Dom Peppiatt

THRASHER

Destiny 2 hotfix for March 23 finally addresses one of Lightfall's biggest problems

Destiny 2 Thresher cannons getting you down in the Master Nightfall? Not for much longer, they're not.

LORE AND ORDER

What makes Redfall different to other Arkane games? It’s all comes down to trust

Conversations with friends? No, this isn’t a Sally Rooney novel, but an intriguing mechanic in Arkane’s latest sci-fi romp.

XBOX-SANGUINATION

Stalker, Far Cry 2, and, well, Arkane: Redfall proudly wears its most obvious influences on its bloody sleeve

The trailers don’t do it justice: Redfall looks great, feels great, and promises something great – if Arkane can overcome an age-old problem.

LONG TIME COMIN’

One of 2023's best games is already being forgotten – even though it’s on Game Pass

There’s a good side and a bad side to having some of the best games come to Game Pass on Day One…

J’ADORE HARDCORE

If you want a real taste of hell, you should play Diablo 4 on Hardcore mode

Let’s be honest here, the real Diablo experience lies in the threat of permadeath – not this softcore nonsense.

SMELL OF THE GAME

With Guilty Gear Strive, Game Pass finally has a fighting game worthy of the Series X

Arc System Works’ gorgeous fighter is more than just a solid 2D fighting game oozing with style; it’s a graphical masterclass.

JANE'S AFFLICTION

One of the greatest, grizzliest roguelikes is on Game Pass, and you need to play it now

Darkest Dungeon is punishing, grim, and upsetting – yet still somehow one of the most compulsively playable games on Game Pass.

SQUAD IS VEXED

Destiny 2 Lightfall’s latest hidden Exotic quest reminds me why I still love the game, despite everything

How can one little mission smuggled into a weekly update make me shake my head and say ‘oh Destiny’ all over again?

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

E3 2023 industry and gamer days detailed, more showcase announcements ‘coming soon’

E3 2023 is closing in on us, and we're starting to get more information about what we can expect from one of the biggest games events of the year.

Destiny 2 The Variable: How to find and start Exotic Quest NODE.OVRD.AVAL.ON in the EDZ

Bungie is at it again, and this time it's added a brand new Exotic Quest to Destiny 2 in the form of The Variable. Does it lead to Vexcalibur? Let's find out.

ONE NIGHT STRAND

Destiny 2 Lightfall, one week later – the good, the bad, and the very, very ugly

Bungie has once again kicked it out of the park with some elements of Destiny… but completely dropped the ball with others. It’s becoming a pattern.

Wo Long Weapons Guide | Best weapons, best early weapon, best deflect weapons and all weapon types explained

You’re given a sword at the start of the game, but should you keep it? What is the best weapon for deflecting? Our Wo Long weapons guide explains.

Wo Long New Game Plus: How to begin Rising Dragon difficulty and how to get 5-Star gear

New Game Plus doesn’t work in Wo Long like it does in other games, so let us explain how to access it, and what it does.

FINE CHINA

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty review – How to make friends and annihilate people

As great as Team Ninja’s tidal, back-and-forth take on the Souls-like formula is, some small regressions keep it from landing a killer blow.

ALL SKULLS ON LEGEND

Destiny 2 Lightfall is already reminding me of the best era of Halo games

A breakneck retreat from a ship as it implodes, some of the classiest combat puzzles in the FPS genre, and a killer soundtrack. Halo is back, sorta.

GANNIN YEM

Wey aye, pet: Final Fantasy 16's ganna have Geordies in it

Haddaway, man – as if the Japanese developers at Square Enix looked to the British north to find inspiration for one of its key fictional regions.

HIDEO GAMES

Final Fantasy 16 has 11 hours of cinematics alone

If you were worried about FF16 being a short, sharp story, fear not – the developer has gone all out on the narrative.

IN THE ROSFIELD

Final Fantasy 16 is not open world, “but it’s not linear, either”, says dev

A focus on ‘highly detailed’ and ‘feature rich areas’ means Final Fantasy 16 wants to harness the best of both worlds.

DO YOUR OWN RING

Final Fantasy 16 has a novel approach to the age-old ‘accessibility versus difficulty’ conundrum

If you think that action-RPG games like Devil May Cry and Elden Ring are too hard, Final Fantasy 16’s fascinating setup may intrigue you.

IFRIT'S LIKE A GLOVE

With Final Fantasy 16, the PS5 generation finally truly begins

Gorgeous visuals, seamless transitions, and a masterclass in mocap and performance, Final Fantasy 16 proves the series can still be cutting edge in 2023.

STRAND AND DELIVER

It’s 2023 and I’ve once again fallen under Destiny 2's spell – and you’re going to, too

Like clockwork, I’m back playing Destiny 2. It happens every year, an unavoidable gravity well of content and excitement. Embrace the pull.

MACHINE LEARNING

Horizon Forbidden West's gorgeous world is easy to recommend as part of PlayStation Plus

Even if you’re not a fan of the rinse-repeat gameplay, Horizon Forbidden West is a must-play for its visuals.

SLING YOUR HOOK

Horizon Forbidden West Best Weapons: How to get the best weapons for early, middle and late game?

What are the best weapons in Horizon Forbidden West so Aloy can take down the machine menace?

SMOKE 'EM

Monster Hunter remains king, but there's one thing it could learn from Wild Hearts

Having trouble with late game monsters? A certain boss kicking your ass? Here’s how you can stop dying and embrace the joy of cooking.

OMEGA FORCE MAJEURE

Wild Hearts review: We’ve got Monster Hunter at home…

What happens when you copy someone else’s homework? You get in trouble.

Wild Hearts Weapons Guide | What is the best starting weapon for you?

The katana, the claw, the umbrella, the cannon, the bow – which weapon is right for you in Wild Hearts?

GARDEN VARIETY

This Valentine’s Day, why not go and play the greatest love story ever told in gaming?

I'll be waiting for you. If you come here, you'll find me. I promise.

BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY

Final Fantasy Theatrhythm Final Bar Line review: Long-awaited Switch and PS4 ensemble strikes a chord

The latest Switch and PS4 FF rhythm game creates some series high notes – but it’s not a totally flawless performance.

ELECTRONIC HEARTS

There's one key area where Wild Hearts beats Monster Hunter

Wild Hearts is squaring up to Capcom’s indomitable hunting series, and in many ways it comes up short. But it does have its strengths.

IT’S A KINDA MAGIK

One of 2022's best games now has a demo – and you need to play it

One of the best games in 2022 really didn't sell as well as it should –?here's hoping a new demo can turn that around.

HOUSE RULES

For the best magic/school life sim, you need to head back to Nintendo Switch

It may not be open world, but Fire Emblem: Three Houses ticks every box when it comes to that delicate magic/school balance.

RINGING IN YOUR EARS

Elden Ring is still the best game for spell-slinging (especially with the latest DLC)

Forget your wands, dismount your mythical creatures, and step into the only magical crucible that matters: a Tarnished fight to the death.

BREW IT TO YOURSELF

Game Pass is home to an indie gem that does magic brilliantly

If you want a game that celebrates all the good things about the world of magic in a pleasing, understated way, check out Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator.

ANOTHER LEATHER LUNG

The secret to Dead Space’s intense horror? The way it controls your breath

If you’re wondering how the Dead Space remake manages to get in your head and under your skin… check your breath.

RISE AND GRIND

For one month, one of 2022's best games is free for PlayStation Plus members

Outside of Elden Ring and Pentiment and Tunic, there was another absolute ripper of a game released in 2022: OlliOlli World.

TO BE FRANK

Would you watch a two-hour version of The Last of Us, Episode 3? Because it exists

Didn't get your fill of The Last of Us, Episode 3? Well, you'll be pleased to know that there's a 2-hour version of it out there... somewhere.

RUNNIN' ON STEAM

Steam Deck proves, once again, that Skyrim will never die

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has seen yet another victory in 2023, as it tops the Steam Deck 'most played' charts –?will anyone ever get bored of this game?

THE OLD BILL

The Last of Us, Episode 3 marks the first major deviation from the game – and it couldn’t have gone better

Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann took us on a journey of what it means to protect and risk in the latest episode – and provided nuance the game never could.

ISHIN FOR A FIGHT

In remaking Like a Dragon: Ishin, the devs wanted to make everything faster – here’s why

RGG Studio director Hiroyuki Sakamoto explains why the remake of a game that never made it West improves on the original version.

WINGIN’ IT

I was supposed to play loads of Like a Dragon: Ishin, but I spent two hours in chicken racing instead

Like a Dragon: Ishin keeps the Yakuza tradition of amazing mini-games alive, with a touch of human soul.

EYES ON THE RISE

Xbox Game Pass is the best thing to ever happen to Monster Hunter

Letting your mates in on the secret that is Monster Hunter is no longer a costly endeavour – and I can’t wait for more people to discover the joys of hunting.

LOAD OF OLD CUFF

Here’s how to make Forspoken less irritating

Just like High on Life last year, Forspoken relies a bit too much on inane chatter – but at least you can turn the frequency of it down.

JOEL’S HOUSE PARTY

The Last of Us TV show is doing one thing very differently from the games – and I love it

In moving from game to television, HBO had to make some things more realistic – and it benefits the show a lot.

HELL IS FOR NEROS

If you want a taste of what Final Fantasy 16 will play like, you need to try this PlayStation Plus game right now

The Final Fantasy 16 dev team is packed with talent – and there’s one specific game that’s free to try for subscribers right now that really shows that off.

SPACEMAKER

Xbox in 2023: Starfield is Game Pass’ killer exclusive, and the barren years may finally be over

It’s been a slow start to the generation for Xbox, but the fallow years might finally be at an end as Starfield kicks everything off.

SHELL OR HIGH WATER

Netflix just added one of 2022's best games for free on Android and iOS

If you wanted to play Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge, good news! You can download it for free right now (on mobile).

HEAD IN THE CLOUDS

Nintendo in 2023: Is Tears of the Kingdom going to be the Switch’s last big hurrah?

Rumours abound that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be the Switch’s swansong – but is it too soon to write off the handheld/home console hybrid?

LORDRAN IT OVER

Almost a year after Elden Ring changed everything, there’s never been a better time to return to Dark Souls

If you’re considering a replay of Dark Souls, there’s no better time to praise the sun than right now – in a cold, forgettable week in January

IT’LL END IN TIERS

Sony in 2023: PlayStation 5’s exclusives are still untouchable – it’s just a shame about everything else

PlayStation is unstoppable when it comes to behemoth first-party releases – why can’t the rest of its strategy be that good?

WHO THE F IS CHALICE

Enter the CUMMMFPK Dungeon: The joy of coming to Bloodborne late

It’s taken me seven years, but I’m finally wrist-deep in BloodBorne’s guts – and perhaps coming to FromSoft’s pièce de résistance late is the best way to play it.