Summary Asia and America have had some of the most significant impacts on the gaming industry. Birthplaces to some of the biggest titles and consoles, it is no wonder that these continents also serve as a backdrop for many of their respective games. Despite dominating the scene, many developers have found inspiration in other regions, producing some equally great titles. Africa is a significantly less popular setting when it comes to horror games, which is a shame, considering the continent’s rich folklore and diverse environments....

Summary Even with what many fans would say is a perfect design,Stardew Valleystill has a very robust modding community who are constantly working to develop mods that change the way people can experience the game. These can help players learn the basics of the game that aren’t as well-explained as they could be, or just give players some new cosmetics to look at when building out their farm. For those who are just starting in the game, though, some mods can make the initial phase a completely different experience....

Everyone loves a good ghost story, right? Creepy tales told ‘round the campfire have been a longstanding tradition and, in modern times, that tradition has turned into sitting around the TV watchingotherpeople’s ghost stories. Thankfully, for fans ofall things spooky, there are plenty of shows out there that bring the hauntings straight to the audience’s front door. With no shortage of shows that hone in on the belief that the world is, in fact, very haunted, it can be tough to settle on just one....

Summary According to the latest rumors, it seems as thoughTony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4will be a day oneXbox Game Passshadow drop later this year.Xbox Game Passhas seen some notable shadow drops since its introduction, with such announcements typically taking place during big Xbox game showcases. The annual Xbox Developer Direct in January has proved to be a popular time to announce Xbox Game Pass shadow drops. That’s whenHi-Fi Rushwas shadow dropped for Xbox Game Pass back in 2023, with the 3D platformer/rhythm action game becoming one of the year’s highest-rated titles....

Summary Right from the Marvel Studios logo,Captain America: Brave New Worldgives the impression that it is going for a vibe. Presented in stark black and white and free from the usual fanfare, it’s clear that audiences are being told “this movie is different from what we’ve been doing.” That’s followed by an introduction to President Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross (Harrison Ford) accompanied by a score that evokes high-minded political films of the past....

Summary Dark Souls 3has some of the hardest and most formidable bosses in the entire trilogy. While the bosses in the originalDark SoulsandDark Souls 2also put players skills to the test, they never felt as well developed, programmed or erratically telegraphed (in a good way), as those present in the third installment. They can all be defeated using different builds, including those that harnessgreat Dexterity weapons, so it all comes down to players’ preferences....

Great video game adaptations of anime and manga are few and far between. However, some titles do crack the code, likeDragon Ball Fighter Z. This is because the game’s genre melds perfectly with the anime’s premise. DBZ is all about the stellar and grand fight scenes, so a 2D team-up fighting game is what it deserves. Anime titles with heavy folklore influences and sword-fighting, likeDemon Slayer, have multiple genres they could fit into - like turn-based RPGs or action RPGs....

Summary Quick Links Over the course ofDragon Ball, there are a number of transformations that serve as milestones and mere opportunities to stress the character’s limits. From the time Goku first became a Super Saiyan in the Namek Saga to the arrival of the sagas such as Kaioken Form and, more recently,God Form and Ultra Instinct, each of the forms has contributed a new level to the power system in the series....

Summary Not every film trilogy deserves aLord of the Ringscomparison, but Denis Villeneuve’sDunemovies are an exception – even with the third and final installment still yet to come.Dune: Messiahis the closest thing this decade has to aReturn of the King-level film event, and an interesting Oscars trend suggests the same. To be fair, Peter Jackson’sThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy was more mainstream, and had a much bigger cultural impact thanDune’ssuccess today....

Nintendo Musicis now the premiere platform where fans of the company can enjoy the various soundtracks featured in a variety of games. Launched on October 31 of last year, it was a bit of a slow start forNintendo Music, but since then, the streaming platform has added a strong roster of soundtracks that serve as great throwbacks for fans to enjoy. The offerings featured on Nintendo Musiccover a wide range of genres and franchises, and the list is bound to grow this year....

Summary Final Fantasyis one of the greatest JRPG franchises of all time. Fans of the series tend to love how much fun it is to level up their parties, explore dungeons, and take on powerful bosses who will eventually be brought to their knees by the player’s strength. Some party members are very strong and capable of holding their own in battle, but there are others who seem rather weak and aren’t worth the effort of leveling up....

Summary Epic Games has teased a new Iron Man skin inFortnite, which is set to be released on February 13. The popular battle royale has featured a number of collaborations recently, including a major crossover with Godzilla. For a limited time,Fortniteplayers were even able to become the iconic kaiju, wreaking havoc on the island. As Chapter 6 Season 1 comes to a close, many people are wondering what will come next....

Summary A newGenshin Impactleak has revealed the in-game animations for one of the upcoming characters, Varesa, who is expected to arrive in Version 5.5. Varesa is one of the two characters scheduled to appear on a banner in the next update. WhileGenshin Impacthas yet to officially confirm their release date, recent beta leaks for update 5.5 suggest that Varesa and Iansan will be part of the next update. Before every officialGenshin Impactrelease, HoYoverse hosts a beta server that contains most of the upcoming content, including new playable units....