Author: Jay Allsopp

Among the faithful, Dark Souls is known for its complex, deep lore. While the narratives and backgrounds of the worlds and characters in the Souls series (and games related to that series like Bloodborne or Elden Ring) might not be immediately apparent, poring over item descriptions and piecing together disparate elements of lore are activities that the fanbase absolutely adores. With that said, most Dark Souls fans have their favourites when it comes to series lore. Some prize ambiguity, while others prefer a more straightforward approach (such as it is in the Souls series, of course). We’ve got our own…

Gaming on a Mac can be a difficult proposition. While compatibility is improving all the time, the fact is that the vast majority of PC-oriented gamers play on Windows, so many developers don’t consider Mac as a platform they need to prioritise. It’s a shame, because Mac actually has some great gaming experiences on offer. If you’re looking for the best RPG games on Mac (a tautology, since the G in RPG stands for “game”), then you’ve come to the right place. Whether you love Japanese role-playing or the Western style, you’ll find lots of options for you. Here are…

If you’re unfamiliar with the Breath of Fire series, here’s a quick primer. It’s a JRPG franchise that’s been running since 1993, when the original game launched for SNES in Japan. Since then, Breath of Fire has grown to become a successful, if somewhat cult, RPG franchise; if you love JRPGs, you’ve probably already heard of it, but if this isn’t your genre, you might not be familiar with the name. Broadly speaking, each Breath of Fire game follows a similar template; a young boy named Ryu who can turn into a dragon, a princess named Nina, and a number…

Depending on your particular interests, 1992 was something of a banner year for popular culture. Classic albums like Alice in Chains’ Dirt, REM’s Automatic for the People, and Tom Waits’ Bone Machine were all released in 1992, and undeniable cinematic classics like Disney’s Aladdin and Clint Eastwood’s masterpiece Unforgiven were packing out cinemas. Gaming was no different; with the fourth console generation (also known as the 16-bit era) riding high. Nintendo’s SNES was dominating the gaming landscape, but Sega was hot on its heels with the Genesis (or the Mega Drive if you were in Europe), and there were a…

If you’re a young gamer, then you might be thinking that the gaming landscape in 1993 looks positively primitive. With the fourth console generation well underway, pretty much all of the most popular games of 1993 were 16-bit pixel art-based titles. Still, there’s a huge wave of nostalgic love for these games that’s still underway today, and the pixel art look never quite goes out of fashion, so in many ways, games from 1993 have stood the test of time. Gaming sales in 1993 were significantly lower than they were in 1992. That’s largely because Nintendo launched the SNES in…

There are a few classic video games whose formula has been an enduring part of the medium. One of the most notable examples of this phenomenon is Castlevania, which uses a potent blend of exploration, power-ups, and combat against a backdrop of gothic horror to sink its claws into players. The first entry to the Castlevania series was released all the way back in 1986, and the mix of gameplay and mechanics that made that game legendary is still being used to this day. New games are released all the time that try to recreate the feeling of playing a…

Sony’s 8th generation console, the PS5, was released in late 2020 and is a significant upgrade over the PS4. The ray-tracing, 8K resolution support, and backward compatibility with PS4 games are among the many new features gamers are looking forward to. The PS5’s release has given game developers a new platform to work with, and they’ve already begun to produce some incredible titles. Here are the twenty best PS5 video games for 2022: 1) Deathloop Deathloop is a first-person action game set in a dystopian future. The game was developed by the France-based studio Arkane Studios and published by the…

The Xbox series is a modern gaming console used by gamers of all ages, and its popularity has grown over the years. Below are the top 20 Xbox Series X Games for 2022. 1) Assassin’s Creed: Unity Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Assassin’s Creed: Unity is an action-adventure game that was published by Ubisoft. In the game, you will play as one of the assassins who is trying to take down the enemy. The game can be played alone or with friends if you want to play on the same team on the computer. When you kill an assassin, you get…

Cricket is a hugely misunderstood sport. Those who don’t watch cricket and don’t understand it claim that it’s boring and drawn-out, but for those of us who are fans, the opposite is true. Cricket can be riveting and tense, but it can also be deeply strategic and intellectual. It’s fun to watch and to involve yourself in, too; that’s why people constantly want to know the latest and best IPL bet tips, so they can enhance their love of cricket. With that in mind, it stands to reason that there would be great representation for cricket in the world of…

If you’re pretty much an avid gamer, there’s a game for all your tastes. From first-person shooters to casual games and puzzle games – the Nintendo Switch has something for everyone. So get ready to take back your time from more pressing activities and enjoy the best Nintendo Switch games worth your time. 1) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Set in an open world, this action-adventure game takes you to a fantasy world from where there’s no returning. The main objective of this game is to explore, defeat enemies, and solve puzzles. The storyline is pretty much…

Google Stadia was Discontinued on January 18, 2023. Operated by Google, Stadia was a cloud gaming service. Known in development as Project Stream, it first appeared as a closed beta in October 2018. Stadia sadly didn’t capture gamer’s attention, with the PS5 and Xbox Series X taking much of the attention away. Here, we look at the best titles you could play on Google Stadia. Let’s begin. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut In simple terms, Disco Elysium is a CRPG in the vein of Planescape: Torment or Baldur’s Gate. That’s underselling it hugely, though; this isn’t a fantasy game full…

Android often gets unfairly overlooked as a gaming platform. Many mobile gamers point to iOS as the gold standard when it comes to mobile gaming, but Android has just as many excellent games to offer. Whether it’s the strategy stylings of Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions or the horror puzzle gameplay of Very Little Nightmares, there’s plenty to love on the Android marketplace, and things are only going to improve as 2022 moves forward. So far this year, we’ve seen the release of great Android games like El Hijo: A Wild West Tale, Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, and Puzzle…

Let it never be said that handheld platforms don’t have good horror experiences on them. While some of the best horror games can be found on consoles and PC, there are almost as many terrifying gaming moments to be experienced on handheld platforms like Sony’s PSP (and even the Nintendo DS!). If you’re still enjoying your time with your PSP, you’re not the only one; it’s got a surprisingly full and rich library of games to cater for all kinds of tastes, and yes, that includes some pretty excellent horror titles. Here are the best PSP horror games you can…

Sometimes, you want your games to be all about daring action heroes pushing their way through hordes of the slavering undead or legions of bloodthirsty demons. Other times, you want your games to be about managing a city, watching a restaurant grow, or running a chaotic hospital. That’s what simulation games are all about; they give you a taste of control, an idea of what it feels like to be in a position of power and influence. Xbox Game Pass is full of excellent simulation games, so let’s take a look at some of them. Here are the 15 best…

Who would have thought that the simple act of leaping from one platform to another would be such a fulfilling activity? Ever since Pac-Land originated the platformer genre (that’s right, it wasn’t technically Super Mario Bros), platformers have been a mainstay on every single console generation, often serving as their flagship titles, especially in the case of Nintendo. Luckily, the Xbox and PC platforms are also fertile ground for platformers; there are plenty to play if you love jumping. Here are the 15 best platformers on Xbox Game Pass which you can play right now if you’ve got an active…

The Xbox platform has long been thought of as a poor one for RPGs, but that’s pretty unfair, on balance. Thanks to the Xbox Game Pass service, there’s a huge amount of choice and variety if you’re an RPG fan and you’ve got an Xbox console (or a decently-specced PC, of course). While the PlayStation once ruled the roost for JRPGs, even this genre is well-represented on Xbox Game Pass, so let’s take a look, in no particular order, at the 15 best RPGs on Xbox Game Pass right now. Some of these may no longer be available depending on…

Sometimes, you want to take a break from the high-octane action-packed nature of triple-A gaming. Occasionally, what you want is to sit back and take on a good chin-stroking puzzle game, full of the kind of intellectual challenges that will make you feel like a god-level genius for solving them. Happily, as you might expect, the Xbox Game Pass service is full of them. Some of the greatest puzzle experiences ever constructed have found a home on Microsoft’s subscription service, so without further ado, let’s take a look at the 15 best puzzle games on Xbox Game Pass. 1. Grim…

Here’s a fun fact: the very first video game of all time was based on a sport. Tennis for Two was an extremely primitive oscilloscope-based piece of software that pitted two players against one another in a virtual game of tennis. Even if we fast forward a few years to the first majorly popular video game, Pong, we can still see the influence of sports on the medium. Of course, gaming has grown much more advanced and sophisticated since then, but the popularity of sporting games has endured, not least on PC and Xbox platforms. Here are the 15 best…

Many believe that the first ever first-person shooter was either 1993’s Doom or 1992’s Wolfenstein 3D, but this could be seen as incorrect. Games like MIDI Maze and Hovertank 3D pioneered first-person gameplay before either Doom or Wolfenstein did, although it is fair to say these two id Software games solidified what first-person shooters really are today. Now, the first-person shooter cup runneth over; there are lots of great FPS games and third-person shooters out there, not least on Xbox and PC. Here are the 15 best shooters on Xbox Game Pass. 1. Halo Infinite It’s been a long wait,…

For many, VR represents a genuine step forward for the gaming world. It’s innovative and futuristic technology that feels like it could open doors for new immersive and interactive experiences. 2022 is going to be a great year for VR releases; from major studios to as-yet unproven outfits, lots of developers are lining up to try their hand at this tech, especially now that cheaper alternatives in the form of devices like the Oculus Quest 2 exist. Here are the 22 VR games coming in 2022 we’re most looking forward to. 1. Horizon Call of the Mountain Developed by Firesprite,…

If you haven’t already checked out Bend Studio’s Days Gone, it’s worth a look. While it tells a lacklustre story and doesn’t really offer anything you won’t have seen before, it’s a solid zombie open-world sandbox game with a focus on vehicular traversal and a wealth of content if you do enjoy its core gameplay loop. If you’ve already finished this underrated Sony first-party game, you might be wondering what kind of games like Days Gone are out there to play. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the titles you should play if you enjoyed Days…

Ever wondered what the most significant games are in the MMO world? We did some research to find out. Massively Multiplayer Online gaming has taken the world by storm over the last few years. Among those older Millennials who remember the days before the internet, MMO gaming has been the signature style accompanying their gaming life. We remember LAN parties, mobile phones as big as your face, and the earliest MMOs like Neverwinter Nights and Ultima Online. Oh, how times have changed. Scroll down the page to 2022, and you see a massive change in how gaming works. We considered…

There’s something viscerally satisfying about the basic fighting game. Whether you’re battling AI opponents on an arcade ladder or thrashing a friend while they complain that you’re cheating, fighting games are great fun, and they’re well-represented on every major console generation and PC as well. Xbox Game Pass is a slightly less well-populated fighting game repository; while there are certainly fighting games to enjoy, you’ll have to work a little harder than you would for shooters or platformers. Still, there are more than enough to keep fans happy, so here are the 10 best fighting games on Xbox Game Pass.…

It’s fair to say that Red Dead Redemption is an open-world tour de force. Whether you’re a bigger fan of the first game or its maximalist sequel, there’s such a wealth of content in the Red Dead series that you could play for hundreds of hours and never run out of things to do. With that said, sometimes you don’t want to sit in front of your console or powerful gaming rig and get immersed in a Wild West world; sometimes you’d rather fire up your phone and play something for a few minutes to get your cowboy fix instead.…

It’s fun to be in charge. Whether you’re ordering troops around a battlefield or deciding where to put your industrial districts in a city-builder, being the boss is its own reward. It seems the gaming industry agrees; the tycoon genre, which involves managing complex multi-layered organisms like cities or football teams, is thriving. Tycoon game lovers have plenty of choice, and in 2022, even more options are arriving to give you the kick you get out of playing management sims. Here are the best tycoon games (and tycoon-adjacent games) arriving in 2022. Total War: Warhammer III (February 17th) We’re starting…

2022 is going to be an incredible year for games. After 2021 proved somewhat disappointing thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (and various other delays), we think that 2022 is set to be a truly special time in the world of gaming. With major exclusives from Sony and Microsoft due to arrive this year, as well as indie games and big studio projects galore, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for gaming this year. Here are our top 22 upcoming games for 2022. Pupperazzi (Xbox, PC) – January 20th If you love Pokemon Snap and you love doggos,…

Retro gaming doesn’t just apply to consoles. While consoles and PCs take up the majority of retro gamers’ time, there’s a growing market that wants to experience the world of retro mobile gaming. By that, we don’t mean playing retro games on your modern device, although it’s definitely worth looking into doing that as well. No, we’re talking about revisiting older mobile devices and playing the games that were available on those devices back in the day.  This trend was likely started by people firing up their old Nokia 3210 or 3310 devices and playing a game or two of…

You’d be forgiven for not remembering the MSX. It was created as a joint venture between Microsoft and the ASCII Corporation back in 1983 and was swiftly buried beneath the encroaching avalanche of the NES, which was about to completely dominate the gaming landscape for a number of years (until the arrival of Nintendo’s own SNES followup, in fact). That’s a shame, because the MSX actually has a lot of great games to offer. Many of the franchises you love likely got their start on the MSX, including some surprising ones; Konami championed this machine early, and it gave us…

Say what you will about the Nintendo Wii (and many did), but it was undeniably a rip-roaring success. Many debate whether the PS3 or the Xbox 360 won the seventh console generation, but the simple fact of the matter is that the Wii emerged dominant, although other metrics might crown a different victor. A large part of the Wii’s success was down to the sheer number of multiplayer games it offered, as well as the large amount of control schemes available. If you had a Wii, then you could easily call friends over and be playing something with them in…

The Sega CD is an oft-overlooked little marvel of a machine. You might know it better as the Mega-CD, since that was the name Sega gave to it in many regions around the world. Whatever you call it, the Sega CD is a CD-based add-on for the Mega Drive (or Genesis, depending on where you live) that adds CD functionality, as well as better CPU power and the capability for improved graphics. Some of the best games in the Mega Drive’s lifetime were released for the Sega CD addon. It gave developers new and exciting tools to play with, resulting…

The past two years have been a real rollercoaster. From lockdowns to remote work and adapting to the new (not so) normal, it’s been a wild ride. Now that 2022 is drawing closer, it’s time to relax. And what better way to chill out than by playing some top-rated video games? Video gaming is the ultimate escape, and the good news is that not all games are packed with heart-racing action and violence. Even medical experts recommend certain video games for adults battling with their stress levels. Let’s delve into the best relaxing video games that will help you get…