faster. The more upgraded the restaurant is, the more customers that come in consequently, the more money you make to then make further upgrades or purchases. It’s an endless cycle of fun and is the type of game that can be booted up and revisited at any time. Cooking Simulator Released for PC in 2019, Cooking Simulator still maintains its status as the most realistic cooking gaming experience one can have. It was an instant hit, and popularity continues to grow thanks to the game getting a proper VR release. The gaming community went crazy for this wacky and hilarious cooking game that gives players the chance to basically cook anything they like. While most other cooking titles take on a more childish and less realistic design, Cooking Simulator’s design and gameplay attempts to mirror an actual kitchen experience. For those yet to play the game or don’t have access, simply head over to any and all streaming platforms and check out some of the great content that creators produce when playing through this game.

Best Corin Zenless Zone Zero build: W-Engine, Drive Disc & team comp HoYoverseCorin is an A-rank unit in Zenless Zone Zero that you can get for free as a pre-registration reward. If you are fond of this unit, here is a detailed guide covering her best W-Engine, team comp, and Drive Disc. Zenless Zone Zero version 1.0 introduced over 10 different characters to pick from either through the gacha or for free. While the gacha characters are exceptional, the free ones aren’t bad either. Some free units, such as Nicole, Anby, and Billy are fairly strong, and the same goes for Corin. She has the Physical attributes, Attack specialty, and functions that make her an effective main DPS for your team. If you are looking to build your Corin for end-game content, then we have you covered. Best build for Corin in Zenless Zone Zero Best W-Engine for Corin Housekeeper This is the best W-Engine for Corin as it synergizes very well with her kit. This W-Engine provides her with off-field energy regeneration, while also enhancing her Physical DMG by a massive amount. You can obtain a total of 15 stacks of Physical DMG bonus, where each stack grants you 3%. Apart from that, it is an A-rank W-Engine, which means it is easier to get than an S-rank one. Steel Cushion This S-rank W-Engine is also very good on Corin as it provides a flat 20% Physical DMG bonus without any conditions. Additionally, the wearer gains a 25% DMG bonus when attacking enemies from behind. While the second part of the passive is hard to trigger, the first half is available at all times. This makes Corin deal a significant amount of damage. The only problem is that this W-Engine is S-rank, which means it is quite hard to get. Best Drive Disc for Corin The best Drive Disc for Corin is Fanged Metal. The set bonus for this Drive Disc is as follows: The final two slots can be filled up with the Drive Disc Woodpecker Electro. The set bonus for this one is as follows: Both of these Drive Disc sets work well with Corin’s kit. They boost her damage massively while also providing her consistency. Corin promotion and skill enhancement materials Promotion Corin being an Attack unit needs Basic Offense Certification Seal, Advanced Offense Certification Seal, and Pioneer’s Certification Seal. The exact number of materials you need for Corin are as follows: Basic Offense Certification Seal x4 – Advanced Offense Certification Seal x32 – Pioneer’s Certification Seal x30 – Skill Enhancement Corin’s skills in Zenless Zone Zero need Basic Physical Chip, Advanced Physical Chip, Specialized Physical Chip, Hamster Cage Pass, Finale Dance Shoes, and Higher Dimensional Data-Crimson Awe. The exact number of materials you need are as follows: Basic Physical Chip x5 – Advanced Physical Chip x15 – Specialized Physical Chip x50 – Hamster Cage Pass x1 – Finale Dance Shoes x9 – Higher Dimensional Data-Crimson Awe x60 – Best Corin team comp As Corin is a DPS she needs support characters to boost her damage. The best units to pair alongside Corin are Lycaon and Rina. In this team, Lycaon is the Stun unit who functions as the debuffer and Rina is the support who boosts the damage of the entire team. However, if you do not have Lycaon and Rina, you can go with Lucy and Anby. In this team, Lucy functions as the support and is a pretty powerful unit in the early game. Anby is also quite good as she will function as the secondary DPS for the team. Corin abilities Basic Attack Dodge Assist Special Attack Chain Attack Core Skill Enhancements Mindscape Cinema for Corin Here are the upgrades for Corin you receive through her duplicates: Level 1- Open Trauma: When Corin’s Chain Attack or Ultimate hits an enemy, her DMG against the target increases by 12% for 15s. – Level 2- Atomic Smash: When Corin’s EX Special Attack, Chain Attack or Ultimate hits an enemy, the target’s Physical RES is reduced by 0.5%, stacking up to 20 times and lasting 5s. The duration of each stack is calculated separately. – Level 3- Amateur Maid: Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2 – Level 4- Battlefield Retainer: When Corin uses a Quick Assist, Defensive Assist, or Chain Attack, she recovers 7.2 Energy. This effect can trigger once every 16s. – Level 5- Special Ops Maid: Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2 – Level 6- Accumulated Release: When Corin’s extended slash hits an enemy, she obtains a stack of Charge (max 40 stacks). During a Dodge Counter, Special Attack, EX Special Attack, Quick Assist, or Assist Follow-Up, when her chainsaw detonation hits an enemy, consumes all stacks of Charge. Each stack consumed causes the attack to deal an additional 3% of ATK as DMG. – Corin pros and cons Now that you know about the best Piper build, check out our Polychromes guide and learn how many you can save for the best units. If you want to learn more, here’s a breakdown of the latest codes and Twitch drops on offer, as well as if controller support is available for the game.

Best Content Warning mods LandfallContent Warning already has some exciting mods to improve your experience, so here are some of the best mods you can download now. Content Warning is taking Steam by storm, the new title already amassing over 6 million players and counting. The new horror, multiplayer experience encourages players to team up, find monsters and capture all the drama in between. The aim of the game is to create the most engaging content possible and get the most views possible when uploading the footage to Content Warning’s in-game social media platform, SpookTube. While the base game offers up enough fun as is, PC players have already begun changing up Content Warning via mods. Without further ado, here are some of the best Content Warning mods available as well as an explanation as to what each does to the game. Increase maximum lobby count for additional players While you can play Content Warning solo, playing alongside friends is the best way to experience the new game. Currently, Content Warning can be played with up to four players. However, a new mod allows gamers to increase the max size of their Content Warning lobby as well as allow for late arrivals to join halfway through a playthrough. Created by MaxIsUnavaible, this new mod can be a game-changer. Better face customization and variety Other than increasing the lobby size of Content Warning, the next major mod to release was in relation to character customization. Specifically, this new mod increases the options that players have to change up their face design. In order to access this increase, simply download the MoreCustomization mod created by Diabolical Studios. Camera length and quality increase for better SpookTube content One of the most important gadgets in Content Warning is the camera. After all, how are players expected to capture the best content possible to upload to their SpookTube channel with a sturdy, reliable camera at their disposal? Enter the Flashcard mod. Created by Ioaforc, this new mode increases the standard 90-minute cap of film to a whopping 120 minutes. Giving players the best chance to get every scare and dramatic moment on film to upload to their SpookTube channel. Increase volume for in-game chatter and communication Given that Content Warning is a multiplayer horror experience, it goes without saying that communication amongst your fellow players is vital to the success of your playthrough and can go a long way in helping capture the perfect content for your SpookTube channel. Enter VolumeBooster, a mode created by RamuneNeptune that bolsters all audio in the game by over 30 times what is featured in Content Warning Ragdoll effect for a bit of extra fun In video games, the Ragdoll effect is often a staple of the horror genre. When used in a game, the affected character or NPC goes completely limp and flails on the ground. The likes of Dying Light use the Ragdoll feature to great effect. To make your characters turn into Ragdolls in Content Warning, simply download the MakeMeRagdoll mod created by RamuneNeptune.

Best College Football 25 settings and controls: Passing, defense, and camera College Football 25 lets you adjust your controls to your liking, including for passing, defense, and the camera — and some settings are clearly the best to use out on the football field. EA has created an authentic experience with College Football 25. These are college kids on the field, not professional athletes and it shows. It’s hard to make tackles, a quarterback can bomb deep passes with ease, and crowd atmosphere plays a significant factor in a player’s composure. Given how different gameplay is compared to Madden, you’ll need to approach choosing controls and settings with a slightly new perspective. Best passing settings in College Football 25 Passing Type: Placement & Accuracy – Passing Showdown: Off – Pass Lead Increase: Small – Reticle Speed: 16 – Reticle Visibility: User Only – Meter Visibility: User Only – There are four different types of passing options in College Football 25. EA advertised Revamped Passing because it’s the system created for this title and combines player ratings and pass context to give players the most control over their throws. However, after testing each option, we found that Placement & Accuracy are the best choices for consistently throwing to receivers, as players can aim more precisely where they want the ball. When mastered, back shoulder throws will be easy, and you have more control of throws over the middle of the field. The placement reticle is where you aim your left stick when throwing a ball. The Reticle Speed indicates how fast the reticle moves, and we believe it’s better to have this setting at a faster speed to get the ball out of your quarterback’s hand faster. Best defense settings Auto Flip Defensive Play Call: On – Defensive Ball Hawk: On – Defensive Heat Seeker Assist: On – Defensive Heat Seeker Window Size: 100% – Defensive Switch Assist: Off – Controlled Player Art: Off – Coach Mode: Off – Even a seasoned football veteran will struggle with defense in College Football 25. Based on that logic, we recommend turning on several assistance settings to make the task easier. Most importantly, turning on Defensive Heat Seeker Assist will be a game-changer. The setting is not on by default, but if you enable it, user-controlled defenders are steered toward the ball carriers when attempting to run or dive into them. Without this setting, players miss their tackles more, which has been one of the hardest things to master so far. Best camera settings Camera Toggle: On – Passing Cam: On – Offense Camera Settings: Standard – Defense Camera Settings: Standard – After trying every camera setting in College Football 25, Standard for defense and offense works best. All other choices are either zoomed in too close or too far away. Wide provides an excellent view of the field pre-snap, but a weird zoom-in when the play starts makes it hard to confidently recommend it. Now you know the best settings and controls you should use in College Football 25, for more on the game, check out how to kick, the best teams to rebuild, how to enable play selection, and our recruiting tips for Dynasty mode.

Best College Football 25 teams to rebuild in Dynasty Mode NCAA/EA SportsWith College Football 25 right around the corner, here’s a look at the best and most challenging teams to rebuild in Dynasty mode. For the first time in over a decade, an official college football game by EA Sports will be released, as College Football 25 will launch worldwide on July 19. And yes, the new game will have Dynasty mode, a staple of the old NCAA Football franchise. Dynasty was like the Franchise mode of college football for those unfamiliar with the NCAA Football franchise. Players can take control of a college football program, recruit, and attempt to take schools to heights never seen before. Now that we’re close to College Football 25, here’s a look at 12 schools that have the best teams to rebuild if you’re looking for a zero-to-hero story. Arizona State Arizona State is a clear choice for the top of the list, a team that didn’t do well in the Pac-12 during the conference’s final campaign. The Sun Devils went 2-7 in Pac-12 and 3-9 overall, putting the team in the bottom of the conference alongside Stanford, Colorado, and Washington State. The 2023 season marked the second consecutive year in which ASU finished with a 3-9 marker. The Sun Devils last had a winning season in 2021, when Arizona State went 8-5. The 2024 campaign will start a new era for the Wildcats, as the university will join the Big 12 amidst the collapse of the modern-day Pac 12 and a massive realignment of college football conferences. ASU does have some pieces to work with, as the Wildcats will have running back Cam Skattebo, who rushed for nine touchdowns last season, and quarterback Trenton Bourguet. Boise State Boise State was arguably the darling of the college football world during the 2000s. The Broncos were a force for years despite not being in one of the premier conferences, as former head coach Chris Peterson led Boise State to Fiesta Bowl wins in 2007 and 2010. The Broncos have remained a steady team in recent years, as Boise State won 10 games two years ago and eight last year. And, the Broncos have one of the best running backs in the nation in Ashton Jeanty to begin. The Mountain West isn’t one of the game’s elite conferences, but Boise State presents a unique opportunity to bring that school to the heights it achieved 20 years ago. It’s also an excuse to play on the blue turf. Boston College Boston College was once an incredibly strong football program. The same school that produced quarterbacks Doug Flutie and Matt Ryan, the Eagles did win a bowl game last year against SMU in a 7-6 campaign. However, the ACC is a relentless beast, as Florida State, Louisville, and NC State were among the conference’s best. BC, meanwhile, finished in the middle of the pack in 2023. While the Eagles improved from their 3-9 season two years ago, picking Boston College has one distinct challenge: can you get BC to become the class of the ACC and take down the likes of Clemson and Florida State, who have dominated the conference in recent years? The good news for BC Dynasty players is that for the first two seasons, they’ll have one of the best QBs, Thomas Castellanos, in the game. Cincinnati Things took a sharp turn downward for the Cincinnati Bearcats last fall. After a 9-3 campaign in 2022, Cincinnati went 3-9 in 2023 and finished dead last in the Big 12 conference with a 1-8 record against teams in their own conference. It’s a far cry from what Cincinnati accomplished in the AAC. In 2020, the Bearcats, led by now-NFL quarterback Desmond Ridder, helped Cincinnati win 10 games. Though they advanced to the Peach Bowl, they wound up losing to Georgia on the path to the cup. In a tougher conference, albeit one that doesn’t have Oklahoma or Texas anymore, the Bearcats will be a tough rebuild. Navy Veterans of the NCAA Football franchise will likely know of the dominance of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The old Dynasty simulations in the old NCAA Football franchise heavily favored run-heavy teams, and the military schools were well-known to utilize triple options at will. Unlike the Army, the Navy is not independent in college football. Navy is a member of the AAC. Last season, the Midshipmen finished 4-4 in conference play and 5-7 overall in what was an underwhelming run. The Navy hasn’t had a winning season since 2019. In College Football 25, the Navy presents a unique opportunity to build up a military school that’s been unsuccessful in recent years into a college football franchise. Rutgers It’s fair to say that Rutgers will likely be a popular choice among College Football 25 rebuilders. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights were an emerging program in the 2000s, thanks to the leadership of Greg Schiano – who’s back as the team’s head coach – and star players like Ray Rice. However, things haven’t been rosy in Piscataway, New Jersey, since the school joined the Big 10 conference in 2014. Over the last three seasons, Rutgers has gone 2-7, 1-8, and 3-6 in Big 10 play. Some notable returning pieces for Rutgers include 2023 leading rusher Kyle Monagai. The Big 10 is arguably the toughest conference in college football, as Michigan, Ohio State, and now the likes of Washington and USC patrol the conference. Rutgers will be quite the challenge. SMU Forty years ago, SMU was a legendary college football program. Eric Dickerson and Craig James helped the Mustangs achieve new heights for the football program before things crumbled thanks to recruiting violations. SMU was famously given the “death penalty” by the NCAA, which canceled the team’s 1988 campaign, restricted recruiting, and pushed the school down toward the bottom of the college football world. Fast-forward to 2023, and things have certainly turned upwards for the Mustangs. SMU went 9-0 in the AAC and 11-3 overall, an improvement from their 7-6 campaign two years ago. While SMU hasn’t had the success seen in the 1980s, the program has become more respected. Now, the question becomes whether one can build on this success further and possibly get SMU to challenge the big boys again. SMU will get their chance for real when the Mustangs join the ACC in 2024, but can you make the most of it? Syracuse Like Boston College, the Syracuse Orange are wedged between a rock and a hard place. The ‘Cuse posted a modest 6-7 record last season, but much of the Orange’s damage came from conference play. In ACC play, Syracuse went 2-6. Syracuse will return leading tackler from 2023, Marlowe Wax, and leading rusher LeQuint Allen. The Orange have had lower points in their program’s history. But it wasn’t that long ago that in 2018, Syracuse won 10 games, went 6-2 in conference play, and took down #15 West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl. Unfortunately for Syracuse, things haven’t been up since. Like Boston College, this would be a test of whether an unheralded team can advance in the tight Athletic Coast Conference. UConn An independent FBS team, the UConn Huskies have been unable to come close to reaching the heights that the school’s basketball program has. Despite being led by former NFL head coach Jim L. Mora, the Huskies went 1-11 in the 2021 campaign and, despite winning six a year later, could only pick up three wins last year. UConn has played in two bowl games since the 2011 campaign and has achieved very little success since its days in the old Big East football conference. Thus, the challenge with UConn is extremely difficult. UMass Like UConn, the UMass Minutemen are an independent football team that has struggled in recent years. In 2022, the Minutemen went 1-11, losing by 45 to Toledo and shut out by Temple. Last season, UMass finished 3-9, tied with UConn for the worst record among independent teams. UMass, like UConn, is in a similar spot. Both teams have been unsuccessful in recent years in terms of success and have disadvantages when it comes to recruiting simply because they can’t compete with the powers of the SEC and ACC, among other issues. So, can you turn things around? Vanderbilt When it comes to SEC football, what teams come to mind? Naturally, the likes of Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Florida, and now Oklahoma and Texas come to mind. On the other hand, Vanderbilt has been among the conference’s worst programs for years. The Commodores have made just nine bowl games in program history, dating back to 1955. Vanderbilt hasn’t had a winning season since 2013, went all of 2020 without a win, and lost 10 games in two of the last three years. The school hasn’t had an All-American on its team since 2016, when former Eagle Zach Cunningham was named one. With so many powerhouse schools in the SEC, those who rebuild Vanderbilt will have to compete for talent with them. Wake Forest The Wake Forest Demon Deacons went 4-8 in overall play last season and 1-7 in ACC play last year, as their only in-conference win came against Pittsburgh. Wake Forest finished last in the conference. Oddly enough, though, this was Wake Forest’s first poor season in some time. The Demon Deacons appeared in bowl games in the last seven seasons before 2023. However, Wake Forest had just one 10+ win campaign in 2021 when the Deacons won 11. As mentioned earlier, the competition in the ACC is stiff. SMU, Stanford, and California will join a loaded conference in 2024, making it even more difficult for the Demon Deacons. Other interesting teams Here’s a look at several other schools worth re-building in College Football 25: Ball State – Illinois – Liberty – Minnesota – Stanford – Ball State is one of the worst teams in CFB 25, making them a easy selection. There’s also Stanford, a once-dominant school that’s fallen on hard times over the last few seasons. Things won’t get easy for the Cardinal moving forward, as Stanford is now part of a deep ACC conference. Be sure to check out how to pre-order College Football 25 and learn about what features will be in the game.

Best pipelines in College Football 25 EA SportsIn order to get the very best College Football 25 players in Dynasty mode, recruiting with the best pipelines is crucial. If you’re hoping to successfully rebuild a program in College Football 25, knowing the ins and outs of recruiting is essential, and having a strong pipeline is a great way to convince players to sign with you. Both small and large schools alike need to consistently recruit new talent in Dynasty mode as their players are transferred or drafted into the NFL. Here’s how the pipelines feature works in the game, and the best pipelines for recruiting. Best College Football 25 pipelines Florida, Texas, and California are the best pipelines in College Football 25, as these states produce the most four or five-star recruits. These three states are the country’s largest high school football hotbeds and regularly produce high-level college and NFL talent. Specifically, EA confirmed that Southern California has a better chance of producing elite quarterbacks in College Football 25 and that East Texas will regularly develop big, physical wide receivers. By contrast, South Florida has established a reputation for speedy, deep-threat wideouts. While these regions are great for producing talented players, that doesn’t mean you should solely focus on recruiting from there. Each school has a recruiting niche and areas with a higher-ranked pipeline. There are also 14 different motivations a recruit cares about when choosing a school, so pipelines aren’t the only determining factor. But it’s something to remember the next time you start a rebuild. What are pipelines? Pipelines are different states and regions of the country in which schools have advantages in recruiting. College Football 25 has 50 different pipelines. Some are labeled as states, while others are more precise, like South Florida or Metro Atlanta. Several pipelines are specifically known for producing certain player archetypes, like East Texas, which develops taller and more physical receivers in College Football 25. When you create a coach in Dynasty, you can choose your designated pipeline, giving you an advantage in recruiting in those regions. However, each school already has established pipelines that don’t change, so players should keep that in mind when creating their coach. College Football 25 uses a tiered ranking system to represent how strong a school is in recruiting players from a region, ranked from one being the weakest to five being the strongest. For example, Florida University has a five-ranking in its North, Central, and South Florida pipelines based on a rich history of recruiting players from those regions and will not struggle to attract more recruits from those regions. Players can take advantage of this system by having a higher chance to recruit four and five-star talent if their school has a higher-tiered pipeline in that region. Even small schools can take advantage of pipelines and out-recruit larger schools in some instances because of the tiered system. Those are the best pipelines in College Football 25! For more on the game, check out the best offense and defense playbooks, how to kick, and the best settings to use.

Best Clash Royale decks for Arena 6 (P.E.K.K.A’s Playhouse) SupercellIf you’re having trouble getting past Arena 6 and into the seventh arena in Clash Royale, we have all the information you need to know about the best decks and characters in P.E.K.K.A.’s Playhouse. Arena 6 in Clash Royale is one of the most exciting milestones on your journey through the leaderboards. Also known as P.E.K.K.A’s Playhouse, this is where you will unlock your first Epic-rated character cards – which are much stronger than the cards currently available in your arsenal. Although this Arena is a relatively early level in Clash Royale, you will still have quite a few character cards to choose from when building your deck. In case you feel confused about which strategies to use in your quest to earn trophies, we have you covered. Our recommendations and tips will guide you in making the most of the cards available in your arsenal and building competitive decks for P.E.K.K.A’s Playhouse. In case you’re yet to make it to P.E.K.K.A’s Playhouse, make sure to check out our best deck guides for Spell Valley and Builder’s Workshop. Additionally, don’t forget to check out our Clash Royale tier list and best decks guide to help you navigate through the various Arenas present in the game. Contents All Clash Royale characters in Arena 6 – Best Clash Royale decks for Arena 6 – All Arena Levels in Clash Royale – All Clash Royale characters in Arena 6 Although Clash Royale features over 100 characters, you can only choose from a total of 38 to create your deck in P.E.K.K.A’s Playhouse. Having said that, you can find the full list of character cards available for Arena 6 in the list below, as well as the name of the Arena in which they are unlocked: Best Clash Royale decks for Arena 6 Given that you have a total of 38 cards at your disposal, there are quite a few choices for you to make when building your deck. While you are yet to unlock Legendary-rated character cards, Arena 6 is where you get your first taste of Epic-rated characters, and it’s important for you to synergize your cards properly and strategize accordingly to get the best out of them in the field of battle. With that being said, below you will find three deck builds, each of which has its own strengths to suit aggressive, defensive, and versatile playstyles. Guards-Wiz-Barrel deck Deck composition Spear Goblins – Zap – Knight – Fireball – Mini P.E.K.K.A. – Wizard – Goblin Barrel – Guards – This is definitely one of the most defensively capable decks available in Arena 6 of Clash Royale. Featuring an average elixir cost of 3.3, this deck allows you to repel most of your enemy’s attacks while constantly dealing chip damage to their tower with cards like Goblin Barrel, Fireball, and Zap. Additionally, the Wizard and the Spear Goblins ensure that you are well-protected against both, ground as well as aerial threats. Apart from these, the Knight, Mini P.E.K.K.A, and Guards provide you with a lot of sustainability to withstand the enemy’s offensive cards. The fairly low average elixir cost of this deck allows you to cycle through your cards rather swiftly and thwart the enemy’s attempt to siege your towers. Gi-Ho-Wi deck Deck composition Bomber – Zap – Mega Minion – Fireball – Hog Rider – Giant – Wizard – Baby Dragon – Despite featuring a fairly high average elixir cost of 3.6, this deck makes up for it with the exceptional offensive options presented with it. Apart from providing you with ample defensive support with cards like the Bomber, Mega Minion, Wizard, and Baby Dragon, this deck provides you with building-targeting characters with the Giant and Hog Rider. On top of these, the deck offers two tower-damage spells with Fireball and Zap, making it possible for you to squeeze out victories in overtime as and when required. Although this deck does lack a bit more defense than the previous one, the number of offensive options at your disposal can help you outplay even the strongest of opponents. What is the best deck in Clash Royale Arena 6? Deck composition Zap – Minions – Fireball – Valkyrie – Hog Rider – Skeleton Army – Baby Dragon – Witch – The Va-Ho-Witch Army deck is arguably the best choice for you in Arena 6. Despite featuring an average elixir cost of 3.6, the versatility offered by this deck will help you overcome almost any adverse situation in Clash Royale. Be it taking out swarms of enemies with the Valkyrie, Minions, and Baby Dragon or laying siege on the enemy’s towers with the Hog Rider, Witch, and Skeleton Army, the options are virtually endless for you. Additionally, you also have the bonus firepower from tower-damaging spells like the Zap and Fireball, allowing you to overwhelm your opponent in the middle of a siege. Considering everything that this deck has to offer, you should definitely give it a try on your journey to Arena 7. All Arena levels in Clash Royale There is a total of 20 unique Arena levels in Clash Royale for you to climb through. Given that unlocking every Arena comes with its own set of unlocked characters, it is fairly important for you to climb through them all if you want to try out all the cards in the game. However, the only possible way of climbing through the Arenas in Clash Royale is by claiming trophies by winning multiplayer matches. For details on all the Arenas and how many trophies are required to unlock them, the list below will provide you with all you need to know: So, there you have it – that’s everything you need to about the best decks in Clash Royale for Arena 6, the P.E.K.K.A’s Playhouse. For more tips and tricks, make sure to go through our various guides. 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Best Code Vein builds to suit every playstyle Bandai NamcoCode Vein offers a deep RPG experience but its build mechanics can be a little overwhelming for new players, especially those new to Soulslike games. Here are the best builds we’d recommend. Code Vein was Bandai Namco’s answer to Dark Souls, but with vampires and in the style of a lush anime cartoon. The game is so much more than a mere Souls clone though and its character-building mechanics are surprisingly deep and intricate. But like most RPGs worth sinking a hundred hours into, the mechanics can be confusing at times. The hardest part is understanding the game’s lingo and figuring out how to adapt your character to your own preferred playstyle. While this all clicks in time, by then you may have committed to a character you regret. Here’s how to build a character that matches your style of play and one you’ll want to stick with until endgame. Contents Understanding Code Vein’s mechanics – Code Vein, Blood Veils – Melee Builds – Ranger/Bayonet Builds – Caster Builds – Support Builds – Understanding Code Vein’s mechanics Before you can plan your build the first thing you’ll need to do is understand the game’s terminology. While combat is similar to other Souls-style games in terms of the basics, Code Vein has its own unique quirks and lingo. Gifts, for example, is the term for the game’s Magic and Skills. This includes buffs, spells, and special moves that can be used in and out of combat. Skills use up Ichor, which is essentially the game’s version of mana/magic points and can be tracked in the bottom-right side of the screen. In some cases, Ichor is also used as ammo for certain skills. Code Vein uses things called Blood Codes to let players create their own custom classes. Players start off with 3 basic Blood Codes, Fighter, Ranger, and Caster, but can gather more throughout the game. As an example, those looking to build a tank character can prioritize the Fighter Blood Code but can tailor this to their own style with others later. The Fighter Blood Code is your typical melee style, while the Ranger focuses on the Bayonet weapon primarily. Naturally, the Caster blood code is designed to make the most use out of Gifts in combat. The game allows you to switch between Blood Codes on the fly, leveling them up as you see fit. This allows the player to create their own individual builds but beware – flitting between too many means you’ll never really commit to or excel at any particular discipline. Therefore, it pays to choose a primary build path and tailor it as necessary. Basically, don’t become a jack of all trades and a master of none. Code Vein, Blood Veils While armor and other wearable gear in Code Vein work like any other game, Blood Veils are a little different. Equipping a Blood Vale provides defense like any other piece of gear, but their main purpose is to provide buffs to Gifts. They can be gathered throughout the game through chests, defeating enemies, or rewards for completing quests/chatting to NPCs. Blood Veils are helpful when it comes to bolstering a certain build which is why we’ve included them here. Remember, the below builds offer a foundation focused on Blood Codes, Blood Veils, and weapons/spells of choice. When it comes to gifts there are many that will work with each build, but too many to name them all per build type. Therefore, we’d recommend using Gifts that seem logical and complement your build choice. Or Gifts that naturally buff your personal style should you experiment with different sets. Melee Builds For those who want to get up close and personal – but with added extras. Ranger/Bayonet Builds For those who want to pick their enemies off from a distance. Caster Builds Those who prefer the wizarding way. Support Builds Builds to buff/support allies in combat. For more original content, check out more below: 9 best Final Fantasy games ranked: From FFXIV to FFVII | Best Warzone loadouts used by streamers | 7 best Need for Speed games ranked | 17 best Nintendo Switch games to play in 2022 | 15 best Legendary Pokemon of all time, ranked

Best Clash Royale decks for Arena 5 (Builder’s Workshop) SupercellAre you stuck in the Builder’s Workshop, commonly known as Arena 5, in Clash Royale? We have all the information you need to help you get through Arena 5 and reach Arena 6. Clash Royale features some extremely powerful character cards that can be used to build intricate strategies to outplay your opponents. However, to unlock these cards, you need to achieve trophies by winning multiplayer matches and climbing through the Arena levels. Given that Arena 5, or Builder’s Workshop, is an earlier level in Clash Royale, you will only have a specific pool of character cards to choose from. However, our recommendations and tips will help you make the most of the cards available at your disposal to build the best decks for Builder’s Workshop. Alternatively, be sure to check out our Clash Royale tier list and best decks guide to stay ahead of the curve as you play through the game’s Arena levels. Contents All Clash Royale characters in Arena 5 – Best Clash Royale decks for Arena 5 – All Arena Levels in Clash Royale – All Clash Royale characters in Arena 5 While Clash Royale has over 100 characters to unlock, in Arena 5 of Clash Royale, there is a total of 32 different characters available for you to choose to take into battle. Here’s the full list of all the character cards that can be used, their rarity, and the respective Arena in which they are unlocked: Best Clash Royale decks for Arena 5 Creating a deck from the limited number of 32 character cards can be quite a challenge. Below, you’ll find three deck builds, each of which has its own strengths to suit slightly different playstyles. Giant-Wiz-Zap deck Deck composition Fire Spirit – Zap – Archers – Knight – Minions – Giant – Wizard – Rocket – This deck features an average elixir cost of 3.5, which some might argue is fairly high. However, the defensive capabilities of this deck are quite unparalleled in Arena 5. On top of featuring defensive characters like Giant and Knight, this deck provides you with both burst and area damage. While the Wizard can take out hordes of enemies, the Minions and Archers can easily chip down even the tankiest of foes. Additionally, this deck features three spell cards that can be highly effective in turning the tide of the game by directly attacking the enemy’s towers. Owing to the high average elixir cost of the deck, you should be looking to make the most of your characters during the elixir boost period. Gob-Hog Cycle deck Deck composition Fire Spirit – Goblins – Zap – Archers – Knight – Canon – Wizard – Hog Rider – Featuring a low average elixir cost of 2.9, this deck allows you to cycle through your cards rapidly and overwhelm the opponent. With a constant threat on the enemy’s towers with the Hog Rider, this deck provides you quite a few low-elixir defensive options with the Knight, Goblins, Archers, Zap, and Fire Spirit. On top of this, you can also counter enemy building-target cards such as Giant, Hog Rider, and Battle Ram with the Canon. Additionally, the Wizard provides quite a bit of damage and a sure counter against low-hp hordes of enemies. Owing to these factors, this deck provides you with quite a bit of flexibility at a very low average elixir cost. We recommend that you make the most of the elixir boost period to cycle through your deck and launch as many Hog Riders against the enemy’s towers as you can. What is the best deck in Clash Royale Arena 5? Deck composition Spear Goblins – Zap – Knight – Mega Minion – Fireball – Musketeer – Battle Ram – Hog Rider – With an average elixir cost of 3.3, this deck is arguably the best and most versatile one available in Arena 5. Featuring incredible offensive options with the Hog Rider and the Battle Ram, this deck doesn’t lack in any way when it comes to defense either. With strong options like the Knight, Musketeer, Mega Minion, and Spear Goblins, the enemy will have a very tough time breaking through your towers. On top of that, the deck also features two tower-damage spells: the Fireball and the Zap, allowing you to chip away at the enemy tower’s health without giving your opponent any chance to block it. While this deck does lack a building card to distract aggressive enemy troops, the amount of damage available at your disposal should be more than enough to kill those characters before they reach your towers. All Arena levels in Clash Royale Clash Royale features a total of 20 different Arena levels, making it fairly tricky for you to climb through them all. The only way to unlock Arena levels in Clash Royale is by accumulating the respective amount of trophies from multiplayer matches. Additionally, keeping a track of each Arena as well as the number of trophies required to unlock it can be quite confusing. Below, you’ll find a list of all the Arenas in-game, as well as the number of trophies you need to unlock them. So, there you have it – that’s everything you need to about the best decks in Clash Royale for Arena 5, the Builder’s Workshop. For more tips and tricks, make sure to go through our various guides. Roblox promo codes | Clash Royale Star Levels | Clash Royale Chest Cycle | Pokemon Go codes | Clash Royale social guide | Clash Royale Creator Codes | Bee Swarm codes | Pet Simulator X codes | Geometry Dash Vault codes | Geometry Dash Levels Guide | Blox Fruits codes | Cookie Run Kingdom characters guide

Best Clash Royale decks for Arena 4 (Spell Valley) SupercellAre you aiming to conquer Arena 4, also known as Spell Valley, in Clash Royale and secure your spot in Arena 5? Look no further, as we provide insights on the best decks to employ. The path through the Arenas in Clash Royale is fraught with challenges. Still, it’s the only route to unlocking the most coveted character cards, making it essential to leverage every character to its fullest potential. Climbing through Arenas in Clash Royale is no easy task, but it is the only way for you to unlock high-rated character cards and further strengthen your deck. For this reason, it’s essential for you to make the most of your available characters in every Arena level. Arena 4, or Spell Valley, is fairly early on in your Clash Royale journey, meaning that while there aren’t too many best deck variations available, you’ll find our recommendations on what cards you should be using below. Alternatively, be sure to check out our Clash Royale tier list and best decks guide to stay ahead of the curve and climb through the game’s Arena levels in a flash. Contents All Clash Royale characters in Arena 4 – Best Clash Royale decks for Arena 4 – All Arena Levels in Clash Royale – All Clash Royale characters in Arena 4 You can choose from a total of 26 different characters after reaching Arena 4 in Clash Royale. Here’s a list of all these characters along with their rarity and the Arena level in which they are unlocked. Best Clash Royale decks for Arena 4 Although Clash Royale has over 100 characters to offer, unlocking all of them requires you to climb through all the different Arena levels in the game. As mentioned above, this means that there are only 26 cards that you can choose from in Arena 4 to make your deck. While building your deck from a small pool of characters can be a little tricky, our guide offers you three unique decks that can be built out of the limited number of cards available for you. Giant-Valk-Wiz deck Deck composition: Fire Spirit – Archers – Canon – Fireball – Musketeer – Valkyrie – Giant – Wizard – This deck’s fairly high average mana cost of 3.6 is made up for its defensive capabilities. On top of featuring extremely good defensive characters in the form of Valkyrie and Musketeer, you can also use the Canon and Fireball to fend off incoming troops from your enemies. Additionally, the Canon can be used to distract troops that target buildings and provide you bonus time to defend your crown towers. The offensive options provided by this deck with the Giant, Wizard, and Archers combo are fairly difficult for enemies to deal with, making it easier for you to destroy their towers and pick up an easy win. P.E.K.K.A.-Wiz-Arch deck Deck Composition: Ice Spirit – Spear Goblins – Archers – Canon – Fireball – Mini P.E.K.K.A. – Battle Ram – Wizard – Featuring an average mana cost of 3.3, this deck allows you to rotate your cards very quickly and throw your opponent off-guard. However, the main strength of this deck lies in its counter-attacking abilities. Being a fairly defensive composition with several smaller troops complimenting the Canon’s distracting abilities, this deck will give your opponent a very hard time when trying to take down your towers. On top of these, the added firepower upfront from the Mini P.E.K.K.A. and the Battle Ram can be quite overwhelming for your enemy to react and defend against, making it one of the best decks for Arena 4 in Clash Royale. Don’t forget to make the most of your offensive capabilities during the Elixir boost period in every match. What is the best deck in Clash Royale Arena 4? Deck Composition: Electro Spirit – Bomber – Archers – Arrows – Minions – Mega Minion – Battle Ram – Giant – The best deck available in Clash Royale Arena 4 is arguably the Giant-Arch-Minions deck, which features an extremely versatile composition. At an average mana cost of 3, it’s very suitable for you to rotate through your cards and overwhelm your opponent with. While Minions and the Bomber provide plenty of defensive options against ground troops, the Mega Minion and Archers take care of any aerial threat before they reach your towers. When it comes to offense, you can easily rely on the Battle Ram as well as the Giant due to their nature of targeting buildings first. These two troops will ensure that you constantly inflict damage on your opponent’s towers and eventually walk away with the victory. However, you should note that patience is a key factor in unlocking the true potential of this deck in Clash Royale Arena 4. All Arena levels in Clash Royale There is a total of 20 different Arena levels in Clash Royale, making it fairly confusing to keep track of all of them. Each of these Arenas can be unlocked by reaching a certain number of trophies and you can earn trophies by winning multiplayer matches in the game. For this reason, we have also prepared a table featuring all the different Arenas in Clash Royale, along with the number of trophies you need to reach a specific Arena. Roblox promo codes | Clash Royale Star Levels | Clash Royale Chest Cycle | Pokemon Go codes | Clash Royale social guide | Clash Royale Creator Codes | Bee Swarm codes | Pet Simulator X codes | Geometry Dash Vault codes | Geometry Dash Levels Guide | Blox Fruits codes | Cookie Run Kingdom characters guide

Best Clash Royale decks (September 2024) – Hog Rider, Royal Giant Ghost, LavaLoon SupercellAre you seeking the best decks in Clash Royale to propel you up the leaderboards and into the Legendary Arena? Your search ends here! We’ve highlighted some of the top Cards to elevate your game. Navigating the ranks in Clash Royale is no small feat, but understanding the strengths and limitations of your decks is key. As you collect trophies and progress through Arenas, new characters become available, allowing you to refine your strategies further. With many different deck combinations, our guide will help you learn and master some of the most effective strategies in the game. From cautious and patient plays to utilizing an overwhelming barrage of units, our picks for the best decks contain a variety of ways to control the board and outplay your opponents. Is there a best deck in Clash Royale? In Clash Royale, gameplay mechanics and the meta itself change relatively often, so it’s essential to know which decks are best. Because of this, though, choosing a particular ‘best’ deck is not something you can easily do. But don’t worry, as you’ll find plenty of popular decks that we’d recommend bringing into play to help you on your way to securing a win in Clash Royale. For the month of January 2024, there are some decks in Clash Royale that you call ‘undefeated’, the sole reason being they boast a high win percentage. Best undefeated decks in Clash Royale (September 2024) Hog 2.6 Cycle There’s no doubt that Hog 2.6 Cycle is one of the most elixir-efficient decks in Clash Royale. Once you master the deployment time of your troops, this combination of cards can be a force to be reckoned with. By holding onto your big hitters until after your opponent has used their elixir, you can deliver notable damage to the opposing enemy towers. This is what you’ll need to pull it off successfully: Cannon – Fireball – Hog Rider – Ice Golem – Ice Spirit – Musketeer – Skeleton – The Log – Royal Giant Ghost Deck The Royal Giant Ghost is a balanced deck in Clash Royale, focusing on both attacking and defensive play styles. The main objective of this deck is to overwhelm your opponent with massive numbers and hitpoints combined with a rock-solid defense. The Log and Lightning can quickly push back and fry opponent cards. On the other hand, the Royal Giant acts as a tank, while the Royal Ghost, Fisherman, and Electro Spirit can wreck both opponent cards and towers. Featuring an average elixir cost of 3.3, it is safe to say that is one of the strongest Clash Royale builds in March’s current meta, especially for duel decks that were introduced in the summer update. To build this particular deck, you’ll need to use the following cards: Electro Spirit – Fisherman – Hunter – Lightning – Royal Ghost – Royal Giant – Skeletons – The Log – Monk Graveyard Ice Wizard Phoenix Deck This deck is centered around the latest Champion, Monk. He can push back and deal damage to opposition cards from time to time. The bonus sustainability from Phoenix and Ice Wizard, combined with the exasperation of the Tornado and Tombstone, makes this deck extremely efficient in defensive situations. These are simple rules of the game, but playing them perfectly will open up plenty of avenues that more reckless players will not have. If a carefully measured playstyle is your strong suit, try out these cards: Barbarian Barrel – Graveyard – Ice Wizard – Monk – Phoenix – Poison – Tombstone – Tornado – Lava Hound Balloon Deck You’re primarily relying on Lava Hound to get the job done with this one, but the supporting cards make a huge difference in how effective this strategy turns out to be. While it’s relatively easy to figure out how to play LavaLoon, mastering the timing of Fireball and Lightning will determine your skill level when using this deck. If you’re interested in trying it for yourself, this is what it’ll take: Balloon – Fireball – Guards – Lava Hound – Mega Minion – Skeleton Dragons – Tombstone – Zap – So, there you have it – that’s everything you need to know about the best decks in Clash Royale for January 2024. Additionally, if you feel that you’re stuck in Spell Valley, Builder’s Workshop, or P.E.K.K.A’s Playhouse, then don’t worry. We have assorted guides to help you get through these Arenas very quickly.

Best Clairvoyance build in The First Descendant & how to unlock it NEXON/DexertoBeam Rifles are one of the more unusual weapon types in The First Descendant, but they can be quite potent in the right hands. Clairvoyance is the best of the bunch, so here’s everything you need to know about unlocking and using it. Clairvoyance is a gun that takes advantage of spectacular damage-scaling to deliver DPS that’s off the charts if used correctly. We recently placed it in the S-Tier on our Ultimate Weapons list, and it’s inarguably one of the best options in the entire game. The gun runs on Special Rounds, which can be annoyingly infrequent, but if you preserve ammo for the right moment, then it isn’t easy to look past Clairvoyance. With all that in mind, here’s our guide to getting the most out of the gun. How to unlock Clairvoyance Ultimate Weapon Before you can unlock Clairvoyance, you will need to accumulate significant Research Materials: 1x Clairvoyance Polymer Syncytium 73x Flectorite – 114x Reverse Charging Coil – 8x Encrypted Neural Circuit – Clairvoyance Polymer Syncytium Blueprint – – 1x Clairvoyance Synthetic Fiber 97x Hardener – 115x Shape Memory Alloy – 19x Deformed Biometal – Clairvoyance Synthetic Fiber Blueprint – – 1x Clairvoyance Nano Tube 139x Carbon Crystal – 76x Hellion – 10x Fusion Plasma Battery – Clairvoyance Nano Tube Blueprint – – Clairvoyance Blueprint – 100,000 Gold – Completing activities, unlocking regions, and defeating bosses in Void Intercept reward most of the materials required, though be warned that it is a bit of a grind. After you have managed to accumulate everything you need, head over and speak to Anais in Albion. Pay 100,000 gold and get the research request. From there, it should take four hours to unlock and use. The only other thing to be aware of is that it doesn’t become available until Mastery Rank 15, so don’t bother going for it until then. Clairvoyance Stats ATK: 23 – Fire Rate: 399 – Reload Time: 2.2 seconds – The Thing Beyond: Hitting an enemy with a Stage 2 Beam inflicts Void Gaze on the target. Hitting an enemy with a Stage 3 Beam inflicts Appalled Calling on the target. This effect is considered the same as Frostbite in some modes. – Best Descendant for Clairvoyance While its perks are universally effective in dealing out extra damage, the best Descendant available for Clairvoyance users is Viessa. The Appalled Calling effect on the Stage 3 Beam is actually precisely the same as Frostbite. This synergizes perfectly with Viessa’s Ice Shackle debuff, generated from her Blizzard skill. The heavy increase to Action Speed that it also provides works perfectly with Viessa’s toolkit, and she’s comfortably the best Descendant to have in charge of Clairvoyance. Best Modules These are the best Modules for Clairvoyance: That’s our complete guide to the Clairvoyance weapon in The First Descendant. If you’re still wondering which Descendant to main, we have full guides available for Ajax, Bunny, Freyna, Gley, Kyle, Lepic, and Valby.

Best City Building games we recommend, from Manor Lords to Cities: Skylines Colossal OrderThe ability to start a fledgling civilization and mold it as you see fit is usually reserved for gods and kings but City building games bridge that gap, bringing the power of settlement building to the masses, and, in 2024, there are plenty to choose from. As the genre has expanded, it’s grown to include far more varied options that should appeal to more players than ever before. The classic modern style city builders remain, only with far more advanced systems than they had in the early 1990s when they first burst onto the scene. Beyond that, there’s everything from medieval management games with full battle simulators to dystopian futuristic offerings where the greatest threat is the harsh climate. Whatever your preference, there should be something out there for everyone, so read on for our take on the best city builders to play in 2024. 1. Manor Lords The most recent game on the list, Manor Lords has ascended to immense popularity in record time and with good reason. It combines relatively small-scale city building with impressive Total War-style battles for a complete simulation of feudal lordship. The game features a natural build style that creates organic settlements, so forget starting out with a 16×16 grid. Even more impressively, it is being developed by one man whose passion for both the genre and period makes for a beautiful creation that has already seen a peak concurrent player count on Steam of 173,178. 2. Anno 1800 Ubisoft’s Anno series has long been highly respected for its impressive simulations and beautiful aesthetic. The most recent effort in the franchise takes players to the beginning of the 19th century, an era marked by huge technological advancements. Though it can be daunting to jump straight into the excellent sandbox mode, there is a well-constructed and deep campaign that introduces the core concepts at a digestible pace. The game features new systems, including expeditions and deeper trade simulations that capture the rapid advancements of the period perfectly. 3. Cities: Skylines Though the Cities: Skylines sequel has been out in the wild since October 2023, the first game is still the better option. Cities: Skylines 2 may have been released with more features as part of the base game but issues with traffic management, bugs, performance issues, and regular crashes have rendered it a colossal disappointment. All of that has left the first game as the only viable choice, and it remains one of the best modern, large-scale city builders ever made. Progressing from a tiny hamlet to a spectacular megalopolis is one of the most rewarding experiences in the genre and there is genuinely impressive depth to the management systems on offer. 4. Frostpunk There are a few city builders on this list that offer brutal, bruising experiences, and Frostpunk doesn’t shy away from teaching new players a lesson. Developed by the team behind This War of Mine, it tasks players with scratching out a living as the last vestiges of humanity seek to build a functioning city in an entirely frozen world. It’s difficult and there’s a relatively steep learning curve, though the materials provided in-game are more than enough for inexperienced city builders to get their heads around the mechanics. It has interesting systems including different styles of governance and impressive technology advancements. The most unique feature is the decisions the game presents to the player, where the seemingly insignificant can have huge consequences in the future. If you can handle its harsh and unforgiving nature, Frostpunk is one of the most complete games on this list. 5. Tropico 6 What’s better than building a city? Building a city surrounded by the lush environs of a tropical island, of course! Tropico 6 is the most recent and complete in the storied series that allows players to take on the role of a fledgling dictator, benevolent or otherwise. Players step into the shoes of El Presidente to oversee a banana republic as it progresses through distinct eras in history. Features including relations with the US/Russia, the opportunity to steal wonders from around the world, and a unique and endearing sense of humor make for a city builder that stand outs among all the others on this list. 6. Townscaper On the opposite end of the scale to games like Frostpunk sits Townscaper, a delightful, cozy experience that is singular in its design. There are no systems to manage, citizens to keep happy, or transport to plan out here. Instead, players simply click on individual squares and watch as a community starts to form. Clicking on a square once builds a simple one-storey building, with further clicks on the same square adding height. Clicking on adjacent squares adds width or depth, and the game fills gaps with plant life, railings, and other landscape features. As a game to simply relax and enjoy, there are few games with a more unique and effective approach. 7. Anno 1404 Anno 1800 can be very taxing on even high-end PCs so it’s nice to have an equally competent fallback from earlier in the series. At the time of its release, Anno 1404 was a groundbreaking and remarkable city builder that allowed players to play their own way, at a variety of different scales. The presence of different cultures and the opportunity to establish trade with powers across the world add to the overall tapestry of Anno, while impressive tangible features back up the promises made by the development teams at Ubisoft. The late medieval setting is also refreshing, as people begin to embrace exploration further. 8. Medieval Dynasty It’s difficult to describe Medieval Dynasty as a pure city builder. The game is played from a third-person perspective, where you seek to establish a town in a European medieval landscape. It features survival mechanics and meters to control, as well as dynamic environments and an extensive crafting system. It’s a monumentally slow game at the beginning, but there is joy to be found in its realism. As people start to take up residence and the town grows around your first home, it becomes an excellent simulation of being a pioneer who takes the world as it comes for the good of their community. 9. Banished Arguably the most savage and unforgiving city builder ever, Banished has claimed many virtual lives in the decade since its release. The player takes control of a group of exiled villagers who are seeking to start a new life for themselves with very limited access to supplies and winter on the way. The game’s greatest strength is its ability to simulate the lives of the village’s inhabitants. They experience a full life cycle, with a limited number of working years. They have children, grow old, and eventually die while maintaining their health and happiness along the way is integral to keeping the settlement alive. With a broad profession system and strict resource management that varies between games, it’s a great choice for those who like a challenge. 10. Caesar 3 Heading all the way back to Ancient Rome, 1999’s Caesar 3 is as impressive today as it was last century. Taking on the role of a provincial governor, it’s your duty to spread the glory of Rome to your little corner of the Empire, and it’s a remarkably complete experience, in spite of its considerable age. The best way to describe Caesar 3 is as the potential outcome of zooming in on an individual city in Sid Meier’s Civilization series. Organise festivals, build wonders, and take care of the plebs as enemies and gods seek to bring down everything you’ve worked so hard to achieve. Though the visuals won’t be for everyone in a 21st-century audience, give it a chance, and you might see how enthralling older games can be. 11. Against the Storm Against the Storm takes some very recognizable features from across the city building genre and combines them all into a unique offering that retains Overwhelmingly Positive feedback on Steam. Rather than simply running one village, Against the Storm tasks you with managing many in a dark fantasy world where apocalyptic rains are a perpetual threat. The game features several roguelite features with a ton of variables and settings that allow it to feel fresh on any playthrough. With an aesthetic reminiscent of Warcraft 3, there is plenty to love in the Smoldering City and beyond. 12. SimCity 4 Stepping away from the dreadful misstep that was 2013’s SimCity, and looking further back in the beloved series, SimCity 4 stands out as the very best it has to offer. Released in 2003, it offered players the chance to sculpt a huge area covering multiple different types of settlements within it. Start off with a bustling center, then expand to create an agricultural district. Add an industrial area or some leafy suburbs, and it quickly becomes easy to while away the hours dealing with the minutiae of city life. It doesn’t have the visual appeal of the Cities: Skylines series, but there is just as much to get into from a mechanical perspective. 13. Foundation Where games like Manor Lords have their own take on the grid systems city builders so often rely on, Foundation foregoes that system entirely. That leads to some of the most impressively organic and intriguing town designs in any genre entry, ably helped by its wonderful fantasy art style. Another major highlight is the flexible creation system for individual buildings, which allows modular player designs for everything from taverns to churches. There are story missions, zone painting, resource management, and reputations to manage in a game that straddles the line between serious sim and relaxed builder perfectly. 14. Dawn of Man Chronologically the earliest city-building game in this list, Dawn of Man takes us all the way back to 10,000 B.C., just as humans began to form larger communities. It’s a stripped-back hunter-gatherer experience that can turn on a dime if the needs of the limited number of citizens aren’t met. New technologies start to make life easier and fortifications help keep enemies at bay. It’s spectacularly refreshing to take away the concerns of modern city management and focus on the bare essentials for a while, and Dawn of Man delivers this in spades. Though it may be Stone Age in setting, it certainly isn’t in execution. 15. Surviving Mars If building a city within the confines of the planet Earth feels a bit restrictive, then Surviving Mars may be the answer. The game’s major appeal for those experienced in the genre is the difference in considerations from regular city builders. Building domes, setting up basic infrastructure, and communicating with a space agency for funding and support really drive home the feeling of being a pioneer in a harsh and unfamiliar environment. Solid mechanics and highly scalable difficulty make Surviving Mars a game that’s easy to return to, over and over again. 16. Pharaoh: A New Era A full HD remaster of the beloved 1999 release of the same name, Pharaoh: A New Era has lost none of its luster in the intervening years. In the same way as Caesar 3, players travel back in time to Ancient Egypt at the height of its considerable powers. Though the game doesn’t do anything truly outlandish, everything it does do is well put together, logical, and appropriate for the chosen era. Cultivate fertile lands, keep your people happy, and give them somewhere to worship, and you should be on to a winner. 17. The Wandering Village The Wandering Village lets players build their dream settlement on the back of an enormous tortoise-like creature named Onbu. The big gameplay feature is the relationship between the villagers and their host. The player is able to build and live in specific ways, either improving their symbiotic relationship with Onbu or essentially becoming parasites. Features include random intermittent challenges from weather events to poisonous spores, having regular obstacles to overcome, that increases both replayability and general enjoyment. There is also a reasonably deep technology tree to mark progression in a game that’s unlike any other. 18. Aven Colony Aven Colony allows players to head into space and establish their first settlement on the planet Aven Prime, which features varied biomes with everything from icy tundra to expansive deserts. Overall, it’s a solid effort at colony simulation that doesn’t quite manage to push the boundaries enough to join the best in the genre. The alien weather simulations are undoubtedly a highlight, and you’ll have to deal with everything from electrical storms to toxic gas if your colony is to survive. Some of the management mechanics can be a little shallow, but there is plenty to get into if outer space appeals in a big way. Best MMO games to play in 2024 | Hardest video games in history | 8 games like The Quarry you should play in 2024 | 14 games like Wordle you should try in 2024 | 13 co-op games you must play

Best Civ 6 mods to download: Palaces, unit expansion, more Firaxis GamesWhether you’re looking for simple quality-of-life upgrades or you want to engage in the time-honored tradition of total conversion, these are some of the best Civ 6 mods to download as of October 2021. The Civilization franchise is renowned for its colossal scale and deep mechanics, allowing players to recreate entire worlds in their image, controlling everything from the flow of food, to which pillars of society get studied and expanded on. While first-time players might be completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, veterans of the game continue to look for ways to enhance their experience and gain more control wherever possible. That goal is easier than ever thanks to tools like the Steam Workshop, and now there are so many options it’s hard to know which way to turn. These are your best choices when it comes to customizing the game to fit your needs. Contents Anno Domini Total Conversion Thrones & Palaces Sukritact’s Simple UI Adjustments Sukritact’s Oceans Steel & Thunder Three Pack Anno Domini Total Conversion mod Anno Domini: Gathering Storm is a huge reimagining of Civ 6 that places the focus specifically on the Old World civilizations stretching from the very first human civilizations all the way to the end of the Roman Empire. Unlike some of the other mods on our list, Anno Domini is more of a standalone experience that emulates the feeling of the Civ franchise rather than enhancing the experience of the base game. While that may sound limiting at first, the number of extra pieces added to the board is astounding, and the addition of historical figures like Helen of Troy makes the experience even richer than before. This mod features roughly the same amount of technologies from the regular version of Civ 6, but they’re all era-appropriate and offer new functions and strategies to build around. This one may not be for everyone, but it’s a home run for players who want to experience building an empire from the earliest days of humanity. Thrones & Palaces mod Thrones & Palaces is a simple mod that brings back the fan-favorite throne room from Civ II and the palaces of Civ III with some visual upgrades. These changes are entirely cosmetic and won’t alter your gameplay experience beyond the development points that you spend on the spaces. These gigantic structures start off barren and ugly, so it’s up to you to decide exactly how magnificent they become. You can add this one to currently running games, but any mod that turns off the Historic Moments feature from the Rise & Fall or Gathering Storm expansions will limit your ability to earn enough points to upgrade your structure. There’s no revolutionary change to be found in this one, but for dedicated fans of the series, it’s a nice touch to make the game feel exactly like you remember. Sukritact’s Simple UI Adjustment Civ 6 mod The Civ franchise has always had a problem with losing players due to complexity. In a game this large, it’s easy to get completely lost and frustrated before even scratching the surface of what is truly fun about the experience. Thankfully, modders like Sukrictact have taken the problem into their own hands and made the game more beginner-friendly. On the whole, Simple UI Adjustments removes some of the barriers to entry and makes the game easier to understand. These changes include tooltips to help see how your kingdom is performing in areas like crop yield and religion, while others focus on ease-of-access adjustments like being able to rename your city from the overview panel. While this is all incredibly helpful, it’s not even the best thing that Sukritact has added to the game. Sukritact’s Oceans Civ 6 mod The Oceans mod brings new life to the marine mechanics of Civ 6. Whether you’re interested in new resources such as Seals and Squid, luxuries like Lobster and Caviar, or you’re looking for new terrain such as the Kelp Forest to play with, this upgrade has a little bit of everything. Gameplay enhancement is the key goal in this mod. with things like fisheries and water parks receiving some crucial upgrades. Overall, the beautiful animations and careful adjustments add some much-needed variety to one of the game’s most underserved features. Steel & Thunder Unique Units Civ 6 mod No Civ 6 mod list is complete without Steel & Thunder. Originally conceived under the name “MOAR UNITS,” this trilogy of mods brings a whole new set of combat options to the game. While you could only download the Unique Units kit, the other two mods add some additional customization options and a few more units as well. Whether you’re looking to employ some Egyptian khopesh-wielders, or you want to send in a group of Apache helicopters to the fight, S&T makes all of that possible. Featuring a list of 50-plus brand-new units, these add-ons will change the flow of combat regardless of what era you are in. There are a few pieces that have been disabled in Unique Units, but the third piece of the Steel & Thunder set, titled “Everything Enabled,” will put them back into the mix for anyone who’d like some extra toys to play with. That’s all for the best Civ 6 mods to download. If you enjoyed this, check out our other mod guides here on the site, and keep an eye out for regular updates to this one.

Best Choi Jong-In Solo Leveling Arise build: Skills, stats, weapons, Artifacts NetmarbleChoi Jong-In has been just as strong in Solo Leveling: Arise as he was as a high-ranked hunter in the original series. But, he still needs to be built correctly to optimize his strengths. Despite not being able to deal Critical Hits in the game, this hasn’t stopped the Fire Mage from being one of the top DPS characters. We ranked Jong-In among our A-tier hunters in Arise due to his massive Fire Damage and skillset that centers around his Burn attacks, skill reset, and mighty Ultimate Skill. However, you’ll need to level up certain stats and skills, as well as equip the best weapons and Artifacts to create the best Choi Jong-In build. Best stats Attack, Fire Damage, and Defense Penetration are the best stats to upgrade and level up for Choi Jong-In in Solo Leveling: Arise. With Jong-In not able to deal Critical Hits, then avoid any stats, skills, weapons, and Artifacts that buff these in any way. Instead, it’s vital to go all-out Attack and boost any stats that increase his overall DPS. Specifically, Fire Damage and Defense Penetration will be key here. His strengths lay in his many skills that inflict Fire Damage, especially as most inflict his OP Burn effect which deals long-lasting Fire Damage. Then, any buffs for Defense Penetration or Damage Increase will only make the effects stronger. Best skills Choi Jong-In’s best skills are his Basic Attack Blast, Basic Skills Rain of Flames and Flame Spear, Special Skills Fire Barrage and Celestial Fire Dragon, as well as his Ultimate Skill End of Days. All of his skills are strong, which is a large part of why he is ranked so highly as one of the best hunters to use in the game. However, his Blast Basic Attack stands out, as despite being a low-level skill, it still applies the Burn effect with every hit. The Burn effect deals damage equal to 50% of Choi Jong-In’s Attack every 3 seconds and lasts 15 seconds. With further advancements, it can be upgraded to deal damage equal to 100%. His two Basic Skills Rain of Flames and Flame Spear don’t issue the Burn effect but are pure DPS machines and both inflict an insane 1550% of Jong-In’s Attack stats. As you level him up, you will then want to focus on both of his OP Special Skills of Fire Barrage and Celestrial Fire Dragon. In particular, Celestial Fire Damage deals a huge amount of damage and will be important to upgrade to buff your DPS. Finally, his Ultimate Skill End of Days is one you should keep upgrading, as although it doesn’t issue the Burn effect, it deals an enormous amount of Fire damage for that fatal blow. Best weapons The best weapon for Choi Jong-In to equip in Solo Leveling: Arise is his own hunter-exclusive SSR weapon Equivalent Exchange. Besides this, the Steel Longsword and Ancient Grimoire are strong replacements. The Steel Longsword increases the elemental weakness damage strike with a stronger blow, while the Ancient Grimoire helps you get your Ultimate Skill much faster. Best Artifacts Armed (Black Lion) and One-hit Kill (Almighty Kargalgan) are the best Armor Artifact sets and Executioner (Behemoth) is the best Jewelry Artifact set to equip with Choi Jong-In. For clearing Gates, Dungeons, or any of the standard modes, you will want to go with the Armed (Black Lion) to buff your overall Attack damage. However, when you come across Igris or any other troublesome boss, then the One-hit Kill will be the perfect Armor set to give his powerful Ultimate skill a further boost. To round this out, the Executioner Jewelry is the perfect set to maximize your DPS output. For Solo Leveling: Arise, we’ve curated the best build for Sung Jinwoo and the strongest character Cha Hae-In, as well as the best Artifact sets for every hunter character. If you need free Arise codes or are wondering what the current and next banners are, then we also have you covered.

Best Cha Hae-In Solo Leveling Arise build: Skills, stats, weapons, Artifacts NetmarbleCha Hae-In is by far the best hunter character you can get in Solo Leveling: Arise, but you’ll still need to upgrade and use the best items to make the most of her. To become more powerful in Solo Leveling Arise, every hunter can level up, increase their stats, and pick up new skills. You will also need to acquire strong weapons and Artifacts as you rise up the ranks to clear high-level Gates and troublesome bosses with ease. Hae-in is one of the best characters thanks to her ability to deal exceptionally high DPS and Critical Damage combos compared to all other hunter characters. Arise favors attacks over anything else, therefore Cha Hae-In’s incomparable strengths easily make her our only S-tier ranked hunter. Here are all the best skills, stats, weapons and Artifact sets you need to construct the ultimate Cha Hae-In build in Solo Leveling: Arise. Solo Leveling Arise: Best Cha Hae-In stats Critical Hit Rate, Critical Hit Damage, and Attack are the most important stats to prioritize when creating the ultimate Cha Hae-In build in Solo Leveling: Arise. Despite not being able to specifically use points to directly boost these stats, as you can with Sung Jinwoo, it is still vital to keep leveling up Hae-In over all other characters in your hunting team. All the skills, weapons, and Artifacts you equip and upgrade should also be selected to buff Critical Hit Damage and general attack damage to maintain superior damage per second against enemies. Solo Leveling Arise: Best Cha Hae-In skills Cha Hae-In’s best skills are her Basic Skills The Dancer and Sword of Light and her Ultimate skill the Light of the End. Her Basic Attacks don’t inflict much damage, so don’t waste your Scrolls and Gold leveling these up. First, spend these on your Basic Skills of The Dancer, Sword of Light, and then your Ultimate skill Light of the End as these will be your main damage dealers and have strong effects. As well as these, leveling up your QTE skill the Rampant of Light as you progress will also prove useful, which is still much more beneficial to upgrade than any of your Basic Attacks. Solo Leveling Arise: Best Cha Hae-In weapons The best Cha Hae-In weapon to use in Solo Leveling: Arise is her own hunter-exclusive weapon The Sword of Light. The hunter will always be the best choice for any character in Arise. However, if you still need to obtain The Sword of Light, then the Steel Bow is an adequate alternative due to it being the highest Critical Damage dealer for non-exclusive weapons. Solo Leveling Arise: Best Cha Hae-In Artifacts Cha Hae-In’s best Artifact sets in Solo Leveling: Arise are particular Armor and Jewelry sets that focus on increasing her attack and Critical Hit Damage stats. Depending on the Gates and bosses you are undertaking, equipping any combination of these will guarantee a powerful blow. For Solo Leveling: Arise we have also provided the best build for Sung Jinwoo and best Artifact sets for every hunter character. If you need free Arise codes or are wondering what the current and next banners are, then we have you covered.

Best characters to use in Omega Strikers: 3v3 tier list (May 2023) Odyssey InteractiveAfter a long beta period, Omega Strikers has finally launched. The MOBA-inspired sports game features a handful of unique characters to use on the pitch but which ones are the best? Our Omega Strikers tier list has a full rundown of them all. Omega Strikers is a fast-paced 3×3 multiplayer title where players partake in a game of super-powered Hockey. You’ll have to utilize your unique abilities throughout the match to score goals and defend your side of the field. Some characters are more suited to defending as goalies while others make great forwards so it’s important to choose the right hero for your preferred role, while also taking their skills and abilities into account. With 15 characters currently available in the game, it can be overwhelming deciding who to pick so we’ve put together a handy tier list to help make your decision easier. Omega Strikers character tier list If you’re wondering which Omega Strikers character to pick, we’ve got you covered with the table below: S-Tier characters The S-tier characters are the best of the best. They are the best choices to make in Omega Strikers and should make your matches a lot easier. Juliette Despite being the first character you get to use, Juliette is quick, dangerous, and fantastic on the battlefield. Her skills and abilities allow players of any skill level to thrive when using her, particularly her dash. She’s a strong brawler who can effectively knock back the enemy while also scoring plenty of goals. Dubu Dubu was an incredibly popular choice for goalie players during the game’s beta period and he still remains the most prominent character in the net. Thanks to his size and easy to use and place abilities he’s a defensive powerhouse that can also act as the perfect introductory character for new players looking to main goalie. Kai Kai has a particularly useful shooting ability to get the ball to the other end of the field quickly and effortlessly. However, he thrives as a goalkeeper, especially with his Crossover skill. The versatility and ease of play make him an ideal character no matter what position you need. Era An almost perfect attacker. Era can impact the enemy by shrinking them and slowing them down making her an incredibly useful debuffer and an asset to any team. Era’s has had a big speed boost in the latest update, and her alt is incredibly powerful if timed right. Ai:Mi Ai:Mi is a versatile striker who can fill either the forward or goalie role. She also has exceptional map control with her ranged abilities allowing her to provide cover anywhere on the field, and with the recent speed adjustments she’s even more effective than she was during the beta. A-Tier characters While not the best characters in Omega Strikers, they will undoubtedly hold their own and let you dominate the battlefield. Estelle While perhaps not the best beginner character to use, when played right Estelle is fantastic. She works well as either a striker or midfield depending on what you need to fill. Her kit can be extremely effective as she’s able to predict where a rebound shot will end up by using her ‘Blink’ ability and double-hit the core with her other skills. Asher Asher is a character that shouldn’t be taken lightly, whether you’re playing as them or going up against them. Asher is powerful, offensive, and will likely dominate the battlefield with Pathsplitter and Breakthrough. Atlas Atlas is an ideal goalkeeper if you need one in a pinch. He’s got some great defensive skills and the ability to resurrect himself making him pretty indestructible. His Ult is also great for protecting his teammates as well as defending your goal. Zentaro Zentaro plays the forward role in most matches and can be a goal-scoring machine if you master his kit but with a three-star level difficulty, he can be challenging for beginners to get to grips with. He’s a striker who can make or break a game and acts as a great carrier for the rest of the team. Drek’Ar Drek’Ar is fantastic for players who want to be more offensive. He can simply throw other players off the field which makes him ideal for a bit of destruction, and he also comes equipped with a stealth ability that allows you to gain an easy advantage on the field. B-Tier characters These characters are by no means bad but they can be difficult to play. X X is a useful all-around character but he’s most effective as a forward or support on the field. His versatility works for a multitude of play styles, and he’s a tough brawler who’s able to take out members of the opposing team. Rune Rune is a character with three-star difficulty who can fill the forward or goalie role during a match. His higher difficulty makes him trickier to master but if played correctly he can turn a match on its head. Luna With a useful Dash and an experienced player, Luna can be amazing. She’s ideal as either a goalkeeper or an attacker and can be used however you want while still being effective. Due to the striker speed reduction that was implemented at launch, Luna can, unfortunately, be very vulnerable on the field now. She’s still a decent pick but is a lot riskier to play than she was in the beta period so won’t be suited to every play style. Remus Remus is a great forward option who has fantastic carry potential and a lot of evasive abilities but with a three-star difficulty, there are plenty of other speedy forwards that are more universal to use. C-Tier characters You can still succeed with these characters but it will be a big challenge. It’s recommended you avoid the C-tier characters. Juno Juno can still succeed when an extremely experienced player is controlling them but the amount of effort you need to put in to get anything out of them is not worth it. They’ve got some knockout abilities but there’s not much special about this Omega Strikers character. Those are all the current Omega Strikers characters ranked by how good they can be. When more characters get added the list will change so be sure to check back regularly. In the meantime, check out some of our other tier lists and Omega Strikers guides below: Omega Strikers Ranks explained | All characters in Omega Strikers & how to unlock | Omega strikers gameplay | All Omega Strikers voice actors | Best Kai builds | Is Omega Strikers cross-platform?

Best cards in Marvel Snap Pool 3: Sera, Wong, Lockjaw, Death, and more MarvelBest cards in Marvel Snap Pool 3 include a handful of some of the most meta-defining cards in the game like Wong, Lockjaw, Sera, and more. Here are all of the best Pool 3 cards to use. Marvel Snap has taken over the Collectible Card Game genre overnight, bringing in both Marvel fans and CCG enthusiasts with its fast-action gameplay and plethora of cards. With so many cards at launch, it may be hard to figure out which archetypes are the best for climbing the ranked ladder. And for those who’ve reached the high enough Collection level to unlock Pool 3 cards, mixing and matching them can be a headache. Here are the best Pool 3 cards in Marvel Snap. Marvel Snap: Best cards in Pool 3 Marvel Snap players begin unlocking Pool 3 cards at Collection level 486 and up. These are some of the more technical and powerful cards in the game that unlock whole new archetypes of decks. Sera Sera is one of the most unique 5-drops in the entire game, as she drops the cost of the other cards in your hand by 1 Energy. She is often used to play a 6-Energy card the next turn along with a 2-cost, making for a nearly unbeatable final blow on the final turn of a match. Wong The Sorcerer Supreme is an extremely valuable unlock in Marvel Snap and is a 4-cost card with 2 Power that allows your On Reveal abilities at a location to happen twice. Wong can be played with Jessica Jones on turn 4, then Black Panthers on turn 5 for maximum value. He provides the basis for the entire On Reveal deck archetype for Pool 3 and beyond. Lockjaw Lockjaw is a 3-drop card with a unique ability that reads: When you play a card here, swap it with a card in your deck. This card can swap a 1-cost card with potential behemoths like Hulk and The Infinaut, and is best paired with cheap cards that can make it quite easy to get insanely powerful cards on the board free of charge. Death Death is a 9-cost card with 12 Power that costs 1 less for each card destroyed throughout the game. In order to get her value down, look to play her with a Destroy deck that has cards like Carnage and Venom that destroy other cards, making it easy to get her out on or before turns 4 or 5. Silver Surfer The Herald of Galactus is an incredibly powerful 3-cost card not for it’s power (only 2) but how it can buff up your cards. When played, the Silver Surfer grants all your other 3-cost cards in play +2 power. This means that Silver Surfer can be an incredibly strong card when used in combination with cards like Brood, Patriot, and Ironheart. Silver Surfer decks can be a great deck for players who aren’t that deep into the game yet. If you are looking to make a deck with a mixture of Pool 1 and Pool 2 cards as well, check out the best Marvel Snap Decks and the best cards in Marvel Snap Pool 1.

Best cards in Marvel Snap Pool 1: Angela, Bishop, Iron Man, more MarvelBest cards in Marvel Snap Pool 1 include a handful of deck-defining cards that can be the basis for any strong deck that can climb the ranked ladder. Marvel Snap has exploded onto the digital card game scene as an instant hit. Both card game enthusiasts and Marvel fans have been enjoying the game’s fast-action gameplay, as well as collecting the game’s over 200 cards at launch. In the free-to-play game, players have a Collection Level. Increasing your Collection Level via upgrading cards with Credits grants unlocks like cards, card variants, gold, and more. Cards in Marvel Snap are organized via ‘Pools’, and at launch, there are currently three pools. For players who are looking to build the strongest deck right out of the gate, here are the best Pool 1 cards to utilize in Marvel Snap. Best cards in Marvel Snap Pool 1 Here are some of the best cards in Marvel Snap Pool 1, including cards you’ll want to unlock as soon as possible. Blue Marvel An incredibly powerful card that is a staple of most Ongoing decks, Blue Marvel adds one power to all other cards you have in play. Pair Blue Marvel with cards that can fill up all three locations so that you can get the maximum benefit from Blue Marvel. Carnage One of the cornerstones of destroy decks, Carnage will chew up every card at the location where he’s played. Carnage gains +2 power for each card that it destroys. The best strategy, then, is to play 3 cards at one location that you want to see destroyed (like Nova or Bucky Barnes) and then play Carnage to get the max 8 power. Iron Man The genius playboy billionaire philanthropist is a stellar card in Marvel Snap, one that can shift the tide of any match on turn five. Iron Man doubles your Power at the location he’s played at, creating scenarios that absolutely skyrocket a certain location’s power. The only bad thing about Iron Man’s card is his voice line when played, letting out a puny robotic “I Am Iron Man” that sounds like a broken microwave from the 90s. Devil Dinosaur The dino is one of the high-cost cards that you build your decks around because of its power, making it an incredibly valuable card. Look to drop Jessica onto a location you’re not planning on loading up on for turn five so that she gets the full benefit of her On Reveal ability. Ka-Zar Ka-Zar is fantastic for a Kazoo deck that looks to spill out tons of 1-Cost cards onto the board. Ka-Zar gives a +1 Power boost to all 1-cost cards in your locations. Although he’s severely countered by Kilmonger, he’s still a fantastic card from the Pool 1 cards. If you are looking for the Best Marvel Snap decks, click here.

Best cards in Marvel Snap Pool 2: Hobgoblin, The Infinaut, Killmonger, more MarvelBest cards in Marvel Snap Pool 2 include some meta-defining cards like Hobgoblin, The Infunaut, Kilmonger, and a few more that will help you climb the ranked ladder with ease. Marvel Snap Pool 2 may be the smallest collection of cards to unlock at just 25 cards in total, but it includes some of the most powerful and crucial to building a solid deck. Pool 2 grants players many more technical cards than Pool 1, as the game starts to open up new archetypes and strategies to obtain a victory. Here are all of the best Pool 2 cards in Marvel Snap. Marvel Snap best Pool 2 cards Below are a handful of the best cards that come from Pool 2. Shang Chi Shang Chi is one of the best counters to your opponent running those high-power cards, as he can destroy all cards at a location with 9 or more power. Save Shang Chi for later in the game and play him after your opponent has played that Magneto or Infinaut, or when you see that they have stacked up power on a few cards. Hobgoblin Hobgoblin is one of the most fun cards to play in the entirety of Marvel Snap. Playing this dastardly villain places him in the opponent’s location, which explains why his power is -8. Make sure to play him at a location that won’t be filled up with cards on that turn, as if it is, Hobgoblin will stay on your side of the location if there’s nowhere for him to go. The Infinaut This beastly 6-drop requires an entire deck to be built around him, as he cannot be played if you played any cards on turn 5. This major drawback is the reason Infinaut has an ungodly 20 Power attached to him. If your opponent didn’t play anything on turn 5, chances are, they’re gearing up to drop The Infinaut. Killmonger Killmonger is one of the hardest counter cards in the game, as he destroys every 1-cost card at every location when revealed. Once you unlock Killmonger, it’s hard not to run him in every single deck as he is absolutely crucial to winning games against Kaazoo decks. Jubilee Jubilee is a 4-drop with 1 Power that plays a random card from your deck at the location she’s played at. The X-Men member is dangerously powerful when she pulls out cards like The Infinaut and Hulk. Look to drop her at Kamar-Raj, where On Reveal is triggered twice. Sunspot Although Sunspot is countered fairly hard by Killmonger, he still has the chance to snowball games if not dealt with properly. He’s a 1-cost card with 1 Power that gains Power per Energy gone unspent each turn. Try to get Sunspot out on a neutral location as early as possible so that you can start racking up the extra Power for him as early as possible. If you are looking to make a deck with a mixture of Pool 1 and Pool 2 cards, check out our Best Marvel Snap Decks and Best cards in Marvel Snap Pool 1.

Best cards from Yu-Gi-Oh! Phantom Nightmare The newest booster set to enter Yu-Gi-Oh!’s extensive pantheon is finally here, and early signs suggest there is a lot to like about Phantom Nightmare, for both competitive and casual players. The greatest strength of this new set is that it offers support for a ton of different archetypes, including the introduction of an entirely new one for the TCG in Ashened. The extra layer to this is additional support for decks that have gone without much consideration for some time now. The set contains no reprints, so all of the cards will need to find their role in the current landscape of the wider game. That said, some clear standouts should slip seamlessly into a bunch of solid competitive decks. Here’s our full list of the best cards in the Phantom Nightmare booster set. The ten best cards in Yu-Gi-Oh! Phantom Nightmare Iron Thunder It really was a tough decision on whether or not to include Iron Thunder in this list, over other stellar Trap options like The Black Goat Laughs and Ultimate Offering. It’s expensive to play, costing half of the player’s Life Points, and it’s arguably a little gimmicky. All of that said, Iron Thunder will likely be difficult to play around for the opponent and could be devastating if players plan around it correctly. That said, the other two trap cards mentioned above are also well worth the investment as singles. Saffira, Dragon Queen of the Voiceless Voice As a major part of the Voiceless Voice archetype introduced in Phantom Nightmare, Saffira, Dragon Queen of the Voiceless Voice is well worth picking up. Though it has nice stats in its own right, the real strength of the card comes from its effects. The first effect allows it to be discarded to get a Ritual Monster into the hand. Cards like Hymn of Light or Sprite’s Blessing are good Spell options to send to the Graveyard, making it possible to get strong archetype monsters into the hand quickly, with Saffira actually having to enter play. Arguably a necessity for the new archetype. Raidraptor – Rising Rebellion Falcon Coming slightly out of left field, Raidraptor – Rising Rebellion Falcon is a strong XYZ choice for Raidraptor and Rebellion decks, and by extension Odd-Eyes and XYZ Dragon decks. Though it’s going to be difficult to get out onto the field, a successful XYZ summon is near enough a guaranteed win. Essentially, this card destroys all of the opponent’s cards and then damages their life points to the equivalent attack of all the combined attacks of the destroyed monsters. Though the latter only happens with 3 or more XYZ Raidraptor monsters as material, this shouldn’t be much of an issue with decks built into this archetype. Skull Guardian, Protector of the Voiceless Voice The Skull Guardian archetype synergizes well with the new Voiceless Voice cards introduced in this set. As such, it’s nice to see more options added and Skull Guardian, Protector of the Voiceless Voice is one of the best of the bunch. Essentially, Skull Guardian is designed to be used in combination with Lo, the Prayers of the Voiceless Voice (which features later in this list). Its real strength comes via a Quick Effect that negates and destroys, alongside a Voiceless Voice card draw when this card is successfully Ritual Summoned. Veidos The Eruption Dragon Of Extinction As its terrifying name may suggest, Veidos has the potential to blow opponents away if used correctly. Arriving as part of the world premiere of the Ashened archetype that arrived with Phantom Nightmare, its Dark Hole-like effect has the potential to be game-changing. As with any new archetype, it could arguably do with more support in later sets. That said, it’s relatively easy to summon to your opponent’s side of the field, and it allows continuous traps to enter the game, allowing time to get Veidos into the Graveyard, where it needs to be. Yubel – The Loving Defender Forever Though some cards previously lent themselves to the Yubel archetype made famous by the character of the same name, it has never been officially supported in the OCG or TCG. All of that changes in Phantom Nightmare and Yubel – The Loving Defender Forever is the standout choice. The main mechanic behind the card allows a near-enough risk-free battle step. After attacking with this card, it inflicts direct damage to the opponent’s Life Points, equal to the attack of the opponent’s monster. It then banishes that monster. Used correctly, Yubel could genuinely become a big part of the meta moving forward. EM:P Meowmine Anybody who has played the game over the last year or two knows how many people fell in love with I:P Masquerena and S:P Little Knight. EM:P Meowmine adds further depth to strategies centered around those cards, and it could be a staple in decks of that type moving forward. Both effects are hugely useful, with Meowmine able to be Special Summoned if a Link monster is on the field or in the Graveyard. Though its second effect may seem difficult to navigate, its a perfect choice alongside the cards mentioned above. Promethean Princess, Bestower Of Flame Fire decks seem to be having some form of renaissance, and Promethean Princess is the next step in that process. The first major effect could spiral brilliantly in the mid-late game, essentially allowing the player to freely summon monsters from the Graveyard. It’s also fairly easy to get Promethean Princess out of the Graveyard and there’s a lot of support from other archetypes for players who do want to build this card into existing decks. The best Link card in the set. Snake-Eyes Poplar As a Level 1 effect monster that offers as many single-card combos as it does chaining opportunities with other Snake-Eye cards, Snake-Eyes Poplar has the potential to blow other duelists away if used correctly. The fact that this also offers a ton of contingency for Diabellstar builds is a bonus that should not be forgotten. Rushing out the Snake-Eyes Flaberge Dragon is the key to any deck in this archetype, and Snake-Eyes Poplar’s Spell/Trap draw effect should make this a lot easier. The continuous spell effect may be more difficult to pull off effectively, but it has a huge potential ceiling in the right hands. Lo, the Prayers of the Voiceless Voice For anyone looking to build a deck around the new Voiceless Voice archetype introduced in Phantom Nightmare, Lo, The Prayers of the Voiceless Voice is a necessity. Its main effect is its major strength, allowing players to Ritual Summon a Light Warrior or Dragon using Lo as the entirety of the tribute. It also allows players to get Spells and Traps out onto the field quickly. Additionally, it will prove a real pain for players to remove from the equation entirely, thanks to its ability to return to play when a Light monster is Special Summoned. All things considered, Lo is a stupidly well-rounded card and the best in the entire set. That’s the complete list of the best cards in the new Phantom Nightmare booster set. With over 100 in total, there are some solid choices across the board, but the above are the ones to go for as singles, to integrate into existing decks. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best Card Games to play in 2023 WOTCFrom MTG’s impressive legacy to stand-out newcomers like Lorcana and One Piece, these are the best card games you can pick up and play in 2023. With new games breaking into the market and old favorites still going strong, there is a healthy selection of card games available to play in 2023. Innovative TCGs have been steadily cropping up over the last few years, with diverse new mechanics drawing in a substantial audience and providing an easier entry point to the hobby than ever. That being said, TCG collecting can be an expensive hobby, and it’s best to know what you’re in for before committing. We’ll walk you through a selection of the best card games available this year, so you can find the game – or games – that are right for you. 1. Magic: The Gathering The best card game overall The game that started it all. No list of the best Card Games could be complete without including MTG. Consistently innovating with new sets, mechanics, and worlds, MTG is a game that is in a constant state of refinement and reinvention. It isn’t just its long-term pedigree that earns Magic its spot here either. 2023 has been an eventful year for Wizards’ flagship TCG, with Commander Masters causing a stir for its inflated price points. But it’s the strength of Universes Beyond products such as Tales from Middle Earth and Doctor Who that have really made a splash this year, proving that real passion and clever overlap between mechanics and storytelling can make something special out of what could have just been a hollow brand crossover. What’s more, there’s way more to come. 2. Pokemon TCG The best value card game Nintendo’s monster-catching franchise has been a global phenomenon right from the start, and the Pokemon TCG has seen immense popularity right along with it. While Pokemon shines as a straightforward yet compelling TCG, what really makes it easier to recommend than its peers is the game’s prices. TCG players, especially those that cut their teeth on Magic, can be all too used to the often overwhelming spikes in the price of its most competitively viable cards. But the Pokemon TCG offers a more affordable alternative, with even its tournament-winning decks being easily accessible by most players. It cannot be overstated what a breath of fresh air it is to have a TCG wherein high power doesn’t always have to mean high prices. 3. Yu-Gi-Oh! The best card game for beginners Standing strong throughout the years, Yu-Gi-Oh! is one of MTG’s only competitors in terms of longevity. While it is an excellent option for TCG veterans, learning all of Yu-Gi-Oh!’s diverse summoning methods and complex interactions can be overwhelming for newcomers. That being said, the barrier for entry has been significantly lowered with the addition of Rush Duels. Yu-Gi-Oh! finally has a beginner-friendly format that doesn’t require instantly learning all of the additions, complications, and new summoning mechanics added over the years. Effectively a whole other TCG in its own right, Rush Duels does not use cards printed in mainline Yu-Gi-Oh! sets, instead printing its own streamlined products. While Rush Duels can’t hope to match the depth and complexity of the mainline card game, they serve as an excellent intro to teach players the mechanics before diving into the world of Links, XYZ, and Synchros. Aside from being an effective teaching tool, Rush Duels are a straightforward and exhilarating format in their own right. After years of working around summoning limitations, it can be a real thrill to play as many cards as possible each turn and restock your hand to full over and over again. 4. Flesh and Blood The best original property card game Some new TCGs can set themselves apart through sheer presentation value, tying into existing popular properties. Flesh and Blood has swiftly become beloved by doing the exact opposite. This is an original property that provides a well-crafted experience by focusing on the TCG fundamentals. With hero-based gameplay and an original setting that is growing all the time, Flesh and Blood, proves that, at the end of the day, thrilling and tactical gameplay is what many people come to TCGs for. In an age of dime-a-zone crossovers, it isn’t mandatory to capitalize on an existing IP to achieve success as a card game. 5. Disney Lorcana The best new card game A newcomer to the TCG scene, but one that is already making waves through its absurdly high demand and rush to reprint. Disney Lorcana was always going to have a popular initial release. But some of the design choices made for Lorcana’s second set, Rise of the Floodborn, suggest that it has the potential to stick around as a real competitor to Magic’s throne. Rise of the Floodborn shows that Lorcana’s designers are unafraid to think outside the box, reinventing classic heroes and archetypes and generating a lot of faith in the long-term survivability of the game as a result. Lorcana’s release set was built around some solid and unique mechanics, but it’s the first expansion that has really solidified its chances of future success. 6. The One Piece Card Game The best franchise tie-in card game From the unexpectedly excellent live-action series to Gear 5 taking the anime to new heights, it’s hard to deny that One Piece is having its moment. As the high-selling comic of all time, One Piece is an impressively long-lived epic that can serve as source material for years worth of TCG sets. Even as a newcomer to the card game scene, the One Piece Card Game is quickly carving out a place for itself among the greats. As the Manga has entered its final saga and the anime goes from strength to strength, expected the One Piece Card Game to remain relevant in the years ahead. Now’s a great time to jump in and get to grips before the mechanics and complexity inevitably deepen. 7. Digimon Card Game The best alternative card game While many card games draw liberal inspiration from popular games that have stood the test of time, the Digimon Card Game has been focusing on its own exciting design space, allowing it to clearly stand out from other franchise tie-in TCGs, Rather than branching out and building as wide a board as possible, the Digimon Card Game takes things in another, equally interesting direction. The franchise’s focus on ‘Digivolution’, monsters evolving into powerful new forms, is the key gameplay element that sets Digimon apart. The Digimon TCG emulates this by starting with cheaper, low-rank monsters and slowly evolving and building them up into unstoppable forces of nature. Anyone who has encountered the Mutate mechanic in MTG will understand the basics of Digivolving. But it works so much better in a game designed around it, than the ungainly fit with Magic’s mechanics. With its thrilling tug-of-war memory system, Digimon again sets itself apart from imitators of MTG’s mana casting. While most new TCGs are content to iterate on the greats, the Digimon Card Game is taking risks and pushing ahead into bold new areas of play. Best Card Games FAQ What is the best card game 2023? Magic: The Gathering is 2023’s best card game thanks to the success of its Universes Beyond sets. What is the cheapest card game in 2023? You are likely to save the most money on the Pokemon TCG due to its low-cost competitively viable cards Which card game is best for beginners? Yu-Gi-Oh! Rush Duel is the best option for easing newcomers in TCG mechanics. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best camera settings for UFC 5 EA SportsHere now are our recommendations for the best camera settings in UFC 5. This includes the differences between each camera style and movement settings. For those who want to improve their fighting skills in UFC 5, be prepared to get acquainted with the controls. But on top of the controls, it’s also important to figure out which camera angles and movement settings to use. After all, it’s not easy to fight if it’s hard to see what is going on in the fight. Here are our recommendations for the best camera settings in UFC 5, including a look at preferred camera styles and movements. Camera style Before we get into camera style recommendations for UFC 5, let’s quickly go over the four different styles and what each one does: Tight: Camera is framed tightly around fighters. – Medium: Camera zoomed in enough to have fighters just in frame. – Wide: Camera is further from the fighters with more peripheral view. – Classic: Camera is positioned higher and has a top-down view of the fighters. – Realistically, it’s a good idea to be able to have both fighters around in the frame and have some distance around them. This will help with positioning and avoid getting pinned in a corner in the Octagon. Classic is a solid camera angle for those who want a fuller view of the Octagon, while Wide does, as well. However, Classic is likely the better option for those who want to be able to see the action a little bit clearer Camera movements There are two camera movement settings in UFC 5: Arcade and Cinematic. Cinematic allows for more varied angles, whereas Arcade is more responsive. Always go with the more responsive when it comes to camera movements. We recommend Arcade for those who want to play the game from a more competitive standpoint.

Best Captain Boomerang build in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League RocksteadyWant to make the most out of Captain Boomerang in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? Here’s the best build for the character. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, the newest game in Rocksteady’s Arkham universe, offers a fresh take on the looter-shooter genre, offering fans of the series an action-packed experience. With their own special abilities, Harley Quinn, King Shark, Deadshot, and Captain Boomerang — the four members of Task Force X — each bring something special to the table. George Digger Harkness, also known as Captain Boomerang, is one of the four members with a flair for mischief and a collection of boomerangs that spans the gamut from explosive to completely strange. The character’s wacky antics and cynical humor amid chaos bring a touch of lightheartedness to the game’s dramatic plot. One of the most entertaining playable characters, Captain Boomerang employs his archenemy The Flash’s Speed Force gauntlet to swiftly deceive his enemies. Since the Justice League and Brainiac’s army are formidable foes, we have compiled the best build for Captain Boomerang in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Best Captain Boomerang build Captain Boomerang’s lightning-fast reflexes are a major selling point in the game. Players can move deftly across the battlefield thanks to the character’s acrobatic abilities and mastery of the Speed Force gauntlet. Captain Boomerang’s nimble reflexes up the ante, whether he’s evading enemies’ strikes or pulling off daring acts. However, with three unique playstyles, a wide range of weapons, and several talents, it’s hard to decide which one suits the character’s persona and abilities the best. To help you get the most out of good ol’ Boomer, here’s the best build. Playstyle and Talents If you want to make the most out of Captain Boomerang’s abilities in Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, opt for the Hit-N-Runner Playstyle. This will enable you to swiftly move across hordes of enemies and eliminate them with melee and close-range hits. Here are the Talents you need to activate for each tier: Weapons and Mods While Talents and Playstyles alter your gameplay experience, it’s the weapons you wield and the mods you use that make an impact. Here are the best ones you can use with Captain Boomerang to defeat your enemies: If you use the weapons and mods recommended above, you’ll be able to unleash Captain Boomerang’s full potential. However, to unlock all the Item Slots, you need to reach level 30 with the character. As there are several other playstyles you can continue to experiment your build with, this one turned out to be the best one after 21 hours of our gameplay of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. Check out more Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League content before you head out to Metropolis to save the day: How long is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? | How to get Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Twitch drops | Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League file size | Is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League on Steam Deck? | Is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League coming to Nintendo Switch? | What is the max level | Does Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League have crossplay and cross-progression? | Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League voice actors | Is Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League open-world?

Best Buy offering low prices on LEGO Star Wars Helmets for Black Friday These iconic LEGO Star Wars helmets are available on the cheap from Best Buy for Black Friday. You can’t save the galaxy without protecting your noggin! From The Mandalorian to Darth Vader, Star Wars brings some iconic headwear to the table and of course LEGO brings them to life in the LEGO Star Wars helmet line of sets. Thankfully Best Buy are here to offer a great deal on these bricky buckets just in time for the holiday season with their line of Black Friday deals. Save on LEGO Star Wars helmets with Best Buy Best Buy are offering great savings on a variety of LEGO Star Wars helmet sets for Black Friday. Sets such as these would make a great gift for the older LEGO Star Wars fan in your life. Best Buy reduces the price of the LEGO Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet set to a low $63.99 for Black Friday. This set includes 834 pieces making up the dark Sith lord. Disclaimer: heavy breathing and parenting issues are not included. Is Din Djarin breaking the Mandalorian creed once again? Nope! This is a 584-piece LEGO Star Wars The Mandalorian helmet replica reduced to $55.99 for Black Friday. So, you can display this helmet proudly or protect your little green friend in style. Display the helm of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s loyal brother-in-arms with the LEGO Star Wars Commander Cody helmet set. Based on the phase I Clone armor style and containing 766 pieces, Best Buy offers a great deal of $55.99 on this set. Try not to think about Order 66. Display the helmet of one of the greatest heroes of the Clone Wars in 854 pieces with the LEGO Star Wars Captain Rex Helmet priced at a low $55.99 from Best Buy for Black Friday. These helmets make great gifts along with the LEGO Star Wars Ultimate Collectors Series line of sets. I’m afraid any younglings will need to look elsewhere for their LEGO fix this holiday season. If you shouldn’t ride a bike without a helmet you certainly shouldn’t pilot an X-Wing fighter into a battle that changes the course of the rebellion against the Empire without one, should you? The LEGO Star Wars Luke Skywalker Red Five Helmet is discounted $17.50 to $52.49 this Black Friday with Best Buy. Those are all the deals Best Buy are offering on LEGO Star Wars Helmets for Black Friday, just in time to make a great gift for the holiday season. If you’re looking for more savings on LEGO this holiday season, check out our Black Friday LEGO deals hub for the best prices from selected retailers. If you click on a product link on this page, we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best Burgage Plot Upgrades in Manor Lords Slavic MagicManor Lords uses the Burgage Plot residential system as a major driver of progression and resource generation in a settlement. Here’s everything you need to know about what to prioritize when upgrading plots. Burgage Plots can be upgraded in two ways. The first is to simply upgrade the building to the next tier, increasing size and living standards. The main purpose of this is to progress settlements to the next size, with Burgage Plots of varying sizes required to upgrade from a village to a town. The other way to upgrade is by adding extensions to plots. These come in various forms and allow the citizens of a town to contribute materials and resources without heading to purpose-built structures. The only caveat is that the plot needs to be large enough to include one. As expected, some of these extensions are far more useful than others. Read on for our recommendations on what to build. Complete list of Burgage Plot extensions Level 1 Burgage Plot extensions Level 2 Burgage Plot extensions Burgage Plot extension recommendations Chicken Coop: The humble Chicken Coop is a fantastic choice from the early game onwards. It provides a passive food source to keep villagers satiated and adds variety to the Marketplace, one of the major requirements for upgrading Burgage Plots to higher levels. Vegetable Garden: Joining the Chicken Coop as a great source of early food is the Vegetable Garden. Adding it to a Burgage Plot provides regular and plentiful food in the early game, allowing you and your citizens to focus on more complex and lucrative areas of time investment. Tailor’s Workshop: The Tailor’s Workshop has a ton of utility, which arguably makes it the most impressive Burgage extension in the entire game. The ability to switch between product types is key, allowing Lords to provide for their people before switching to expensive goods to export for a tidy sum later. Blacksmith’s Workshop: Though it isn’t necessary in the earlier throes of the game, as the villages and towns on the map begin to expand, war is often inevitable. That’s where the Blacksmith’s Workshop comes in, allowing the militia to be properly armed without prohibitively expensive weapon import costs.

Best Bunny build in The First Descendant: Skills, Weapons, Reactor & Modules Nexon GamesBunny is one of the fastest characters in The First Descendant, meaning enemies will have a tough time tracking you down. Here’s the best Bunny build you can use with the right skills, weapons, modules, and more. The First Descendant has a plethora of characters to choose from. Bunny can deal a lot of damage thanks to her speed, and the electrical energy she harnesses. She’s sitting in S-tier of our tier list, and she’s the best mob clearer in the game once you’ve got the right build. If you’re looking to speedrun through The First Descendant’s missions faster than any other character, Bunny’s your best option. The First Descendant Best Bunny Build – Recommended Best Bunny Skills Lightning Emission is the best skill for Bunny, as it grants Electrocution. The perk debuffs enemies, which is very crucial when they come in a horde and deal continuous damage at 1-second intervals. The Lightning Emission skill lasts for 20 seconds and unlocks when Bunny reaches Level 5. Combined with Speed of Light, Bunny can quickly clear mobs without a second thought. This combo is what makes her an undisputed S-tier. All Bunny Skills Here are all the available skills that Bunny can use: Rabbit Foot (Passive) – Builds up Electricity charge while moving. Once Bunny stops, the accumulated Electricity can be used to deal damage to nearby enemies when landing a Double Jump. – Thrill Bomb – Spawns a Bomb that damages a nearby enemy. This damage increases depending on how much electric energy Bunny has gathered from running. – Speed of Light – Increases Sprint Speed and lets Bunny continuously run while active – Lightning Emission – Deals damage to enemies when moving. This damage increases depending on how much electric energy Bunny has gathered from running. – Maximum Power – Blast Electricity in front of Bunny, dealing damage to enemies that are in her path. This damage increases depending on how much electric energy Bunny has gathered from running and ends when the Electricity runs out. – Best Weapons for Bunny These are the best weapons for Bunny to use in The First Descendant: Thunder Cage (SMG) – Nightmare Reaper (Sniper Rifle) – Tamer (Machine Gun) – The Thunder Cage and Nightmare Reaper are ultimate weapons. The Thunder Cage SMG emits electric shockwaves while the Nightmare Reaper Sniper Rifle upon hitting the weak point of an enemy activates Death Propagation. The Tamer Machine Gun is also particularly effective against bosses in the game. Best Reactor to use with Bunny For Bunny, you’ll want a Tingling Mixture Reactor. Though her bread and butter skills get Singular scaling, you’ll want a Fusion reactor. Speed of Light will kill most mobs in one or two hits, anyways, so you’ll want that bonus Fusion damage for bosses and tougher enemies. Farm for a reactor that’s got a weapon you actually use, especially if you can swing an Ultimate reactor that matches up with something like Thunder Cage. That 160% bonus skill damage is nice to have. Best Modules for Bunny Here are the best Descendant Modules for Bunny: The key factor you must remember here is placing the mods in the Socket that aligns with their Module Socket Type and Class. This will reduce the Module Capacity Cost significantly, allowing you to place powerful and expensive mods easily. You can also use Crystallization Catalysts to add Module Sockets to your loadout, enabling you to really maximize your efficiency and start optimizing toward a build that gets all the essential modules in. Best External Components for Bunny In Bunny’s build, the best External Components are those with stats like Max Shield, Max HP, HP Recovery, and DEF. Getting the right components boils down to the fact how lucky you are. The First Descendant being a looter shooter means you’ll need to spend time finding External Components with good stats. How to unlock Bunny You can unlock Bunny in The First Descendant by obtaining the following materials through completing missions: Bunny Enhanced Cells (Vulgus Field Generator) – Bunny Stabilizer (Infiltrate the Magister Lab) – Bunny Spiral Catalyst (Vulgus Data Transmitter) – Bunny Amorphous Material Pattern (Slumber Valley) – For a complete rundown of how to unlock her, our dedicated guide has all the information you need. That’s everything you need to know about creating the best Bunny build! For even more builds, check out our guides for Jayber, Freyna, Ajax, and Blair.

Best Bulwark build in Space Marine 2: Weapons, perks & how to play Focus EntertainmentSpace Marine 2’s Bulwark is a lean, mean, fighting machine, with a focus on getting up close and personal with any Tyranids, other players, or enemies. But they’ll only stay alive if they’re built correctly. Sure, Space Marines may be genetically enhanced humans decked out in eight-foot armor, but they’re not unkillable. Space Marine 2 certainly makes that statement accurate, as if you don’t master the controls and build the perfect character, you’re sure to succumb to those annoying Tyranids. So, if the Bulwark looks like the class for you, we’ve got the best build you’ll want to run, from the ideal weapons, perks, grenades, and how best to play it. Recommended build for Bulwark Best weapons explained Secondary weapon – Bolt Pistol Since the Bulwark doesn’t have a Primary Weapon, you’ll need to focus on having a powerful yet useful Secondary, which is where the Bolt Pistol comes in. When compared to the alternative, a Plasma Pistol, the Bolt doesn’t quite deal the same damage. But it makes up for it with the increase in Ammo Reserve, added Piercing, fantastic Reloading Speed, and added Rate of Fire. After all, damage isn’t really the aim with your secondary, as the Bulwark mainly focuses on damage through the melee weapon. Of course, we recommend grabbing Gathalamor Crusade when you’re high enough level, but for the most part, any will do. As for the perks, we suggest following the selection outlined above. You’ll want to focus on increasing the power of your weapon based off the Bulwark’s favored design, which is Melee combat, making Retaliation Gun Strike Reload, and Elite Hunter a perfect choice. The rest will help you deal a little more damage from range when you need it. Melee weapon – Chainsword As previously explained, the Bulwark is a tanky Melee fighter, so you need to pick the right weapon for the job, which is undoubtedly the Chainsword. The Chainsword perfectly combines speed with brutal death. It’s got impressive Strength, a fantastic Cleaving Potential, and will make your character feel as deadly as a Space Marine should. When you get to the Relic level, we suggest choosing the Aquilan Dedication Chainsword. Its Fencing Defense and massive increase in strength is well worth the slight drop in Cleaving Potential. When it comes to perks, you’ll want to hammer down (pun absolutely intended) on increasing the effectiveness of your Stomp, as it’ll deal great damage and push enemies away, hence the Crushing Heel, Reverberating Impact, and Trampling Stride. On top of this, Armored Strength is a great first choice, as it pairs perfectly with the Bulwark’s skill. Best grenades for Bulwark Frag – Melta – From the offset, it’s worth noting this is primarily for the 6v6 PvP mode, you don’t get the chance to choose your grenade in Operations. Nevertheless, we recommend choosing the Frag grenade as a beginner, and then grabbing the Melta grenade once you get to a high enough level. Stun grenades are great, but AoE damage isn’t much good when the players are also aware of its effect, they’ll quickly move out of the way. Frag grenades are a classic and will decimate enemies early on. However, the Melta is the perfect upgrade and should be the end goal. Best perks for Operations While PvP gets a choice of grenade, the Operations get character perks, which can be perfect for expertly crafting a powerful Space Marine. Thankfully, you can grab multiple — and we’d suggest prioritizing the following ones for the Bulwark: Since there are so many perks to choose from, it’s really up to you regarding the ones you pick. However, we suggest choosing perks based on Health and melee fighting, like Defensive Advantage, Conviction, or Invigoration Icon. On the topic of the team perks with Invigoration Icon, thanks to the speed of you skills recovery, choosing the aforementioned perk and Rejuvenating Effect is a fantastic decision, especially in trickier missions. Your Banner is your best friend when a swarm arrives, so granting bonuses to that through Rapid Regeneration and the team perks is key to your success. How to play the Bulwark So, now you have the best Bulwark build in Space Marine 2, it’s time to dive in and play the character. However, before you do that, it’s important for you to understand how the Bulwark fights. Their description reads: “Sword and Shield: A Bulwark Space Marine defends both the members of their Squad and the ideas of the Imperium.” As such, you act as the tank for the team. Your skill allows for more armor, and your melee focus lets you parry, stomp, and stun your way through enemies. It takes a lot of perfecting, and plenty of understanding regarding the combos, but when you’ve got a handle on that, you’ll be slaying Tyranids with ease. When it comes to using your skill, we suggest dropping it down just as a horde begins to overwhelm the team. Once you’ve upgraded your perks, the skill won’t last too long, so you need to make it count. Luckily, it has a pretty quick regen time, so you’ll be able to use it in the next battle. As for boss fights, this is where you come into your own. It’s easy to stay back and shoot them from a ‘safe’ position, but one look at their health bar and you’ll see it’s pointless. For this, you need to get up close and personal. Keep smashing the boss with your melee weapon and be prepared to parry and dodge at a moment’s notice. As previously mentioned, the more you’ve perfected the combos, the more deadly you’ll be. Lastly, when it comes to PvP, you’re working much the same way as smaller enemies. Don’t be afraid to run right up in the enemy’s face and swing your Chainsword, most of the time the other classes aren’t prepared for close range, which is where you can topple them. Also, support your team, there’s always a place for dropping your skill down and then running into the enemy alone, that way you’re all safer. So, that’s how to build the perfect Bulwark in Space Marine 2. Naturally, each build can be adapted if your playstyle doesn’t match, but this is the ideal all-rounder for both missions and the PvP adventures. If the Bulwark isn’t for you, check out our build guide for the Assault class.

Best Boomer Shooters & retro-inspired FPS games: Turbo Overkill, HROT & more Burnt Pineapple Productions via FlickrThe retro-inspired “boomer shooter” and other adjacent first-person-shooter games are some of the most exciting things to be happening in the genre right now. Here are our favorite boomer shooters. Whether a straight-up clone of games of old, or pushing the genre into new territories, there’s nothing more exciting in first-person-shooters (FPS) than the boomer shooter. These games harken back to older titles like DOOM, Quake, and Duke Nukem, rather than pulling from modern titles like Call of Duty. They’re often doing intriguing things with the genre that big studios just won’t even contemplate. It’s one thing to be inspired by the past, but a lot of these are taking it and running in a new, thrilling direction. That, or they’re just making a good “one of those”. Here are the best Boomer Shooters, old and new, for you to check out in 2024. Turbo Overkill One of the newer boomer shooters on the market, this takes inspiration from games like Quake and Duke Nukem. It has an overt attitude, with a lot of flipping the bird and juvenile humor, but it drips style while doing it. This leaks all the way through to how the game is played too. Turbo Overkill wants you to feel like an angry, hateful, and metal-filled god while shooting. Enemies explode into ludicrous gibs, while you’ll find yourself already moving onto the next batch to the meat grinder. This is a game that has a minigun that upgrades into a flamethrower. The pistol has that neat target system from Titanfall 2. There’s a rocket launcher that does no splash damage so you’re never discouraged from using it. Once Turbo Overkill pushes the pedal down, it never lets it go. It also dips into old-school 3D platforming, and while it is usually eye-rolling, Turbo Overkill’s super tight movement makes it a doddle. Duke Nukem 3D From modernity to 1996, a brave new world entered the FPS space. A character with a personality. It might be one-dimensional, but boy did it spark an entire ripple through everything. Duke Nukem 3D is still a fantastic shooter. It’s managed to endure its overshadowed legacy by simply being so good. From the encounters in the blocky streets of L.A. to the moon-faring fights in space, it’s still one we fully recommend. However, if you are going to play Duke Nukem 3D, it’s best to use something like eDuke32. This source port allows for some modern comforts to the old game. It’ll also probably fix Duke Nukem 3D: World Tour’s issues. There are a couple of ways to get Duke Nukem 3D, one through Gearbox’s most recent release of the game, which comes with a new Episode 5. The 20th Anniversary World Tour is the easiest one to play out of the box, but it has issues. Fans recommend playing it through eDuke32, but you’ll also miss out on some of the expansions. Zoom Platform actually still sells the now-delisted Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition for $5.99. This includes the expansions and a community pack of maps. Post-Void While more inspired by the old-school (namely Wolfenstein 3D), rather than a direct ‘boomer shooter’, Post-Void is a nightmare. You have seconds left to live and the only way to survive is to kill. Post-Void is built on corridors and low ceilings like the aforementioned Wolfenstein 3D, rather than ultra-fast-paced arenas. However, the entire game is a visual assault and an extended session made me feel ill. I’d recommend it, it’s cheap on Steam. DUSK Directly inspired by Quake, DUSK wouldn’t be out of place in 1999. It’s fast-paced, slathered in this grotesque horror style. Tonnes of deep browns, grotty hallways, and it’s immaculately put together. Made by a single person, DUSK is this intricately built game that rarely drops in a consistent pure gold quality. It perfectly recreates that feeling of the ups of dominating a level and the downs of reloading into an unwinnable situation. But DUSK never feels frustrating. It’s revitalizing in a way. Succeeding against the hoard, it’s an unmatched feeling. Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Taking Warhammer 40K’s most iconic thing, the space marine, and letting you go at 60MPH invokes a fear. This heavy, hulking brute can casually move at speeds comparable to a car, while also obliterating everything in its path. Imagine it. Anyway, Boltgun makes this a reality. It’s an excellent time, dripping with a deliberate 90s aesthetic and filled with arenas to eliminate. It offers a decent challenge too on higher difficulties. HROT A gloomy, Soviet-era-themed game, HROT is built on an entirely custom engine. It’s a bleak shooter, with haunting visuals as you explore the grim world it forces you through. Its horror is balanced out with twitchy traditional boomer shooter goodness. HROT feels a lot like the original Quake, with a speedy weightiness as you lurk through metros and urban blocks. It’s quick to kill you, but even faster to provide you ammo to even the odds. Half-Life How can a list of retro shooters not include Half-Life? The game that completely changed the game. Revolutionary titles like Quake 2 paled in comparison to what Half-Life cooked up. It’s filled with incredible action sequences, including fantastic shootouts with armies and figuring out the best way to blast your way through aliens. It recently received an update, and is much easier to run on modern machines. Black Mesa If Half-Life is the action behemoth that changed the game, Black Mesa is its horror reimagining. Grounding the game in a darkly parallel reality, Black Mesa recreates the facility in a new light. Still retaining all the action set pieces, it’s a totally different ball game. It also reimagines the entire ending sequence on the alien world Xen. That means they made it less insufferable than the original’s nightmarish browns and beige islands. Half-Life 2, Episodes 1 & 2 You can’t stop there though. If you’ve never played Half-Life before, be sure to play the 2004 sequel and its subsequent episodes. It doesn’t matter how new you are, or how well you know about the devastating cliffhanger in Episode 2, it will feel like a gut punch. Half-Life 2 takes the original boomer shooter attitude of the first game but streamlines it to make the action harder-hitting and much faster. Episode 1 features one of the best Half-Life tracks of all time, as well as an incredible close-quarters shoot-out with the menacing Combine. Meanwhile, Episode 2 is a far more open and brief glimpse of what the future of Half-Life could have been. It’s fantastic, with its short 5-hour playtime packed with a variety of things to explore and do. DOOM (2016) Did you think I was going to include just regular DOOM and DOOM 2 on this list? We already know they’re great boomer shooters. DOOM 2016 needs more respect around these parts. A total asteroid in the desolate wastes of the summer of 2016, still rocks. It rips straight through all the lore the characters try to set up while offering some of the best-controlled chaos and reviving the legendary series back to its former glory. It’s hilarious, genuinely thrilling, and has an absolute ripper of a soundtrack. F.E.A.R Bringing slow motion to a gunfight might seem unfair, but F.E.A.R. does not care for you. You’re a squishy meat bag being haunted by an evil child. Without it, the quick save is your best friend. F.E.A.R expertly blends its new wave of smart enemies and raging difficulty with the classic boomer shooter staples of a shotgun that cuts through anything. There’s a delight in being spooked and immediately having to regain your composure for an ambush by your foes. It’s another unique entry in the pantheon of boomer shooters. Rise of the Triad Wolfenstein might have been the launch pad for DOOM and more, an accidental launchee was Rise of the Triad. Rather than chasing after DOOM, Rise of the Triad went back to the Wolfenstein well of taking down those pesky Nazis. Rise of the Triad doesn’t even try to askew to the normal. It immediately throws you into a world of magic, jump pads, and being turned into a dog. It builds itself up, but once Rise of the Triad gets going, it’s an unmatched experience of early, unbridled energy. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best boss card to pick in MLB The Show’s 5th Inning Program San Diego StudioA new Inning Program has landed within MLB The Show 21, and it has once again unveiled some stellar cards for players to unlock and use within Diamond Dynasty. But, is there a clear winner when it comes to these boss cards? The Inning Programs that San Diego Studios implements monthly for MLB The Show Diamond Dynasty players offer some of the best rewards for simply playing the game. Once again, a new event has been released into the game, and players are amped to grab all the cards available to them. This time around, the choice may not seem as clear as it has in previous programs, as all three of the cards are incredible in their own regard. But, we’re going to try and narrow down which cards you should be choosing when you do reach LVL 25 in order to snag the boss card pack! Who are the boss cards for the 5th Inning Program? As with any Inning Program within MLB The Show, players will get to choose from one of three 99 OVR boss cards to add into their collection. This time around, we have the following options. Nolan Ryan – Pitcher – Vladimir Guerrero Sr. – Right Fielder – Joe Morgan – Second Base – They’re all 99 OVR and have differentiating attributes that may lean one player to opt for one or the other. But, when building a Diamond Dyasnty lineup, there’re a few key points that you be taking note of. Pitching and power-hitting players are among must-haves for your lineup, being able to shut down your opponent while also hitting HR’s is absolutely key. Which boss card should I choose? The choice really comes down to either Nolan Ryan or Vladimir Guerrero Sr, as the Joe Morgan card lacks the hitting attributes that the Guerrero offers, and one can never have too many pitchers. Nolan Ryan Beginning with Ryan, he offers some incredible pitches and also bolsters the Outlier trait. Which, enables his pitches to break the 102 MPH threshold that MLB The Show has, so his pitches will appear a bit faster when facing him. Nolan throws the following four pitches. 4SFB – 99 MPH + – 12-6 Curveball – 81 MPH – Circle-Change – 79 MPH – Sinker – 95 MPH – While the Curveball and Circle-Change are nice to have, the real pitch is the Sinker, which has been the go-to pitch for Diamond Dynasty this year, and with Ryan’s 99 break rating, this may be an un-hittable pitch. Vladimir Guerrero Sr. On the flip side, we have Vladimir Guerrero Sr. who already appears to be one of the best slugging RF’s currently in the game. Featuring dominant power of 112, and 113 for both sides of the plate, he also offers maxed-out contact against right/left-handed pitchers. With an added bonus of a 99 OVR arm, it’ll be a breeze to gun down your opponent if they’re trying to run the bases on you. Read More: Most expensive cards in MLB The Show 21 – With all this said, we believe both of these cards are going to be chosen equally as if you are in need of pitching then the Nolan Ryan card can fit nicely in your rotation. But, if you haven’t collected any slugging RF’s or just want a boost to your bats, then the Vlad Sr. card is one you are going to want to opt for.

Best board games to play in 2024 Avalon HillThere’s certainly no shortage of excellent board games to try out in 2024, from old favorites that have stood the test of time to new and innovative titles from the best developers in the business. From strategy games to social deduction, these are some of our picks for the best board games you can play in 2024. Whatever your play group or preferred style of play, you should be able to find the perfect game for you. We’ve provided a diverse range of titles for you to check out below, that we believe represents some of the best that modern board games have to offer. Whether you’re a board game newbie looking to dip your toes in, or a veteran player looking for the latest title to introduce to your group, we hope you’ll find something to engage your interest. 1. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion The best board game overall Specifications: Players: 1-4 – Age range: 14+ – Play time: 30-120 minutes – Complexity: Mid-High – Reasons to buy: More beginner-friendly spin-off – Still has Gloomhaven’s depth – Addictive dungeon-delving experience – Gloomhaven is a universally beloved title that most players would rank among the best board games of all time. Jaws of the Lion expands on what makes the property so great while paring back some of its more daunting elements. Stradling the line between a traditional board game and a TTRPG, Gloomhaven’s world and mechanics expand at a thrilling rate as you play. A year or more in and your Gloomhaven sessions will look totally different than those at the start of a campaign. And while a year might sound like a hefty investment, anyone sucked into Gloomhaven’s orbit will know that once you’re in, you’re in for the long haul. But, while Gloomhaven is beloved for exactly this reason, it can also be a steep barrier to entry. Jaws of the Lion attempts to do away with the baggage and draw new players into Gloomhaven’s engaging world. It presents a standalone dungeon-crawling adventure, balancing brutal resource management with more forgiving character advancement, providing an easier on-ramp into this fan-favorite world. 2. Dead of Winter The best resource management game Specifications: Players: 2-5 – Age range: 13+ – Play time: 60-120 minutes – Complexity: Mid – Reasons to buy: Deep replayability through missions and expansions – Engaging co-op gameplay – Variety of characters – A grueling survival game that is surprisingly accessible, Dead of Winter remains comfortably in the upper echelons of co-op board game experiences. At first, you’ll just be looking to keep up the barricades around your colony and keep your stockpiled food from dwindling. But as each game progresses, you’ll need to risk increasingly dangerous trips outside in order to collect what you need, whether that be fuel from the gas station or formulae from the suspicious abandoned lab nearby. With dozens of survivors with unique stats and abilities to control, Dead of Winter provides what every good zombie narrative needs; a reason to care about its characters. Balancing risky searches for survivors and supplies with punishing resource management, it can be a struggle to stay alive in Dead of Winter, much less complete your objectives and succeed. But while Dead of Winter’s difficulty can often be punishing, the playing experience is rarely anything less than joyful. There’s something about survival games that can bring players closer in cooperation than many other genres. Whether it’s divvying up crucial items, making choices for the good of the colony, or venturing out into the ruined world together, Dead of Winter still shines like a beacon in the blizzard. 3. Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate The best fantasy game Specifications: Players: 3-6 – Age range: 12+ – Play time: 60 minutes – Complexity: Low-Mid – Reasons to buy: Blend of RPG Mechanics and board game exploration – Co-op to competitive twist – Excellent D&D Worldbuilding – Those who have played the original Betrayal at House on the Hill know that it’s an all-time classic of the medium, with near-endless replayability, tons of flavor, and a killer collaborative-turned-competitive midway twist. Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate takes all of that and repackages it to fit the world of D&D. No longer creeping through a haunted house, players are instead picking their way through the streets and sewers of Faerun’s most famous – and dangerous – city. While the flavor may have changed, moving away from horror and more towards fantasy, there’s still plenty of peril to encounter in this co-op adventure. For players with fond memories of House on the Hill, Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate is simply a new and engaging way to play. And for fans of Baldur’s Gate 3, this game presents a second chance to delve deep into the city and its secrets. 4. Root The best strategy game Specifications: Players: 2-6 – Age range: 10+ – Play time: 60-90 minutes – Complexity: Mid – Reasons to buy: Each faction plays completely differently – Deep gameplay but low barrier to entry – Uniquely charming style – Don’t let the wonderful, cutesy art style fool you, Root is far from a friendly woodland frolic. Foregrounding strategic choice and ruthless competitive gameplay, Root is an accessible step into wargaming for players of all kinds. Relocating the factional squabbles, dynastic politics and mercenary bands of a George RR Martin novel to a world of cartoonish woodland critters is an appealingly off-beat move, and it pays off in spades for Root. Asymmetrical warfare is the biggest selling point here, with each player being able to select a group that plays completely differently. From the Eyrie Dynasties’ pre-programmed turns to the Corvid Conspiracy’s anarchic plots, fans of character classes and factions will have a field day with Root. Finding your preferred playstyle can be a huge part of the fun, as can picking a new faction and switching up the game each and every time you play. With several high-quality expansions, introducing new factions and mechanics like hirelings, Root is a deep and rewarding experience that any play group can return to again and again. 5. Dune Imperium The best deck-builder Specifications: Players: 1-4 – Age range: 14+ – Play time: 60-120 minutes – Complexity: High – Reasons to buy: Expansive Worldbuilding – Hybrid deck-building and resource gameplay – Stylish, minimalistic presentation – There’s no doubt that Dune is having its moment, thanks to the rave reviews and popularity enjoyed by the release of Part 2. For those who can’t get enough of Dune, this game is a great way to expand your time with Arrakis and the wider Dune universe. In Dune Imperium, players will come into conflict over control of the desert planet Arrakis and its valuable Spice. Players build up their forces and resources while employing relationship management with factions like the Bene Gesserit and the Spacing guild. Dune Imperium succeeds by bringing most of what fans love about the world of Dune to life without compromising on engaging, strategic gameplay. While its intricate interlocking systems make Dune Imperium difficult to recommend for board game beginners, it will prove a treat for seasoned hobbyists. 6. Alice is Missing The best story-focused game Specifications: Players: 3-5 – Age range: 12+ – Play time: 120-180 minutes – Complexity: Mid-High – Reasons to buy: Bridges gap between board games and RPGs – Excellent storytelling and worldbuilding – Unique texting gameplay – Alice is Missing is the most unique entry you’ll find on this list, standing halfway between an innovative board game experience and a TTRPG. In playing Alice is Missing, players step into the role of people familiar with the titular Alice, using their phones to text and discover clues as to her disappearance. Oftentimes, playing RPGs and board games remotely can be a daunting and alienating task, even with the help of virtual tabletop programs. But Alice is Missing’s gameplay is perfect for remote sessions, making starting a game that much easier. A character exploration and mystery game like no other, Alice is Missing blends roleplaying, clue hunting, and character building into a fantastic social experience for any gaming group. 7. One Night: Ultimate Werewolf The best social game Specifications: Players: 3-10 – Age range: 8+ – Play time: 10-20 minutes – Complexity: Low – Reasons to buy: Role-based social deduction – Easy to learn – Great for any number of players – Perfect party game – Werewolf differs from most of the games presented here in length and complexity but is no less enjoyable for it. This is a game without many moving parts, figures, and props. It’s a much more social, direct experience, relying on imagination and bluffing. In One Night: Ultimate Werewolf, the classic deduction game of Werewolf is boiled down to its barest essentials. At its base level, players are handed cards marking them as either villagers or wolves. It’s up to the villagers to find the wolves in their midst and cast them out before the wolves manage to pick the villagers off. The game can start out simple, but quickly bloom for experienced players thanks to additional roles to keep the game fresh and exciting. One Night: Ultimate Werewolf is undoubtedly one of the best party games out there right now. With almost no prep of memorization needed, thanks to the integration of a great companion app, Werewolf can be enjoyed in groups of any size at a moment’s notice. Best Board Games 2024 FAQ What are are best board games to play in 2024? Dead of Winter, Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate, Root, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion, Dune Imperium, Alice is Missing, and One Night: Ultimate Werewolf are the best board games to pick up in 2024. Which board game is the easiest to pick up? One Night: Ultimate Werewolf is the easiest game presented here for beginners. Which Board Game takes the longest to play? Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion’s campaign can run for many sessions, and its sessions take around 30-120 minutes.

Best Blair build in The First Descendant: Skills, Weapons, Reactor & Modules NexonBlair can certainly bring the heat to enemies in The First Descendant – but to ensure he doesn’t burn up straight away, you’ll need the best build. So, here are the right Skills, weapons, Reactors, and Modules to help you succeed. As a Chef turned soldier, Blair is no stranger to a stressful situation, nor is he a stranger to upping the heat when needed, which is likely why he’s so skilled in fire during combat. However, to avoid getting burned by a bad build, you’ll need to craft the perfect build. So, with our tier list ranking Blair at B, he’s a force to be reckoned with when you’re using the best possible build. The First Descendant Best Blair Build – Recommended Best Blair skills As is the case with all Descendants, Blair has access to five skills in The First Descendant. If used correctly, they all can be incredibly powerful. But they have to be used tactically, as your MP is limited. So, here are the three abilities we’d recommend you use: Blaze Up is easily the best Active Skill for Blair in The First Descendant. It allows for consistent damage thanks to the Burn Zone, and is perfect for taking down a tight group of enemies without needing to get yourself in danger. – Deadly Cuisine is a fantastic choice for Blair thanks to its ranged damage and multiple targets. Given the ability splits into smaller fireballs which then turn into Burn Zones, you’re able to target tons of enemies and hopefully take them out without needing to fire too many shots. – Lastly, Burn Taste is an ideal skill to have in Blair’s arsenal. Sure, it’s not as widespread as Deadly Cuisine or Blaze Up, but being able to deal deadly damage to one enemy rather than a little to a lot is perfect for a bigger boss or tougher challenge. – All Blair skills Below are the five available skills for Blair in The First Descendant: Blaze Up: Spurts flame to deal damage to nearby enemies and creates Stove, which inflicts constant damage and Burn effect to nearby enemies. – Extinguish: Retrieves Stoves on the battlefield and restores Mana, increasing DEF for a short period of time. – Burn Taste: Spurts flames forward. Enemies near the flames’ arrival point are inflicted with constant damage and Burn. – Deadly Cuisine: Throws a large fireball. Large fireball splits into small fireballs causing extra explosions, inflicting Burn, and creating Stove on the ground. Stove deals constant damage to nearby enemies and inflicts them with Burn. – Pitmaster (Passive): Critical Hit Damage increases when attacking enemies in Burn state. Critical Hit Chance increases depending on the number of Stoves in battlefield. – Best weapons for Blair The best weapons for Blair are a combination of: Thunder Cage Submachine Gun – Afterglow Sword Sniper Rifle – Nazeistra’s Devotion Hand Cannon. – The Thunder Cage Submachine Gun is a powerful and high-speed weapon to use against your enemies. Thanks to Blair’s additional burn damage, you’ll be able to mow down smaller enemies with ease. Blair thrives when he uses a Sniper Rifle, and the Afterglow Sword is your best choice in that category. Hitting enemy weak points with this weapon will inflict Death Propagation, and is perfect for longer-range Descendants, like Blair. Lastly, a fantastic secondary weapon to use with Blair in The First Descendant is Nazeistra’s Devotion. This Hand Cannon can pack an impressive punch and reduce the enemy’s defense by 30% for three seconds, greatly increasing your critical hit chance through the Pitmaster passive, and allowing you to burn enemies to the ground without a struggle. Best Reactor With Blair focusing primarily on fire damage, you’re best off focusing on Reactors with Burn elements as their priority to get the best build. Alternatively, you could keep an eye on Reactors with high Skill or Attack power to give Blair a little boost. We recommend picking up the following Reactors: Burning Phase: Boosts Fire and Dimension types – Burning Singularity: Boosts Fire and Singular types – Best Modules for Blair Given Blair’s love for Fire and the importance of his skills, it’s vital to choose Modules that will increase potency. The likes of Fire Specialists, Skill Range Master, and, of course, Classic Chef are perfect for Blair and his skills. Combine that with the classic Technique Manual and Willpower Efflux, and you’ll be a powerhouse. Best External Components Given that External Components are purely RNG-based drops, grabbing the right ones can be a bit of a frustrating grind in The First Descendant. However, these are the ones you’ll want to look out for with Blair: Max Shields – Max HP – HP Recovery – DEF – Nothing is more frustrating than losing yourself in a battle, only to realize your Shield has gone down without you noticing. So, upgrading your shield with Max Shields is always a top priority for Blair. Combine that with your increased DEF and you’ve got a pretty sturdy Descendant on your hands. Then, along with prioritizing your Shields and DEF, you’ll want to keep an eye on your HP. We suggest buffing your HP Recovery and Max HP to keep you and Blair in the battle a little longer. How to unlock Blair To unlock Blair in The First Descendant you’ll have to collect multiple crafting resources. These are the items required to get him: Repton x192 – Semiconstant Plasma x225 – Arche Receptor x15 – Blair Enhanced Cell Blueprint x1 – x150,000 gold – Stabilizer parts Repton x192 – Hardner x453 – Data Processing Cercuit x9 – Blair Stablizer Blueprint x1 – x150,000x gold – Spiral Catalyst parts Metal Accelerant x270 – Hardner x453 – Monite Stone x16 – Blair Spiral Catalyst Blueprint x1 – x150,000x gold – Blair code Haigos (Normal) – Old Mystery – For a full rundown of how to unlock Blair, check out our dedicated guide. That’s the best Blair build in The First Descendant. While leveling him up, check out some of our other build guides for Ajax, Bunny, Freyna, Gley, Kyle, Lepic, and Valby.

Amazon is offering deep savings on some of the best board games CMYK GamesDon’t miss your chance to get some of the best board games for less with Amazon’s current deals. If you’re looking for some of the best board games to play this weekend but don’t want to shell out the full sticker price then you’re in luck. Amazon currently features discounts on some of our favorite titles at reduced prices worth your time. Dead of Winter is currently available from the world’s largest online retailer with a reduced price of $37.99 (down from $60) for 37% off the MSRP. That’s a saving of $22 which is only a couple of bucks off the historic lowest-ever price, last seen almost five years ago. If you’re a fan of zombie fiction such as The Last of Us then you’ll enjoy Dead of Winter. It’s a post-apocalyptic survival horror experience for ages 13 and up and from two to five players which can last anywhere from an hour to the full 120 minutes depending on group size. There are dozens of different characters to play as with variables such as psychological differences, and differing strengths and weaknesses ensuring that no run is ever the same. In contrast, Wavelength is an entirely different beast. This super simple and rapid-fire party game is ideal for groups of up to 20 people, or more, with takes mere seconds to set and only around a minute or two to learn. That means that no matter the party size, you can get up and running and have a great time without getting bogged down in rules or complicated systems. Teams take it in turns to get the red dial as close to a colored target as they can with the twist being that the target is obscured randomly between rounds. That’s where the “physic” in the team comes into play as they can give clues to help each group find where the dial should sit. That means a combination of guesswork, general knowledge, and a little luck to get ahead. Easy to play, but hard to master, where no two games are the same. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best Black Myth: Wukong mods to download on PC in 2024 Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong may be relatively new but that hasn’t stopped modders from making their own adjustments to the game. Here are some of the best ones so far. Black Myth: Wukong has taken the world by storm with an explosive launch that rocketed it to the second-most concurrently played game of all time on Steam. All within 24 hours of its release. The massive player count is well-earned too. The game perfectly captures the iconic legend of Journey to the West and our own review calls Black Myth: Wukong “one of the most striking marriages of graphical prowess and artistic vision”. Of course, gamers have proven time and time again that there’s no game so great, it couldn’t do with a few tweaks. To that end, we’ve compiled the best Black Myth: Wukong mods to download on PC. Here they are in no particular order. Black Myth: Wukong – Simple Map mod Simply titled ‘Simple Map’, this mod adds a much-needed map to the game. Despite its name, the map added is actually quite detailed. It has functions that allow the player to zoom in, scroll the map around, and even choose to display nearby resources to reduce some tedium. It may sound like a small inclusion but with Black Myth: Wukong’s easy-to-miss branching pathways, this mod is a lifesaver. With over 30,000 downloads at the time of writing, players seem to agree. Black Myth: Wukong – Son Goku mod This one might be a little sillier but Goku feels undeniably suited to Black Myth: Wukong, partially due to the character’s parallels to the Monkey King. The mod has already taken social media by storm and is hugely popular among players. Nexus Mods user NorskPL’s Son Goku mod does exactly what it says on the box and turns the Destined One into Goku from Dragon Ball Z. Well, technically Super since there is an option to go Ultra Instinct. Black Myth: Wukong – Double Diamond Pickaxe mod Another one that’s a little on the sillier side but our inner Minecraft fan wouldn’t let us leave it off the list. This Mod replaces your Willow Wood starter staff with the iconic Diamond Pickaxe. Well, two of them technically. Unfortunately, it doesn’t give you any extra benefits like the ability to mine Obsidian but that’s not exactly useful in Black Myth: Wukong. Black Myth: Wukong – Better Dodge mod Black Myth: Wukong’s Better Dodge mod adds extra I-frames to your dodge making it easier to avoid some of the more frustrating combo strings from bosses. It also compensates for some of the input lag that players have complained about meaning the dodge feels more responsive. At present, its settings can’t be tweaked so you’re stuck with what you’re given. If it feels a little too much like cheating, it may conflict with certain players’ sensibilities. Black Myth: Wukong – Double-Bladed Lightsaber mod If you thought Black Myth: Wukong was lacking a little sci-fi flare, why not turn all of the game’s weapons into Darth Maul’s iconic Double-Bladed Lightsaber? That’s exactly what NorskPL’s mod does. Unleashing your inner Sith Lord is fun and all but if a monkey with a Double-Bladed Lightsaber is too ridiculous for your taste, NorskPL also has a mod that will change the Destined One into Darth Maul himself. Much better. How to install mods in Black Myth: Wukong With no official mod support, there isn’t a uniform way of installing mods on Black Myth: Wukong. Each of the mods on this list has its own separate instructions for installation but for most of them, you’ll need to ensure you place them in a specific folder for them to work. Go to the folder where you’ve installed Black Myth: Wukong, and look for this path: BlackMythWukong\b1\Content\Paks~mods. If there isn’t an existing ~mods folder, you can create one yourself. You’ll also need to set up Launch Options for the game on Steam by right-clicking and selecting Properties. Then, in the Launch Options box, add -fileopenlog. Nexus Mods also has its own launch tool called Vortex which can be helpful when organising your load order. Do Black Myth: Wukong mods work on console? There is not currently a way to use mods in the console version of Black Myth: Wukong and developer Game Science has not made any official announcement about the possibility of adding a method in the future. We can’t speak to the likelihood of any official mod support for consoles but it is not common in games outside of Bethesda titles like Starfield, Skyrim, and Fallout. That’s everything you need to know about the best Black Myth: Wukong mods on PC. If you’re looking for more ways to enhance your experience without mods, check out our guides on where to find all its bosses or the best Shapeshifting forms.

Best Berserk figures: Figma, ThreeZero & more Berserk’s world of vengeance is brought to life in highly detailed action figures and statues capturing key characters like Guts, Griffith, Slan, and iconic scenes. Since its premiere in 1989, Kentaro Miura’s dark fantasy epic Berserk has earned a devoted following for its grim storytelling and striking visual style. For fans eager to showcase their Berserk passion, action figures, and statues capture the look of Guts, Griffith, demons, and angels with exceptional detail. Spanning fearsome warriors to supernatural entities, these Berserk figures highlight elements that make the manga iconic. Wielding massive weapons, donning sinister armor, and exhibiting preternatural powers, the figures bring pivotal scenes and characters to vivid life. S.H. Figuarts Guts Berserker Armor Tamashii Nations launched a must-have for Berserk fans with this S.H. Figuarts armored Guts. Measuring about 6 inches tall, the figure wields his sword Dragonslayer along with interchangeable hands, heads, and weapons that animate his rage-fueled battles. S.H. Figuarts Guts Berserker Armor “Heat of Passion” Tamashii Nations unleashed other intense Guts Berserker Armor figures with the S.H. Figuarts “Heat of Passion” version. It stands about 6 inches tall with accessories to switch between “skull” and “normal” helmet versions plus optional body parts. Vibrant color schemes underscore the dynamic combat action possible. Max Factory Guts Berserker Armor Bust Max Factory sculpted an imposing Guts bust radiating fury in his Berserker state. This figure is cast in Polystone, with detailed armor and effects that capture his intense struggle to resist the armor’s influence in a striking piece. Figma Femto “Egg of the Supreme Ruler” Figma’s “Freeing” line produced another stunning Femto embodiment with this Femto Figure, featuring a stand based on the Egg of the Supreme Ruler, used in Griffith’s unholy rebirth. The articulated 6-inch figure conveys his dark magnificence. Figma Femto Freeing added frightening elegance to its Berserk figma lineup with this rendering of Griffith reborn as a demon god. The six-inch figma boasts articulated wings and a body to showcase Femto’s sinister power through various unsettling poses. ThreeZero Black Swordsman Guts In a towering 12-inch figure, ThreeZero recreated Guts during his lone wolf Black Swordsman era. With intricately detailed armor, clothing fabric, interchangeable heads/hands, and massive weapons, it embodies his vengeance-fueled quest. Figma Slan & Conrad This Freeing boxed set couples the God Hand’s only female member Slan with her follower Conrad. The six-inch Slan figma and two and a half-inch Conrad figFIX epitomize Berserk’s themes of lust and violence. Figma Guts Berserker Armor Skull Edition Max Factory’s updated Berserker Armor Guts figma adds a new skull helmet and luminous spirit Schierke to the original sculpt. These bonus parts expand posing and display options for the popular figure. Figma Black Swordsman Guts Enhanced Edition With enhanced paintwork on skin and armor, Max Factory’s Black Swordsman Figma presents Guts in striking detail. Switching arms, and faces, and firing his cannon arm captures his quest’s unrelenting nature. S.H Figuarts Griffith Hawk of Light Tamashii Nations crafted this highly poseable S.H. Figuarts Griffith during his Hawk of Light phase. The six-inch figure comes with alternate hands, heads, helmet parts, a sword, cape, and more to dramatize Griffith leading the reformed Band of the Falcon. ThreeZero Griffith (Reborn Band of the Falcon) ThreeZero produced an intricately detailed 1/6th scale Griffith figure in armor leading his reformed troops. With a customized body boasting 40 points of articulation as well as a meticulously detailed costume and accessories. It captures his charisma and allure of the reborn Griffith. ThreeZero Skull Knight Exclusive Version Threezero’s eerie 1/6th scale sculpt spotlights the enigmatic Skull Knight astride his skeletal steed. This 14-inch exclusive edition adds the Sword of Actuation to existing accessories including the Sword of Thorns, shield, and interchangeable hands. Berserk’s enthralling worlds inspire remarkable creations like these figures oozing the Dark Fantasy atmosphere. For devoted fans, they make sublime additions whether shelved, displayed on desks, or arranged in gripping dioramas. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Best Billy Zenless Zone Zero guide: W-Engine, Drive Disc, team comp & more HoYoverseBilly is one of the starting A-rank characters in Zenless Zone Zero and here is a detailed guide covering his best W-Engines, Disc Drives, and team comp. Zenless Zone Zero provides you with three characters when you start, namely Nicole, Billy, and Anby. While Billy is not the best unit in the tier list, he comes in handy in the early stages of the game. The fact that he can attack from a distance makes it easier for you to take down enemies during the early-game when your health and damage are quite low. If you enjoy playing with Billy and are looking for a guide that will make him perform better, we have you covered. Best Billy build in Zenless Zone Zero While this is the best build for Billy, if you are looking to learn more about the respective components in the setup, we have all the details covered below. Best W-Engine for Billy Starlight Engine Replica This is the best W-Engine for Billy as it increases the Physical DMG of the wearer by 36% upon hitting an enemy while maintaining at least a 6-meter distance. The passive is very easy to trigger since Billy is a ranged character. The Brimstone The Brimstone is a powerful S-rank W-Engine that increases the ATK of the wearer by 3.5% for 8 seconds upon using a Basic ATK, Dodge Counter, or Dash Attack. This W-Engine is a bit harder to get, but if you lack Starlight Engine Replica, The Brimstone can be a good substitute. Best Drive Disc for Billy The best Drive Disc for Billy in Zenless Zone Zero is Puffer Electro. The set bonus for this Drive Disc is as follows: For the remaining 2 slots, you can go with Woodpecker Electro Drive Disc. The set bonus for this one is as follows: This combination of Woodpecker Electro and Puffer Electro is quite balanced as it provides damage and consistency. The CRIT Rate boost will make it easier to build Billy, while the PEN Ratio and Ultimate DMG boosts will enhance his damage significantly. Billy Promotion and Skill Enhancement materials Promotion Since Billy is an Attack unit, you’ll need to farm Basic Offense Certification Seal, Advanced Offense Certification Seal, and Pioneer’s Certification Seal. The exact number of materials you need are as follows: Basic Offense Certification Seal x4 – Advanced Offense Certification Seal x32 – Pioneer’s Certification Seal x30 – Skill Enhancement Billy’s skills in Zenless Zone Zero need Basic Physical Chip, Advanced Physical Chip, Specialized Physical Chip, Hamster Cage Pass, Ferocious Grip, and Higher Dimension Data-Ethereal Pursuit. The exact number of materials you need are as follows: Basic Physical Chip x5 – Advanced Physical Chip x15 – Specialized Physical Chip x50 – Hamster Cage Pass x1 – Ferocious Grip x9 – Higher Dimensional Data-Ethereal Pursuit x60 – Best Billy team comp Billy is an Attack character which means he needs a debuffer and crowd control in the team. The best units to pair alongside Billy are Lycaon and Nicole. In this team, Lycaon is the Stun unit that creates openings for Billy, while Nicole ensures that smaller mobs are grouped in one place. If you do not have Lycaon, you can go with a team of Billy, Anby, and Nicole. This is your starting roster and all the characters are free in this team. Billy abilities Basic Attack Dodge Special Attack Chain Attack Core Skill Core Skill Enhancements Mindscape Cinema for Billy Here are all the upgrades you will receive from duplicate copies of Billy: Level 1- Dazzling Entrance: When Billy hits an enemy with a Dash Attack or Dodge Counter, he gains an additional 2.7 Energy. Can trigger once every 5s. – Level 2- Roaming Gunslinger: Billy’s Dodge Counter DMG increases by 25%. Rolling Shots during his Basic Attacks are counted as dodges, making Billy invulnerable during skill activation and able to trigger Perfect Dodges. When a Rolling Shot triggers a Perfect Dodge, it will automatically become a Dodge Counter. – Level 3- Teachings of the Starlight Knights: Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2 – Level 4- Starlight Ballistics: When Billy hits an enemy with his EX Special Attack, the skill’s CRIT Rate is increased based on the distance from the enemy. The closer he is to the target, the greater the effect, up to a maximum increase of 32%. – Level 5- Lost Technological Construct: Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack Lv. +2 – Level 6- Starlight Hero: When Billy accumulates 10 hits on enemies or triggers a Perfect Dodge, his DMG increases by 6%, stacking up to 5 times. The effect resets if he is knocked back or launched by an enemy. – Billy pros and cons Billy being a starter unit means he suffers from quite a few problems in the game. Here are his various pros and cons: Trailer for Billy On November 18, 2024, HoYoverse released the official trailer for Billy on their YouTube channel. If you have not checked it out yet, you can do so from the link provided below: Now that you know the best Billy build, check out our Polychromes guide and learn how many you can save for the best units. If you want to learn more, here’s a breakdown of the latest codes and Twitch drops on offer, as well as if controller support is available for the game.

Best Ben Zenless Zone Zero build: W-Engine, Drive Disc, team comp & more HoYoverseBen is a free A-rank Fire agent available early on in Zenless Zone Zero. Ben is a bulky character who can provide helpful shields to teammates, but you’ll need to know his best W-Engines and Drive Discs to make him work effectively. Zenless Zone Zero is HoYoverse’s latest gacha game, and players are hooked. Like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail, ZZZ has a banner system filled with rotating S-rank and A-rank characters for players to collect. Currently, Ellen is the featured S-rank for the game’s first limited banner until Zhu Yuan replaces her on July 23. In addition to Ellen, you can also pull for the A-rank agents Anton and Soukaku. To maximize Ben’s potential, he will need certain W-Engines, Drive Discs, and materials. Keep reading for more information. Best Ben build in Zenless Zone Zero Best W-Engines for Ben Spring Embrace The best W-Engine for Ben in Zenless Zone Zero is the A-rank Spring Embrace. This W-Engine reduces DMG taken by 7.5% and improves Ben’s Energy Regeneration Rate by 10% for 12 seconds after being attacked. Original Transmorpher An excellent alternative W-Engine for Ben is the A-rank Original Transmorpher. This W-Engine increases Ben’s Max HP by 8% and his Impact by 10% for 12 seconds after being hit by an enemy. Best Drive Disc for Ben The best Drive Disc for Ben is the 4-piece Swing Jazz set. The set bonus for this Drive Disc is as follows: For the final two spots, we recommend using the Soul Rock Drive Disc set. The set bonus for this Drive Disc is as follows: Ben Promotion & Skill Enhancement Materials Promotion You must gather Basic Defense Certification Seal, Advanced Defense Certification Seal, and Defender Certification Seal for Ben. The exact number of required materials are below: Basic Defense Certification Seal x4 – Advanced Defense Certification Seal x32 – Defender Certification Seal x30 – Dennies x800,000 – Skill Enhancement Materials Ben in Zenless Zone Zero needs Basic Burn Chip, Advanced Burn Chip, Specialized Burn Chip, Hamster Cage Pass, Living Drive, and Higher Dimensional Data: Steel Malice. The exact number of materials you need are as follows: Basic Burn Chip x25 – Advanced Burn Chip x75 – Specialized Burn Chip x250 – Hamster Cage Pass x5 – Dennies x2.5 million – Higher Dimensional Data: Steel Malice x60 – Living Drive x9 – Best Ben team comp Ben performs exceptionally well in a mono-Fire team alongside Koleda and Soldier 11. This composition can activate all three characters’ Additional Abilities and focuses on both inflicting Daze onto opponents and stunning them. With Koleda and Ben generating Daze, Soldier 11 can greatly increase her damage output when attacking stunned enemies. As for your Bangboo, we suggest running Rocketboo to inflict 100% more Anomaly Buildup based on the number of Fire characters on your team. Ben’s abilities Basic Attack Dodge Assist Special Attack Chain Attack Core Skill Core Skill Enhancements Mindscape Cinema for Ben Mindscape Cinema is similar to the constellation system from Genshin Impact in how obtaining multiple copies of one character increases the number of buffs. Here are the effects of all the Mindscape Cinema levels for Ben: Reacting Force (MC1) – When successfully Blocking an enemy with Ben’s Special Attack or EX Special Attack, the DMG dealt by the blocked enemy is reduced by 30% for 15s. – Offense Through Defense (MC2) – When successfully triggering a Block Counter during Ben’s Special Attack or EX Special Attack, inflict an additional 300% of Ben’s DEF as DMG. – Careful Accounting (MC3) – Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack gain +2 levels. – Agile Adaptation (MC4) – When successfully blocking enemy DMG with Ben’s invulnerable effect during his Special Attack or EX Special Attack, the following counter deals 30% more DMG. – Meticulous Detail (MC5) – Basic Attack, Dodge, Special Attack, and Chain Attack gain +2 levels. – Wild Spirit (MC6) – After launching an attack or follow-up attack during Ben’s EX Special Attack, Daze inflicted by Basic Attacks, Dash Attack, and Dodge Counter is increased by 20%, lasting 12s. – Ben pros & cons Now that you know the best Ben build, for more on the game, check our guides for Zenless Zero codes, controller support, and pre-registration rewards.

Best base locations in V Rising: Map spots & resources StunlockV Rising provides players with the opportunity to settle down amid the rolling hills and cause absolute chaos, but the location of your base can have a huge impact on how your empire’s expansion plays out. Here are the best areas on the map to set up shop. Anyone who has ever played a survival game will know that selecting your base’s location is an artform. With a whole slew of different factors to consider, V Rising is no different from predecessors like Valheim in terms of base and resource management, challenging you to build a tyrannical empire from scratch. You’ll soon realise that some of the most seemingly mundane items can make or break your colonizing efforts, with commodities like Leather, Stone Bricks, Stone Dust, and Whetstone all playing an integral part in your vampire’s survival. So, where’s the best spot on the map to set up your base in V Rising? Here are our recommended picks to help you maximise your bloodsucking efforts. Contents Best base locations in V Rising: Map spot list Below we’ve listed off our preferred locations for bases in V Rising: Cursed Forest, Dunley Farmlands, and Silverlight Hills. We’ve taken into account the different resources that are available to you, and why these will be important to your reign of terror. Read More: How to get Blood Essence in V Rising – We suggest building on any of the areas areas bordered in black, as these are prime land for expansion. Any field will do, of course, but these areas are perfect as your castle grows alongside its Castle Heart. Cursed Forest Of our three choices, the Cursed Forest is very much the ‘high risk high reward’ option. Swarming with vicious beasts just waiting to tear you asunder, clearing an area is a relatively difficult task – but it’s well worth it. Dunley Farmlands Nestled amid rolling emerald hills and aquamarine rivers, Dunley Farmlands is our choice for those who haven’t played many survival games. Flanked by Silverlight Hills and the Cursed Forest and their associated materials, you can also easily harvest quartz, iron, and cotton, as well as different essentials from the Dunley Monastery. Silverlight Hills You’ve heard a lot about Silverlight Hills so far, and that’s because it’s the only source of silver in the game (hence its name). It’s also home to some pretty fearsome creatures that can be manipulated to defend your assets. So those are the best base locations in V Rising; from these three hubs of civilization you can extend your influence and wipe out the living for good. Diving into this twisted universe to see what all the hype is about? Our V Rising guides can help keep you on your toes: How to get Blood Essence | How to get leather | How to get Stone Dust, Stone Bricks & Whetstone |Is V Rising free-to-play?

Best Battle Royale games ranked (2021): Apex Legends, Warzone, more Respawn Entertainment/Epic Games/ActivisionThe battle royale genre is absolutely brimming with great titles to choose from, but what are the best BR games you can play in 2021? Battle royale games continue to be incredibly popular in 2021, with developers constantly bringing new titles to the table. However, like all games, not every BR is worth your time. While some of these highly competitive games stand out for their fun mechanics, there are others that often fail to hit the mark. Whether you’re looking for a new battle royale title to sink your teeth into or just want to see where your favorite game ranks, then our tier list has you covered. From Apex Legends to Fortnite, we’ve ranked the BR titles that should be on your radar. 6. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodhunt Bloodhunt is a free-to-play battle royale game set in the Vampire: The Masquerade universe. As the name suggests, players take control of a vampire with supernatural powers that range from deadly AoE smashes to supportive moves that restore allied health bars. Read More: When is Bloodhunt coming to console? – Feeding upon the game’s helpless NPCs to power up your abilities, then unleashing them onto your fanged foes makes for thrillingly fun combat. This is especially true when you stealthily take down your foes before vanishing into the darkened city streets. With up to six characters to choose from and plenty of firearms at your disposal, Bloodhunt provides plenty of ways for players to hunt down their enemies. 5. PUBG By today’s standards, PUBG can feel like a step back in many ways. Its combat feels incredibly slow and even a little janky at times, while the maps themselves look rather sparse when compared to the other titles on our list. Despite this, there’s no denying just how influential PUBG has been to the BR genre. There may be more competition than there was at its launch in 2017, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t fun to be had. Unlike other popular BRs, PUBG’s firefights are more methodical in their approach. In fact, players will need to master weapon recoil patterns, account for bullet drop, and even manage various attachments. Winning a Chicken Dinner doesn’t come easy in PUBG, which makes claiming a final circle victory all the sweeter. 4. Naraka: Bladepoint Naraka: Bladepoint was one of our sleeper hits of 2021. Not only did it impress us with its melee-focused take on the BR genre, but it also features enough variation to help it stand out from the well-established crowd. Unlike other 60-player arena games, Naraka puts a huge emphasis on melee action. While you can pick up crossbows, canons, bows, rockets, and flamethrowers to defeat foes – the real magic is found in the game’s deadly clashes of steel. It’s here where Naraka’s combat truly shines. Each encounter with an enemy player becomes a deadly battle of wits, where well-timed parries, dodges, and attacks can be strung together in order to defeat your foe. Mastering combos and learning when to use your hero’s skills makes for some brilliantly intense fights. 3. Fortnite Fortnite’s frantic building and third-person shooting continue to be a popular choice for those looking to flex their skills. With seemingly never-ending collaborations, star-studded in-game events, and an ever-evolving map – Fortnite continues to go from strength to strength. From alien invasions to mecha vs kaiju fights, Epic is constantly finding new and exciting ways to entertain its playerbase. The whacky nature of its guns and traps also ensures that gunfights feel distinctly unique from other battle royale games. While the high emphasis on the building aspect of the game can put off a lot of players, it does make for some nail-bitingly exciting firefights. 2. Warzone Call of Duty is known for its snappy FPS action and fast-paced multiplayer lobbies, where high kill scores reward players with devastating streaks. However, Warzone takes this game-winning formula and cranks it all the way up to 100. With a total of 150 players dropped into a large map, things can get incredibly tense in a matter of seconds. While Warzone shares are the familiar trappings of other BR titles, its unique use of custom loadouts and purchasable killstreaks is what makes it stand out. Unlocking new guns and attachments is all part of the fun, especially when you find a killer combo that can chew through enemy healthbars. With the arrival of the Vanguard integration, new anti-cheat, and pacific-themed map, Warzone aims to deliver even more frantic firefights into 2022. 1. Apex Legends Apex Legends crowns itself as the champion of the arena thanks to its fluid movement system, unique cast of characters, and excellent variety of futuristic weaponry. Not only do the game’s environments and characters pop with both color and vibrance, the Titanfall-themed guns feel greatly distinct from one another – an area that other BRs often struggle with. From the laser-accurate shots of the Charge Rifle to the beefy barrage of the M600 Spitfire, Apex Legends’ weapon design is incredibly distinct. Throw in an ever-expanding roster of characters with game-changing abilities, and you have an incredibly fun BR that can keep you entertained for hours on end. Honorable mentions Fall Guys and Tetris may not be the first games that come to mind when you’re thinking of BR titles to play, but both these games ditch the guns for party-style gameplay. If you’re a fan of TV shows like Takeshi’s Castle and Wipe Out, then the platformer-style mini-games of Fall Guys will enable you to live out your very own gameshow dreams. Next up, is Tetris 99 – a free-to-play Switch game that pits 99 players against each other simultaneously to complete rows with falling tetrominoes. Completing combination moves will enable you to launch attacks towards your opponents, filling their Tetris board with garbage that can quickly knock them out of the competition. Both these games may seem more casual in their approach to the BR formula, but Fall Guys and Tetris 99 are entertaining nonetheless. If you don’t have time to commit to long play sessions or just want something to play at a gathering, then both games will offer plenty of laughs.