Schedule 1, the silly-looking drug-dealing game that took the gaming community by storm a few months back, got a new patch today, and it's headlined by the addition of an off-road skateboard. It also includes some bug fixes, tweaks, and improvements, such as a change to how stamina is consumed while skateboarding.The off-road skateboard is added to the inventory on sale at the Shred Shack, where it'll cost you $1,500. While minor in the grand scheme of things, it lets you live out your mountain-boarding dreams. If you're of a certain age, it might even let you reminisce about the mountain-board levels in Rocket Power: Beach Bandits for the PS2.This patch also tweaks a couple of other skateboarding-related things. First, the developer notes that it implemented some minor changes for skateboard animations. Second, stamina consumption while on a skateboard has changed from instantaneous to gradual, which will likely smooth out the skateboarding experience.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Rebellion Developments revealed Atomfall’s upcoming story expansion in Wicked Isle, and fans won’t have to wait long to go hands-on. In a new gameplay overview, the developer breaks down what to expect from the new location and the threats that await. Accessed from a boat in Windham Village, Midsummer Isle is isolated from the rest of the quarantine zone. However, it expands on the lore with some leads taking you back to the zone and opening alternate endings. You’ll wind up in an abandoned fishing village but venture into dense forests and an old abbey’s ruins (where the Monk’s Grove resides in secret). Lake Bandits and Druids are the more common threats, but you’ll also have to beware of the new aquatic Ferals (who look like Mermen). Fortunately, there are some new weapons to help out. The Blunderbuss shotgun ignites enemies and can discharge both shells at a time, while the corrupted dagger deals more damage to infected enemies. You can even apply poison to arrows. There are also four new skills, including decomposition to discretely dispose of bodies after a silent takedown. Atomfall: Wicked Isle launches on June 3rd for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC. Check out our review of the base game here.

The Nintendo Switch 2 headlines a huge month of gaming releases, and we've got everything you need to know across PlayStation, Xbox, PC and Switch for June 2025Tech09:00, 31 May 2025Switch 2 is the big release this month(Image: Nintendo)June is almost here, and while game releases used to be relatively quiet in the summer, that trend has been well and truly bucked in recent years.In fact, June 2025 might be one of the biggest in recent memory, and while last month offered plenty of 'May Madness', June introduces the Nintendo Switch 2, Mario Kart World, and much, much more.‌Whether you're picking up Nintendo's latest hardware or not, we've got a rundown of the biggest games you can pick up in June across all platforms.‌Here's what you should be on the lookout for.We played the Switch 2, and now we want another goReleased: June 5‌We could have filled this list with the Switch 2 and its launch lineup, which includes Cyberpunk 2077, Civilization 7, and that all-important Mario Kart World.It's expected to be one of the biggest console launches in history, and it's just a few days into the month. If you've missed all the latest news, the Switch 2 is drastically more powerful than its predecessor while keeping the same form factor. It has a larger display with 1080p resolution, and can output 4K when docked–a first for a Nintendo console.Be sure to check back around launch for a whole host of Switch 2 coverage.‌Dune Awakening is an ambitious survival MMOReleased: June 10, Platforms: PCSurvival games are a Marmite kind of deal, but whether you love them or hate them, we'd recommend keeping an eye on Funcom's Dune Awakening.‌Players find themselves stuck on Arrakis, and will need to acquire resources, craft a base, and stay clear of Sandworms, bandits, and other players.Promising a huge, political endgame that sees players pledge allegiance to different factions, it could be a fascinating release for PC gamers.MindsEye looks impressive already(Image: Build a Rocket Boy)‌Released: June 10, Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X and S, PCAnother June 10 launch, MindsEye comes from Build A Robot Boy–the studio helmed by GTA legend Leslie Benzies–and it's promising a near-future open-world adventure that looks gorgeous in motion.The game, which is published by Hitman devs IO Interactive, will also include a huge game creation toolkit. The idea is that players can keep building things for MindsEye, meaning there's almost no end to the fun.‌FBC Firebreak is a departure for RemedyReleased: June 17, Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X and S, PCThe ever-impressive Remedy Entertainment is releasing a surprising new co-op shooter set in the same universe as Control.‌Players will need to tackle all kinds of monsters with friends or strangers, while also having the option to use their own supernatural abilities to stem the tide.Early previews have been positive, and Remedy hasn't steered us wrong yet.Rematch offers 5v5 football action‌Released: June 19, Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X and S, PCYou can't beat a good football game, but we didn't expect one to come from the team that gave us martial arts adventure Sifu.Rematch is that game, and rather than giving players a birds-eye view of the action, they'll play as a single player in third-person.‌With even the keeper able to use some slick footwork, it could be the closest we get to a new FIFA Street.Is that who we think it is?(Image: Kojima/Guerrilla Games)Released: June 19, Platforms: PS5Article continues belowThere's not a lot to say about Death Stranding 2, purely because we know that whatever preconceived notions we have about the game will be shredded to bits with Hideo Kojima at the helm.The sequel to the post-apocalyptic adventure that was once a PS4 exclusive is only for PS5 players this time around, and it looks to be just as off-the-wall as its predecessor.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.‌‌‌

Atomfall receives first story expansion next week, here's a look at gameplay Something wicked this way comes. Image credit: Rebellion News by Ed Nightingale Deputy News Editor Published on May 30, 2025 British post-apocalyptic action game Atomfall will receive its first story expansion next week, adding an entirely new island to explore. Titled Wicked Isle, the expansion draws on the folk horror elements of the base game with its Midsummer Island setting. It adds new characters, skills, weapons, and even new endings. The expansion will be released on 3rd June. Below is a fresh gameplay trailer with further details. Official Atomfall: Wicked Isle Gameplay Overview TrailerWatch on YouTube "Midsummer is located close to the Windscale Atom Plant and as a result the levels of infection in both the people and environment are higher than on the mainland," said Ben Fisher, head of design at developer Rebellion. "You are going to meet new enemy factions including pirate bandits and infected druids. To help you survive there are new weapons to be found on the island including a devastating Blunderbuss shotgun, a new bow, cutlass, daggers and the Beekeeper's Staff. You will also be able to acquire new skills which will aid you on your quest as well as an upgraded metal detector which will enable you to find even more loot caches." The DLC will cost £14.99 / €19.99 / $19.99, and will be available across all platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC (Steam, Epic, Windows). Game Pass subscribers will receive a 10 percent discount. Atomfall released back in March and was quickly described as a British Fallout. It's inspired by the real life Windscale nuclear incident in 1950s Cumbria, in northern England. Over 2.5 million people have played Atomfall since launch. "Atomfall is largely competent in a lot of areas rather than being unique or genre-leading, but I really enjoyed the world that Rebellion created, the duplicitous main characters, and the post-war sci-fi story," reads our Eurogamer Atomfall review.

Category: GamesMay 30, 2025 Atomfall Story Expansion Arrives Next Week – Dare You Visit Wicked Isle? Ben Fisher, Head of Design, Rebellion For those of you who are new to the game, Atomfall is an action-survival mystery set in the UK. The story takes place five years after the real-life events of the 1957 Windscale Disaster in the North of England. In the world of Atomfall, a quarantine zone has been established around the Atom Plant and no one has been allowed in or out for five years. Life and society have changed and adapted under these trying circumstances and gangs of strange folk now wander the countryside. You wake up in a bunker with no idea who you are or how you got there. Given the circumstances you have little choice but to set out on a journey to discover what really happened at Windscale and maybe try to find out who you are in the process. The Wicked Isle expansion adds a whole new location, with its own set of characters and enemies as well as additional leads, weapons, skills, items and multiple new endings for the main game. What is the Wicked Isle? Surrounded by murky and perilous waters lies a wicked isle… a mysterious new region to explore, nestled off the Cumberland coast. They say there was a creepy old fishing village out there, but the locals haven’t seen anyone from there for years. The Wicked Isle is an entirely new area for players to explore in Atomfall, accessible by boat from the village of Wyndham. It’s a region that gave us an opportunity to really double down on the Folk Horror influences that you find throughout the game, as well as hints of sci-fi and cold war paranoia for good measure. When developing the Wicked Isle, there were two real-world locations that acted as key inspirations. The first was Lindisfarne – the “Holy Island” – which is a monastery on an island off the coast of Britain and was famously raided by Vikings in the 9th century. On the wicked isle, an Abbey towers over everything and constantly entices you to explore what secrets it holds within. The other major inspiration was Anthrax Island, a real-world island off the coast of Scotland that was used for military experiments during the Second World War. The entire island was quarantined until the 1990s as a result of the tests, and you might find evidence of similar experiments as you explore Wicked Isle. Explore the Isle’s Mysteries Shrouded by dense fog, this strange isle holds secrets that lead to the heart of the mystery of what really happened at the Windscale Plant. The Wicked Isle is located close to the Atom Plant and as a result, infection had spread rapidly and had a significant effect on the environment and the people that live there. You will have to tread carefully! As you investigate the island you will uncover new leads and story threads. While some of these are standalone stories, some leads link back to the overarching narrative of Atomfall as you seek to uncover what really happened. You will have to travel back to the mainland in search of clues and items which will in turn unlock multiple new potential endings for the main game. Uncover New Treasures While exploring you will find new items, weapons, and skills to help you as you survive in the Quarantine Zone. Deadly blunderbusses, upgraded metal detectors, and otherworldly abilities are just some of the things you’ll find on the isle. In creating these new weapons, we had an immediate and impactful opportunity to link to the key themes we were exploring in this story expansion – whether it be the Blunderbuss and Cutlass tying to the nautical history of the isle itself or some of the stranger ritualistic weapons used by the pagan druids who have made this their home. However, I’m most excited to see how people interact with the new abilities that the Wicked Isle brings. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but you’re going to find some pretty weird stuff going on out there. Face Fearsome Foes The inhabitants of the isle have not escaped the impact of the disaster. A deranged druid cult has become even more powerful through their pagan rituals; roaming bandits have embraced the island’s nautical past and strange creatures lurk in the watery depths. If you want to survive, you’ll need to be prepared to fight back. The response from the community to Atomfall has been incredible and we cannot wait for players to experience Wicked Isle. The stories and leads you uncover there and the people you will meet along the way add even greater depth to the mystery of Atomfall. Available from June 3, the Wicked Isle Story Expansion Pack can be bought separately and is also included in the Atomfall Deluxe Edition and Atomfall Deluxe Upgrade. Game Pass subscribers will also receive a 10% discount. We hope you enjoy visiting the dark and lonely waters. Atomfall: Story Expansion Pack Wicked Isle Rebellion ☆☆☆☆☆ ★★★★★ Get it now Surrounded by murky and perilous waters lies a wicked isle… a mysterious new region to explore, nestled off the Cumberland coast. They say there was a creepy old fishing village out there, but the locals haven’t seen anyone from there for years. There is a boat from the Wyndham Village shore for anyone brave enough to go and look for themselves. New mysteries, new supplies and new possibilities of escape could lie ahead for anyone who dares. The Atomfall story continues with the “Wicked Isle” Story Expansion Pack, introducing a new location, enemies, quests, characters, items, weapons, and more. Explore the isle’s mysteries Shrouded by dense fog, this strange isle holds secrets that lead to the heart of the mystery. Uncover leads that intertwine with the Atomfall narrative, expanding the story and unlocking new routes out of the Quarantine Zone. Uncover new treasures While exploring you will find new items, weapons, and skills to help you as you survive in the Quarantine Zone. Deadly blunderbusses, upgraded metal detectors, and otherworldly abilities are just some of the things you’ll find on the isle. Face fearsome foes The inhabitants of the isle have not escaped the impact of the disaster. A deranged druid cult has become even more powerful through their pagan rituals; roaming bandits have embraced the island’s nautical past and strange creatures lurk in the watery depths. If you want to survive, you’ll need to be prepared to fight back. Related Stories for “Atomfall Story Expansion Arrives Next Week – Dare You Visit Wicked Isle?” Category: ID@XboxA Little Roguelike Fun: Cryptmaster’s Deckbuilder in the Anniversary Update Category: ID@XboxGet Connected: Indie Selects for May 2025 Category: GamesFree Play Days – Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (MP & Zombies Only), The Division 2, ARK: Survival Ascended, and More The post Atomfall Story Expansion Arrives Next Week – Dare You Visit Wicked Isle? appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Binding mechanics are reworked to allow freedom of movement. New features include blade recoil for beats, improved AI, the addition of spears, and experimental LAN. Banking mechanics are conceptualized to add realism in the game's story mode. Posted by khiemgluong on May 17th, 2025 0.5.0 Combat Physical Binding I had touched on how fluid movement is important for engaging gameplay in a previous post, failing to realize that the way binding would freeze you in place was contradictory to that point. The previous approach to binding was a matter of programming limitation rather than technical. I couldn't figure out a way to allow blade movement tangent to another blade without tunneling issues, since weapon movement was only relative to the character, rather than relative to its own collisions. The solution was to enable a minimal amount of physics to control the blade, torqued by an angular force enough to keep the weapon oriented upright, while base movement would still use kinematics. It will only be in play when another object is acting upon it, rather than be the driving force of the weapon (unlike that one physics melee "game" that's shilled everywhere). This meant that in the event of a bind, the weapon would align itself to the blade it's bound with, and as demonstrated in the video, maintains the pressure necessary to keep the weapon in contact without tunneling. With a more stable and consistent binding mechanic I was able to unrestrict weapon and character movement, allowing for a new combat paradigm where opponents would wrestle each other for the most ideal attack angle. Blade "Recoil" To add another layer of reactivity, the blade that receives the attack would "recoil" opposite to the direction of the blade that struck it as demonstrated in the video. This technique allows you to strike your opponent’s blade to create an opening for an attack. It's based on a real sword-fighting strategy where, instead of targeting the opponent directly, you first displace their defense by "beating" their blade out of the way. Combat Movement A new set of root motion animations for combat have been added to accompany the more aggressive AI. In previous versions, NPCs wielding shorter swords rarely stood a chance against those with larger ones. But now, a katana wielding gladiator can stand his ground—even without chest armor—against an opponent armed with a zweihander, and go on to win the rematch. In summary: size doesn't matter (anymore). The only current limitation left is how to handle dynamic target locking. It's fine when you're in a 1v1 duel, but against several enemies, especially now that each team gets up to 8 people in the arena, then it becomes an impediment rather than an advantage. Models Armor Speaking of chest armor, the Lorica Hamata (chainmail) is now part of the gladiator loadout. As far as Roman themed items go, this might be one of the last to be added. Spears Spears have been a near universal weapon in the ancient world, yet rarely receives representation in games in comparison to swords, likely something to do with the fact that it's really overpowered. I included it irregardlessly because I wanted to experiment with a new melee control system. Spears do not rotate like swords, instead it only pans, where the panning controls the spear tip. It's the perfect weapon against armored opponents or for fighters who prefer fighting from a distance with precise thrusts. Just keep in mind that spears still inherits the drawbacks of its real life counterpart. Scripts LAN Play Networked gameplay—something that's been on the backburner for a while, and something I’ve always wanted to implement—have now been developed into something barebones but functional. To start a LAN game, it's as easy as choosing LAN in the arena dropdown, and if you're starting the game, choose the host or server and share the IP address that is displayed to your clients. The host will have to spawn in the arena before clients can join. Story Mode The starting town in Story Mode is composed of simple, geometric structures, built with the Placeable system. Not every buildings will be created with this system, but a good portion of generic buildings will be, so apartments, barracks, or anything with a blocky form. Unique or curved structures, like the Colosseum, will be modeled instead. Banking Money (gold) in the world of Blade Ballad will have tangible weight, so it wouldn't be smart to go adventuring while hauling your entire fortune everywhere, as it will slow you down and draw unwanted attention from bandits, thieves and scam artists. Instead, you would make use of the many banks and deposit boxes located throughout the world to store your coin, whether earned or stolen. These banks would allow deposit, withdrawal and transfers to other banks, and will attempt to keep your wealth safe, with varying degrees of success. However, ancient banks (which were not globally centralized) came with their own problems. One would be its vulnerability to raiders. Since FDIC wasn't a thing, your money is effectively gone if it was looted. Corruption would be present as well (no different than modern banks) and would come in the form of "misplaced" funds, usury, embezzlement, preferential treatment to families of bankers, etc. This is intended to help you realize that you don't need all that gold. In most open world games I've played, I've always finished it with a massive pile of money in my inventory. All that time finding and selling items and I ended up not spending most of it anyways.

There’s a fresh wave of co-operative action-slash-shooters on the horizon, all vying for your squad’s attention and all looking decent, for the most part: ARC Raiders, FBC: Firebreak, Marathon, amongst others. It feels like we’re on the cusp of a new golden age in online co-op, so to pitch Elden Ring Nightreign as the cream of the crop, as one of 2025’s biggest games, we must be confident it has both the magic to entice players into its world and the power to make them stay.  We’ve between now and Nightreign’s worldwide release on 30th May to convince you this is the one to plump for if you’re on the fence as to which of 2025’s upcoming blockbuster co-ops to funnel your hours into. Straight off the bat, first thing to state with Elden Ring Nightreign is this is a standalone adventure. Not only do players require zero prior knowledge of Elden Ring’s expansive narrative and lore to get the best out of Nightreign but, unlike last year’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, players don’t even need to own the original title. This is a one-time purchase, not live service, no seasons, or battle passes – at least, there’s nothing officially announced at time of this feature’s creation. Instead, squads of three can jump right in and start battling away in a reimagined version of Elden Ring starting area Limgrave, rebranded here as Limveld. The premise is straightforward enough: Elden Ring Nightreign is an action survival adventure with roguelike structure. Three warriors find themselves castaway in a hostile realm, an environment lulling them in with its lush pastures and golden canopies, yet bandits, soldiers, and monsters – some cameoing out of Elden Ring, some brand-new creations cooked up by FromSoftware – stalk the landscape. The task is to kill and pillage, to scavenge the loot of your slain foe to level up during each run. Runs last three days, and this scavenging phase takes place during daytime. An ever-shrinking battle royale-style perimeter – confusingly dubbed the Night Rain, as in rain shower – channels players to the map’s centre where an end-of-day boss awaits. The clock is ticking, and as a result exploration is much less cerebral than FromSoft’s usual Souls style. Exploration is still critical mind, just done at a ramped-up pace. Supporting all the bandit slaying are subterranean caves dotted with treasure, guarded bastions harbouring documents, short environmental puzzles, and middling bosses. Should squads survive two nights in Lemveld then they’ll be transported to an arena known as the Spirit Shelter where they can put all their skills and upgrades to the test and take on one of eight pre-chosen mega bosses, known as Nightlords. If Elden Ring’s boss battles are anything to go by, these climactic showdowns at the end of a couple of days’ toil are sure to be a spectacle. Each run begins with players at level one but Nightreign’s upgrades, via discoverable runes, come quickly. In fact, levelling up in this Elden Ring spin-off is extremely fast, and to demonstrate Nightreign’s pick-up-and-play ethos adding XP to your character isn’t as arduous a task as it is in FromSoftware’s other titles. Spending runes here levels up your character whilst boosting their overall stats. There’s no time to labour over which ability to upgrade. Furthermore, each of the game’s playable heroes can wield just about every weapon; it’s their unique skills and abilities which distinguish them from each other. So, build customisation is a shade more limited compared to traditional RPG levelling up, but it is possible in the form of randomised loot which, of course, is dropped by downed enemies. Some of this loot functions passively – weapon stat buffs, elemental and physical affinities, and numerous other effects – and some is housed in breakable chests that usually contain some sort of consumable to upgrade weapon damage or similar. Progression outside of the action exists too in the form of advancing character stories. See, in between runs players return to an alternative version of the Roundtable Hold from Elden Ring and here, alongside affixing permanent runic upgrades, they’ll be able to experience a form of narrative progression for each of the game’s eight hero characters. Before we get into describing these characters in-depth, it’s worth pointing out that FromSoftware have stated that as each character’s story advances then the world of Limveld will re-shape and react in tandem. It’s incarnation upon starting the game is a mix of fixed structures and landmarks, but – to alleviate any staleness – there’ll be elements of variation in where enemies spawn and the like. As an aside, dramatic, unexpected changes can occur too: crashing meteorites, boss ambushes, and… uhm, sudden volcanoes. So, onto Elden Ring Nightreign’s cast of heroes and, yes, we’re calling them heroes as FromSoftware have clearly gone down the route that’s well established by Apex Legends and Overwatch, et cetera. Each hero in Elden Ring Nightreign is uniquely skilled, with their own abilities and combat style. Together with collectable loot and upgrades, this blend of skills across three-player teams is sure to create innumerably powerful synergies. Unlike FromSoft’s usual fayre, there isn’t ability to create or customise these characters beyond permanent upgrades and collectable outfits. As you’d expect, there’s breadth to the cast though. All info on their uniqueness is available on Bandai Namco’s website, but just know that each playable hero possesses distinct passive ability, character skill, and ultimate art, the latter being a powerful signature move. Wylder is an easy to learn tough to master hero who’s attacking and defensive capabilities are evenly balanced. Their passive ability – Sixth Sense – allows them one free respawn, presumably retaining runes that’d be dropped in any other death. Raider is tough as old boots, a powerful, armour-clad sea farer who wields humungous weapons. Ironeye is an archer with pinpoint accuracy, Recluse is the mage able to conjure powerful spells and cursed magic. Guardian is defensive, with a solid shield that can withstand the most ferocious attacks. Finally, Duchess is like the spy, nimble, swift, and evasive, with an ultimate art capable of making herself and the rest of the squad invisible. At face value, without considering any runic powerups, there’re clear strategies that Nightreign players can pursue. For example: Ironeye’s character skill marks enemy weakpoints, Raider’s retaliate skill pummels the marked enemy until they recoil, before Wylder unleashes their powerful character art onslaught stake to finish the stunned foe off. The fact that these situations will occur at breakneck speed is enticing. FromSoftware, as per reports of early demo players, haven’t reinvented the wheel when it comes to Elden Ring’s combat. Veterans of The Lands Between will feel right at home when the skirmishes commence. With scalable difficulties – another first in FromSoftware’s Souls canon – there’s the hope here that players with less finely-tuned reflexes will finally be able to enjoy the ravishing combat upon which FromSoft have made their name. Players cannot expect this to perform like a multi-player Soulslike though, no. Elden Ring Nightreign is very much its own thing, taking the macabre universe already established in its single player guises and translating it into an experience more akin to Apex Predators or – sacrilegiously perhaps – Fortnite. It’s a sure-fire winning combination, and one that has potential to elevate Elden Ring Nightreign above the pile of co-op games coming out before the end of the year.  Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

While other streaming services thrive on carefully selected and endlessly curated (meaning: limited) selections of movies, Tubi's a bit different: It feels like the Wild West, with everything from originals; to popular hits; to critically acclaimed favorites; to the lowest-brow, lowest-budget movies you'll find this side of an old Blockbuster. In that spirit, here's a sampling of some of the best stuff currently streaming on Tubi, and it's a wide variety—the streamer will not be pinned down. If you're unfamiliar, Tubi is a free, ad-based service, but generally I find the ads to be less obnoxious and less frequent than on other, similar streamers. Interstellar (2014) Christopher Nolan's mind-bending, but oddly plausible, sci-fi epic takes Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain on a hunt through space and time to find a new home for humans in a near-future during which we've made Earth unlivable. You can stream Interstellar here.Color Out of Space (2019) Nicolas Cage is at his Nic Cage-iest in this H. P. Lovecraft adaptation about a family's descent into madness. A beautiful, horrifying, utterly unique sensory experience. You can stream Color Out of Space here.Friday (1995) An unquestioned classic of stoner comedy, Friday sees Ice Cube and Chris Tucker accidentally smoking weed that they were meant to sell. And who among us hasn't? The two slackers set out to borrow or make the money back during a misadventure-packed Friday. You can stream Friday here. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan (alongside Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis) led Everything to Oscar glory a couple of years back, with Yeoh starring as Evelyn Quan Wang, a middle-aged immigrant running a laundromat with her husband. An IRS audit leads to a trip through a wildly outlandish, and ultimately emotional, journey through a multiverse of possibilities. You can stream Everything Everywhere here.Dune (1984) You've probably seen the recent Denis Villeneuve adaptation, but you might be less familiar with this messy and fascinating take from director David Lynch. Kyle MacLachlan leads an all-star cast in a movie that doesn't quite an achieve greatness, but nevertheless offers up a bevy of wild ideas, distinctive visuals, and Lynchian madness. You can stream Dune here. Some Like It Hot (1959) Tubi offers up a better assortment of classics than many of the other streamers, most of which have shifted to a newer-is-better focus. Hot stars Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis as a couple of jazz-age musicians who run afoul of a mob boss, deciding to escape by posing as members of an all-female band (one that, memorably, includes Marilyn Monroe). Director Billy Wilder pitches the farce just right, at the intersection between smart and silly. You can stream Some Like It Hot here. Evil Bong (2006) No socially redeeming value here, just a goofy comedy horror movie about a bong that transports smokers to another planet, one where they're to be murdered by exotic dancers. Tommy Chong co-stars in this movie from Full Moon Features, purveyors of fine low-rent horror movies. You can stream Evil Bong here. Ghost World (2001) Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) face high school graduation, and a crush on Steve Buscemi, in Terry Zwigoff’s indie dark comedy. You can stream Ghost World here.Donnie Darko (2001) Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this memorable emo mind-bender about a troubled teenager who dodges disaster thanks to a bit of sleepwalking. An instant cult classic, it's the movie all the cool kids were talking about back in the day. You can stream Donnie Darko (director's cut) here, or the theatrical version here. Hollywood Shuffle (1987) Robert Townsend directs himself as Bobby Taylor, a satire about the perils of navigating the Hollywood system for an actor simultaneously too black and not black enough for the tastes of studio bosses. Through elaborate fantasy sequences and parodies of popular movies, Townsend creates a sharp and often extremely funny sendup that’s (sadly) still relevant. You can stream Hollywood Shuffle here.Barbarian (2022) One of the more divisive horror movies of the past few years (I love it), Barbarian stars Georgina Campbell as a woman who rents an Airbnb only to have a man (Bill Skarsgård) show up claiming that he also has rented the house. He seems nice enough, so she lets him in—enough of a premise for a horror movie right there, but Barbarian has twists that you'll never see coming. You can stream Barbarian here.Showgirls (1995) As with most of Paul Verhoeven's other films, it's possible to view his notoriously trashy film as either dark satire or unintended camp. It's tremendous fun either way and, though it quickly gained a reputation as garbage, it's far more watchable than many other better-reviewed films. You can stream Showgirls here.Rec (2007) This Spanish import is top-tier found footage, involving a group of firefighters on an emergency call who wind up trapped inside a building at the center of a creeping zombie infection. That limited, specific geography is key to the movie's brisk, efficient, and nerve-jangling effectiveness. You can stream Rec here.Planet of the Apes (1968) Astronaut Charlton Heston finds himself on an unknown (wink wink) planet in the distant future where he rather quickly finds himself in the power of the world's ape overlords. From a slightly goofy premise came this dark, disturbing, and timely fable. You can stream Planet of the Apes here. The Apartment (1960) Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine star in this searing, bittersweet, but ultimately humane comedy. MacLaine's Fran Kubelik is an elevator operator having an affair with the big boss at an insurance company, while Lemmon's Bud Baxter gets ahead by loaning out his apartment to upper management for various extramarital assignations. The budding friendship between the two threatens both of their careers. You can stream The Apartment here. Whale Rider (2002) Pai is a 12-year-old Māori girl and the direct descendant of their tribe’s traditional notable ancestor, the Whale Rider—except that, traditionally, women can’t lead. Star Keisha Castle-Hughes became the youngest nominee for a Best Actress Oscar for her open, genuine performance. You can stream Whale Rider here. The Descent (2006) Getting lost in those caves is scary enough, even before we discover that we're not alone down there. The ultimate in spelunking horror. You can stream The Descent here.Menace II Society (1993) A searing, raw portrait of urban violence in the 1990s, the Hughes Brothers' film follows Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner) and his friends as they struggle for a better life amid crime and poverty, but who find themselves drawn deeper into crime and cruelty. The performances here are all phenomenal. You can stream Menace II Society here. Beauty Shop (2005) This Barbershop spin-off follows widowed hairstylist Gina Norris starting over in Atlanta with her daughter, and opening her own shop when a job doesn't pan out. Queen Latifah is as delightful as ever, and is joined by a great cast including Alfre Woodard, Della Reese, Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell, Kevin Bacon, and Djimon Hounsou. You can stream Beauty Shop here.Room 237 (2012) This fascinating documentary explores, without judgement, the many (and often truly wild) theories and interpretations around Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Probably not what you're after if you want a bit of film analysis, but as an exploration of conspiratorial thinking? You could do a lot worse. You can stream Room 237 here. Terrifier (2016) Damien Leone's low-budget slasher series quietly build into a queasy empire, with the most recent film being a legit box office smash. Here, literal clown-from-hell Art stalks partygoer Tara Heyes and her sister Victoria (Scaffidi) on Halloween night. You can stream Terrifier here. Return of the Living Dead (1985) This horror comedy with punk style is both a knowing parody of zombie movies while also managing to be an impressively gory thriller in its own right that moves the whole genre forward. Plus, it’s got a great death-rock soundtrack. You can stream Return of the Living Dead here.Frankenhooker (1990) A disreputable and goofy but surprisingly effective horror comedy, Frankenhooker stars former Penthouse Pet Patty Mullen as the movie's take on Mary Shelley's monster, made in the image of a med student's dead fiancée and built from sex workers. The style and special effects here are pretty great. You can stream Frankenhooker here.Ghost in the Shell (1995) One of the best anime films of all time, at least when it comes to sci-fi and cyberpunk, Ghost in the Shell boasts impeccable style in addition to the thoughtfulness and complexity of its story. Major Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg security agent hunting an enigmatic hacker known only as "the Puppet Master" in the rapidly approaching year 2029, a time when the rise of AI threatens even the idea of individual existence. You can stream Ghost in the Shell here. The Leather Boys (1964) A classic of British kitchen sink realism, a movement in the 1960s that saw hyperrealistic portraits of, often, angry teens and young people, The Leather Boys sees young couple Reggie and Dot becoming increasingly estranged when Reggie mostly wants to just hang out with his biker friends. Among those friends is Pete, who seems to be developing an attraction to Reggie that goes a bit beyond that of a typical biker bro. You can stream The Leather Boys here. North by Northwest (1959) One of Hitchcock's best (and that's saying quite a bit), North by Northwest is a nearly non-stop thrill ride, seeing Cary Grant's Roger Thornhill hunted across the country by criminals who've mistaken him for someone else. It's as funny as it is clever, and nearly impossible to stop watching once you've started. You can stream North by Northwest here.Lars and the Real Girl (2007) The sweetest, most charming movie about the romance between a man and his life-like love doll that you're likely to encounter. You can stream Lars and the Real Girl here.They Call Me Trinity (1970) A classic spaghetti western, Trinity (kicking off a trilogy, appropriately enough), stars Terence Hill and Bud Spencer as brothers Trinity and Bambino, who help defend a Mormon settlement from bandits and a land-grabbing Major (Farley Granger). It's a rare comedy to come out of Italy's obsession with westerns, and a lot of fun for it. You can stream They Call Me Trinity here. The Wiz (1978) Long before Wicked reinvented (or at least reinterpreted) L. Frank Baum, the Broadway musical on which this movie is based imagined Dorothy Gale as a Black teacher from Harlem. The joyous film version is nearly a who's who of Black talent in the 1970s: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor all play roles, while Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, and Charlie Smalls all contributed to the music. You can stream The Wiz here. Cabaret (1972) Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey star in this essential musical about the good times and extravagant style of Weimar Germany giving way to the rising tide of fascism. You can stream Cabaret here.

What defined the Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 experience for you? Was it being immersed in a reactive world where every action, from committing crimes to doing laundry, felt significant? Encountering well-realized characters with complex motivations and goals? Getting down in the mud with Henry but eventually going on to larger-than-life scenarios? Maybe even roaming the gorgeous landscape, taking in the sights, engaging in desperate combat against bandits and soldiers alike, and building out your version of Henry. With other aspects doubtless contributing, the answer could very well determine how much you enjoy Brushes With Death, the developer’s first story DLC for the title. We’ve seen the addition of Barber Mode, Hardcore Mode, and even Horse Racing via free updates, but what does the developer bring to the table in terms of new stories and quests? The answer: A significant amount, that too at a fairly low price, even if the stakes are non-existent and don’t really matter in the long run. "When you’ve crafted such an epic narrative spanning multiple cities and battles, culminating in incredible fashion, where could a DLC story slot in?" The story sees Henry running into a mysterious person tied to a tree in the woods, seemingly conversing with a painted skull. After intervening and keeping him from becoming wolf chow, the latter introduces himself as Voyta, a painter. He had his brushes stolen thanks to two shifty individuals and subsequently requests Henry to retrieve them in a non-violent fashion. And Henry, being the do-gooder that he is, obliges. However, the individuals in question have a different story about their encounter with Voyta, and it quickly becomes clear that there’s more going on than meets the eye. Why does he talk to the painted skull? Who does the skull belong to? Why does he want Henry to investigate some locations, and why does he become progressively more disturbed? How does he know about the Skalitz-born hero? Is this another deception or a play at something bigger? Over time, Voyta’s nature shifts from playfully coy to enigmatically conflicted, as if he’s fighting against something and doubtful about dragging you along for the ride. Naturally, you have to find out why, and maybe help him resolve some personal demons in the process. However, as intriguing as the mystery surrounding the painter may be, the emotional pay-off just doesn’t quite hit, especially when measured against the rest of Henry’s journey and the conflicts he’s embroiled in. This is a deeper issue with video games in general. When you’ve crafted such an epic narrative spanning multiple cities and battles, culminating in incredible fashion, where could a DLC story slot in? There isn’t a single right answer, but some developers work well at creating new tales with varying degrees of scale and drama to complement the main narrative. See The Witcher 3’s Hearts of Stone or Cyberpunk 2077’s Phantom Liberty. "There’s plenty of gravitas – it’s just that the overall plot lacks weight. Credit where it’s due to the development team, though, for delivering some top-notch dialogue." Brushes With Death opts to tell a smaller, self-contained and personal story hinging on one man’s moral dilemmas. However, it would probably help if some of the “revelations” had any meaningful impact on your journey or if Henry’s involvement amounted to “more or less along for the ride.” When it comes to the actual steps in the questline, they’re pretty much what you’ve always done while wandering the gorgeous Bohemian landscape. Go from one location to the next, either delivering items, fighting bandits, collecting materials or talking to people. There is some nuance to these steps. One of the two aforementioned individuals can be challenged to a game. But if you get frustrated, and rightfully so, you can slaughter him and his buddy and take the items off their corpses. Whether you tell Voyta the truth later or lie about it is up to you, and your reputation is affected accordingly. Another quest step involves meeting an old lady. Her memory isn’t what it used to be, and you can either harangue her to focus or do everything that her deceased spouse would do to jog her memory. Even if the individual steps of picking Valerian flowers, repairing her dress, and reciting poetry (sometimes badly, depending on your stats) are nothing unique, it does make for a cute side quest and an additional wrinkle to the mystery. Of course, the follow-up steps of investigating three separate spots on the map are more in line with your average open-world exploration without anything special. There’s plenty of gravitas – it’s just that the overall plot lacks weight. Credit where it’s due to the development team, though, for delivering some top-notch dialogue. Henry’s exasperation and growing uncertainty with each step offer genuine moments of levity and intrigue, backed by the ever-incredible voice-acting. Voyta is also a compelling character, and the slow dropping of his walls to reveal more of what’s paining him is interesting to behold. Leveraging your skills to draw out responses is also notable if only to unravel his various layers. Brushes With Death also doesn’t rush its conclusion, offering a long enough questline and character arc to fully realize Voyta’s story. It doesn’t measure up to the base game’s very best by a long shot, but it’s not a terrible complement to everything else going on, even if I wasn’t completely sold on his burgeoning friendship with Henry. "Brushes With Death can take anywhere between seven to ten hours. While that means significant back and forth between locations, even while fast-traveling, and completing seemingly menial tasks, it also translates into plenty of interesting conversations and well-voiced characters." Also, on the plus side, the DLC offers a new cosmetic system – the ability to paint your shield. This may seem initially trivial, but the customization is fairly in-depth, as you select a pattern, two colors, a symbol category, and finally, a design. If you’ve ever wanted the image of Mutt carrying a fish with legs or the signature battle hare to be the last thing your enemies ever see, then there’s plenty of fun to be had. Best of all, it’s free, and you can change your shield’s design anytime. Brushes With Death can take anywhere between seven to ten hours. While that means significant back and forth between locations, even while fast-traveling, and completing seemingly menial tasks, it also translates into plenty of interesting conversations and well-voiced characters. It’s definitely worth picking up alongside Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, especially if you’re diving into the open-world action RPG for the first time. However, you might want to wait for the developers to issue some fixes since the latest patch introduced a few texture glitches. Though I didn’t find it particularly rampant during my time with the DLC, it was noticeable enough during some scenes. With how successful Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has been, and how the story effectively ends Henry’s journey, I’m interested to see what the other two DLCs – Legacy of the Forge and Mysteria Ecclesia – have to offer. If they can deliver some new mechanics that enrich the overall experience and maybe some notable, if ultimately inconsequential, stories, then it would only make for a better overall game, even if it’s the core that should demand your time and attention above all else. This game was reviewed on PC.