Paybacks are a feature that has been in theWWE 2Kseries for a while now. In that time, different Paybacks have come and gone. InWWE 2K24, there is a mix of classic ones that have been in the series for some time and a whole host of new additions. There is a great variety among them, as they help you in a few different ways. Some distract your opponents, several hurt them, and a few give you a boost in some form....

What happened toLegendary Pokemon? Where did it all go wrong? We used to watch with excitement as the likes of Ho-oh and Lugia, Kyogre and Groudon, and Raikou, Entei, and Suicune graced each new game, butPokemonhas systematically sucked the fun out of Legendaries. Even Generation 4, one of my least favourite Pokemon Generations (unpopular opinion, I know) has Giratina. Gen 5 brought the Genies and the unique mighty morphin’ Kyurem....

If you’re in the market for games that are in some way similar to Team Ninja’s recently released Edo-period action RPGRise of the Ronin, then you’re in luck. There is no shortage of games with a basis in the history of Japan, replete with samurai, ninja and yokai of all shapes and sizes. Whether you’re interested in fast-paced action games, cinematic side-scrollers, or even real-time strategy, there’s bound to be something for your tastes in the wide variety of games that have some mechanical or aesthetic similarities to Rise of the Ronin....

It’s Survival Week at TheGamer, and I’ve been thinking about battle royale games. They’re not survival games proper, but they combine a lot of the scavenging, crafting and exploration mechanics of survival games with what are essentially deathmatches in an ever-shrinking safe space. Battle royale games are part of the legacy of survival games, but I’m more interested in the genre’s namesake. As part of TheGamer’sSurvival Weekcoverage, I ruminated on the question of whetherAnimal Crossingcounts as a survival game....

Magic: The Gathering’s Commander Legends: Battle for Baldur’s Gate brought more of D&D monsters and heroes into the cardboard realm. Unbeknownst to players at the time, it also added playable versions of the soon-to-be-iconic party members from 2023’s Baldur’s Gate 3. From Astarion to Wyll, pretty much every companion character got a dedicated card here, including Minthara, the ruthless Drow Cleric. If she was a personal favorite of yours, and you’re ready to let her lead your next Commander deck, then these ten cards will serve you well....

Split is one of the original maps inValorantthat was released with the game, but it can still be quite difficult to get a good grasp of it, especially if you’re on the attacker side. This is due to the sheer amount of choke points you have to go through before entering a site. Thankfully, if you’re playing an Agent like Clove, you can make the process of clearing these choke points a lot easier byplacing your smokes properlyand decaying the enemies hiding in corners....

FromSoftwaregames feature some of the best boss fights in gaming and are known for giving unforgettable (and typically very challenging) experiences with each fight. Sometimes, they mix it up, pitting you against two boss foes in one battle. It can feel twice as rewarding to vanquish your foes in such a duo battle, but the prospect of them is often twice as daunting too. The duo boss fights in Soulsborne games (and FromSoftware’s wider output) have always sparked online debates on whether they’re fun or needlessly difficult, but there’s no doubt that they feel fresh and new compared to other bosses....

Summary While traversing Tartarus or fighting the hardest of bosses, your party members inPersona 3 Reloadwill be there to support you, through thick and thin. This is why, as important as your own Persona’s skills are, it is just as important to verify your precious companions have the best skills they can learn as well. Each party member has their skill pool to learn from, so they will all feel and function differently from one another....

Quick Links The stratagem usage inHelldivers 2is the core combat mechanic that elevates guns blazing gameplay from casual shooting to pure chaos. There are offensive, support, and defensive types of stratagems, each offering a unique value and approach to be used in combat. You can upgrade the particular stratagem type by going to the Ship Management and navigating to the Ship Module. VariousSample Typesare required to purchase and upgrade the ship, which gives you passive buffs by strengthening the stratagem usage....

Crusader Kings 3is the kind of game where a bad start can ruin an entire campaign before it really gets off the ground. It’s important to pick a character who can survive the early game and allow a capable heir to take over when they die. Having a Culture with a good group of Traditions goes a long way toward achieving that essential goal. We’ve combed through the starting scenarios to find the playable Cultures that offer the strongest start....

Summary What is a “stepping out” moment in a video game? Well, it’s when you, the player, are finally given the reins to set out on your own, usually in an open-world game, after what can sometimes be hours on end of linear tutorials just herding you along a path. This moment is meant to give you your first taste of how much freedom you’re about to enjoy, and when done right, it’s the first big hook that really sets the tone for the rest of the game....

Quick Links Getting a character inHonkai: Star Railmight be difficult since there’s a lot of luck involved, but once you get them, ascending them through different phases and upgrading their traces is equally difficult since you need to farm a lot of materials from different locations. Black Swan is a five-star Nihility character with Wind as the combat type, and getting her materials is a little more difficult since some of these got released in the same update as her first featured banner....

Quick Links Enver Gortash is one of the Chosen of the Dead Three, villains who are ubiquitous withBaldur’s Gate 3’sthird act. A slaver and arms dealer, Gortash manages to compete in villainy with the likes of a homicidal, siblicidal maniac, and a general who changes godly allegiances like jackets. Perhaps this is because, of the three, Gortash is the most rooted in real-world evil, or perhaps it’s his connection to Karlach, the tiefling barbarian....