You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide While modders continue working on massive custom campaigns that add entire parties of characters and return us to the world of BG2, other Baldurs Gate 3 modders are also hard at work on smaller-scale adventures for us to experience.Forsaken, a mod that recreates areas from World of Warcraft in Larians amazing RPG, is available right now in a preview form, giving gamers access to a little tease of what they can experience later down the line.Baldurs Gate 3 meets World of WarcraftCreated by SquallyDaBeanz, the 0.1 release of Forsaken brings an entirely custom campaign to Baldurs Gate 3 that recreates the Tirisfal Glades from World of Warcraft. In the first version that players can try right now, only the games Deathknell region is playable, but its an awesome experience for players to enjoy.Available to download right here, players are able to experience five main quests in a brand-new storyline as well as a new town, dungeons, a party camp, new enemies to fight and, yes, NPCs with their own unique dialogue.After installing the mod, all players need to do to explore the World of Warcraft area is start a new campaign with the mod enabled. Afterwards, you should be transported to the awesome custom campaign.As the mods earliest release, developer SquallyDaBeanz (great name) is already showing massive potential. As for the future, the modder hopes to add non-essential NPCs, more dialogue, skill checks for quests, more quests and loot and a whole lot more. The modder even wants to add a better Hireling system and custom mechanics to the experience. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now With cracked mod tools only releasing a few months ago, modders are already going crazy with their creations. As some modders believe they have the talent and dedication to help Baldurs Gate 3 take over Skyrim in terms of mod scope, we could be seeing a game that lasts forever with even longer legs than its beloved predecessors.For more BG3 coverage, read about the Halo mods that lets fans finish the fight in Faerun, or read about whatever Ive linked here.Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide DICE has announced a new community testing feature for the teams next Battlefield game, currently in a pre-alpha state. Dubbed Battlefield Labs, players will be testing the next game in the decades-old FPS series to make sure the team avoids the same issues that caused games like 2042 to fail so spectacularly.In an announcement by EA, Battlefield Labs is posed to be a huge part of the series future following the prior games failure to connect with fans. Now, instead of devs making games that they want to make, players will tell developers how to do their jobs. Testing is expected to start in the next few weeks with fans invited from across Europe and North America.Battlefield Labs is an essential toolIn a press release by DICE, the new Labs experience was deemed a significant addition to the series developmental pipeline. With fans able to sign up to the new testing service here, select fans will be able to play early versions of the game and give DICE constructive feedback on how to improve the FPS game.Battlefield Labs plays a significant role in the development that Battlefield Studios is doing for the series.EA explained in a press release. All the feedback provided during Battlefield Labs tests will influence the development of the next Battlefield title and beyond.The introduction of the Labs service comes at a critical phase in development that will benefit from collaboration with the community like never before, EA claims. With the game currently in pre-alpha, fans will be able to guide the team in the right direction before mechanics are introduced that take too long to remove.Ive been playing Battlefield long before I joined the team, a quote attributed to EAs Head of Respawn Vince Zampella reads. This game has so much potential. To find that potential, with us being pre-alpha, now is the time to test the experiences our teams have been building for our upcoming launch. Battlefield Labs empowers our teams to do that. Must-Listen: Publishing Manor Lords w/ Joe Robinson VideoGamer Podcast Listen Now Theres no release date for the consumer version of the next Battlefield game. However, the new game will be developed by DICE, Ripple Effect, EA Motive and Criterion. Its clear that a lot is resting on the success of this one gamea risky business move, but what do I know.Related TopicsSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

Skip to main contentADVERTISEMENTTorontoOntario to rip up $100M Starlink contract ahead of U.S. tariffs, Musk says Oh wellBy Phil TsekourasPublished:February 03, 2025 at 8:15AM ESTPremier Doug Ford announced new retaliatory measures against the U.S. including the end of a $100M contract with Elon Musks Starlink. ADVERTISEMENTShopping TrendsThe Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.

First QuarterThe 25 best Sims games for The Sims 25th anniversaryYes, there are over two dozen Sims games out there. No, we're not counting expansion packs.Image credit: Electronic Arts Article by Rebecca Jones Guides Writer Published on Feb. 3, 2025 The Sims franchise turns 25 this week, which is a huge milestone in and of itself, but did you know just how many Sims games there actually are? And I don't mean how many expansion packs or other bits of DLC are out there (although that does really add up at this point, believe me) I mean fully stand-alone titles released under The Sims brand.If you answered "four", oh my sweet summer child, have you got a lot to learn. Which is why in celebration of The Sims' 25th anniversary, I've put together this list of the 25 best Sims games from across the franchise's quarter-century of history. Learn and enjoy, and appreciate the fact that I did actually have to cut a few spin-offs and amalgamate a few in-name-only remakes just to keep the numbers down.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. 25. The Sims 2 Apartment PetsPlatform(s): Nintendo DSReleased: 2008This kinda-cute idea came about at the very end of The Sims 2's life cycle: make a fully standalone Nintendo DS spin-off that mashes together the concepts of a couple of TS2's popular expansion packs. It's not exactly a beloved classic, but it does feature some unique pet-centric minigames and a rather sweet story.24. MySims Sky Heroes Image credit: Behaviour Interactive / Electronic ArtsPlatforms: Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DSReleased: 2010The sixth and, sadly, final MySims game was admittedly not the pinnacle of the sub-franchise, and you have to wonder if EA wouldn't have been better off sticking with the original plan of making it a direct sequel to the excellent MySims Agents (see below). But it is the only Sims game where you can fly a plane, and one of the few to use its story to openly acknowledge the slightly dystopian undercurrent that feels like it's always just out of sight in the world of The Sims.23. The Sims Pet StoriesPlatform(s): PC, MacReleased: 2007The awkward middle child of The Sims Stories trilogy aimed, like its siblings, to bring the wonderful world of The Sims 2 to players whose PCs (or more likely laptops) were too low-spec to wrangle the real deal. One of the scripted storylines featured in this game ends with a wealthy relative generously donating her whole house to a poor cousin so she can stay on her honeymoon cruise forever, and that's how Pet Stories will likely make you feel: slightly condescended to, but happy that at least you get to sit back and play with pet customisation without setting your entire groin area on fire.22. The Sims 2 PetsPlatform(s): PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Portable, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DSReleased: 2006-2007The only expansion pack in the PC franchise's history to receive a fully stand-alone remake across most contemporary consoles and handhelds (although an Xbox 360 port remained conspicuous in its absence), The Sims 2 Pets was visibly chasing Nintendogs' tail in most of its iterations. The pets really are the star of the show here, and fulfilling these fuzzballs' desires is such a focus that the game might arguably have benefitted from jettisoning the human aspect altogether. (Bonus recommendation: if you're curious about how that would've looked, check out the 2009 Nintendo-exclusive duology SimAnimals and SimAnimals Africa.)21. The Sims SocialPlatform(s): FacebookReleased: 2011 (closed down in 2013)The Sims Social is the only game on this list that you simply can't play at all any more, which is actually something of a triumph for game preservation when you think about it. An attempt to take advantage of the Farmville-inspired boom of social media-based games, TSS unfortunately just missed the peak of that trend, and ended up closing up shop after only a couple of years. It's still fondly remembered by many who played it, however, and is also noteworthy for being the only Sims game among many to try over the years to actually get a collaboration with Lady Gaga off the ground.20. MySims Image credit: Electronic ArtsPlatform(s): Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PC, Nintendo SwitchReleased: 2007-2008 (remastered in 2024)The late 2000s to early 2010s saw the teams responsible for developing Sims spin-offs try their hands at pretty much everything. MySims was EA's attempt to position a Nintendo-first sub-franchise as a serious competitor to Animal Crossing, and in fairness, they didn't do too badly. MySims itself may be fairly formulaic if you're familiar with the source material, but it was cute and fun enough to spawn five sequels (which took a shot at being everything from Mario-Party-but-Sims and Mario-Kart-but-Sims, and even dipped a toe into adventure gaming), and recently got the remaster treatment as part of the MySims Cozy Bundle.19. The Sims OnlinePlatform(s): PCReleased: 2002 (official servers closed down in 2008)The Sims Online used assets from the original Sims for PC to create a Second Life-esque social space for players to interact with one another's avatars in real-time. It went about how you'd expect, and is now best remembered for being an utterly chaotic melting pot of cyber brothels and exquisite trolling. And, as you'd also expect, it was beloved among a certain niche of players.TSO officially went, well, offline in 2008, although various fan recreations have done fairly well since then. The last, sadly, shut down in December of last year, but there's a fair chance another will crop up someday, with EA seemingly content to look the other way when and if it does.18. The Urbz: Sims in the City (console)Platform(s): PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCubeReleased: 2004The Urbz: Sims in the City might be the most mid-2000s video game imaginable. The Sims franchise up to that point had been very much a suburban life simulator, presumably because having a home gaming set-up was still seen as quite a middle-class thing. The Urbz flipped that concept on its head and took a romanticised, aspirational view of inner-city living that predicted your likely future employment in the gig economy a good decade ahead of schedule, but eased your fears of disappearing into the urban jungle with a promise that you'd be smooching celebrities at a glitzy rooftop bar within weeks of moving into your dingy first apartment.The handheld version of Urbz was better received than this home console edition, admittedly; but the handheld version didn't feature an extended cameo by The Black Eyed Peas, so who really won?17. The Sims Life StoriesPlatform(s): Windows, MacReleased: 2007The first Sims Stories spin-off aimed at lower-end PCs didn't rely on any fancy gimmicks, because it understood that you could create some wonderfully weird stories just by taking advantage of what was already present in a pared-back version of The Sims 2 base game. Players who basically view The Sims as a soap opera generator should feel right at home with these outlandish tales, which start with an evil ex-boyfriend conspiring to steal the inheritance of a beloved aunt, and end with the Grim Reaper forcing a tech billionaire to choose between his fortune and a beautiful woman who's just been crushed by a falling satellite.16. The Sims Mobile Image credit: EA / Maxis / Firemonkeys StudiosPlatform(s): iOS, AndroidReleased: 2018Despite receiving its final content update in early 2024, The Sims Mobile is still being actively supported with reruns of past seasonal events, and thus remains a popular choice for modern Simmers on-the-go. Made using an art style and assets that will make fans of The Sims 4 feel most at home, TSM's quests are more character- and story-oriented than those of other mobile entries into the franchise, and it also invites you to admire other players' creations through light social features.15. The Sims Castaway StoriesPlatform(s): PC, MacReleased: 2008The final entry into the Sims Stories trilogy is more open-ended than its predecessors, inviting you to create your own character before playing through a scripted story that could not more obviously have been inspired by the then-recent success of the TV show Lost. Unlike the console riff on the Castaway concept, the paradisiacal island of Castaway Stories is anything but deserted, and the story is really more about finding your feet in a new community than day-to-day survival. The result is, rather endearingly in the end, one of the few PC games in the series to see your Sims do something other than spin ceaselessly on the hamster wheel of capitalism.14. The Sims 2 (console)Platform(s): PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCubeReleased: 2005The Sims 2 was the golden era of the whole Sims franchise, and while the home console edition of the game was pretty widely considered its weakest, it is at least interesting enough to merit a look. While the linchpin PC version was pushing the entire life sim genre forward in huge leaps, TS2 was released at the tail-end of a console generation and thus had to cut back on some pretty basic but resource-intensive mechanics from TS1, most notably the ability to have kids. Instead, most pre-made households consisted of a married couple living with a third adult individual who needed to have some convoluted reason to be there that was distinct from all the other unique menages in the game. In most other respects it played pretty much like TS2 for PC, but with added scope for delicious relationship drama.13. The Sims Freeplay Image credit: EA Mobile / Firemonkeys StudiosPlatform(s): iOS, AndroidReleased: 2011The current reigning champion of Sims mobile games has seen off even the in-house competition provided by The Sims Mobile, and somehow is still receiving regular, substantive content updates after well over a decade. Broadly inspired by The Sims 3, The Sims Freeplay also has something of an echo of SimCity about it, encouraging you to switch between multiple households in the name of uplifting the community and amenities available to your town as a whole. It also plays out in excruciating real-time, but that's actually good news if you'd prefer The Sims was more of an idle game.12. MySims Kingdom Image credit: Electronic ArtsPlatform(s): Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Switch, PCReleased: 2008 (remastered in 2024)In a surprisingly large departure from the original MySims, its first sequel jettisons much of the Animal Crossing-esque gameplay loop in favour of something more akin to a (very) lite RPG. The Kingdom of the title is every bit the vaguely fantasy-inspired melting pot you'd imagine: a king, a princess, and a wizard task you and your buddies with saving their archipelago nation from economic downturn through magically-enhanced home design. Despite the simple concept, it's hard to get bored with this story when everyone from cowboys to astronauts to forest elves want your help to revitalise their living spaces.11. The Sims 2 Castaway Image credit: EA Redwood Studios / Electronic ArtsPlatform(s): Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DSReleased: 2007It's my considered opinion that this game is the true spiritual precursor to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, right down to some of the musical riffs sounding eerily similar. Design a boatload (as distinct from the households of the core series) of up to six Sims, fill in the backstories from their old lives, and then see how those professional skills help them fare when their yacht capsises in a storm and leaves them stranded on a desert island with only the local flora and fauna for company. Unlike its PC equivalent, the console edition of Castaway is something of a survival game, in which you build everything from shelter to clothing from the ground up while uncovering the mysteries of a long-lost civilization.10. The Sims: Console EditionPlatform(s): PlayStation 2, Xbox, Nintendo GameCubeReleased: 2003Why port the then-bestselling PC game of all time directly to home consoles, when instead you can create a similarly-themed game that's also entirely its own thing? This is the delightfully baffling thought process that presumably led to The Sims: Console Edition, which is almost nothing like The Sims for PC, but did introduce some of the franchise's most recognisable lore characters, like the evil property tycoon Malcolm Landgraab and "Mom" (an angry NPC wearing a face pack and curlers who yells at you in the tutorial until you get a job). This original console outing was followed so quickly by its better-remembered sequel Bustin' Out that you might have become convinced it was all just a fever dream, but I promise you, this was quite real once upon a time.9. The Urbz: Sims in the City (handheld)Platform(s): GameBoy Advance, Nintendo DSReleased: 2004The home console edition of the same title already appeared further up this list, but if someone's reminiscing fondly about The Urbz, it's more than likely the significantly different GBA version they're talking about. Sans licensed celebrity cameos, this iteration of The Urbz had to lean heavily on a story that (checks notes) sees your Sim embroiled in a life of organised crime, dodging jail time and assassination attempts and eventually fighting vampires? I'm starting to regret growing up as a PS2 kid, honestly, this does sound even more awesome.8. The Sims: Bustin' Out Image credit: Maxis / EAPlatform(s): PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, Game Boy Advance, N-GageReleased: 2003-2004Hot on the heels of The Sims: Console Edition came The Sims: Bustin' Out, a direct sequel that was less concerned with following in the PC version's lead, and instead aimed to present gameplay that built on the best aspects from the franchise's console debut. The slightly eyebrow raising title in fact quite innocently* refers to the way your Sims will need to get out and about in the world more, visiting a variety of locations as they strive to reach the top of all career tracks in an attempt to fight capitalism with capitalism and regain control of the town from the avaricious Malcolm Landgraab.*Now that I think about it though, there is an NPC in this game called Mona Lott who runs a business called Club Rubb, so7. The Sims 2 (handheld)Platform(s): PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Game Boy AdvanceReleased: 2005The handheld editions of The Sims 2 were the absolute pinnacle of that proud Sims tradition of console spin-offs with the same title as a core PC version but a wildly different concept. These three iterations are all so different that they almost don't deserve to be lumped in together like this, but I fear my audience may have limited patience for a list that's just 25 different versions of The Sims 2, so it is what it is.Each handheld version of The Sims 2 is essentially a social sim slash adventure game story mode for Strangetown, one of the neighbourhoods that shipped with TS2's PC base game. I have spent a not-insignificant portion of my life insisting to baffled friends that they simply have to play the PSP version in particular if they want to know what actually happened to Bella Goth or get to the bottom of the alien storyline. (Usually followed by me needing to explain that yes, The Sims 2 had multiple storylines!)6. MySims Agents Image credit: EA Redwood Shores / Electronic ArtsPlatform(s): Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DSReleased: 2009It continues to frustrate me that one of the best adventure games I've ever played is consistently overlooked due to being a kiddified Nintendo exclusive with "Sims" in the title. Look past that and you'll realise that MySims Agents is a significantly better X-Files game than any of that show's official adaptations, for a start. It's weird and funny and surprisingly dark under its sugarcoating, and switches it up often enough that you never get bored.As with all MySims games, the DS version is an entirely different game that's not quite as good as the better-known Wii version in terms of either story or gameplay; but there's really no such thing as a bad iteration on MySims Agents, one of the greatest hidden gems of all time. Recent rumours of a remaster will surely vindicate me.5. The Sims Medieval Image credit: Maxis Redwood Shores / Electronic ArtsPlatform(s): PC, Mac, iOSReleased: 2010-2011There was a brief moment when I thought that The Sims Medieval was going to be the biggest game, if not on earth, then at least among the significant fandom for Sims spin-offs that existed circa 2010. Simmers love a good historical total conversion, and were so hyped at the idea of a medieval-themed expansion pack for The Sims 3 that splitting that concept out for a stand-alone RPG-lite spin-off must have seemed like a sure-fire winner.Alas, it turns out that medievalist Sims nerds are more loud than we are numerous, and TSM received just one expansion pack before the experiment was quietly shelved by EA, never to be heard from again. On the plus side, the complete edition is perhaps the best bargain on EA's digital storefront these days, setting you back a mere tenner.4. The Sims 3 Image credit: Maxis / Electronic ArtsPlatform(s): PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, N-Gage 2.0, iOS, AndroidReleased: 2009-2014I know, I know, it's sacrilege putting The Sims 3 lowest of all four main PC titles on this list, but look: the last time I attempted to boot up my fully-expanded copy of TS3 was sometime around 2018, and I'm hopeful that my save will finish loading any day now.Gentle (but honest) roasting aside, The Sims 3 was without a doubt the most ambitious entry into the franchise. I'm convinced that the next big life sim, the one that finally gives The Sims a run for its money, will follow TS3's lead and feature a highly customisable open world. It was an idea ahead of its time, unfortunately; but the good news is that a decade down the line, the technology has just about caught up to the vision.3. The Sims 4 Image credit: Maxis / Electronic ArtsPlatform(s): PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneReleased: 2014-presentThe grass is always greener on the other side of the impassable waist-high fence, and the current generation of The Sims is always being negatively compared to whatever came before it. All of which is to say that The Sims 4 continues the trend of being the most controversial main entry into the series, and with the recent announcement that EA plans to continue building onto this framework rather than release a numbered sequel, I wouldn't expect those criticisms to go away anytime soon.But while the grass over here might be a tad patchy, it's not like it's brown and dead, and we can still have a very nice lawn party with all the advancements that have come so gradually over TS4's lifespan that we might not even remember we didn't always have them. I will forever appreciate that The Sims 4 was the first game in the franchise to allow for the in-depth creation of gender non-conforming Sims without the need for a single mod installed. I won't go chapter-and-verse on all the other things it's done well over the last decade, but take it from someone who regularly goes back to just about every older game on this list: The Sims 4 is the only truly modern Simming experience, and it truly can't be beat for quality-of-life.2. The Sims Image credit: Maxis / Electronic ArtsPlatform(s): PC, Mac, LinuxReleased: 2000-2003It could very well just be the millennial nostalgia talking when I say that I still consider The Sims to be one of the very best games, not just in the franchise it spawned, but that I've ever played in my life. The original working title was apparently "virtual dollhouse", and all I can say is that series creator Will Wright and co. must have spent a lot of time observing the ruthlessness with which little kids play with their dollhouses, because surely nothing else could explain this brutal management sim dressed up in fashionable turn-of-the-millennium clothing.There's no ageing in this game, but Sims still die, and they die bad. The death throes of these little computer people are so absolutely harrowing to go back and listen to 25 years later that I'm amazed our parents ever let us play. And these Sims died to everything. Placed a rug in the same room as a lit fireplace? Dead. Failed to guzzle down eight plates of steak and beans daily? Dead. Didn't do your homework? Off to military school, which is functionally the same as being dead except your family don't even have the comfort of seeing your ghost wandering around wailing at night. The early days of this franchise were, with hindsight, crueller than the wild west. We shall not look upon their like again.1. The Sims 2 Image credit: EA / MaxisPlatform(s): PC, Mac, JavaReleased: 2004-2008The Sims 2 found a real sweet spot between the absolute carnage of the original, and the overextension-followed-by-overcorrection of its own pair of sequels. TS2 might well be the goldilocks zone of life simulators: its need management loop is challenging but not punishing; it managed to retain the original's wacky humour while toning down enough of the too-dark s*** that kids need not regularly be driven to tears while playing; and its introduction of meaningful time in the form of ageing allowed for a sense of variety to emerge well before it began to creak under the weight of its own expansion packs.Add in those lovingly drawn sketches that became the foundation of most of the franchise's best-remembered lore moments in the form of suggested storylines to play out as you find your feet in the lightly-gothic soap opera suburb of Pleasantview, the surreal desert community of Strangetown where all conspiracy theories are real, and the triumph of public domain-friendly name-brand recognition that is the Shakespearean-inspired town of Veronaville and you've got all the ingredients needed to showcase a genre-defining franchise as the absolute peak of its powers.

F4 on Feb 4The first Fantastic Four teaser trailer mostly just shows some people watching TV, but lucky for you the full thing is coming tomorrowHow hard do you think they're going to go on the whole "four" thing for marketing? News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Feb. 3, 2025 Sure, the first teaser trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps doesn't really show you anything at all, but at least there's a promise of a proper trailer coming tomorrow.I'm never really a fan of teaser trailers, especially when they more exist to tease an actual trailer as opposed to just generally getting you excited for the film, and the first trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps certainly fits into that category. It's an incredibly short one, running at only 20 seconds long, and honestly shows pretty much nothing. There's some kids playing in the street - a street in an alternate reality 60s, so slightly less dangerous than now - before they end up at a TV shop which is showing the titular Fantastic Four's foray into space. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.The main screen says "Prepare 4 Launch" (get it?), with the others showing the film's heroes suiting up, and a retrofuture spaceship blasting off into space. It really is a nothing burger of a trailer, though it did come with one promise: that "launch coverage", i.e. an actual trailer, is beginning tomorrow, February 4 (get it? F4?). On top of that, it's kicking at 4am PT (I think you're starting to get it)/ 7am ET/ 12pm GMT. A bit of an early one for all of you on that side of the pond, but I suppose you'll get to wake up to the trailer rather than wait around for it like the rest of the world.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. While we don't know a huge amount the film, a synopsis released in November did share did explain what it'll more or less be about: "Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it werent bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal."Obviously slightly on the vague side, especially considering it sounds like quite a classic Fantastic 4 storyline, and right now there's no word on whether Dr. Doom will be making an appearance, but perhaps that trailer tomorrow will reveal a little bit more.

#12 Switch *Click* buttonPerhaps our favourite aspect of the Switch 2 trailer was the new 'clack' sound the magnetic Joy-Con make when they..., well, when they 'clack' into the sides of the new system.However, this does mean it's the end of the glorious 'click' era we've enjoyed with Switch since its 2016 reveal. What will presenters of Nintendo Directs do now when they're introducing new games? Clap like they're beckoning a waiter to the table in an overbearing, pompous manner?Big questions, for sure, but for nostalgia lovers indulging in some backwards compatibility with the old Switch, this Click button will take you back to the previous generation. *click**click**click* *click* *click* *click* *click*Ha, you'd think it'd get annoying, but we could do this all day!*click* *click* *click* *click* *click* *click* *click* *click* *click* *click* *click* *click* *click* *click* *SLAP*

Image: 2KA new entry in the Civilization franchise is due to drop later this month on 11th February 2025, but as of yet, we're unable to provide our full thoughts on Sid Meier's Civilization VII on Switch.Thankfully, a bunch of reviews have gone live at the time of writing, and although they seem to be strictly limited to the PC version of the game, we'll at least be able to get a flavour of the general consensus, even if we don't yet have a view of the game's performance on consoles just yet.So, to start us off strong, VGC has awarded Civilization VII the full five star treatment, noting that the new changes don't get in the way of what made the series so great to begin with:Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube795kWatch on YouTube "Civilization 7 remains the premier evening and weekend thief in my life. Despite the mass casualties of absolute constant war, its a genuinely cozy game. Cozy in the sense that if you sat down in front of it on a Friday afternoon, youd fly through campaigns, box sets tumbling in the background, before suddenly realizing it was Sunday."The changes here are smart but dont break the established formula, and theres slimming down and streamlining throughout that are clearly influenced by the games handheld success. Combined, this means Civilization 7 is a confident, sleek and another high watermark for strategy games."The Guardian matched this with its own five-star review, praising the game's apparent focus on human drama for this new entry:"So here we are, more than 30 years after the original game, still hungry to rule the world and devouring every morsel of maniacal power. Some veterans may balk at the structural changes: Civilization VII is very much the Civilization for now deep and complex, but with an emphasis on human drama and achievement rather than the sweep of faceless units across a mathematical matrix."There are still few moments in video games as pleasing as building the Hanging Gardens, or discovering a bountiful new location for a town, or marching a phalanx of troops into a battered enemy capital. This game, which once almost cost me my job, will gracefully sneak away with hours, days and possibly months of your life. But then, nobody ever conquered the world in an afternoon."The Gamer was also full of praise with its 4.5 / 5 review, stressing that Civ VII will devour your time much like the earlier entries, defying muted expectations:"Civilization 7 is an enormous game and to try and summarize it all in a review is a difficult task. Ill say Civilization 7 has completely surprised me. I was ready to hate the new civilization and age system, I was ready to grumble at the sneaking live-service features. Instead, Ive fallen into a deep obsession with Civilization again. The game fills me with a warm fuzzy feeling that makes me feel like a child rushing home to play Civ 4 on a dusty old beat-up CRT with a packet of biscuits and no responsibilities."This game will devour your hours, chew up your days and spit you out in a hungry, sleep-deprived blob. I cant wait to play its multiplayer mode after so long in a single-player that isnt quite fully fleshed out yet. I cant wait to spend hours figuring out unique strategies for each leader and civilization. I cant wait to finally beat the Deity AI with any other victory condition than military dominance, which is still the easiest way to win. Oh, and the Mongolian theme music is the greatest Civilization music weve had to date."Destructoid noted that the Modern Age setting lacked in scope compared to the others in the game, but this didn't detract much from its own score of 9/10:"Regardless of my minor gripes with the game, Civilization 7 is a ton of fun. The Ages system is a major game-changer and really enhances the genre in a big way. Firaxis probably could have gotten away with a safer approach with this installment, opting for just better graphics. Instead, it boldly revamped a lot of the core systems to make the entire game more streamlined for both newcomers and veterans alike. Im glad Firaxis is still finding ways to improve a genre it has mastered over the years, and as a result, Sid Meiers Civilization 7 has the series in its best shape yet."VG247 awarded the game four stars, stating that while it certainly feels quite different from previous entries, it's still an absolute blast:"In the end, it all works - its just very different. The subtle whiff of compromise in order to launch the game far and wide is there - but compromise is just fine if the end result works. It does. Im happy. As someone who has somewhere in the region of a thousand hours logged across Civ 4, 5, and 6, Im ready to add hundreds more to that tally in the seventh entry. Some of that will come in years as the game grows and expands, as is Civilization tradition. But the point is, the foundations here are firm. The legend of one desperate extra turn, over and over again, forever, is secure."GameSpot's 8/10 review highlighted the robust systems in place, but noted the complete lack of the Contemporary Era:"Sid Meier's Civilization VII's "one more turn" aspect is still as engaging as ever, and I enjoyed huge portions of my playthroughs. Several facets, such as those related to diplomacy, espionage, crises, and combat address long-standing concerns. Legacy Paths and narrative events, meanwhile, offer rich and rewarding avenues for advancement through the ages."Unfortunately, as someone who's seen the heights that previous series entries have reached, the vanilla Civilization VII experience still needs a few tweaks, as it's held back by the aforementioned issues that occur during brief but crucial era transitions. Granted, the changes this series has undergone over the years--whether it's the square tiles or hexes debate, the "one unit per tile" drama, or city-planning with districts--have been for the better, eventually."The issues deemed controversial or cumbersome at the start paved the way for a better overall experience. As such, even if Civilization VII has a strong foundation, we might not see the game's full potential until much later in its lifespan. But, hey: At least the franchise has been consistent in that regard."IGN slapped a 7/10 score on its review and stated that efforts to streamline the experience may have gone a bit too far:"With Civilization 7, the desire to streamline and simplify this legendary 4X series feels like it has gone a bit too far, particularly when it comes to the interface. Its frustratingly inadequate at providing me with the information I need to play well, or even understand what's going on sometimes. Even so, it does have improved warfare and diplomacy, a bit of added narrative flair, as well as mostly gorgeous graphics and sound, so it can still give me reasons to keep clicking one more turn late into the night."Theres good reason to believe that with Firaxiss usual pace of patches and expansions it can refine its new ideas and become everything it ought to be, and while whats here right now is at least still a fun time, its also a bigger step backward for the series than were accustomed to when a new age dawns."Finally, Eurogamer gave the game just two out of five stars, echoing IGN's sentiments on the streamlining, but also straight-up calling it a dull experience:"Civilization 7 is pretty and detailed and sounds fine (I caught that one tune from Colonization!). AI turns are perhaps the fastest I've ever seen, and its UI has enough potential to make some of my complaints feel patchable. Its design broadly works, and a certain kind of city-optimising fan may even love it."But its lack of character is endemic, the extent of its annoying habits and oversights shocking for a series of such pedigree. It's a dull, contradictory game, and instead of showing everyone how it's done, it's felt since hour one like a game that leaves the 4X throne empty."Are we worried about the quality of the Switch version? Well yeah, of course, but we also understand that a game like Civ VII would shine brightest on the PC, so it's understandable that reviews have been limited to just one platform for the time being.As soon as we get our hands on the final Switch build, however, we'll be sure to put it through its paces and deliver our final verdict in due course. "But suddenly, it became a really huge thing."Switch has been very, very importantAre you looking forward to Civilization VII on the Switch? What do you make of the reviews so far? Let us know with a comment.Related GamesSee AlsoShare:01 Nintendo Lifes resident horror fanatic, when hes not knee-deep in Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore, Ollie likes to dive into a good horror book while nursing a lovely cup of tea. He also enjoys long walks and listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesEx-PlayStation Boss On Switch 2's Name: Nintendo Created So Much "Brand Value""Why would you mess with that?"Rumour: Switch 2 Game Cases Might Take Up More Space On Your ShelfHere's how they could compare to the current Switch casesJapan's Switch eShop Will Soon No Longer Accept Overseas Payment MethodsChange will come into effect in March

Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, one of Canadas most populous provinces, announced on X that the provinces government would be ripping up its $100 million contract with Elon Musks Starlink satellite internet service.The news comes soon after President Donald Trump announced this weekend a 25% tariff on nearly all Canadian imported goods, causing Canada to impose a 25% tariff on U.S. goods in response.Ontario wont do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy, Ford posted on X on Monday.Musk has become a close confidant of President Trump, and now oversees the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, a team within the Trump administration tasked with conducting massive cost-cutting to government spending and widescale deregulation. At the same time, Musks Starlink has been looking to strike deals with local and national governments to provide satellite internet. The Ontario governments Starlink contract was signed in November 2024 and was supposed to provide fast internet to remote parts of the province.In a press conference on Monday, Ford also said U.S. companies will be banned from future provincial contracts in Ontario until the U.S. government removes the tariffs. Ford said Musk was part of the Trump team that wants to destroy families, incomes, destroy businesses.[Musk] wants to take food off the table of people, hard-working people, and Im not going to tolerate it, said Ford. U.S.-based businesses will now lose out on tens of billions of dollars in new revenues. They only have President Trump to blame.Starlink did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

A native pornography app for iOS is coming to the EU via the approved alternative app store AltStore PAL, made possible by Europes Digital Markets Act (DMA). On Monday, the AltStore announced the launch of Hot Tub, an aggregator that offers iOS users a way to search and play videos from a variety of adult websites, including Pornhub, Xvideos, XNXX, and XHamster.While its always been possible to browse the web, including porn websites, from the iPhones web browser, the DMA allows app developers to release iPhone and iPad apps through alternative marketplaces in the EU. These alternative app store publishers can make decisions about the types of apps theyll allow, including those that would otherwise run afoul of Apples App Store Guidelines. Image Credits:Hot Tub on AltStore PALAs Apple explains in a support document, these apps still have to go through aNotarization processto meet baseline platform integrity standards. But, Apple warns, alternative app stores can opt to publish unrated apps that may include things like pornography, drug and alcohol, weapons, hate speech, and more. AltStore claims the approval of the Hot Tub app is the first to go through the Notarization process to be approved for distribution on the iPhone. Despite the nature of the content, the company says they didnt have any issues getting the app approved, though thats likely because Apple has often used pornography as an example of the kind of app they now must allow under the DMA. According to AltStore developer Riley Testut, the company will use the new opportunity to donate its Patreon earnings to causes supporting sex workers and others in the LGBTQ+ community during February, including The Trevor Project and Red Umbrella Fund. We feel this is necessary to fight back against recent harmful policies by politicians, Meta, and others, and we encourage everyone to help however you can, the AltStores account shared in social media posts. The Hot Tub app was developed by an independent developer who goes by c1d3r, and who was previously active in the jailbreak scene. (Jailbreaking is the act of breaking through Apples built-in security protections to install unapproved apps on the iPhone.)The app markets itself as a native alternative to porn websites that protects users from ads, trackers and spammy pop-ups. The app also features built-in search, gestures, customizable controls, and subscriber-only features, like advanced search, filtering, and categories across multiple networks. Alternative app store AltStore PAL adds third-party iOS apps in wake of EU Apple rulingThe AltStore, an alternative app store coming to the EU, will offer Patreon-backed apps

The suit aims to block the distribution of the iconic alien superheros IP in the U.K. and other territories without acquiring a license from the Estate.