Xbox Game Pass is like walking into a candy store. There are so many different options to choose from when it comes to its game selection, and some of the best games on Xbox Game Pass can be hard to spot. Every month more quality titles are added and at the end of the day, the service has quickly become one of the best value subscriptions in video games.

In recent years, really more so in the last year, the available library on Xbox Game Pass has exploded, especially with the addition of Game Pass for PC. Many first-party Xbox titles now release day one on both Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, making the service hold insane value.

Some need acquired tastes like licorice (Dordogne), while many others will enjoy a beloved, comfortable chocolate bar (Minecraft). However, there's a good chance you'll find something to sate your palette in Microsoft's rolling digital library. Here are the top 20 best games on Xbox Game Pass right now waiting for you to jump into them.

[Updated: January 2025]

Best Xbox Game Pass Games on Xbox and PC

One of the greatest things about Xbox Game Pass and its titles as that more and more games are being launched as Day One Game Pass titles on both PC and Xbox. Paired with often-supported cross-platform functionality, this has created another high-value feature exclusive to the Xbox Game Pass service. All of the titles in this category have both Xbox and PC versions of the game, both of which are on Game Pass.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Even though we get annual releases of the Call of Duty franchise now, this is the first time it's been available on both PC and Xbox Series X|S Day One via Game Pass. It's a pivotal change for both one of the biggest franchises in the world and for the Game Pass subscription service. Set during the Cold War and stretching into the Gulf War era, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 revives the popular Black Ops conspiracy-driven storytelling while adding new mechanics in all gameplay formats including the campaign, multiplayer, and zombies mode.

From a purely statistical standpoint, Black Ops 6 set a new record for new subscribers on launch day for Game Pass, as the addition to the service drove over 20 million regular players to the FPS in November 2024. The game continues to receive massive updates and new content through its seasonal patches, with the latest releasing on January 28, 2025. The multiplayer experience, often seen as the cornerstone of the franchise, has thrived on Game Pass, with seamless matchmaking and cross-platform play ensuring robust lobbies even in remote regions. The game’s Metacritic score of 85/100—the highest since 2011—reflects its polished design, balancing nostalgia with fresh mechanics like open-world objectives and stealth missions.

Finally, Black Ops 6 exemplifies how Game Pass can redefine blockbuster releases. By prioritizing player retention through frequent content drops—such as Season 2’s new maps, anti-cheat overhauls, and customizable cross-play options—Microsoft has created a sustainable model for monetization via battle passes and cosmetics. Analysts argue that the title’s “bonkers” engagement levels prove Game Pass can coexist with traditional sales, as Black Ops 6 simultaneously topped charts and revitalized the franchise’s accessibility. For subscribers, this translates to a constantly evolving experience that merges AAA quality with the flexibility of a subscription, setting a new standard for future releases on the platform, and making Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 a must-play option for Game Pass subscribers.

Dead Island 2 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

After nearly a decade in development hell, Dead Island 2 finally emerged in 2023 to acclaim from both critics and players. Delivering a visceral and chaotic zombie-slaying experience, Dead Island 2 is a solid option for Xbox Game Pass subscribers looking to traverse a quarantined Los Angeles with an open-world setting and geographically accurate areas like Venice Beach and Beverly Hills. Each zone is packed with secrets, side quests, storytelling, and more to encourage players to revisit and more content as they progress.

The ultimate feature of Dead Island 2 is the F.L.E.S.H. system which stands for Fully Locational Evisceration System for Humanoids. This revolutionary gore mechanic lets players dismember zombies with pretty insane precision based on where they aim. Every strike from a variety of weapons including a flaming baseball bat or even electrified claws will peel away layers of flesh, muscle, and bone, creating rewarding satisfyingly grotesque combat.

While the story itself is plagued by rather dull dialogue and massive underdeveloped characters, Dead Island 2 has many moments of redemption in terms of storytelling with its dark humor, satirical take on Hollywood elitism, and its knack for pitting players against zombified influencers and wealthy elites. With co-op multiplayer, Dead Island 2 is the ideal co-op game for Game Pass. With over 2 million copies sold in its early launch weeks, a blend of inventive combat, rewarding exploration, and very over-the-top violence, Dead Island 2 is one of the best titles on Game Pass.

Stellaris - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

The PC version of Stellaris and Stellaris: Console Edition are massive entries into the 4x genre, offering grand strategy gaming on both PC and consoles in a universe teeming with complexity, creativity, and even intricate storytelling. Developed in-house by fabled grand strategy developer Paradox—creators of Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron, and Crusader Kings—Stellaris is a sci-fi take on the genre tasking players with growing a fledgling civilization from its first interstellar event to galactic dominance.

The game begins with empire creation, where players design their species’ biology, ethics, and government type. Want to lead a hive-mind fungus obsessed with conquest? Or a pacifist reptilian democracy focused on scientific discovery? The customization tools allow for nearly infinite combinations, shaping how your civilization interacts with alien races, handles crises, and evolves over millennia. This freedom extends to gameplay, where every decision—from diplomatic treaties to ship designs—carries weight. The procedural galaxy ensures no two playthroughs are alike: you might encounter ancient space leviathans, unlock reality-altering technologies, or trigger a robot uprising that reshapes the political landscape.

Exploration and warfare are equally as meaningful in Stellaris. Science ships survey anomalies, uncovering cosmic mysteries like derelict megastructures or precursor civilizations, while construction ships build starbases to secure more resources for your sprawling empire. Combat hinges on strategic fleet customization, with players designing ships to counter enemy strengths—think armor-piercing weaponry for crystalline foes or point-defense systems to negate missile barrages. Battles unfold in cinematic, real-time spectacles, though the focus remains on macro-level tactics rather than flashy visuals. No microing or kiting-style tactics here. Diplomacy also plays a critical role, with alliances, federations, and espionage systems allowing players to outmaneuver rivals without firing a single shot.

Stellaris: Console Edition deserves special praise for its intuitive control scheme, a real feat considering the genre's PC roots. Radial menus and context-sensitive shortcuts streamline navigation through dense interfaces, making planetary management and fleet coordination surprisingly fluid on a controller. While newcomers might initially feel overwhelmed by the sheer depth—resource management, faction politics, and technological research all demand attention—the game’s tutorial and tooltips ease the learning curve. There's a ton of fun to be had over long campaigns which is what puts Stellaris: Console Edition on our list of best Game Pass games.

Inscryption - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Inscryption isn’t just a game—it’s a masterpiece and a wonderfully woven labyrinth of dread, strategy, and meta-narrative brilliance that has cemented itself as a modern indie classic. Now available on Xbox Game Pass, this 2021 gem by Daniel Mullins Games (creator of Pony Island) merges roguelike deck-building, escape-room puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-soaked odyssey that defies expectations at every turn. Starting as a seemingly straightforward card battler set in a shadowy cabin, the game evolves into a mind-bending exploration of identity, obsession, and the nature of play itself.

At its core, Inscryption pits players against a masked figure named Leshy in a high-stakes card game where every move feels like a life-or-death gamble. The combat revolves around sacrificial mechanics: squirrels are offered as fuel to summon stronger creatures, while “bones” from fallen allies power undead armies. Battles unfold on a literal tipping scale, where damage dealt to your opponent shifts the balance in your favor—a system that transforms matches into tense, chess-like duels. But the genius lies in its unpredictability: cards mutate, bosses subvert around rules, and hidden abilities force players to experiment relentlessly.

What elevates Inscryption beyond its peers is its meta-narrative depth. The cabin itself becomes a character—players can stand up from the table to solve eerie escape-room puzzles, uncovering clues tied to the game’s lore. A locked safe, cryptic symbols, and even a jar of teeth (used to tip the scales in your favor via gruesome self-surgery) weave a story that blurs the line between reality and fiction. The game’s three acts shift genres entirely, morphing from a roguelike into a retro RPG and finally a surreal, existential showdown, all while critiquing gaming culture and player agency. It's overall a fun ride, and while it gets a bit weaker at the end, the journey is still well worth it making this one of the best Xbox Game Pass titles available.

Age of Mythology: Retold - PC, Xbox Series X|S

Age of Mythology: Retold stands out as one of the premier titles on Game Pass, combining nostalgic reverence for the 2002 classic with modern enhancements that elevate its strategic depth, accessibility, and replayability. As a day-one addition to Game Pass in September 2024, this remastered real-time strategy (RTS) gem offers subscribers instant access to a polished, feature-rich genre-defining title without the upfront cost of purchasing the game outright. Its inclusion in the service has revitalized interest in the long-standing franchise, attracting both longtime fans and newcomers drawn to its reimagined visuals, rebalanced gameplay, and cross-platform compatibility between Xbox Series X|S and PC. With support for mouse-and-keyboard or controller play, seamless multiplayer matchmaking, and 4K/120FPS optimization, Retold is a stellar experience for any RTS fan.

Furthermore, Age of Mythology: Retold features a 50-mission campaign that spans Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Atlantean mythologies. The many missions include iconic mythological units like Cyclopes, Centaurs, and Titans, all rendered in upgraded stunning 3D graphics. Beyond the story, Retold boasts a variety of multiplayer and seasonal events, such as the New Year 2025 Event, which launched on January 23 and runs through February 26. This event offers 25 daily challenges across modes like Skirmish, Deathmatch, and Arena of the Gods, rewarding players with exclusive profile icons for completing them. Post-launch support, including balance tweaks and anti-cheat overhauls, further highlights the developers’ commitment to refining the experience in this upgraded version.

The upcoming Immortal Pillars expansion—a free addition for Premium Edition owners—will introduce Chinese mythology in 2025, addressing fan feedback about the original Tale of the Dragon expansion’s shortcomings. This expansion, alongside a second planned DLC, ensures the game evolves alongside its player base and has a future. It wouldn't be a stretch to say Retold has reinvigorated the RTS genre on Game Pass, offering a compelling reason for strategy enthusiasts to subscribe to the service. Its blend of timeless gameplay, frequent updates, and cross-platform accessibility solidifies it as a must-play of the Game Pass library, proving that even decades-old franchises can thrive in the modern gaming ecosystem.

Octopath Traveler 2 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Octopath Traveler 2 has cemented itself as one of the best RPGs on the service, offering a masterclass in retro-inspired JRPG design, storytelling, and strategic combat. Released as a surprise addition to the service in June 2024, the game’s arrival marked a pivotal moment for Xbox players, who finally gained access to a title previously exclusive to PlayStation, Switch, and PC. Its inclusion on Game Pass invites both newcomers and JRPG veterans to dive into a sprawling 60–80-hour JRPG adventure as part of the subscription. Critics and fans alike have praised the series HD-2D art style—a blend of nostalgic 16-bit sprites and modern 3D environments—which creates a visual feast that highlights the golden age of 1990s JRPGs while feeling fresh and dynamic.

Similar to the original, Octopath Traveler 2 features eight distinct character-driven narratives, each offering a self-contained story that weaves into a grand, interconnected tapestry where all characters play a role. Players choose a protagonist—such as Throné, a thief seeking freedom from her assassins’ guild, or Osvald, a scholar bent on revenge after being framed for his family’s murder—and recruit the remaining seven travelers, each with unique motivations and gameplay mechanics. Unlike many traditional JRPGs, Octopath Traveler 2 avoids a singular “save-the-world” plot, instead focusing on intimate, personal quests that range from emotional dramas to whimsical journeys, such as Agnea the Dancer's pursuit of stardom. This structure allows players to tackle chapters in a non-linear fashion, with optional cross-path interactions that further deepen the eight character's relationships.

A fun and innovative combat system combines turn-based strategy with a “Break & Boost” mechanic. Enemies have specific weaknesses such as swords or fire magic, and exploiting these weaknesses will “break” their defenses and open them up to devastating attacks. The addition of Latent Powers—essentially unique Limit Break-style abilities for each character—adds explosive depth to boss fights, demanding careful planning to an already refined combat system.

If you're looking for many hours of fun and a well-written narrative, you won't find a better modern JRPG experience than Octopath Traveler 2. And with it now on Game Pass, you can't beat the pure value of gaining access via your subscription.

No Man's Sky - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

After a rocky 2016 launch, No Man's Sky has transformed into a sprawling sci-fi epic, receiving over 29 massive content updates in the 9 years since its release. For space fans, it offers unparalleled amounts of exploration and evolution across countless procedurally generated planets, ecosystems, and creatures. Along the way, players can engage in interstellar trade or combat, fully powered by cross-platform multiplayer and even VR support for those who wish to partake.

Now part of Xbox Game Pass, No Man's Sky offers a trove of content for players to enjoy including exploring the expanse of space, landing on exotic planets and mining its resources, building multiple bases, and piloting a variety of unique starships. It's been a unique journey for No Man's Sky, which had mostly negative reviews after its PlayStation-exclusive launch. But now, the much-improved open-world game is now part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription and playable on both PC and Xbox Series X|S.

Tales of Arise - PC, Xbox Series X|S

Tales of Arise stands as one of the best modern-day JRPGs, blending cinematic storytelling, dynamic combat, and breathtaking visuals—all now accessible through Xbox Game Pass. Launched in 2021 to widespread acclaim, the game revitalized Bandai Namco’s long-running Tales series with its anime-inspired watercolor aesthetic and real-time action combat system. Its addition to Game Pass in February 2024 gave subscribers access to its 40–60-hour epic story. Critics hailed it as a “future of JRPGs,” comparing its ambition to the Final Fantasy VII Remake series and lauding its polished mechanics and emotional depth, two landmark elements of the series.

The game’s brilliance lies in its innovative combat and nuanced narrative. Departing from traditional turn-based systems, Tales of Arise delivers fluid, party-driven battles where players swap between four characters, each with distinct styles—ranged, melee, or defensive—and unleash “Boost Attacks” to disrupt enemies or trigger devastating combos. This system, likened to Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Granblue Fantasy: Relink, rewards strategy while maintaining frenetic fast-paced but fluid combat. The story, centered on enslaved warrior Alphen and cursed noble Shionne, avoids simplistic morality, exploring oppression through multi-layered worldbuilding. Renan rulers enforce control not just through brute force but psychological manipulation, with characters like Shionne challenging stereotypes by rebelling against her own people. This mature narrative often missing from the genre, paired with stunning cutscenes and voice acting, elevates the game beyond its “ragtag heroes vs. empire” premise.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Those seeking adventure should look towards The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. This (take a deep breath) 12-year-old game (breathe out) still has a fervent fanbase, and is still played to this day for good reason. There are many weapons, armor, spells, and even dragon shouts to find across the open world. There are also branching side quests that in and of themselves have deep, fascinating stories and characters behind them. You should take an arrow in the knee in this game and explore the grand landscapes of Skyrim with Xbox Game Pass. The Special Edition also comes with all of the DLC.

Halo Infinite - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

In my opinion, Halo Infinite gets way too much flak. This entry was my first step into the series, and I was floored by this sci-fi experience. Each weapon in Master Chief's arsenal feels powerful, but in the frantic first-person shooter levels, you're scrounging for whatever you can find, adding to the tension of battle. Finding improved weapons from the tough bosses you kill in the open world is gratifying, and the world itself truly grabbed me. The storyline with Master Chief saving the UNSC and the world on the brink is also thrilling to experience. The multiplayer, to me, feels dated with tired map design and modes, but the single-player campaign is the main attraction.

Hi-Fi Rush - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Hi-Fi Rush is one of the best Xbox exclusives in years. It combines thrilling action combat with engaging music rhythm gameplay to create a unique melee-focused experience. You play as a unique, clumsy protagonist, trying to save the day from Vandelay Technologies' evil leader. The slapstick is on point, and the script is laugh-out-loud hilarious. The action is also fantastic as you switch between the powers of your allies and string together combos on your foes.  You also can't forget the stand-out music selection in Hi-Fi Rush with rock hits from Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, and The Black Keys.

Minecraft - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

There's not much else to be said about Minecraft but I'll try my best. It's a worldwide phenomenon for a reason as it allows players to build their own structures, craft their own items, and explore a randomly generated world. Building with your friends is a lot of fun, and many players have created amazing buildings throughout the years like Hogwarts from Harry Potter. Someone even made a working 3D graphing calculator. This game is great for kids, as it lets them show their creative side and figure out how to build materials in the game. Despite existing for over a decade, the game is still getting updates and DLC based on Mega Man X and SpongeBob SquarePants. 

Monster Hunter Rise - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

After many years of struggling to get into the series, Monster Hunter Rise finally got me on the saddle. Alongside your friends, you're taking down monstrous beasts, collecting their materials, fur, etc, and then crafting incredible gear for your player. It's a rewarding game loop that keeps you playing for hours on end.

There's a strategy to each battle, and you need to keep your wits about you to survive in some of these encounters. Ultimately, it's Monster Hunter's new maneuverability of the wirebugs that lets you zip from place to place like Indiana Jones' whip that really made it click for me. You can also mount your pet palamute, letting you get to the battle quicker. It's one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass because of how gratifying collecting resources and physically seeing your character getting stronger is.

Persona 3 Reload - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Atlus' Persona 3 Reload is a fantastic way to get into the series or continue your love for the JRPG franchise. It's a complete remake of the PS2 gem that some fans argue is the best Persona game. Expect engaging turn-based combat revolving around collecting shadows, a provoking, dark story, and plenty of wonderful characters to meet along the way. The visual improvements are a stand-out with stunning UI and a complete uplift on the same level as Persona 5 Royal.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has been out for almost five years now, and I'm still surprised when anyone tells me that they've finished it.

This game’s absolutely massive, taking place in a stunning Greek-inspired open world. You can tell Ubisoft did its research with the spectacular architecture and intriguing culture to be found in the game. Kassandra (one of the two possible playable characters) is one of the best protagonists in the series; she has spunk, charming humor, and an overall badassery that few other Assassin’s Creed heroes can match. The story also takes twists and turns you’ll find fascinating. Oh, and the combat’s thrilling with a deep customization system alongside it.

Dordogne - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

If you’re fatigued from the intense FPS gameplay of most triple-A games, Dordogne is a fantastic palette cleanser. This game features a beautiful watercolor-like art style and a compelling narrative that tells the story of a woman’s childhood. It’s charming and adorable, but there’s an element of drama in the background that continues to grow as the game proceeds.

You’ll also interact with the environment in unique ways. Don’t miss out on this French indie game!

Celeste - PC, Xbox One

It's not often that a game truly moves me, but by the end of Celeste, I wept like a baby. Celeste was completely out of my comfort zone. It's a punishing platformer that tests your skills, and typically I don't have the patience for something like this. However, the challenging gameplay comes hand-in-hand with the storyline. As Madeline, you're trying to overcome your anxiety, and as you climb the mountain, she's pushing herself.

With anxiety and depression myself, this game strongly connected with me like no other did. Also, it will help others understand a foundation of what it's like to deal with symptoms like this daily. You also can't forget about Lena Raine's extraordinary soundtrack for Celeste.

Forza Horizon 5 - PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

One of the best driving games available on Xbox Game Pass is Forza Horizon 5. Variety is the spice of life and this is what you get with this Forza title. You're exploring volcanoes, the desert, beaches, Mexican towns, and even wintry mountain landscapes within Forza Horizon 5. There are also many cars to unlock as you complete challenges, earn cash, and get the best times around the open world. If you love outstanding graphics to test on your Xbox Series X or PC, Forza Horizon 5 is a grand tour-de-force to show off your lovely 4K TV.

Best Xbox Game Pass PC Exclusive Games

While most of the titles on this list are available on both Xbox and PC, there are a few that are PC-exclusive but are just too darn good not to include. As such, we've added this category for the must-play PC exclusive titles currently on Game Pass.

StarCraft Remastered and StarCraft 2 Campaign - PC Only

StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft II: Campaign Collection are landmark additions to Xbox Game Pass, offering both nostalgia and modernized RTS depth that solidify their status as titans of the real-time strategy genre. The original StarCraft (1998) revolutionized gaming with its asymmetrical factions—Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss—and its balance of accessibility and competitive complexity, earning it a place in history as the first video game played in space by NASA astronaut Daniel Barry during the STS-96 Discovery mission. StarCraft: Remastered revitalizes this legacy with 4K Ultra HD visuals, re-recorded orchestral audio, and modern online features while preserving the original’s iconic gameplay and Brood War expansion. Meanwhile, the StarCraft II: Campaign Collection bundles over 70 missions across all three games including Wings of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm, and Legacy of the Void, delivering a multi-expansion-spanning narrative that explores galactic warfare through shifting perspectives, from Terran rebel leader Jim Raynor to the Zerg queen herself, Kerrigan, Queen of Blades. Together, these titles encapsulate decades of RTS innovation, making them essential for both veterans and newcomers and a must-play on the Game Pass.

For Game Pass subscribers, these titles represent unparalleled value and accessibility. While StarCraft and StarCraft II multiplayer modes are free-to-play, the subscription unlocks Remastered’s visual overhaul and Campaign Collection’s $40 worth of single-player content at no extra cost. The integration with Battle.net ensures seamless cross-platform play and access to a passionate community, including resources like Team Liquid’s strategy guides and Sean “Day9” Plott’s legendary tutorials. Though cosmetic upgrades like the Carbot Cartooned skins remain separate purchases, the core experience—optimized for modern PCs with 4K resolution and widescreen support—delivers one of gaming’s richest universes in the genre. By bridging nostalgia with contemporary convenience, StarCraft on Game Pass not only honors its legacy but also invites a new generation to experience the series that shaped esports, streaming, and RTS excellence.

Against the Storm - PC Only

Rounding out our 20 best games on Xbox Game Pass right now is the PC-exclusive Against the Storm, a city-builder that redefines the genre with bold innovation, strategic depth, and a relentless focus on fixing one of the genre's biggest flaws: replayability. Released in 2023 and added to PC Game Pass in December of that year, this dark fantasy title merges city-building with roguelike mechanics, offering bite-sized settlement runs set against apocalyptic storms that erase progress with each run. Players act as the Queen’s Viceroy, tasked with rebuilding the Smoldering City by managing diverse races like humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies—each with unique strengths, like beavers excelling at logging and humans at building. Against the Storm sidesteps the mid-game stagnation common in traditional city builders by introducing roguelite objectives and permadeath, forcing players to adapt strategies across procedurally generated biomes and ever-changing modifiers. With no two playthroughs alike, Against the Storm compresses the complexity of the genre into intense, 1–2 hour sessions, making it ideal for Game Pass subscribers seeking meaningful progression without long-term commitments common for the genre.

Against the Storm really shines with its dynamic risk-reward systems and strategic tension. Seasonal storms and curses threaten settlements, requiring players to balance resource exploitation with villager morale—overharvesting risks discontent, while underpreparing leads to collapse. A Slay the Spire-style progression tree lets players unlock permanent upgrades between runs, such as new buildings or faction perks, creating a satisfying meta-game loop. The roguelike structure is further enhanced via randomized blueprints, which limit available structures per run, demanding creativity and constant adaptation. It's a truly must-play experience for anyone that's a fan of city-builders or even the roguelike genre, as Against the Storm masterfully fuses the two together which is why it earned a spot on our 20 Best Games on Game Pass list.

The post Top 20 best games on Xbox Game Pass right now appeared first on Destructoid.

Whether you're a rookie sorcerer or a seasoned Grade 1 player, money is essentially the lifeblood to unlocking powerful cursed techniques, gear, and more in Jujutsu Infinite. Let's break down how to get money fast in Jujutsu Infinite on Roblox without having to spend Robux.

Best ways to farm money fast

You'll need a lot of cash in Jujutsu Infinite to upgrade and get everything you want. You can buy some with Robux, but here are more consistent and free ways to get a lot of money. Here are the best ways to farm money fast in Jujutsu Infinite:

1. Grind High-Paying Missions

The absolute fastest way to grind money fast is to focus on Purple Capture Missions. These Purple Capture Missions reward both EXP and money at a much higher rate than standard quests, especially when you specifically target the highest-level Mission Set that is available to you. For example, in the early game, do missions in Numa Temple or Kura Camp over Shijo Town as they provide a lot more money per run. Also prioritize missions like Defeat a Curse User which gives a 1,025 cash per completion, allowing you to spam run it for quick and easy money.

When farming the enemies for these missions, use AOE-focused Innate Techniques like Volcano and Infinity to clear waves of enemies faster, increasing your time-to-cash ratio.

2. Complete Boss Raids and Investigations

Once you reach Level 60 in Jujutsu Infinite, you'll unlock access to Boss Raids and Investigations in the Zen Forest hub. Both of these two activities offer huge cash rewards and rare loot for participating in them. Defeating high-difficulty bosses like Jogo or Mahito will net you 5,000-10,000 cash per run. It's recommended you team up with others to be able to quickly clear the Boss Raids to increase your incoming money.

For Investigations, you will complete multi-stage objectives like purging Cursed Energy Zones of enemies to receive high lump sums of cash. These Investigations also scale with your level, so be sure to revisit them as you progress and increase your level. Also, make use of Damage Gourds and Dorayaki EXP Boosters to shorten your mission times and increase your earnings.

3. Tackle One-Time Quests and NPC Interactions

All across the open world of Jujutsu Infinite are various NPCs who offer one-time quests with pretty hefty rewards. You can use the Warp Ability (default 'J' key) to quickly get around and explore areas like the Cursed Forest of Tokyo Tower, where these NPCs also spawn with their quests. For example, the one-time quest Curse Extermination Contracts tasks you with defeating a few elite enemies for a quick 2,500-5,000 cash.

It's important to note that these quests are time-sensitive and will disappear once completed, so make sure you do them each once as soon as you come across them so you don't miss out!

4. Sell Any Extra or Unnecessary Items

You'll quickly find your inventory overflowing with items in Jujutsu Infinite, which can make it a hidden cash trove. Sell all of your low-tier gear, duplicate cursed tools, and any surplus materials you don't plan on using for some quick cash. You'll only get 100-500 cash per common gear you sell, but this can quickly add up when you have dozens of gear sitting pointlessly in your inventory.

Keep in mind that while you can sell rare items like Demon Fingers and Cursed Energy Scrolls, it's not recommended to do so as you will use them for late-game crafting and overall save more time by hanging onto them. Of course, when you're not actively playing Jujutsu Infinite, farm AFK Chests by idling in the AFK Station for more items that you can sell, essentially creating a passive income stream.

5. Optimize Daily Routines

Completing your Daily Quests for bonus spins and bonus cash is worth doing each day, so make sure you are doing them. Also claim your Daily Login Rewards each day as they can have some extra cash boosts, EXP multipliers, and more. Make sure to redeem any active and available Jujutsu Infinite codes that are constantly added. They won't give you cash directly, but increasing the quality of your Innate Techniques will allow you to farm money faster.

If you want to make the most of making money in Jujutsu Infinite, you'll want to combine EXP and cash farming by multi-tasking. Stack Dorayaki Boosters before running Capture Missions to make the most of them. Also, if you get low-value missions like Defeat Band as they don't reward much money and overall aren't worth your time.

The post How to get money fast in Jujutsu Infinite appeared first on Destructoid.

In Dandy's World on Roblox, the toon you choose has specific stats as well as abilities that can make or break a run. Some toons have higher odds of getting to higher floors based on their solo ability. These are the best toons for solo runs in Dandy's World.

Best Dandy's World Solo Run Toons

There are 23 toons in total in Dandy's World, but these are the five best toons to pick purely for solo play. These toons are great specifically when alone, due to increased base stats for survivability and late-game viability.

1. Shelly

Shelly’s unmatched extraction speed (+75% for 15 seconds via “Quick Fix”) lets her complete machines faster than any other toon, minimizing time spent in Twisted territory. Her stamina efficiency allows her to outrun chases consistently, and her passive speed boost after using machines (“Grease Monkey”) ensures she’s always one step ahead. Solo players swear by her for speedrunning floors 1–20 with trinkets like Magnifying Glass or Dog Plush.

2. Pebble

Pebble’s 3-star stealth and “Sniff Out” passive (revealing nearby items like Smoke Bombs and Health Kits) make them the ultimate survivalist. Their speed and stamina let them evade Twisteds indefinitely, while their ability to hoard resources ensures you’ll never lack healing or escape tools. Perfect for players who prioritize stealth and resource control over brute force.

3. Tisha

Tisha’s 25% speed buff (“Team Spirit”) might seem team-focused, but solo players exploit it to reset chases or reach machines faster. Her high stamina and balanced stats make her forgiving for beginners, and her ability to drop distractions (“Decoy Doll”) buys critical seconds during escapes. Pair her with Blue Bandana for stamina regen or Fancy Purse for extra item slots.

4. Brightney

Brightney’s Night Light ability (revealing Twisteds during blackouts) is indispensable for floors 15+, where darkness mechanics spike in difficulty. While her low stealth holds her back early-game, her late-game utility and glow effect (which deters some Twisteds) make her a top pick for players aiming for high-floor clears. Use Pink Bow to offset her stealth penalty.

5. Flutter

Flutter’s dash ability (“Blink”) instantly breaks Twisted aggro, letting players reset chases or bypass threats entirely. Their high base speed synergizes with trinkets like Thinking Cap (stamina regen) or Vanity Mirror (panic escape), and they’re favored by players who prefer aggressive, hit-and-run tactics over stealth.

Solo Run Toon Tier List

We've also put together a Solo Run Toon Tier List for Dandy's World ranking all 23 toons so you know which ones to go for. Keep in mind this tier list is based on solo abilities. As such, our S Tier toons have increased speed, sustain and utility, all crucial for solo survival. The A Tier has versatile picks requiring certain strategic play. The B Tier toons need specific scenarios to shine or work better in teams. Our C Tier toons lack any solo viability and have poor stats or too high-risk mechanics for solo play. Here is our Dandy's World Solo Run Toon Tier List:

S Tier

• Shelly - Unparalleled extraction speed (+75% for 15 seconds) and stamina efficiency. This can be critical for solo players prioritizing quick machine completion and escaping the Twisteds.
• Tisha - Very high stamina and team-speed buffs (25% for 5 seconds), which solo players can actually exploit for their own self-rescue during chases. Also, Tisha's stats make her a balanced all-rounder toon.
• Pebble - With insane movement speed, stealth, and item detection, Pebble is perfect for solo players looking for resource control and evasion.

A Tier

• Vee - Detects Twisteds and incomplete machines, essential for planning solo routes.
• Astro - Stamina regeneration for allies (and self) ensures prolonged escapes from Twisteds.
• Sprout - Healing and speed make them a sustain-focused pick, though less effective as a solo without team coordination.
• Looey - High speed and distraction utility, but risky due to the one-heart penalty.
• Flutter - Dash ability bypasses Twisted aggro, making it ideal for hit-and-run tactics.
• Glisten - Mirror teleportation offers unique escape options but requires map knowledge.
• Brightney - Blackout utility reveals Twisteds which can shine in late-game floors after 15+, but low stealth limits early-game visibility.

B Tier

• Connie - Strong ability potential but held back by her one-star speed.
• Gigi - Luck-based mechanics and stealth make her inconsistent but can be great in a pinch if lucky.
• Goob - Distraction specialist but lacking solo survivability.
• Boxten - Slow extraction speed, and better toolkit for teamplay.
• Rodger - Doubles research gains but offers little in terms of solo combat.
• Razzle & Dazzle - Floor-dependent stats create inconsistency.
• Teagan - Self-heal is useful but overshadowed by S/A-tier sustain.

C Tier

• Finn - Mediocre extraction and stats, outclassed by most A/B- tier picks on this list.
• Toodles - RNG-based stat boosts and low extraction speed make Toodles too unreliable.
• Scraps - Teleportation is risky without team support, and low survivability makes for tough solo play.

Your best option is to pair S or A Tier toons with the best trinkets from our Dandy's World Trinket Tier List, or make sure you have Dog Plush and Magnifying Glass for increased survivability.

The post Dandy’s World: Best toons for solo runs appeared first on Destructoid.

Green Hell developer Creepy Jar announced today that its upcoming sci-fi base-builder StarRupture will be released into Early Access in Fall 2025. To celebrate the announcement, Creepy Jar also released an extended gameplay release trailer showcasing the gunplay, building, and exploring players will be able to do this Autumn.

Set in the year 2021, StarRupture puts players into the role of a corporate prisoner exiled to a deceptively vibrant planet ruled by a merciless star, Ruptura. The star inevitably obliterates all surface life in a fiery doom, resulting in cycles of new life and fauna being formed. It's up to you to harvest resources between each cycle to send back to your corpo-overlords while trying to survive the planet's deadly landscape.

As players survive the hostile ecosystem, they'll build a dynamic base and construct sprawling factories to process the planet's precious resources, unlock new tech, and fortify against the swarms of aggressive alien creatures. You can also uncover clues from prior expeditions, explore abandoned camps, discover cryptic logs, and learn more about the deeper narrative of what's really going on here on the surface of this harsh planet.

I'm a fan of Green Hell as well as pretty much anything sci-fi, so I'm really interested in seeing what Creepy Jar has cooked up with this one. Based on the trailer, it looks like a nice blend of actual gunplay against the aliens while also building up your base and setting up factories. Usually, games focus too much on one or the other which I think is a missed opportunity. Also, I tend to enjoy co-oping this types of games with a friend or two, so having the option to squad up to 4 players total or jumping in solo is an appealing feature.

If you're interested in trying to survive the fiery wrath of Ruptura, StarRupture ignites into Steam Early Access this Fall via Steam.

The post Co-op Sci-Fi base-builder StarRupture blasts into Early Access this Fall appeared first on Destructoid.

Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja announced today that the open-world action RPG Rise of the Ronin, which lets players explore 1863 Japan as a twin blade-wielding Ronin will be hitting PC on March 10, 2025. The PC version will launch almost a full year after releasing exclusively on the PlayStation 5 back on March 22, 2024.

According to Koei Tecmo, Rise of the Ronin will include new features exclusive to the PC version including 8K resolution support, DirectX 12 Ultimate support, Ultra-Wide and Super Ultrade-Wide monitor compatibility, 120 FPS, Ray Tracing, FSR and DLSS support, and more. Players who purchase the PC version of Rise of the Ronin will also receive an "early purchase bonus" of four unique combat styles: Hayabusa-ryu for Katana, Hayabusa-ryu for Naginata, Nioh-ryu for Katana, and Aisu Kage-ryu for Katana. The bonus also includes the Iga Ninja armor set and Iga Ninja Katana cosmetics.

In Rise of the Ronin, players utilize a variety of weapons and weapon styles to slice through various enemies in feudal Japan. Along the way, you'll encounter various historical figures and have to make important choices like whether to assassinate or protect key political figures to shape and mold the world after Tokugawa Shogunate's reign over the country, amidst a period of war and political unrest.

Our very own Kristina Ebanez scored Rise of the Ronin a 7/10 last year, saying you can expect to "have fun dicing up your enemies while learning about Japan's rich culture." With the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows and several other feudal Japan-themed releases coming later this year including the highly anticipated Ghost of Yotei, I hadn't really considered checking out Rise of the Ronin any time soon. But between the hype from the recent reveal of Ninja Gaiden 4 and all the great PC-exclusive features coming to the Steam release, I might have to change those plans.

Rise of the Ronin will slice its way onto PC via Steam on March 10, 2025.

The post Team Ninja’s open-world action RPG Rise of the Ronin coming to PC this March appeared first on Destructoid.

Last week developer Wolcen Studio announced codenamed Project Pantheon, the studio's next title. I recently sat down with members of the development team to get a very early look at Project Pantheon, as well as to hear more about the ambitious future for the title and how Wolcen Studio plans to get it there.

At its core, Project Pantheon mashes together two popular genres: Action RPG and PvPvE Extraction. Or, as the team liked to put it, ExtrAction RPG. Players will have their own Sanctuary, essentially a base of operations that they can customize and upgrade as well as manage their loadout, akin to that in other Extraction-base games like Escape from Tarkov. From here they will queue for matchmaking before being dropped on a map where they will slay ferocious creatures to level up and acquire gear and other loot while other players are doing the same thing, all with ARPG-style gameplay. Once their inventory is filled or they've received a piece of loot they want to hold on to, players must then successfully extract from the map before being taken out by other players trying to get their loot.

It's important to note that Project Pantheon is currently in its very early stages of development. According to Wolcen Studio, despite the upcoming Closed Alpha test, Project Pantheon doesn't plan to release into Early Access until Q4 2025 or even Q1 2026, with major updates to be released every four months.

While this may seem too early to some, Wolcen Studio is deliberately making the decision to get eyeballs—and soon, hands-on Project Pantheon, as they want the community and player base to play a massive role in shaping the game. The team lamented the development process of its previous ARPG, Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem, and is looking to avoid the pitfalls of that title by including the community from a much earlier stage in the development cycle.

Project Pantheon is set in a post-apocalyptic universe where all the various mythologies of the world are real but have mysteriously all been killed. Players take on the role of a recently deceased soul reaching the afterlife only to be recruited by none other than Death himself to be a worthy agent in investigating the demise of the gods.

To do so, players must hunt down Undying creatures and mythological beasts against other agents of Death, scavenging resources and acquiring powerful artifacts along the way. The goal is to incorporate Project Pantheon with several different mythologies. At the moment, only Norse mythology is present. However, the current plan is to add Egyptian, Greek, and Aztec mythologies over the course of Early Access, as well as more post-1.0 launch mythologies based on community feedback.

As part of the preview, I got to watch a couple of matches between Wolcen Studio developers, with them jumping into the same map together, going their own separate ways, killing creatures and looting up, before eventually coming across each other and duking it out in PvP. Due to its very early state, there were a few bugs along the way, and there were evident temporary placeholders like the simple and block gear and item tooltips. But the gameplay loop was evident, and it was a lot of fun seeing one of my favorite genres, ARPGs, get a worthwhile approach to PvP, something currently missing from the genre.

In Project Pantheon, your abilities and playstyle are dictated by your gear. Weapons act as a sort of "soft class," giving you access to specific abilities for that weapon type. Armor provides passive abilities, while Artifacts grant the player powerful and unique finishing moves. This creates the possibility for players to mix and customize their own gearsets that revolve around their preferred playstyle. It reminded me a lot of the itemization and PvP in Albion Online, giving players the freedom to build their own playstyle through gear rather than locking them to specific abilities based on a class choice.

At the moment, there are only three weapon types available. But Wolcen Studio already has eight weapons currently being designed for Norse mythology, each with 10-12 abilities. Armor and Artifacts add another 50 abilities per mythology, meaning that when all is said and done, Wolcen Studio hopes to have about 150 abilities for each mythology that they add to the game.

Project Pantheon is set to kick off its Closed Alpha 1 test this weekend for European players on January 25 and January 26, while North American players will get access on February 1 and February 2. It will be the same very early in-development build I got a look at, as the goal of this Closed Alpha is primarily to test the overall technical efficacy of Project Pantheon, focused on validating the stability and performance of the title's backend systems and server infrastructure. Essentially, Project Pantheon is making sure it can walk before trying to run.

While it is way too early to have any real opinion on the actual gameplay of Project Pantheon, I greatly admire Wolcen Studio's approach to involving players this early to allow them to shape and influence the development cycle. As someone who enjoyed Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem, I'm happy to see the team learning from its development mistakes and ensuring Project Pantheon doesn't fall into the same issues. I'll be keeping a close eye on its development and looking forward to seeing what it evolves into over the next few years.

The post Project Pantheon aims to mash two popular genres together appeared first on Destructoid.

In Dandy's World on Roblox, trinkets provide specific modifiers to the player who equips them. You can equip two different trinkets, which can really change your playstyle in Dandy's World. We've put together a Dandy's World tier list for the best trinkets you can currently get.

Dandy's World Trinket Tier List

There are currently over 35 trinkets in Dandy's World, giving you a lot of potential utility when playing. Each player can equip two trinkets at a time, so it's worthwhile to mix and match certain ones to enhance your playstyle. Here is our tier list for the best Dandy's World trinkets:

S Tier

All three trinkets in the S Tier are so strong that they should be used regardless of what your other trinket is, as they will consistently give you an advantage every match. These are the trinkets you hope to get.

• Dog Plush
• Magnifying Glass
• Vee's Remote

A Tier

Our A Tier trinkets have strong synergies with other trinkets that can make an impactful difference in any match. These are solid options that should almost always be used as well, other than when against S Tier trinkets.

• Clown Horn
• Ghost Snakes in a Can
• Participation Award
• Ribbon Spool
• Speedy Shoes

B Tier

The trinkets in the B Tier have specific uses which make them worthwhile but aren't great universal options compared to those in the higher tiers. Worth grabbing, but will probably be replaced.

• Alarm
• Dandy Plush
• Lucky Coin
• Pink Bow
• Savory Charm
• Sweet Charm
• Vanity Mirror

C Tier

These C Tier trinkets aren't great but can have some specific situations in which they can be useful. They aren't great but can make a difference in a pinch.

• Cardboard 'Armor'
• Crayon Set
• Friendship Bracelet
• Water Cooler
• Wrench

D Tier

The D Tier trinkets are not good and should be replaced as soon as possible. They do provide buffs or advantages, but they are so minor they will hardly make a difference in Dandy's World.

• Blue Bandana
• Bone
• Feather Duster
• Machine Manual
• Megaphone
• Night Cap
• Pull Toy
• Thermos

F Tier

Unfortunately, these F Tier trinkets are so bad they shouldn't be used at all. They are all either so weak they aren't worth using or they can in fact make things worse. Avoid these trinkets at all costs.

• Blushy Bat
• Brick
• Coin Purse
• Diary
• Fancy Purse
• Fishing Rod
• Spare Bulb
• Speedometer
• Thinking Cap

How to get Trinkets via Twisted's Research

While a lot of trinkets in Dandy's World can be acquired via Dandy's Store in the lobby, many of them can only be obtained by completing Twisted's Research. This is essentially the long-term progression in Dandy's World, allowing you to unlock various Toons and Trinkets for playing the Roblox game.

There are currently two ways you can progress your Twisted's Research in Dandy's World. The first is to acquire Research Capsules. Two Research Capsules spawn for each Twisted, with each capsule giving 1% of the total Research towards the Twisted the capsule is for. All player's can pick up the Research Capsules, so you don't have to worry about other player's hogging them all up.

The other way to get Twisted Research is to encounter a Twisted. You can only get this once per floor, so getting chased twice will not grant double. Each time you encounter a Twisted for the first time on each floor you will get 5% of the Research for that Twisted.

The Toon Rodger doubles the amount of Research you get, meaning capsules will give 2% and encounters will give 10%, making Rodger the best Toon for farming Twisted Research in Dandy's World.

The post Dandy’s World: Best trinkets tier list appeared first on Destructoid.

In Haikyuu Legends on Roblox, your Style affects your eight stats which dictates your efficiency at performing various volleyball moves. We've put together the best Haikyuu Legends Style tier list so you know which styles to spin for to be the best competitive player!

Style Tier List

As of Haikyuu Legends Update 2, there are 20 total Styles to spin for. Each time you spin you have a chance of getting either Common, Rare, Legendary, or Godly Styles. Typically speaking, the Common Styles are the worst while the Godly Styles are the best. Here is the best Haikyuu Legends Style Tier List for Update 2:

S Tier

The Styles in the S Tier have at least two maxed-out stats, and other stats that are close to max, making them overall versatile at pretty much all types of gameplay in Haikyuu Legends.

• Bokuto (Godly) - Strengths: Block, Jump, Spike
• Oikawa (Godly) - Strengths: Jump, Serve, Set
• Ushijima (Legendary) - Strengths: Jump, Spike, Block

A Tier

All of the A Tier styles have at least one maxed-out stats and several others that are close enough to make them strong enough options to use until you get an S Tier Style.

• Kageyama (Godly) - Strengths: Set, Block, Jump
• Kuroo (Legendary) - Strengths: Jump, Block, Bump, Spike, Serve
• Yaku (Legendary) - Strengths: Jump, Speed, Block

B Tier

For the B Tier, the Styles have a specific strength that can make them worthwhile against most, though you should always keep an eye out for an S Tier.

• Azumane (Legendary) - Strengths: Serve, Jump, Spike
• Kozume (Legendary) - Strengths: Set, Dive, Jump
• Sawamura (Legendary) - Strengths: Speed, Dive, Bump, Set
• Yamamoto (Legendary) - Strengths: Bump, Dive, Spike

C Tier

While the C Tier Styles may offer a stronger specific stat, it's usually just one, and not even maxed out. The reason they aren't in D Tier is the higher stat is usually at least a useful one.

• Hinata (Common) - Strengths: Serve, Bump, Speed
• Iwaizumi (Rare) - Strengths: Jump, Speed, Spike
• Nishinoya (Rare) - Strengths: Bump, Dive, Speed
• Ohira (Rare) - Strengths: Bump, Jump, Serve
• Sugawara (Common) - Strengths: Set, Spike
• Tanaka (Common) - Strengths: Spike, Jump
• Tsukishima (Rare) - Strengths: Jump, Block, Set

D Tier

Unfortunately, the D Tier Styles are so bad, that even their strong stat is a useless one like Block. Replace these Styles immediately.

• Haiba (Common) - Strengths: Block
• Kita (Common) - Strengths: Bump, Dive
• Yamaguchi (Common) - Strengths: Bump, Jump

The post Best Haikyuu Legends Style tier list appeared first on Destructoid.

Nvidia announced today that the GeForce NOW version of 2023 GOTY Baldur's Gate 3 has received mod support via a collaboration with developer Larian Studios and mod.io. The feature is available now and included for GeForce NOW Ultimate, Performance, and Day Pass users.

According to Nvidia, BG3 players on GeForce NOW can now make use of a wide array of customization options when it comes to mods, with more mod support on the way for both BG3 and various other PC games.

The process to download mods on GeForce NOW sounds incredibly streamlined. Players who launch the RPG on GeForce NOW can navigate an in-game mod menu to download and enable their desired mods. These selections will stay enabled across your GeForce NOW sessions, so you won't have to worry about reenabling them each time. You can also subscribe to specific mods via mod.io which will preload them the next time you launch Baldur's Gate 3 from GeForce NOW.

An interesting point of note is that the mod support is also included across all GeForce NOW supported devices including Nvidia Shield TVs, laptops, Macs, Chromebooks, and even handheld devices including the Steam Deck. This makes it one of the easiest ways to access BG3 mod support on a handheld, which is pretty nifty.

Nvidia also revealed seven new games being added to the service today including the newly released roguelike bullet hell survivor title Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel. Here are all of the new games headed to GeForce NOW:

• Amnesia: Collection
• Among Us
• Lawn Mowing Simulator
• Jotunnslayer: Hordes of Hel
• Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
• STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town
• Townscraper

These seven titles and the Baldur's Gate 3 mod support are available now, January 23, 2025, across all GeForce NOW-supported platforms.

The post Baldur’s Gate 3 now has support on GeForce NOW appeared first on Destructoid.

In the first big game showcase of 2025, Microsoft kicked things off with the Xbox Developer's Direct Show case highlighting four AAA titles all set to release this year. Let's take a look at all four games that were part of the January 2025 Xbox Developer Direct showcase.

Ninja Gaiden 4

Xbox kicked things off with the reveal of the return of Raiden in Ninja Gaiden 4, being developed in coordination by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. If it feels like it's been a while since we've had a Ninja Gaiden game, well, you're right. A decade, to be exact.

Ninja Gaiden 4 takes place after the events of Ninja Gaiden 3 in an abandoned Tokyo that has been taken over by demons. Players will step into the role of the longtime series' main character master ninja Ryu Hayabusa as well as a new protagonist, Yakumo.

Team Ninja also revealed Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, an upgraded remaster of the Xbox 360 title Ninja Gaiden 2 rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5. Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is out now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, and Ninja Gaiden 4 will be released on the same platforms in Fall 2025 as well as be available on on Day One on Game Pass.

South of Midnight

Next up, Compulsion Games showed off more of the story from the upcoming action-adventure title South of Midnight from the creators of We Happy Few. A hurricane rips through the town of Prospero, whisking away the main character Hazel, and pulling her into a Southern Gothic world where reality and fantasy connect and ancient folklore creatures emerge.

We also got a release date for South of Midnight, and the third-person adventure title is now set to release on April 8, 202,5 on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Day One on Game Pass.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

This debut title from developer Sandfall Interactive looks great. The third game highlighted in the showcase was the upcoming RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, featuring turn-based combat mixed with real-time mechanics. Players face off against the Paintress in a Belle Epoque-inspired fantasy world hosting an expansive world, and lots of secrets and side quests. Revealed in the showcase, players will be able to set up and customize their own camp where they can reinforce weapons, bond with Expedition teammates, and plan their next course of action.

We also got the release date for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 which will release on April 24, 2025, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It too, will also be available on Day One on Game Pass.

Doom: The Dark Ages

Microsoft wrapped things up with Doom: The Dark Ages, showing off its fast-paced brutal gameplay with tons of bone-shattering and decapitating weapons. The showcase highlighted the open-world aspects of the medieval-themed fight against the forces of Hell as well as a handful of the arsenal of weapons players can wreak havoc with. We also got a look at two new badass tools we can use in the fight against Hell: a flying mecha dragon and a colossal Atlas mech.

Doom: The Dark Ages is set to release on May 15, 2025, on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It will also be available on Day One on Game Pass.

The post Everything shown at today’s Xbox Developer Direct showcase appeared first on Destructoid.

During today's Xbox Developer Direct, Microsoft and developer id Software showcased the fast-paced and action-packed gameplay of the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages. It was also announced that Doom: The Dark Ages has locked down a release date of May 15, 2025.

Doom: The Dark Ages serves as a prequel to 2016's Doom and Doom Eternal, and tells the origin story of the Doom Slayer's rage. Set in medieval times, players jump into the role of the Doom Slayer, the ultimate super weapon of Gods and Kings to fight, tasked with fighting the forces of hell in a dark and sinister medieval war. Despite being a prequel, Doom: The Dark Ages will also be a perfect entry point for players new to the series.

According to id Software, Doom: The Dark Ages will feature open-world areas and massive boss fights as players progress through the story while gaining access to a plethora of new badass devastating weapons like the Shield Saw which not only lets players block projectiles but gives them the opportunity to hurl it at enemies like a deadly boomerang and even pull of well-timed parries to devastate attacking demons.

We also got a look at two cool new tools of war against the forces of hell: the Mecha Dragon and a massive Atlan mech. The first is a fire-breathing beast that allows you to take to the skies and rain hellfire on flying demons and enemies below. The colossal Atlan mech is the side of a building and allows you to take on the largest titan demons in style. id Software also pointed out that both tools weren't gimmicky one-off additions to Doom: The Dark Ages, but rather full-fledged features that have their own extensive uses throughout.

Doom: The Dark Ages is set to release on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 on May 15, 2025.

The post Doom: The Dark Ages shows off brutal combat, sets release for May appeared first on Destructoid.

Like many Assassin's Creed fans, I've always felt that feudal Japan was simply a natural period for the series. I remember an early discussion by developer and publisher Ubisoft almost two decades ago about future entries into the franchise exploring unique periods, including Egypt—which ended up being a big change for the series with Assassin's Creed Origins—and Japan.

I recently got some hands-on time with the early parts of Assassin's Creed Shadows, including the prologue that introduces both playable characters Naoe and Yasuke, and one of the early sequences of missions in the open world.

My biggest takeaway from the preview was just how immersive Shadows felt in its setting, from the world in which it takes place to the story it's telling. After roughly three and a half hours with Shadows, I can happily say it exceeded my expectations in almost every way, and I'm excited to play more.

Starting off with the prologue, Shadows starts by introducing our two playable characters: Naoe and Yasuke. For Yasuke, the prologue explores how Yasuke came to Japan as well as the start of his journey to become a samurai. Naoe, on the other hand, has her own adventure that leads to her discovering the way of the assassin. From the prologue into the actual open-world sequence of missions I was able to play after, one thing became immediately clear: Ubisoft is telling a story with Assassin's Creed Shadows. It was a much more cinematic experience than previous entries in the series, featuring a plethora of cutscenes which I was told will play a big part throughout the whole game. It felt like the recently released Shogun TV series in playable form, and I'm eager to see where the story goes.

Between the prologue and the open-world segment I got to play, Naoe and Yasuke team up. It's evident that the two uniting is a bigger plot point, and I'm curious to see how it plays out in the time our preview skipped over. Once the two are together, however, you have the option of playing as either one. In the open world, you can switch between the two at any time. During actual quests, you'll have several points in which you can choose which character to play that sequence as.

Before playing, I had assumed the difference between the two would be mostly story-related. But the actual gameplay between the two is drastically different, which makes sense. Yasuke is a massive brute with the ability to take on many foes at once with sheer strength and combat prowess. Naoe, on the other hand, plays more like a traditional assassin in the series. The strengths and weaknesses between the two are very noticeable, and in the questline, I got to play through, the choice of who to use for certain segments felt like an impactful one.

Know you're going to be fighting through a group of enemies? Probably best to use Yasuke. Trying to keep quiet and sneak into somewhere you shouldn't be? Advised to use Naoe. You're not prevented from using either character, it's just that their skillsets make each situation very different based on who you are playing.

Yasuke, for example, doesn't have access to a lot of the staple assassin capabilities like performing the Leap of Faith or utilizing Eagle Vision. You can attempt to be stealthy as Yasuke, but more often than not you're going to have to fight your way through.

Naoe, on the other hand, has no limits to her verticality, able to easily climb up the side of buildings and even make use of a grappling hook to quickly scale onto high-up rooftops. Of course, she has her weaknesses as well. Even though she can hold her own in combat, it's important to make use of her ability to dodge and parry attacks. While Yasuke can take quite a beating, a single heavy attack landing on Naoe can be devastating.

Something I noticed throughout my preview that I wholeheartedly didn't expect, is that your choices seem to actually matter, even if Assassin's Creed Shadows doesn't immediately highlight that. Early on in the questline I played through, I had chased down someone who I believed may have had the information I was looking for. I had essentially two dialogue options: demanding he spill the beans or bring up the fact that his wife, who I had spoken to earlier, was worried about and looking for him.

I chose the first choice, which led to him getting angry and inevitably attacking me. This was one of my earlier combat segments as Naoe and, well, didn't go too well. I then reloaded to the beginning of the dialogue with this character and figured there was no better time to rewrite history, and chose to instead tell him for his wife. This ended up being a purely peaceful route, leading to him giving me the information I was looking for, followed by hurrying off to go see his wife.

The early parts of Assassin's Creed Shadows are a ton of fun, and after a few hours of hands-on time, I'm anxious for more. If Ubisoft can keep the story engaging throughout, I could easily see Assassin's Creed Shadows standing out as another landmark addition to the series. We'll know soon enough as Assassin's Creed Shadows is set to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on March 20, 2025.

The post Hands-on Preview: Assassin’s Creed Shadows appeared first on Destructoid.

Coming into the Season of Witchcraft, Rogue is in a great spot to level fast and be very effective at end-game through a variety of builds. We've put together the Diablo 4 Season 7 Best Rogue Leveling build to help you get into the end-game grind faster this season.

Best Rogue Leveling Build in Diablo 4 Season 7

The best rogue leveling build in Diablo 4 Season 7 is Dance of Knives. With the Dance of Knives build you can literally just activate your Shadow Imbuement and then hold down Dance of Knives and clear out massive hordes of enemies. This build is so strong you can even start on the hardest starting difficulty, Pentinent, and quickly level up to the end-game. The insane strength of the build paired with its ease of access and ability to play makes this the strongest rogue leveling build in Diablo 4 Season 7.

Skill Order

With this Dance of Knives rogue leveling build you will have infinite Shadow Imbues and Infinite Energy, allowing you to spam Dance of Knives. Here is the order of skills you want to select as you level:

1. Puncture (1/5)
2. Enhanced Puncture
3. Stutter Step (1/3)
4. Stutter Step (2/3)
5. Stutter Step (3/3)
6. Sturdy (1/3)
7. Sturdy (2/3)
8. Sturdy (3/3)
9. Target Practice (1/3)
10. Target Practice (2/3)
11. Target Practice (3/3)
12. Dance of Knives (1/5)
13. Dance of Knives (2/5)
14. Dance of Knives (3/5)
15. Dance of Knives (4/5)
16. Dance of Knives (5/5)
17. Enhanced Dance of Knives
18. Disciplined Dance of Knives
19. Weapon Mastery (1/3)
20. Weapon Mastery (2/3)
21. Weapon Mastery (3/3)
22. Trick Attacks (1/3)
23. Trick Attacks (2/3)
24. Trick Attacks (3/3)
25. Dark Shroud (1/5)
26. Dark Shroud (2/5)
27. Dark Shroud (3/5)
28. Dark Shroud (4/5)
29. Dark Shroud (5/5)
30. Enhanced Dark Shroud
31. Countering Dark Shroud
32. Exploit (1/3)
33. Exploit (2/3)
34. Exploit (3/3)
35. Malice (1/3)
36. Malice (2/3)
37. Malice (3/3)
38. Shadow Imbuement (1/5)
39. Shadow Imbuement (2/5)
40. Shadow Imbuement (3/5)
41. Shadow Imbuement (4/5)
42. Shadow Imbuement (5/5)
43. Enhanced Shadow Imbuement
44. Blended Shadow Imbuement
45. Deadeye (1/3)
46. Deadeye (2/3)
47. Deadeye (3/3)
48. Precision Imbuement (1/3)
49. Precision Imbuement (2/3)
50. Precision Imbuement (3/3)
51. Shadow Crash (1/3)
52. Shadow Crash (2/3)
53. Shadow Crash (3/3)
54. Shadow Clone (1/5)
55. Shadow Clone (2/5)
56. Shadow Clone (3/5)
57. Shadow Clone (4/5)
58. Shadow Clone (5/5)
59. Prime Shadow Clone
60. Supreme Shadow Clone
61. Alchemist's Fortune (1/3)
62. Alchemist's Fortune (2/3)
63. Alchemist's Fortune (3/3)
64. Innervation (1/3)
65. Haste (1/3)
66. Haste (2/3)
67. Haste (3/3)
68. Momentum
69. Aftermath (1/3)
70. Aftermath (2/3)
71. Aftermath (3/3)

Gear

In terms of gear while using this leveling rogue build in Diablo 4 Season 7, you want to primarily target gear that has high Dexterity over everything else. You also want to get Max Life and Armor for more survivability. This build is so strong that you don't need a ton of gear to really be effective.

Here's some Aspects, Unique and Legendary items that synergize well with this build:

• Helm: Cowl of the Nameless
• Gloves: Aspect of Stolen Vigor
• Pants: Umbrous Aspect
• Boots: Wind Striker Aspect
• Ranged Weapon: Clandestine Aspect
• Melee Weapon: Edgemaster's Aspect
• Amulet: Aspect of Star Shards
• Ring 1: Aspect of Elements
• Ring 2: Aspect of Corruption

Witchcraft Powers

In the Season of Witchcraft, you also have access to Witchcraft Powers. Here's the Witchcraft Powers you should use when going with this rogue leveling build:

• Vengeful Spirit (Psyche Power)
• Aura of Misfortune (Psyche Power)
• Aura Specialization (Lost Power
• Twilight Warding (Psyche Power
• Firebat Servants (Eldritch Power)
• Shaken Soul (Eldritch Power)

As you level with this rogue Dance of Knives build, keep in mind the goal is level as fast as possible. As such, make sure you are equipping the highest damage gear you can as you get it, as really increased damage is all that matters for leveling.

Rogue Fast Leveling Tips for Diablo 4 Season 7

The fastest way to level as a rogue using the Dance of Knives build is to skip the campaign and immediately complete the new Season of Witchcraft seasonal questline and then unlock the above Legendary Aspects by completing the necessary dungeons. Afterwards, focus on doing Helltides and whatever Witchcraft-specific activities you see that grant Grim Favors. Once you hit Level 40, clear all of the Strongholds for a big experience boost. Once you reach around Level 60, you can continue to level with this build or transition into a more end-game focused build based on your playstyle preference.

The post Diablo 4 Season 7 Best Rogue Leveling build appeared first on Destructoid.

The new Diablo 4 Season 7, Season of Witchcraft, adds an all-new seasonal questline as well as a plethora of Witchcraft-themed powers you can acquire. In order to access the new content and powers, you first need to Ally with the Coven by seeking out the new Coven NPC Gelena in Diablo 4.

Where to find Gelena in Diablo 4

At the start of Diablo 4 Season 7 you can find Gelena in the town of Geakul located on the western side of the map in the region of Kehjistan. This is actually the port that you visit at the beginning of the Vessel of the Hatred expansion that takes you to the new region of Nahantu.

Gelena can be found by the docks of Geakul, close to the Waypoint for the area. Upon teleporting to the Waypoint, simply look to your left and you should find Geakul standing there waiting to give you the first Coven quest of the Season of Witchcraft.

How to fix Gelena is not there bug

If you are unable to see Gelena, it means you never completed the Vessel of the Hatred or base Diablo 4 campaign. Check your Main Story Quests on the right side of the screen and see if you have any that are the color yellow. If so, that means you did not complete the Main Story Quest, and so the game is basically making you start all over on the new season.

Thankfully, you can login to your old character that you progressed through the campaign on and finish the questline, then re-create your Seasonal character for Diablo 4 Season 7 and you will have the option of starting with the questline completed. This will cause Gelena to spawn for you so you can start the Coven questline.

How to complete Ally with the Coven

In order to completely Ally with the Coven in Diablo 4 Season 7, you will need to farm the new Coven's Favor reputation by completing Grim Favors which will earn you Grim Favors. Once you acquire 10 Grim Favors you can turn them in at the Tree of Whispers to get rewards as well as reset and allow you to acquire more. There are 20 Coven's Favor ranks in total that each grant you exclusive rewards for achieving the rank in this season. Here are all the Diablo 4 Season 7 Coven's Favor rewards:

The post How to complete Ally with the Coven and find Gelena in Diablo 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

The massive Colossal Worm in Dig It on Roblox is one of several Mythics that can be found. While most Mythical creatures can be found at any time, a specific event needs to be active on Dig It to obtain the Colossal Worm.

Where to find the Colossal Worm

You can dig up the Colossal Worm on the Badlands island during the server-wide Colossal Worm event. The Colossal Worm event is completely random but has a 17% chance of triggering and starting each day in Dig It. Players can also manually spawn the Colossal Worm event by speaking to the NPC Gandolf at Nookville and spawning it manually with Robux.

Once the event is active, head to the desert Badlands island and you will see a large yellow circle around The Pit in the middle of the Badlands. As long as you are inside the yellow circle, each dig has a chance of being the Colossal Worm. Of course, being a Mythical creature, the mini-game for successfully digging up the Colossal Worm will be difficult.

How to successfully dig up the Colossal Worm

To successfully dig up the Colossal Worm, you're going to need to use a late-game high-level shovel. If you want to give yourself the best chance for success, you will want to use the Seer Shovel or better. The Seer Shovel can be acquired at Level 25 for 37,500 Doolars, and can be found next to the entrance to the Badlands Pyramid on the same island as the Colossal Worm event.

The high stats of the Seer Shovel make it the first late-game weapon you can use to successfully dig up the Colossal Worm. Of course, if you're past this level and have access to other late-game Shovels like the Fortune Shovel, you can use them as well.

For reference, here are the stats on the Seer Shovel:

Seer Shovel

• How to Obtain: 37,500 Doolars at Level 25 from the Badlands Pyramid
• Strength: 35
• Stamina Loss: 7%
• Loot Luck: 25%
• Control: 35%
• Stability: 40%
• Precision: 40%
• Max Weight: 5,000 KG

After purchasing the Seer Shovel, keep an eye on the popup messages in the center of your screen as well as the Event indicating in the bottom left corner of your screen to know when the Colossal Worm event starts. Once it does, quickly head to the marked yellow circle at the Badlands and begin digging to get the Colossal Worm!

The post How to get a Colossal Worm in Dig It appeared first on Destructoid.

South Korean publisher Krafton announced today that the mobile release of Dark and Darker will be soft launching in Canada on February 5, 2025, before releasing globally later in the first half of this year. According to developer Bluehole, the mobile game is currently underground gameplay enhancements and the addition of more content based on user feedback from playtests conducted last year.

Some of the key changes to Dark and Darker Mobile include adjustments to the "Darkswarm" system that acts as a zoning feature similar to safe zones in battle royale games, as well as giving players the freedom to explore a bit more and successfully escape. Current dungeon structures are also going to be changed to make party play more seamless as right now things can get a bit crowded easily.

Further changes include improvements to the UI to make things feel more native on mobile devices as well as some quality-of-life systems such as one that allows players to easily gauge the value of the resource and loot they've obtained.

Krafton also revealed that Dark and Darker Mobile is set to adopt a Seasonal Release system, adding new content such as dungeons and even classes with new seasons. Each season will feature a unique theme and objective and allow players to climb the ranks of leaderboards with each season while unlocking seasonal rewards for their achievements.

"We are thrilled to present Dark and Darker Mobile to users through the soft launch in Canada. We hope the game’s unique features and newly updated content deliver an exciting and memorable experience for users."

- Joonseok Ahn, Executive Producer at Bluehole Studio

Canadian players interested in checking out Dark and Darker Mobile will be able to do so when the multiplayer dungeon crawler releases at midnight UTC on February 5, 2025. Players in other regions will have to wait patiently for Krafton to reveal their global release plans that is currently scheduled for later in the first half of this year.

The post Dark and Darker Mobile will Soft Launch in Canada next month, globally later this year appeared first on Destructoid.

All Civilization enjoyers know one rule is absolute when it comes to playing the popular 4X strategy series: games will always last longer than you anticipate. If I got a nickel every time some friends and I would plan to "play a game of Civ tonight" and end up playing the same game over the next few days...well, I'd have a lot of nickels.

With Sid Meier's Civilization VII, developer Firaxis has created a solution to this problem in the form of three Ages: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. On standard speed and Age lengths, each of these three ages will last between 150-200 turns, equivalent to about three or four hours of playtime. For those seeking a long grand campaign that progresses through all three Ages, you can do so.

Those looking for a shorter game can opt to start at the beginning of any of the three Ages, and doing so in the Exploration or Modern Age will give you an Advanced Start to the Age, so it's as if you have played the previous ones.

Back in August 2024, I got some hands-on time with Civilization VII's first Age, the Age of Antiquity. Now, for the first time, I got to dive into the second one: the Exploration Age. As the game describes it, the Antiquity Age is all about settling the immediate lands around you and planning out your civilization. With the Exploration Age, your new goal is to, well, explore. And expand. Reaching the Exploration Age will let you change your Civilization, and therefore change the focus of your empire. This means you can focus on expansion or economy in the Antiquity Age and then switch towards a militaristic or science-focused approach in the Exploration Age.

I will say, when I first jumped in, I immediately wanted to check out the Exploration Age, so I opted to utilize the Advanced Start to do so. With how much new there is in the series' latest entry, and having not played Civilization since the preview event back in August 2024, I was a bit overwhelmed by all the new systems. After about an hour, I decided to restart from the Antiquity Age, where that was not an issue. Obviously, after playing more and getting a real grasp of all the new additions to Civilization VII, this won't be an issue. But until you have that experience and knowledge, you're probably better off starting in the Antiquity Age, which gradually introduces the new systems to you over time.

The Exploration Age is where you really start to reap the benefits of the fruits of your labor from the previous Age. And with the ability to change your civilization and shift your empire's focus, it fixes a long-time problem of the series. You don't feel penalized for changing things up, and it adds a lot more flexibility for less-experienced players who might not be min-maxing things from the start. That being said, I imagine it will also create some crazy "build potential" for veteran players who do try and min-max the best civilizations to change to in each Age for each Leader.

After my all-day play session through the first two Ages, I backed out to the Main Menu and found the newly announced meta progression in Civilization VII, and I have to admit: it's pretty awesome. As someone who enjoys chasing achievements and trophies in games, this new system rewards players for doing so. Regardless of your skill level with Civ 7 and how you choose to play—whether you focus on one specific Leader or experiment with many of them—you'll complete challenges and unlock rewards along the way.

Every Leader in Civilization 7 has their own Leader Path to progress through, starting at Level 1 and going up to Level 10. Your account as a whole has a Foundation Path, also starting at Level 1 and progressing all the way up to Level 50, earning XP towards the path regardless of which leader you play as. Both Paths have various challenges you can complete to earn X,P such as completing quests, reaching Legacy Path Milestones, and more.

Leveling up these Paths earns you a variety of rewards from cosmetic Badges, Banners, Borders, and Titles for your Player Card, as well as actual game-changing rewards called Mementos. These Mementos are essentially special items that you can equip on your leader at the start of a game, giving you a little extra bonus as well as giving you the ability to further specialize your play style. And while Mementos can be used in multiplayer, lobby hosts also have the option of disabling them. The added meta progression helps to fix one of the longstanding issues with the Civilization series, which is the feeling of "What now?" after ending a many-hours-long session by rewarding players over time for their achievements.

I'm excited to check out the third and final Modern Age and see what the late game of Civ 7 feels like. Once I've done so, keep an eye out for my full Sid Meier's Civilization VII review as we get closer to its February 11, 2025 release date!

The post Preview: Sid Meier’s Civilization VII is perfect for shorter micro-games or grand campaigns with its new Ages system appeared first on Destructoid.

For as much as I enjoyed The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak, I really did miss some of the minigames from the Trails of Cold Steel series like Snowboarding, Fishing, and even the card game Vantage Masters.

If you're a minigame aficionado like myself, it looks like The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II will have a lot for you to enjoy. Last week developer Nihon Falcom and Publisher NIS America showed me a glimpse of the fun to be had when the sequel releases next month.

Like any good JRPG, the story is a big part of the appeal, so not much was shared in that regard other than the sequel takes place three months after the events from the original Trailts Through Daybreak, and a Crimson-colored Grendel, the special armored form of the main character Van, has been terrorizing the capital city of Edith. I was also assured that the full roster of characters from the original would be returning in the sequel as well as some new faces.

Next, my day was made, with the reveal that minigames would be returning in Trails Through Daybreak II, including fishing in its most refined form yet. Look, Fishing wasn't the best in its various forms throughout Cold Steel, but it was still a welcome minigame to dive into, and I'm happy to see it return.

Various other minigames will make an appearance throughout the RPG including Hacking, where you guide an avatar through a maze with a time limit while avoiding various obstacles, a 1-on-1 simple shooting and defending basketball minigame, and Seven Hearts, a new Card Game making its debut in Trails Through Daybreak II.

While not necessarily a minigame, the Nihon also showcased a new optional area in Trails Through Daybreak II called the Marchen Garten. In a nutshell, the Marchen Garten is a virtual world that exists outside of the main game world and allows players to obtain equipment, level up, and earn other bonuses that can be used in the main game. Players can build their own dream party from over 15 characters before ascending a randomized multi-floor dungeon. The Marchen Garten is also tied to Trails Through Daybreak II's post-game content with post-game-specific floors, story content, and two characters that are not playable in the main game.

As I said, the story is the driving factor for me when it comes to any Trails game, but it sounds like Nihon is adding a lot of varied gameplay to the RPG.

For players interested in trying out Trails Through Daybreak II, two demos are scheduled to be released exclusively on PS5 and PS4 on January 24, 2025. The first is a Story Demo, taking place at the start of the game and running through the beginning of Chapter 1. Save data from this demo will carry over to the main game. The second is a Gameplay Demo that allows players to fight through two floors of the Marchen Garten with pre-selected parties.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II is set to release on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2025, on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The post The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II brings back fun minigames and has a demo coming next week appeared first on Destructoid.

The Fortune Shovel is one of the new items added to Dig It as part of the currently ongoing Lunar New Year event. The Fortune shovel has amazing stats and a very good passive ability, making it one of the best shovels in the game. Here is how you can get the Fortune Shovel in Dig It during the Lunar New Year event!

Where to find the Dig It Fortune Shovel

You can get the Fortune Shovel simply by digging up the Gift of Fortune legendary item on the Lunar New Year Island as part of the Lunar New Year event. Thankfully, the Lunar New Year Island can be found super close to the starting island of Nookville. Simply head to the Lunar New Year Island and start digging with your best shovel! If you have Rare Magnet Bait, make sure to throw it on as it will increase your chances of digging up the Gift of Fortune.

For players that acquired the Gift of Fortune prior to January 15, 2025, the item simply said it would open on that date. However, now that the date has passed, all players who dig up the Gift of Fortune in the past, current, or future tense will immediately receive the reward which is the Fortune Shovel.

Dig It Fortune Shovel Stats Guide

Now that you know how to acquire the Fortune Shovel in Dig It on Roblox, is it worth getting? The short answer is yes, it is. Let's take a look at the Fortune Shovel's stats:

Fortune Shovel Stats

Strength: 30

Luck: 25%

Stability: 45%

Precision: 45%

Control: 45%

Stamina Lost: 10%

Maximum Weight: 50,000kg

Passive Ability: Every 5 digs the Fortune Shovel receives a 2x Luck boost that lasts for a short duration.

As you can see, the raw stats on the Fortune Shovel alone are very good, but the true strength of the Fortune Shovel lies in its passive ability. What this does is every fifth dig you do, the 25% Luck stat on the Fortune Shovel is doubled, making it an incredible 50%. This will increase the overall loot that you receive. If you're able to quickly dig, you can even make use of the boosted luck a couple of times before the boost expires and you need to dig five more times to refresh it.

With its strong base stats and powerful passive ability, mixed with the fact that this is one of few Shovels in Dig It that you don't even have to purchase but rather can just dig up for free, the Fortune Shovel is certainly worth acquiring. Just make sure you dig it up before January 31, 2025 which is when the Lunar New Year Event ends and it will not longer be obtainable.

The post How to get the Fortune Shovel in Dig It appeared first on Destructoid.

Originally released as a Nintendo Wii exclusive in 2009—and only in Japan—Tales of Graces was eventually remastered and brought to the Western audience on the PlayStation 3 in the form of Tales of Graces f in 2012. Now, almost 13 years later, the JRPG has been remastered once again and made available on pretty much every modern platform with Tales of Graces f Remastered.

Nowadays remastered can mean a lot of things when it comes to games, anywhere from basic ports to a more modern system to a complete remake like Final Fantasy 7 Remake. In the case of Tales of Graces f Remastered, it means updated graphics to look better on modern displays, alongside a plethora of quality-of-life additions ranging from small to huge.

Most of the additions simply make this over two-decade old JRPG more accessible and fun to play, while keeping most of the experience authentic and true to the original. Which, I'm not afraid to admit, is one of my favorites in the 'Tales of' franchise.

Tales of Graces f Remastered (PC, PS5[reviewed], PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)
Developer: TOSE Co. LTD
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Released: January 16, 2025
MSRP: $39.99

Yup, you heard that right. If I had to pick an absolute favorite, it would probably be the most recently released Tales of Arise. But before then, I'd put Tales of Graces f up there alongside Tales of the Abyss as my favorite, mostly because of its fun high-speed battle system that was a standout in the series. Thankfully, developer TOSE Co. LTD has left the battle system fully intact from the original.

The story of Tales of Graces f Remastered takes place in the fantastical world of Ephinea, a world divided into three different countries: Windor, Strahta, and Fendel. At the start of the game, the main protagonist, Asbel, and his younger brother Hubert find a peculiar purple-haired girl named Sophie near their town. Sophie is suffering from amnesia and has no idea who she is or why she is there. Asbel and Hubert take Sophie back to their village, only to encounter Prince Richard, the future king of one of the other three kingdoms. The four become friends before an unexpected tragedy results in the group all going their separate ways.

From here, Tales of Graces f Remastered jumps forward seven years to a time when the three kingdoms that were all previously at peace are now under the threat of war due to a series of events that transpired over that period of time, resulting in the childhood friends reuniting during rather trying times as the three kingdoms are under the threat of an all-out war.

Like most JRPGs, the story of Tales of Graces f Remastered is an important part of the game. I think the reason I enjoy the story of Graces so much is due to the constant tension brought on by the element of political intrigue, something often absent in JRPGs and, more specifically, in the 'Tales of' series. It's not without its faults—it certainly suffers from some of the usual JRPG cliches, especially with its characters—but the constant twisting and turning of the story due to backstabbing and politicking sets it apart from other entries in the series.

While I enjoy the story, it's important to highlight that I very much recommend you play through the optional 'Lineage and Legacies' after completing the main story. It was originally a DLC that actually serves as the ending to Tales of Graces, resolving a lot of ongoing subplots and overall puts a nice finishing touch on the main story as well. The Lineage and Legacies DLC, as well as all the other DLC that was released for Tales of Graces f other than a few pieces of license-restricted cosmetics, are included in the remastered version.

Tales of Graces f Remastered utilizes an action combat system where running into enemies on the world map will send you into a real-time battle against the enemy. You can run around the battle map as well as block or dodge attacks, all while attacking your foes with a variety of attacks, including A Artes (physical special attacks) and B Artes (magical special attacks. Using a system called Chain Capacity (often referred to as CC), you can combo Artes together to deal massive damage. As you progress through Tales of Graces f Remastered, accomplishing various achievements will unlock Titles for each of your characters that also grant new Artes.

I remember trying to get the platinum trophy for Tales of Graces f which required you to get 100 Titles for each of the playable characters. This was a huge time sink, as many titles simply required you to grind them out mindlessly. With Tales of Graces f Remastered, you get full access to the Grade Shop, a special shop that allows you to enable and disable certain systematic changes to the game on the fly, such as Double Item Drop chances, increased experience and currency gains, and more. Believe me when I say some of these will really cut down on the grind, especially if you're looking to get all the Titles. In the original, you could only access the Grade Shop after completing the game. For those who have played previously and are looking to have a less grindy experience, this is a very welcome quality-of-life addition. And for those who don't want it, you can simply choose not to enable any of the buffs from the Grade Shop.

Alongside the Grade Shop, here are some of the other quality-of-life additions in Tales of Graces f Remastered. On the overworld map, you can toggle your run button into a dash button to more quickly traverse the world. You can also toggle enemy encounters on or off via a simple setting in the options menu, so if you want to avoid battles and just progress the story for a bit, you can do so. All cutscenes and dialogue skits are skippable (thank god) and destination icons for your next main story quest destination have been added when on the overworld map.

At the end of the day, Tales of Graces f Remastered is everything a remaster should be: graphical upgrades that make an old game look better on modern platforms, a trove of quality-of-life additions that make the game better while staying true to the original version, and inclusion of all the DLC for the complete package. It's really solid value, especially for those who have yet to play Tales of Graces in either of its previous two forms, since this is essentially the ultimate version. Now I just hope Tales of Xillia 1 and 2 or maybe even Tales of the Abyss are next!

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Tales of Graces f Remastered appeared first on Destructoid.

After a hands-on preview of the first three chapters of Dynasty Warriors: Origins back in November 2024, Origins became one of my most anticipated releases of 2025. The first three chapters got me hooked, and I not only wanted more of the fast and simply fun-to-play combat I'd come to expect from the franchise, but I was genuinely looking forward to continuing the story.

Admittedly, this is not quite something I had expected going into a Dynasty Warriors game, especially once again telling the tale of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a tale the series has already told man,y many times. But I found the angle of placing the story and its direction more in the player's hands an exciting and enjoyable way to push the hack-and-slash series forward in terms of storytelling.

Thankfully, developer Omega Force doesn't let its foot off the pedal after the first three chapters, and in fact, things only get bigger and better as Dynasty Warriors: Origins progresses, both in terms of battle size—arguably the franchise's staple feature—and absolute scale.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins (PC, PS5[reviewed], Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Released: January 17, 2025
MSRP: $69.99

Dynasty Warriors: Origins kicks off at the beginning of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, a period of peasant revolt and uprising in Chinese history that is essentially the progenitor of the fabled Three Kingdoms period. Players take on the role of The Wanderer, a formidable warrior experiencing amnesia at the time the events of the game kick off. Now, typically, I'd argue that an amnesiac main character is a bit bromidic in nature, but it fits what Omega Force is doing with the essential reboot of the franchise with Origins.

Even though the Romance of the Three Kingdoms saga has been told time and time again in this franchise, using an actual single player character rather than having you play as various historical leaders and soldiers from the period opens up unique narrative points for Omega Force. Throughout the game, you'll make friends and enemies with characters from each dynasty and are often given the choice of who to side with and join on the battlefield. It's a much-welcomed and pleasant surprise to play a Dynasty Warriors game where you get to make some choices that actually feel like they matter and have some weight behind them.

As someone who's always appreciated the historical period in which the series takes place, this is the first time I've felt an actual bond with the characters rather than just assigning a "good guy/bad guy" label based on whether they were an ally or foe on the battlefield. Speaking of bonds, there's an actual Bond System at play that allows you to grow your relationship with various lords and officers from the Three Kingdoms era, unlocking unique story events with them as well as unique rewards. Maxing out a bond with a character leads to a special cutscene highlighting the bond between you and that character.

While I do think the unique player-created character being the MC was the right move, it did, unfortunately, affect the overall connection I had to the main character in a negative way. Throughout most of the campaign, your character is rather reserved and unemotional, mostly due to the fact that he doesn't even remember exactly who he is which is. As you progress through the story, your memories return, but in the end, I found myself more interested in the connections I made with the various other major characters rather than my own character.

There are ten weapon types throughout Dynasty Warriors: Origins, most of which unlock as you play through the campaign, with the Halberd unlocking after completing the campaign. The weapon type you use dictates your playstyle, Battle Arts (essentially skills in battle), as well as the combos and attacks of both your Heavy and Light attacks. Each time you use a weapon of a specific type, you'll build up your proficiency with it, unlocking new attacks and combos with them. It also progresses your overall Rank, increasing your character's Health, Attack, and Defense, meaning changing it up and trying out new weapon types can still build your character strength even if you end up not sticking with it.

I found myself drawn to the Twin Pikes weapon type, massive axe-like weapons that your character wields in each hand. I felt like a full-on berserker, cleaving through hordes of enemies with ease while occasionally jumping into the air to leap slam down on my opponents with the Twin Pikes. They deal a ton of damage—in my limited testing, possibly the most overall outside of the late-game unlocked Cresent Blade and the post-game unlocked Halberd—and come with a ton of AoE attacks to really mow through battles.

Each weapon type also has some unique cadences that you can learn and execute to give you even more of an edge for dedicating the time to learning the weapon. For example, with the Twin Pikes if you hold Guard and then initiate a Heavy Attack and continue to spam the Heavy Attack button, you'll spin around whirlwind style—like I said, a berserker—continuously. If you manage to time your final Heavy Attack press right as the attack lands, the final attack is empowered, dealing more damage and resulting in a cool enhanced attack animation.

Thinking back on my childhood experiences with the Dynasty Warrior franchise, it's easy to remember what made them stand out so much: the massive battles. With Origins, Omega Force redefines massive battles, with some maps hosting up to 10,000 soldiers on the screen at a time. As you progress through the campaign, the battles not only get bigger but more intense as well. Along the way your army will grow as well, giving you access to new Tactics that will allow you to issue commands to nearby soldiers in your army. The Tactics you can use range from issuing a charge to cut off an advancing army or launching a targeted arrow strike to thin out numbers.

This added gameplay element felt like a refined version of the system in Bladestorm, another series by Omega Force and Koei Tecmo that features massive battles, and it's a welcome addition. There are also times when the Tactics you issue are incorporated with major development points in the historical story of the battles you are fighting in, resulting in sweeping changes to the battle and even the battlefield. The ability to so fantastically interweave the storytelling into warfare is impressive and a big step forward for the narrative approach of the series that until now has been rather lacking. And, it's all done without holding back the core strength of the franchise: its fast-paced hack-and-slash combat. If anything, it amplifies it.

Completing the Dynasty Warriors: Origins campaign unlocks a New Game Plus mode that allows you to continue building your character from where you ended the campaign while going back and exploring the various choice points throughout the game and giving you the opportunity to see how things differ based on your choice. You can change which faction you join, to see how the entire story would have unfolded had you joined that faction instead, all while continuing to level and power up the same character. In this sense, the NG+ mode feels more like the classic replayable grind of the series and one that I actually look forward to doing, which hasn't been the case since Samurai Warriors 4 for me.

Everything that makes Dynasty Warriors great has been built on and amplified in Dynasty Warriors: Origins. The fast-paced combat is more fluid and satisfying than ever, and I think the decision to allow players to build up their own character is the right move for the franchise moving forward. I wasn't sure how Omega Force could take a series coming up on three decades old and make it appealing to newcomers while appeasing long-time fans, but they found a way. For me, this is the best Dynasty Warriors yet, and I'm excited to see what's next.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Dynasty Warriors: Origins appeared first on Destructoid.

In a blog post on its official website, Blizzard today announced the next season of Diablo 4 will be the Season of Witchcraft. Set to release on January 21 at 1 p.m. EST, the Season of Witchcraft will add new enemies, Witchcraft powers, rewards Occult Gems, and more.

The primary seasonal feature of the Season of Witchcraft is, well, Witchcraft Powers. These seasonal-specific powers grant players new abilities and augment and empower existing skills. As players interact and progress through the story of the Coven, a group of Witches trying to serve the powerful Tree of Whispers, they will unlock new Witchcraft powers to use.

Season 7 also adds some pretty welcome quality-of-life updates to the core game that will affect both the seasonal realm and the Eternal Realm, including The Armory which allows players to save and swap builds on the fly, an update to class quests and greater affixes, and a welcome back booster for returning players.

The Season of Witchcraft also adds eight new Unique Items, as well as eight new Legendary Items for players to make builds around. Those who have the Vessel of Hatred expansion will also get access to three new runes, and 15 existing runes have been updated.

As with previous seasons, Season 7 will add new seasonal rewards including a Raven Pet that players can unlock via progression through the Seasonal Journey and Battle Pass.

Overall, this reminds me a lot of the Season of Blood which added seasonal-only Vampiric Powers, though until I see it in action it's hard to tell. I hope Blizzard eventually starts making seasons around meaningful mechanics that get added to the core game rather than one-off seasonal exclusive sources of player power that are removed when the next season releases.

Diablo 4 Season 7, the Season of Witchcraft, goes live on all platforms next week on January 21, 2025.

The post Diablo 4 Season 7 goes mystical with Season of Witchcraft appeared first on Destructoid.

Wolcen Studio, developer of the 2020 action RPG Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem unveiled a new title today codenamed Project Pantheon. According to Wolcen Studio the team plans to merge the recently popular extraction genre with the always popular action RPG genre.

Project Panethon will launch as a free-to-play live service game where players are tasked with journeying into the afterlife to restore a shattered reality at the behest of Death itself. Along the way, players will traverse a variety of maps while battling enemies in PvPvE combat, and then must successfully extract from the map to hang on to any valuable loot they acquired along the way. According to Wolcen Studio, players will have their own hidden fortress that acts as an upgradeable base and offers a nice reprieve from battle where players can customize loadouts and interact with a player-driven economy via an open market.

"Project Pantheon delivers a unique experience by merging the fast-paced combat of ARPGs with the tension and risk-reward gameplay mechanics of extraction shooters. Project Pantheon is what would happen if Diablo and Escape From Tarkov had a baby"

- Andrei Chirculete, Game Director of Project Pantheon at Wolcen Studio

Those interested in checking out Project Pantheon can sign up for a closed alpha starting later this month on January 25-26, 2025 for European players and early next month on February 1-2 for North American players.

I enjoyed my time with Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem when it released back in 2020. It had a solid and lengthy campaign with high build variety—an important feature of the ARPG genre—and working multiplayer. However, after completing the campaign, the post-game content required a lot of work and some rather game-breaking bugs with certain builds really eliminated true build variety. Wolcen Studio continued to update and add content to Wolcen over the next few years before shutting down the game—and its online servers—just a few months ago on September 17, 2024.

I'm always down for a good ARPG, and while I'm not the biggest fan of the extraction genre, I'm certainly willing to give it a shot when mixed with the genre I love. Hopefully Wolcen Studio learned a lot from the development process of Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem and incorporate that knowledge into Project Pantheon.

The post Wolcen Studio reveals new Extraction ARPG Project Pantheon appeared first on Destructoid.

In Dynasty Warriors: Origins there are ten unique weapon types for you to choose from as you roam the seven kingdoms taking on hordes of armies. Each weapon type offers a unique playstyle and can be empowered by various Battle Arts to make them even stronger. We've put together a Dynasty Warrior: Origins Weapons Tier List to highlight which weapons are the best to use when playing.

All Weapons Tier List

While all ten weapon types in Dynasty Warriors: Origins can be used without issue, especially if you take the time to learn them, some weapons offer more strengths and versatility than others making them more ideal to learn to use. Whether you're just starting your campaign or looking to change things up, we've created this Dynasty Warriors: Origins Weapons Tier List to rank all ten weapon types based on overall power:

S Tier

• Halberd

  • The Halberd is overall the best weapon in Dynasty Warriors: Origins at the moment, offering unparalleled damage, an insane amount of mobility, and just being an absolute blast to play with its incredibly fast and fluid combat. It's the hardest-hitting weapon in the game while also having extended range and Battle Arts to quickly clear the battlefield. Unfortunately, you have to complete the story campaign to unlock the Halberd, but once you do, it's hard to use anything else.

• Lance

  • Another solid weapon type in Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the Lance, offering both offensive and defensive strengths to the player with a powerful counterattack. All you have to do is charge a Heavy Attack and you will block incoming attacks and follow-up with an AoE cleave that knocks enemies into the air. Once you get that dynamic down, the Lance becomes one of the strongest weapons in the game before unlocking the Halberd.

• Twin Pikes

  • Before unlocking the Halberd, the Twin Pikes offer the highest damage of any weapon type in Dynasty Warriors: Origins. With the Battle Roar Battle Art, you can enhance your damage even further, making the Twin Pikes extremely effective at solo encounters. With a large combo list and a wide arsenal of Battle Arts, the Twin Pikes have a high ceiling that rewards players for taking the time to learn them.

A Tier

• Crescent Blade

  • The AoE powerhouse, the Cresent Blade is a weapon you don't unlock until later in the campaign of Dynasty Warriors: Origins which is why we have it in the A Tier instead of the S Tier. It's very strong and has rather simplistic combos allowing you to "button mash" for the most part with it and be effective. However, it's weaker in comparison overall to the Halberd while being a somewhat similar weapon which is why it's not considered better.

• Podao

  • A hybrid between a falchion and a great sword, the Podao is a heavy weapon that makes use of charged attacks for massive damage. With a diverse arsenal of Battle Arts, the Podao can be an easy-to-pickup but hard-to-master weapon type with a high ceiling. You must plan ahead using the Podao as your attacks are slow and hit like a truck. Learning to maneuver the long charge times of the attacks of the Podao is the toughest element, but once mastered, you can really deal some damage with the Podao.

• Wheels

  • Essential Chakrams, the Wheels in Dynasty Warriors: Origins are a fun and unique weapon type and the only truly ranged weapon in the game. You throw your Wheels around, often in an AoE motion, dealing heavy burst damage before calling the Wheels back to you. They take some getting used to but offer a very unique playstyle that's yet to be seen in the franchise.

B Tier

• Gauntlets

  • If you're looking to play Dynasty Warriors: Origins like a traditional Monk, you're going to want to pick up a pair of Gauntlets. Utilizing fast hard-hitting attacks, the Gauntlets can be a deadly option if you can get used to their limited range. Managing stance changes with the Gauntlets can feel a bit clunky, but once you learn how to do so effectively, the Gauntlets start feeling a lot better.

• Staff

  • The Staff—think like a Quarterstaff or Striking Staff—is another fast-attacking weapon with mobility Battle Arts and a variety of airborne attacks, making it a strong weapon for fighting officers and taking on enemies solo. Despite its fast attacks, the Staff is a bit weaker overall in terms of actual damage, which is why it's lower on this tier list.

• Sword

  • The first weapon you will come across in Dynasty Warriors: Origins is the Sword, an overall solid option. It's rather straightforward to play and has a strong Battle Art that deals massive AoE damage around your character. But the combos with the Sword are quite long and arduous and don't quite have the payoff that some other higher-ranked weapons on this list do.

C Tier

• Spear

  • The Spear isn't necessarily a bad option in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, especially if you're just looking to spam attacks or are looking for a good starter weapon to ease yourself into the new combat system. It has a long range and an easy-to-use combo to knock enemies into the air. But the reason it's not recommended is it offers no advantages over some other stronger options like the Halberd, Lance, and even Sword.

The post Dynasty Warriors: Origins Weapons Tier List appeared first on Destructoid.

Every Innate Technique in Jujutsu Infinite has its own Domain Expansion, offering very powerful skills to perform in both PvP and PvE combat. This provides a ton of possibilities for choosing your actual Domain Expansion, so we've created a Jujutsu Infinite Domain Expansion Tier List so you know which ones are the best and that are worth investing into unlocking.

Domain Expansion Tier List

Our Jujutsu Infinite Domain Expansion Tier List below includes all nine Domain Expansions currently int he game as well as which Innate Technique they belong to, and a brief description detailing the Domain Expansion and whether it is good for PvP or PvE. Here is our full Jujutsu Infinite Domain Expansion Tier List:

S Tier

• Celestial Opera (Star Rage Domain Expansion)

  • Celestial Opera will fill your mass meter permanently during the domain. Paired with the high damage-dealing arsenal of Star Rage, Celestial Opera quickly becomes one of the best Domain Expansions, especially for PvP in Jujutsu Infinite. Even in PvE you can do tons of damage due to the massive AoE potential of this set.

A Tier

• Idle Death Gamble (Gambler Fever Domain Expansion)

  • Idle Death Gamble is the only Domain Expansion you can use without having any meter buildup at all. You can start a fight and immediately pop Idle Death Gamble. Inside, fill up your Fever Meter to get infinite RCT which essentially makes you immortal and unkillable, and also grants a reduced cooldown on your skills. This makes it very strong for PvP, and somewhat effective for PvE though there are better options overall.

• Unequivocal Love (Copy Domain Expansion)

  • In Unequivocal Love you get two katanas with their own unique moveset, that you can cycle through as you use them. There is a high amount of RNG applied to this Domain Expansion because it's random which katanas you roll. You can keep spamming the skills to cycle to the next, but bad RNG could leave you vulnerable. This makes it somewhat average in PvE but the ceiling potential is huge in PvP.

• Unlimited Void (Infinity Domain Expansion)

  • The Unlimited Void Domain Expansion stuns your opponent for a long period of time. In previous versions, you could completely kill your opponent in the entire Domain Expansion which made this very overpowered. A recent nerf made that not possible, but you can still stack skills during the Domain Expansion, making it a strong option for PvP, but not nearly as good for PvE with the recent updates.

B Tier

• Coffin of the Iron Mountain (Volcano Domain Expansion)

  • Everything caught inside the Coffing of the Iron Mountain Domain Expansion will receive fire damage-over-time. Several Volcano Skills will create AoE magma puddles on the ground that deal high fire damage as well, helping you lock down and control the battlefield. While strong, a player can more easily maneuver around these puddles, making Coffing of the Iron Mountain better for PvE than PvP.

• Malevolent Shrine (Demon Vessel Domain Expansion)

  • During the Malevolent Shrine Domain Expansion you will create an endless amount of slashes for a long period of time. The damage is rather small, but it lasts for so long, it's a constant damage over time effect. This makes Malevolent Shrine a solid PvE option when choosing the Demon Vessel Domain Expansion, while not being so good for PvP.

• Self Embodiment of Perfection (Soul Manipulation Domain Expansion)

  • Inside the Soul Embodiment of Perfection Domain Expansion, your attacks place a stackable orb on your opponent. The only skill that deals different damage in the Soul Mainipulation Domain Expansion is Soul Touch, which will deal more damage based on the orbs you have stacked on an opponent. It's alright for both PvP and PvE if you can stack the orbs up quickly, but overall doesn't have the strength of some others higher on this list.

C Tier

• Deadly Sentencing (Judgeman Domain Expansion)

  • The Judgeman domain expansion Deadly Sentencing pits you into a game of Rock Paper Scissors against your opponent. Winning will grant you the executioner's sword, which causes your M1 to do insane damage essentially guaranteeing you can kill your opponent. A tie removes your opponent's curse technique. If you lose, you get the speed and defensive buffs of Domain Expansion. This isn't bad for PvP, but is really more of a gimmicky gamble than a reliable domain Expansion.

• Horizon of the Captivating Skhanda (Hydrokinesis Domain Expansion)

  • In Horizon of the Captivating Skhanda, your opponent has the wet debuff, causing them to move slower and deal less damage. Using Death Swarm in your Domain Expansion will cause fish to slam into your opponent in mass, biting your opponent dealing Bleed and more Wet. It's a very cool looking Domain Expansion in terms of appearance, but for actual practical use is weaker than most of your other options.

The post Jujutsu Infinite Domain Expansion Tier List appeared first on Destructoid.

There are several one-time quests in Jujutsu Infinite scattered amongst the various hub towns in different areas. One such one-time quest tasks you with Climbing 4 Mountains in the nearby village as part of a beginner quest, collecting four flags in total, one at the top of each mountain. Here is how to successfully climb the four mountains and acquire all the flags needed for the quest in Jujutsu Infinite.

Where to get the Climb 4 Mountains quest

You can pick up the quest to Climb 4 Mountains and collect all the flags from the NPC named Town1 Investigation Leader (more than likely a placeholder name) who can be found just outside the main gate to the Shijo Town Set area where you can complete quests.

Speak to this NPC and he will task you with collecting all the flags from atop the nearby mountains around Shijo Town, which will officially start the Climb 4 Mountains quest as indicated on the right side of your screen.

How to Climb 4 Mountains and Collect All the Flags

The easiest way to climb the four mountains and collect all the flags is to make use of your Warp. When near the mountain you are trying to climb, hit your Warp key ('J' by default) and you will drop from the top of the map. Quickly look down and find the quest marker below and aim towards it.

In the event you don't quite make it to the top, you can simply try to Warp again, or take advantage of your other movement skills to try and reach the top of the mountain. Look up and then hit the Dash key ('Q' by default) to dash towards your cursor. Then, double jump by hitting Spacebar twice and hold the Rush key ('E' by default) to go again in the direction of your cursor which should ideally be up. If you find little platforms you can land on as you climb the mountain, make sure you do so as it will reset all of your skills and allow you to go even higher.

Climb the 4 Mountains Quest Reward

After obtaining the fourth and final flag atop the mountain, you will complete the Climb the 4 Mountains quest and be rewarded for doing so. Here are the quest rewards you can expect upon completion:

• $1,500
• 4,000 EXP
• 4 Green Mission Chests

As this is a one-time quest, you will only be able to complete it once, and cannot receive the quest rewards again for this quest.

The post How to Climb 4 Mountains and get all Flags in Jujutsu Infinite appeared first on Destructoid.

I have fond memories of the original release of Freedom Wars back in 2014 on the PlayStation Vita, as it felt like one of the more unique exclusives on the platform. Fast forward to today, over a decade later, and developer Dimps and publisher Bandai Namco have brought the action RPG to the modern console and PC market in the form of Freedom Wars Remastered.

When it comes to giving a title the remastered treatment, Freedom Wars may just be the ideal candidate. Even though over 700,000 copies of the original were sold, being exclusive to a handheld console still meant many never gave it a try, even if it seemed right up their alley. It's a game that even in over a decade ago I felt it could potentially feel and play even better on a console, so it's great to finally have that opportunity.

Freedom Wars Remastered (PC, PS5 [reviewed], PS4, Switch)
Developer: Dimps
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Released: January 10, 2025
MSRP: $39.99

If you didn't have the privilege of playing the original back in 2014, Freedom Wars Remastered takes place in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future where all of humanity exists inside enormous underground prison facilities called Pantopicons. At birth, every human is sentenced to one million years of imprisonment simply for existing in a time where resources are scarce, and the surface of the planet is inhabitable. By completing missions for your Panopticon—typically going out and slaying giant monsters called Abductors Monster Hunter-style—you'll reduce your lengthy sentence and earn rewards for doing so to incentivize you to keep chipping away at it.

Of course, you can easily add to your sentence, as well. Stand around too long while you should be actively completing your mission? Here's an extra decade to your sentence. Have the audacity to waste your Panopticon's time by failing a mission? Here's a few thousand years. Your sentence is mostly just dressing to the events going on in Freedom Wars Remastered, but I have to admit the gameplay loop feels even better when you see the fruits of your labor result in that sentence going down.

I found the story of Freedom Wars Remastered to be quite intriguing a decade ago, and it probably holds up even better today than it did then. In 2014, it seemed a bit too farfetched, but as we head into 2025 many aspects of the grim reality of the title's setting seem to hit home just a bit harder this time around; themes of government surveillance, a punishing social credit system, and the value of human life and freedom being reduced to a mere number are just some that echoed with me more.

The gameplay loop of Freedom Wars Remastered is simply yet enticing enough. Choose a mission from your Panopticon, then head to a preset map to complete said mission with some simplistic but fluid action RPG combat. You have both ranged and melee weapons—which of course, being a Monster Hunter-like game, you'll upgrade using parts you knock off the monsters you defeat—but can also jump around and also even quickly traverse the battlefield through the use of an item called a Thorn.

All Sinners (the name for those serving a sentence to their Panopticon, so pretty much everyone) has a Thorn which is essentially a lasso mixed with a grappling hook. It allows you to try and bring down certain enemies but, more commonly, is used to quickly sling around the area. There are even some rather unique aerial attacks you can pull off by using your Thorn appropriately, which is both fun and rewarding as they often allow you to target otherwise hard-to-reach parts on the Abductors.

Freedom Wars Remastered is also a fully functional multiplayer game in more ways than one. Most importantly, you can team up with or even do battle against up to seven other players at once, either working together with a team of four to take on Abductors, or in a PvPvE style setting against another team of four.

Another cool multiplayer element is that when you start the game, you choose from one of many locations as the Panopticon you represent. At the moment, it looks like only Japan's 47 prefectures are available, but I know in the original Freedom Wars there were also some generalized Panopticons for various countries, which may be the case when full release hits. Your sentence serves as your "score" and is compared against other players, both globally and in your Panopticon, in the form of a leaderboard. It's a cool feature that also ties in well with the societal narratives of the story, which is fun.

Overall the combat of Freedom Wars Remastered is fast-paced and fluid like you'd expect from a game taking inspiration from Monster Hunter, but it's a bit more simplistic than MH. But it still manages to stay fun and rewarding feeling throughout the entire story and campaign.

The main upgrade of the remastered version is the visual enhancements, allowing for up to 4K resolution and 60 FPS on PlayStation and PC, as well as upgraded textures. The improvements are definitely noticable—remember, this was a Vita game originally, after all—but don't expect anything revolutionary. The upgraded textures make things look more modern and overall crisp, but some graphical elements such as facial animations and various animations during cutscenes don't seem to have received the same amount of love and still show signs of a past generation (or two).

My main complaints after my roughly 30-hour adventure through Freedom Wars Remastered echo the same complaints I had over a decade ago when I played the original on Vita. The story is intriguing and mysterious enough to have kept me hooked, but the end result is extremely disappointing. It's about as much of a cliffhanger as it gets, and certainly sets things up for a sequel that never happened. Hopefully, the remastered treatment is a hint that a sequel is finally coming, one I'd certainly welcome with open arms.

Crafting and upgrade weapons have received a bit of a rework in Freedom Wars Remastered, but some of the bigger flaws like very few actual worthwhile stats worth pursuing on your gear and a rather lackluster pool of end-game options still exist for those that look to continue their play after the credits have rolled.

Despite the issues, though, Freedom Wars Remastered is a fun time, especially for anyone looking to sink their teeth into an action RPG with the loop of slaying big monsters for parts to upgrade their gear. The story is intriguing and engaging, and overall worthwhile to experience even with the cliffhanger ending. The combat is engaging and fun, and sure to scratch that Monster Hunter itch. Even over a decade later, Freedom Wars Remastered is an extremely satisfying endeavor with the constant reward of seeing your million-year sentence drop lower and lower as you progress, a feeling that's been a bit absent in this 10-year window since the original.

The post Review: Freedom Wars Remastered appeared first on Destructoid.

Even though it hasn't been updated in years, Crab Game continues to be one of the most popular titles for players wanting to get the Squid Games experience, especially with the release of Season 2. Since its release back in 2021, players have discovered ways to really take advantage of the movement controls to get a speed and jump advantage, so we've put together a Crab Game movement guide to help beginners get around effectively.

How to move faster in Crab Game

The first rule of thumb in Crab Game unless you're on a map that restricts or relies on jumping, is to constantly be hitting the spacebar to jump around as much as you can. This makes you a much easier target in a lot of the games that are essentially player vs. player.

Once you've got that down, it's time to take advantage of diagonal movement. In Crab Game, moving diagonally is actually slightly faster than running directly forward, allowing you to get a slight advantage once you've mastered the controls. This just means holding the Move Forward and either the Move Left or Move Right keys at the same time, which by default is W+A or W+D. After mastering diagonal movement, you can mix in jumping, sliding, and climbing, which will double the speed at which you do them.

The final movement strategy you want to add to your arsenal is the Crouch Diagonal Jump. By default, jump crouching gives you a slight speed boost in Crab Game, so adding this with the increased speed from diagonal movement, you can really zip around. Essentially this just means holding down your diagonal movement (W+A or W+D) and then hitting Spacebar to jump followed by C to crouch. Release as you land and rinse and repeat the process allowing you to sort of 'bunnyhop' around at faster speeds.

Crab Game beginner tips

There are a couple of movement strategies you'll want to incorporate several movement strategies depending on which event you are playing in Crab Game. Almost all games can take advantage of Hyperjumping by holding Shift and either W+A while looking right, or W+D while looking left, so more quickly jumping around. Mixed with the above bunnyhop strategy, you can compound your speed even further.

For the Red Light Green Light map, you'll want to also learn how to do the above while sliding into the wall on the sides as it is a guaranteed strategy to succeed at the Red Light Green Light minigame.

Finally, the Race event maps have a secret beginner tip you can use to gain a movement speed boost by hitting Spacebar (or Jump) right when you hit one of the tires. This will boost your jump distance and give you a major speed boost as well.

All Crab Game movement controls

If you're a beginner just trying to learn the basics, take solace in knowing that you can change the controls in Crab Game at any time by going to Settings and then Controls from the main menu. Here you can change all the controls for Crab Game, but if you want to stick to using the defaults, here they are:

The post Crab Game movement guide and beginner tips appeared first on Destructoid.

Less than a year after entering Early Access Alpha, developer Titan Forge Games and Hi-Rez Studios have announced that the sequel to the popular third-person MOBA, Smite 2, will be entering its free-to-play Open Beta on January 14.

It's been a productive Alpha for Smite 2 which in that time has grown its arsenal of playable gods from 14 to an impressive 45. The number of game modes in the MOBA has also grown from just one to six, with a new mode called Joust launching alongside the Open Beta release.

During the Alpha, Smite 2 has also received a plethora of improvements and enhancements to the core game to really flesh out what Titan Forge Games and Hi-Rez Studios had envisioned for the sequel for the popular MOBA.

With the Open Beta release, all players will be able to download Smite 2 for free and jump right into the action.

More Content, too

Set to release at the same time as the Open Beta next week is an all-new god, Aladdin, the Sultan. Taking on the role of magical assassin and jungler, Aladdin also has a unique toolkit that allows him to call upon the genie to grant him three wishes over the course of the game: Come back to life instantly, Earn bonus Gold, or Reset all Cooldowns. Each wish can only be used once per game, so they should be used to change the tide of battle. With the new engine that Smite 2 utilizes, Aladdin is also able to run on walls using technology not possible in the engine the original MOBA uses.

Smite 2 is also set to receive another all-new game mode called Joust, a 3v3 game mode featuring just a single lane and side jungle caps. The Arthurian-themed map of Joust also features teleporters that allow players to quickly and easily traverse the map. According to Titan Forge Games, Joust is a great way to transition from the Arena to Conquest game mode without being too overwhelmed.

As a fan of the original Smite, I'm happy to see that the sequel has gotten what looks to be a tremendous amount of work on improving the sequel throughout its Alpha period. Players interested in trying out Smite 2 can do so next week on January 14 when it begins its Open Beta.

The post Smite 2 enters free Open Beta next week, adds new Aladdin god appeared first on Destructoid.

In Once Human, there are a variety of challenging quests, some with pretty powerful rewards. One such quest is Boy Just Wanna Have Fun, which can be obtained at High Banks. Eventually, you'll need to figure out the passcode to access the High Banks Lockbox. Here is how you can figure out the lockbox passcode for the Boy Just Wanna Have Fun quest in Once Human.

Where to find the Boy Just Wanna Have Fun quest in Once Human

Before we get into how to complete it, here's how to actually find this quest in the first place. You'll want to start this quest around level 13. Simply head to High Banks (which is a level 13 area). You can find High Banks on the south of the map, at coordinates (5391, -5903).

Once there, you should see a blue quest marker on your map just to the east of the center of town. Head into the WHW Cafe to start the quest for the High Banks lockbox passcode.

Boy Just Wanna Have Fun quest lockbox passcode

The passcode for the lockbox you find in the Boy Just Wanna Have Fun quest is 325. It's the same passcode for everyone on this quest, so if you want to skip actually doing the legwork of figuring out the passcode, you can simply input it into the lockbox and complete the Boy Just Wanna Have Fun quest.

However, if you're interested in figuring out how to get the solution for yourself, here are all the steps required to gain all the clues to figure out the High Banks lockbox passcode:

1. Read the note in the High Banks central building lobby.
2. Head to the house marked on your map from reading the note to find another note next to a storage crate.
3. This note gives you three clues:

   • First, is the number 2. One of the three digits of the passcode.
   • Second, is notification of the two nearby buildings, LK and GAMEWORLD.
   • The final clue is that there is a treasure (which is the lockbox you need the passcode for) in the Coffee Shop.

4. Head to LK which is on the northern side of the main street. On the floor just inside is another note with your next digit: 3.
5. Now visit GAMEWORLD which is just north of where you currently are to find the third note on the countertop right inside the entrance. This note gives you your final digit: 5.
6. Finally, if you visit the WHW Cafe Shop west of High Banks, you'll find a note on the table just inside. This note simply notates that the third digit of the passcode is the largest, and the middle is the smallest, allowing you to decipher the lockbox passcode: 325.

Boy Just Wanna Have Fun quest rewards

Once you input the proper lockbox passcode, 325, you will unlock it, receive some rewards, and complete the quest. For unlocking and obtaining the treasure as well as completing the quest you will receive the following rewards:

• 500 EXP
• 105 Battle Pass EXP
• 1x Cortex Level 2
• 7x Stellar Planula
• 200x Energy Link

The post Once Human: Boy Just Wanna Have Fun passcode appeared first on Destructoid.