TheGamer - Game Previews | RSS Feed

Goat Simulator 3 EGX Preview

Meg Pelliccio — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 17:00:13 GMT

I never thought that Goat Simulator would become such a huge part of my life. I remember dismissing it at launch. You run around as a goat? Alright, but not for me — largely due to my fear of goats. Fast forward a few years, and it turns out that having a kid that thinks Goat Simulator is far more than ‘alright’ means that those little four-legged beasts kicked and screamed their way into my home — and my heart.

Coral Island Early Access First Impressions

Helen Ashcroft — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 15:30:14 GMT

Coral Island takes elements of every farming simulator you’ve ever played, throws them in a blender, and adds a storyline about an environmental disaster and a town in crisis. The mixture is then poured over a sprawling world with a diverse population, beautiful scenery, and plenty to explore. In short, Coral Island is shaping up to be one farming simulator to unite them all.

Park Beyond Preview: Going Up And Up

Helen Ashcroft — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 14:00:13 GMT

Park Beyond is the latest game to tackle the theme park sim genre, blending classic construction and management elements with a new concept, Impossification. You’ll still be laying paths, building shops, designing rides, and appealing to visitors, but your park will go beyond what you’ve ever seen before.

Slime Rancher 2 Early Access Impressions

Meg Pelliccio — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 17:00:13 GMT

Catching up with Beatrix LeBeau on a beautiful new ranch on Rainbow Island, with cute new slimes, new items, and, wait — no, my slimes are starving, oh they’re escaping, they’ve turned into Tarrs. Oh god, no. What have I done? It’s surprising how, when I started Slime Rancher 2, I had blocked out the panic-driven rinse and repeat routine of getting my slimes food and providing for them before all hell broke loose on my ranch, but it all came flooding back to me in goopy black Tarr style.

I Played Some Great Indie Games At EGX 2022

Ryan Thomas Bamsey — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 20:00:13 GMT

When you arrive at a gaming convention, it’s quite easy to be dazzled by the gigantic booths on display, pounding music, and impressively long queues. At EGX 2022, the biggest draws were easily Sonic Frontiers and Street Fighter 6, a curse for anyone who likes to abbreviate those titles.

To Hell With The Ugly EGX Preview - Solving Mysteries In ‘50s LA

Ryan Thomas Bamsey — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 19:00:13 GMT

While walking through the forest of indie booths at EGX 2022, one poster repeatedly caught my eye - the first thing you’ll notice about To Hell With The Ugly is its striking art style and towering protagonist. Rock Bailey, the handsome young man with a nasty-looking black eye, makes for an attention-catching figure.

How To Say Goodbye EGX Preview

Meg Pelliccio — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:30:12 GMT

We all have a favourite illustrated book from our childhood. One that stands out as being funny or featuring a beloved character, and most will remember the first book that gave them their first taste of heartache, too. Children’s books often tackle hard-hitting themes in an approachable way for young minds, with the soft art styles and muted colour palettes lulling us into a false sense of security.

We Were Broken By The VR Games At EGX 2022

George Foster — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 14:01:12 GMT

VR games don’t tend to receive much hype - the entry point is still rather pricey for most gamers, meaning its best titles simply don’t reach the large audiences that they might deserve.

Eros Xavier’s Love Solutions EGX Preview

Meg Pelliccio — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:30:13 GMT

If you see a game featuring a hot guy and a name like Eros Xavier’s Love Solutions, your mind immediately goes to dating sim, right? Well, you’d be wrong. You’ll find the complete opposite within — instead of encouraging romance to blossom, you’ll be working to cause relationship breakups worthy of a Taylor Swift song.

Every Unfinity Spoiler – Preview Season Day Seven – MTG

Joe Parlock — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 09:03:05 GMT

If the weekend for Magic: The Gathering's Unfinity preview season was a slow climb up the hill, today is the drop back down as we rush head-first into the final day. There are dozens of cards revealed today, with lots of them either being scarily powerful, hilarious, or stuffed full of references you might've missed.

Every Unfinity Spoiler – Preview Season Day Six – MTG

Joe Parlock — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 06:39:24 GMT

The weekend for Magic: The Gathering preview seasons is always quiet, but this is unprecedented. While we often see between eight and ten cards on the quiet shifts, today we have a record-breaking four cards on display.

Every Unfinity Spoiler – Preview Season Day Five – MTG

Joe Parlock — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 08:33:31 GMT

The weekend is always the quiet shift for Magic: The Gathering's preview seasons, and Unfinity is no exception. Gone are the heady days of over 20 cards being revealed to pore over, today we're at just eight. That doesn't mean those eight are bad, though – in fact, there's some really interesting stuff going on here.

Every Unfinity Spoiler – Preview Season Day Four – MTG

Joe Parlock — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 09:57:48 GMT

As the first week of Magic: The Gathering's Unfinity's previews pulls into the spaceport, we're beginning to get a good idea of what this set is about: some shockingly spicy cards hidden deep within the friend-calling, card-throwing zaniness you'd come to expect from an Un-set.

Every Unfinity Spoiler – Preview Season Day Three – MTG

Joe Parlock — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 09:03:50 GMT

It's day three of Magic: The Gathering's Unfinity previews, and we're starting to get a good idea of what this set is all about. More than just the usual Un-set silliness, it's sneaking in some shockingly powerful cards, particularly with the new Attractions mechanic. Whether they'll be a big part of Un-set play going forward, or even break into the Eternal formats is still anyone's guess, but between them and some truly mind-breaking Acorn cards, Unfinity is a lot saucier than anyone could've expected it to be.

Every Unfinity Spoiler – Day Two – MTG

Joe Parlock — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 10:40:51 GMT

For many people, Unfinity may be their first-ever Magic: The Gathering Un-set. Especially coming off the hyper-serious Dominaria United and the gimdark Warhammer 40,000 decks, getting to grips with what 'Acorn Magic' is all about is one hell of a change in tone.

Gamescom Previews - Arcade Paradise, The Last Worker, Tin Hearts, Gori: Cuddly Carnage

Rhiannon Bevan — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 18:00:12 GMT

Wired Games had an impressive line-up of titles at this year’s Gamescom, with a bunch of titles from wildly different genres. During the week, I spent an hour with devs the studio brought along, trying out their latest games.

Every Unfinity Spoiler – Preview Season Day One – MTG

Joe Parlock — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 12:27:10 GMT

Magic: The Gathering's latest preview season has begun, and this time we're off to Myra the Magnificent's Intergalactic Astrotorium of Fun, the biggest, wildest outer space carnival in the Un-iverse.

Exclusive Unfinity Spoiler: Drop Tower – MTG

Joe Parlock — Wed, 21 Sep 2022 09:31:13 GMT

After Dominaria United’s devastating betrayals and heart-wrenching deaths, Magic: The Gathering really needed to do something to lighten the mood. After many false starts, including a glue factory going bust resulting in a delay from its original April 1 release date, we have the happy interlude we desperately needed: Unfinity.

Gamescom Previews - Blooming Business: Casino And From Space

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 18:30:13 GMT

Countless publishers filled the halls of Gamescom this year, eager to show us what their devs have been up to while live shows were put on hold.

Gamescom Previews: Marauders, Moving Out 2, Age Of Darkness, Dredge, Gord

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 21:54:21 GMT

Team17, the publisher behind Hell Let Loose, Overcooked, Yooka-Laylee, and a whole lot of other indie games had a packed schedule at Gamescom this year. I spent my first day on the show floor trying out all it had to offer.

Dragon Quest Treasures Preview - Let There Be Loot

Jade King — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 17:00:13 GMT

Dragon Quest music is definitely the soundtrack to my own personal hell. Perhaps it’s because I didn't grow up with the series, but its determination to use MIDI for the entirety of its soundscape makes me want to tear out my ear drums and never entertain a single noise for as long as I live. There is an apocalyptic whimsy to all of its asinine deets and doots that pushes me over the edge. All that being said, Treasures seems like a pretty good time.

Every Card In The Warhammer 40K Forces Of The Imperium Commander Deck – MTG

Joe Parlock — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 13:10:46 GMT

For the final of Magic: The Gathering's Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks, we're headed to the Imperium of Man in Forces of the Imperium. Lead for millennia by the immortal, psychic God-Emperor of Mankind, humanity has become a paranoid and bureaucratic nightmare where anything but the highest reverence of the Imperium can result in your swift execution.

Nier Automata Works Way Better On Nintendo Switch Than It Has Any Right To

Jade King — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:00:13 GMT

Nier: Automata has never been especially well optimised. On PS4 and Xbox One it strived to hit 60 frames per second, but frequently dropped beneath its performance target and thus provided an experience that was ultimately inconsistent. The PC version sucked too, with fans constantly asking Square Enix to fix its many issues with little success. Despite it being heralded by many as a modern masterpiece, the game isn’t shown very much respect.

Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core Reunion Preview - A Fresh Coat Of Remake Paint

Jade King — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 16:35:41 GMT

I never played Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core as a kid. My brother had the PSP, and used it to play mediocre platforming spin-offs like Daxter and Secret Agent Clank instead of actual good games. He even bought Saints Row even after I told him it was bad recently, so let’s consider him a lost cause. But now I finally have a chance to right that wrong, and to fill a gap of Final Fantasy knowledge that has hung over me for too damn long.

Every Card In The Warhammer 40K Necron Dynasties Commander Deck – MTG

Joe Parlock — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 14:47:14 GMT

Magic: The Gathering's Warhammer 40,000 Commander Deck preview season trucks on, with the full reveal of the third of its four decks. Today, we're looking at the only mono-coloured deck of the lot, with the mono-black artifact creature-focused Necron Dynasties.

Every Card In The Warhammer 40K The Ruinous Powers Commander Deck – MTG

Joe Parlock — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 12:25:25 GMT

Magic: The Gathering's Warhammer 40,000 Commader Deck preview season continues, with day two giving us the second of four decks in full. Across a whopping 41 new cards we're introduced to the Chaos Warlord Abaddon the Despoiler, and the demonic forces from the Warp that he represents.

Every New Card In The Warhammer 40K Tyranid Swarm Commander Deck – MTG

Joe Parlock — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 13:15:17 GMT

Magic: The Gathering's first major Universes Beyond crossover is here, with four Warhammer 40,000 decks introducing more than 120 cards based on the grimdark sci-fi series to Magic's Commander, Vintage, and Legacy formats.

Forspoken Preview: Excellent Combat Held Back By A Terrible Personality

Jade King — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 13:00:12 GMT

Forspoken is a fundamental evolution of everything Square Enix and Luminous Productions achieved with Final Fantasy 15. As polarising as that game came to be, it still managed to present a series of vast landscapes to explore, with movement and combat that inspired players to experiment before venturing off the beaten path in search of new discoveries.

Goat Simulator 3 Preview

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 20:00:13 GMT

Goat Simulator 3 is a technical marvel. It’s endlessly explorable, every item interacts with one another, and almost everything on the map interacts with every item. The mayhem I got up to during a demo at Gamescom is a true testament to the devs’ talent and passion, as I solved puzzles using the game’s creative mechanics, and annoyed the hell out of all the other players.

Off The Grid Gamescom Interview - "We Want To Be The Number One Multiplayer Shooter In The World"

Stacey Henley — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 14:31:13 GMT

Off the Grid, the upcoming battle royale from Gunzilla, is a trip. I don't particularly care for battle royales or hyper-realism in video games, yet I can't help but feel myself rooting for this one. There's just something about Off the Grid's spirit that makes me want it to succeed. Sitting down with Gunzilla's CEO Vlad Korolev during Gamescom, there’s a sense of charm and energy to our conversation, as he constantly interrupts himself to show off gameplay clips from his laptop or pointing to images on the poster on the wall, explaining buildings or mechanics or designs. It's an energetic, ruggedly hopeful game, but I can't help but worry it's just a little too ambitious for its own good.

Honkai: Star Rail Gamescom Preview - Turn-Based Genshin's Turn In The Sun

Stacey Henley — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 16:00:13 GMT

People who accuse anime games of all looking the same probably don’t play them very much. To an outsider, FIFA and Pro Evo might look the same, or Apex Legends and Valorant, or Ghost of Tsushima and Assassin’s Creed. Anime games certainly share some general visual iconography and aesthetics, but for fans of the genre, there’s a sense of distinction. However, when I got my hands on Honkai: Star Rail at Gamescom, I found that it was just Genshin Impact. Staying so true to the style is a risk, but it’s not one without merit.

Dakar Desert Rally Gamescom Preview - The Screaming Winds Of The Desert

Stacey Henley — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 15:00:13 GMT

Dakar Desert Rally is a very intense video game. I quite like driving sims, especially ones that let you loose to tear it up rather than getting too bogged down in technical perfection, but with Dakar Desert Rally I got more than I bargained for. Despite the fact that I have a little piece of plastic that says I can legally drive, I haven’t actually driven a car in a decade. So when Dakar Desert Rally brought a full driving rig to Gamescom, complete with wheel, roll cage, and pedals, I was a little thrown off by the intensity of it. Nevertheless, this is my story.

Deceive Inc. Preview - Heist Meets Prop Hunt Meets Hero Shooter

Rhiannon Bevan — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 22:00:12 GMT

While playing Deceive Inc., it’s hard to believe that something like this hasn’t been done before. Sure, plenty of games have prop hunt modes, heists, and masquerading as an NPC, but when all of that is put into a single package, it flows together seamlessly.

Friends Vs Friends Gamescom Preview - Ooo, Shooter-Deckbuilding Friend!

Stacey Henley — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 20:00:13 GMT

My first thought when I heard Friends Vs Friends was going to be at Gamescom was one of sympathy. The game pitches itself as part FPS, part deck builder, which is a really cool idea… so cool in fact that Neon White has already gone and done it. Playing the game, any sympathy settled down as I realised how different the two were and how much Friends Vs Friends deserved to stand on its own. The only problem is getting people over that first hurdle - the gameplay is nothing like Neon White, but when your elevator pitch is the same as this year's most interesting indie game, you're going to be up against it.

Brewmaster Preview - Gamescom 2022

Stacey Henley — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 16:30:12 GMT

Video games have long promised the idea that you can do anything you want. Want to go to space? Play a video game. Save the world? Play a video game. Have magic powers, become a heroic knight, or fly through the sky? I think you know the answer. But in recent times, more mundane wants have also been answered through video games. Want to power wash a golf course? Play a video game. Mow the lawn? Play a video game. Build a PC, drive a truck, make a beer? Whatever you want it to be. At Gamescom 2022, I learned how to make a beer, and in doing so learned that I cannot make a beer.

God Of Rock Gamescom Preview - Tekken Meets Guitar Hero

Stacey Henley — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 15:30:13 GMT

To a certain extent, all fighting games are rhythm games. With the perfectly timed button strings, the balletic twirls of the thumb sticks, and the magnetic dance with your opponent, fighting games are extremely musical. God of Rock tries to take that a step further, and is both a rhythm game and fighting game at once. It’s a risky genre mashup, but in doing so it ended up as my most anticipated title from the whole of Gamescom.

Hubris Gamescom Preview - Exactly The Sort Of Game VR Needs

Stacey Henley — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 19:00:28 GMT

It’s a widely believed fact that games journalists hate video games. However, on the floor of Gamescom 2022, I may have made a discovery of significant scientific importance. I have discovered a video game that hates games journalists, or more specifically, hates me. This game is Hubris, the latest VR title from Cyborn B.V., which managed to break on me three times during a 25 minute preview. Despite this, I had a pretty great time with it. Better yet, Hubris feels like exactly the kind of game VR needs.

Jackbox Party Pack 9 Gamescom Preview - A Decent Addition To The Jackbox Mix

Stacey Henley — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 16:00:15 GMT

This is my third time previewing or reviewing a Jackbox title, and it never gets much easier. It’s a bit like reviewing a party - it’s never really about the party as it is the people there. A chill evening around the fire or a glitzy rooftop shindig can be a nightmare with the wrong people, while just watching reruns of The Simpsons while sipping room temperature wine can be Heaven with the right people. When I reviewed Jackbox Party Pack 8 off the back of playing with the staff at TheGamer, we all had a great time even when a couple of the games didn’t quite land. Meanwhile when I played the Party Starter Pack with some random journos over Discord at a press event, even though I love all three games, it all felt a bit naff. At Gamescom, I tested out two games from Jackbox Party Pack 9 with the people who made it, and I guess my takeaway is I had as much fun as you might expect from playing unfamiliar games with jetlagged strangers. All things considered, that feels like a victory.

Arkanoid: Eternal Battle Preview - A Great Classic Reinvented

Stacey Henley — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 15:30:13 GMT

Words like ‘classic’ and ‘retro’ are hard to define in gaming. Despite being the youngest of the mainstream art mediums, games are also the most eager to forget their history. The Last of Us Part 1, labelled as one of the greatest games ever when it came out just nine years ago, has already been remastered twice. Arkanoid, however, is a true retro classic. If you’re thinking ‘I’ve never heard of Arkanoid’, yes you have. Scroll down and check out the pictures. Told you. While its name has perhaps not endured in the way Tetris, Pac-Man, or even Dig Dug have, Arkanoid is a legend of the arcade era, and Pastagames’ reinvention of it is well worth keeping an eye on.

Victoria 3 Preview - Political And Economic Simulation On An Unprecedented Scale

Ryan Thomas Bamsey — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:30:13 GMT

Like many games from Paradox Interactive, Victoria 3 has you taking control of a single nation and guiding it to success throughout a certain time period. In this case, it’s 100 years exactly - from 1836 to 1936, placing Victoria right between Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron. Historically, this was a time of great industrialisation and political upheaval, and Victoria 3 aims to replicate this in everything it does.

High On Life Preview - More Than 'That Rick & Morty Game', Hopefully

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 27 Aug 2022 17:00:13 GMT

Being conceived by Justin Roiland, the High on Life and Rick & Morty comparisons are inescapable. Also, the gun sounds exactly like Morty, so that doesn’t help. However, after a hands-on preview over at Gamescom, it’s clear the project has true potential in its own right, and could give Roiland his first big video game win after the success of his shows.

Tower Of Fantasy Preview - First Impressions On A Familiar World

Santi Leguiza — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 14:30:13 GMT

Tower Of Fantasy introduces you to the world of Aida, an unexplored realm to discover as you reconstruct your lost memories and, in the process, help everyone in need. But in an open-world game as huge as this, not everything is about traveling and meeting new NPCs, and soon you will find yourself surrounded by all manner of enemies to fight.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake Preview - A Very 2000s Sequel

Rhiannon Bevan — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 14:00:14 GMT

Purple Lamp Studios is well aware that there exists a sizable audience of SpongeBob fans who will eat up nostalgia, so that’s exactly what it’s delivering with The Cosmic Shake. During a hands-off preview at Gamescom, THQ Nordic gave us a look at a level from the upcoming licensed platformer, and it’s exactly what older fans have been waiting for since Battle for Bikini Bottom first launched in 2003 - for better or worse.

Dominaria United Day Seven Spoilers Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 07:48:13 GMT

Here we are at the end of Magic: The Gathering’s Dominaria United’s spoiler season. Now that we’ve seen all but the draft chaff, it’s clear this set is aiming to revitalise an already excellent Standard format with a hint of power and complexity. Whether it’s managing land types with domain or juggling legendary creatures, Dominaria United is asking a lot, but it has the foundation set up by Midnight Hunt through to New Capenna to back it up.

The Devil In Me Preview - The "Most Gruesome" Dark Pictures Game Yet

Stacey Henley — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 14:00:13 GMT

I've always had a soft spot for The Dark Pictures Anthology. They seem to represent what we all thought the future of video games would be 15 years ago, but now so clearly isn't, and as a result they possess a unique charm... at least when they're not terrifying you so much you're thankful you wore your brown pants today. The Dark Pictures is led by Hollywood stars (Oscar nominee Jessie Buckley is perhaps the series' biggest get yet), acts as an interactive movie, and is directly driven by specific choices made by you. This is where we all thought video games would go. The Devil in Me though is making conscious efforts to feel more like an active video game, which will make it the most expansive Dark Pictures game yet, but also risks messing with the formula. From what I've seen so far, I'm cautiously optimistic.

Dominaria United Day Seven Spoilers Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 08:15:42 GMT

On the penultimate day of Magic: The Gathering’s Dominaria United preview season, it’s worth sitting back and appreciating what this set is offering. After two radically new sets in bold, modern settings, it’s nice to return to the traditional, fantasy world of Magic. Full of returning faces and deep cuts to old Magic lore, it’s a home run for any Vorthos. It’s also a shockingly powerful set, with this new Standard format getting the juicy, borderline broken cards we’ve been lacking in the past year.

Pokemon TCG Live Preview: The T No Longer Stands For Trading

Eric Switzer — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 16:08:05 GMT

The digital version of the Pokemon Trading Card Game has been long overdue for a face lift. While I still consider Pokemon TCG Online the most rewarding digital TCG, particularly for new players, the presentation is missing a lot of the flash and flow of modern card games. The UI is plain, the avatar system is rudimentary, and it doesn’t even work on phones.

Every Card In Magic: The Gathering's Dominaria United Legends' Legacy Commander Precon

Joe Parlock — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 14:18:27 GMT

It wouldn’t be a Magic: The Gathering set without brand new preconstructed Commander decks, and Dominaria United’s are two of the most out-there decks we’ve seen yet. While Jared Carthalion’s Painbow deck utilised all five colours, Dihada, Bender of Wills’ Legends’ Legacy instead cares about throwing as many legendary permanents into play as possible.

PGA Tour 2K23 Preview - The Perfect Approach

Stacey Henley — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 14:00:13 GMT

Reviewing sports games always comes with a bit of an extra challenge. Previewing them even more so. Sports games are made for a very specific audience, who are mostly interested in minute changes and specific community concerns, but as a critic you also have to respect the game as a singular creation that stands on its own. With PGA Tour 2K23, it’s a little easier. Taking a leaf out of WWE’s book, 2K took a year off from golf last year, having previously converted The Golf Game to PGA Tour, so as a result it’s still a series finding its feet in many ways. From what I’ve played, it’s a swing and a hit.

Dominaria United Day Six Spoilers Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 07:19:29 GMT

We’re entering the home stretch of Magic: The Gathering’s Dominaria United’s preview season now, and the juicy cards have started to flow freely. If you’ve been watching the last few days and wondered where the powerful cards were, surprise: it’s today.

Dominaria United Day Five Spoilers Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 08:59:32 GMT

A new week for Magic: The Gathering’s Dominaria United previews means we pick up the pace as the hits begin to flood in. There were so many cards today, and a lot of them appear to be potential sleeper hits in a number of formats.

Every New Card In MTG's Painbow Commander Deck

Joe Parlock — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 15:00:13 GMT

Magic: The Gathering’s next set takes us back to its home, with Dominaria United revisiting a world full of deep lore cuts, returning faces, and an entire army of Phyrexian sleeper agents getting ready to tear it all down. It’s also the first time we’ve revisited Dominaria since Commander preconstructed decks started being bundled in with every set, with two precons offering powerful exclusives designed specifically for the format.

The Elder Scrolls Online Lost Depths Preview - A Deep Dive Into ESO's Potential

James Troughton — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 07:00:13 GMT

Graven Deep is a corrupt dungeon defined by stunning Dwemer architecture, rife with the living dead and an atmosphere ravaged by time. Rather than playing with randoms as you usually do, I had some of The Elder Scrolls Online team to walk me through it all. Our adventure was initially slow and ponderous until we reached a lever, our guides gathering us round to talk about what we’d seen thus far and the ambitions of the Lost Depths. But my muscle memory kicked in, and I yanked the lever the second I saw it. Whoops. Suddenly we were falling down a giant, gaping metal pit, landing in a Rapture-like underwater city. It was breathtaking, if a little embarrassing.

Dominaria United Day Four Spoilers Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 06:59:38 GMT

Magic: The Gathering’s preview seasons can be a mixed bag. Some days you’ll get hit after hit after hit, with more new staples and combo pieces than you can even begin to process. Other days, you may get one or two decent cards in a sea of draft-centric commons and uncommons.

Dominaria United Day Three Spoilers Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Sun, 21 Aug 2022 07:49:09 GMT

As Magic: The Gathering’s Dominaria United preview season rolls into its third day, we enter the usual quiet weekend time. While Thursday and Friday’s previewers were packed, with the debut and Commander deck reveals respectively giving us dozens of new cards, Saturday was a lot different.

Dominaria United Day Two Spoilers Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 08:11:18 GMT

Day two of Magic: The Gathering’s Dominaria United preview season shook things up a bit. Rather than leave them for last as normal, this set decided to reveal its two Commander preconstructed decks ahead of the set itself.

Dominaria United Day One Spoilers Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 15:52:59 GMT

Magic: The Gathering’s latest preview has kicked off, and we’re headed back to the game’s oldest and most famous world of Dominaria just in time for it to be overrun by an army of Phyrexian sleeper agents.

MTG Dominaria United Exclusive Reveals – Magnigoth Sentry, Molten Monstrosity, Snarespinner, Viashino Branchrider

Joe Parlock — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 12:42:13 GMT

Magic: The Gathering’s next preview season has started, and Dominaria United takes us back to the game’s home world as it faces a threat from its ancient history. With Phyrexian Sleeper agents hiding in plain sight, anyone could be an enemy, and it’s up to Karn, Jodah, Jaya, Ajani, Teferi, and the crew of the Weatherlight to put a stop to the Phyrexian Praetor Sheoldred’s plans.

Everything We Learned From Dominaria United Debut For MTG

Joe Parlock — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 11:40:47 GMT

While Wizards Presents has put the Magic: The Gathering community into a 2023-reveal-induced haze, there are still two more Standard-legal sets launching this year. Dominaria United, the start of the Phyrexian invasion arc that carries through to next year’s March of the Machine, has kicked off its preview season with a debut of its mechanics and planeswalkers, and there’s a lot to take in.

Monster Train Developers' New Game Could Be The First Big Live Service Roguelike

Eric Switzer — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 10:10:56 GMT

How do you follow up a hit game like Monster Train? Shiny Shoe’s roguelike deck builder was a massive success and one of the earliest must-play games to join Game Pass back in 2020. Now, the studio is in an unenviable position to make a new game that’s even bigger and better. That game is Inkbound, an online, ARPG roguelike launching in early access next year. And while it shares some obvious DNA with Monster Train, Shiny Shoe has big, live service ambitions for Inkbound.

DioField Chronicle Preview - Fire Emblem For Tories

Jade King — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 12:01:13 GMT

DioField Chronicle is one of a few JRPGs that have seemingly come out of nowhere in recent months. Alongside higher budget affairs like Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Square Enix is also willing to dabble in humble remasters and smaller projects that don’t push the genre forward, but instead explore it in fundamentally different ways.

Soul Hackers 2 Preview

Meg Pelliccio — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 14:00:15 GMT

The Megami Tensei family tree has many branches. You’ve got Persona, Devil Summoner, Soul Hackers, Digital Devil Saga… you get the idea. All these games share similar themes and mechanics, but it’s surprising that despite sharing so much DNA, they can feel very different. With the launch of Persona 5, the fandom boomed as Persona players flocked to explore these related titles but regrettably found they didn’t necessarily scratch the same itch. If you picked up Shin Megami Tensei 5 last year, but it wasn’t quite the Persona fix you hoped for, Soul Hackers 2 is here to fill that vacancy.

Spelljammer: Adventures In Space Preview – The "Final Frontier" Of DND's Fifth Edition

Joe Parlock — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 15:00:15 GMT

Dungeons & Dragons’ fifth edition is entering its twilight years. We already know an updated edition is coming in 2024, and we’ve started seeing elements of it creep into the game already. This year’s Monsters Of The Multiverse introduced some of the big changes to race and morality we’ve been expecting from the new edition – such as completely disentangling races for ‘inherent’ alignments.

Everything We Learned In Magic: The Gathering's Dominaria United Sneak Preview

Joe Parlock — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 13:25:24 GMT

Wizards of the Coast has lifted the lid on Magic: The Gathering’s next major set, Dominaria United. Kicking off the game’s 30th anniversary celebrations, it’s bringing back Magic’s original setting of Dominaria, and a cast of characters we’ve not seen in far, far too long.

Live A Live Preview: A Classic JRPG Like No Other

Jade King — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 12:00:13 GMT

Live A Live is unlike anything I’ve played before. Despite growing up on a steady diet of JRPGs, the first I ever heard of this forgotten classic was when the remake was announced a few short months ago. Hardcore fans couldn’t believe it, with the game having never been released outside of Japan. For years they’d settled for fan translations, but now they weren’t just getting a long-awaited port, but a comprehensive remake.

Disney Speedstorm Preview - Taking The Mickey

George Foster — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 09:39:55 GMT

When Disney Speedstorm was first announced, myself and a few other proud Disney adults were pretty excited and instantly started making plans to try it out as soon as possible. We like Disney, and we like kart racers, “What could possibly go wrong?” we asked ourselves, ignoring the elephant in the room eyeing our wallets and making plans to grift us for everything we’ve got.

Endless Dungeon Preview - Roguelite Twin-Stick Shooter Tower Defence Chaos

Ryan Thomas Bamsey — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 14:00:14 GMT

Is there a more terrifying concept than being trapped on a drifting spaceship with no way to escape, being eternally revived every time you’re killed by the ship’s murderous denizens? I can’t think of many, but Endless Dungeon makes it more exciting than harrowing.

Double Masters 2022 Spoilers: Day Eight Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 07:57:11 GMT

It’s the final day of Magic: The Gathering’s Double Masters 2022 preview season. We’ve now seen all the expensive, fancy things this premium set has to offer, and it’s looking like one of the most exciting sets we’ll see this year.

Double Masters 2022 Spoilers: Day Seven Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 08:51:41 GMT

We’re in the home stretch of Magic: The Gathering’s latest preview season, and Double Masters 2022 has suddenly decided to drop a billion different combo pieces on us all at once. We knew this set was going to be high-powered, but if you’re a fan of running away with a series of triggers quadrillions long, there is a lot in today’s previews to appeal to you.

As Dusk Falls Preview: Heartfelt Drama Meets Unintentional Hilarity

Jade King — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 16:30:14 GMT

As Dusk Falls felt like it came out of nowhere in the Xbox Bethesda Showcase earlier this month, and it didn’t leave the most positive of impressions. Many were quick to poke fun at its painterly aesthetic that favoured frame-like movement instead of traditional character models, while others felt like it was directly riffing on modern classics like Breaking Bad or Fargo without any of the writing prowess to make it worthy of such inspiration.

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course Preview - Good Day For A Swell DLC Pack

Stacey Henley — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 19:00:15 GMT

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course was the black sheep of the Tribeca Games Selection. For one thing, it’s not actually a game, just a DLC pack for an existing one. It’s also not particularly narrative driven - some cups sold their souls, now they fight bees and ships, don’t worry about it - or unique in the way the other games here are. Only A Plague Tale (which was unavailable remotely) and Oxenfree 2 are even a sequel, and it comes with a whole new cast and narrative. Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course is a DLC for Cuphead. It is good. That’s sort of it.

Double Masters 2022 Spoilers: Day Five Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 08:15:49 GMT

Through Magic: The Gathering’s Double Masters 2022 preview season, there has been a recurring meme from the community that it has been very Commander-centric. We’ve seen a huge number of reprints that are most relevant to the Commander format, and even includes former precon commanders we’ve never seen in booster packs before. This is especially noteworthy as we’ve just come off of a Commander Legends set that many criticised for being relatively low-power.

American Arcadia Preview - The Land Of The Free

Stacey Henley — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 20:00:13 GMT

American Arcadia probably has the best elevator pitch of all the games in the Tribeca Game Selection. You play as a man who has been trapped in a 1970s American utopia, although ‘trapped’ is perhaps the wrong word. He’s very happy there, until someone on the inside instructs him to escape, and he realises his entire life has been a lie. Though the demo only showed his physical escape, ending with a rooftop chase, it also begins with him apparently being interrogated by police, and it’s unclear exactly how much this world and its inhabitants are aware of what happens in Arcadia, even as it’s broadcast into their homes.

Double Masters 2022 Spoilers: Day Four Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 08:09:50 GMT

Magic: The Gathering’s preview season for Double Masters 2022 continues its calm before the storm, as Sunday brought us only a handful of new reveals. As the torrent of cards coming this week loom just over the horizon, it’s nice to take a step back and appreciate some of the cards that may otherwise get lost under the deluge.

Double Masters 2022 Preview Season: Day Three Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 07:21:57 GMT

It’s time for the graveyard shift for Magic: The Gathering’s Double Masters 2022 preview season. The weekend is always a quiet time for spoilers, with fewer cards revealed ahead of the bumper crop we can expect over the next week.

Double Masters 2022 Preview Season: Day Two Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 08:58:01 GMT

Magic: The Gathering’s latest preview season is trucking along, with Double Masters 2022 giving us another day of big, splashy cards to get excited about. More importantly, day two gave us TheGamer’s previews, Consecrated Sphinx and Myths Realized.

Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals Preview - Stranger Things Are Happening

Stacey Henley — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 15:00:13 GMT

Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals has been on my radar for a while now. I've played most of the Tribeca Games 2022 selection over the past few days, and Oxenfree (along with Cuphead, which is DLC to a game I've already beaten) was the game I went in knowing the most about. It's a sequel, sure, but it's more of a spiritual/thematic sequel than a direct continuation. I knew Oxenfree 2 well enough because a couple of months back I had a hands-off preview of the sequel that went through the same section I was able to go hands-on with here. At the time, I was intrigued but left wanting. It was missing something, even if I couldn't quite put my finger on it. At Tribeca, Oxenfree 2 found what it was searching for.

Exclusive Magic: The Gathering Double Masters 2022 Previews

Joe Parlock — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 09:30:13 GMT

After a year full of new worlds, names, and faces, Magic: The Gathering’s next set casts its net a bit wider. Instead of being focused on a specific plane, Double Masters 2022 traverses Magic’s 30-year history to bring us a reprint-focused set full of the spiciest, most powerful cards.

Double Masters 2022 Preview Season: Day One Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 07:40:13 GMT

It’s day one of Magic: The Gathering’s latest preview season, and Double Masters 2022 has already brought us splashier cards than we saw in the whole of Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate. This stellar day one confirmed the inclusion of many staples, including Mulldrifter, Teferi’s Protection, Balustrade Spy, and Allosaurus Shepherd.

Double Masters 2022 Debut Stream Roundup – MTG

Joe Parlock — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 18:33:50 GMT

Magic: The Gathering's latest preview season has officially begun, with more information about the reprint-focused Double Masters 2022 being revealed. A reprint set with a higher number of powerful rare or mythic cards than normal, and puts two in each booster pack, we've already seen Dockside Extortionist is making its long-overdue reappearance after its debut printing in Commander 2019.

Stray Preview - What’s New Pussycat

Stacey Henley — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 06:09:02 GMT

The concept alone is going to get a lot of people to play Stray. It’s a game in which you control a cat, and that’s already a pretty good sell. Based on my hands off preview, I can see that it’s going to deliver on that concept well enough to win a lot of hearts and minds, but might struggle to sustain itself across a complete game.

The Jackbox Party Starter Preview - A Greatest Hits Collection For Newcomers

Stacey Henley — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 16:00:13 GMT

Jackbox has long become a staple of party nights, so in many ways The Jackbox Party Starter is a bit of a no-brainer. The pack, designed to put Jackbox's best foot forward for newcomers, offers three of the best Jackbox games in one simple package: Quiplash 3, Tee K.O., and Trivia Murder Party 2. I went hands-on with the new collection last week, and evaluating my thoughts on it is a more complex task than expected. I regularly play every Jackbox from 3-8 with friends, so these games were nothing new to me, and I know now what I knew before going in - they're pretty good. Mostly what I learned was that Jackbox needs to be played with friends.

Lightyear Frontier Preview - The Seeds Of Hope

Stacey Henley — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 14:30:14 GMT

Lightyear Frontier is a game that I think will pass a lot of people by on first glance, mostly because competition for column inches and headspace is extremely fierce during Summer Game Fest. If you're not Starfield, The Last of Us, a Rick & Morty shooter, or have the talents of Roger Clark or the IP of Aliens behind you, you're already fighting against the current. After seeing a hands-on event of Lightyear Frontier last week, I'm not even sure if it will stick all that long in my memory, but I want it to, and maybe that's enough right now.

Power Chord Preview - Rock ‘n Roll Slay The Spire

James Troughton — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 14:00:15 GMT

There’s a highlander wearing a kilt with an axe guitar combo on the left-hand side of the stage, strumming notes that send shockwaves to the other side, obliterating red-skinned demons adorned with vintage punk rock helmets. It’s a metalhead power fantasy with riffs that literally rip—sprinkle in a few roguelike elements alongside a deck of cards and you’ve got 2022’s version of Slay the Spire, but with a little more rock ‘n roll.

Darktide Preview: So Much More Than Vermintide In Space

Eric Switzer — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 14:00:14 GMT

Fatshark has had phenomenal success with Vermintide 2 over the last several years, so it was no surprise when the studio announced it was developing a Warhammer 40k follow-up. ‘Vermintide in Space’ is an enticing enough proposal, but after playing the game and speaking with head of design Victor Magnuson at this weekend’s Summer Game Fest even in Los Angeles, I’m certain that description doesn’t do it justice. Darktide seems to be a huge step forward for both Fatshark and the Left 4 Dead-like genre. The lessons the studio learned from the success (and missteps) of Vermintide 2 has shaped Darktide into not just a phenomenal co-op shooter, but one built with long-term support in mind.

Sonic Frontiers Preview: Folks, Our Blue Boy Is Back

Eric Switzer — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 13:00:13 GMT

The Sonic Frontiers demo from this weekend’s Summer Game Fest event in Los Angeles starts with a short cutscene. A bewildered Sonic the Hedgehog finds himself on an unfamiliar island, separated from his friends Tails and Amy. A talking drone gives Sonic some cryptic direction about collecting goobers to save his friends, or something. While they chat, we inexplicably cut to an extreme-closeup of Sonic’s hands. After a few quips and some light exposition, I gain control of Sonic and slam down on the turbo button, which I refuse to let go off for the entire length of the demo. Moments later, I try to run up a stone staircase but instead get launched into the air at a 45, then watch as Sonic helplessly tumbles down a cliff while the screen fades to black. I didn’t play nearly enough to decide whether or not this is a good Sonic game, but it is certainly a Sonic game.

There's Nothing Like Thirsty Suitors

Andrew King — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 20:35:13 GMT

Thirsty Suitors is aiming to faithfully represent South Asian culture, a milieu we've rarely seen in mainstream games. To do so, developer Outerloop Games is using a blend of genres we've never seen in mainstream video games. The 15-person studio's debut title finds protagonist Jala Jayaratne returning home after a break-up and confronting her exes in Paper Mario-inspired turn-based battles, in between hearty doses of third-person exploration, skateboarding, and cooking minigames.

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course Preview Showcase

Axel Nicolás Bosso — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 17:00:13 GMT

Fans have had a long wait for the Cuphead DLC, which had a series of delays after it was announced in 2019. Studio MDHR faced understandable issues and setbacks during the pandemic, while also admitting that The Delicious Last Course grew in ambition and scope as time passed.

Jurassic World Evolution 2 Dominion Biosysn Preview

Helen Ashcroft — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 15:00:13 GMT

Jurassic World Evolution 2 is about to get even bigger with the Dominion Biosyn expansion. The upcoming DLC features new content based on the highly anticipated Jurassic World Dominion and is set to launch alongside it later this week. Players can expect a new campaign, Chaos Theory scenario, and some additional features that help improve the overall experience.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Preview - Musou-so

Stacey Henley — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 14:03:22 GMT

Musou games get a bit of a bad rap. They’re often viewed as lesser spin-offs - lacking in every department. Less brains, less complexity, less depth, less meaning, less fun. After playing through the first four chapters of Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, it’s difficult to say where it stands. While it adds texture to the Three Houses experience, and the characters are as interesting and well written as ever, it doesn’t feel as polished as Persona 5 Strikers. Worse still, it doesn’t feel as necessary.

New Cards In Commander Legends: Battle For Baldur's Gate's Exit From Exile Deck – MTG

Joe Parlock — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:23:58 GMT

The final of Magic: The Gathering’s Commander Legends: Battle For Baldur’s Gate Commander decks has been revealed, and it’s an intriguing mix of creature tribal and exile-matters. Although the last Dungeons & Dragons set, Adventures in the Forgotten Realms, also had an exile-focused deck with Prosper Tome-Bound, this red/green version offers something decidedly different from that first attempt.

New Cards In Commander Legends: Battle For Baldur's Gate's Party Time Deck – MTG

Joe Parlock — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 10:44:03 GMT

Of all the mechanics not to reappear in either of Magic: The Gathering’s Dungeons & Dragons set, party was the most notable absence. A whole mechanic named after D&D’s iconic groups of adventurers seemed like a perfect fit for both Adventures in the Forgotten Realms and Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate, and yet it got no mention in either.

Destroy All Humans 2: Reprobed Preview - Make Love, Not War

Jade King — Tue, 31 May 2022 15:00:13 GMT

I grew up terrified of Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks. The wide-eyed, gibberish spouting aliens put a fear in me that has never once subsided. They’re so freaky and otherworldly, killing without remorse even though they clearly exist to be made fun of. Having the chance to reverse that conflict and cause chaos as the martian menace that haunted me was weirdly sobering as a kid, and why Destroy All Humans still has a special place in my heart. It’s fun, campy, ridiculous, so aware of what it wants to be.

New Cards In Commander Legends: Battle For Baldur's Gate's Mind Flayarrrs Deck – MTG

Joe Parlock — Tue, 31 May 2022 14:16:26 GMT

It’s the end of Magic: The Gathering’s Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate’s preview season, which means it’s time for the preconstructed Commander decks to have their big debut. We’ve already seen the red/green Draconic Dissent deck, and its huge amount of goad, but now it’s time to go for something a bit more horrific.

New Cards In Commander Legends: Battle For Baldur's Gate's Draconic Dissent Deck – MTG

Joe Parlock — Tue, 31 May 2022 12:04:47 GMT

As you would expect from a Commander-focused product, Magic: The Gathering’s Commander Legends: Battle For Baldur’s Gate is coming with a full suite of four preconstructed decks for you to buy and shuffle up.

Mario Strikers: Battle League Preview - It's Coming Home

Rhiannon Bevan — Fri, 27 May 2022 13:00:13 GMT

Mario Strikers: Battle League is laid out like FIFA, but it’s actually Smash Bros. After about an hour of play, I’m finding myself trying to remember button combos more than I’m caring about positioning and actually lining up goals like you would in actual football. Which is great, because even though I don’t care about the real game, I had an absolute blast with Battle League.

Commander Legends: Battle For Baldur's Gate Spoilers – Day Ten Highlights – MTG

Joe Parlock — Fri, 27 May 2022 06:53:33 GMT

We’ve made it to the end of Magic: The Gathering’s gargantuan Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate preview season. Over the last week and a half, we’ve seen a set that, while lower power than its predecessor, is still full of exciting and quirky cards for your Commander deck.

Capcom Fighting Collection Preview: A Step In The Right Direction For Game Preservation

Axel Nicolás Bosso — Thu, 26 May 2022 15:00:13 GMT

I was shocked when Capcom Fighting Collection was shown during the Capcom Pro Tour back in February. My excitement for this compilation wasn’t even eclipsed by the announcement, a couple of seconds later, of Street Fighter 6 — the next entry in my most beloved series in the genre.

Two Point Campus Preview

Meg Pelliccio — Thu, 26 May 2022 14:00:13 GMT

Do you remember your first day of university? It’s a pretty daunting experience for most of us. You worry about first impressions, making friends, and have general anxiety about the hefty workload ahead of you and a fear of failure that won’t dissipate until you graduate. Everything feels more manageable once you manage to make a buddy or two. You’ve still got essays to write, exams to take, and all that other scary stuff, but at least you have someone to share in the drama and heartache.

The Quarry Preview - We’re All Going On A Summer Holiday

Jade King — Thu, 26 May 2022 13:00:37 GMT

Horny teenagers need to stop going camping. That’s the primary lesson I took away from my time spent with The Quarry, a new horror adventure from Supermassive Games that aims to indulge in cliches almost as much as subverting them.