Larian Studios recently posted on their X (formerly Twitter) account for Baldur’s Gate 3 a sneak peak at one of the new evil endings that will be available once Patch 7 finally drops.

The New Ending Tricks Baldurian Citizens Into Living In Total Bliss

While details are still sparse regarding how these evil endings will be triggered by players, the clip Larian chose to tease chose what looks like a crowd of Baldurian citizens being controlled by the same aberrant mind powers that Mind Flayers & the tadpoles possess to fill their heads with lofty daydreams about their day-to-day.

While the closed beta for Patch 7 was initially delayed due to some internal coding issues, it looks like the release of the massive patch is back on track for an early Fall 2024 release date.

Building off the lore from the base game and introducing a variety of challenging new mechanics for players to navigate, memorize, and strategize around, the boss roster in Shadow of the Erdtree is nothing to scoff at; but of these new additions, which of these new adversaries stands out for being the best?

Honorable Mention

Unfortunately, Bayle the Dread is not a remembrance boss in Shadow of the Erdtree, but he’s become such a cultural icon thanks to Igon’s iconic quote: “CURSE YOU, BAYLE!” in addition to the boss fight just all around encompassing the feeling of fighting an ancient, mighty dragon that it’s hard not to give him a shoutout. Not to mention, Bayle has one of the best themes in the entire DLC and excellently written lore than makes felling him all the more satisfying.

10. Scadutree Avatar

Despite the fact that the Scadutree Avatar has a very well-designed arena a perfectly orchestrated battle theme, the creature is lacking in the lore department, with what is known about it being mostly left up to presumption.

With three separate phases, the Scaduetree Avatar’s moveset and mechanics can feel clunky, as many of its abilities fail to truly flow with the beast or capture what makes its design so interesting. While being an interesting challenge to go up against, it’s by far the DLC’s weakest Remembrance fight.

9. Putrescent Knight

Located in the Fissure Depths, the Putrescent Knight is a hulking mass of rotting flesh dedicated to serving St. Trina. While lacking in the lore department, the Putrescent Knight has an amazing accompanying track when fighting him, and his mechanics can be really fun to learn and strategize around.

Unfortunately, though, the hulking undead knight is overshadowed by the DLC’s other boss battles with fleshed out lore. While fun, the Putrescent Knight lacks the substance to make him a truly memorable foe.

8. Commander Gaius

A friend to Messmer who was once noted as a legendary military strategist and warrior, Commander Gaius was once a rival to Radahn, and similarly to his friend, is a rather tragic figure in the lore; cursed from his heritage as an Albinauric to someday lose the use of his legs who accompanied Messmer when he left for the Land of Shadow on Marika’s orders.

Gaius’ fight is no joke – it’s easily considered one of the most difficult and frustrating in Shadow of the Erdtree due to his relentless combos. However, despite how frustrating it can be to go against him and his hulking boar companion, his arena looks incredible, and perfectly fits Gaius’ story – even if weaving around the abandoned weaponry can add to potential frustrations when trying to evade his attacks. Plus, the flashy flavor in his abilities make him a memorable foe to take down.

7. Divine Beast Dancing Lion

Easily possessing one of the best designs and battle themes in the DLC, as well as an incredible introductory cutscene, the Divine Beast Dancing Lion fight is unforgiving mechanically, and at times can feel a bit clunky, even on repeat attempts. Unfortunately, despite the Dancing Lion’s incredible design, the arena the boss is placed in is relatively bland.

Filled with potential due to Divine Beasts being seen as “Messengers of the Heavens” in Elden Ring‘s lore and other intricate bits of design flavor, there were unfortunately too many aspects of the Divine Dancing Beast that caused it to fall flat when compared to other bosses encountered in the DLC.

6. Romina, Saint of the Bud

A horrific amalgamation of different insects and humanoid features, Romina can pose a challenge for unprepared players while still being relatively well-balanced. The fight against her is unavoidable, and her lore is condensed compared to other encounters in the DLC.

Something particularly interesting about Romina despite her condensed origin story and lore is how seamlessly she’s integrated with her environment. Located in the Church of the Bud, Romina is an incredibly well-planned boss that clearly had a lot of care put into her design and battle mechanics.

5. Metyr Mother of Fingers

One of the more grotesque bosses appearance-wise, Metyr is a visual spectacle of a battle with lore implications that run deep into Marika’s backstory. Thanks to Ymir’s questline, players are finally able to face off against the Mother of Fingers, and it delivered.

Located in an ethereal arena in the Finger Ruins of Miyr, Metyr moves rather slowly, but is capable of creating distance to deliver devestating magic attacks against the player. While her battle is far from being the most difficult in the DLC, the visual flair she provides in addition to being arguably one of the most lore-relevant encounters in the game makes her one of the most memorable.

4. Promised Consort Radahn

The official final boss fight of the DLC, the culmination of every quest and encounter the Tarnished has accomplished on their adventure through the Land of Shadows, the battle against the Promised Consort Radahn is nothing to scoff at. In a cinematic confrontation, Miquella, after enchanting Mohg and putting Radahn’s soul into his body, uses him as a “puppet” to fight back against the Tarnished to further his plans to create an “ideal” world using his charms.

Capable of using the same Bloodflame and Gravity Magic, this fight is an uphill battle to say the least. With a flashy moveset in the first phase that morphs into an epic battle against both Radahn and Miquella in the second, the fight is excellently designed, with only a few drawbacks for how overloaded some of the pair’s abilities are.

3. Midra, Lord of Frenzied Flame

Midra Lord of Frenzied Flame is an incredibly interesting and challenging boss fight in Shadow of the Erdtree. After previously attempting to become a Lord of Frenzied Flame and failing, Midra finally succeeds in ascending after coming into contact with the Tarnished. The encounter also provides more insight on the Frenzied Flame from the base game.

The fight poses a good challenge for players, with a strong mixed of ranged and melee abilities that forces players to try and fight him in close-quarters combat. All-in-all, it’s a solid fight that, despite being optional, every player should try at least a few times.

2. Rellana Twin Moon Knight

Despite being an optional boss in the DLC, Rellana is a battle that every player should experience. Heavily tied to Messmer the Impaler’s lore – even being known as “Messmer’s Sword”. Rellana was once a princess of the Carrion family and is the younger sister of Rennala, who left behind her life to remain at Messmer’s side once he was sent to the Land of Shadow.

The fight against Rellana is one of the game’s flashiest and feels incredibly rewarding. Her abilities and moveset boast incredible visuals that excellent precursor to the battle against Messmer the Impaler.

1. Messmer the Impaler

Widely considered the secondary antagonist in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC, Messmer is a Demi-god and the son of Queen Marika, who was used as a weapon to wage war on any who opposed his mother before being sent to the Land of Shadow. In the lore, Messmer is a shockingly tragic figure who was used by his mother to become a detestable warlord – but he realized this truth too late.

Mechanically, the fight against Messmer is a very fair but extremely challenging fight that tests the player’s ability to memorize his fiery combos. He has two phases, each of which offer insight on his tragedy and his relationship to Marika. His arena is hauntingly gorgeous, and the music that accompanies the fight against him is absolutely perfect, making Messmer hands-down the best Remembrance boss in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.

The heart of this series lies in its games, of course, and while there have been a few misses – there are a plenty of key standouts in the franchise, especially with its spin-off titles, that have helped it stay relevant for so many years.

Pokémon Red & Green (1996)

It May Seem Cliche, But Red & Green Deserve Recognition For Starting It All

While the first game in the Pokémon franchise may be lacking in all the features that have kept the game popular today, it will always and forever be iconic for being the game that started it all. There’s hardly any Pokémon more iconic than the original 151, and many still hold the game in high regard today.

Approachable to young gamers at the time, bugs and glitches that are still talked about today, and still managing to tell compelling environmental stories in the way of Lavender Town, Pokémon Red & Pokémon Green will always and forever be one of the best entries in the franchise.

Pokémon X & Y (2013)

The First 3D Mainline Pokémon Game Introduced New Mechanics & Franchise Staples

The first fully 3D mainline Pokémon title, Gen 6’s X & Y introduced a number of new mechanics, gimmicks, and story beats that are still beloved by modern Pokémon fans a decade later. This batch of mainline games were the first to introduce full character customization, and also included the Mega Evolution mechanic.

While its storytelling isn’t as strong as other mainline titles, X & Y still had a umber of compelling lore implications for the series, tying its main trilogy back to Norse Mythology. Plus, plenty of diehard Pokémon fans interested in the franchise’s greater lore are still waiting to learn more about the mysterious Zygarde.

Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness (2005)

The Heavily Underrated Sequel To Pokémon Colosseum Deserves More Love as One Of the Franchise’s Best Spin-Offs

The heavily underrated sequel to Pokémon Colosseum is an absolute must-play to any Pokémon fan that has access to a GameCube system. Despite the tragedy that the game is doomed to become more obscure than it already is with the passage of time, Gale of Darkness was a unique entry in the franchise and a bold departure to the standard approach to Pokémon‘s formula. Mechanically, the game operates in a similar fashion to other mainlines titles, but allows the player to find wild Pokémon in specific locations, which is a huge improvement on Colosseum‘s gameplay.

Taking place five years after the events of Colosseum, Gale of Darkness opens with the Orre Region’s criminal organization, Cipher, after creating “Shadow Lugia”, a sinister Pokémon immune to purification that’s meant to wreak havoc on the region. You, the player, embark on a journey with your trusty Eevee at your side to purify different Shadow Pokémon around the region and get to the bottom of the Cipher organization’s schemes.

Pokémon Snap (1999)

The original Pokémon Snap Gave Players a Low-Stakes, Adorable Experience With Their Favorite Pokémon

Pokémon Snap holds a fond place in many Pokémon fans’ hearts thanks to its laid back gameplay and adorable snapshot into the normal activities of Pokémon out in the wild. With a completely different gameplay loop compared to what’s in the mainline titles, Pokémon Snap just focuses on the player exploring the world and trying to get the best possible photograph of whatever Pokémon they can stumble across.

That’s not to say it’s that simple, though, as there are specific Pokémon evolutions and encounters that players can only find after triggering specific, timed events in the world as they explore.

Pokémon Emerald (2003)

Gen 3 Introduced a Number of Fan-Favorite Pokémon

The capstone of Gen 3, Pokémon Emerald ties together what makes Ruby & Sapphire so iconic and builds on specific mechanics to improve the overall gameplay. In addition to shaking up the resolution of the game’s main story by showing off the omnipotent Rayquaza, the game also allows players to catch Ruby & Sapphire‘s respective exclusives with no need for trading with friends.

There were also massive redesigns to many of the locations players can access across the Hoenn regions that improves exploration and makes the world feel more alive. As far as battling goes, Emerald built on the double battle mechanic, allowing players the opportunity to re-challenge gym leaders and participate in double battles against them. Gen 3 was a huge turning point in the franchise by introducing massive changes that would effect all of the mainline titles going forward.

Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver (2009)

Gen 2’s Remakes Rival Newer Games In Content & Quality

Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver were gorgeous reimaginings of Gen 2’s Gold & Silver titles, and combined some elements from Pokémon Crystal as well. Using many of the new core features introduced in Gen 4 and adding beautiful new scenery to iconic locations, HeartGold & SoulSilver stood out as being the first batch of mainline remakes to add just as much as they restored.

Additionally, HeartGold & SoulSilver added the adorably fun overworld mechanic of having whatever Pokémon in the player’s first slot follow them around. This was paired alongside the admittedly gimmicky pedometer called the Pokéwalker that was sold alongside the games to track player’s real-world steps and earn “watts” tht could be exchanged for in-game rewards, and the ability to catch Pokémon.

Pokémon Sun & Moon (2016)

Despite Some Spotty Mechanical Adds, Gen 7 Explored a Deeper Narrative That Hit Close To Home For Many Players

While Gen 7 sometimes gets a bad rep from disgruntled Pokémon fans, Sun & Moon had a stellar story that dove into surprising depth for a mainline Pokémon game. With Lusamine being a more than compelling villain, especially factoring in the storylines following her two children that become a rival and companion to the player, Sun & Moon has more than enough to keep players entertained, and earns it a high spot amid other titles in the franchise.

While the games does have its misses mechanically, its still incredibly fun, and also shook up the traditional Gym Leader dynamic found in past Pokémon games.

Pokémon Black & White (2010)

Gen 5 Bookends the End Of an Era For the Franchise With One Of Pokémon’s Best Stories

Pokémon Black & White was the final 2D mainline entry in the franchise, and ended that era of Pokémon on an incredible note. While Gen 5 does suffer from a few questionable mechanics that never permanently carried over to other games, it did bring some of the liveliest sprite’s in the franchise’s history, and hands down has the most compelling story in a mainlines Pokémon game.

The game’s villains were also compelling, with the dynamic between N and Ghetsis remaining iconic now, with many players voicing their desire to see more complex antagonists like N in the future. From its character and Pokémon designs, to the infectiously catchy OST, Pokémon Black & White will always be beloved entries in the series.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky (2009)

The Mystery Dungeon Series Is Known For Tear-Jerking Stories, & Explorers of Sky Delivered

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon is a unique take on the Pokémon franchise that sees players being transported to a world inhabited only by Pokémon as a Pokémon, and going on dungeon crawling adventures as members of a guild trying to discover what caused them to become a Pokémon in the first place. While the gameplay is fun, the storyline of Explorers of Sky is absolutely iconic, and an absolute tear-jerker.

Despite being a spin-off title, Explorers of Sky has some of the best storytelling in the entirety of the franchise, with many fans wishing to see the spin-off series make a comeback after a handful of lackluster entries since Explorers of Sky dropped.

Pokémon Platinum (2006)

The Final Mainline Entry of Gen 4 Gave Pokémon Fans Everything They Want Out of the Franchise

Pokémon Platinum is hands-down the best Pokémon game. Not only is Gen 4 well-regarded for adding many of the series most iconic Pokémon, including Giratina and Arceus – the literal God of Pokémon – Platinum also introduced a variety of upgrades from Diamond & Pearl that truly made it stand out.

Of these, some of the best additions included the game running faster – Diamond & Pearl chug along far more than players might remember – story improvements, with many of the core themes surrounding creation and time, culminating in Platinum‘s box-art showcase Pokémon, Giratina, representing anti-matter and chaos. Platinum also marks the return of the beloved Battle Frontier, and much like Emerald, allows for a broader Pokédex that’s easier for players to complete.

The support hero, officially dubbed Juno, is coming to the game soon, and for a limited time players will be able to try out the new support hero for free.

Everything We Know About Juno the Space Ranger

In addition to being voiced by Xanthe Huynh of Persona fame, in the official release trailer showing off the new support hero, players got a chance to check out Juno’s abilities.

The hero’s kit is filled with fun new abilities that compliment her space ranger-persona, including being able to use her primary fire to heal allies while dealing damage, a secondary fire that that can lock on to fire homing projectiles that heal allies and do damage, and an ultimate that calls down a ray to heal her allies and provide a damage buff.

Juno’s other abilities include Glide Boost, which allows her to glide horizontally, increasing her movement speed; Hyper Ring, that deploys a ring increasing the movement speed of her allies; and Martian Overboots – a super fun looking passive that gives Juno the ability to glide and hover while airborne.

The limited time trial to check out the hero for free will be taking place from July 19 to July 21, 2024.

While Act 1 was relatively tame in giving away information about the Dark Urge’s backstory, Act 2 hits like a truck – and as I continued playing noticed something undeniable: the Dark Urge and Enver Gortash absolutely had “something” going on before the events of the main game.

I’m not the only person picking up on the tension between the Dead Three’s chosen either, but Larian Studios is determined to try and run away from the possibility of “Durgetash” being made canon.

Larian Studio’s Continuous Denial Of Durgetash Is Funny, But Continues To Stoke the Flames

Plenty of fans are excited for the release of Patch 7. Larian recently dropped the patch notes on their social platforms, and it introduces a number of incredible changes, bug fixes, and the official modding toolkit. Also featured on Community Update #28, though, is this excerpt:

Clearly, Larian Studios has heard pleas from the desperate Durgetash community for any crumbs of content or making the doomed ship canon, but the studio has decided to instead choose violence. This isn’t the first time the studio has made jabs at fans of the ship either, as they regularly engage with fans of the villainous Lord Enver Gortash on Twitter/X.

These aren’t the only examples, of course, but Larian does seem to love the banter. The bigger question on this issue, though, is why they’re so dedicated to shooting down the hopes of Durgetash fans when there are clearly nods to the pair having some kind of “more-than-enemies-less-than-friends” dynamic before the Dark Urge got tadpoled.

Analyzing the Relationship Between Gortash & the Dark Urge: Partners In World Domination, Or Something More?

Analyzing what once was between Enver Gortash and Dark Urge is tricky at best, partially due to the fact that many of the references to the pair’s relationship can only be found in books, letters, and journals scattered throughout the game that are incredibly easy to miss for a player barreling through the main story. Regardless, observant Durgetash fans have done their research and have scoured every corner of the Sword Coast to find evidence that these two used to be involved with one another.

Posted by u/AgitatedMango9695 on Reddit, the following letter can be found in game – including a note added by Balthazar at the end making a jab at Dark Urge – of Bhaal’s chosen lamenting about being unable to ignore Gortash’s inherent genius.

Called a “Prayer of Forgiveness” in-game, this is the first concrete piece of evidence that the two had a much deeper relationship other than uniting the chosen of the Dead Three to take over Faerûn. Once the player makes it to Act 3, there are even more hints scattered throughout alluding to something going on – including a unique piece of Gortash dialogue when he’s speaking to Orin in an early cutscene, giving a shocked, “They live?” after hearing that the Dark Urge is making their way to the city.

When the Dark Urge finally makes it to Wyrm’s Crossing and goes to speak to Gortash during the coronation ceremony, he seems genuinely elated to see them – something that he does not do for a regular Tav. His body language in the cutscenes that follow are notably different, darting his eyes away and even smiling. If you have Karlach in your party, he even says this, “To think you and Karlach travelled together all this time, and she hadn’t the faintest you were one of my nearest and dearest.” and with specific dialogue choices will later add, “You and I always knew we could only stand against the world united.”

Then, when Orin begins invading the player’s camp, she makes a pointed statement directed at the player that they have always been easily influenced by the “Lordling”.

This isn’t what ultimately sold me on the two having involvement, believe it or not. What really sealed the deal for me as a player was learning about the heist on Mephistopheles vault, and what Gortash says to the player as they enter the The Iron Throne to rescue Ulder Ravengard, and their final conversation in a “good” aligned run if the player chooses to betray him. Surprisingly, much of this evidence was introduced in Patch 6 – one of the very few breadcrumbs that Larian has tossed to players to fuel speculation.

If the player chooses to betray Gortash and rescue Duke Ravengard from The Iron Throne, upon entering Gortash’s chambers in Wyrm’s Crossing, he will reprimand the Dark Urge for going against him, saying that the two of them could have been partners in crime had they chosen differently. To this, the player is presented with a series of dialogue options with one of them standing out, stating, “For what it’s worth, I think I always liked you, too. But this is how it must be.” Selecting this option, the player is hit with this narrative piece of pining: “There is hesitation in his eye for one moment. A passing thought of all times spent together you’ll never remember.” Gortash quickly interjects with, “Is that what you–” before being dramatically cut off by the rumbling of the Elder Brain.

While this is an overt bit of fanservice being thrown at Durgetash fans, this isn’t the only special dialogue shippers have decided to run with. When the player begins their descent into The Irone Throne, Gortash will send a clear message for them to stop what they’re doing or threaten to kill everyone imprisoned inside. While not the most concrete, the Dark Urge does get an interesting unique response to this, saying that Gortash is theirs to take from. Any fan of doomed or toxic ships can read between the lines with this one, even if it may seem like a stretch at a glance.

One of the most interesting pieces of evidence that players can find about the pair’s past is the plot to raid Mephistopheles Vault. While this can, of course, be read as nothing more than two evil individuals plotting to unite for a common goal, it also opens the gates for a great deal of analysis and implication regarding just how much Gortash and the Dark Urge have relied on one another in the past. It also confirms that the two were well acquainted before the “Absolute” plot, and that despite their patron Gods being fierce rivals, moving past that in order to truly care for each other.

References to the raid can be found by speaking with Helsik in the Devil’s Fee while playing Dark Urge before traveling to the House of Hope in Act 3. Helsik will recognize the Dark Urge right away, but, as per usual, the Dark Urge has amnesia and can’t remember anything about interacting with Helsik in the past. She’s willing to enlighten you on a bit of your history, telling the player that she had opened a portal for the Dark Urge and Lord Gortash to enter the Hells. She doesn’t provide much else aside from this, but players can also find a note written by a spy hired by Orin, and one written by Gortash corroborating this information.

While a reach, the pair must have had a great deal of respect and trust for one another in order to band together to attempt to rob Mephistopheles – the most powerful Archdevil next to Asmodeus. Gortash and his favorite assassin have undeniable history, and while many players could understandably read these interactions as being the result of a deep-rooted trust, it’s impossible to look at this evidence without also seeing clear nods to doomed, romantic pining.

Our read on these interactions is that it’s almost undeniable that the feelings Gortash and the Dark Urge have for one another are anything but platonic. Even if it’s toxic, Archduke Enver Gortash is pining for the Dark Urge, and it’s time for Larian to stop avoiding the writing on the wall. Even if we can never ultimately save Gortash if we decide to side with him in Act 3, we should at least have one last chance for an angst-filled goodbye between the two – and maybe that kiss that Larian keeps insisting he’s too busy for.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is available on PC (Windows & macOS), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Theo Solomon, who plays Wyll Ravengard and Bernard in the smash-hit RPG, recently found himself on the receiving end of being not-so-subtly rejected by the fiery Barbarian during his playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3 on Twitch.

Theo May Have Been Rejected, But He Shook It Off

In the hilarious Youtube Short, Theo decides to shoot his shot to spend some one-on-one time with Karlach during the Tiefling party at the end of Act 1. In a tragic twist, Karlach shoots him down with her classic “let’s not ruin a good thing” voiceline. Theo plays it off, though, putting on a pair of sunglasses and moving on with the party.

Not to fear – as Theo did manage to score a romantic night with Shadowheart instead. For fans of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Theo Solomon, the actor streams on Twitch at theosolomon1 and posts clips from his streams on Youtube @TheoSolomon1.

Brotherwise games, the group behind Call To Adventure, is hard at work on designing an extensive TTRPG set in Roshar.

Details About the Upcoming Stormlight Archives Tabletop RPG

On Brotherwise Games’ official website, they’ve provided a few key highlights for what fans can expect from the upcoming TTRPG, including an original system that will feel familiar for most players, a variety of build paths from Scholar to Surgebinder, and that the team aims to make the Stormlight TTRPG as inclusive as possible, so that even those unfamiliar with Sanderson’s world can dive right in.

The game has also been teased to have a special mechanic using the classic d20 called a “plot die” – a special roll that only occurs for risky and dramatic plays to enhance storytelling and roleplay opportunities at the table. When the game was originally announced in 2022, Brandon Sanderson offered a number of other details, including how the game’s magic system will be skill-based, and that players would potentially have the ability to join one of Cosmere’s knightly factions.

Brotherwise Games has also announced a 2-4 player deck-building card game themed after Sanderson’s Mistborn series, and a standalone card game called Shards of Creation that is ased on “the godlike beings behind Sanderson’s Cosmere”.

The Stormlight TTRPG is going to be a crowdfunding effort hosted on Kickstarter, and will officially launch on August 6, 2024.

Source: Brotherwise Games

While every companion featured in Baldur’s Gate 3 has their fans, Wyll is often overlooked in fandom discussions, and while many have made an effort to push for his inclusion in many corners of the internet, he’s still grossly underrated, and we’re here to tell you why you need to give the Blade of Frontiers more love.

Wyll Embodies the Classic Folk Hero Archetype With a Tragic Twist

When Wyll is first introduced in the first act when the player stumbles across the goblin ambush at the Grove, he receives a perfectly executed introductory cutscene that tells the player exactly what he’s all about from the get-go: flashy heroics, and classic do-gooding. Plus, regardless of his title as the ‘Blade of Frontiers’, Wyll is a total sweetheart, and remains extremely humble despite how many of the tieflings faun over him and his abilities. When players get officially introduced to him as he assists in training the tiefling children, he’s stuck in a situation much like everyone else in your party: he was infected with a Mind Flayer parasite.

It’s apparent rather quickly that Wyll isn’t all he appears to be, since he reluctantly tells the player he managed to get infected while pursuing a devil in Avernus – not the typical job the classic storybook hero type like Wyll would usually be up to. Additionally, his stone eye suspiciously looks like a Sending Stone – a magic item in Dungeons & Dragons that allows for long-distance communication. Regardless, he’s happy to join you on your journey as long as you promise him you’ll do something to aid the tieflings in finding safe passage to Baldur’s Gate, and help him kill the devil he’s been tracking. This opens up his personal quest line: The Blade of Frontiers.

As players grow closer to Wyll, his backstory begins to unravel. He was the one and only son to the very famous Duke Ulder Ravengard from Baldur’s Gate, and while he was raised among the city’s other noble families, Wyll always has always possessed a rebellious streak, and would run off spending time with the kids outside his socioeconomic circle, and training with his father. From the time Wyll was very young, the expectation was placed on him that he should live up to what his father wanted for him: take Ulder’s position in the Flaming Fist, succeed him in becoming the next Duke Ravengard, and continue his legacy as a champion of the city.

Wyll’s world fell apart, though, when he was only seventeen-years-old. Watching his father be named Grand Duke at such a young age and seeing him off to Elturel to assist in settling on of the many political disputes at the time, Wyll began to hear haunting whispers in the night that demanded he traverse alone to Dusthawk Hall. There, Wyll swears that he saw Dragon Cultists attempting to summon the vicious, devastatingly powerful being Tiamat to destroy the city. Young, desperate, and powerless to stop the onslaught on his own – Wyll was suddenly approached by a cambion named Mizora, who offered him the power to save the city he adored so much. His city, his father’s city – the place his family vowed to protect.

Wyll made the pact, trading his soul for the power to save the city. Much to his dismay, when his father returned from Elturel, he didn’t see Wyll’s choice as a noble sacrifice. Instead, his father was heartbroken and angry, casting Wyll out of his home, and the city he traded his soul to protect.

Wyll Doesn’t Need You To Fix Him – He Just Needs You In His Corner

Much like the other companions featured in Baldur’s Gate 3, Wyll is a victim of circumstance. He’s a victim – a young man that was taken advantage of and easily manipulated by doing what, at the time, he truly believed was an act of heroism to protect the place that raised him. That said, when looking at Wyll compared to some of your other companions – especially those that you meet extremely early on, Wyll doesn’t have many – if any – ulterior motives in joining you. He didn’t know that the “devil” he was sent after, Karlach, was actually a tiefling forced into Zariel’s service, and he’s well aware of how evil and calculating Mizora is.

Plus, despite the fact he’s clearly being constantly threatened by his Warlock patron and worried sick for the safety of his father in spite of their rocky relationship, he never makes you feel responsible for making him better. From the very first moment the party becomes aware that Wyll’s patron is a cambion working for Zariel, he swears to protect them, and that he’s the only one responsible for dealing with Mizora’s wrath. He’s even more than willing to selflessly give up a second chance at life in Baldur’s Gate to follow Karlach back into Avernus to fight alongside her so she can continue to live and search for a cure to her infernal engine troubles. Wyll, despite the reputation Warlocks often have, truly possesses a heart of gold. While everyone has their character flaws, it’s so effortless to root for Wyll and want to do what’s best for him while navigating his personal quest line, and we desperately wish that the game had more of him for players to experience.

Wyll Ravengard proves that despite everything that happens to you, if you carry your head up high and keep moving forward, you can be a hero.

A new fan project from a group of devoted fans on X are hard at work to bring these two properties together in one of the most inventive projects we’ve ever seen.

New Mod Will Allow Players To Run Into Their Favorite Spirit Blossom Champs In Hades

As described by jjolee (@sorrowtalks), the mod project will have players take control of Spirit Blossom Sett as he pursues Aphelios. The 2D art, courtesy of jjolee themselves, is absolutely stunning and perfectly captures the signature style that Hades is known so well for.

Included in the credits for the mod project is @mooncakephel, who’s handling the 3D modding; @hongdous, who’s managing coding on the project; and @aphelionaphelia, who will be writing dialogue for the project. Anyone interested in keeping up with the mod as it develops can follow @hades_sett on X for any and all upcoming information about the project.

If you haven’t tried out either game and are interested in getting familiar with the mechanics or lore before diving into this promising fan project, League of Legends is available for Windows and Mac, and Hades is available on PC (Windows & macOS), Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and iOS.

A recent cosplay by alice_kelstkaya on Reddit’s r/cosplay board proves this, bringing one of the game’s most popular characters to life in a stunning photoshoot.

Alice_Kelstkaya’s Futaba Sakura Cosplay Perfectly Captures Everyone’s Favorite Shut-In

Not only is the cosplayer’s costume on-point, wearing an outfit that is 1:1 with Futaba’s overworld appearance for a majority of the game, the cosplayer is posed perfectly in front of a slick gaming setup, reminiscent of when Joker and the rest of the party first encounter Futaba in-game.

Despite Persona 5 rapidly approaching its 10-year anniversary, the title still has a devoted fanbase that celebrate everything from the characters, world-building, and combat system. Cosplayers like this, that hold so much love for the cast after all this time, exemplify Persona 5‘s staying power in the modern gaming landscape.

Madoka Magica, an anime series known for popularizing a darker take on the magical girl genre, is no stranger to game adaptations. The series has seen a few Japan-exclusive console releases, as well as a mobile game that expanded the greater lore and explored alternate timelines titles called Magia Record that was available globally for fans of the series. The latest installment in Madoka games, however, has made one major change that fans can’t stop talking about.

Madoka Magica Magia Exedra Takes a Few Pages From the miHoYo Playbook

Madoka Magica Magia Exedra‘s official Steam page is loaded with incredible details about the upcoming title, and something fans noted right away from the promotional screenshots is how is similar the combat encounters look when compared to Honkai Star Rail.

While they certainly aren’t 1:1, it’s obvious that the game’s developers, Pokelabo and f4samurai were by the Chinese studio’s success. From the official Steam page, Madoka Magica Magia Exedra is described as follows:

“Characters from the hit anime series “Puella Magi Madoka Magica” come together!
Featuring an all-new story setting and characters from the original ideas of Gekidan Inu Curry (Doroinu), experience the action alongside Magical Girl memories in this battle RPG!

Now go. Unveil the memories of these Magical Girls.

◆ Enter a Realm of Magical Memories! ◆
A place where the memories of Magical Girls illuminate the dark…
The Lighthouse.
Now a girl who’s lost everything has wandered into its sanctum.

Who am I…?
How did I get here…?

She will relive key moments of countless Magical Girls by opening windows into their memories…
Trusting she’ll one day find her own lost light of remembrance.”

Why Is It a Good Thing That Magia Exedra Shares Similarities To Honkai Star Rail?

Developers taking inspiration from other properties is a slippery slope, especially when certain mechanics are so glaringly inspired from whatever the new game is being inspired by. However, gaming fans have seen practices like this time and time again, whether it be with the ever evolving landscape of JRPGs, “Metroidvania” titles, and the entirety of the “Souls-like” genre. While gacha games can be predatory just in the way they’re constructed, it’s also exciting to imagine what a true RPG experience with the cast of Madoka Magica could look like.

Plus, Aniplex has already announced that the game will release far more global support compared to Magia Record, which is good enough news for fans of the franchise that nothing else really matters at this point in time. While there’s no official release date for Magia Exedra at this time, Magia Record is stille available on app stores, and Madoka Magica is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

Thus, it becomes necessary to regularly visit your favorite Ripper Doc and get some body modifications. However, if you are getting very confused regarding what type of build you should go for, then this article will provide you with the best builds in Cyberpunk 2077 that will make you seriously overpowered.

The Best Builds You Can Create In Cyberpunk 2077

Slo-Mo Samurai — Sandevistan Build

Sandevistan and Katanas are a match made in heaven for you and hell for your enemies. So, for this build, you will first need to begin by assigning attribute points to Body, Technical Ability, and Reflexes. Bring all of them at least above 15. The key cyberware for this build is, of course, the Militech Apogee Sandevistan. By using this particular Sandevistan, you won’t have to worry about cooldown.

When it comes to perks, you can choose whatever suits your playstyle, but to maximize the efficiency of this build, you need to first prioritize the following perks that are found in each of the aforementioned attributes:

• Body — Painkiller, Adrenaline Rush, Juggernaut, and Pain to Gain
• Reflexes — Slippery, Dash, Air Dash, Tailwind, and Bladerunner
• Technical Ability — License to Chrome, All things Cyber, and Edgrunner

All of these are some of the most fundamental perks that you can use for this build, and then you can select other perks around them. The body perks will significantly increase your max health and regen, and the Technical Ability perks will improve and increase your cyberware capacity and stat modifiers. 

Another important thing to remember is that as this build utilizes Katanas as its primary weapon, you will need to focus on unlocking Blade perks as well. And if you don’t know which Katana is best for this build, look no further than the Byakko Katana.

Speed Hacker — Netrunner Build

If you want to take out enemies without relying too much on your physical weapons, then this build is designed for you. But first, you need to make sure you put the majority of your attribute points into Intelligence and Technical Ability. This way, you will be able to deal an insane amount of damage just by quick-hacking enemies.

You will also need to spend some money on cyberware and maximize your RAM usage. Try to get upgrades like Memory Boost, Ex-Disk, and the Ram Reallocator.

Finally, you can focus on unlocking the following perks and cyberdecks to become an ultra-powerful Netrunner:

• Intelligence — Eye in the Sky, Hack Queue, Queue Acceleration, and Overlock
• Technical Ability — License to Chrome, Edgerunner, Ticking Time Bomb
• Cyberdeck — Netwatch Netdriver MK.5 , Arasaka MK.5 and Militech Paraline MK.4

You can also unlock other side perks depending on how you want your combat scenarios to play out. Just remember to also increase your defenses and always keep the Monowire and technical weapons on hand. All in all, this build will truly make you a lethal hacker in Cyberpunk 2077.

Becoming Doom Guy — Reflexes Build

Using the Sovereign Shotgun at close range will deal with an absurd amount of enemies and blow them up. You will feel like Doom Guy hunting down demons in this cyberpunk world. But to efficiently utilize this Double Barrel Shotgun, you need to invest your attributes into Body, Technical Ability, and Reflexes. 

Equip Militech Apogee Sandevistan and Microgenerator as your primary cyberware, and you will be able to easily overpower strong NCPD robots. Now, to fulfill your Doom fantasy, you will have to put your points into the following perks:

• Body — Rip and Tear, Juggernaut, Painkiller, and Adrenaline Rush
• Reflexes — Slippery, Mulitasker, Dash, and Air Dash
• Technical Ability — Health Freak, Edgerunner, Chain Lightning, and Bolt

As always, you can choose side perks surrounding these main above-mentioned perks and make your build even more dynamic and powerful. 

Related: Best Reflexes Perks to Unlock First in Cyberpunk 2077

Silent Cowboy — Gunslinger Build

For Stealth Cyberpunk 2077, this build will be really useful as it combines the stealthy skills of a ninja with the gunslinging prowess of a cowboy. You can essentially choose any pistol that suits your liking, as long as you can put a silencer on it. But if you are not sure what you exactly want, you can go for Her Majesty. This is arguably the best stealth pistol in Cyberpunk 2077.

Start putting your points into Reflexes, Technical Ability, Body, and Cool. And for the perks, you will need to use the following:

• Reflexes — Powerslide, Dash, Can’t Touch This, and Aerodynamic
• Technical Ability — Edgerunner,  All things Cyber, License To Chrome, and Chipware Connosure
• Cool — Road Warrior, Focus, Deadeye, Nerves of Tungsten

You will then have to get cyberware that will increase the amount of headshot damage. So get the Deep-Field Visual Interface and the Synaptic Accelerator. Also, get the Optical Camo to solidify your incredible stealth. Equipping the Apogee Sandevistan will also be pretty useful.

Related: Best Stealth Build in Cyberpunk 2077 (2.0)

Fist of Fury — Gorilla Arms Build

If you fan of David Martinez from the Cyberpunk 2077 anime and also want to destroy enemies by simply punching them into oblivion, then you will like this build. But first, remember to get the Gorilla Arm cyberware from the Ripperdocs, specially located in Downtown or City Center.

Then, start spending your attribute points on Body and Technical Ability. These two attributes and perks within them are really important for this build, so have a look below:

• Body: Painkiller, Adrenaline Rush, Pain to Gain, Unstoppable Force, and Wrecking Ball
• Technical Ability: All Things Cyber, License to Chrome, Edgerunner, and Extended Warranty

Get all the side perks to enhance your abilities, and keep in mind that any kind of perks that will increase the power of blunt weapons will also increase the power of your Gorilla arm.

Equipping Apogee Sandevistan and Blood Pump cyberware will also be immensely useful, as throwing enemies in slow motion looks cinematic and fun.

These were some of the most powerful and dynamic builds in Cyberpunk 2077 that you can try out. You can even tinker with them further and make them adaptable to your specific playstyle. 

Almost all of the builds we talked about focused on close-range combat, and if that style of play is not your cup of tea, then you should spend your time building a powerful sniper build in this game.

Cyberpunk 2077 is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC.

Due to the difference in gameplay and accessibility, mobile games such as Monster Hunter Explore and spinoffs such as Monster Hunter Stories will not be included.

Every Monster Hunter Game Ranked

12. Monster Hunter, Monster Hunter G, and Monster Hunter Freedom

The Monster Hunter series started with Monster Hunter on the PlayStation 2. The game introduced many concepts players would know today, such as capturing and carving defeated wyverns for their parts. While it’s not a bad game, especially for its time, looking back on it really shows how many improvements were made to the franchise over the years. Clunky controls and vague menus plagued much of Monster Hunter’s early days, and it can be tough for modern gamers to get used to the lack of quality-of-life features present in the current generation.

Monster Hunter G and Monster Hunter Freedom act as alternate versions of the original game’s expansion, adding a few new monsters and new difficulties. Pretty much all the content in these games can be found in future titles. It’s a fantastic landmark in the franchise’s history, but Monster Hunter has been made somewhat redundant over time.

11. Monster Hunter 2 (Dos)

Monster Hunter 2, also known as Monster Hunter Dos, is one of the few Monster Hunter games without an expansion. It added more content to the franchise, including new weapon classes, day/night cycles, and Elder Dragons that would practically become series staples. It was also extremely difficult, with monsters such as Kushala Daora and Rajang being feared by series veterans even today. It has much more to offer when compared to the original Monster Hunter, but it retains many of the outdated features such as attacking with the control stick. It’s worth checking out to see both the unique and lasting changes it made, but it would be difficult for Dos to end up ranked above every other Monster Hunter game.

10. Monster Hunter 3 (Tri)

Monster Hunter 3 (or Monster Hunter Tri) is the first game in the series to release on a Nintendo console. The game features many new monsters as well as the introduction of underwater combat, which would not be featured in future generation games. It’s noteworthy for trying so many new things, but many of these additions came at a cost. There were only 18 monsters total – the lowest amount since the original Monster Hunter – and the game even suffered from the removal of entire weapon classes. While it makes sense for base Monster Hunter games to be ranked alongside their expansions, there’s so much left out of Tri that it can barely stand up on its own.

9. Monster Hunter Freedom 2 and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Monster Hunter Freedom 2 is a refinement of all games before it, and its expansion – Monster Hunter Freedom Unite – can be considered as the definitive classic Monster Hunter experience. Every monster from previous entries (barring Frontier) makes a return alongside new areas, weapons, and a massive number of quests to take on. While Freedom 2 lacks much of Freedom Unite’s content, it was also the first second-generation game ported to the west. Many players were able to experience new features such as decorations and unique weapon classes starting with these titles. Between these additions and fan-favorite monsters such as Tigrex and Nargacuga, it’s no wonder Freedom 2 and Freedom Unite are held in such high regard today.

It should be noted that these games offer a much slower style of hunting, even when compared to later Monster Hunter games that still retained loading screens and potion-flex animations. Many players still prefer this style over the modern high-mobility combat of games like World and Rise. Even so, the age between these two Freedom games and present-day titles is heavily felt with odd control schemes and poor conveyance of enemy hitboxes. Many monsters also share attacks between each other, even when they aren’t considered subspecies or variants. These games are still fun despite these issues, but it’s something for new players to keep in mind if they want to see the culmination of classic Monster Hunter gameplay up to that point.

8. Monster Hunter Portable 3rd

Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is not an expansion to Monster Hunter Tri; instead, it acts as an alternate game for the third generation with new and unique content. While it removed underwater combat, it also brought back many of the weapons and monsters cut from Tri and introduced some of its own. Portable 3rd redesigned numerous locales and weapon movesets to account for these changes, and it even had unique systems in its village such as a hot spring. Players coming from newer games might find get more enjoyment out of Portable 3rd than previous titles on this list, though it should be noted that much of Portable 3rd’s content – including the village and final boss – eventually made it into localized entries such as 3 Ultimate and Generations.

7. Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is one of the largest expansions a Monster Hunter game has ever received. It nearly tripled Tri’s monster roster on top of adding new mechanics and quality-of-life features. The Wii U version also boasts online multiplayer with continued activity nearly a whole decade later. To this day, monsters introduced in this title such as Dire Miralis have yet to appear in any other mainline game. Monster Hunter Tri provided a more unique experience than any game before it, but 3 Ultimate offers that same experience with more content and creativity than anything offered by its predecessor.

6. Monster Hunter Frontier and its expansions

Due to its status as an MMO spinoff, it’s tough to put Monster Hunter Frontier on any ranked list involving every major Monster Hunter game. But considering it’s been recently acknowledged as part of Monster Hunter Rise’s expansion, not to mention its general popularity, Frontier barely manages to scrape its way onto the list. Through years of improvements and additions, this title added more new monsters than any other game in the franchise, as well as unique weapons and weapon styles that completely changed how hunters fought. Some consider its content to be a little too over-the-top, with monsters having extremely powerful moves that can cover an entire area and one-shot many hunters. But the sheer amount of content players get out of Frontier is astonishing in its own right.

Frontier’s servers are currently offline, so the ability to play it is extremely limited at best. But thanks to Espinas being added to Sunbreak, future players might be able to experience more unique monsters — and maybe even weapons — from this title.

5. Monster Hunter 4 and Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 4 is the first Monster Hunter game to get the player so deeply involved in its story. Through travels with a caravan, players face off against the dangerous Frenzy virus being given off by the unknown monster Gore Magala. Old and new mechanics are presented to players through this story, making this title one of the most accessible Monster Hunter games. Additionally, new weapon classes are introduced for the last time in the mainline franchise so far, and missing foes like Yian Kut-Ku and Rajang make their return after being absent for a whole generation.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is a simple expansion of 4, adding even more new monsters and features such as the Apex state. In short, the game was given more challenge and variance for players to overcome. It’s also the only version of the game that was localized for western releases. If players wish to forego World or Rise as their first Monster Hunter game while still having many weapons and features prevalent in the series today, 4 Ultimate is certainly the best choice for them.

4. Monster Hunter Generations and Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

As the name implies, Monster Hunter Generations is a celebration of the Monster Hunter franchise. Its expansion, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, features the largest monster roster of any mainline title. Many of these monsters return from previous entries, but the games also introduce brand new styles and arts to drastically alter the way a hunter plays. The absolute massive amount of content can make it a pain to clear every quest even for long-time fans of the series. But there truly is something for everyone in this title, especially with the addition of Deviants and the return of classic foes such as Lao-Shan Lung.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite are arguably the best “classic” games for players to start out with. But Generations Ultimate is a culmination of everything up to that point, making it perfect for those wanting to see just about everything offered by older generations. Of every Monster Hunter game ranked on this list, the sheer content from this one allows it to stand above all those before it.

3. Monster Hunter World

Monster Hunter World is arguably the defining title for the franchise up to this point. When making the leap to 4K-capable platforms, this game abandoned loading zones and created more immersive environments than ever before. It also sought to improve monster AI and player skills immensely, making for incredibly dynamic and intense hunts. The titles before and after it have not matched its atmosphere or accessibility, making it clear why World is among Capcom’s best-selling games of all time.

In spite of all it accomplished, though, there are still a few glaring issues with this entry. On top of arguments regarding the series being “casualized” and losing out on more of the intricate systems outside of hunting monsters, World also just has a very poor monster roster. Outside of a few stellar performers, forgettable additions like Great Girros leave much to be desired, and crossover monsters like Ancient Leshen and Behemoth rely on game mechanics to be difficult rather than varied & engaging attacks. At times, the locales can even be too immersive for some, making it an absolute pain to just traverse large-scale areas like the Ancient Forest.

Monster Hunter World isn’t a perfect game, but its improvements above its predecessors make it perhaps the best game first-timers could ever start out with. Once they stop struggling with World’s toughest challenges, some players might find the rest of the series too easy in certain aspects. Whether this is true depends on what those fans would define as true “difficulty” during battles. Rather, it stands as a testament as to how well World trains hunters for their journeys into old and new games in the franchise.

2. Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise has been the subject of controversy as a follow-up to World. Due to being designed for lower-power hardware, it lacks the graphical fidelity and immersive detail found in its predecessor. Its fast-paced combat has also left some players feeling alienated, with first-timers from World even claiming that it’s too easy. This is partially thanks to some changes that make Rise’s systems closer to older generations, including a split between Key Quests and Hub Quests, but the truth of the matter is that Rise is simply a different game.

New to Rise is the addition of Wirebugs. These allow for aerial movements at any time, with the game’s environments being designed around them. They also expand the move sets of various weapons, usually giving many of them the ability to counter attacks and escape danger quickly. The removal of further tracking features further accentuates Rise’s “portable” style, making it a game meant to be picked up and put down at a player’s leisure. Rise is built off of World’s improvements on top of the systems from older games, making it simply another choice for someone’s favorite modern Monster Hunter game.

In some ways, Rise directly improves on the changes World made. The monster roster is far more impressive and engaging, with almost no gimmicky fights outside of a few early-game foes. The increased movement options also make simple traversal far more fun, keeping players from getting bored on the way to their target. These few improvements allow Rise to rival and even surpass World when it comes to actually facing the monsters…which is what the whole point of Monster Hunter is to begin with. For anyone that considers themselves a fan of the series and not just a single game, there’s no reason not to give Rise a closer look.

1. Monster Hunter World: Iceborne and Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak

When having every Monster Hunter game ranked, it’s easy to see expansions as separate games entirely. In a way, Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is what World should have been. Beyond the new locales and expanded difficulty, Iceborne also takes World’s disappointing roster and improves it immensely. Returning monsters are arguably at their best in Iceborne, with more varied attacks and better AI than ever before. New subspecies manage to provide vastly different fights from their counterparts, “variant” monsters are some of the most challenging-but-fun fights in the franchise. Even its story manages to throw in a few exciting twists, which already puts it leagues above the base game’s.

Of all the things to complain about with Iceborne, the most common one is the Clutch Claw. Every now and then during hunts, players are encouraged to tenderize monsters and slam them into walls using the new tool, changing the pace of hunts quite heavily. Those who own Iceborne will also have the Clutch Claw forced upon them in the base game, which can turn some away from a more traditional Monster Hunter experience. But the claw isn’t actually necessary for most of the game or its expansion, if it’s even necessary at all. It’s simply another way to speed up hunts by a few minutes, similarly to Rise’s Wirebug attacks or Spiribirds.

There are a few more cases of gimmicky fights in Iceborne, with many monsters added in updates requiring multiplayer or having strict time limits. But these encounters are vastly outweighed by the countless fantastic additions this expansion offers. There are few greater feats than finally taking down the strongest monsters in Iceborne, and every Monster Hunter fan should experience those feats at least once.

Related: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Review

While the changes made by Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak aren’t as vast when compared to Iceborne, it offers almost nothing but improvements across the board. In-quest skill swapping just makes for more options during combat, and the new monsters still manage to keep players on their toes throughout every fight. Anomaly quests also provide the devastating challenges missing from the base game, offering quests even more difficult than the toughest battles from World and Iceborne.

If there’s one complaint to be made about Sunbreak, it would be its grind. There are more options than ever for players to experiment with in terms of armor and weapons. Unfortunately, these options are also subject to RNG, with talismans and augments not allowing for the best optimization choices. Anomaly quests also happen to be grind-focused, with the more unique encounters being locked behind hundreds of fights. But anyone who so much as liked Rise will still love what Sunbreak can provide, to the point where that grind could even be a net positive — if still a bit less interesting than Iceborne’s Guiding Lands.

Iceborne and Sunbreak are two sides of the same coin. One offers immersive realism and grounded-yet-intense combat, while the other provides high-speed action and extremely varied encounters. Indeed, Sunbreak has a larger number of monsters available to fight in comparison to Iceborne, with no requirements on solo play or multiplayer. It even has the option for AI-controlled party members to join in hunts, allowing lone hunters to enjoy a different form of cooperative play. Sunbreak lives up to the standards set by Iceborne and absolutely deserves to stand alongside it at the peak of Monster Hunter greatness.

Related: Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Switch Review

Even when having every Monster Hunter game ranked, some players might simply prefer older games to the newer entries — and vice versa. Perhaps long-time fans might miss the in-depth preparation and mechanics from Freedom Unite. World players might find the older games too slow to enjoy, while Rise players might even find World itself to not be as fast as it could be. The opinions of the fans will always be subjective, and there are valid reasons to like each and every game above the rest.

Plenty of changes have been made throughout each entry in the franchise, and that will likely be true for the next entry, too. Whether fans get something more similar to a World 2, a Rise 2, or even a Generations 2, it’s not unwise to expect something that pushes the franchise’s boundaries even more than the last few games did. Every Monster Hunter builds on the last, and the next game has just as much potential to be ranked at the top. In spite of their preferences, fans will still have plenty to look forward to as the series enters its 20th anniversary.

Story and Setting – A City of Ryme or a City of Crime?

The original Detective Pikachu told a by-the-numbers whodunit story that put players in the shoes of Tim Goodman, who travels to Ryme City to find his missing father, Harry, and ends up teaming up with Harry’s partner, a herring-cap-wearing Pikachu who spoke with a voice only Tim could hear. As those who played it know, Detective Pikachu did not resolve the overarching mystery at the heart of its story and instead raised more questions than it answered, teasing the idea that the artificial Legendary Pokemon Mewtwo had a role in Harry’s disappearance before ending on an optimistic but unsatisfying cliffhanger.

Picking up a few years after the end of the first game, Detective Pikachu Returns‘ story sees Detective Pikachu and an older, more experienced Tim investigating an outbreak of Pokemon-related crimes, all while working to unravel the mystery behind Harry’s disappearance. To its credit, Detective Pikachu Returns‘ narrative explores some surprisingly heavy topics like racial (or, in this case, specist) profiling and the ease with which corrupt individuals can overtake well-intended institutions. The game’s cast also features charming new characters with engaging personal arcs that help drive the game’s story forward.

Related: How to Download and Play Pokemon 2000 Adventure

Unfortunately, the mystery at the heart of Detective Pikachu Returns‘ story isn’t particularly compelling. It’s always painfully easy to tell which characters will become the perpetrators of the games’ various cases. Even the game’s climax, which finally resolves the vanishing of Harry Goodman and features some unexpected Legendary Pokemon vs. Legendary Pokemon spectacle, feels underwhelming because of how unsubtle the foreshadowing of the game’s plot twists is, depriving players of the chance to experience the cathartic “AHA!” moment that mystery games are element to build to.

Gameplay: Elementary, My Dear Trainer!

Detective Pikachu Retuns‘ gameplay is very similar to that of the first Detective Pikachu. As both Tim and Detective Pikachu, players are tasked with solving mysteries by talking to NPCs and picking up environmental clues hidden throughout the area. The mysteries in Detective Pikachu Returns take full advantage of the fact that they are set in the world of Pokemon, asking players to use their knowledge of the series’ ever-expanding collection of element-empowered critters to solve puzzles and deduce how a crime played out.

While Detective Plikachu Returns’ gameplay formula is similar to the first games, a few new features help spice things up. At specific points in an investigation, Detective Pikachu can hop onto the backs of one of several partner Pokemon and use their unique skills to uncover clues he and Tim could have never found alone. Whether you are using a Growlith’s enhanced sense of smell to sniff out suspicious orders or using a Pangoro’s raw strength to knock down a hidden wall, partner Pokemon add a new dimension to Detective Pikachu Returns’ otherwise run-of-the-mill sleuthing system.

Related: How to Get New Teal Mask Clothing and Hairstyles in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Despite its attempts to innovate on its predecessor, Detective Pikachu Returns feels like a downgrade from the original in several ways. While Detective Pikachu was far from a mentally-taxing game, some of its puzzles asked you to indulge in outside-the-box thinking and required you to interact with the environment to bring hidden secrets to light. Conversely, every case in Detective Pikachu Returns likes holding your hand a little too much, highlighting important clues while ensuring you aren’t penalized for coming to the wrong conclusion. While this is meant to be helpful, it often comes off as patronizing.

Audio and Visuals: The Sweet Scent of Coffee

One of the first Detective Pikachu‘s greatest strengths was its atmosphere. The game’ went to incredible lengths to capture the colorful, pleasant aura that permeates the world of Pokemon, creating an alluringly cozy atmosphere that drew many players into its world. Fortunately for the many players who loved the original game’s aesthetic, Detective Pikachu Returns is just as charming as its predecessor.

Detective Pikachu Returns‘ visuals are a feast for the eyes. Every one of the Pokemon featured in the game is gorgeously drawn and proportioned, capturing the essence of their main series counterparts while taking advantage of the Switch’s high polygon count to bring them to life with complex animations. The game’s human cast is also well-designed, with fluid expressions and expressive outfits that complement and convey their personalities. The environment’s design is also excellent, and surprising locations like snowy mountains and dreary laboratory spaces give Ryme City a sense of visual diversity that wasn’t present in the original game.

Related: How to Catch Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Teal Mask

The game’s audio also does an excellent job of re-capturing the charming atmosphere that helped its predecessor stand out. Detective Pikachu’s deep, baritone voice is just as fun to listen to as it was in the first game and adds an air of film noir intrigue to the game. The other characters’ voicework is also solid, with varied and nuanced performances that deliver some surprisingly solid emotional gut punches. With that said, the dialogue can be a little stilted at times, and the voice actors’ earnest performance can make these lines come off even more awkwardly than they already did.

The Verdict: A Bolt of Brilliance?

Detective Pikachu Returns has quite a lot going for it. The gameplay has some fun new additions that make finding clues and solving mysteries more fun while helping it set itself apart from its predecessor. The visuals and audio are seeped in the iconic charm players have come to expect from the Pokemon series and capture the colorful noir aesthetic that makes the original game so appealing to many. Finally, while the game’s story isn’t engaging, it shaves enough twists and turns to entertain younger audiences.

Unfortunately, all of these elements are held back by an overarching mystery that doesn’t give the player much to chew on and a gameplay loop that traps them on a long, winding road that almost always ends with the characters coming to answers they deduced long ago. For all of its charm, Detective Pikachu Returns is a shallow experience that will undoubtedly delight younger gamers but will leave more experienced mystery fans unsatisfied.

However, you may need a fairly powerful PC to run this game. especially with the raytracing capabilities that are required to run the engine. If you aren’t ready to drop some serious cash into your PC, you may be holding out hope that Teardown may make its way to consoles. Let’s take a look and see if there is a chance that Teardown will make its way to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Switch!

Is Teardown Coming To Consoles?

Yes, Teardown will be coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S later this year in 2023. When it releases you will be able to enjoy everything you loved about Teardown on PlayStation and Xbox instead. However, If you’re currently looking to experience this glorious sandbox title in its full glory, you may need to plunk down some cash to upgrade your PC.

It is currently a Windows title at heart until later this year. With its current graphics engine, the ray tracing technology that gives the world the sheen that it has cannot be turned off, and while the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are fairly powerful systems, they more than likely would not be able to keep up with the technology under the hood.

And while the Nintendo Switch is the hybrid system of our dreams, the lack of power would make this a title that would never be able to touch the system, unless they were able to bring it over like a cloud title. However, Cloud Gaming is not exactly the most stable thing for the Nintendo Switch, which could sully the experience for those that are looking to partake in the fun of a fully destructible environment.

Thankfully, if you’re looking to emulate the console experience in the meantime, you’ll be able to play the game with a controller to help you feel a little better about the lack of console support until later this year.

While the phrase “educational game” is usually associated with video games designed to teach math, spelling, and other subjects to younger children, they aren’t the only games that can be used to educate students. When paired with the right lesson plan, many popular mainstream games can go from a classroom nuisance to an interactive teaching experience that will appeal to and educate even the most troubled students. Here are the top 10 best games to play at school!

1. Minecraft: Education Edition

Minecraft is one of the most popular video games ever created, and most students would jump at the chance to play it in class without hesitation. At base, Minecraft: Java Edition can be used to teach students how to build structures within an unconventional environment and utilize their resources carefully. However, Minecraft: Education Edition cranks the block-based game’s educational potential up to eleven.

Designed by Mojang Studios to be used in classrooms, Minecraft: Education Edition includes additional resources that allow teachers to create lesson plans that utilize Minecraft’s iconic and addictive break-and-build gameplay formula. It also gives them helpful restrictive tools that can be used to keep rowdier students in line and on task.

Much like the base product, Minecraft: Education Edition’s strength lies in its ability to appeal to players of all ages. While elementary school teachers can use blocks to teach students how to count and spell, secondary school instructors can use Miencraft’s more advanced mechanics to teach students the ins and outs of engineering, chemistry, and geology.

2. The Oregon Trail

The Oregon Trail has been a staple of school computer rooms for decades, and it’s had just as much time to refine itself into one of the best educational video games ever coded. First released in 1972, The Oregon Trail has been re-released over twenty times, with each version targeting different age demographics and featuring unique gameplay mechanics to entertain and challenge players.

Regardless of which version of the game you’re playing, The Oregon Trail will teach you valuable lessons about the perils that pioneers in the 1800s had to endure as they set out to build new lives for themselves in the West. With the success of your journey hinging entirely on your ability to keep a wagon of settlers healthy and alive with limited resources, The Oregan Trail teaches children how to plan for the long term, deal with sudden and unpredictable disasters, and appreciate what past generations had to suffer through to secure a better future for themselves and their descendants.

3. World Rescue

Developed by ZU Digital as a contender (and eventual winner) of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s International Gaming Challenge, World Rescue might feel familiar to those who grew up watching Captain Planet and the Planeteers. While it doesn’t feature an environmentalism-inspired superhero, World Rescue does put players in the shoes of six extraordinary young people from six different countries who take it upon themselves to battle climate change and the negative impact it’s had on their homelands.

Incorporating real-world sustainability goals set by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, World Rescue is an excellent way for teachers to educate students about real-world issues like disaster-related displacement, droughts, and pollution. World Rescue also demonstrates effective ways that the next generation can combat environmental problems and work towards sustainability within their local community, showing that the power to change the world is in their hands.

3. Civilization 6

Civilization simulator games have always been one of the popular video game genres, and it has inspired countless players to take up a career in archeology and sociology. While previous entries in the series may be easier for some teachers to get, Civilization 6 is the most up-to-date version of the crown jewel of civilization simulation games.

Starting players at the earliest documented point in human history, Civilization 6 tasks players to build a prosperous civilization that survives from then to the modern era. As their fledging settlement grows into an expansive empire, players will witness first-hand how societies evolve and how events like war and scientific advancement impact them. With almost every human civilization represented in a historically accurate way within the game, Civilization 6 will teach players things about the history of humanity that they may never have learned otherwise.

4. Democracy 3

While it may not be a game you want to introduce to younger students, Democracy 3 is perfect for older children interested in politics. Once it’s set you up as President or Prime Minister of a given nation, Democracy 3 challenges you to successfully run your government by passing effective policies, managing economics, and maintaining domestic security.

No matter which nation you end up leading, Democracy 3 expects you to run it well. With a sleek gameplay loop that gets right into the nitty-gritty of running a country, sociology teachers can use Democracy 3 to show the aspiring leaders of tomorrow that being in an elected office is about keeping the promises you make and doing right by the citizens who’ve put their faith in you.

Related: Top 10 Best Obbys To Play In Roblox

5. Portal & Portal 2

Released to unexpected critical acclaim in 2007, Portal is a unique combination of platforming and physics-based puzzle solving that has continued to delight fans for over a decade. To the surprise of virtually no one, the 2011 sequel Portal 2 was just as beloved, and both can be excellent educational tools for students in science classes.

With a heavy focus on physics, both Portal and Portal 2 can be used by science teachers to give students a hands-on demonstration of concepts like momentum and refraction. The Portal series’ emphasis on platforming and puzzle solving can also teach invaluable life skills like spatial navigation, situational awareness, and the importance of looking at problems from new perspectives. Both games could even be an effective way to showcase the dangers of manipulation, with GLaDos being a textbook example of a toxic acquaintance.

6. Kerbal Space Program

While many may have learned about Kerbal Space Program through videos of video game commentators building poorly designed (and often inappropriately shaped) spacecraft, the game is far from a one-note joke. Developed by the Mexican studio Squad, Kerbal Space Program tasks players to build functional spaceships that will make the titular green aliens’ dreams of space travel a reality. It could also be the spark that ignites a young student’s lifelong passion for engineering.

Featuring a variety of parts for players to build spacecraft with and an expanding tree of missions for them to complete, the realism of Kerbal Space Program’s ship-construction and spaceflight system has been praised by organizations like NASA. With a gameplay loop that asks players to learn from their mistakes and reach higher goals, Kerbal Space Program would be an excellent addition to any science class’s astronomy lessons.

7. Wordscapes

Many of the greatest video games borrow elements from board games, and Wordscapes is no exception. A puzzle game that mixes the best parts of Boggle and the crossword sections of your morning newspaper, Wordscape challenges players to build as many words as possible using the 3-7 words spinning in the circle at the bottom of the screen.

With over 600 levels covering many difficulty settings, Wordscape is a great way to test students’ ability to spell words and promote deductive reasoning through the in-game hint system. While its nature as a mobile game will mean that teachers might have to make sure some students are playing the game and not wasting time on their phones, Wordscape could teach students new words that could become lifelong editions to their lexicons.

8. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is regarded as one of the most relaxing games ever made, making it an excellent interactive education option for teachers who run high-energy classrooms. However, beneath its charming graphics and low-stress nature is a game with almost limitless educational potential.

As a farm management simulator, Stardew Valley can teach science and business students how to raise crops, tend to livestock, and manage finances. Outside of its agriculture system, Stardew Valley can also be used to teach younger players the importance of respecting the people around you, with its social simulation elements doing an excellent job of showing why you should always treat others with kindness.

Related: 10 Best Single-Player PC Games

9. Zoombinis

The Zoombinis series leans more toward younger players than most of the other games on this list, but that doesn’t mean it can’t appeal to older students. While Logical Journey of the Zoombinis would go on to spawn two sequels, this original title is widely regarded as the best in the series.

Logical Journey of the Zoombinis tasks players with adding the titular blue furballs with legs as they flee their ancestral home to escape being enslaved by their hostile neighbors, the Glouts. By forming a group of Zoombinis to serve as a scouting party, players must solve logic-based puzzles to help the Zombinis travel to their new homes. These puzzles, while challenging, can help children develop logical reasoning skills that will help them later in life.

10. Dreams

Sometimes, kids need a chance to forget the stress of school and have a bit of fun once in a while. While it may not teach any particular subjects, Dreams is an easy-to-play video game that can help students unwind while still letting them productively flex their cognitive muscles.

With nearly limitless creative options, Dream lets players build games and audio-visual experiences and play those made by other players. By creating and sharing dreams, students can exercise their artistic ability and learn about the interests of their peers. As long as they’re careful to make sure nothing inappropriate makes it into the final product, teachers can use Dreams to help shy students express themselves and form lasting friendships.

Poliwrath No-Rarity Symbol – $25,015

With next to zero value upon its release, the first set of Poliwrath has no rarity print, which makes it unique. There’s only a handful of these cards out there, considering we only saw one with a pristine PSA- Gem Mint 10 condition. Naturally, this card drew the attention of collectors during the PWCC auction, selling for about $25,015. Many fans consider this no-rarity print the earliest version of Poliwrath. Couple that with the condition of the card, and you have an excellent investment.

Magikarp Promo (Tamamushi University) – $66,100

Imagine winning a supposedly ordinary card through a magazine promo, only to discover that it will skyrocket in value years later. That’s what the Magikarp promo card hype is all about. This card came from Shogakukan’s Magazines’ contest in Japan for students. It wasn’t just a simple contest either—students must pass various tests and then would have to go to Osaka to participate in a Pokémon card tournament. Winners of the tournament received the Magikarp promo card as their prize

Pokémon Promo No. 2 Trainer World Championships – $110,100

Being the best of the best has perks and sometimes, that’s a rare Pokémon card. The Pokémon Promo No. 2 Trainer World Championships card is an award for the winners of the World Championship in Anaheim, California. Only three of these cards exist, and due to their rarity, it barely goes on sale. When one finally appeared in an auction, fans and collectors rejoiced and celebrated with over 150 bids. The price skyrocketed to $110,100 during the auction.

Blastoise Presentation Galaxy Star Holo – $360,000

Originally a “presentation-only” card, this Blastoise is a creation of Wizards of the Coast, which aims to represent what a TCG pack would look like in its final print. Many fans believe that only two of these cards exist. While one has been out and around in public, the other’s condition and location are unknown. Knowing that possibly only two exist, the value of this card can go up even further as time passes.

First Edition Charizard Shadowless – $420,000

Mistakes in prints have always been a gem in the collection community. They’re super rare and succeeding versions or prints do not have those errors anymore. This is the case with the first edition Charizard, specifically the Shadowless print. The Shadowless print is an early print of the iconic starter Pokémon, meaning that the shadow around the border does not exist. There are only 121 Charizard cards in the world with a prestigious Gem Mint 10 PSA rating, hence the rarity and value of this card.

Japanese Topsun Charizard Blue Back – $493,230

Before you start blasting us that this card is not an official TCG card, collectors still debate whether this is part of the TCG collection. There were rumors that Creature Inc. initially manufactured this card a whole year before the official release of the TCG collection. The only problem with this claim was that stores sold this card a year after the TCG release, further complicating the situation. Whether you believe Topsun Charizard is part of the Pokémon TCG or not, it’s fact that a Gem Mint 10 PSA rating version of this card sold for $493,230.

Japanese Promo Illustrator Holo CoroCoro Comics (Pikachu Card) – $6,000,000

You might have seen this card in Logan Paul’s first-ever WWE entrance as a wrestler in Wrestlemania, the grandest stage of them all. Logan Paul bought this card from a mystery seller in exchange for a PSA 9 Pikachu Illustrator plus $4,000,000! Corocoro had artists compete against each other, where winners could grab this soon-to-be illustrious prize. With the added prestige of a “Wrestlemania-worn” card, an auction sold it for around $6,000,000, which makes it the most expensive Pokémon TCG card ever sold.

Best Weapons in Monster Hunter Rise Ranked

Many players rank ranged weapons alongside melee weapons, usually resulting in ranged weapons topping most tier lists. However, ranged weapons rely more on finite resources such as ammo or coatings, and they even follow different control schemes from melee weapons. As such, for the purposes of this list, ranged weapons will be placed separately from melee weapons. Balance changes and new additions from Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak will also be put into consideration, including the new Switch Skills added in the expansion. Players might also want to consider previous entries in the franchise to see how everything stacks up today.

Best Melee Weapons in Monster Hunter Rise

Here are the best melee weapons in Monster Hunter Rise, ranked.

11. Hammer

The Hammer is a simple weapon, but that simplicity has taken its toll over time. Its once-unique ability to KO monsters can now be found on numerous other weapon types, from the Sword & Shield to the Hunting Horn. Its attacks are also very slow and require a lot of careful positioning and commitment. It’s not a difficult weapon to use, but its reliance on charge attacks and alterations to its attacks while moving can trip up new players worse than similar weapons. However, there are benefits to the Hammer that other weapons cannot boast. Its alternate charging modes allow players to quickly change their method of attack without needing to rely on Switch Skills. It also doesn’t rely on as many skills as most other weapons, allowing players to slot in more defensive skills such as Free Meal or Divine Blessing. As a slow weapon, it’s also extremely powerful, making it one of the best weapons to rely on for waking up monsters with strong blows. Hammers might have lost their supremacy of stunning monsters, but they’re still highly valuable weapons to have on your side during hunts.

10. Lance

The Lance is another simplistic weapon type that had its niche filled by other weapons as time went on. These days, the Gunlance is able to outclass it in speed while matching it in defensive ability. Its moveset is also quite underwhelming, consisting mainly of concentrated pokes and the occasional slap. It will still deal great damage, but its limited abilities will lead to very few Lance players being able to vary their playstyle effectively. There are still quite a few good reasons to pick up the Lance for yourself. It relies on many skills to boost its effectiveness, but not as many as other weapons with the ability to guard. The added Wirebug attacks and Switch Skills in both Rise and Sunbreak also give this weapon some much-needed speed. To top it all off, the Lance is perhaps the simplest weapon to learn in Monster Hunter Rise. Simply guard and poke and – with the right skills – newcomers can take down monsters as effectively as veterans!

9. Insect Glaive

The placement of the Insect Glaive on this list might be a surprise to many. Indeed, it has some of the greatest playstyle variations available to anyone using melee weapons. Between the new Kinsect types added in Rise and the buffs to its aerial abilities, this weapon has never been stronger. It also doesn’t need nearly as many skills as other melee weapons, allowing for versatility and comfort during combat. Insect Glaives are fantastic weapons in Rise. They just happen to be lost amid a sea of numerous buffs and abilities boasted by other weapons. The Insect Glaive still has quite heavy reliance on the Kinsect for self-applied buffs, and its niche of easily mounting monsters in previous games is now covered by everything else thanks to Wirebug attacks. This weapon’s placement is simply the result of balancing. The additions Rise and Sunbreak gave the Glaive just aren’t as massive or impressive as the additions given elsewhere.

8. Charge Blade

A common complaint of the Charge Blade is how much needs to be learned about it to use it effectively. This allows for more variations in playstyle than any other weapon, but it also makes it very difficult for the Charge Blade to reach its true potential. Axe Mode relies on Sword Mode to acquire phials, while Sword Mode relies on the buffs acquired through Axe Mode by using those phials. A skilled Charge Blade user will need to make extensive use of both forms alongside skills like Rapid Morph and Artillery to reach full effectiveness. As stated, the greatest criticism to be made about Charge Blade is also one of its greatest strengths. Sword Mode allows players to guard while Axe Mode provides powerful attacks without sacrificing mobility. The weapon can also take advantage of unique guard points and Switch Skills, allowing players to attack monsters relentlessly. The only reason it isn’t ranked higher is because of its difficulty to use and reliance on armor skills. In the hands of a player with enough resources and ability, the Charge Blade can very well outclass the other best weapons in Rise.

7. Sword & Shield

The Sword & Shield might not be very versatile in terms of playstyle. However, this weapon covers numerous mechanics found all throughout Monster Hunter Rise. It can cut tails, stun monsters, block attacks, and even take extra advantage of statuses and elements. Top that off with new Wirebug attacks and Switch Skills, and it’s no wonder why the Sword & Shield can stand alongside the best weapons in Rise. Unfortunately, while the Sword & Shield is a jack of all trades, it’s also a master of none. Players will need to rely on armor skills to match its guard ability or attack power with more specialized weapons. It also requires a lot of commitment and good timing for its strongest attacks while still only reaching comparatively low damage numbers. This is the price that must be paid for such a fast and varied weapon, but the maintained effectiveness of the Sword & Shield makes these sacrifices worthwhile in the long run.

6. Dual Blades

The Dual Blades are arguably the fastest weapons in Monster Hunter Rise – and in more ways than one. Their attacks don’t require much commitment and can deal massive damage over time despite the seemingly low numbers. The new Wirebug attacks and Switch Skills allow for more varied and aggressive playstyles than ever before while still staying relatively safe. Combine that with the ability to freely use the Heavenly Blade Dance introduced in World, and you have a weapon that can shred even the toughest monsters in mere moments. Like the Gunlance, Dual Blades rely heavily on numerous different armor skills to maximize effectiveness. However, it doesn’t rely on them nearly as much; the skills simply save a bit of headache when facing off against stronger foes. Their fast attack speed means Dual Blades are also the best weapons for dealing elemental damage outside of ranged weapons, though that might mean you’ll have to craft more of them to cover every monster you encounter. Even so, that just means Dual Blades are really good at what they do. If you want weapons that can outspeed the fastest monsters in Rise, Dual Blades will be your greatest ally.

5. Hunting Horn

For many reasons, the changes to the Hunting Horn in Rise have been controversial. Compared to older games, a Hunting Horn cannot play as many melodies and is a lot more focused on attacking monsters than it used to be. While this keeps it from being immediately written off as a “support weapon”, it also makes the Hunting Horn less able to fill that role if players want it to. Top this off with numerous nerfs and alterations from Rise’s demo to the full release, and many veterans can find this classic weapon to be somewhat underwhelming. Despite these changes, the Hunting Horn is a lot more useful than players might think. The new focus on attacking allows this weapon to truly shine alongside others with its great damage and powerful KO ability. The new melodies added in both Rise and Sunbreak also make it even more impressive; certain melodies can even eliminate the need for certain items altogether. Ironically, the Hunting Horn is an incredible weapon for new players while possibly being more difficult for veterans to get used to.

4. Gunlance

For a time, many players considered the Gunlance to be the worst weapon in Monster Hunter Rise. This was partially thanks to its damage being nerfed, forcing Gunlance players to use specific Switch Skills to regain even a fraction of its strength from earlier games. It also needs some of the most skills of any weapon to reach its full potential, leaving very little room for anything else. While this didn’t change the versatility of the Gunlance itself, it certainly harmed its potential when compared to most other melee weapons. Many of these issues were no longer relevant as of Sunbreak’s release. Between new skills and better armor, the Gunlance is able to truly shine in this expansion. It’s almost as simple to use as the Lance while boasting unique shelling abilities that can be used for movement and extra damage. With the right setup, Gunlance players can completely ignore their sharpness gauge as they blast monsters to pieces, making for a weapon with incredible versatility. One can only hope the Gunlance does not lose its position of power in future games as easily as it did when Rise first released.

3. Long Sword

It’s difficult to make an argument against the Long Sword being one of the best weapons in Rise, if not simply the best. Indeed, Monster Hunter Rise has given a lot of love to this weapon – moreso than any other. Its enhanced counters and numerous buffs allow it to tear some monsters down faster than any other melee weapon, and its size simply allows its reach to match its speed. Even after Sunbreak’s nerfs, the Long Sword is still one of the strongest weapons a hunter can use. The Long Sword’s strength has led to immense popularity, leading to it becoming the most-used weapon in Rise for a time. However, that popularity is also its downfall, as the Long Sword can be surprisingly tricky to use. It requires good timing and careful planning to make the most of its counters and strong attacks. New players might not be aware of this as they take the Long Sword out for their first few hunts; at worst, a player without good timing on their counters can end up failing the quest with only minimal damage dealt to the monster. The Long Sword isn’t immensely difficult to use, but fans of this weapon should still spend some extra time learning it.

2. Great Sword

The Great Sword is the first weapon many fans think of when Monster Hunter comes to mind. As usual, it’s a slow weapon that requires a lot of commitment in exchange for some of the highest damage you’ll ever dish out. Thanks to Rise’s new mechanics, its downsides matter less than ever before, as it can use Wirebugs to quickly escape danger and new attacks to shrug off incoming blows. Where the Great Sword truly shines is in Sunbreak. Its new counter raises its skill ceiling higher than ever before; players can use barrel bombs and good timing to rapidly disintegrate a monster’s health. Other changes such as the Surge Slash Combo allow Great Sword to adopt faster playstyles and act almost as aggressively as smaller weapons. It can be difficult to use and learn, but in the hands of a skilled player, the Great Sword is perhaps the greatest weapon of all.

1. Switch Axe

The Switch Axe is a perfectly balanced weapon. It gives players a taste of quick attacks and great mobility in Axe Mode while giving them high-damage attacks and unique effects in Sword Mode. It synergizes well with numerous armor skills, but very few of them are truly needed to help this weapon reach its full potential. It’s easy to learn and not too difficult to master, making it a fantastic choice for any newcomer or veteran. The biggest downside to the Switch Axe is how restrictive Sword Mode is, as it limits your movement and doesn’t last forever. Thankfully, there’s alternate methods of attacking you can focus on instead thanks to Rise’s Wirebug attacks and Switch Skills. Weapons like the Great Sword or the Hunting Horn can still cover plenty of ground where the Switch Axe can’t. But when considering its versatility, ease of access, and strength, the Switch Axe certainly deserves a spot alongside the best weapons in Rise.

Best Ranged Weapons in Monster Hunter Rise Ranked

Here are the ranged melee weapons in Monster Hunter Rise, ranked.

3. Heavy Bowgun

The Heavy Bowgun is simple, powerful, and versatile all at once. It can be modified to increase its accuracy or defensive capabilities. It also has access to unique ammo that can turn the weapon into an explosive sniper rifle or a rapid-fire machine gun. The various ammo types available to the Light Bowgun are available here, along with a special type known as Wyvern Ammo that can only be used by certain Heavy Bowguns.

2. Light Bowgun

The Light Bowgun is the simplest ranged weapon to use. It has numerous different ammo types and can cover plenty of roles through the use of Wyvernblast and unique Wirebug moves. However, there also isn’t much to say about it in comparison to other ranged weapons. The Light Bowgun can dodge attacks somewhat easier than a Heavy Bowgun, but this is pretty much its greatest upside. It can still be useful to craft some Light Bowguns if your preferred Heavy Bowgun does not have access to certain ammo types, such as Piercing or Slicing Ammo. Both Light and Heavy Bowguns change how you play Monster Hunter, but the latter makes it feel like an entirely different genre. The exceedingly high damage and varied modifications allow Heavy Bowguns to turn Rise into a third-person shooter, and this genre shift leads to it being one of the most powerful weapons in the game.

1. Bow

The Bow might not be the easiest ranged weapon to learn, but it’s still a good choice for newcomers to start with. The only thing players need to keep an eye on is their stock of coatings, and those are mostly used for applying statuses and slight increases in damage. Making use of the Bow’s unique dodge is where it truly shines, as it can rapidly fire off multiple arrows and deal thousands of points worth of damage in just one attack. The Bow isn’t nearly as versatile as the bowguns, and it requires very good stamina management to use effectively. Still, the Bow is a highly effective weapon that can shred monsters in mere moments. It’s practically the ranged equivalent of the Long Sword; fast, powerful, and arguably the best weapon in the game when in the hands of a skilled player. Though some weapons might outclass others in more obvious ways, every weapon available in Monster Hunter Rise is still highly valuable in its own way. The gaps in power between each weapon are smaller than they might seem, so don’t feel discouraged if your favorite weapon ended up lower on the list than you’d prefer. With enough time and effort spent learning the game’s mechanics, every single weapon in Monster Hunter Rise really can be considered one of the best! Monster Hunter Rise is available on the Nintendo Switch and PC.

How to get Nether Distance in Minecraft

To calculate the Nether distance in Minecraft, all we need to do is divide the X and Z coordinates of the portal in the Overworld by eight. Alternatively, you can multiply the X and Z coordinates of the portal in the Nether by eight. If you are playing on the Java or Bedrock edition of Minecraft, the calculations remain the same even if you are playing on a different version.

Number of Blocks Traveled in the Overworld vs. in the Nether

Traveling one block in the Nether is equal to eight Blocks in the overworld. This is why Nether Portals can sometimes be wonky to predict where they appear.

To calculate the coordinates in the Overworld to the Nether all we have to do is divide the number of blocks in our Overworld’s X and Z coordinates by eight or multiply the number of blocks in the Nether’s X and Z coordinates by eight. This way, we will know exactly what coordinates we are whether or not we’re in the Nether.

Do Portal Sizes Matter in Calculating Nether Distance?

The size of the portal matters if we want to accurately calculate where we will spawn in both the Nether and the Overworld. It is always ideal to build the Nether portals in a two-by-three blocks standard. Check out how to make a Nether Portal or how to make them with water and lava. Because of the portal’s spawning mechanics, building larger portals may teleport you into a nearby but different location, duplicating your portals and essentially breaking your portal links.

To fix this, you must have your portals with the exact same number of obsidian blocks, placed accurately on the Nether’s coordinates to the coordinates of your Overworld portal that’s divided by eight.

Does your Y axis matter in calculating Nether Distance?

The Y axis usually does not matter, but to be completely safe, it’s always better to link the portals in a spot where it is safe to spawn. As long as the X and Z axis are aligned, your portal will link properly. Since the Caves and Cliffs update in Minecraft, new underground biomes can be a problem when trying to build a new portal from the Nether. To avoid this, you will only need to build your portal in the nether at least Y = 60 and this will assure you that you will be on land where you can see the skies.

Outpost Island

First up, is Outpost Island. This Pillager Outpost is placed at the end of an island and naturally looks like a mix of a watchtower and a lighthouse. Whether you’re looking to do a full lighthouse conversion or just want a really cool island Pillager Outpost, this is the seed for you.

• Seed: 5212085746333190405

Desert Temple Merged with Pillager Outpost

It’s not every day you stumble upon a Desert Temple let alone one with a Pillager Outpost merged into it. This very unique seed has exactly that. Not only does it look cool, but it also serves as a great start to building a desert watch tower.

• Seed: 38139859344449569

Woodland Mansion Pillager Outpost

Finding a Woodland Mansion is extremely rare in Minecraft, but finding a Pillager Outpost right next to it is even rarer. With this combination, you’ve got the makings for a perfectly secured base.

• Seed: 7210414366237083040

Pillager Outpost with Everything Nearby

This perfect Pillager Outpost seed in Minecraft has everything you could ever want right next to the Pillager Outpost. Close by is a Village, a Desert Temple, a Nether Portal, and a Shipwreck. This Pillager Outpost seed is really the perfect starting place for anything you want to do.

• Seed: 3546842701776989958
• Pillager Outpost: X: 205, Z: 155
• Jungle Temple: X: 616, Z: -318
• Desert Temple: X: -152, Z: 808
• Ocean Monument: X: -216, Z: -792

Pillager Outpost Mountain

This Pillager Outpost seed spawns you in the center of a ring of mountains with two Pillager Outposts out in the distance. Not only is the area beautiful, but you’ll also have Villages nearby and a Ruined Portal.

• Seed: 8624896
• Village: X: -216, Z: -264
• Village: X: 232, Z: 232
• Pillager Outpost: X: -584, Z: 296
• Pillager Outpost: X: 200, Z: 536
• Ruined Portal: X: -280, Z: 40

If you’re looking for more amazing Minecraft seeds, check out our Minecraft page for more.

Minecraft is available now and playable on the platforms of PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices.

While a lot of people depend on Steam to play PC games with their friends, you’ll want to make sure that it is something widespread, and not only on your end. Here are the best ways that you’ll be able to check into the status of the Steam Servers, and what you may be able to do to get back into your gaming session faster than ever before!

How To Check Steam Server Status

There are a few different ways that you’ll be able to check and see if other players are having issues with Steam The most popular option is by checking Steamstat.us. This website shows all of the proper details about the Steam server status. Going into an insane amount of detail, you’ll be able to check on individual parts of Steam to see if you’ll just run into issues trying to make a purchase, or if everything is down and out for the time being.

Using other websites like Downdetector can also help you see what other players are running into when trying to log on, and what the main issues are currently. With the increased traffic, it seems that there are some major issues currently, but as the day winds down a touch, you should be able to start making your way back onto the platform.

Checking social media websites like Twitter will also allow you to see real-time updates in regard to errors, with many players taking to the platform to voice their current frustrations about the Steam outage. Checking into different profiles, such as @SteamStatus will allow you to see what is currently happening on the Steam side of things.

If you’re still running into issues, restarting Steam may be the quickest way to try and fix your issues, so close out of it fully, and sign back in. If you’re still having issues, you could try to reboot your PC, and see if that squashes the bugs hiding within. While your PC is restarting, giving your router a reboot could also help you with some of these issues, as well!

If neither of those options works, uninstalling and reinstalling Steam may be the best option, so you’ll have a fresh installation of the program to work with. However, this is going to be a last resort and isn’t normally advised, as they are usually quite quick on getting things back up and working quickly.

Steam server outages may appear around big sale times like the summer and winter sale periods. It seems that there may be an influx of gamers trying to get onto the Steam platform, causing some issues. Thankfully, the servers are usually only down for a short period, so you’ll be able to get in quickly if you are still running into issues after trying these fixes out!

Overwatch 2 Ramattra Lore — The Leader of Null Sector Makes Their Move

Ramattra is an Omnic, an artificially intelligent robot who is now the leader of Null Sector. Omnics are created in factories known as Omniums which can be found all over the in-universe world of Overwatch. Ramattra was created to lead the other Omnics into war although they never had that true desire from what we know. Instead, they wanted to create a better history and life overall for other Omnics.

Even though they are robots, Ramattra noted that they studied pursuits such as mediation, which is of course a very human endeavor. The Omnics wanted to live alongside humanity likely equally but unfortunately, they never got the chance to as humanity seemed to exile and wreak havoc on all of them.

During the main origin story trailer for Ramattra, we saw them holding onto a female robot that had been sadly killed. It could be thought that this specific robot was extremely close to Ramattra and probably fueled their need — even more — to create a better future for their race.

A Better Life for Omnics in Overwatch 2

Ramattra took it upon themselves to begin forging the life they always wanted for Omnics after they had enough of their race being treated unfairly. It is a very revolution-based move and it is a thrill to know that Ramattra’s goals are based around such a great cause.

Now that you know all about Ramattra’s lore you can keep a lookout for any references to omnics that could maybe even arrive with new maps in Overwatch 2 in the future.

Overwatch 2 is available right now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The actual Junkenstein’s Revenge and the new Wrath of the Bride modes are some good ways to mix up your gameplay options in Overwatch 2. This game’s biggest appeal was that people could get a bunch of different cosmetics by simply leveling up. With that gone, there isn’t much of an incentive to get anything really unique. Now we can see why Blizzard said “complete challenges to unlock special rewards like the Nightfall Over Adlersbrunn Name Card, the Jack-o’-Lantern Weapon Charm, Battle Pass XP, and other spine-tingling rewards.” We hoped those spine-tingling rewards were the skins, but no. We should have seen the glaring omissions of Legendary skins to be a red flag when the days came closer to the event. This event feels more just like a Halloween-themed shop update. People who have skins either obtained them from previous years or outright bought the new ones with money. Gone is that feeling of accomplishment after saving enough credits to buy a skin or luckily obtain them in a loot box. The only way you can technically get a free Halloween-themed skin now is via Twitch Drops. Similar to the Kiriko one in the game’s launch, you can do the same to get a Winston Werewolf skin. At least you can try out the game modes for a limited time if the competitive side of the game started to burn you out. Overwatch 2 is available now on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

How to Resolve Steam Error e502 l3

This error code symbolizes a server problem on Steam’s end, so there may be very little you can do to combat it. More than likely, you will be required to wait until Valve can stabilize its servers rather than being able to face the error head-on. However, sometimes exiting or restarting the platform can give it the boost it needs. If you met this error code during checkout, ensure you haven’t been charged before attempting to purchase a game again, just in case the error code didn’t prevent the payment from going through. This issue tends to become more frequent during Steam’s large sales over either summer or winter since thousands of people are trying to checkout simultaneously. Yet it doesn’t just affect this; the error code can also prevent users from accessing their library or playing any of the games they have on Steam, which can be detrimental since it’s one of the main ways PC gamers will be able to play. But, due to the extensive experience Steam now has with the error code, it means that things will be done as quickly as possible to try and resolve it. For specific Steam Sever Status information, it’s best to keep an eye on the Steam Community Hub at SteamDB, which will tell you how many users are online and how different servers perform. Usually, this tends to be the first place error codes like this are shared, so you’ll know when to expect downtime on the platform. But for now, while the error code waits for the servers to stabilize, all you can do is wait.

DualSense Edge Release Date & Where To Pre-Order

If you’re looking to get your hands on this special controller, you’re going to need to move fast when its pre-orders go live on October 25, 2022. You’ll only be able to Pre-Order them directly from Sony, and if you are looking to do so, visit this page here. They release on January 26, 2023, to the general public and to those that did get a pre-order in on time.

How Much Does The DualSense Edge Cost?

Since this is the first major upgrade to the DualSense controller, fans can expect to shell out a bit of cash towards it. The DualSense Edge will set players back around $199.99, but you’ll be happy to know that you get much more than just your standard controller. You’ll receive all of these items when you purchase this new model:

• DualSense Edge Controller
• USB braided Type-C Cable
• 2 Standard Joystick Caps
• 2 High Dome Joystick Caps
• 2 Low Dome Joystick Caps
• 2 Half Dome Back Buttons
• 2 Level Back Buttons
• Connector Housing
• Carrying Case

What Makes The DualSense Special?

For those that are ready to get their feet wet with their first customizable controller, you’ll want to know all of the features that this new controller variant brings to the table. Offering an impressive spreadsheet, there is more than enough here to warrant the price of entry, especially for gamers that are interested in highly competitive titles, like Overwatch 2 and Apex Legends. Once you crack open your new controller, these are all of the exclusive features that you’ll find waiting for you:

• Quick access to the profile settings menu
• Remappable buttons
• Adjustable triggers, stick sensitivity & vibration intensity
• Quick-Swap for Controller profiles
• Back Paddles/Buttons for Extra Button mapping

Is The DualSense Edge Worth It?

If you’re looking for a fully customizable controller that runs a bit cheaper than other players on the market such as SCUF, the DualSense Edge is more than worth the money. With its customizable button layouts, swappable sticks, and more, you’ll find that this is going to be a controller worthy of your time and money. Just make sure that you don’t take your rage out on it, or you’ll be out a fair amount of cash. The DualSense Edge will be available on January 26th, 2023. Preorders are live now, directly from Sony.

Top 10 Horror Games if You Like Silent Hill

10. Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water | J-Horror Chills for Fans of Silent Hill

Fatal Frame is such an interesting survival horror series due to its niche appeal and unique gameplay mechanics. Instead of escaping menaces while unarmed like in Outlast or Amnesia, or scraping your way through zombie-infested cities like some of the Resident Evil games, these games let you fight ghosts with the “Camera Obscura.” This antique camera got a particularly interesting treatment in Maiden of Black Water when it was originally released for the Wii U, turning the system’s trademark gamepad into the camera. While the gameplay is an acquired taste, the J-horror trappings, as well as the spooky visuals you’ll find in common with Silent Hill, are something worth checking out.

9. The Mortuary Assistant | Taking the Graveyard Shift to New Levels

The first indie game to feature on this list, The Mortuary Assistant is a great atmospheric puzzle horror game that puts you into a pretty clear nightmare scenario. You’re a brand new apprentice at the River Fields Mortuary, you’re called in for some embalmings, and despite going in alone, it’s clear that something is up about the cadavers you’re embalming. The rest is a spooky trip full of terrifying moments and a chilling atmosphere, commanding your attention throughout.

8. Alan Wake | Sprinkle Some Stephen King and Twin Peaks on Along With the Silent Hill Inspiration

Alan Wake is a special experience because of how inspired it is by other influences yet being so wonderfully enjoyable and feels wholly original. The game is certainly less intense in the sense of the other horror games on this list, although the sequel seems to intensify those themes. But Alan Wake takes the side of Silent Hill that Fatal Frame on this list didn’t: it uses the clear Twin Peaks elements and creates its own sleepy town full of quirky characters. The atmosphere, with dense fog in the air, creates a sense of mystery and danger, and there’s the imminent threat of the Dark Place where he can get trapped (similarly to Dale Cooper in the Black Lodge.)

7. Tormented Souls | Classic Survival Horror

There’s a strong argument that this is more heavily inspired by Resident Evil in its menu system, as well as Alone in the Dark, but the Silent Hill inspirations are there too. The enemies you encounter also bring to mind another clear inspiration, the severely underrated title ‘The Suffering’ by Surreal Software. The game world is a creepy mansion that’s been turned into a distorted asylum with visual trappings very common in the 5th and 6th generation of console games. To further appeal to nostalgia for this era in horror, there’s even a warning message about explicit violence and gore.

6. The Medium | The Silent Hill Dream Team

The Medium is a fascinating horror game not only because it has similar storytelling cues to the Silent Hill series, but it also has a fantastic art style for the secondary world you can navigate in the game. The art is heavily inspired by Zdzisław Beksiński’s artwork, which has seemingly been a trend, as his influence has also been noted for Scorn. Also noteworthy is that the development team behind The Medium, Bloober, has been tapped to develop the remake of Silent Hill 2, the franchise’s most acclaimed title.

5. Outlast | Asylum Terrors

Outlast is a spectacularly strong indie title that has spawned a successful series capitalizing upon an expanding craze at the time, survival horror in which you can’t fight back. This, combined with frantic pursuit and hiding mechanics made this a different beast, but one of the most interesting parallels you can draw between any of the Outlast games and Silent Hill is in the sound design. Sound design is crucial in horror games for generating ambiance and communicating to players what simple dialogue or text would do too overtly. The power of sound to elevate tension, convey terror, and keep players on edge is crucial, and Outlast is one horror game that’ll constantly keep you right there.

4. Siren: Blood Curse | From the Creator of Silent Hill

Siren: Blood Curse released at an interesting time for survival horror. After the success of Resident Evil 4 with the imminent debut of its sequel, horror seemed more poised than ever to shift strictly to action. But Siren: Blood Curse, along with its predecessors, stayed their course and focused on horror above action at all times. This was one of the most terrifying games of the era, in which you as the player felt a sense of dread and hopelessness. Being hunted by the Shibito, or “corpse people” would produce a heartbeat sound effect when they were close, immersing you in the character’s fear. Mechanics like this have remained influential to this day, and although criminally underappreciated, this game was directed by Keiichiro Toyama, creator of Silent Hill. Siren might contain more of the overt suspense otherwise missing in Silent Hill.

3. Amnesia: The Dark Descent | Atmospheric Chills to Usher in New Era of Indie Horror

Without Amnesia, we wouldn’t have seen the reinvigoration of horror, and for that, it deserves a spot among the all-time greats. The genre was running stagnant by 2010, with its most popular games turning into gimmicky shooters, namely Resident Evil, but Silent Hill was also falling from grace at the time. Amnesia took a step back and minimized the players’ resources, where they’d have to protect the Sanity and Health meters of the protagonist, Daniel, as he navigates Brennenberg Castle. You can’t fight back, and even encounters without taking damage will wound your grip on reality, so even light becomes a precious resource, as darkness only acts as an additional drain to your sanity. In many ways, this game remains largely original in its own right while still being influenced by other horror games, but in others, Amnesia actually helped influence Silent Hill to grow.

2. Visage | Attack of the PT Clones

P.T. was the name of Hideo Kojima’s sly playable teaser for Silent Hills, his ill-fated project which was axed by Konami as part of the drama surrounding his departure from the company. P.T. was the scariest gaming experience ever for many gamers, and so much about the game, such as the mysterious game design, terrifying player misleads, and constant descent into dread and hopelessness, was mercilessly copied by other games. This isn’t to say that these derivative titles were bad, and in fact, many are sensational experiences that will be remembered fondly. Visage is one particular game clearly influenced by P.T. but yet something daring, bold, and frighteningly original. It’s a brilliant, terrifying trip into the sad, violent stories of the inhabitants of a creepy, almost sentient house. This game takes the particular psychological horror elements of P.T. including repetition and perfectly placed scares to turn everything about this game into an absolute trip. While it has its shortcomings, this appears to be the tale of an indie game that sported the concepts of an abandoned game from a major publisher.

1. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard | When Silent Hill Saved Resident Evil

Along with Visage, there were many games to crop up in the absence of a fully released Silent Hills. They were influenced by the gradual terror, excellent sound design, and relatively lower amount of gore, except in the right spots. Sound design would be built around you suddenly feeling secure, only for that sensation to be stripped away at a moment’s notice. Many games, including entire franchises, would change for the better with these techniques. Resident Evil 7 is one of those games. The entire first portion of the game is pretty clearly influenced by P.T. as well as even the demo, Beginning Hour. For the longest time during all of this, you’re navigating a terrifying, decrepit home while being forced to explore and unravel the mystery all while danger could lunge out at any point. It was an incredible experience, and a worthy embodiment of the legacy left behind by Silent Hills as a project. Any of these games can be reasonably examined in comparison to Silent Hill or as a reasonable alternative or follow-up experience. But many of these games can reasonably be considered in different peoples’ eyes as the best in the horror genre, regardless of how they resemble Silent Hill. And that’s what is so important, just how much the genre has diversified, yet being also so empowered by what was clearly one of the most important pioneers of the genre.

According to multiple Fall Guys leakers, the next Battle Pass will contain various popular characters, with the largest emphasis on a nautical theme and a selection of Spongebob characters. Within the Battle Pass, players can get their hands on skins resembling a shark, anglerfish, blobfish, Cthulhu, an old-school captain, Spongebob, and a Seagull. However, the main focus is on the two skins toward the front of the pack, which closely resemble Ultraman from the Ultra Series and Dragonborn from Skyrim. These two skins may not correlate to the rest of the release, but they follow suit in previous Battle Passes, which tend to have two lead skins entirely unrelated to the rest. However, much like previous Battle Passes, if the leaks are accurate, players should expect to work for their skins, especially the coveted Spongebob. While it’s suspected that the Cthulhu skin will be an instant unlock to any Battle Pass holder, the other skins will be scattered throughout the Pass, potentially separated into a top and a bottom, so if you are looking to complete the collection as fast as possible, then you’ll want to spend a lot of time within the game. But as far as a new Battle Pass goes, a new set of rounds and Season theme is a given.

To coincide with these popular cartoon characters, alongside the other nautical creatures featured within the pack, such as the Blobfish and Cthulhu, the next season of Fall Guys is assumed to follow the underwater theme. Additionally, outside of the Battle Pass, players can purchase more Spongebob Squarepants-themed skins, with Mr. Krabbs and Squidward coming in a set alongside a Mr. Krabbs-themed banner and a gesture that is yet to be shown. Sandy and Patrick also come as a pair alongside a banner featuring Spongebob’s iconic pineapple house and a Bikini Bottom-inspired flower skin pattern. But there are still a few months left of the current Battle Pass if you are worried about not finishing it in time. So while Space was a fun adventure, it’s a very exciting time for the Beans to return to Earth with what’s in store. Fall Guys is available now on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Greavard, a ghost-type dog Pokemon is the newest addition to the Paldean Pokedex, and he’s certainly made a great first impression. We are yet to learn about the abilities and skills of this Pokemon or whether it will be a gym leader’s partner Pokemon, but there are a few things we can take from its brief appearance in the live broadcast and the closely followed introductory video. According to The Pokemon Company, Greavard has a habit of jumping out of the ground and scaring trainers, yet all it craves is friendship.  Upon its first appearance, this new Pokemon seems to reside underground, leaving only the candle visible to players. Because of this, it appears incredibly similar to Litwick. The candle has a white wax and purple flame, which certainly looks like a Pokemon we have seen before, yet it lacks facial features and the same Litwick charm. As the narrator in the video approaches the candle, the new ghost dog springs from the ground. However, while this would usually cause players to turn and run since most PokePoltergiests intend to cause some chaos, Greavard is quick to invite the trainer to play. Of course, who could say no to that wagging tail?

But similar to most ghost-type Pokemon, Greavard has a dark secret too. While it seems obsessed with friendship and interaction with the trainer, it also absorbs the life force of those around it. So even though this little guy will require a lot of fuss and attention to keep it happy, there are a few precautions to take for your own sanity. First, it’s currently unclear where and when this Pokemon will spawn in the wild. Still, the candlelit appearance it adopted within the Livestream has led many players to believe it will be easily spotted at night, similar to when Ghost-types would spawn in Pokemon Sword and Shield, either at night or during bad weather. The majority of our experience with Greavard will have to wait until Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are released, and we can finally get our hands on the entire Pokedex and its new offerings. This Pokemon is one of many to be introduced into the new generation. Luckily, trainers only have to wait a bit longer until they can fully experience it. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will be released on Nintendo Switch on November 18.

Every Jackbox Party Pack, Ranked

When ranking every Party Pack, the foremost thing players will consider is how enjoyable each game is. Each pack comes with four minigames ranging from trivia to art-based challenges, which create some frantic fun for friends. Given how many packs there now are, another thing players will consider will be whether or not the content has become stale over time. If there’s one thing that Jackbox loves, it’s releasing sequels to its most popular games, writing off the original in a heartbeat.

9. Jackbox Party Pack 5

The fifth Jackbox Party Pack doesn’t offer anything exciting or new and feels slightly disappointing compared to every other game. It has a few perks, like Mad Verse City, which are fun for the first few rounds but lost its charm over the years. Unfortunately, there’s nothing to keep players returning, even though it tries to get as many players involved as possible through games like Split the Room. As a result, the fifth pack is worth missing if you’re looking for a genuinely exciting and memorable Jackbox experience.

8. Jackbox Party Pack 2

There was a lot of skepticism when the second Jackbox pack was released since it had some big boots to fill following the success of the first. Frankly, it didn’t quite fit the bill. Of course, games like Quiplash have become timeless classics over the years, and Fibbage 2 is as highly praised as the original, but there is a lot of forgettable content, which leads to it being ranked relatively low. There’s a massive variety of packs released now, and it’s hard to believe players would reach for the second pack over anything else.

7. Jackbox Party Pack 7

Similar to party pack 5, this collection doesn’t have much to say for itself. Quiplash 3 and Talking Points are fun, which redeem it slightly compared to the second pack, but aside from that, there isn’t a lot of substance to this release. It’s incredibly disappointing since it contains a lot of new content, which has the potential to be great, yet upon playing, it feels terribly forgettable and quite bland. So while it suggests it has potential, there is too much disappointment to rank it any higher.

6.  Jackbox Party Pack 4

Party Pack 4 continues nicely from the third but struggles to maintain the same engagement and entertainment. The general rule of thumb is the more people you have taking on the challenge of Party Pack 4, the more fun you will have with it. While games such as Fibbage 3 are fun, it doesn’t reveal anything new, and Monster Seeking Monster certainly makes some memorable conversations with its unique dating app-style gameplay. But all in all, there’s not anything to keep you returning to this pack, especially with how many packs offer some more fun.

5. Jackbox Party Pack 6

Since Jackbox 5 was pretty disappointing, the sixth release needed to do very little to be considered better. That being said, it has a lot of perks. Games like Push the Button have a charm similar to Among Us, another certified multiplayer classic. However, that being said, if you do play these games, it’s best to leave it a while before you pick this pack up a second time to avoid it becoming stale. Otherwise, the content will become repetitive, and this pack will lose its personality.

4. Jackbox Party Pack 8

The eighth installment to Jackbox Party Packs was a highly anticipated release, supported by how much new content it offered compared to its predecessors. So much so that even Drawful Animate implements new formulas into a classic minigame. But while it’s a refreshing take on the franchise, it doesn’t quite take the top spot. There are certainly perks for this pack, including Weapons Drawn and Job Job, which can create some funny memories for pals. But there are reasons it isn’t perfect, and sometimes you can’t pique the original.

3. Jackbox Party Pack 9

Jackbox Party Pack 9 is the newest release and has been incredibly highly praised since its release. It offers some new elements through Junktopia and Roomerang, yet pays homage to previous games with Fibbage 4. It’s a fantastic mix of everything that makes Jackbox so recognizable and unique, perfectly captured in a neat little bundle of fun. For new players of the franchise, it’s simple to pick up and jump into for the first time, and there’s enough to keep veterans of the franchise as amused as the first release. So you can’t go wrong with this pack, which is a well-needed release.

2. Jackbox Party Pack 1

One of the reasons the first Party Pack is so popular is because of how original the content felt at the time of release. Minigames such as Drawful and Fibbage are classics in the franchise and are something that players will continue to come back to time and time again, no matter the occasion. However, Lie Swatter and Word Spud are easily forgotten, which has knocked it down from being the ultimate Jackbox experience.

1. Jackbox Party Pack 3

The third Jackbox Party Pack was a vast improvement following the second and is consistently fun to return to, no matter how long has passed. Tee K.O. is always an amusing minigame to play whether you have any artistic skills or not, and even the second Quiplash feels new and exciting rather than recycling old content. For players looking for slightly more in-person party fun, then Fakin It requires some real-time actions a. Trivia Murder Party makes for some interesting and amusing conversation if your group is looking for a more immersive experience. But needless to say, for the optimal Jackbox experience, then this Party Pack has got your back. The Jackbox Party Pack(s) 1-9 are available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

When starting Endoparasitic, you’re greeted with a gruesome visage of your character’s limbs getting torn apart. All you’re left with is a single arm which you use to drag yourself and wield weapons. Uniquely, the gameplay of Endoparasitic is translated into one hand in real life, with everything being controlled purely through the mouse. This makes even simple actions like reloading into an ordeal, forcing you into a state of helplessness while you reload your guns and use items to heal yourself. As you explore the world of Endoparasitic, you’ll encounter lore and puzzles that provide context and challenge to your environment. You’ll also encounter many different foes, mostly consisting of mutated scientists and other strange creatures. Combined with the game’s dark, minimalistic atmosphere, many players are all too likely to feel tense throughout their journey. Thankfully, there are plenty of weapons and items you can use to fend these foes off, from a revolver to a shotgun and even a crossbow. If there are any games like Endoparasitic, there are certainly very few. From capturing the tension of being chased by monsters to feeling helpless at the lack of your own abilities, this game is one of few modern-day horror titles that provides a tone of fear without jump scares or loud noises. The game is available on Steam and itch.io for an introductory price of around $7.49 USD. After Halloween, it can be purchased at the normal price of $9.99 USD.

What Is Call of Duty HQ?

Activision hasn’t talked about this yet, so it’s tough to say what this is right now. However, if we were to look at the previous installments in the franchise, we’d see references to this name multiple times. First of all, Headquarters is a multiplayer map that was seen in many Call of Duty games previously. But then again, it’s unlikely that Activision would explicitly mention the name of a map on the back of the game box. This brings me to the second possibility and this does seem more likely to happen. Call of Duty HQ was a feature that was included with World War II. This is nothing but a social hub that allowed players to gather around while not participating in any online maps. It’s quite similar to the Tower in Destiny 2. The Tower is the place where players can gather around and interact with each other. Moreover, the Tower has several vendors who offer bounties. These bounties are very specific missions that need to be completed within online games. Call of Duty HQ could be a similar social hub. In World War II, this place served as an area where players could collect different bounties as well as test out different score streaks at the Range. This, however, is purely speculation for now. The full game is scheduled to go live on October 28, so you can expect this HQ to go live with the full game itself. That said, many players have reported that Modern Warfare 2 keeps crashing, so here’s how you can fix it. And you don’t want to miss out on Little Caesar’s rewards either! Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is set for release on October 28, 2022, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

Prime Gaming Free Games in November

The following seven games will be free as part of your Prime Gaming subscription.

Fallout New Vegas: Ultimate Edition

Fallout: New Vegas is the best entry in the series, and we are the most excited to see this game hit Prime Gaming. We are even more excited that it is the Ultimate Edition which includes the base game plus all DLC and content packs:

• Fallout: New Vegas
• Dead Money
• Honesty Hearts
• Old World Blues
• Lonesome Road
• Gun Runners’ Arsenal
• Courier’s Stash

WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship

WRC 9 is the most in-depth off-road simulation available on the market. WRC 9 brings improved physics, and game changes make it the most immersive entry to date.

Last Day of June

Last Day of June is an award-winning interactive experience based on Steven Wilson’s song Drive Home.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Relive the classic 1989 point-and-click adventure based on the film of the same name.

Etherborn

Etherborn is a puzzle platformer that focuses primarily on gravity-shifting structures.

Whispering Willows

Whispering Willows is a 2D horror game with a fantastic story filled with twists and betrayals.

Facility 47

Facility 47 is a hidden object and puzzle-solving game set in a remote research facility in the Antarctic.

Prime Gaming Free Games in October

Can’t wait until November, 1st? You have until Halloween to claim October’s free games:

• Middle-earth: Shadow of War
• Fallout 76
• Total War: WARHAMMER II
• Hero’s Hour
• Loom
• Glass Masquerade: Origins
• Horace

How Do I Subscribe to Prime Gaming?

If you are already a Prime Video or Amazon Prime member, then all you have to do is link your account following these instructions:

1. Navigate to the Your Twitch Accounts page
2. Click the Connect a Twitch Account button
3. Sign in with your Twitch account

Otherwise, you can sign-up for Prime, which includes Prime Gaming at no additional cost:

1. Go to the Prime Gaming website
2. Click the Try Prime button
3. Confirm your location
4. Click the Continue button
5. Create or sign in to an Amazon account
6. Complete the Membership sign-up
7. Follow the Account Linking process

That’s it! Either process is extremely quick and easy, so you will be rolling in the free games and content in no time.

There are a few assumptions about what to expect from the broadcast, as one recognizable menace from the franchise has made two appearances across Pokemon social media this week. In a Tweet from Pokemon today, the reporter or trainer filming around Paldea appears to be fleeing from a Gengar yet seems confused by ghost-type Pokemon located within the Paldean region. Subsequently, the thumbnail of the YouTube Broadcast showcases Gengar hiding behind a similar bush to his first spotlight in the Twitter video. Although a vast number of players are slightly unsatisfied with the appearance of a recognizable Pokemon rather than a regional form, this Twitter post, and broadcast thumbnail has confirmed one thing — Gengar is guaranteed to be in the Paldean PokeDex. Given Gengar is one of the most popular ghost-type Pokemon within the entire franchise, and with it being the leadup to Halloween, there is massive speculation that a new ghost will be announced tomorrow rather than just a regional form. In addition, several trainers are hoping to see a ghost-dominated area of the map or, following the introduction of Iono last week, potentially a first glimpse at the ghost-type gym leader. Given how highly praised Alistair was for character design within Pokemon Sword and Shield, any poltergeist partner will have some pretty big boots to fill. However, it is impossible to say for sure what The Pokemon Company is gearing up to showcase, and the best bet for every trainer is to tune in and see what will be revealed. The broadcast will take place on The Official Pokemon Company YouTube Channel on October 25, at 9 am ET, so get your PokePals together to see what to expect when we finally get to dive into the world of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet will release on Nintendo Switch on November 18.

Throughout most of Modern Warfare 2’s campaign, Task Force 141 is split into two groups operating on two different fronts. Captain Price and Gaz spend most of their time on stealth ops in places like Amsterdam and Spain, while Soap and Ghost are sent to Mexico to work alongside Mexican Special Forces to track down the leader of a deadly cartel. While Price and Gaz’s excursions are enjoyable, Soap and Ghost’s adventures in Mexico are easily the highlight of the game. Even though both characters are grizzled veterans ready for any kind of firefight, they’re clearly out of their element culturally. Their alliance with newcomer Alejandro and the Mexican Special Forces is uneasy at first, with the pair struggling to understand Spanish and having a hard time adapting to the new rules of engagement made necessary by Mexico’s corruption and the cartel’s deep roots. It’s this uneasiness that brings the duo closer together, however, and their relationship is one of the driving forces behind Modern Warfare 2’s story. Trust is the main theme of Modern Warfare 2. With missiles out in the wild and new factions being pulled into the conflict after seemingly every mission, Task Force 141 grows increasingly wary of their so-called allies as things progress. It’s through these trials and tribulations that the squad grows closer, however, and that is best seen through Ghost. He’s arguably the main character of Modern Warfare 2. Refusing to take off his mask, talk about his past, or even be addressed by his actual name, Ghost is obviously the most closed-off of the group. That brings us to the bromance. Ghost and Soap have been given a sibling dynamic in this version of Modern Warfare 2, with Soap acting as the excitable and cocky younger brother and Ghost playing the part of the tired, embarrassed older sibling. Like any good sibling story, Ghost warms up to Soap as the story progresses, and their banter is the best part of the entire game. They don’t start out that way, though. When Ghost and Soap gear up for their trip to Mexico, Ghost seems almost disappointed that Soap is tagging along. After touching down in Mexico, Soap’s eager and playful attitude when meeting Alejandro is shut down immediately by Ghost. Flash forward to the second half of the game and things are wildly different. Ghost and Soap have to depend on one another more than ever, and that’s best shown through one of the game’s standout missions: Alone. Without spoiling much, Soap has to sneak through a city swarming with enemies without a weapon of his own, being forced to craft improvised mines and smoke bombs to bypass armed guards as he attempts to regroup with Ghost. Ghost is on comms throughout the mission, and the two strike up a conversation to break up the quiet and ease some of Soap’s stress. They tell stories, make sarcastic remarks, and crack some of the worst jokes you’ve ever heard. It’s a surprisingly touching mission that makes you forget you’re playing a modern military shooter for a second. Ghost even drops Soap’s nickname and starts addressing him as Johnny. This is the turning point of their relationship. This marks the moment when Ghost finally learns to trust someone not as an ally on the battlefield, but as a friend.

Without spoiling anything else, Ghost’s journey of trust continues after this mission and extends to the rest of the team in surprising ways. He and Soap even begin to drop some amateur Spanish later in the game, much to the amusement of their Mexican allies. Modern Warfare 2’s campaign is so good that you should definitely play it yourself though, so I won’t go into any more detail. Still, Ghost and Soap’s relationship is the heart of Modern Warfare 2. The game’s story is rife with smoke and mirrors. Between the Mexican Special Forces, Las Almas Cartel, and the Shadow Company PMC just to name a few, Task Force 141 is never quite sure what — or who — to believe at any given moment. It’s only when they learn to rely on each other that things finally start to come together. New allies come together, old friends lend a hand, and nobody gets left behind. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be released on October 28, 2022, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The single-player campaign is available now for digital pre-orders.

Are the Deluxe and Collector’s Editions of Resident Evil 4 Worth it?

For die-hard fans, getting a little extra for your favorite franchise is always worth it. Considering it is a remake of one of the greatest in the series, it might add even more reason to spend the extra cash on securing one of these editions. Below are images directly from the showcase showing what comes in each edition.

Deluxe Edition

The deluxe edition will be available for all platforms and include additional content like previous titles. This includes:

• Standard Game
• Costumes
• Special Weapons
• Treasure Map
• Sunglasses
• Soundtrack

Collector’s Edition

The collector’s edition is a physical copy only edition that includes some great bonuses for spending the extra cash. This includes:

• Standard Game
• Contents of the Deluxe Edition
• Extra DLC Pack Product Code
• Leon Figure
• Steelbook
• A special map
• Artbook
• Digital Soundtrack
• Poster
• Box

It is undetermined what exactly is inside the box, but looks like that is a surprise for those who go ahead and buy the collectors edition. That said, there seems to be a lot to be excited about for each edition, and our recommendation is that if you are a die-hard fan, it is most definitely worth it. If you do decide to purchase these editions, you should act fast, as these tend to go very quickly from what we’ve seen from previous titles. The gameplay reveal during the Resident Evil Showcase looks like Resident Evil 4 Remake is shaping up to be highly faithful to the original. Some new improvements have been added, such as enhanced combat, stellar visuals, and a scarier environment that wasn’t as possible back in 2005. We can’t wait to see how it turns out when it releases in March next year. Go ahead and play through the older Resident Evil games as you wait patiently for the upcoming release! Resident Evil 4 Remake will be released on March 24, 2023 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC.

All New Silent Hill Games Information and Release Date Details/Estimates

There were four official games revealed in the transmission and one of them was a remake of one of the most famed games which came out of the Silent Hill franchise so far.

Silent Hill f — Silent Hill in Its Truest Form

Silent Hill f is one of the titles which looks extremely intriguing. The trailer also seemed to indicate it would be set in Japan. Not only that but there was a heavy presence of a female character. This may be the protagonist of the game but it is unclear whether this will be the case. Haunting undertones of piano melodies were heard throughout. With everything we saw from the trailer, it is likely that people can think of this game as a mainline title. A release date isn’t known but it is likely to be past 2023.

Silent Hill: Townfall — The Depths of Your Mind Awaits

Townfall looks set to be a broader look into the world of Silent Hill throughout the game. Once again, there isn’t a release date known as of yet although it may be in 2023 or 2024 if we were to guess. Not much is known as of this second about what Townfall’s gameplay will be like but since it is developed by No Code, expect something very psychological based.

Silent Hill: Ascension — Live Service and Silent Hill Converges

The words ‘Live Service’ wouldn’t be usually considered by fans for the promise of a Silent Hill but Ascension is indeed going to be a live service game. Although it is actually a fully interactive storytelling experience and even will play around with the internal thoughts of characters. We will get a taste of this action in 2023.

Silent Hill 2 — A Sure-to-Be Faithful Restoration of An All-Time Classic

A remake of Silent Hill 2 sounds like some fans’ wildest dreams and they are finally coming to fruition. This is probably going to be an absolutely beautiful game to play through again and of course, a wonderful experience to try for the first time if you haven’t played the original. Resident Evil 2 was a great showcase of what a remake can truly be and hopefully Silent Hill 2 matches that essence. Silent Hill 2 will be a PlayStation console exclusive for 12 months but also still release on PC at the same time as PlayStation. We may see this game released during or after 2023. As can be seen, there certainly seems to be a diverse set of games on the way and it will be a thrill learning more about each of them as time progresses. While waiting, there’s no reason why you can’t begin playing through the Silent Hill games in order once again. It will give you the perfect way to prepare yourself for all of the other games set to release. Silent Hill games will start being released again from 2023 onwards.

Ranking Worst Silent Hill Games

There aren’t many bad Silent Hill games, in fact majority of them knock it out of the park. That said, here are the top four worst Silent Hill games from bad to worst.

4. Silent Hill: Downpour

This game is closer to what Book of Memories had done in the sense of actually feeling like a Silent Hill game, but it wasn’t the experience that fans were hoping for. Going for a more open-world environment for exploration, which sounds fantastic in its own right, made the game feel like more of a slog. As you progress, the town starts to feel less and less interesting, making the open-world design pointless. The protagonist is incredibly dull, and the side characters are not anything to write home about. Additionally, the combat feels clunky, a crucial aspect of any video game.

3. Silent Hill: Homecoming

Homecoming is the prime example of dragging down a gamers experience. Featuring a soldier, players have the opportunity to decide what ends up happening to the main character adding to the surprises. Still, besides that, there’s nothing here to keep the players engaged. The monsters are well designed, a big plus, but that is ruined as you don’t see these monsters as much as you should. This is the first time a Silent Hill game was in the hands of an American developer, which explains why the scares are not entirely there, considering Japan has always been the king of horror.

2. Silent Hill: HD Collection

This collection was a port for the PS3 and turned out to be a complete bust. It later got an Xbox 360 release, which was better but still not what everyone was hoping for. There were so many issues with this game that it became unplayable as a port and should be forgotten altogether. Plagued with technical problems, players found the game often crashing to the point where they just put the controller down entirely and didn’t go back. The features that made the original game great were turned down, such as the scary fog, dark tone, etc., and it destroyed the horror-filled environment.

1. Book of Memories

Developers of this game took a completely different path than its predecessors in gameplay design and tone. Release on the PS Vita, this entry featured faster pace dungeon-crawling action and was less focused on scaring the players. The shift did not work in the series’ favor and turned out to be a total letdown. Such a shallow Silent Hill title that betrays the series staple for a generic game that never makes you feel like you are trying to survive in a horror-filled environment. You are never short of supplies since there is an abundance of them, and long-time fans will agree that is not how these games are supposed to work. You are supposed to feel like you are surviving with the skin of your teeth, and it’s like Book of memories completely forgot how to integrate that mechanic. Those are our picks for the worst Silent Hill games that brought nothing to the table. Developers should take note as they work on the latest entries and ensure great gameplay and a perfected tone that everyone loves from the series. Silent Hill 2 remake should have some great characters when it releases, and hopefully, they do the original justice.

The Scariest Monsters in the Silent Hill Franchise

With a game like Silent Hill, many factors go into crafting the characters, which are designed to be scary. Of course, fear doesn’t just come from jumpscares and thrills, which there’s no denying this franchise utilizes. But there is a particular emphasis on psychological horror alongside a showcase of visual gore and unsettling design, one of the many things that makes the enemies you face during your time so genuinely scary. Due to the volume of monsters the franchise has experienced throughout its lifespan, it’s hard to narrow it down to which would be the scariest. It comes down to player experience and opinion when deciding on which characters are the most terrifying, but there is a handful that every player will acknowledge as the higher end of the scary scale.

Robbie the Rabbit – Silent Hill 3

Although Robbie the Rabbit doesn’t look like something you’d expect to see in a Silent Hill game, there’s still something ominous about the character. As you venture through Silent Hill 3, Robbie will be the only source of color outside the monotonous greyscale of the map. But there’s not anything cheery about his disposition. The majority of what makes Robbie the Rabbit a terrifying addition to the cast is the number of questions left unanswered. Players will encounter Robbie the Rabbit slumped in various locations throughout the game, seemingly quite lifeless. There’s no rhyme or reason as to why he’s there, what’s inside the mascot costume, or how it moves, which adds to the ambiguity of the character. He makes a secondary debut in Silent Hill 4: The Room as a small doll that adopts a similar personality but never becomes animate until Silent Hill: The Arcade.

Mannequin – Silent Hill 2

Even though the Mannequins are easy enemies to take down, they first appear in one of the most unsettling moments within Silent Hill 2, which helps in making them one of the most memorable enemies. They initially seem harmless and inanimate when you are a fair distance from them, but as soon as you step foot into a close radius, they spring to life and are quick to attack. The frantic nature of their movement, paired with their speed, triggers the fight or flight reaction from players and introduces a sense of frantic panic to them. For an object so initially lifeless, you’d expect not to feel so terrified of them. But when they run toward you from the shadows, they will have your skin crawling. Additionally, the sheer mass of them you encounter feels stressful and overwhelming at a time when you need to focus on not fighting for your life.

Lying Figure – Silent Hill 2

The Lying Figure in Silent Hill 2 doesn’t pose much threat to the player, so the majority of it’s fear-factor comes from appearance. They are the first monster James Sunderland will encounter within the game after following a trail of blood and stumbling across one standing with a corpse. At first, they look like standard people encased in a straight jacket, but upon closer inspection, they have a much more twisted appearance. The best way to describe the Lying Figure is fleshy. Rather than wearing a standard straight jacket like the monsters in Silent Hill: Origins, they are sealed in a shell of more flesh and appear to be writhing in an attempt to escape or in pain, which is never really covered in detail. They represent James’ internal agony, but it’s never explained whether it’s a painful representation or not. Nevertheless, their appearance is enough to shiver down even the bravest players’ spines.

Needler – Silent Hill: Homecoming

One Needler would be a terrifying monster to encounter, let alone five of them at once. So when Alex Shepherd steps into the elevator and five rapidly approach in an attempt to kill, it’s enough to traumatize any player. The speed and arachnid-like behavior of these enemies, paired with the enormous blades it has for arms, may prevent the monster from adopting a humanoid appearance, but the horrendous elements of what was once a human make up the torso only aid the fear. Alongside being a horrendous thing to encounter, they pose a real threat to the player and can cause a lot of damage with a single swoop of the blade-like limbs. Since they emerge from pipes and holes, they are also challenging to avoid. So one way or another, you will end up coming face to face (or torso) with one of these.

Pyramid Head – Silent Hill 2

Pyramid Head is named one of the scariest Silent Hill Monsters for a good reason and has been a prominent part of the franchise. Whether he’s skulking around dragging his sword behind him to create an eerie atmosphere and some equally haunting sounds within the fog, or if he’s staring you down as you walk around, leaving you never knowing when he’s going to finally snap, Pyramid Head has etched the image of terror into players’ minds since the debut in Silent Hill 2. One thing that makes Pyramid Head so terrifying is the solitary nature of the character. Unlike most other enemies from the franchise, there are only two Pyramid Heads rather than a whole collection, so when you come face to face with him, you know it’s the real deal. Furthermore, they have one purpose and will stop at nothing to complete it. However, these are just a few of the enemies within the Silent Hill franchise, and there are several honorable mentions, such as Asphyxia’s towering intimidation or the Twin Victims’ skin-crawling appearance. Needless to say, there is enough terror within these games to keep you up at night. It’s down to what gives you the heebie-jeebies when it comes to the most terrifying monster. In the future of the franchise, we can expect to meet some more daunting designs, even if they are some of the classics re-visited.