Super Smash Bros. Ultimatehas become one of Nintendo’s most popular games of all time. Already selling more than any fighting game up to this point,Super Smash Bros. Ultimatesells itself on the premise that every previous character in the series is here, plus a whole array of new ones including some incredible DLC characters. Its massive roster makes it feel like a museum of gaming history, with plenty of options and gameplay modes at its disposal....

A good cozy game ideally provides a low-stress gaming experience where players do not feel pressured by limiting factors like time or strict rules. Cozy hobbit life simulatorTales of the Shireis no exception, as the team at Weta Workshop wanted to make the game a relaxing experience for its players. As a result,Tales of the Shire’shome decoration mode operates using a philosophy of complete freedom; players decorate their hobbit holes using a grid-free system and can put (almost) any item in any room or even outside....

Summary Dual-wielding has been a staple of many classic games dating back to the 1990s, especially in very linear first-person shooters likeGoldenEye 007and theWolfensteinseries, but what about in an open-world setting? Nothing quite beats the powerful feeling of shredding through enemies in an open-world environment, whether using two guns, two swords, or a combination of weapon types. Highly skilled players are able to deliver brutal comboswhile dual-wielding for maximum damage, and they look cool while doing it, just for an added bonus....

Summary Older JRPGs can often have inflated runtimes due to the conventions of the time. This length can get cut down significantly when the title is remade for modern audiences and modern conveniences are added. The games listed below still give players a lot of bang for their buck, however. They prove that the original story and the mechanics still have a lot of weight and value beyond the tendency of older JRPGs to make players grind....

Quick Links The Holiday Treasures event is still going strong in Scopely’s board gameMonopoly GO. Running from Dec 5 to Dec 9, it’s the first dig event of December. Players can grab many exclusive rewards like the Scottie Wreath Shield skin, and the Merry Mobile Token skin, along with plenty of regular rewards like dice rolls and sticker packs. As with allMonopoly GOdigging events, theHoliday Treasures eventcomes with exclusive tokens: Hammers....

Quick Links One of the greatest aspects of theOverwatch 2game is the diverse roster of playable characters, each reigning from different countries to one another and carrying their unique ability kit and playstyle within one of the three roles - Tank, DPS, and Support. As part of the live-service format of Overwatch 2, new heroes are released every so many seasons, giving more options when it comes to hero picks and team composition....

Summary AWorld of Warcraftplayer was killed by Erudax, the final boss of Grim Batol, three minutes after finishing the dungeon. Though they had long since left the instance, thisWorld of Warcraftboss somehow managed to kill this unlucky fan anyway. Mythic+ dungeons are some of the hardest instances inWorld of Warcraft. With a ladder of keys that ostensibly keeps climbing for as long as players can clear them, the endgame content featuresrotating affixes to keepWorld of Warcraftfans guessing as they try to complete the dungeons within the allotted time limits....

Summary The ability to play new titles on release day is one of Game Pass’s biggest perks. While AAA entries likeCall of Duty: Black Ops 6may get the most attention when they debut on the subscription service, there are plenty of indie games to enjoy onGame Pass’s impressive lineup of day-one releases, too. Fans now have two more to dive into in the new year. The 2024 PC Gaming Show offered a look at new game announcements and updates on previously revealed titles....

TheXbox Game Passsubscription service has developed over the years to become an integral and successful element of Microsoft’s modern approach to content distribution on the Xbox platform, with the company’s focus on the service showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. Microsoft has used Game Pass in tandem with its record-breaking acquisitions of high-profile gaming studios, with this seemingly being one of the major strategies Microsoft is using to keep Xbox in the fight with its major industry competitors....

The HD-2D art style has been a godsend for classic JRPGs that have become too dated for new fans to enjoy. While these games may boast some amazing gameplay, the graphics can take a while to get used to for players without any nostalgic connection to this art style. Recent developments have shown that the rise of HD-2D JRPGs has been a step in the right direction, allowing both new IPs and old classics to enjoy the relevance they deserve....

The PDP Afterglow Wired controller is arguably one of the bestXbox controllerstoday. It is an amazing gaming setup accessory capable of delivering low latency, among other benefits. It’s currently on sale on Amazon, with buyers now expected to pay $35, instead of the regular $45, thanks to a 22% discount. PDP has established itself as a major video game accessory manufacturer. Its online store offers various products that span different categories of peripherals....

Summary The Nintendo-inspired indie platformerAntonblast, which had its Switch port delayed recently due to unforeseen events, finally has a release date on the console set for later this month, December 13.Antonblastlaunched on Steam already on December 3, where it currently sits at an “Overwhelmingly Positive” critical average thanks to a massive critical response from fans praising the game’s art style and gameplay. Heavily stylized action platformers are certainly nothing new, but the genre tends to be a favorite among indie developers, with games likethe rogueliteDead Cellsand the combat-freeCelestetaking things in unique directions....

Summary After atime jump in Episode 4,ArcaneSeason 2’s sixth episode brings all its disparate character arcs together into a climactic Act 2 finale that results in more than a few deaths. Episode 6 is titled “The Message Hidden Within the Pattern” and is faster-paced than any of the previous Act 2 episodes. The story pushes into cosmic territory that might verge on being a bit too weird if it weren’t forArcane’sincredible animation techniques and soundtrack choices, which keep the story grounded in characters and emotion....