Nearly 10 years out from its original release, Firaxis’XCOM 2remains the gold standard of the turn-based tactics genre, and for good reason. Building off of the work done to revitalize the classicXCOMfranchise with 2013’sEnemy Within,XCOM 2is a quantum leap forward in terms of tactical options, map variety, campaign length, and difficulty. Its two expansions,War of the ChosenandChimera Squad, are no less impressive, either, but even the most recent of those is approaching its 5th anniversary....

Summary Call of Duty: Black Ops 6is here, and it’s delivering a dynamic mix of gameplay modes, with something for every player. Fromeliminating parasites in the new Zombies modeto Strike and multiplayer modes,Black Ops 6is pumping out content to keep fans locked and loaded. SeasonedCall of Dutyveterans and newcomers alike will find something suited to their preferred playstyle. Each mode is designed to keep players on the edge of their seats, offering unique challenges and opportunities for growth....

Summary TheStar Warsprequel trilogy has seen a rise in appreciation in recent years thanks in no small part to the stars that brought it to life, and now one of the trilogy’s main players has given credence to a popular fan idea about the motivations behind his character’s most iconic moment. WhileStar Warshas never been a franchise short of exciting scenes and concepts, there are still a few important moments that stand out from the rest, especially for fans....

Summary Quick Links Kingdom Heartshas, for whatever reason, become popular again. Maybe it’s the hype of the mysteriousKingdom Hearts 4turning into anxiety as the team stays silent on the status of the series that is bringing the fandom back to the forefront. Or maybe it is the popularity ofDisney Dreamlight Valley, which has been surging in online cozy gaming spaces despite it’s controversial amount of microtransactions. Whatever the case, it is time to revisit a forgotten part ofKingdom Hearts’s history....

With a new take on the story ofHorizon Zero Dawninstead of being a straight lift like the remastered version, there is certainly fresh stuff to look forward to when players jump intoLego Horizon Adventures.Sure, the cast may be the same as Aloy, Erend, Teersa, and Varl come together to save the day, but the gameplay is distinctly different from the third-person action adventure that you may be used to. Unlikeother open-worldLegogames, this is a more linear affair, and the exploration sections of the game will eventually lead to combat encounters with both cultists and machines alike....

Summary Kick co-owner Trainwreck has responded to recent comments fromTwitchstreamer Kai Cenat, who claimed the platform extended a substantial offer with specific terms. In response, Trainwreck clarified that the actual offer was significantly lower than the amount Cenat had stated during hisTwitchstream. Kai Cenat is undoubtedly one of the most prominent content creators in the world, making him a highly sought-after figure for any streaming platform. Stake-backed platform Kick was no exception and showed strong interest in bringing him on board....

Summary Loki is among one of themost versatile characters in theMarvel Cinematic Universewhen it comes to his allegiances and personality. Across the Infinity Saga and right until his death, Loki would often act selfishly and help those who could bring him the most benefit, but it was not uncommon to see him commit heroic acts, especially after his change of heart and character development during later movies. Despite Loki’s change of heart in the later movies,he started out as a villain....

Summary Netflix’sArcanestar Ella Purnell has admitted that she might get a little bit too carried away when playing the role of Jinx in the sound booth, which leads to some hilarious and painful sounding action scenes in real life. For anyone who loves animated shows with a grittier edge, incredible visuals, and a stellar story, Netflix’sArcanewill certainly be high on the list. The animated series is set in theLeague of Legendsuniverse and produced by Riot Games and Fortiche Production....

Summary One of 2024’s emerging stars,Ella Purnell, has been on a hot streak of projects, with her latest contributions toseason 2 ofArcanebeing widely praised. While capable of being a voice actor, the British actor has primarily portrayed characters in television and film to great popularity, particularly in the last couple of years, as Purnell’s stardom has remarkably risen. So far in her budding career, Purnell has portrayed a variety of differing characters in existing franchises or fresh projects that have allowed the actor to fully flourish, with her catalog of roles being impressive and full of promise....

Even though it’s a spin-off of thePillars of Eternityseries,Avowed’s initial showing at the Xbox Games Showcase 2020 drew a lot of comparisons toThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. The dark fantasy tone, dull color palette, first-person perspective, and spell-casting combat displayed in the game’s reveal trailer were starkly reminiscent of the seminal Bethesda RPG. Because of this, many assumed thatAvowedwould be similar toThe Elder Scrollsin terms of gameplay and scope. It was, after all, being developed by Obsidian Entertainment, a company that already had experience creating Bethesda-style games likeFallout: New Vegas....

Summary Dragon Age: The Veilguardhas been met with wideacclaim and engagementfrom the player base, proving that a ten-year hiatus has done nothing to stop theDragon Ageseries from retaining its popularity and charm. The game has more than a few divisive elements, however, from its change in art style to its handling of content from previous games - or lack thereof. Moreso than other games in the series, however,Veilguardalready has a great foundation of mods from dedicated fans....

BioWare is knownfor its fantastic castof compelling characters across a huge spectrum of titles and genres. The character work is what defines these games, alongside the narratives and world-building that is rarely matched by anyone else in the gaming scene. If there’s one thing that frequently gets discussed in BioWare titles where characters are concerned, however, it’s the prevalence of romance. InDragon Age, saving the world (or saving Kirkwall) is always portrayed as a stressful thing....

Summary Open-world games offer a sense of freedom sometimes unavailable in other types of games, with a sense of endless exploration and adventure that throws players into another world entirely. Players love open worlds for their level of detail; these worlds are often littered withside questsand items that delve into the game’s lore. Some open-world games allow for co-op collaboration, while others are perfect for exploring at a single player’s own pace....