Bandai Namco has revealed some statistics from the Elden Ring Nightreign network test ahead of the game's May 30 release date.Elden Ring Nightreign has up to three players teaming up survive three days and three nights. In the network test, players faced off against the Nightlord Gladius at the end of the third night, which they beat 58,615 times. If players are downed during battle, their teammates can revive them by attacking them. During the network test, a total of 23,627,489 attacks were used to revive downed players.However, players will lose the Runes they've accumulated if they fall in battle, as a result of not being revived in time. A total of 37,957,453,867 Runes were lost during the network test. Runes are earned by defeating enemies, with stronger ones dropping more. Here are the most formidable ones during the network test and how many were killed:Continue Reading at GameSpot

Vampire Survivors: The Grimoire (Hardcover) $30 | Releases October 21 Preorder on Amazon Vampire Survivors fans can soon read an official book that takes a closer look at the lore of the popular bullet-hell's world and the characters who inhabit it. Vampire Survivors: The Grimoire will be published by Titan Books on October 21, and preorders for the budget-friendly hardcover book are available at Amazon for $30.Dozens of new monsters and characters have been added to Vampire Survivors since it left early access in 2022, so this lore guidebook could help you parse the surprisingly deep stories that aren't always easy to absorb due to the (delightful) chaos of the gameplay loop.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Call of Duty's popular Nuketown map has been reimagined over and over again throughout the series, and the latest evolution of the map--focused on the stoner holiday of 4/20--has now been revealed. Activision also announced a variety of other extras coming to Black Ops 6 themed around marijuana.The new Nuketown variant is called "Blazetown," and it'll be available in Black Ops 6 multiplayer with the Season 3 Reloaded update at some point in the future. It's likely it'll be available by 4/20. Activision has only shared one image of Blazetown, but it does confirm one of the buses is decked out with flower power.A 4/20 version of Nuketown, Blazetown, is coming to Black Ops 6 with the Season 03 Reloaded update. pic.twitter.com/u9X5F0GnFq CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) March 27, 2025 Also coming to Black Ops 6 to celebrate all things ganja is a limited-time mode called Joint Operations. This includes five core mode variants, all with excellent names: Head Stash (TDM), Inhalation (Domination), Hotbox (Hardpoint), Very High Target (HVT), and Munchies (Kill Confirmed).Continue Reading at GameSpot

The live-action The Legend of Zelda movie now has a release date. The film is scheduled to come to theaters on March 26, 2027. That's about one year after The Super Mario Bros. 2 movie comes out in April 2026, meaning there will be major Nintendo movies in theaters at least two years in a row.The release date for the Zelda movie was confirmed in the Nintendo Today app.Zelda comes to theaters in 2027.The Zelda movie will be directed by Wes Ball, who is best known for his work on the Maze Runner series. Nintendo and Sony Pictures are co-financing the movie, with Nintendo's financial stake standing at more than 50%. Sony Pictures will distribute the film globally.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Gamers and romance go together like peanut butter and jelly--there's little in the world we like more than a good interactive love story. This is no doubt a significant reason for the decades-long popularity of The Sims, and why interest in InZoi is so high. These games are, ideally, romantic sandboxes full of endless possibilities for love and drama.But InZoi, of course, is a brand-new game released in Early Access, and so its romance systems are relatively unsophisticated right now in comparison with those of The Sims 4, which just added a ton of new romantic features in last year's Lovestruck expansion pack. Use our InZoi romance guide to learn how to flirt, go on dates, get married, and, perform a special kind of no-pants dance. You know the one.Table of Contents [hide]Preparing for lovePreparing for loveAs with most aspects of InZoi at this early stage, the romance system is fairly basic but it gets the job done--you can have a crush on somebody, go on dates with them, get married, have kids, get divorced, all that fun stuff that everybody does in the real world. We've gotta have some way to spend that money we've been working so hard for, and we're certainly not spending hours every day cleaning our homes for nothing.Continue Reading at GameSpot

InZoi is a life sim, and so by necessity it includes a particularly obnoxious thing that most of us have to sweat every single day of our lives: money. In this case a fictional currency called Meows. Fortunately, it's a bit easier to make money in a video game like InZoi than it is in the real world, because the steps are clear and simple and don't change dramatically over time. InZoi even features a money cheat for those really looking to get ahead. But even by normal methods, once you know how to make money, you'll make money. This is good because you'll be hiring a maid service to deal with all the dirt that keeps filling up your house every day before too long, and that Hyundai Ioniq isn't gonna buy itself.That said, the methods by which you'll earn your Meows in InZoi are fairly similar to how you'd do it on our Earth: Unless you win the lottery, you have to do some kind of work, be it a normal 9-5 job, some kind of freelance career, or even by undertaking criminal enterprises. But it's not always obvious how to do what you have to do to bring home that paper, and so we'll break it all down for you below with our list of ways to make cash in InZoi.Table of Contents [hide]Use the InZoi money cheatUse the InZoi money cheatWe'll start with the shortcut. No judgement--the game's economy is a bit wonky out of the gate, so we don't blame you. To use the InZoi money cheat, you'll head into the settings. In the Psicat guide menu, you'll find a button that says "money cheat" that will grant you 100,000 meows each time you press it. Since the InZoi economy is pretty incoherent right now, there's no need to feel any guilt over cheating yourself some money at this stage of the game's development.Continue Reading at GameSpot

InZoi's extensive character customization options include the ability to give your Zoi tattoos, although it isn't immediately obvious how to do this. Use our guide to add tattoos quickly and easily--though note that the options are pretty limited for now.How to get tattoos in InZoiThe tattoo option is hidden within the customization menus of the character creation screen, and so far we've not found any parlors in the city to get tattoos after creating our Zoi. There are also limited placement options at launch, with Zois only being able to have face or neck tattoos at the moment. To find these options, open the character creator (or choose to edit your Zoi's appearance in-game) and navigate to the accessories menu.Continue Reading at GameSpot

It's a hard life being a Zoi. There are so many moral questions to answer--will you live a clean, honest lifestyle, or will you turn to the criminal lifestyle and see how much you can get away with? Occasionally, actions you take in InZoi will end up with your Zoi being thrown in jail, but how do you get out?How to get out of jail in InZoiThere are a couple of options here. Firstly, you can choose to just not get out of jail at all. If you think your Zoi needs to reflect on their crimes and turn to a better lifestyle, you can remain in jail to reflect on your actions. When in jail, all your Zoi has access to is a bed, a toilet with very little privacy, a water fountain, and some vending machines. It's not the most enriching environment, and we're not sure what you'll really learn from being in there.Choosing to go home from jailSecondly, at around 7 AM the morning after you've been arrested, a pop-up message will appear saying that all prisoners will be sent home around 9 AM. Waiting for the time doesn't automatically send your Zoi home, though. Instead, you can click on your Zoi and choose the "Get Out of Jail" option. This will change your Zoi from their fetching orange overalls back into their usual clothes.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Robbing a bank--we've all joked about it, right? Now, with the release of Krafton's InZoi, your dreams can become reality (kind of). ATMs are dotted about the cities of InZoi, and if your Zoi so wishes, they can try their hand at robbing one. Unfortunately, there are a few hazards to be aware of, so we'll walk you through the most effective way to rob an ATM in InZoi and get away with both some money and your life.How to rob an ATM in InZoiBefore you can choose to rob an ATM, you first need to get your Karma down to the "Bad" level. This can be achieved by interacting negatively with other Zois, taking other karmically negative actions, such as checking for loose change in vending machines, and generally being a terrible citizen.ATMs can be found on the sidewalk.Once your Karma level is at "Bad" you can find the nearest ATM in your city. These are dotted along the sidewalks. Ironically, there doesn't appear to be any ATMs within the local bank; they're just on the roadside. You'll want to select the "Karma action" option and choose "Hack" to attempt to rob the ATM.Continue Reading at GameSpot

InZoi is poised to be the first real competitor to The Sims franchise ever, but the brand-new life sim obviously can't just be a copy--when you're going up against a game as well established as The Sims 4, you have to do some things differently.One of these different things involves taking care of your home. In The Sims, you have to do the dishes, and clean up piles of garbage, but the key thing is that garbage only accumulates as a direct result of your sims doing stuff. If you left the house alone for a week, it'd be just as clean when you return as it was when you left.But InZoi is a little more granular than The Sims 4 is in most respects, and house cleaning is one example. In InZoi, your home will naturally accumulate dirt and dust that you have to clean up regularly, or it will create a strain in your family's relationships. This layer of grime is quite visible just from looking around--you'll see a nice layer of grime on anything in the dirty area.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Director Ji Won Choi visited us to discuss the Lies of P Overture DLC.

InZoi is in Early Access, meaning it's full of gameplay features that will need to be fleshed out and tuned up over time. While there are currently many aspects of InZoi that fit that bill, my personal favorite, and the one I'm most looking forward to seeing more of, is the game's driving mechanic. Here's how to get a car in InZoi, and how to drive it, of course.How to get a car in InZoiFirst things first; to get a car, you'll need to buy one using the Dream Car app on your phone, where you'll find seven cars you can buy. Four of them are generic InZoi cars, and three of them are Hyundais. Once you make your purchase, you'll find your car parked on the street outside your home. Then it's driving time.You use the Dream Car app to buy a car in InZoi.How to drive in InZoiThe best way to use your car is to select the "drive" option when you're picking a place to visit on your city map. Once you're done with that, your Zoi will walk out to the street, conjure the car with a little remote, and drive to their destination. If you hit Tab while in the car to shift to "shoulder view" mode, you'll be able to enjoy the ride in a first-person view.Continue Reading at GameSpot

No life sim could possibly be complete without your characters having the ability to cook food. It's not just that we need to eat food or else we'll die--it's that cooking is one of humanity's most beloved pastimes. So, of course, cooking is a key part of InZoi, as you'll likely spend a decent portion of your playing time preparing food for yourself and your digital family. But cooking in InZoi is a little bit quirky compared with cooking in The Sims or, indeed, cooking in real life. And that's because, the way that it works right now, you can't scale up any of the meal options. Here's how to cook for your family in InZoi. Instead, most of the recipes only let you cook a meal for one. So if you want to cook a meal for your whole family, you'll need to cook one of the recipes listed as "big enough to share with others."But when you're just getting started in InZoi, you won't be able to cook any of those--none of the group foods becomes available to cook until you level up your cooking skill to level 3, at which point you can make cake and pizza. If you keep leveling your cooking skill up to 5, you'll get two more group foods you can cook: fried chicken and steak. However, you'll need an outdoor barbecue grill to cook steak. Anything other than steak, cake, fried chicken, and pizza is strictly a one-person meal.Continue Reading at GameSpot

What is the single thing that we all spend the biggest portion of our waking hours doing? Our jobs, of course. It's what I'm doing right now as I write this article, even. No life sim would be complete with jobs--and so obviously InZoi gives players the chance to go to work and get their daily grind on. Here's how to get a job in Krafton's new Sims competitor.Table of Contents [hide]How to get a job in InZoiHow to get a job in InZoiAs with The Sims 4, there are two main types of jobs to choose from: those which send you to a "rabbit hole," in which you're simply offscreen at a workplace that's not on the map, and those where you have to actively control your Zoi as they go about their day at the office. Most jobs are of the rabbit hole type, but each of the available cities also includes two unique active jobs that you can choose from as well.To get a job, you'll need to click on the careers button at the bottom of your Zoi's phone screen, where you can see all the options. In Dowon, the two active jobs are at the fire department, or at Adam Entertainment, an idol management company--all the other available career jobs, which have a little briefcase mark on their icons, are the rabbit hole type of jobs. There are also part-time jobs, too, but you will never be promoted or get a raise at those jobs.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Britain in the 60s was a weird place. The Beatles had conquered the world and Sean Connerys Bond redefined the modern gentleman; from the outside looking in, the influential isle was the height of cool. Yet peel back the surface, and youd discover an altogether stranger Britain bubbling beneath its glitzy exterior. Its a mood perfectly captured in Rebellions Atomfall, a post-apocalyptic action survival epic that fully embraces the scary 60s and leans into Britannia at its most eerie.

ZA/UM stopped by our studio to talk about their new game, Project C4, an espionage story that continues the design and style created in Disco Elysium.

We've all been there. You spend hours in the InZoi character creator, meticulously putting together the Zoi of your dreams--or your exact likeness, depending on your preference. Then, after a few hours, they grow stale. You begin to think they might even be too boring to be a Zoi. How do you change your appearance? How to change your appearance in InZoiThere are some aspects of Zoi creation that can be changed after creation and some that can't. Thankfully, changing your appearance is something you can do at any time, as long as you're near a mirror.To change your InZoi appearance, click on the mirror, and then select to change your appearance. From here, you can make as many adjustments as you like before hitting save and returning to your playthrough.Continue Reading at GameSpot

The First Berserker: Khazan might be a Soulslike, but if you're coming into it expecting battles to play out like they do in FromSoftware's games, you're probably in for a surprise. Khazan plays like a mix of Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Sekiro, with several quirks of its own, and it'll probably take a while and several failed encounters before you pick up on how to play.This First Berserker: Khazan tips list is designed to make that transition a bit easier, with some handy help for anyone, but especially for those approaching it with other Soulslikes in mind. Dodge with careKhazan's dodging works a bit differently than you're probably used to if you're coming to this from Dark Souls or Elden Ring. Dodging still grants you a small period of invulnerability, but the timing is slightly later than in FromSoftware's games. Usually in those, if you dodge as an attack approaches you, the game counts it as a miss and keeps you from taking damage. In Khazan, you have to dodge the moment before the enemy or weapon makes contact, which is often a second after they start their attack animation.A good example is the tutorial guardian, the large man with a spear who chases you around a cave. When he performs a horizontal attack, if you dodge when he starts the swing, you'll just move into the oncoming hit. You have to wait until the spearhead almost makes contact to dodge if you want to evade the hit... Parry oftenOr you can just parry. Khazan is more of a hybrid Soulslike and Sekiro-like, one that assumes you'll understand when the best time to dodge or parry is with barely a moment's notice. In most cases, when your stamina isn't depleted, parrying is the much better choice. Enemy recovery times are quick, so dodging away from an attack often gives you no room to follow up with one of your own.The time window for performing a perfect parry--and, as a result, losing no stamina--is unusually forgiving for a game like this, so once you know your opponent's attack patterns, you can feasibly block every incoming attack and save your stamina for your own offensive maneuvers. Build your stamina earlySpeaking of stamina, given how important that stat is in Khazan, you should devote several stat upgrades to that in the early game, ideally before challenging the first major boss. Khazan's stat increases are divided between increasing his health, strength, and carrying capacity, but the last two--Willpower and Proficiency--primarily govern his many stamina stats.Stamina recovery and reducing stamina loss are important, of course. However, you'll want to increase his stamina damage and guardian stamina damage. Guardians are enemies with purple stamina bars, the stronger foes and the boss enemies Khazan faces. Dealing more stamina damage to them means you can perform critical hits more often and deplete more of their health more quickly. These stats are also the ones that show the most significant progression in the early game. Giving Khazan 10 more strength might see him do 20 more damage with his basic attacks--helpful, but hardly game-changing. Boosting his guardian stamina damage by two levels lets him take a noticeable chunk of the enemy's stamina bar out with one hit, which is going to have far more useful results. Compare more than statsWeight and basic stats are typically what matter when you're putting a build together in Elden Ring or Dark Souls, but Khazan goes a bit deeper with its gear. You'll end up with several copies of the same basic items, though they (usually) have varying levels. It's worth checking when you pick up anything new, in case you can eke out some extra defense.However, sometimes, it's worth sacrificing the best stats for better benefits. Khazan has several gear sets that come with special bonus upgrades if you equip two or more pieces from that set. One early example is Frozen Mountain armor. Two pieces give you a recovery boost, and wearing four will reduce incoming damage by a substantial amount, enough to negate the advantage of slightly better defense if you wore something of a higher level from a different set. Look over your shoulderThis is a small thing, but Khazan has an annoying habit of manifesting enemies behind you when there weren't any there before. And we don't mean you'll overlook them easily; they literally pop up from nowhere. You can expect this any time you enter an area with one or two enemies visible in front of you, so just be aware that threats you can't see are probably going to show up, as well. Build out two weapon skill treesThe game is rather stingy with skill points, but it's worth building two weapons so you can handle any situation that might pop up. The dual-wield option you begin the game with is suitable for most enemies, for example, but dealing with bigger foes is much faster and easier when you're using Khazan's great sword. Target ranged foes firstThis might seem like an obvious one, but ranged enemies are far deadlier and more obnoxious in Khazan than they are in Souls games. They attack more frequently, and their hits deal more damage than even some melee attackers. If that weren't enough, you're also contending with the environment. Khazan favors open areas with few things to hide behind, and ranged attackers will, after missing a few shots, reposition so they can target you clearly again. Regardless of the situation, take out ranged enemies first. Pick your battlesOne of Khazan's more inscrutable quirks is that it lumps normal enemies with guardian-class enemies and treats them like mini-bosses, with purple stamina bars and seemingly unavoidable battles. Some of them even respawn when you interact with the blade nexus like standard enemies. However, you really don't have to engage with them, and you shouldn't, after the first time. There's no penalty or extra reward for doing it. It's a waste of resources and time for diminishing returns, so save your consumables and patience for a more worthwhile trial.

Jeff Grubb and Rhys Elliot recap updates on Pokemon Legends ZA, Metroid Prime 4, Patapon, and all the other games that were announced out of today's Nintendo Direct.

Nintendo accidentally confirmed the Switch 2's mystery button is a "C" Button, in some promotional material for the company's new Nintendo Today app on the Google Play store. The reveal happened after the March 2025 Nintendo Direct, during which Nintendo also announced virtual game cards and showcased Metroid Prime 4 again. Twitter and Bluesky user Wario64 first spotted it and posted a zoomed-in version of the image to make viewing it easier.We speculated about the nature of the mystery button shortly after Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 at the start of the year. At the time, it was just a blank square situated under the "Home" button on the right Joy-Con. It's roughly where the invisible NFC detector is on the original Switch, the tool that scans Amiibo. Given that the Switch 2 is slightly larger than its predecessor, it looks like there's still room for an NFC scanner even with the mysterious "C" button.Nintendo Switch 2 render in the Nintendo Today! app listing screenshots reveals the C button https://t.co/tyWwvoaS9y pic.twitter.com/UoIOPEM7ru Wario64 (@Wario64) March 27, 2025 Granted, we still don't know what the button actually does. The last Nintendo console with a "C" button was the Nintendo 64, which had four of them--a set of four buttons roughly where "ABXY" is on the current Switch. Wario64's replies were full of suggestions about what the "C" might stand for, and while most of them were lewd, one seems like a reasonable fit: Cursor. If the Switch 2 lets users imitate a mouse with the Joy-Con, as Nintendo suggested in the console's reveal trailer, perhaps the "C" button is what tells the Switch 2 to change how it registers Joy-Con inputs.Continue Reading at GameSpot

There is no shortage of Diablo-like video games to play in 2025. The dungeon-crawling RPG series has been an iconic part of gaming as a pioneer in Western RPGs, setting a foundation for others to follow and build upon. Diablo 2 created an entire subgenre of similar titles originally referred to as action-RPGs (Diablo pioneered and popularized real-time combat in isometric computer RPGs) but are now more commonly called ARPGs to avoid confusion with behind-the-back action-RPGs like The Witcher 3. Regardless of what term you use to describe them, these isometric RPGs all aim to recreate Diablo's satisfying gameplay loop with an emphasis on dungeon crawling, monster slaying, character-enhancing loot, and multiplayer features. However, it's definitely fair to say that some Diablo-likes are better than others.In case you're looking for something to scratch the Diablo itch, we've selected our favorites in the action-RPG genre. From well-known homages like Torchlight 2 to lesser-known fare like Victor Vran, we've covered nearly all the games in this style that you'd ever want to play. We've even honed in on a few selections that deliver some of the same thrills without quite fitting into its exact genre niche. The next time you feel that urge to grind, give one of these a try. You might be surprised how much you like it.Meanwhile, the Diablo franchise itself is as varied as this list, with Diablo 2, 3, 4 and even the mobile title Diablo Immortal each offering their flavor of demon-slaying and loot hunting. Diablo 4 is on Xbox Game Pass, so you can play it as part of your subscription. The Vessel of Hatred expansion isn't included in the Game Pass version, but your subscription includes a discount for it. Blizzard additionally remade Diablo 2 in the form of 2021's Diablo 2: Resurrected, for those who prefer a more old-school dive into the genre. You can also check out the best Game Pass games, as well as tons of other great dungeon-crawlers. The AscentDeveloper: Neon GiantRelease Date: July 29, 2021Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|SGenre: Twin-Stick Shooter ARPGMultiplayer: Four-player Co-opThis dungeon-crawler is notable mostly for its setting, which is about as far from the traditional swords and sorcery as you can get. The Ascent adopts a cyberpunk aesthetic, and instead of descending into the depths of a dungeon, you're actually climbing up a massive corporate tower. Your usual suite of spell-like powers are represented by high-tech gadgets, and you can climb the tech tree and customize a cyberdeck to your liking. It does focus more on ranged combat than many other Diablo-likes, since every build uses guns by default, but the enemy design is well-tuned for that purpose. And like the best dungeon crawlers, you can play with up to three friends to take down cyber-threats cooperatively.Read our The Ascent review. See at Fanatical Darksiders: GenesisDeveloper: Airshop SyndicateRelease Date: December 5, 2019Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, MobileGenre: Action RPGMultiplayer: Two-player Co-opA lesser-known spin-off of the Darksiders franchise, Genesis is an isometric hack-and-slash game with co-op support and tons of enemies to slay. It's less of an RPG than other games on this list, with fewer mechanics to explore, and not much in the way of proper builds. However, a lot of players feel that it's one of the best games in the franchise, perhaps even better than some of the mainline entries. This is definitely a game that is best picked up on sale for a weekend play with a friend, and it excels in that situation.Read our Darksiders: Genesis review. See at Fanatical Grim DawnDeveloper: Crate EntertainmentRelease Date: February 25, 2016Platforms: PC, Xbox OneGenre: ARPGMultiplayer: Four-player Co-opCreated as a spiritual follow-up to Titan Quest, Grim Dawn is a cult ARPG that combines complex mechanics with deep build customization. Unlike most games in the genre, Grim Dawn doesn't have randomized enemy camps and dungeons, instead opting for a hand-designed approach. Players praise it for its replayability and variety of builds, while also noting substantial support from developer Crate Entertainment and a vibrant mod scene that continues to this day. If you missed it on its original release in 2016, it's worth a look.Read our Grim Dawn review. See at Humble HadesDeveloper: Supergiant GamesRelease Date: December 6, 2018Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo SwitchGenre: Action RoguelikeMultiplayer: Eight-player Co-opThe roguelike Hades isn't a loot-driven RPG like the Diablo games, but its thrilling action combat and emphasis on crafting a build delivers some of the same satisfaction in a run-based package. Though you'll earn permanent boosts, much of the enjoyment of Hades involves selecting from a wide array of weapons and upgrades as you descend through the bowels of the underworld, giving an accelerated and repeatable experience of crafting your build. The combat itself is slick and fast-paced, and the enemy variety will keep you on your toes. Hades 2, currently in early access, introduces a new protagonist with her own playstyle, which should be more than enough to keep you on your toes.Read our Hades review. See at Steam Halls of TormentDeveloper: Chasing CarrotsRelease Date: March 9, 2023Platforms: PCGenre: Auto-Shooter SurvivalMultiplayer: NoMany of the games on this list borrow Diablo's gameplay style, but Halls of Torment is more about paying homage to its design aesthetic, reimagined in a different genre. The auto-shooter survival genre popularized by Vampire Survivors attracted many imitators, and Halls of Torment takes that concept and applies it to a Diablo 2-like setting and style. You'll still go on quick roguelike runs that almost inevitably lead to your own demise, but as you do, you'll chip away at upgrades to make your barbarian or archer that much heartier. If you want a Diablo fix mixed with the quick bite-sized play of a Survivor-like, this is a great mix that compels you to play just one more time, over and over. See at Steam Minecraft DungeonsDeveloper: Mojang StudiosRelease Date: May 26, 2020Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo SwitchGenre: ARPGMultiplayer: Four-player Co-opMinecraft Dungeons is a simple and fun take on the usual Diablo-like genre that can appeal to a wider audience. There's no complex build diagrams or multi-phase bosses requiring in-depth strategies here--just a lot of hacking, slashing, and watching the numbers go up. It's certainly one of the better-looking games on this list, as the voxel aesthetic of Minecraft stands out in the field, and its lighting is especially impressive. It's not a hardcore experience, but if you're looking for a grindfest that you can play with anybody, Minecraft Dungeons is very much in that ballpark.Read our Minecraft Dungeons review. See at Humble Path of ExileDeveloper: Grinding Gear GamesRelease Date: October 23, 2013Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneGenre: ARPGMultiplayer: Six-player Co-opSometimes described by fans as the true successor to Diablo 2, Path Of Exile is a free-to-play ARPG that presents itself as a hardcore alternative to others in the market. Developed by a team of Diablo fans who were frustrated by the lack of new games in the genre in the early 2010s, Path Of Exile appeals the most to players who value depth of content over all else, as the game has received ten years of regular updates from developer Grinding Gear Games. A sequel, Path Of Exile 2, is currently scheduled to release in November. Even with the early-access launch of Path Of Exile 2, the original will continue to receive new seasonal updates, with many cosmetics and quality-of-life microtransactions (like additional stash tabs) carrying over between games.Read our Path of Exile review. See at Steam Path Of Exile 2Developer: Grinding Gear GamesRelease Date: December 6, 2024 (Early Access)Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5Multiplayer: Six-player Co-opPath Of Exile 2 may be in early access and currently only feature half of its campaign and character classes, but it's already a content for one of the best ARPGs ever made. It shares a lot of DNA with its predecessor but manages to carve out its own place in history thanks to its fantastic presentation and more methodical (at least for the first several dozen hours) combat that puts a heavy focus on From Software-style boss battles. It also takes some of the more confusing and frustrating aspects of the original Path Of Exile, like skill gems, and presents them in a new, more beginner-friendly system that still features loads of depth for those who love fine-tuning builds for maximum efficiency. Though its punishing endgame may not be to the liking of some, its campaign, even in its half-finished state, is a must-play for any who consider themselves an ARPG aficionado. The early access version of Path Of Exile 2 costs $30, but the game will eventually be free-to-play. See at Steam Titan QuestDeveloper: Iron Lore Entertainment, Demiurge StudiosRelease Date: June 26, 2006Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, MobileGenre: ARPGMultiplayer: Six-player Co-opOne of the oldest games on our list, Titan Quest doesn't quite belong to the first generation of Diablo-likes, but it's certainly not far behind them. It's an action-RPG with the familiar isometric perspective, though it trades Diablo's demonic milieu for an Ancient Greek setting. First conceptualized during the development of Age of Empires, Titan Quest has a throwback charm that will appeal to those who grew up with 2000s gaming, and its Anniversary Edition re-release from 2016 sands off some of its rough edges while keeping the experience authentic to the original. It's definitely not the best game on this list, but as far as solid ARPGs go, this is one worth considering. A nearly two-decades later sequel, Titan Quest 2, was announced in 2023 but does not yet have a release date.Read our Titan Quest review. See at Fanatical Torchlight 2Developer: Runic GamesRelease Date: September 20, 2012Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo SwitchGenre: ARPGMultiplayer: Six-player Co-opThe Torchlight games are some of the most renowned games in the Diablo-like genre, and for good reason. They combined the satisfying mob-killing action that made the series so enjoyable with a simpler approach that appeals to those who were scared away by the relatively complex builds and strategies required for the Diablo games. Torchlight 2 improved on every aspect of the original and is generally considered the peak of the series, though the new Torchlight Infinite is worth a look if you're interested in a live service version with a gacha system. Torchlight 2 also has a successful mod scene if you don't mind doing some research.Read our Torchlight 2 review. See at Fanatical Victor VranDeveloper: Heimimont GamesRelease Date: July 24, 2015Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, MobileGenre: ARPGMultiplayer: Four-player Co-opOne of the more obscure ARPGs to come out in the 2010s, Victor Vran is a different kind of Diablo-like. Like Minecraft Dungeons, it doesn't require a build guide or hundreds of hours of grinding to reach the end, though it does have a substantial endgame with fancy loot. The game is also surprisingly hard on the higher difficulties, but not so much that it requires you to look up a guide online. If you're looking for a forever ARPG like the Diablo series or Path of Exile, Victor Vran isn't for you, but it's a great game to play with a friend over a weekend if you want to relax.Read our Victor Vran review. See at Humble V RisingDeveloper: Stunlock StudiosRelease Date: May 17, 2022Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5Genre: Survival RPGMultiplayer: Ten-player Co-opThis action-RPG mixes in survival elements with gothic flair, putting you in the fabulous leather boots of a recently reawakened vampire. As a result, you need to avoid certain dangers like sunlight and make sure you constantly feed on the blood of NPCs, and as you progress you'll even begin building and customizing your own castle. As you build up your array of vampiric powers, the isometric combat bears a striking resemblance to Diablo's mage-casters, and you can put your skills to the test against an array of gruesome bosses. See at Fanatical Warhammer 40K: Inquisitor - MartyrDeveloper: Neocore GamesRelease Date: August 31, 2017Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|SGenre: ARPGMultiplayer: Four-player Co-opThe Warhammer franchise has covered nearly every game genre, particularly with the Warhammer 40,000 series, and that includes the isometric Diablo-like with Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr. Battling against an assortment of Xenos and other vicious enemies, you make use of classic Warhammer 40,000 abilities and weapons, including the legendary chainsword. Being able to slaughter endless waves of enemies--heretics who defy the Emperor of Mankind--is very satisfying, even if the game's campaign lacks the variety of some of the other games on this list. See at Steam Warhammer: ChaosbaneDeveloper: Eko SoftwareRelease Date: May 31, 2019Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4Genre: ARPGMultiplayer: Four-player Co-opIf the grim darkness of the 41st millennium isn't your vibe, there is also an ARPG set in Games Workshop's more traditional fantasy setting. It may be less complex than Warhammer 40K: Inquisitor - Martyr, but it's still a fun (albeit more casual) romp through the Warhammer setting, with satisfying gameplay, unique boss fights, and five (or six, if you buy the Witcher Hunter DLC) different classes to choose from, including the iconic dwarven Slayer. Each class feels distinct yet still easy to pick up and play, and in addition to unique active and passive abilities, every class sports a special Bloodlust "ultimate" style ability that charges by defeating enemies that can be used to devastating effect. It can be lacking in terms of enemy variety and its story isn't exactly riveting, but Warhammer: Chaosbane still manages to be a fun distraction, especially when played with friends. See at Fanatical Last EpochDeveloper: 11th Hour GamesRelease Date: February 21, 2024Platforms: PCGenre: ARPGMultiplayer: Four-player Co-opAfter raising $255,000 on Kickstarter and spending five years in Steam early access, Last Epoch finally released in 2024 and made a big splash in the ARPG community. It's easy to see why. 11th Hour Games clearly is a fan of the genre and put a ton of thought into Last Epoch's systems, with one great example being how it solves the longstanding ARPG debate over whether to play with item trading or going the solo self-found route with its unique Trade Factions system. Toss in five base classes (each with three Mastery classes to evolve into), highly customizable skill upgrade trees for the game's more than 120 skills, an excellent crafting system, and seasonal updates, and there is plenty of ARPG goodness for fans of the genre to sink their teeth into here. See at Fanatical

AI Robot Cube $70 (was $120) | Select customers can get it for only $49. See at Amazon Whether you're a total Rubik's Cube novice or a seasoned solver looking for a unique new puzzle to add to your collection, the ex-Mars AI Robot Cube is worth checking out. Successfully funded by Kickstarter backers, the AI Robot Cube hit store shelves about a year ago with a lofty $120 price tag. During Amazon's Big Spring Sale, however, you can get this unique electronic puzzle for as low as $49.Amazon's discount drops the price to $70, but shoppers in select US regions can also take advantage of a manufacturer coupon--located below the price--that slashes an additional 30% from the cost at checkout. If eligible, you'll wind up saving $71 on this high-tech gadget that we enjoyed when we tried it last fall.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Ubisoft has announced a major change to its organization as it looks to the future, as the company has created a new "dedicated subsidiary" focused on three main franchises: Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. Tencent is investing 1.16 billion ($1.25 billion USD) to take a minority stake (about 25%) in this new subsidiary.Ubisoft said the parts of its business that are not included in this new entity, including The Division and Ghost Recon, along with development of certain new IP, will continue in parallel. However, it's unknown to what extent these changes could result in potential layoffs or studio closures."This new subsidiary will focus on building game ecosystems designed to become truly evergreen and multi-platform. Backed by greater investment and boosted creative capacities, it will drive further increases in quality of narrative solo experiences, expand multiplayer offerings with increased frequency of content release, introduce free-to-play touchpoints, and integrate more social features," Ubisoft said.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Xbox 360 Collector Building Set (1,342 Pieces) $105 (was $150) See at Target The Target-exclusive Xbox 360 Collector Building Set is discounted for the first time since Black Friday during Circle Week. Normally $150, the 1,342-piece Mega Bloks model kit is up for grabs for only $105. The $45 discount is only for Target Circle members, but it's free to sign up.Target Circle Week ends March 29. For more deals on building sets, check out our roundup of great discounts on Lego sets. Shop Lego Deals at Target Continue Reading at GameSpot

Wyndham Village is the smallest region in Atomfall, only consisting of a quaint village and some cliffs on the outskirts. The village still has plenty to see and do, though, as you can meet NPCs, head down to the bar, barter with traders, and solve a murder. If you enter St. Katherines Church on the east side of Wyndham Village, youll come across the Vicar standing over a dead womans body in the back office.Naturally, you might try to investigate the scene but the Vicar is adamant that he doesnt want you poking your nose around the murder. Of course, that cant stop you, and this begins the Murder in the Church investigation in Atomfall. To see how to complete the quest, check out the full walkthrough below. Speak with the Vicar and Pamela ShawAfter examining the womans murdered body, youll discover she was a church-goer named Maisie who apparently didn't have a run-in with anyone in the village. The Vicar implores you to not go and tell any soldiers about the incident, as hes worried theyll shut the church down and have him extradited from the village.Against the Vicars wishes, you can speak to Pamela Shaw, the other person in the room with the body, and she will tell you more about Maisie after you convince her to. Shaw confesses that Maisie was seen skulking around a cellar outside of the village just before her death, so thats where your first stop is. Exploring the CellarTrack the Murder in the Church investigation from the menu in Atomfall to see your new quest marker. Its located on the outskirts of the town to the north of the church. Once you get there, be careful, as there are rat swarm nests nearby that can deal some serious damage to you. Simply go into the cellar to avoid them.Inside the cellar, you can loot a few items, like the recipe for Molotov Cocktails and a BARD crate. Youll also discover a note sitting on a candle-lit table thats called Kill the one they call Maisie. In the note, you learn that there was a hit out on Maisie for prying into affairs that she had no business knowing about.The letter was addressed to a man named Morris Wick, who was ordered to kill Maisie, or the Vicars Spy as they call her. You can now go and confront Morris, but you also have another option. You can go directly to the Vicar to tell him about Morris plans, which can slightly alter the outcome of the quest.Below, well go over both outcomes depending on who you choose to tell about the letter. Confronting Morris WickIf you choose to go and speak with Morris Wick, you can find him inside the Wyndham Village traders shop west of the church. Inside, Morris is standing behind the cash register and engages in some friendly conversation at first.You can then turn up the heat and ask him about the note you found that instructed him to kill Maisie. Morris is clearly guilty, but he goes over his reasons for doing what he did. Apparently, Morris is in league with some pagans in the Woods, and hes trying to spread that religion in the village. Maisie caught on to this plot and was going to tell the Vicar all about it, but she was murdered by Morris before she got the chance.While Morris is clearly guilty, you have a couple of options about what to do with him. After getting through enough dialogue with Morris, you can choose to either accept a bribe from him and sweep the murder under the rug, make him leave the village, or threaten to tell the captain of the village. No matter how hard you press, Morris wont willingly leave the village. If you threaten Morris, he will attack you in the shop, and youll be forced to kill him.However, if you accept a bribe, youll earn a Crafting Training Manual and the ability to keep trading with Morris. Traders are pretty rare in Atomfall, so its nice to have an easily accessible option.Once you deal with Morris, you can return to the Vicar and tell him what truthfully happened or lie about it, depending on what choice you made. This completes the Murder in the Church Investigation. Telling the Vicar about Morris and MaisieOn the flip side, you can opt to run straight to the Vicar at the church and tell him everything that youve learned about Maisies death. Surprisingly, the Vicar has a curious response upon learning that Morris is responsible for the murder.He asks you to deal with Morris in any way that you can. This essentially means the Vicar wants you to kill Morris. After your dialogue with the Vicar is over, you can head over to the village shop where Morris works and go through the same dialogue that we covered in the section talking about confronting him.In the end, if you choose to accept a bribe from Morris and return to the Vicar with that news, the Vicar will shun you, and you wont be able to talk to him again. However, if you kill Morris, hell be overjoyed and reward you for your efforts.Murder in the Church has a couple of different outcomes that can affect the rest of Atomfall. If you choose to kill Morris, youll keep the Vicar on your side, but you lose access to a trader and dont receive the bribed Crafting Training Manual. Alternatively, sparing Morris means you cant speak to the Vicar again in Atomfall, which will be reflected in your ending.

Atomfall is a new open world, survival RPG thats set in a post-apocalyptic version of 1950s England. A radioactive disaster has just occurred, and youre locked inside the Quarantine Zone without any recollection as to how you got there or whats happening around you. From the moment the game opens up to you, youre able to go anywhere, complete any quest you come across, and explore numerous different areas within the games open-world zones.The way Atomfall is designed makes it a different experience for every player. This can make it difficult to nail down just how long it takes to beat the game, as some players will take longer to reach the end than others based on the path they take. However, you can see a general timeframe for how long it takes to reach the end credits of Atomfall in the guide below.How long is Atomfall - Campaign lengthFor most players, Atomfall will take roughly 15-20 hours to beat. This is contingent on completing the main story and taking time to explore the different zones in the game, as you often dont have exact quest markers to guide you to your next objective.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Backbone has revealed its new limited-edition controller for smartphones, and for fans of classic Xbox vibes, this could be a very nostalgic device for mobile gaming. The Backbone One: Xbox Edition controller will go on sale starting March 27 at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET. Since this will be sold in limited quantities, it'll be available exclusively through the Backbone store and Best Buy. As an extra bonus, the controller also comes with a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.Backbone: Xbox One EditionGallery Similar to last year's Post Malone controller inspired by the musician and Lord of the Rings fan, the Xbox version sports a transparent green shell that allows you to see the inner workings of this device. It's a darker shade of green that references the classic aesthetic of Xbox, and it includes a black PCB and the iconic Xbox button. Beyond that, you're getting the standard range of inputs that you'll find on other Backbone controllers, allowing you to play games with a traditional selection of controls.This is also a second-gen model, so you're getting a USB-C connection that can pair with your phone, even if it's protected by a phone case. This makes the Backbone controller quite appealing as you won't need to strip the protective cover off of your phone every time you want to use it. Additionally, there is passthrough charging, a 2.5mm headphone jack, and support for most iPhones and Android devices.Continue Reading at GameSpot

In the early '80s, the Commodore 64 was at the forefront of the home computer revolution. Now, retro publisher Ziggurat Interactive is bringing back a selection of the classic games from the C64 era in Cosmi: Forbidden Forests, which will also include a new remaster of Forbidden Forests.1983's Forbidden Forest and its 1985 sequel, Beyond the Forbidden Forest, are both included in this compilation. But the primary attraction of Cosmi: Forbidden Forests is the modernized version of the title game that transforms the 2D art style into something that resembles a medieval tapestry. Players will have the option of toggling between the original style of Forbidden Forests and the new graphics and audio. A glimpse of the remaster is included in the announcement trailer below. The remaining games included in this retro release include Aztec Challenge, Caverns of Khafka, Seal, Delta Man, Chomp!, Chernobyl: Nuclear Power Plant Simulation, Spite & Malice, and Navcom 6: The Persian Gulf Defense. These titles retain their C64 style graphics and gameplay, while adding features like the ability to rewind the action or create save states.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Backyard Baseball pressed all the nostalgia buttons when it was revived last fall for PC as Backyard Baseball '97, a pixel-for-pixel faithful remake of the original game--a challenging project given the revival team didn't have the game's original source code. As of today, March 27, it's available on platforms that didn't even exist when the game debuted: smartphones and tablets for both iOS and Android.Backyard Baseball '97 brings the same experience you might know from PC to smartphones and tablets, featuring touch controls and a few on-screen buttons that replace things like the ESC key that pauses the game on PC. Beyond those minor differences, this is the same experience PC players have access to. Like on PC, it also works with compatible controllers for those who may prefer that method. It's listed at $5. Continue Reading at GameSpot

The folks working on Balatro have let us know how to properly pronounce the game's title, even though there's no real "wrong" way to do so.According to Game File, publisher PlayStack's head of video marketing Naman Budhwar said, "'BAH-luh-trow' is how local folks say it, but it's kind of a 'gif' and 'jif' situation where [LocalThunk] doesn't really mind how people say it." Anyone can pronounce the word how they want, including variations like "Buh-LAH-trow" and "BAY-lah-trow."Balatro recently go its fourth Friends of Jimbo pack, which includes collaborations with Dead By Daylight and Assassin's Creed. Past Friends of Jimbo packs included crossovers with games like Cyberpunk 2077, Warframe, and Stardew Valley.Continue Reading at GameSpot