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It’s been four years since Nintendo brought the first batch of Nintendo 64 games to its Nintendo Switch Online service, now redubbed Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Classics. For someone who started his games media career covering N64 games, this modern take on Nintendo’s legendary Virtual Console era was a very welcome addition. I ended up playing through a few of the games over the months that followed and was surprised how well some of them aged (special shoutout to Rare’s Banjo games)! It’s not all sunshine, of course. The games aren’t running natively and may not feel as snappy as you remember them. Some early emulation challenges, like Ocarina of Time’s fog rendering, were addressed pretty quickly, even if some others still linger (F-Zero X is still not as we remember it). And while there are many all-time classics to be found in the emulated library, I would’ve honestly expected a ******* lineup by now with a few more first-party hits as well as some third-party gems that have firmly entered the forgotten gems realm. Which means, Nintendo Classics is a convenient and cost-effective solution to relive the N64 age, but not a perfect one. Already on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 Nintendo’s official site for the service lists the full 35 games so far, not including the five M-rated games – Turok, Turok 2, Perfect Dark, Shadow Man, and Forsaken 64 – released via the awkwardly-separated Nintendo Classics: Mature 17+ app. That’s 0.8 games released per month of the service – so almost a game per month – but the cadence was far more irregular since Nintendo launched the service with a set of nine games. [/url]Analogue 3D: Nintendo 64's Digital Offspring Enter the Analogue 3D, a modern – but costly – take on the Nintendo 64 hardware. See Seth’s review for more: If you’re not familiar with the company, it’s known for making extremely capable high-end solutions to play classic games on modern screens, such as the Analogue Duo (PC Engine/TurboGrafx), the Super NT (SNES), Mega NT ( Genesis/Mega Drive), the Analogue Pocket (all Game Boy systems – with adapters for Game Gear, NGPC, Lynx, and more), and now, the $270 Analogue 3D, capable of bringing both NTSC and PAL games to 4K screens, lag-free, and with additional bells and whistles, like CRT-style display options, overclocking, and VFR. It’s not a replacement for the Switch consoles’ ability to emulate Nintendo 64 on the go, but for purists who have or are willing to build a sizable N64 cartridge collection and want the games to feel and look as good (or better) as they remember, it’s surely the best way to play them on modern screens. I preordered one day one, mostly because I anticipated some major N64 games that I still own to never come to the Switch service – though I’ll concede that Nintendo has surprised me before. For starters, I did not have the Japan-only Custom Robo and Custom Robo V2 on my Switch Online bingo card. Perhaps there’s more where that came from? People interested in game preservation usually know their way around a classic gaming library and if you’re part of the Analogue 3D club, you likely have some N64 carts at home already. But as someone who reviewed Nintendo 64 games for a living some three decades ago, I humbly present this non-exhaustive list of personal favorites that are worth going back to and AREN’T yet – and in some cases never will be – on Nintendo’s service. 10 Nintendo 64 Must-Plays Let’s kick it off with 10 must-plays, in alphabetical order. I've included IGN's Top 25 N64 games at the bottom of this article -- but these picks and other picks in this column are specifically games you can't get yet play on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. If you want to keep track of the games mentioned in this article, hit the "..." button on the right side of the game cards that accompany every pick and use the "add to a playlist" option to create yourself your very own "Want to Play on Analogue 3D List". You can even number-rank your list, score the games, and more. Konami’s been issuing classic game collections left and right, which is why we haven’t seen some of its best classics, like the Castlevania GBA games, on Nintendo's service. Goemon games may be more likely additions, since Konami hasn’t revisited them in a long time, but the fact that the only Mystical Ninja game playable on modern hardware today is the obscure arcade original should tell you something. Though they’re not as good as Goemon’s best outings on SNES, Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon is a surprisingly daring Ocarina of Time-style 3D action adventure – and it came out before Nintendo’s mega hit. Plus, with overclocking, it’s actually much more playable than ever. Great Adventure, on the other hand, is a return to the 2D side-scrolling co-op action that may not be as original, but aged much better. Both are still fun to play. See my column, Life and Death of the Mystical Ninja for more. Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber I wrote an entire column about this true gem of strategy RPG and its predecessor, but at the risk of repeating myself: Ogre Battle 64 still rocks. Unfortunately, it’s also exceedingly rare and will cost more than a hundred bucks (without box or manual). If you don’t own it yet, always keep a weather eye out for a copy at the next neighborhood garage *****. See: Forgotten Gems: The Legendary Ogre Battle for more. Ogre Battle 64 hit the Virtual Console on Wii in 2010 and saw a late release on Wii U in the US in 2017, as well. Neither title has seen multi-platform or compilation releases nor an announcement for Nintendo Switch Online. Given that Square titles have been entirely absent from Nintendo’s subscription service, it’s unlikely we’ll see them added anytime soon. [/url]Rocket: Robot on Wheels You’ve probably never heard of Rocket, but its developer’s pedigree has improved a thousand fold since its debut back in 1999. I’ve always had a soft sport for developer Sucker Punch’s inaugural game, but those curious what the people behind Ghost of Yotei, Infamous, and Sly Cooper did before they were famous will find a slower-paced, physics-based puzzle platformer featuring a long-forgotten unicycle robot mascot. Given that Sony owns Sucker Punch and publisher Ubisoft likely let the license lapse, here’s probably your one chance to play it again or for the first time. Space Station Silicon Valley I’m convinced that DMA’s Space Station Silicon Valley will eventually join the Nintendo Classics lineup – after all, both its publisher, Take Two, and the developer – known now as Rockstar – are still alive and well. But until then, this obscure platform puzzle game is best played on original N64 hardware or the Analogue 3D. Silicon Valley has you switch between a variety of robotic animals to solve increasingly complicated puzzles. It’s odd, funny, and endlessly creative. Star Wars: Rogue Squadron Bonus Pick: Star Wars: Battle for Naboo It’s surprising this graphical showcase hasn’t returned to a Nintendo platform given that you can buy the PC port for a few bucks on Steam. Until it does, you could do worse than play the Expansion Pak-enhanced shooter on an Analogue 3D or original hardware today. A technical achievement for its time, Rogue Squadron is still a very playable and fun experience today. I was actually surprised how good it looks compared to pretty much every other N64 game when I plugged it into my Analogue 3D. The Analogue, of course, also supports the high resolution display mode that requires the 4MB Expansion Pak on original hardware. Bonus: try Star Wars: Episode I Battle for Naboo. It may not have the benefit of the more memorable battles from the original trilogy, but it’s still a great time. Those 10 picks should be enough to get your started. Super Smash Bros. Yes, I know. It’s insane the original Smash Bros. has not been released on Nintendo 64 Classics. Whatever the reasons, it still feels great and is a wonderful reminder as to how even the biggest hits started small. It’s the weakest game in the series with its limited roster of just 12 characters, but the genius of the series is already on full display here. WWF No Mercy Bonus Picks: WWF Wrestlemania 2000, WCW/NWO: Revenge, WCW vs. NWO: World Tour I’m not a wrestling guy, but even I could tell that developer Aki’s run of Nintendo 64 wrestlers was something special. WWF No Mercy was always our internal top pick at IGN64 (we played it for many late, late hours), but any of the four Aki-made games are still worth playing. And given the complications with character and league licenses, the chances of them ever coming to Nintendo’s service are very slim. Even More N64 Picks for Your Analogue 3D And here are a few more games worth checking out, based either on gameplay quality or historical significance, as noted: Bakuretsu Muteki Bangai-O Inferior to the Dreamcast version, but still a great example of what made Treasure’s games such rare delights, Bangai-O has you steer a tiny flying mech through a maze filled with enemies and relentlessly blast the opposition. Only released in Japan in limited numbers, it’s so ridiculously expensive to buy for N64, it would be really nice to get a digital rerelease. BattleTanx and BattleTanx: Global Assault Nintendo 64 was the multiplayer console of the ‘90s – but some of us kept playing four-player split-screen years afterwards, too. Stemming from failed console-maker 3DO, the two BattleTanx games were lesser known, but managed to serve up such addictive tank PVP gameplay, we ended up playing it almost as much as GoldenEye. Sadly, 3DO went under before they managed to pull off a hat trick. Prism Entertainment snapped up the license and maintains the trademarks for BattleTanx, but hasn’t done anything with them. Might as well grab the carts for cheap at a garage *****. Body Harvest Body Harvest is not a great game – and didn’t age well. But it’s an experiment so ahead of its time, it deserves to be played again. From the makers of Grand Theft Auto comes a fully polygonal alien invasion action adventure that lets you command any vehicle you see. If you’re intrigued, please see my column for more: Body Harvest: The Game Nintendo Walked Away From. Bomberman X4 Nintendo 64 is home to four Bomberman games. The first, Bomberman 64, known as Baku Bomberman in Japan, is notable mostly for bringing Bomberman into polygonal 3D. It’s not as snappy as its 2D predecessors, but it’s still fun to revisit. It was followed by the single-player Bomberman Hero. The lack of multiplayer still ********me off, but some people seemed to enjoy it. It was followed by Bomberman 64: Second Attack. This underrated sequel to the inaugural 64 outing ffeatures more multiplayer options, including two-player co-op and a four-player splitscreen mode. Not all of them hit, but it’s still a quality game to revisit. Now, things get confusing. There’s also: Bomberman 64. No, you’re not seeing double. This Racjin-developed game takes everything back to 2D. Which much better results. Only released in Japan, it’s a shame the real Bomberman 64 from the makers of Snowbo Kids is more obscure than the inferior earlier title. Castlevania: Legacy Of Darkness Konami tried really hard – and struggled – to bring all its classic 2D series into the third dimension. It gave up on Contra 64 outright and canceled the project, while Goemon fared slightly better and saw two N64 releases, covered above. But you have to laud Konami for not giving up. Legacy of Darkness is basically a redo of Castlevania [64]. Its foggy, blurry visuals won’t dazzle you, but it’s a flawed and forgotten gem worth remembering. I still love that oversized “Home Depot Skeleton” battle. Cruis’n USA and Cruis’n World Take a deep breath. I don’t love these games. Actually, I don’t even like these games. I tolerated Cruis’n USA in the arcades, but only when there weren’t better racers around to play – which was rare, because contemporaries like Daytona USA were always near. The N64 version isn’t a great conversion, but I know many older arcade fans are nostalgic for both Cruis’n games. For whatever reason. Donkey Kong 64 While I’m making you angry, I have very mixed feelings about DK 64 as well. The two Banjo games are definitely superior in every way, which is no doubt why both were prioritized for release on Switch. But for all the collection bloat, Donkey Kong 64 still has some memorable moments -- and music -- that make it worth revisiting. Plus, that yellow cartridge looks mighty good in either the white or the ****** Analogue 3D. Overclocking helps with its erratic framerate, but the drop in quality from Banjo-Kazooie is palpable when you play them back to back. I know, I know, many of you love it. Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing) Animal Crossing on GameCube was actually a port of Doubutsu no Mori, a Nintendo 64 “communication game” that predates it by a full year. You’ll have to be able to read Japanese kana to fully enjoy it – but also note that you’ll mostly be playing the same game that later came to GameCube as Animal Crossing and Doubutsu no Mori+. San Francisco Rush and Rush 2049 The original arcade conversion was surprisingly competent, but the Nintendo 64 version of its sequel, Rush 2049, manages the rare feat of being better than the arcade original. The key to its success was the ability to control the vehicles while airborne, which made all the difference for this version’s battle and stunt modes. “Rush… It’s DANGEROUS.” Gauntlet Legends Atari was intent on reinventing each one of its arcade classics in 3D for the new millennium, and Gauntlet Legends turned out to be one of the few that made it and left an impression. Ironically, its blocky polygonal graphics didn’t age as well as the OG’s top-down sprites, but I remember having a great time playing four-player in both the arcades and at home on N64. Hybrid Heaven It’s not as good as you remember it to be, but it remains a really unique attempt at marrying Metal Gear-style action with classic roleplaying gameplay. Ultimately, the world you explore is just not interesting enough to keep most player’s attention, but it’s historically interesting as the only sci-fi action RPG from Konami’s Osaka team and because it featured a widescreen mode way back in 1999. Hybrid Heaven supported the physical Expansion Pak for higher resolution output on N64 hardware, which the Analogue 3D supports virtually as well. Mickey’s Speedway USA I’m no fan of Mickey’s Speedway USA – to me, it’s the game where Rare’s considerable design chops fell victim to having to color in the lines of a high-profile license. But it’s unlikely we’ll ever see this Disney take on Mario Kart (with way too wide tracks) re-released, so snap it up if you encounter it in the wild. Micro Machines 64 Turbo Here’s a good racing game, for a change. Unfairly overlooked, Micro Machines 64 Turbo is a top-down multiplayer racer that offers up super-fun four player action with 32 different vehicle types – cars, tanks, boats, helicopters – across 48 different tracks. It even features an eight-player mode via what it calls “pad share” (yes, it’s as awkward as it sounds, but you have to appreciate the total commitment to create the ultimate party game). Mischief Makers Mischief Makers bucked the trend of making every game 3D on N64 and it’s still good for some fast and fluid action from storied developer Treasure. It’s not as good as Treasure’s own Gunstar Heroes for Genesis, but hey, not many games let you play as a brawling robot maid, so there’s that. Mission: Impossible Not a great game. Mission: Impossible was a hugely ambitious game development project that didn’t quite make it to the desired finish line. It was pared down and became considerably less ambitious to get it out the door, but some of the great ideas are still to be found in what could’ve been a Hitman game before there were Hitman games. Rayman 2: The Great Escape Though not as good as the Dreamcast version, Rayman 2: The Great Escape is an excellent platformer that shows the limbless hero could hang with Mario and Banjo (unlike Ubi’s very similar 3D platformer attempt that year, Tonic Trouble). Rayman’s 2D outings have aged better, but The Great Escape is still worth your time. Snowboard Kids 1 and 2 Nintendo 64’s four controller ports and early success with Mario Kart 64 multiplayer inspired some developers to experiment with “Mario Kart, but with…” games. With Snowboard Kids, Osaka-based Racjin found the winning formula. Never as good as Mario Kart – or 1080, for that matter – both Snowbo Kids games conjure up happy memories of playing against friends. Star Fox Adventures Originally conceived as an original project called Dinosaur Planet, Nintendo had Rare add Star Fox characters and flight sequences to turn it into the only non-shooter spin-off in the franchise. Parts of it are much better than you remember. Like a Legend of Zelda with foxes. But other parts – like the writing, pacing, or Rare’s obsession with nonsense McGuffin collectoritis – are eyerollingly bad. “Yesssss, you found a BafomDad!” Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire I know there are plenty of N64 fans who would put this in their top 10 based on the strength of its excellent Hoth level. Visually, it was way ahead of its time. But unfortunately, most of the game is marred by sluggish and unbalanced first-person shooter sections and a repetitive, highly compressed mono soundtrack. It’s an interesting failure that has its fans. Top Gear and Friends I wrote about the original Top Gear on SNES in a previous installment of this column, but N64 is a home to a slew of Top Gear titles, all quite different from each other. There’s Top Gear Rally, Top Gear Rally 2, Top Gear Overdrive, and Top Gear Hyperbike. The first one is still arguably the best in the bunch – Boss Game Studios, how you’re missed! Top Gear Rally and the Boss-developed street racing successor World Drive Championship showed what was graphically possible on Nintendo 64, while the Saffire-developed Top Gear Rally 2 added equipment failure to the mix for a more authentic endurance racing experience. Top Gear Overdrive, finally, is an obscure attempt at challenging Beetle Adventure Racing – and it’s quite competent. It’s from the people behind Baldur’s Gate 2, Snowblind. That same team also made Top Gear Hyperbike – but it’s not in the same league as Excitebike 64. The Battle of the Top Gears If these games ever reappear on modern devices, don't expect the names to be the same. Kemco and the BBC, who broadcast the TV show Top Gear, tangled over the name "Top Gear" as far back as 1998. The trademark registrar’s office ruled in 1999 that Kemco could not register the trademark and ordered a payment of £1,000 to the BBC to offset legal filing costs. Kemco kept using the name Top Gear until 2003 then quietly switched the brand name to the Japanese one: Top Racer. Top Racer Rally. Doesn't quite sound the same. [/url]Tetrisphere, The New Tetris, Tetris 64, and Magical Tetris Challenge Nintendo 64 was home to many quality puzzle games, some of which have already been released on Nintendo Switch. But there’s a quadrilogy of Tetris games that never got there that’s still worth playing. The visually-exciting but also confusing Tetrisphere and the more traditional The New Tetris are mostly notable for their kicking soundtrack (the same composer scored both), while the Japan-only Tetris 64 mixed things up significantly with new block sizes and different modes (and a bio sensor you can clamp to your ear). Capcom’s Magical Tetris Challenge combines two complicated licenses – Disney and Tetris – and thus will never be seen again outside its limited console run (and the arcade original it’s based on). There's Even More How’s that for a list to keep you busy? There’s plenty more, of course, from the oddball liquid puzzler Wetrix, to WipEout 64, platformers Chameleon Twist and Glover, rally racer MRC, and some quality sports games like NFL Blitz, ISS ‘98, and NBA Courtside. Bored with GoldenEye? Eurocom’s The World is Not Enough isn’t bad. Plus, there’s Worms Armageddon, Spider-Man, Vigilante 8, and some fun and goofy ports of StarCraft 64, Command & Conquer, Quake, Quake II, Rainbow Six, and Duke Nukem to keep you busy. And yes, I know about Quest 64 and the Army Men games – more power to you if you enjoy them – but they’re not on my Christmas List. Do you have any favorite Nintendo 64 games that I didn’t mention? Share your recommendations with others – and let me know if you’ve gotten your hands on an Analogue 3D and what your first impressions are. Peer Schneider heads up Game Help & Tools across IGN, Maxroll, Map Genie, Eurogamer, RockPaperShotgun, and VG247 and has played every single game named in this article. Likely before you were born (no offense). View the full article

Finding great loot isn't too difficult in ARC Raiders, but there are plenty of great places to scavenge that you might be overlooking. Embark Studios' wildly popular extraction shooter tries very hard to be accommodating to more casual players, and part of this is clearly labeling where loot is concentrated and what kinds of items can be found in each labeled location. Play enough rounds and interact with other players enough, and you'll start to recognize the loot spots that get the most foot traffic. View the full article

Nexus Mods is currently hosting a Fallout modding marathon timed to coincide with the second season of the TV show. Fresh off a rewatch of the first season I'm replaying New Vegas right now myself, and keeping an eye on new mods like the ones that add a unique upgradable outfit for the Courier and extend the companion wheel... Read more.View the full article

A reliable source in the Genshin Impact community has revealed a rough outline of map expansions coming in the second half of Nod-Krai. It's no secret that Genshin Impact has gone through a bit of a content drought in 2025 – having only released a new zone in Version 5.5, Version 5.8, and Version 6.0. By contrast, 2024 featured five map expansions across Fontaine and Natlan, while 2023 featured six across Sumeru and Fontaine. Given that the key pillars of Genshin Impact have been its characters and its open world, the lack of new zones has been a notable topic in its community. View the full article

Bleach Soul Resonance is now available globally, and the launch version introduces some of the iconic names we witnessed in the anime. Like plenty of other gachas, you'll have to rely on your luck to obtain a character. However, you'll also have to pay attention to team composition to clear the in-game content without many problems. Not all characters are built the same, and this guide will help you understand which names are on top of the meta and which aren't good enough. Table of contentsComplete Bleach Soul Resonance characters tier listS-tierA-tierB-tierC-tierComplete Bleach Soul Resonance characters tier list Characters in Bleach Soul Resonance can be separated into two rarities: SSR and SR. Theoretically, the SSR characters might always feel like the better choice, but that's not the case. You'll have to pay attention to the team composition, which mainly comprises a tank, a DPS, and a support character. To construct the tier list, I have used four categories. S-tier characters are pretty much the best possible choices in the current meta. These are the names you should consider during team-building and rerolls.A-tier characters are pretty close to S-tier in terms of their in-game effectiveness, but they have minor weaknesses.B-tier characters are, at best, okayish choices.C-tier characters are average characters that should be replaced as quickly as possible. Here's a brief overview of how I have used to rank all the characters before deep diving into the details. TierNamesSIchigo Kurasaki-Bankai, Kaname Tosen, Kisuke UraharaAIkkaku Madarame, Byakuya Kuchiki, Uryu Ishida, Rukia, Sajin KonamuraBYachiru Kusajishi, Orihime Inoue, Ichgo Kurosaki-Shikai, Renji AbaraiCYachiru Kusajishi, Orihime Inoue, Ichigo Kurosaki-Shikai, Renji AbaraiS-tierIchigo Kurasaki-Bankai: The first limited character shows his value in every moment, and he's definitely worth rerolling for. His combos are fast, and you can even teleport across different enemies. His base damage is among the best in the current version, and his Ultimate enables the Hollowfication Mode. The Hollowfication Mode boosts his attacks, counters, and encourages new skills. Ichigo Kurasaki-Bankai is the best character in Bleach Soul Resonance at the time of the global launch.Kaname Tosen: Kaname might not be as strong as Ichigo, but he is an excellent DPS unit in his own right. His Co-strike ability allows him to jump in and damage enemies when teamed up with other Thrust Damage characters. His abilities have a stack function that builds up over time and buffs damage taken by enemies.Kisuke Urahara: A good support unit is crucial, and it doesn't get better than Kisuke. His ultimate grants a 50% Crit Damage bonus, which is one of the best buffs in the entire game. He works well in any team composition and stacks Reishi Analysis. Reishi Analysis further buffs the team's attack and can stack up to three times. Just pair him with a good DPS unit and you're all set.A-tierIkkaku Madarame: Ikkaku has one of the best AoE-based attacks among all characters, and also applies Wound with his attacks. He also offers Thrust Damage with Kaname, and his Bankai form raises his attack, range, and unlocks an incredible finisher as a bonus.Byakuya Kuchiki: I really like how you can use Byakuya as a secondary damage dealer on the field while controlling another character. His Battlefield Skill has immense damage potential on its own.Sajin Konamura: While having a tank isn't necessary, Sajin can create a shield for himself and his allies. If you can land a combo or Technique on enemies, you can infinitely use Sajin's Battlefield Skill. The base damage, however, is on the lower side of things.Uryu Ishida: If you don't have a good SSR damage dealer, Uryu is an excellent alternative. He is easy to obtain from the gacha and does decent damage from all his attacks. He also offers AoE attacks, allowing you to erase waves easily.Rukia: An excellent support who does a bit of everything. Her attacks have crowd control (thanks to her freezes), and she gels well with any team composition.B-tierYachiru Kusajishi: Good support character with decent damage, but there are better alternatives in her role. However, she's the best character to pair with Ichigo Kurosaki-Bankai, so keep that in mind if you get lucky with the limited banner.Orihime Inoue: A free character who offers shields, heals, and allows you to stay alive for longer. If you're desperate for a healer, she's a good shot.Ichigo Kurasaki-Shikai: Better version than the starter option, but works well if you focus on Spiritual Pressure.Renji Abarai: Does decent burst damage and has good AoE effects. However, he doesn't shine in any specific area when it comes to DPS units, and there are better options as far as the meta is concerned.C-tier There's not much to say about these characters. You can use them if you're a fan, but it's best to avoid investing resources. Ichigo Kurosaki-InitialYasutora SadoUruru TsumugiyaNemu Kurotsuchi The post Bleach Soul Resonance tier list (Global Launch) appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

After years of free updates and options for replayability, Stardew Valley has come a long way since its humble origins back in 2016, but that doesn't mean there aren't still areas for improvement. Expanding the limited dialogue options after romancing one of Stardew Valley's bachelors would be an easy choice, and one of the very first romantic moments you'll have with your virtual partner is easily the worst out of the bunch. View the full article

The Rus Post Car Key is one of the many items that you can obtain randomly in Escape from Tarkov, and it could be a pretty important object for the future. While I am unsure if there's a specific location to find the key, I obtained it from a random raid. The key, incidentally, has a proper use on one of the maps in Escape from Tarkov. This guide will provide you with all the details on where to use the key if you find it during one of your raids. Rus Post Car location in Escape from Tarkov If you haven't figured out from the name itself, the key is required to open the Rus Post Car. To find the vehicle, head to the Post Office on the Streets of Tarkov map. If you're a beginner, the first task will be to gain access to this map. Image via Escape from Tarkov Wiki. Remix by Destructoid The next task is to reach the Post Office. It's opposite the Pinewood Hotel, and just beside the TerraGroup building. The latter is an important POI as it's involved in several quests. You can also find secret quests like Unheard at this location. Go past the TerraGroup Building, and you'll find the Post Office. You will find a blue van standing in front of the entrance. At first, the van will be locked (you can shoot at the glass window, but it won't open). If you have the key in your backpack, you can then use it to unlock the doors. You can open either the front door on the driver's side or the back. Unfortunately, I never found any loot (attempted it twice, just in case there's a bug). Screenshot by Destructoid Opening the back of the van shows you plenty of undelivered letters, but there's no loot. I have checked the van thoroughly. The same can also be said about the Post Office building. I firmly believe that this van could be part of a quest in the near future. If you have the key, I will advise you to store it safely, since using it on the van won't be of much use at the moment. The post Where to use the Rus Post Car Key in Escape from Tarkov appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

The core gameplay loop of Monsters are Coming! revolves around your Hero and town, and keeping him alive will be extremely important. Unlike other bullet hell games, Monsters are Coming! treats death differently. Your Hero isn't invincible, and they can die if they take more damage than they can heal. However, the death of your Hero doesn't automatically mean that your run is over. This guide will explain why the death of your Hero matters, and why it's best to avoid it in the first place. Table of contentsHow does Hero death work in Monsters are Coming!Hero death penalty in Monsters are Coming!How does Hero death work in Monsters are Coming! Unlike traditional games, your Hero can die more than once. He can die from wounds received from enemies, and if you fail to heal him. A Hero's death will spawn a new one, who will land with all the upgrades and a full pool of health. In simpler words, you can afford your Hero dying, and more than once at that. However, you should be careful about your Hero's death since there's a penalty associated with every time they die. Hero death penalty in Monsters are Coming! While a death doesn't automatically end your run, there's a penalty associated with every time your Hero dies. In the screenshot below, you'll see that the game asks me to place a memorial on any available grid. Screenshot by Destructoid The key to surviving longer in Monsters are Coming! is to place different districts in your town. Some of them offer resources, while others eliminate enemies. Your town has a limited number of grids, and you can't expand it infinitely. The more times your Hero dies, the more Memorials you need to place. Every Memorial fills up a grid, reducing the total number of districts that you can activate. Hence, every Hero death directly reduces the chances of your town's survival (since the grid space gets diminished, and you can have fewer districts). The post What happens when your hero dies in Monsters are Coming! appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

I love stealth games, and I love playing a sneaky guy in ******* RPGs: Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Cyberpunk, you best believe that, when given the option, I'm crouch walking for 80 hours straight. I'm not alone in that preference either: The Stealth Archer in Skyrim, which plays exactly how it sounds, is a memetic, fan-favorite playstyle in Bethesda's smash hit RPG, with guides, analysis, and love letters galore on YouTube and Reddit... Read more.View the full article

AdHoc Studio has finally fixed one of the more annoying issues with its hit game Dispatch, finally letting players earn a Platinum Trophy for their efforts. The episodic and choice-driven experience, Dispatch, has been a big hit with players, earning praise for the story, characters, and the choices that have a meaningful impact throughout the course of the game. View the full article

Warhammer: Vermintide 2, arguably one of the best co-op games and certainly the best in the L4D genre since L4D2, is now free to keep forever on Steam. For the low, low price of zero buckaroons, you can get a fantastic game that is still being updated and maintained. But, if you want to do so, you're going to have to claim the game before Nov. 24, the last day of the free-to-keep program. Vermintide 2 does these kinds of events every year, allowing new players to hop into the game free of charge and decide if they wanna stay. The title continuously receives new updates, events, and content, even if it's been seven full years since it first launched. What's more, its younger brother Warhammer 40K: Darktide is actively being developed by the same studio, meaning they're still setting time and resources aside to keep Vermintide 2 up to snuff, which I can only commend the devs for. It looks epic even in screenshots. Image via Fatshark Whereas Darktide itself has a lot of issues that are slowly but surely being fixed, Vermintide 2 is ironed out to the utmost, has an incredible community, tons of DLC and extra content to play through, and a co-op experience unlike any other. You can play it solo with bots or alongside up to three friends, beating the Skaven to a pulp and trying to prevent the inevitable Endtimes, i.e., the worst thing that has happened to Warhammer in its history. It plays out much like Left 4 Dead, where four characters eliminate hordes of enemies, complete objects, and survive map to map in a loosely-connected narrative sequence of levels. From open framlands to urban Germanic Renaissance towns, Vermintide 2 is diverse in both its locales and the enemies you'll be fighting (which are, like in L4D, separated into commons and elites). So, if you're itching for a good L4D experience but don't want to spend a dime in the disaster that was Back 4 Blood, then don't miss out on this chance. Seriously, don't miss it, it's a masterpiece and, well, a Warhammer game, which itself is worthy of attention. The post The best co-op game since Left 4 Dead 2 is free to keep on Steam, but you have only two days left appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

It took a long time to get the next chapter of Peter Parker’s journey after that Venom tease at the end of the first game, but we finally got here. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 more than lives up to the first game and the Miles Morales-focused PS5 launch title. And, now that its been out for two years or so, we’re starting to see more discounts on the city-spanning adventure. As part of Amazon’s ****** Friday deals, the game is down to $29.99 – that’s better than half price. Get it at AmazonGet it at Best BuyGet it at GameStopGet it at TargetGet it at WalmartSpider-Man 2 Is Over 50% Off That price is thanks to Amazon jumping the gun on its ****** Friday deals, meaning you can snap up the AAA adventure for under $30. As for the game itself, it tells the story of both Peter and Miles this time around, with both playing key roles. It’s a great way to see more of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery than would fit in the first game, but the biggest threat is Kraven who comes to New York to hunt our two Spider-Men. It ratchets everything great about the first game up a notch, and even lets you switch between both characters effortlessly in the open world thanks to the PS5’s SSD loading speeds. Reviewer Simon Cardy gave the game an 8 out of 10 for IGN, saying “Marvel's Spider-Man 2 delivers Insomniac's best tale yet, and despite its open world falling short, is a reliably fun superhero power trip.” As for what’s next for Insomniac’s fledgling Marvel universe, it’ll be Wolverine arriving next year. The game is slated to launch in Q4 of 2026, and we got our first gameplay overview at Sony’s State of Play in September. Follow IGN Deals Coverage The IGN Deals team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our coverage: Sign up for our IGN Deals NewsletterSet IGN as a preferred source in GoogleFollow us on social mediaIGN Deals on XIGN Deals on InstagramIGN Deals on FacebookIGN Deals on Tiktok[/url] Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay. View the full article

Deadlock's not-so-secret invite-only beta has been a blast if you don't mind your favorite MOBA getting fundamentally altered every few months. The game has switched up how many lanes it has, dropped half a dozen new heroes in one go, and now, majorly overhauled lane creep mechanics in what Valve calls a "small update.".. Read more.View the full article

Battlefield 6 has offered a true return to form for the long-running shooter franchise, and while its campaign perhaps doesn’t do anything new, it remains a fantastic multiplayer sandbox. If your whole friends' list is playing and you’ve been waiting for a chance to jump in with them, then good news – you can save up to 24% on EA’s massive shooter at Amazon in its ****** Friday deals. Get it at AmazonSave On Battlefield 6 For ****** Friday Battlefield 6 only launched in October, and sold big numbers, but it’s already down to $59.45 from its $69.99 MSRP on Xbox. PlayStation players have it even better, with the PS5 version of the game down to $52.99. While we didn’t love the campaign, there’s no denying it’s a gorgeous-looking shooting gallery, but as with any Battlefield game, the real draw is multiplayer. Whether you’re looking for infantry combat, the opportunity to fly a jet or helicopter, or you just want to pile into a tank with your friends and bring down buildings, there’s something for everyone. Reviewer Justin Koreis gave the multiplayer an 8 out of 10, saying, “Battlefield 6’s multiplayer action is expertly crafted, wrapped in a wonderful layer of destructibility that both looks great and materially affects the flow of combat. The gunplay is excellent, with weapons that are accurate enough to reward skilled shooting, but have just enough sway to promote a bit of careful thought while you take aim.” Battlefield 6 is currently in the middle of its first season of post-launch content, including new maps and modes, while the RedSec Battle Royale mode is also available as a standalone free-to-play game. Given how successful the game has been for EA, you can likely expect new seasonal updates well into the future. Follow IGN Deals Coverage The IGN Deals Team has over 30 years of combined experience finding the best discounts and preorders available online. If you want the latest updates from our trusted team, here’s how to follow our ****** Friday coverage: Sign up for our IGN Deals NewsletterSet IGN as a preferred source in GoogleFollow us on social mediaIGN Deals on XIGN Deals on InstagramIGN Deals on FacebookIGN Deals on Tiktok[/url] Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay. View the full article

The world of Warhammer games is full of interesting experiences, and one of the best is now free to keep for a limited time. While games set in the typical Warhammer 40K setting make up the bulk of releases,games connected to the franchise have also ventured into Warhammer Fantasy. Chief among those are the Vermintide titles, which dive into a rodent-heavy apocalypse of the End Times. View the full article

The Competitive Catalyst Evolution offers an excellent upgrade opportunity for FC 26 players, allowing them to improve a card of their choice in Ultimate Team. While the evolution costs 30,000 coins to unlock, you can add the Long Ball+ playstyle, roles, and stat upgrades on the selected card. Let's look at the best possible choices based on the offered upgrades and requirements. Table of contentsFC 26 Competitive Catalyst Evolution requirementsFC 26 Competitive Catalyst Evolution upgradesBest players to use in Competitive Catalyst EvolutionFC 26 Competitive Catalyst Evolution requirements Here are the requirements of Competitive Catalyst Evolution in FC 26. Overall: Max 84Pace: Max 86PlayStyle: Max 10PlayStyle: Max 1Not Rarity: World Tour Silver StarsPosition: CAMNot Position: STFC 26 Competitive Catalyst Evolution upgrades The evolution has four levels of upgrades, each with certain conditions to fulfill. Level 1 upgrades Overall: +6|86Crossing: +20|83Dribbling: +15|80Long Passing: +20|89Weak Foot: +1|4Roles: Shadow Striker++ Level 2 upgrades Agilit: +15|80Curve: +15|86Reactions: +20|86Free Kick: +20|83Skills: +1|4PlayStyles: Tiki Taka|6 Level 3 upgrades Pace: +5|82Aggression: +15|83Ball control: +15|82Vision: +20|90PlayStyles+: Long Ball Pass|1Roles: Playmaker++ Level 4 upgrades Shooting: +7|84Balance: +15|80Short Passing: +15|87Stamina: +25|90Composure: +15|84PlayStyles: Pinged Pass|6 Level 1 upgrade requirements Win 2 matches in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game. Level 2 upgrade requirements Play 3 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game.Assist 2 goals in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Level 3 upgrade requirements Win 1 match in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player in game. Level 4 upgrade requirements Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO player in game.Best players to use in Competitive Catalyst Evolution Here are some of my best recommendations for inclusion in the evolution. Mason Greenwood TOTWZambo Anguissa TOTWRyan CherkiLukas Bergvall TOTWAkliouche CornerstonesLuna Ultimate ScreamCarney Chukwuemeka World TourIscoRuben Loftus-CheekLucas Paqueta TOTW While the upgrades are significant, you will be able to include these cards in future evolutions to create a chain and evolve their stats further. The post Best players for FC 26 Competitive Catalyst Evolution appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

The Xbox 360, a legendary console in more ways than one, was first launched on this day 20 years ago, going on to cement itself as the pinnacle of gaming (at least for a while). It spawned countless titles, good and bad, so what games are your favorites? On a personal note, the 360 came to me late. I first laid hands on the thing around 2014, when my older brother, who was a big fan of Xbox, bought one for cheap off a dude wanting to divest it, probably in favor of the newly released PlayStation 4. A lot of hardware in my corner of the world came late, and I was stuck with a PS2 for years longer than my peers across the Pond (or in other parts of Europe, for that matter). What I did have at all times that was up to snuff was a PC. There hadn't been a major release on PC that I missed, and I played and enjoyed tons of games on my home computer (that eventually broke down and saw me going to my grandma's to use hers to run WarCraft 3 on Garena for 10 hours a day). In any discussion about childhood gaming, I'd have to stick to PC, though I do have a couple of games that I believe marked my Xbox journey significantly. These were PES 2013, Konami's soccer game, and ****** Ops 2. I still remember every single song on the soundtrack. Image via Steam Community/LoG!c The former is something my pals and I played religiously at the time, spending ungodly hours competing on the field to see who's best, which usually turned out to be the luckiest rather than the more skillful. It was a fast-paced, easy-to-play game that could be taken up by literally anyone, lending itself perfectly to PES parties where even those who've never seen a controller could participate. ****** Ops 2, on the other hand, was a different beast. It's probably the only game I actually completed on the 360, having never been a fan of controllers in FPS games. Being a PC kid from day one, I grew up playing Modern Warfare (2007) on a mouse and keyboard, as I did with every other CoD game from United Offensive to this very day. So it was a daunting experience, but one that I remember fondly, and will forever do so. Where BO2 stood out for me was when a friend and I discovered Zombies. It was a cracked Xbox that played pirated versions of games, so we only had the base few Zombies maps to play, like Farm and Town, but that was enough for us. We spent an unhealthy amount of time on BO2 Zombies, and we did, occasionally, put that controller-shooter skill to use in Modern Warfare 3, where we'd duke it out on Dome to see who'd mastered this new way to play better. ****** Ops 2 was a high point in my childhood. Image via Activision I'm a late adopter of the Xbox 360 era, someone who came in just as the lights were turned on at the party. Everyone was leaving, and I was grasping for that last bit of beer on the table. It's still a memorable experience and a valuable addition to my gaming journey. But I believe our readers, that is you, have a lot more to share about their Xbox 360 days. It's a legendary console that is remembered to this very day, what with everyone always mentioning kids these days wouldn't survive 360 MW2 and Halo 3. So, what would be your favorite Xbox 360-era games? What marked the ancient days that have stuck with you all this time? It's a major anniversary, and we should celebrate what made us into who we are as players, and probably even people. The post Today is the Xbox 360’s 20th birthday. What are your favorite games of its time? appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

Silent Hill f has breathed new life into the classic survival horror series, and Konami has now confirmed that more unannounced games are on the way. Two major releases are already slated: a remake of the original Silent Hill by Bloober Team, and Silent Hill: Townfall, developed by Screen Burn Interactive and published by Annapurna Interactive. View the full article

s I flitted between Peter Parker and Miles Morales boroughs-apart in Spider-Man 2's New York City, I thought: why haven't more games copied the character-swapping system from GTA 5?.. Read more.View the full article

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road's newest update is live on PS5, PS4, Xbox, and Steam with ranked mode, room match, story mode chapter 6, and more fixes. View the full article

Издательство Ubisoft планирует выпустить многострадальный ремейк Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time в середине января 2026 года. Об этом сообщает портал Insider Gaming со ссылкой на своих инсайдеров, хотя неподтверждённые слухи об этом появились в Сети немного раньше. View the full article

When my 11 year old son took a guard's arrow to the dome, it occurred to me I had failed as a parent. Rufus is—was, before the arm of the state converted him into a needlebook—my **** ****** Son, a mod for Skyrim that promises "a new level of realism, depth and challenge" via the introduction of "your useless, ****, stupid disappointment of a son.".. Read more.View the full article

The most recent Steam Next Fest threw quite a few winners my way, but none that I was so immediately eager to play more of than Norse: Oath of Blood. The best turn-based RPGs, from Clair Obscur Expedition 33 to Baldur's Gate 3, strike that beautiful balance between serious storytelling, intense combat, and light-hearted banter among party members. Arctic Hazard's new medieval adventure immediately shoulder-barged its way into my heart with a mix of tactical battle systems and all the bawdy charm of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and we've not long to wait until the full thing arrives. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Mixing BG3's combat and Kingdom Come Deliverance 2's charm, medieval RPG Norse's new demo just made my Steam wishlist Norse Oath of Blood blends settlement building with a Viking take on XCOM View the full article

Hytale has officially been saved and is on its way to our machines after seven long years of waiting. It spent half a decade in limbo at Riot Games stuck in a drawer somewhere probably, and had to be re-purchased by the same people who sold it to that corporate giant. Now, in the hands of its rightful owners, Hytale is in full development and is actually coming out. Here's everything you need to know about a potential release date, the platforms it will be available on, and more. Hytale release date speculation It's likely coming out soon. Image via Hypixel Hytale does not have a concrete release date as of this article. However, following its re-acquisition by Simon Collins-Laflamme, the original founder of Hypixel and one of the initial creators of Hytale itself, the game is set to come out as soon as possible, even if it contains bugs and jank, arguing that players have waited for far too long already given that the game was announced over seven years ago. Collins-Laflamme finalized the repurchasing of Hytale on Nov. 17 after several months of working on the deal, so it's still a bit too early to offer precise speculation on a release date. Even so, Collins-Laflamme's comments on X indicate it's going to happen soon, and we've recently also been given a price for the game, which is going to be $19.99, undercutting Minecraft by 33 percent. What platforms will Hytale be on? Hytale is upping the ante for voxel survival games. Image via Hypixel Hytale was originally planned to be a PC exclusive game, especially for Microsoft Windows. This tracks with the game being inspired by Minecraft, specifically the Hypixel server, which was primarily a PC-only experience. It'll probably have its own launcher, but we might see it come to Steam and Epic Games as well. Though Mojang's title eventually branched out to just about every platform under the sun, it's safe to assume that Hytale will release on PC and Windows first, followed up by potential ports to consoles and mobile devices. With the rise of the SteamOS and Valve's major push for Linux gaming, we could also see Hytale launch on Linux natively, and even on Apple's macOS. All of these are part of the broader PC family and would play more or less the same, but it remains to be seen if Hypixel will focus on moving the game beyond Windows before finishing its 1.0 development cycle. Many of its planned features are very much work-in-progress, and Hytale invites the community to join the fun and help develop various aspects of the game, pitch features, and collaborate with the developers to make Hytale into the game it was meant to be. The broad scope of development is likely to impede potential release dates and platform ports, but it's better to have a good game come late than a bad one rushed to us early. Full details of planned features can be found here, and from what we can gather, it looks rather promising. The post When does Hytale come out? Potential release date, platforms, and more appeared first on Destructoid. View the full article

A new wave of digital activism is emerging inside the world's most popular video games. In a recent demonstration, the New Save Collective – a team of 13 activists and organizers from diverse immigrant backgrounds – used the role-play mod for Grand Theft Auto V to simulate real-life immigration enforcement... Read Entire Article View the full article