The end of Squid Game is coming to Netflix. The streamer’s biggest series ever in terms of worldwide viewership concludes its run with the upcoming third season, which is the far and away biggest title that is getting added by Netflix in June.Also coming to Netflix in June: The return of FUBAR, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s very fun action comedy series, as well as as a new Tyler Perry movie and a Justin Willman magic special. Plus there’s a trio of documentaries grouped under the name Trainwreck: One about the Astroworld tragedy, one about infamous Toronto major Rob Ford, and one about the so-called “Poop Cruise.” How much you want to bet the thing that’s called Poop Cruise goes to #1 on the Netflix top ten chart?Here’s the full list of what’s coming to Netflix in June 2025:Avail. 6/1/25The American Barbarian Bee Movie The Birds The Blues Brothers The Devil's Own Dune (1984) The Equalizer Family Plot Focus Frenzy The Great Outdoors Hitchcock Hop The Legend of Zorro The Man Who Knew Too Much Neighbors15. Now You See Me (2013)Summitloading...Now You See Me Now You See Me 2 The Nutty Professor Pokémon The Series: XY Pokémon The Series: XY: XY: Kalos Quest Pokémon The Series: XY: XYZ Rear Window The Theory of Everything The Town U-571 Us VertigoAvail. 6/3/25Sara - Woman in the Shadows -- NETFLIX SERIESThe suspicious death of her son pushes a former secret agent back into action, investigating a series of crimes that grows increasingly sinister.Avail. 6/4/25Criminal Code: Season 2 -- NETFLIX SERIESAn elite Brazilian Federal Police unit takes on a ruthless criminal gang in a deadly game of wits.Eva Lasting: Season 3 -- NETFLIX SERIESAs the gang graduates, their newfound freedom brings Camilo a new set of drama — and yearning — for Eva. Can their dreams survive adulthood?NetflixNetflixloading...Power Moves with Shaquille O'Neal -- NETFLIX SERIES"Power Moves" follows Shaquille O’Neal as he takes on the role of President of Reebok Basketball, returning to the brand that gave him his first shot. Teaming up with Vice President Allen Iverson, Shaq is on a mission to revive the iconic brand and lead a bold comeback from Reebok’s Boston headquarters.Avail. 6/5/25Barracuda Queens: Season 2 -- NETFLIX SERIESYearning for the thrill of their home burglaries, the queens set their sights on an even more lucrative target: the fine art galleries of Stockholm.Ginny & Georgia: Season 3 -- NETFLIX SERIESGeorgia has just been arrested for murder during her wedding - ruining her fairy tale ending and putting the spotlight on the Millers like never before. It's always been Ginny and Georgia against the world, but the world has never come for them quite like this. Now, Ginny needs to see where she stands when push comes to shove – Is the two of them against the world something Ginny really wants to sign up for?Tires: Season 2 -- NETFLIX SERIESFueled by a surprise marketing victory, Will and Shane have steered the tire shop into the fast lane. But sudden success brings its own challenges.Avail. 6/6/25K.O. -- NETFLIX FILMA former fighter must find the missing son of an opponent he accidentally killed years ago, taking on a brutally violent crime gang in Marseille.NetflixNetflixloading...Mercy For None -- NETFLIX SERIESAfter severing ties with his gang, a former gangster returns to uncover the truth behind his brother's death — embarking on a relentless path of revenge.TYLER PERRY’S STRAW -- NETFLIX FILMWhat will be her last straw? A devastatingly bad day pushes a hardworking single mother to the breaking point — and into a shocking act of desperation.The Survivors -- NETFLIX SERIESFifteen years ago, the loss of three young people tore this sleepy seaside town apart. Now, the mysterious death of a young woman dredges up the past.Avail. 6/7/25Boys on the SidePiece by PieceAvail. 6/9/25The Creature Cases: Chapter 5 -- NETFLIX FAMILYIf there's an animal in need, agents Kit and Sam are ready to help! Join them as they tackle more mysteries and meet friendly new critters along the way.Avail. 6/10/25Families Like Ours -- NETFLIX SERIESA teenage girl must choose between her divorced parents and her boyfriend after a permanent evacuation of Denmark turns citizens into refugees.Trainwreck: The Astroworld Tragedy -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARYFeaturing exclusive interviews with survivors, paramedics and festival staff, this documentary examines the 2021 Astroworld tragedy and its aftermath.Avail. 6/11/25Aniela -- NETFLIX SERIESAfter her wealthy husband leaves her with nothing, a high-society Warsaw snob is forced to use the only survival skills she has left — her sharp wit.Cheers to Life -- NETFLIX FILMA pendant from the past sets Jéssica on a trip through Israel — where family twists, unexpected love and a search for meaning shape the ride of her life.Cocaine Air: Smugglers at 30,000 Ft. -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY2013: four Frenchmen are arrested in Punta Cana with 700 kg of cocaine — none fit the trafficker profile. This documentary asks: who was behind the bust?Our Times -- NETFLIX FILMAfter years of research and companionship, two physicists from the 1960s unlock the secrets of wormhole theory and find themselves stranded in 2025.Titan: The OceanGate Disaster -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARYThis documentary explores the Titan submersible's doomed 2023 journey to the wreckage of the Titanic and the ambitious OceanGate CEO behind the endeavor.Avail. 6/12/25The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish: Season 2NetflixNetflixloading...FUBAR: Season 2 -- NETFLIX SERIESEager to return to action, Luke, Emma and the crew get more than they bargained for when a mysterious terrorist threatens to unleash worldwide chaos.PlaneAvail. 6/13/25Kings of Jo'Burg: Season 3 (ZA) -- NETFLIX SERIESVeronica Masire now bears the responsibility of the family curse, as she picks up where her brother left off — ruling Jo'Burg with legacy and power.Avail. 6/14/25Grey’s Anatomy: Season 21Avail. 6/16/25The Last Witch HunterAvail. 6/17/25Justin Willman: Magic Lover -- NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIALSleight-of-hand sorcery. Mischievous mind games. Mind-blowing illusions. Justin Willman conjures up laughs in a special where comedy and magic collide.Kaulitz & Kaulitz: Season 2 -- NETFLIX SERIESThe show must go on! Tom and Bill Kaulitz are back to share their exciting lives, even as dark clouds gather in paradise.Scandal: Seasons 1-7NetflixNetflixloading...Trainwreck: Mayor of Mayhem -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARYRob Ford scandalized Canadian politics as the brash yet beloved mayor of Toronto — until an infamous video of him smoking crack sparked his downfall.Avail. 6/18/25AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Season 2 -- NETFLIX SERIESA new batch of hopefuls face fierce competition, high expectations and even higher kicks as they vie for a spot with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.Rosario Tijeras (Mexico): Season 4 -- NETFLIX SERIESYears after Rosario's sacrifice, her legend haunts her daughter, Ruby. As the teen's life takes a dangerous turn, secrets from her past begin to unravel.Somebody Feed Phil: Season 8 -- NETFLIX SERIESFresh flavors and new friends await as globetrotting foodie Phil Rosenthal expands his culinary horizons to Amsterdam, Boston, Basque Country and more.YOLANTHE -- NETFLIX SERIESThis reality series follows Yolanthe Cabau in her glamorous new life in Los Angeles as she faces unexpected challenges and ghosts from her past.Avail. 6/19/25The Waterfront -- NETFLIX SERIESA prominent North Carolina fishing family wades into treacherous waters to keep their crumbling business empire afloat.Avail. 6/20/25KPop Demon Hunters -- NETFLIX FAMILYWhen K-pop superstars Rumi, Mira and Zoey aren't selling out stadiums, they're using their secret powers to protect their fans from supernatural threats.Olympo -- NETFLIX SERIESThe Pyrenean High Performance Center: home to Spain's most promising athletes. The question is, how far will they go to reach the top — and stay there?Semi-Soeter -- NETFLIX FILMPower couple Jaci and JP find themselves in a bumpy predicament when a new work pitch for a baby brand forces them to play the perfect pretend parents.Avail. 6/22/25The InternAvail. 6/24/25Steph Tolev: Filth Queen -- NETFLIX COMEDY SPECIALBow down to the queen as fearlessly filthy Steph Tolev rules the stage with hilarious confessions, unfiltered dating stories and absurd observations.Trainwreck: Poop Cruise -- NETFLIX DOCUMENTARYAn engine fire leaves 4,000 passengers stranded at sea without power and plumbing in this wild documentary about the infamous "poop cruise" of 2013.Avail. 6/25/25The Ultimatum: Queer Love: Season 2 -- NETFLIX SERIESSix couples put their love to the test by moving in with other partners. Are they ready for marriage — or is "the one" actually someone else?Avail. 6/27/25Pokémon Horizons: Season 2—The Search for Laqua Part 3 -- NETFLIX FAMILYWith their training complete, the three young adventurers embark on a new quest to learn more about Lucius and track down the rest of the Six Heroes.NetflixNetflixloading...Squid Game: Season 3 (KR) -- NETFLIX SERIESThe third and final season of Squid Game follows Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) after losing his best friend in the game and being driven to utter despair by The Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), who was hiding his true identity to infiltrate the game. Gi-hun persists with his goal to put an end to the game, while the Front Man continues onto his next move and the surviving players' choices will lead to graver consequences with each round. The world eagerly awaits to see the grand finale written and directed by Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who has vowed to bring the epic story to its deserved closure. Can we hope for humanity in the cruelest of realities?Get our free mobile appNetflix: Summer 2025 Movie PreviewEvery big movie coming to Netflix this summer...

There are several strategies in Pokemon TCG Pocket that may be part of a deck or even its core, and while several of these have been in a good spot for quite some time or made viable more recently, others have never taken off. Some strategies even disappeared entirely, such as with 18-Trainer decks being countered by Oricorio due to its Safeguard ability. Celestial Guardians finally made Stage 2 cards more consistent and powerful thanks to the new Rare Candy card, which allows a basic Pokemon to fully evolve as soon as turn two. Pokemon TCG Pocket's new Extradimensional Crisis set was just revealed, and it will focus on Ultra Beasts and other Gen 7 critters, with one card possibly giving one strategy the edge it needs.

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket will get its next major update on Thursday, May 29 which will add a new booster pack to the popular mobile game. Dubbed Extradimensional Crisis, the new pack will add Ultra Beasts from Pokémon Sun and Moon to the mix. Since its release last year, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has received regular updates. Its most recent one, which featured two Celestial Guardians booster packs, introduced critters from the Alola region to the card game. Extradimensional Crisis will continue that thread, adding some missing monsters to the card pool. Recommended Videos The big news is that the packs will add Ultra Beasts to the game, a set of eclectic Pokémon that are exclusive to Sun and Moon. That means that you’ll be able to battle with some of the series’ strangest — and most absurdly named — creatures, like Buzzwole and Guzzlord. Type: Null will get its own card too, bringing a very peculiar legendary to the game. The update will also add more Alolan Pokémon to the mix, including new EX cards. A new trailer shows off a bunch of those new cards, which includes Tapu Koko EX. As part of the update, the shop will be updated with some new collectibles. An Ultra Beast binder cover is coming and will be purchasable with shop tickets. Players can grab a floral display board too by participating in a new Wonder Pick event that will run between June 11 and June 28. So consider this a bit of a PSA: start saving your hourglasses now. If you’re like me, you’ll probably want to do some 10 pack pulls early to get a chunk of the collection completed. If you’re hurting for resources, don’t forget to do your single player battles, as those will give you a lot as rewards. Monthly hourglass packs will also refresh in the shop at the end of May, so make sure to grab as many as you can now. Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is available now on iOS and Android devices.

Seafrog is a colorful skateboarding action game where you are exploring ships and discovering strange monsters as you’re heading home. It is a 2.5D platformer where you can ride a skateboard around giant boats, grinding on pipes and grabbing onto leaky spouts. Everything about this game screams joy and fun. The skateboarding on the wrench, the frog with headphones, the colorful strange monsters that are within these ships; it’s all a delight to see. You even get to watch little cutscenes that give more context to the monsters and moments within the game. This game takes you onto some old, abandoned, leaky boats filled with characters who have taken over. You’ll run into all sorts of oddballs like man-eating chickens, frog fairies, and giant octopuses. There are actually a lot of dangers within these places but you have been left with no choice as you and your trusty USB companion have been lost at sea. After plugging in the USB, you’ll be given a map, some spaces for mods, and a game plan to launch yourself from a cannon to get back to some island. In order to use the cannon, you need to find goal seashells and plug them into the generator. Sometimes, you can even find mods that add more lives or change how your skateboarding works, though you can only hold a limited amount at once. I found that the way you glide about on your skateboard does take some getting use to, but once you have mastered the controls, everything feels like so much fun to do and you’ll want to keep going back to the levels. You can sort of decide where you want to go next, as these ships have a surprising amount of rooms – some even containing various challenges. Many of these boats also need leaks fixed or keys in order to unlock different areas, giving you more to explore. Seafrog is available now on Steam. About The Author

Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo’s legendary game designer and the creator of Mario, Zelda, and more, is a busy guy these days. He’s helping Nintendo make movies while also being involved in the construction of Mario theme parks at Universal Studios. But really, it seems like Miyamoto just wants to make more Pikmin games, movies, and other stuff. Suggested ReadingThe Week In Games: What’s Releasing Beyond Pikmin 4 Share SubtitlesOffEnglishview videoSuggested ReadingThe Week In Games: What’s Releasing Beyond Pikmin 4 Share SubtitlesOffEnglishIn a recent and lengthy interview with IGN, Miyamoto talked about his work on the upcoming Super Nintendo World and Donkey Kong Country areas of Universal Studios Orlando. But when the interviewer mentioned spotting some hidden Pikmin in the theme park, Miyamoto couldn’t stop talking about how great the little creatures are and how he wants more people to love his odd creations which first appeared in 2001's Pikmin on the GameCube. The latest main game in the series was released in 2023 for Switch.“I spent a lot of time the past five, six years really wanting to grow Pikmin,” said Miyamoto. “Obviously a lot of that is focused around Pikmin Bloom and there was also new Pikmin titles that released. But I wanted to see if there’s other ways that we can have people engage and get to know Pikmin that’s outside of the population that plays video games, for example.” Miyamoto continued, apparently having waited years to unleash all his Pikmin thoughts on the first person lucky enough to ask him about the strange franchise featuring a tiny alien man controlling an army of small, cute critters. “And it really stems back to 20 years ago when we did a presentation where it starts off with, there’s a Pikmin next to you,” said Miyamoto. “And so in Nintendo there’s sort of like an unwritten rule. Mario needs to stay in the Mario universe, or Splatoon needs to stay in Splatoon, and we don’t use different characters in the same place. But Pikmin has this kind of unwritten rule where they’re okay to appear with other characters.”Pikmin (GC) - E3 2001 Trailer (HQ)When asked if Pikmin could ever appear in movies or TV shows, Miyamoto couldn’t say yes or no, of course, but explained that he would love for that to happen one day. “I really see Nintendo as sort of like a talent agency and we have within our roster a lot of talented characters,” said Miyamoto. “So we create a game with a certain gameplay concept, gameplay experience, and then we look at the roster and see who would best fit this gameplay concept or experience.”“So looking at things from that perspective, I think Pikmin has a lot of potential to be used in many different occasions. When you’re looking at small kids, they have a certain appeal for things that are cute and when they grow older, maybe in their twenties, they start to lose appeal for that. But I think Pikmin has this unique ability to have appeal across a broad range in that it’s still appealing for both younger audiences and older audiences and in Japan. And so I’m hoping that we can expand that globally. So whether it’s some kind of a movie or show, things like that would be really fun.”Look, Nintendo, Miyamoto has done so much for you and your company. I say you give the man a few million dollars and a team and let him make all the weird Pikmin crap he wants to make while he’s still able to do so. It’s the least you can do. And the world would be a better place if we had more Pikmin stuff in it. .

You've got to hand it to the Tamagotchi team for continuing to find new ways to spin a toy that is now pushing 30 years old. We've seen a Tamagotchi with a built-in camera, a Tamagotchi watch with a touchscreen so you can pet your virtual pet and another one with its own Tamaverse. Sometimes these experiments don't work out as well as we'd like them to — the flat buttons introduced with Tamagotchi Pix were kind of terrible in practice — but they keep the franchise feeling alive. And alive seems like the best way to describe the newest member of the Tamagotchi family. Tamagotchi Paradise looks like it's absolutely bustling with life. Bandai first teased the upcoming Tamagotchi Paradise in a comic for Free Comic Book Day at the beginning of May, but it's now official: we're getting a Tamagotchi that's equipped with a zoom dial feature to observe the critters up close (like, even down to the cellular level) and from afar. It'll bring back gene-mixing, too, meaning you'll be able to create unique characters through breeding. Tamagotchi Paradise will also be able to physically connect to other devices with a docking port on the top of the egg. There is a lot of information to unpack in the Tamagotchi Paradise announcement. For one, instead of starting off by hatching a Tamagotchi character from an egg, players will hatch an entire planet in an Egg Bang (get it?) event. You'll be able to view the planet from space, and zoom in to observe what's going on down at the surface. Your mission is to "enrich your planet and make its Tamagotchi population flourish." The device will come in three shell designs — Pink Land, Blue Water and Purple Sky — and whichever shell you have will determine which location you start in. It appears that you'll be able to unlock all three areas eventually no matter what device you have. Bandai As always, you'll have to raise Tamagotchi characters from babies to adults and do all the usual caretaking tasks, like feeding them and cleaning up poop. But for once, you'll be able to put all that poop to good use by turning it into biofuel for space travel. When a Tamagotchi gets sick, you'll use the dial to "zoom in and treat them at the cellular level." There are a total of 25 different care menus according to Bandai, including shops and mini-games. Tamagotchi Paradise introduces a ton of new, more animal-like characters than we've been seeing in recent years, and they're really cute. (Don't worry, Mametchi, Mimitchi and a few other existing favorites will still be there too). There are also three secret characters that haven't yet been revealed.  Bandai It looks like it's packed with activities, which would be really nice coming off of the Tamagotchi Uni, a device I've loved in the two years since it was released but still can't help but feel like it's a bit boring compared to others. Tamagotchi Paradise goes back to AAA batteries, which should be good for longevity. And it'll be cheaper than other recent flagship Tamagotchis, at $45. Pre-orders haven't opened in the US just yet, but the device will ship on July 12 according to the Japanese Amazon listing. The wait might actually kill me. Once Tamagotchi Paradise arrives, there will be pop-up Tamagotchi Labs in some as yet unannounced stores where you'll be able to connect your device to access exclusive items and experiences. Tamagotchi Uni owners will be able to get a taste of all this ahead of the release as well if they buy the Tamagotchi Lab Tamaverse ticket, which comes out on July 3.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/tamagotchi-paradise-looks-like-the-most-exciting-virtual-pet-toy-in-years-155010892.html?src=rss

There’s something uniquely satisfying about putting down roots in a sleepy town in games like Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, or Disney Dreamlight Valley. Palia evolves this tradition to great effect, injecting large-scale multiplayer into that tried-and-true formula. After more than 70 hours of chopping down trees, hunting woodland critters, decorating my home, and hanging out with my fellow Palians, I’ve had a fantastic time catching up on all I’ve missed since the early days of the beta. There are beautiful regions to explore, interesting items and artifacts to craft or collect, and lots of compelling quests to complete – and the new content in the Elderwood expansion that arrived alongside its console launch added quite a bit to what was already a life-consuming vortex of coziness. That said, Palia still feels quite unfinished in some ways, with a story that abruptly cuts off right in the middle and some pretty serious bugs and performance issues plaguing it, but it’s easy to forgive much of that when you and your friends are enjoying a quiet evening of fishing together.Palia is a cozy life sim with one major tweak: you’re in an online world that occasionally compels you to come out of your shell and interact with other humans – a sometimes Herculean task for the introverts often drawn to this genre. As you explore, you’ll encounter others out in the shared world going about their business, and are encouraged (or sometimes required) to cooperate with them. For example, you’ll get a buff for fishing with others and will find magical trees that can only be chopped down with the help of one or more friends. This has led to a community that’s astoundingly positive and helpful, with the vast majority of the public chat being PSAs from players who have found a valuable resource they’d like to share with strangers, then waiting for minutes on end for everyone to assemble before collecting it as a group. I spend a lot of time playing multiplayer games defined by the community’s potent toxicity and savage greed, so this kind of culture was truly a shock to my system that took me a long time to adjust to.PlayAlthough multiplayer is its signature twist, you can still do the vast majority of Palia’s activities by yourself. There’s also just a whole heck of a lot for you to do however you decide to tackle it, all in service of building up your home and improving your relationships with the NPC townsfolk. The usual zen-like staples of cooking and catching bugs are all here and actually quite good – the fishing minigame, for example, is less mindless than you usually find in the genre, having you tug and pull on your rod as the fish leaps into the air and puts up a fight. There’s even a few less common options like hunting, where you’ll pick off poor critters who burrow into the ground and leap into trees as you pepper them with arrows. While an absence of stress is an intentional focus of Palia’s design, it sometimes tries a bit too hard to accomplish that goal, like in how your arrows will magically home in on your target incredibly aggressively, sometimes turning corners to aid your aim. I’m all for a laid back experience, but it can be a bit obnoxious when you’re trying to line up a shot and the magnetism training wheels curve your arrow toward a different creature altogether, frustrating what’s supposed to be a chill activity.Palia has a surprisingly full-featured main story as well. It has you exploring ancient ruins to uncover the truth about a world which was once populated by humans who are curiously gone now, and the dark history of magic that seemingly caused the collapse of society. This adventure is much more light-hearted than that might sound, though, and you’re mostly just given opportunities to learn about the world and hang out with the characters who accompany you on quests while you platform around and solve simple puzzles. Per Palia’s adherence to cozy virtues, none of this is particularly demanding, and the mainline quests can be completed in a matter of hours if you focus on them, but I enjoyed diving just a tad deeper into the world and the break from grinding for iron ore to craft the next piece of furniture I just couldn’t live without.The usual staples of cooking and fishing are all here, and quite good.“That said, while I quite enjoy the tale Palia tells, it feels disappointingly incomplete compared to every other aspect of the adventure – even after the Elderwood expansion arrived. The original cliffhanger ending was replaced by yet another hanging chad just an hour or two later, with a handful of chores and a brief new major dungeon spread across a surprisingly short bit of story. You’re telling me I’ve got this massive new map to explore, new creatures to hunt, and new characters to romance, but we still haven’t finished even one arc in the main plot.Thankfully, there are plenty of distractions and minigames to mix things up, like a hotpot-themed card game I spent way too much time playing, or a surprisingly intricate platforming puzzle that took me hours to master. Sometimes these experiments exceed Palia’s grasp, like the platforming sections in particular, which are held back by clunky controls that don’t seem like they were designed with precision in mind – climbing can be quite an irritating experience as your character will let go of surfaces inconsistently, sending you plummeting to your death. But the stakes in taking these spills are always very low, so there’s not much to lose aside from a bit of your time wasted. Other times, you’ll find yourself doing a sliding picture puzzle and think “y’know, this is pretty nice,” so I mostly found myself happy they took these shots nonetheless.TieGuyTravis' Favorite Cozy GamesIf you're looking for a game that pairs well with a warm blanket and a hot cup of tea, look no further than these TieGuyTravis-approved recommendations.See AllOf course, the purpose behind all these undertakings is to gain as much gold as you can to upgrade and decorate your home, and Palia’s got one of the better home building systems I’ve seen. Rather than giving you no control over the blueprint of your house like in Animal Crossing or Disney Dreamlight Valley, or making you monkey around with a building mode that has you placing individual walls like The Sims, Palia favors a modular system: You unlock schematics for pieces of a home that you can freely snap onto various parts of your building, making it easy to design the general layout without having to get lost in the weeds. Then, once you’ve built your place, you can decorate it down to the most minute detail, dragging furniture, dolls, and cups around on a grid to make it just so. I could probably spend dozens of hours on this part of Palia alone, were it not for my insatiable need for cold hard cash to fund my homestead expansion. But that desire to make your place exactly as awesome as you want it to be is a serious motivator that sent me out in search of lumber and iron ore time and time again.Those resource grinds each have their own progression systems as well, as you level up by repeatedly going out into the world and bringing back your haul of raw materials and collectibles to sell. As you plant trees and craft furniture, you’ll unlock new equipment like a loom for creating fabric or a furnace for creating glass. You’ll also get better tools to perform cozy chores with, like a hoe that lets you till land faster or a bow and arrows that will let you take down prey in fewer shots, each of which feels like a handy upgrade that shows up at exactly the right moment you start feeling a need for it. The timegating that sometimes boxes you out of marathoning through everything in other life sims is mercifully absent here for the most part, so you can move as fast or as slow as you care to.Palia has one of the better home building systems I’ve seen. “The other major pursuit in Palia is in getting to know and develop relationships with its 26 NPC residents, most of whom are really well-written and have a lot more to them than meets the eye. Most have an arc that takes place over several quests where they let you see a bit more of their personality as you forge a friendship. I quite enjoyed hanging out with the sarcastic and moody daughter of the mayor, Kenyatta, who worked the front desk with all the enthusiasm of April from Parks and Recreation – but after helping her down the extremely chaotic path of discovering what she’s passionate about in life, I grew to appreciate her in a less superficial way. Even characters I really didn't jive with like Elouisa, a cryptid-obsessed hippy who annoyed me to no end, was at least entertainingly irritating, and I’ve learned to appreciate how much her personality bothers me over time. (We’ve all got a friend like that, don’t we?) And, of course, if you’re looking for more than friendship you can partake in Palia’s quite strong dating mechanics to get yourself a girlfriend or boyfriend, or several of them – no judging here.Unfortunately, this is one area where timegating gets in the way of a good time, and is one of the only places Palia boxes you out. You’re only allowed to chat with each character once per in-game day (a 30-minute period of real time), which improves your social links a very small amount, and you can only give each character a gift once per real world day. So if you’re trying to finish a particular character’s story, you’ll have to log on with regularity and be subjected to the same rotation of brief banter before you’re able to make any real progress. This is especially painful early on when your citizenship in Kilima Village is dependent on having someone in town to vouch for you – a task that’s made impossible to do in a short span by timegating. When every other area of Palia lets you play to your heart’s content, it’s pretty annoying to see such an essential part of this slice of life block you from progressing at your own pace.The Elderwood ExpansionThe Elderwood expansion is the most recent addition to Palia, and the biggest content update since its 2023 debut by far. It adds a substantial map with several small regions to explore and interesting new enemies to hunt (like really good frog-like creatures that spit reptilian phlegm at you), and some neat gadgets and quality of life improvements to enjoy. The Elderwood region is filled with color and weird creatures, which are quite unlike the two base maps, injecting some much needed variety into the world. Some of the additions, like relics that make tracking down materials easier and new resource nodes like palium and platinum, are fantastic things to pursue if you’re like me and have already accumulated hundreds of copper and iron. There’s even a new NPC to meet, Ulfe, a wild child who has a very different vibe than the rest of the cast so far, and who I enjoyed having a series of communication breakdowns with. Elderwood certainly doesn’t rock the boat in any major way, but it’s a nice, and overdue supplement that simply offers more of the Palia I already know and love.Palia has come a long way since I first played it over a year ago, but one thing that remained true after this latest update is that it’s still missing quite a bit. Even with the beefy new Elderwood map joining the original two, the number of areas to explore is fairly small, and though they’ve got nooks and crannies for you to discover, you can more-or-less see most of what’s available in a few hours. Social features, though awesome when they happen, still feel quite slim for a game where the killer feature is supposed to be its online functionality, and there aren’t enough activities that encourage group play. And although there are quite a few options for decorating your house, surprisingly little of it can be interacted with once placed. You can’t lie in bed, turn on the sink, or really do much of anything with most objects, which sometimes made me feel like I was building a museum rather than a home. (They did add the ability to flick the light switches on and off, which is at least something.) Elderwood isn’t planned to be the final update or anything, so these are shortcomings that will hopefully be built out in the future, but I’m a bit surprised that some of them aren’t farther along all the same.The other major issue with Palia has been its bugs and performance issues, which have gotten remarkably better but are still pretty common. I quite frequently see NPCs sink into the floor, sometimes altogether hidden underground to the point where I can’t interact with them, there’s a bunch of very visible pop-in that happens while you’re running around, and loading times when traveling between each section of the map feel far longer than they should. Playing on the Nintendo Switch is especially eyebrow raising, as everything looks pretty awful and runs significantly worse, to the point where I really can’t recommend it on that platform in the same way I enthusiastically would elsewhere.

News • May 15, 2025 Avowed 1.4 Update is Here — And So Is Our Roadmap! Thank you for being part of our amazing community. Your support means the world to us, and we’re excited to share what’s next on the horizon for Avowed. Alongside today’s 1.4 update, we’re also unveiling our roadmap! This new graphic gives a sneak peek at some of the content and improvements coming to Avowed in the near future. We hope it gives you a clearer picture of what we’re working on—and what you can look forward to next. We also want to acknowledge our players in Korea, Japan, and French-speaking regions. We know how important it is to experience a game in your preferred language, and we are actively working on localized versions for Korean and Japanese, along with ongoing improvements for French. We’re committed to delivering these updates as soon as they are ready, and we deeply appreciate your patience and support as we make sure they meet the quality you deserve.Now, onto what’s available today… 🕷 Arachnophobia Mode Now Available! The community has spoken—and we listened! Our new Arachnophobia Mode is now live in Avowed. This optional feature replaces spider enemies with round, floating orbs that still pack a punch… but might be a bit less creepy. You can toggle this setting in the Accessibility menu. Just remember: friendlier looks, same deadly bite. 🔦 Community Highlights – Update 1.4 This update brings a host of quality-of-life improvements, many of them inspired directly by your feedback: Map Exploration Enhancements Once most of a map’s accessible areas are explored, the fog of war will now fully clear. Entering a city on an overland map (e.g. Northern Paradis in Dawnshore) will now reveal that portion of the map. Increased radius for fog clearing as you explore. Critter Loot Drops Critters can now be defeated—and may drop loot! New Party Camp Feature Players can now wait at the Party Camp to advance time. Improved Soul Pod Functionality Soul Pods now dispel illusions (except for Ryngrim’s entrance, which still requires Yatzli’s help). New Settings Options Chests now optionally appear on the minimap. Power attacks with the Bow and Arquebus can now be canceled with a new setting. And that’s just scratching the surface—there’s so much more in this update! For the full breakdown of everything included in 1.4, be sure to check out the complete patch notes on our forums. We want to take a moment to thank you for your continued reports, feedback, and suggestions. Your insights help shape Avowed, and we’re incredibly grateful for the time you’ve taken to share your experiences with us. We can’t wait to show you what’s next. Stay tuned—and see you in the Living Lands

‘Robo Catcher Zero’ Collects Cute Mechanical Critters Posted on May 19, 2025May 19, 2025 by Joel Couture Robo Catcher Zero takes players to a district filled with broken machines and hidden robot buddies for you to locate and awaken. Finder’s been tasked with wrangling up friendly robots that have tucked themselves into all sorts of places throughout the Amp220Ω district. The reason for why these machines are all so shy isn’t made clear in the current demo of the game, but that’s fine. I don’t need a lot of good reasons to find cute metal buddies besides the fact that they’re adorable. And this tiny slice of demo has quite a few cute robots to scrounge up. Finding the robots takes more than just finding their hiding spots. The robots don’t seem too keen on being discovered, so you have to play a short minigame when you find one. A small ball-like pod will roll around the screen and you will need to catch it with your mouse (looking like a catcher’s mitt) a few times in order to collect your new pal. It’s not especially challenging most of the time (other than the fact that some of the pods move around in a hurry), but it does add a tiny bit of action to gathering the robots. And once you have a few, you can have them follow you around as you explore the rest of the world. Robo Catcher Zero seems to be focused on creating a relaxed experience in exploring its decayed mechanical landscapes, simply having you putter around and find more robots. There is a story that appears to be taking shape as you find more machines, though, the world humming back to life as your party grows. I’m curious to see where the full version will take this story and why all of these robots started hiding. Robo Catcher Zero is currently in development, but in the meantime, you can grab a demo or add it to your wishlist on Steam. About The Author

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Forget traditional garden rows and Pinterest-perfect raised beds. A new wave of gardeners—fueled by the rise of “chaos gardening”—is embracing a freer, wilder approach. Culinary plants are breaking out of the vegetable patch and popping up in unexpected places: nestled in flower beds, tucked into sidewalk cracks, or spilling from upcycled containers.  What is chaos gardening—and why is it so popular? Chaos gardening is the ultimate plant-lover’s rebellion. It’s low-stakes, low-structure, and high-surprise—perfect for gardeners who crave creativity over control. By scattering seeds or tucking plants in overlooked spaces, growers often discover new, more sustainable ways to cultivate food. It’s also a celebration of adaptability. Culinary plants like mint, thyme, and garlic can thrive in unique microclimates or unconventional containers. Mushrooms can grow on food scraps. And grain? That can thrive in your front yard. Take it from Brie Arthur, a horticulturist and author who’s turned edible gardening into an aesthetic statement. “As an avid food grower, I love experimenting with unusual crops like fava beans, sesame, turmeric, and rice!” she says. “Grains are a fun and practical food crop to include in gardens and containers—they are beautiful, bountiful, and always spark conversation. Brie Arthur is a horticulturist and garden enthusiast. Image: Courtesy of Brie Arthur The case for culinary plants outside the garden box Planting edibles outside traditional beds isn’t just unconventional—it’s often more effective. Herbs like basil, parsley, and nasturtium attract pollinators, while tucking garlic near ornamentals can reduce pest pressure. Hardscapes and vertical spaces create microclimates where herbs thrive, and growing among flowers often disguises plants from hungry critters. Mushroom grower and educator Misilla dela Llana takes it a step further. She grows oyster mushrooms on food scraps like corn cobs, garlic stalks, coffee grounds, even wine corks and bamboo toilet paper. “So far, I’ve had great results from garlic stalks and corn cobs producing multiple flushes of mushrooms,” she explains. “The bamboo TP experiment resulted in beautiful bouquets of oyster mushrooms!” She’s also integrated wine cap mushrooms into raspberry and dahlia beds, where they decompose organic matter and nourish surrounding plants—an edible garden that feeds itself. Yes, you can grow edible mushrooms kind of anywhere. Images: Courtesy of Misilla dela Llana Where to tuck edibles: Creative planting spots In the Flower Bed Along Walkways and Driveways Under Shrubs or Trees In Containers You Forgot You HadWendi Phan. “I repurpose unexpected objects, elevate containers, and grow vertically to guide plants toward the sun.” Her DIY tall garden bed on wheels is a great example of how to make tight spaces productive. Climbing and Trailing Chaos with a purpose This gardening trend is more than quirky—it’s adaptive and empowering. Misilla’s garlic growing approach is wonderfully low effort. “While garlic is grown as an annual crop, it’s a perennial, and the bulbs can be left in the ground to multiply,” she says. She also grows garlic from bulbils, tiny clones that develop on the scapes of stiff-neck varieties. It’s slower but more economical and disease-resistant. Winter sowing, for example, lets gardeners get a jump on the season while building resilience. “Winter sowing saves time, money, work, and space,” says Misilla. “I’ve noticed that plants are hardier and more resilient when exposed to adverse conditions outdoors in the early stages.” In zones like the Pacific Northwest’s 8b, she starts as early as December using recycled milk jugs and other DIY cloches. Another creative and decorative example comes from Michelle Akbashev of Everyday Gardening Tips, who turns bay laurel into a container showpiece. “Bay laurel makes a surprisingly perfect centerpiece for your decorative container,” she says. “It’s not only beautiful but also edible, perfect for snipping fresh leaves right from a pot near your kitchen.” Paired with Primo Wild Rose Heuchera and Evercolor Everillo carex, her low-maintenance combo delivers year-round impact. Your yard, your rules If it grows and you enjoy it, you’re doing it right. Whether you’re harvesting cherry tomatoes from a hanging basket, cultivating mushrooms on corn cobs, or tucking thyme between stepping stones, edible gardening doesn’t need to follow the rules. So go ahead—scatter seeds, repurpose that rusty wheelbarrow, or plant garlic between your dahlias. Culinary plants are thriving in wild new places—and your garden can be one of them.