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.

The best superhero games offer a mix of a compelling narrative, stellar gameplay, and an overall great look with their graphics. These 10 titles are certainly super if you want to play as a hero in a video game.

NOTE: This is a list with one entry per franchise. Otherwise this would be an article filled with Marvel's Spider-Man and Batman: Arkham games.

#10 - Marvel's Midnight Suns

From XCOM developer Firaxis Games comes a strategy RPG Marvel's Midnight Suns. With a team of Marvel superheroes on your side, you're taking on the demonic Lilith and the Elder God Chthon (and their forces). It's a unique dark take on the Marvel universe we rarely see, especially if you only watch the MCU and play Marvel games. The card-based system is fun to play, and you'll be exploring the Abbey, getting to know the heroes (like Wolverine, Blade, and Iron Man) helping you to defeat Lilith and Chthon as The Hunter.

"It’s incredibly easy to recommend to any Marvel fan, and is simple enough to pick up and play for strategy newcomers," said our review. "Although the highs aren’t as high as some of Firaxis’ past work, those of you who latch onto the relationship building, social network, and silly moments will find a lot of joy here."

#9 - Guacamelee!

Guacamelee is a melee-based Metroidvania that lets you brawl the undead in a gorgeous Mexican-inspired environment. The colors truly pop on screen as you're wrestling your enemies with suplexes and punch combos in the air.

A cool aspect of this Canadian indie game from Drinkbox is that the moves you learn throughout this Metroidvania will help you with platforming and fighting foes. The Rooster Uppercut, for example, lifts the protagonist Juan up to higher platforms. This is a hidden gem that is well worth your time.

#8 - Injustice: Gods Among Us

Another game with fun combat is Injustice: Gods Among Us. The Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm Studios "brought it" with the first entry in this DC series. The combos are thrilling to pull off, and the ability to interact with objects on the stage is an engaging twist on the fighting game genre. The concept of Superman going evil after his love Lois Lane gets murdered by the Joker is fascinating. Out of fear, most heroes join Superman's side, but Batman and a few other heroes decide to go against him. This civil war scenario is engaging to follow throughout an impressive story campaign.

#7 - Batman: The TellTale Series

Batman: The TellTale Series has a compelling story that focuses more on Bruce Wayne than the Batman persona, giving this a unique spin on the Caped Crusader. His family's past is a big plot point in this game, and your choices do matter within the narrative of this Telltale adventure. You'll have to pick sides, and sometimes that can come back to haunt Mr. Wayne. While the gameplay is simple, the compelling story more than makes up for it. The performances by Troy Baker, Laura Bailey, and others in the cast is also stellar.

"Troy Baker has a chance to show his chops a little more, channeling an otherwise very whiny Bruce with a little more panache and ferocity that a lot of voice actors wouldn’t be able to replicate," said our review of one of the game's episodes Children of Arkham. "He’s also able to forge believable relationships with the cast, and I haven’t seen Bruce and Harvey Dent be this relatable since Long Halloween."

#6 - inFAMOUS: Second Son

One of the best superhero games is Sucker Punch and PlayStation's inFAMOUS: Second Son. Playing as Delsin Rowe, you're using the unique powers of smoke and neon. You're going across the rooftops of Seattle and blissfully flying through the air. The Washington-based city looks gorgeous with real businesses and locations being replicated in the game.

The storyline is also compelling as you're fighting against an agency trying to crack down on superpowered individuals. The relationship between Delsin and his brother is an aspect of the plot that's also relatable and engaging. The combat is also a thrill as you're wielding multiple powers, throwing embers at your enemies, and lifting cars into the air.

#5 - Marvel vs. Capcom 2

One of the most iconic superhero games ever made is Marvel vs. Capcom 2. This 3v3 fighter changed the game with crazy combos and even crazier visuals that really popped in arcades back in the naughties. Being able to team up Ryu with The Hulk and Spider-Man was a dream for many fans of the genre back in the day. Additionally, the music is superb and will have you bobbing your head to the beat.

"I’d say that only one or two of today’s 2D fighting games can hold a candle to the level of craftsmanship and content to be found in Marvel Vs Capcom 2," said our 2009 review of the Xbox 360 port. "It’s truly a product of a bygone era; and an era that I sorely miss."

It recently saw a modern release on PS4, Switch, and PC, with the Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection.

#4 - Marvel Rivals

This could certainly be recency bias, but Marvel Rivals is a stellar third-person hero shooter based on the beloved Marvel license. It features heroes and villains from across the history of the company, including Iron Man, Captain America, and Mr. Fantastic. However, it also has some you may not expect like Jeff the Land Shark and Luna Snow, who are both excellent healers in the game. The game is fun to play as you master each character's unique powers and try to figure out the best team for each scenario.

The stages are magnificent with amazing set pieces to gaze at, and the conversations the characters have with each other are fantastic as well. The game's so great that it's giving Overwatch 2 a run for its money.

#3 - Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

After the disappointing release of Marvel's Avengers, one of the best superhero games, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, suffered lacking sales. And that sucks because this is one of the best adaptations in the video game space. While Marvel's Avengers felt too similar to the MCU, this game feels unique. It has its own origin story for Star-Lord, and the game makes him a more likable character than his movie version arguably. The writing is hilarious, and you really get a family feel from each of the characters in the game. They feel evolved and well-rounded as they speak to each other. You also have to take sides, and your decisions will leave an impact on the group. You'll get invested.

The combat is also radical as you're playing as Star-Lord shooting and fighting enemies in a fast-paced manner. You'll be directing each of the Guardians to help you in the fight rather than taking control of them, which surprisingly works well.

#2 - Batman: Arkham Asylum

Many would say Batman: Arkham City is the best game in the series, and while it's a fantastic entry, Arkham Asylum is the stand-out for me. By exploring this prison, you get an immense amount of tension as The Joker schemes his next trap for the Dark Knight. The story keeps moving forward, adding twists and turns you don't expect. There are plenty of memorable moments within the storyline that will stay with you for a long time.

Another aspect of the game that will stay with you is the combat and stealth segments. You feel like a badass controlling Batman as he punches, dazes, and kicks his enemies at lightning-fast speed. The combo meter keeps going up, and you can pull off finishers if you succeed long enough. The stealth segments are also fantastic as Batman uses his gadgets to outwit the thugs underneath. He also has to crawl through the prison environment to get the upper hand. You have to play this game if you haven't already.

#1 - Marvel's Spider-Man 2

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is simply the best superhero game to release. Playing as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales, you're exploring a stunning iteration of New York, swinging around. It's purely a rush just to explore New York. You also have the web-wings to glide across the city landscape, too.

"Very rarely am I enamored enough with an open world to drift around aimlessly for extended periods of time, but I found myself caught in that loop all over again," said our review.

The story pulls you in even further as Miles Morales is still dealing with the loss of his father and is trying to become the Spider-Man he dreams of. Peter Parker, meanwhile, is dealing with a deeper relationship with his girlfriend while grieving his aunt. He is also catching up with his best friend Harry Osborn. The drama is high-stakes as Venom and Kraven become major threats in the city.

The combat of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 also matches up with the Batman: Arkham series. It flows incredibly well as Peter and Miles zip across the battle with their quick reflexes. The gadgets and powers of both characters add to the battle as strategic options for the player. The skill trees for both Spider-Men also incentivize us to keep playing and exploring the city. All of the collectibles and costumes you can unlock add even more to the enjoyment of the game.

The post Top 10 best superhero games, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

The best Kingdom Hearts characters have a ton of personality, have been through hardship, or simply have powerful abilities that dynamically elevate the series' battle scenes. A key element why Kingdom Hearts resonates with so many people is not just the non-stop action; but the passion behind the cast's motivations.

Characters like Sora and Roxas aren't afraid to express their emotions: to cry, to scream, to love, to smile. Many of the legendary series characters are more intriguing than the average RPG cast, and it's refreshing to see heroes, (or in some rare cases, villains), that we can relate to.

Warning: There are spoilers for Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts 3, and Kingdom Hearts 3: Remind in this list.

15) Xigbar/Luxu

One of the best factors of the Kingdom Hearts narrative is how it intrigues its fans with subtle nods and mystery. Xigbar is certainly one of those characters that make you think. If you've played and finished Kingdom Hearts 3, you'll know that he is in fact Luxu, the Master of Masters' right-hand man. His witty humor makes him a great foil for Sora, and his boss battle in KH2 is phenomenal.

14) Goofy

Despite his clumsy origins in cartoon form, Goofy is a reliable ally for Sora. He's the one in the Keyblade Hero 3 that gives the spiky-haired hero valuable advice and is the level-headed person in the group. Without fail, he's always there for his friends and knows when to pack a punch when it's time to go to battle.

13) Donald Duck

Although Donald Duck sometimes forgets to heal us when we need him most, he's the best ally anyone could ask for. He comes in clutch for Sora time and time again as the group's reliable mage. Sure, he's a little hot-tempered, but that's just one of the many reasons why we love him. Someone's got to stand up for Sora, right?

12) Naminé

When Naminé first appeared in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, she came off as a mysterious force with her peculiar ties to Organization XIII. Bit by bit, we started to see her significance in the KH lore, especially during the end stages of Kingdom Hearts 2. While she still has a bit of mystery to her, her complexity makes her shine, and it's only made me all the more curious about her enigmatic nature.

11) Master Xehanort

Xehanort's presence is felt in almost every Kingdom Hearts entry, a testament to his significant influence on the series. He even has a whole arc named after him, with the Xehanort Saga, also known as the Dark Seeker Saga. It totally makes sense why, considering that he's pretty much the major antagonist for the entire series. He's the big bad that everyone's afraid of, including his multiple forms with Ansem, Xemnas, and many more.

10) Master of Masters

We really don't know much about the Master of Masters, but from his few appearances so far, fans have been intrigued by his presence. He seems to have everything planned with the Book of Prophecies in his mind and has a strangely goofy (not our pal Goofy) vibe from him. His personality makes him such an odd antagonist and the intrigue makes him one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters.

9) Ventus

Since Ventus basically looks like a carbon copy of Roxas, he sometimes gets overshadowed by Kingdom Hearts 2's main protagonist. But let's not forget that Ventus is a major protagonist, himself, with his crucial part in Birth by Sleep. As an apprentice to the legendary Master Xehanort and Eraqus, you already know he's a force to be reckoned with. You can even consider him as one of the most powerful Kingdom Hearts characters, alongside his other two companions, Terra and Aqua.

8) Xemnas

Xemnas is a badass antagonist in Kingdom Hearts 2. The Organization XIII leader has dual blades, and his laser swords would put even Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul to shame. Xemnas is also an antagonist who has a just cause for his actions. He wants himself and his fellow Nobody Organization members to have hearts again but can only do so by making Sora defeat the Heartless. Therefore, he causes chaos throughout the worlds.

7) Xion

Xion is another Nobody stuck with a dreaded path ahead of her. Those who have played 358/2 Days know that she's a fun, charismatic character who's similar to Sora in many ways. Roxas and Axel get to know her throughout the game as she struggles to wield the keyblade. The story behind her existence is a fascinating mystery that begins to unravel as the days continue. By the end, your heart will be broken as a friendship is torn apart by fate.

6) Terra

Compared to Ventus and Aqua, Terra often gets a bad rap as one of the more 'gullible' protagonists of Birth by Sleep. However, if you take a closer look, you'll realize just how exceptional he is. Terra's ability to see the good in people, akin to Sora, and his willingness to learn from his mistakes, adds to his realism as a character. His flaws do not define him, but rather, they contribute to his growth and development, making him a relatable and compelling character.

5) Aqua

Another character Kingdom Hearts fans love (myself included!) is Aqua. She is strong-willed, disciplined, and has a sharp wit about her that few other Kingdom Hearts characters possess. She has a stern exterior, but when it comes to her friends, she will do anything in her power to protect them, especially Ven, who drifted to sleep for a decade before she could rescue him again. She's one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters in my mind because of her adept abilities and strength.

4) Axel/Lea

Axel (or Lea) is a Nobody that nearly everyone loved as soon as he appeared on-screen. He has a rambunctious personality and likes to work outside the lines. His unpredictable nature and break-the-rules flair helped him gain a buddy in Roxas. He also goes through a tragic story as he's forced to take out his own best friend, who has lost their memories. Axel is just plain one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters: "Got it memorized?"

3) Roxas

The character that has arguably lost the most in the Kingdom Hearts series is Roxas. He loses his friends, has his body completely taken away from him, and is told that he was never meant to exist. It's quite tragic! During his time in Twilight Town, he tries to think positively. He is loyal to his friends like Hayner and Axel.

However, Roxas is less trusting of others than Sora in many ways. It makes for a refreshing change of pace from Sora's happy-go-lucky approach. He's more critical, able to think on his feet, and is a sharp wise-cracker. He also has a wonderfully dramatic theme song. Hopefully, we get another game with Roxas again, his badass dual-wielding style included.

2) Sora

To some, Sora can be a nuisance. He's loud and obnoxious at times. However, what makes Sora one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters is his compassion for others. Unlike many video game protagonists, he is willing to show his feelings. He begs on his knees to see Kairi again towards Organization XIII member Saix. He cries when the Guardians of Light fail in one fell swoop in Kingdom Hearts 3. 

That willingness to show his emotions, within a genre filled with masculine protagonists, is a breath of fresh air. He's super relatable.

1) Riku

It can be argued that Riku has the most character progression of all of the cast in the KH series. He grew accustomed to the darkness as Maleficent convinced him to twist him into a servant. He betrayed his best friend Sora for the wellbeing of Kairi (even fighting against him). Then, after Xehanort's Heartless took over his body, Riku suffered for a long time, even taking the form of the person he hates.

But he took that form to protect Sora and fight off the powerful (and angry) Roxas. Riku has an amazing character arc as he tries to reconcile his past mistakes. His struggle is the reason why he's the best Kingdom Hearts character.

The post Best Kingdom Hearts Characters, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

The Eggplant Puffs Disney Dreamlight Valley recipe helps you make a delicious three-star meal. It could potentially be a dish that one of the villagers like Simba or Jack Skellington could request at Chez Remy as well.

Eggplant Puffs Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

To create the tasty Eggplant Puffs for your friends in Disney Dreamlight Valley, you'll need the following three ingredients:

• Eggs
• Cheese
• Eggplant

Honestly, this is one of the easiest dishes to make in the game. Both Eggs and Cheese can be purchased at Chez Remy after completing the rat's quests in the Ratatouille realm in the Castle. Cheese is 220 Star Coins, while Eggs are 180.

Eggplant seeds are available at Goofy's Stall in the Frosted Heights, which is admittedly quite difficult to reach if you don't have the Dreamlight. You can rack that number up by completing duties and finishing quests from characters along the way. You can also craft Dreamlight by finding Dream Shards in the ground.

Back on the topic, however; Eggplant seeds are 95 Star Coins, but if you're lucky (and you don't want to wait), the ingredient itself might be available for 462 Star Coins.

What is this meal worth?

Once you've gained all the ingredients, go to any cooking station like Chez Remy. Add the Eggs, Cheese, and Eggplant into the pot. You should have the Eggplant Puffs ready to go. They might be the flattest texture you can find in the game, but hey, they can be consumed for 1,941 Energy or sold for 991 Star Coins at Goofy's Stalls. You can also make Ratatouille with Eggplant and other ingredients.

The post How to make Eggplant Puffs in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Aquamarine in Disney Dreamlight Valley is a rare precious gem that can be used to make items like Ariel's Crafting Station and the Blue Light High Beach Torch. You can find it in two different biomes within the original valley.

Aquamarine Disney Dreamlight Valley locations

You can find the pretty gem Aquamarine from two different spots in the Titular Valley any day of the week:

• Dazzle Beach
• Forest of Valor

Before you venture out, make sure to bring a Disney friend who has the Mining specialty. Talk to them, and there should be a pickaxe symbol to the left of the "Let's Hang Out!" option. You'll want to do this as you have a chance to get the gem twice, saving you loads of time in the long run.

Next, head to either Dazzle Beach or the Forest of Valor and start striking the rocks with your Royal Pickaxe. It doesn't matter if the gems show or not; there is a chance they'll drop as a reward regardless. Once you've broken all of the rocks in one area, move on to the next. Keep alternating to let the rocks respawn.

What can you make with Aquamarine?

Once you've acquired enough Aquamarine gems, you can start to create decorations for the village. Ariel's Crafting Station, unfortunately, doesn't arrive until you reach Friendship Level 7 and unlock a particular quest.

To make a Blue Light High Beach Torch that would fit in with Dazzle Beach's environment, you'll need the following:

• 5 Fiber
• 3 Sand
• 5 Softwood
• Aquamarine

You can create five pieces of fiber at the Crafting Station by using one piece of Seaweed. You can catch Seaweed by using the fishing rod outside the water ripples at Dazzle Beach. Use your shovel to pick up Sand at the beach. You can also get Sand by breaking the shells. Lastly, Softwood is found in the Plaza, Peaceful Meadow, Forest of Valor, and the Glade of Trust underneath or near trees.

You should also try to find another gem, the Topaz, while you're around the original valley.

The post Where to find Aquamarine in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Some of the longest Switch games will have us holding the handheld device for a very long time if you play the system on the go. The Xenoblade Chronicles series, for example, is one exclusive Nintendo franchise that will keep you entertained for ages and ages.

Please note that for this list, we are only covering games that have launched on Switch first or are exclusive. We are basing this knowledge on HowLongToBeat's data.

15) Mario & Luigi: Brothership (49.5 hours)

Mario & Luigi: Brothership brings back the classic RPG franchise and puts it on a console for the first time. While the combat is cherished among reviewers, some have criticized its "bloated runtime," like IGN.  "There are so many places in this game that could have been cut down or abbreviated, but a lot of it feels there just as a way of extending the game," said our review. "It doesn’t feel rushed or unpolished; there’s just too much of it, and it gets in its own way."

14) Pokemon Scarlet & Violet (50 hours)

The first open-world take in a mainline Pokemon game is Scarlet & Violet. While the game is often criticized for its poor graphics, it does give a refreshing change to the formula as you're given free rein on where to go next and which missions to complete first, adding to the hours spent in-game.

13) Ring Fit Adventure (57 hours)

Ring Fit Adventure keeps you exercising for many weeks as it has a 57-hour run-time, according to HowLongToBeat. You'll constantly unlock new workout moves to utilize against your foes in this pseudo-RPG exercise concept. It can be very fun in bursts.

12) Fire Emblem: Engage (63 hours)

Fire Emblem: Engage is a fantastic RPG that has you invested in forming friendships (or even a relationship) with the characters in the game. There is plenty of side content on offer as you go through the main campaign, keeping you "engage"d for many, many hours.

11) Rune Factory 5 (70 hours)

Rune Factory 5 is a flawed yet fun experience on the Nintendo Switch. This RPG has you building resources, fighting enemies, and forming friendships with the people in your town. Your character can also marry others in the game. "It has a great cast, a wealth of activities, and much of the farm sim experience I love," said our review. "But every time I found myself smitten with the game, something would come along to point out just how underwhelming it is as a whole."

10) Fire Emblem: Three Houses (75 hours)

This game may take you 75 hours to finish, but I was able to complete it in just a week. I believe I was unemployed at the time, but that's how addicting this RPG can be. The characters are well-developed, and the strategy RPG battles are thrilling. You'll keep wanting to play more.

9) Octopath Traveler (77 hours)

Another grand RPG to experience on the Nintendo Switch is Octopath Traveler. Originally released as a console exclusive in 2018, it blends classic sprites and 3D environments together in a stunning mix. "Winding vertical dungeon layers hide secrets without making navigation too frustrating, small towns have their own charm about them, and character models, especially bosses, are emotive," said our review.

8) Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (78 hours)

This RPG series is known for its lengthy games, and the first entry is no different. You'll be exploring large plains with plenty of side quests to spend your life with. It also has an illustrious story that features Shulk and the legendary Monado.

7) Monster Hunter Rise (79 hours)

You'll be hunting for many hours in Monster Hunter Rise as you try to make the best armor and go on quests with your friends. Games like this take your time as you master each monster's moves and try to strategize your best route to eliminate the beast.

6) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (93 hours)

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild revolutionized the open-world genre by packing all manner of content, puzzles, and events all over Hyrule. It's an incredible game that will keep you entertained for many hours. This game received a 10/10 score from us when it first launched.

5) Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (96 hours)

Monolith Soft created a magnum opus of a game with Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The game is filled with stunning environments to find along the way, and the story is impactful for many. The more light-hearted dialogue, when compared to the first, however, may be a turn-off for some.

4) Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (102 hours)

The trilogy comes to a close with Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Expect plenty of high-stakes drama as you go through this game's campaign. At over 100 hours, there are many side quests to complete and a thrilling main story to keep you going until the very end. "The cast, the weight of the story, and the freedom of party composition are the power trio that won me over," said our reviewer, who was invested until the end.

3) Animal Crossing: New Horizons (106 hours)

During the COVID pandemic, many were invested in the tropical scenery of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There is much to do in the game as we decorate our island villages, find new friends, and show our creations to online buddies. It was a paradise for us to wake up to every day.

2) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (113 hours)

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom took the world from its predecessor, Breath of the Wild, and expanded it greatly. Now, we can explore lands in the sky and down below in the underground. While it admittedly feels too bloated, Tears of the Kingdom is seen as one of the best Nintendo Switch games. You certainly get your money's worth.

1) Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (171 hours)

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is, above and away, the longest Nintendo Switch game you can play. The game has over 14 different weapon types to master, and there are a bunch of Hunting Styles and Hunter Arts to figure out as well. It has a mix of old and new monsters to slay, which will keep you entertained for more than 170 hours.

The post 15 Longest Switch games appeared first on Destructoid.

Even when it is out of season, the Gingerbread House in Disney Dreamlight Valle has a lot of value to the wonderful Disney friends around you, like Mickey and Goofy. Here's how you can make it.

All Gingerbread House Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

To make a Gingerbread House, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Wheat
• Egg
• Vanilla
• Sugarcane
• Ginger

Wheat can be bought from Goofy's Stall in the Peaceful Meadow. It's super cheap as the ingredient itself is 2 Star Coins, while the seeds are 1 Star Coin. Both may be available at the stall. The seeds grow within a minute after getting planted and watered.

Eggs can be purchased at Chez Remy for 220 Star Coins after finishing the Ratatouille realm quests in the castle.

Vanilla is found within the Sunlit Plateau. Look at the ground, and you'll find a green plant with small yellow/white petals growing from within the grass. Pick it up, and you'll gain Vanilla for the recipe.

Sugarcane is found at Goofy's Stall in Dazzle Beach. You can buy its seeds for 5 Star Coins each. You can also make Cheesecake with this ingredient.

Lastly, Ginger can be found growing in the Forgotten Lands. This ingredient can be picked up like Vanilla. The green plant with regular, slightly lengthier leaves on it gives you Ginger.

Now it's time to make the 5-star dish

Once you have all of the ingredients, go to any cooking station at your house or in Chez Remy. Throw in all five ingredients together, and then you'll have a Gingerbread House in your inventory. You can sell it to Goofy's Stall for 545 Star Coins or eat it for 1,460 Energy points.

The post How to make a Gingerbread House in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Not many can say this, but I immigrated to Canada and then moved back to England 16 years later, and man, that can cause issues for your games collection. It's been a nightmare after trading in all of my beloved PS2 games and special edition Mario Game Boy Advance as a kid all that time ago, and now returning to the United Kingdom with my PlayStation Plus selection from Canada.

You can't change regions for your games collection

Time after time, I come across the same issue. After more than a decade of using the same PlayStation Network account, I can't change my region from Canada to the United Kingdom. That means, if I make a new account, I'll lose access to all the PlayStation Plus games and the save data I've acquired through all that time. Annoyingly, I can't use my British debit card on my Canadian account so to keep playing my games: I need to get PSN credit through a website like CDKeys (and then use a VPN to access the credit I need) or ask a friend to get a code for me. Unfortunately, my Nintendo account doesn't allow me to switch regions either.

Additionally, transferring money from my UK bank to a Canadian account is costly, leading to many annoyances to keep my subscription going in Canada while living in the United Kingdom. It would be far easier to just be able to switch the region rather than going through all this hassle. After many years of purchasing games through PlayStation and Nintendo's services, these companies should return the favour.

The accounts are not the only issue when you switch countries. Many systems used to be region-locked, so all of your retro games will likely not work overseas unless they get modded. Thankfully, that's not the case anymore with the big three systems and PC.

I had to buy Kingdom Hearts HD ReMIX three times before my saves worked again

One annoying issue I found in my gaming journey after moving to the United Kingdom is some of my game saves. No matter how many times I reinstalled Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX on my PS5 with a UK disc, I couldn't get my saves to work. After the collection was removed from PlayStation Plus, it was a big hassle.

I decided after the physical version didn't work, I'd get a digital copy from the UK PlayStation Store. Unfortunately, that didn't work either. To get my saves to finally work, I had to buy a Canadian version of the game digitally, and even then, it was a struggle for the PS5 to recognize I wanted the North American copy to boot up. I thought I lost hundreds of hours of save data but I finally prevailed after many attempts.

Overall, it should be easier for customers to keep their content, no matter where they live. That's one of the dangers of keeping your library digital because you never know if you're going to lose your games.

The post Want to keep your games collection? Don’t move countries like me appeared first on Destructoid.

The most expensive PS2 games in existence are likely titles you've never heard of as they've had such limited runs in the market. They may have also launched late into the life cycle of the classic video game system like Silent Hill: Shattered Memories, which launched in 2010, a decade after the PS2 was released.

Note: This information is based on UK store CeX's pricing. All prices are from the mint versions if provided.

10. Forbidden Siren 2

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment (SIE)
Release Date: February 9, 2006
Price on CeX: £190

Forbidden Siren 2 is an intriguing horror game that features multiple protagonists that switch. Unfortunately, this game didn't make it to North American stores but it did receive a release in Asia, Europe, and Australia. "Forbidden Siren 2 is very nearly the greatest survival horror game yet made, but every time we start to fall in love with it, the game trips over its own shoelaces and leaves us somewhat embarrassed to be seen with it," said GamesRadar's review. It's likely because of its own quirks that it became so hard to find a copy and wasn't available to Americans.

9. The Silent Hill Collection

Publisher: Konami
Release Date: April 21, 2006
Price on CeX: £220

This Silent Hill collection comes with three beloved (and expensive) games: Silent Hill 2, Silent Hill 3, and Silent Hill 4: The Room. The PS2 collection may still have a lot of value because the PS3 HD compilation was received poorly, and it doesn't include the fourth game. Destructoid gave it a terrible 3/10 score in its review. "No matter how engaging these games still are to play, there’s no escaping the fact that the games on this disc are significantly inferior versions, and for Konami to fail at publishing enhanced versions of such old games is a total embarrassment," said the review. "While newcomers won’t notice the missing visual elements, such broken audio is tough for anybody to forgive."

8. The Getaway (Limited Edition)

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Release Date: December 11, 2002
Price on CeX: £250

Limited to just 1,000 copies, The Getaway's limited edition is hard to get your mitts on. From eBay listings and YouTube videos, it seems like this version of the game only has a silver tint to the game's box and disc that makes it stand out. The poster that comes inside is included with every copy of The Getaway.

7. Armored Core: Last Raven

Publisher: FromSoftware/Agetec/505 Games
Release Date: August 4, 2005
Price on CeX: £260

Armored Core: Last Raven is the eleventh game in the series and Hidetaka Miyazaki's first project with FromSoftware before directing the legendary Souls franchise. It is an important entry as Last Raven ends the storyline that begins in the third installment. 505 Games and Agetec weren't the biggest publishers of video games, so it makes sense there may be a scarcity of copies out there, upping the price.

6. Samurai Western

Publisher: Spike/Atlus/505 Games
Release Date: January 1, 2005
Price on CeX: £270

Samurai Western is just as it sounds. You play a samurai roaming the Wild West with sword in hand. You're deflecting bullets and rampaging through the game, slicing up foes, in search of your lost brother. The game, published by Atlus, doesn't have the best reputation with a 58 Metacritic rating. "The aesthetics and the arcade-style gameplay can feel very enjoyable if spread out over an appropriate amount of time, but it has to be said that the majority of people who might pick up Samurai Western will find it supremely mediocre," said our coverage of the game.

5. Rule of Rose

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment/Atlus/505 Games/Digital Bros
Release Date: January 19, 2006
Price on CeX: £420

Another Atlus game that has seen obscurity, due to its price, is Rule of Rose. It was once far more expensive but strangely, a few new copies were found in the wild, bringing down its price. Rule of Rose is a psychological horror game that was critically panned across the board but has gained the attention of retro content creators over the past few years.

"Rule of Rose is an emotionally tormenting experience, both in regards to playing and interpreting it," said Zoey Handley for Destructoid. "I can’t comment about how scary it might be because of my aforementioned virtual fearlessness, but I can certainly say that it’s an unsettling, uncomfortable, and moving experience."

4. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

Publisher: Konami
Release Date: January 19, 2010
Price on CeX: £465

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories might be the most notable game in this list as Silent Hill is a popular horror franchise, especially within the PS2 era. Originally a Wii game, it launched on the PS2 and PSP on January 19, 2010, which makes this one of the last games to launch on the system. This likely caused a lower distribution of copies as it was an aging platform. This is an interesting entry in the series as it was designed and written by Her Story developer Sam Barlow. Shattered Memories' PS2 version has a decent 77 Metacritic score.

3. Michigan: Report from Hell

Publisher: Spike/505 Games
Release Date: August 5, 2004
Price on CeX: £575

Developed by Suda51 studio Grasshopper Manufacture, Michigan: Report from Hell is a survivor horror game that has you playing through the first-person perspective of a cameraman. You can even see the battery symbol and the timing of the filming in the corners of the screen. 505 Games, like many of the games published on this list, likely didn't produce as many copies as EA or Activision at the time, possibly due to budget and this being extremely niche. Ironically, Michigan: Report from Hell never saw an American release but it did come out in Europe and Japan.

2. Kuon

Publisher: Agetec/FromSoftware/Indie Games Productions
Release Date: April 1, 2004
Price on CeX: £750

Yet another horror game makes the list, and Kuon is indeed one of the most expensive PS2 games. Developed by the Elden Ring studio FromSoftware, Kuon has you exploring a creepy Japanese castle in Kyoto, Japan. The game has three different protagonists, who each have a role to play in the gruesome narrative.

"It's atmospheric, creepy, and sloooooow, even by survival horror standards," said Game Informer's review, according to Metacritic. It has a 57 Metacritic score, but it has found some fans with a Generally Favorable user score. "The atmosphere and aesthetic are second to none and the storytelling/lore is, in typical From Software fashion, masterful," said one person on the website Verified-Dream.

1. Gun Club

Publisher: Crave Entertainment/505 Games
Release Date: October 2, 2006
Price on CeX: £800

The most expensive PS2 game, at least in the UK, is Gun Club (NRA Gun Club in the United States). It is a Jarhead Games-developed title that was endorsed by the gun-activist organization NRA and then found its way to some European territories, thanks to 505 Games. It received horrible reviews from critics in 2006. "This is the sort of hastily slapped-together game that should have been a free bonus for subscribing to the NRA newsletter or something," said GameSpot's 1.6/10 review. This game's fairly inexpensive in the United States, but it's costly in the United Kingdom as the release was so scarce in the area.

The post Top 10 most expensive PS2 games in the UK, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

The Miracle Growth Elixir in Disney Dreamlight Valley lives up to its name as it instantly grows vegetables like Pumpkins and Lettuce. Thankfully, it's fairly easy to make by finding Vitalys Crystals and more from the game.

Miracle Growth Elixir Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

To create the awesome Miracle Growth Elixir in Disney Dreamlight Valley, you'll need the following ingredients:

• 10 Vitalys Crystals
• 10 Rich Soil
• 500 Dreamlight

Vitalys Crystals are found within a cave around the Sunlit Plateau called the Vitalys Mine. Look for the waterfall near a stone bridge to find it. You'll first want a companion with you, who has the Mining specialty, so the process becomes faster. Mine at the rocks that have a blue streak to them. Hit them with the pickaxe, and you have a good chance to get a Vitalys Crystal. Having a companion with you gives a chance of getting another Vitalys Crystal.

Rich Soil is gained by digging up the soil at any location, especially within the Plaza. This is a random drop. Having a digging specialty companion with you may help with the process too.

Dreamlight is gathered by completing quests and finishing Duties like taking a picture or collecting enough apples. You can check your objectives on the menu. It's under the first section "Dreamlight." You can also craft Dreamlight with Dream Shards.

How to use this elixir

Once you have all of the ingredients, go to any crafting station near your house or in Scrooge's store. You can find the Miracle Growth Elixir from the list of options.

Make sure to pick the correct potion. Once it's made, use it from your inventory menu. Then, equip the water can. Spray it on the crops you want to see grow instantly. You only have a few limited uses so pick your crops wisely.

The post How to make Miracle Growth Elixir in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

It was a rush. The Pokémon Regional Championships in Birmingham was buzzing with energy as crowds of people played their matches, watched the main stage, and surged the stores to the side of the action.

After almost becoming Frozen Solid by waiting in wintry weather at Wolverton station for 48 minutes because of a delayed train, I was finally at the NEC in Birmingham. After going to many conventions, I'm used to long lines to enter the premises, but after waiting behind just one person, I finally received my armband to get in and experience the organized chaos of the Pokémon Regional Championships.

Everyone knew their places

Despite the mass of people in front of me, everything was timed and prepared for each entrant of this event. The most popular tournament was for the Trading Card Game, with lines and lines of players battling it out for a win. There was a website that everyone used on their phones that told them which table they were seated at and what time. My cousin was told to go to a match around every 40 minutes. He had eight rounds to go through. Unfortunately, he only won one, and that was because his opponent didn't show up.

On a random chance, I encountered the adorable Pikachu and Eevee meet-and-greet. These two Kanto Pokémon bobbed their heads up and down fast and created such adorable poses for the people who came to see them. Kids in the middle of the room had papers to color with their favorite Pokémon designs, and in the back section, past games from the series were available, even Pokémon Battle Revolution for the Nintendo Wii. It was cool to see the original hardware and their controllers as a Nintendo 64 played Pokémon Stadium.

There was a speedrun challenge that tasked fans with catching a Jigglypuff the fastest in the original Pokémon Red & Blue. The setup looked comfy, as the organizers placed beanbags on this section. The main stage was also a great place to hang out as you watched the best players duke it out or get interviewed on an adorable set. It was a bit perplexing that we couldn't hear the announcers on the audio setup, however. I didn't have much context as to what was happening in front of me.

A heavy air of competition

In the midst of all the fun, there was an air of serious competition and fandom. My cousin said the experience felt more casual when he was a child, but now there are certain metas to follow. He was also told by fellow competitors to have legendaries on his team. It feels odd that powerful Pokémon like Miraidon and Chien-Po were allowed into the mix; it doesn't seem fair to everyone and limits which of these pocket monsters get chosen, making it less interesting for spectators.

Even the stores took the merch seriously. One store insisted the Japan-imported plush were "collectibles, not toys," with a 17+ tag at the end, which seemed silly to me, especially for a franchise usually geared towards a family audience. Some signs said they were purchasing Pokémon cards for 70% of their worth for credit. Shopkeepers toiled through massive folders of cards as they were making deals with customers. It's certainly wildly different from when I experienced the series for the first time as a kid.

Despite the air of competition, my cousin still enjoyed the experience. Even though he lost almost every game, he managed to win a few rounds, as it was a three-round-win system.

A thrill to experience

Overall, the Pokémon Regional Championships in Birmingham was a thrill to experience. It was the most organized event I've ever been to, as the competitors routinely got into the spots they needed to go without much fuss. The 40 minutes also gave them enough time to get food, drinks, etc, before the next battle. Despite there being so many people in at once, I moved around the NEC convention area very well, not bumping into anyone. If you're a Pokémon fan, you should head to one of these events one day. The £10 entry fee for spectators was worth it.

Despite the miserable experience of "travelling across the land" to Birmingham NEC and then heading back on a coach because of railway issues, it was indeed worth "searching far and wide."

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The Amethyst in Disney Dreamlight Valley gem is a precious resource used for multiple quests and can help craft a special object to decorate your environments. Here's how to find the Amethyst so that you can help villagers like Ursula and Nala with their friendship quests.

Amethyst Disney Dreamlight Valley locations

Amethyst in Disney Dreamlight Valley can be spotted in two different locations within the original valley:

• Frosted Heights
• Forgotten Lands

Thankfully, you won't need any of the DLC to get this material. Head over to the Frosted Heights or Forgotten Lands and use your pickaxe to strike the rocks in the area. Also, take a buddy with you with the mining proficiency to gain bonus rewards from striking each rock. You'll also get that friendship level up.

How to Make a Purple Wrought Iron Streetlamp

Once you've gathered Amethyst, you can create a Purple Wrought Iron Streetlamp. To make that, you'll need the following:

• Two Glass
• Five Iron Ingots
• One Amethyst

You can create Iron Ingots at the crafting table by mixing Iron Ore and Coal Ore. You'll get those materials from mining rocks (and the number of resources grows when hanging out with a friend who has the mining specialty). Glass can be formed by crafting Sand and Coal Ore. Dig at the sand of Dazzle Beach with your shovel to get the resource.

If you don't want to make a Purple Wrought Iron Streetlamp, you can also sell Amethyst for 500 Star Coins at any of Goofy's stalls.

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Yet another beloved BioWare developer has left the Edmonton studio as Dragon Age: The Veilguard director Corinne Busche has confirmed their departure on Friday. She told Eurogamer that the development of the RPG "took a toll on [her]."

A BioWare veteran leaves the studio

Corinne Busche, who has been a part of the Edmonton development team for BioWare for 18 years, has announced their departure from the studio. "My departure was voluntary, as I have been presented with an opportunity I couldn't turn down," said Busche to Eurogamer. "I don’t want to say much more right now, but you can count on it being in the CRPG space and upholding the traditions of great characters."

Busche didn't leave without giving her regards to the marvelous fantasy RPG series. "I love Dragon Age, and BioWare, so the chance to return the game to a proper quality single player RPG was the privilege of a lifetime."

A decent critical and fan response

Busche was tasked to steer the studio forward after the difficult release of Anthem and its negative feedback from critics and fans. "I did what I set out to do at BioWare," she explained. "That is to come in and help right the ship." Fans are "Mostly Positive" on Steam from almost 33,000 reviews on the platform.

"While it delivers stunning visuals and solid technical performance, the gameplay, storytelling, and RPG elements fail to capture the magic of its predecessors," reads a popular Steam review with an overall negative assessment, adding, "what could have been a worthy successor instead feels like a step backward for the series and Bioware as a whole." 450 people found this review helpful.

Destructoid's Steven Mills somewhat disagrees, however. "If you’re looking for a solid RPG in a beautifully built world, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is certainly that," says our review-in-progress. "The combat is fluid and satisfying, and the world of Thedas is well-designed and fun to explore." The game ended up having a Generally Favorable 82 Metacritic score when it launched in October 2024.

The last entry, Dragon Age: Inquisition, won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, but The Veilguard failed even to be nominated for the award in 2024.

"BioWare still has a lot of work to do culturally, but I do believe they are on the right footing now," Busche said to Eurogamer.

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Wahoo, there will be a Mario Kart Switch 2 title that will likely re-appear during the April 2025 Nintendo Direct after the new console's teaser trailer. However, we know quite a few of the characters that will be in the game from the few seconds of footage we've seen so far.

All Mario Kart Switch 2 characters so far

Despite the short clips of Mario Kart Switch 2 footage we've received so far, there are plenty of recognizable characters that can be spotted. They include the following:

• Mario
• Bowser
• Yoshi
• Donkey Kong
• Toad
• Daisy
• Rosalina
• Peach
• Luigi
• Wario
• Koopa Troopa
• Waluigi

This is hard to confirm, but it also seems like Pauline is a playable character, but it can be difficult to see. As you look at the footage as the Switch 2 flips around, you can see a brunette in a red dress. It would make sense to see the character join the race as she's featured in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pack DLC and in the most recent Super Mario Party. Nintendo seems to be pushing her more in the universe since her glamorous role in Super Mario Odyssey's New Donk City.

The footage also points to the game featuring 24 playable racers in the same race, so Mario Kart on the Switch 2 will likely feature many more characters than this. With the inclusion of the Splatoon kids, Link from The Legend of Zelda, and Animal Crossing's Villager, among others in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it's possible we could see more Nintendo IP in the next Mario Kart title. Captain Falcon from F-Zero, anyone?

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After further inspection of the Switch 2 teaser trailer released Thursday, analysts, such as Good Vibes Gaming, have noticed that the next Mario Kart could have 24-player multiplayer. Gameplay of the highly anticipated sequel was shown during the teaser trailer.

Next Mario Kart 24 player multiplayer confirmed?

YouTube analysts, such as Good Vibes Gaming, have paused the gameplay reveal of the next Mario Kart and have noticed there are 24 spaces on the starting line. 11 characters are shown in the teaser, but 13 more slots are left open, leading to speculation of a bigger number of racers per match. Some of the characters involved in this desert race include Mario, Peach, and Waluigi, among others.

Nintendo has announced there will be a Nintendo Direct focused on the Switch 2 on April 2. We will likely find out more about the Mario Kart sequel then.

Nintendo Switch 2 finally revealed

We still don't know much about the Nintendo Switch 2 but we finally received a first look at the console this week. As rumors and leaks have suggested, the Joy-con are magnetic and larger. They no longer will slide off like the original Nintendo Switch. The screen will be bigger, too, as demonstrated by the teaser trailer.

If you're not a fan of the next kart racer from Nintendo, you might be happy to know that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is likely backward-compatible. With some exceptions, your physical carts and digital versions of current Switch games will work on the Nintendo Switch 2.

This new entry in the series will be the first major sequel in over a decade, since Mario Kart 8 launched on the Wii U on May 30, 2014. It's been a long time coming for fans.

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A speedrunner named Wes completed New Super Mario Bros. Wii while playing the piano in 41 minutes and 20 seconds on Wednesday at Awesome Games Done Quick (AGDQ). The player used two Joycons in unusual places to complete the task.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii completed with feet and head while playing the soundtrack

Wes (FunkoPotamuswes) was able to finish New Super Mario Bros. Wii at a breakneck pace while playing the game's soundtrack on a piano at AGDQ. The speedrunner was able to do this by tilting his head left and right for movement with one Joycon. Forward and back movements correspond to the spin and ducking motion that Mario performs in the platformer. Another Joycon is by his feet. His toes press the run button while the ball of his feet presses down the thumb stick, which makes Mario jump.

As he's playing the game, he uses his hands to play the soundtrack of New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Sometimes it's a bit shaky as he tries to move Mario, commentate, and play the piano at the same time, but honestly, it's an impressive sight. Many people struggle to do just one or two of those things at the same time.

If that's not compelling enough, he then completed 1-1 with a blindfold on, in addition to playing the piano and the game. Funnily, the piano is not his main instrument. "I do write the arrangements to fit my skill level, and that's one thing to know is that you don't have to be an amazing musician to do this," said Wes during the AGDQ stream.

AGDQ is raising money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation, an organization that helps people prevent cancer and detect it early. The speedrun event is running until January 12. It has raised $780,000 so far, as of the time of writing. There will be a live band accompanying a Crazy Taxi speedrun on January 11.

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The Dynasty Warriors series is known to feature co-op, letting you team up with a friend to take on waves upon waves of enemies on screen. With the higher graphical quality on offer, however, does Dynasty Warriors: Origins co-op exist?

Can you play Dynasty Warriors: Origins co-op?

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a much-anticipated release for this month, and many fans are likely expecting the next game to be fully co-op. Well, I'm sorry to burst your Musou bubble. Dynasty Warriors: Origins, at this moment in time, has no co-op features.

On Steam, the game listing clearly states that the game is "Single-player" above other tags, including Steam Achievements, Steam Trading Cards, Steam Cloud, and HDR available.

The lack of co-op multiplayer could be due to the game's bigger scope compared to past entries in the series. "I’m happy to say the scale is bigger than ever in Origins, with more enemy and army counts on the battlefield than I’m pretty sure, well, ever," said our hands-on preview in November 2024. "In fact, with a somewhat more direct approach to combat compared to other entries in the series, you can actually find yourself quickly overwhelmed by how many enemies are actually on the battlefield." It's too bad that we won't have a friend with us when we feel "overwhelmed" by the number of enemies on screen.

Other action co-op games to try

In addition to some earlier entries in the series, like Dynasty Warriors 8 and Samurai Warriors 5, there are other awesome multiplayer action games out there you can try instead if you're bummed about Dynasty Warriors: Origins lacking a co-op mode.

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends is a PS4- and PS5-exclusive title by Sucker Punch. It takes you through some vivid levels with stellar combat and a gorgeous art style. Another series that lets you take on enemies together in a strategic manner is Monster Hunter.

If you want a local co-op experience, however, Darksiders Genesis might do the trick. It plays similarly to the Diablo series. The developer "Airship Syndicate went all out with providing full freedom of movement so each character is fun to use at any point, all the way down to the Devil May Cry-like floating after leaping into the air and firing off dual pistols," said our 8 out of 10 review. "There’s combos, but not so many that it gets absurd."

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Some of the best swords in gaming are particularly iconic, such as the Keyblade and the Master Sword from The Legend of Zelda. They help give us a power fantasy in video games as they strengthen our heroes and strike fear into our foes.

So here are the ten most iconic swords in gaming—and naturally—this is my humble opinion. Let's go.

10. The Crucible (Doom Eternal)

The Crucible from Doom Eternal is the epitome of badass. This huge red sword with the flared blade tip is one of the main marketing images shown within the trailer of the game, as seen above, ramping up excitement for the 2020 sequel. It lets you slice and dice demons with its sheer power. It's filled with demon energy and has some epic text on the blade that makes the weapon look ancient and rare. It's so cool that the Demon Slayer had dreams about this mythical sword in the previous game.

9. The Monado (Xenoblade Chronicles)

The Monado is a legendary energy sword that is a major part of the story in Xenoblade Chronicles. It's a unique blade that has different modes that the protagonist Shulk can switch to. The Buster symbol helps you deal double the damage to the Machina, Shield creates a barrier, and Speed enhances dodging for your party. With each mode, the hilt changes the symbol, which is a neat detail. It's a long blade that feels powerful in Xenoblade Chronicles and Super Smash Bros. in which Shulk is a playable character.

8. Rebellion (Devil May Cry)

Dante might be the coolest action hero in gaming, so it makes sense that Rebellion is a badass sword. Passed down from his father, Dante's blood awakened the power of this sword. It's an extremely sharp weapon that can eliminate all manner of demons, including the Savior himself. The sword looks flashy during combat in the games, and the hilt having a skull is an extremely cool feature.

It's no surprise Rebellion is one of the best swords in gaming. Dante's combat is stellar, especially within Devil May Cry V. "One moment you might be twirling around shotguns to keep away a mob, then swap to swords to isolate a big threat, then in half a second throttle to Royal Guard to perfectly parry an attack, throw back the force of the blow, then use Trickster to dart away and flow back into combat with a teleport," said our review of the fifth mainline entry.

7. Soul Edge (Soul Calibur)

Soul Edge has been a major part of the Soul Calibur story since its inception. It's a massive two-handed sword that has a creepy eye within its hilt. If you manage to hold it, you'll wield great power, but it comes with a great cost. It can possess your soul until the end of your life. The weapon itself, while wielded by Nightmare in-game, is powerful. It's slow but when it manages to hit an opponent like Kilik or Siegfried, it can devastate their HP. If this is a list of the most deadly weapons in gaming, it would certainly be up there.

6. Energy Sword (Halo)

The Energy Sword is one of the few melee weapons you can use in the Halo series, and it certainly is powerful. It can one-shot enemies as you slash this sword across the map. It electrifies Master Chief and Arbiter's enemies in an instant. The sound design is just as satisfying as attacking foes with it. You can hear the heft of the sword as you swing it to and fro. The energizing sound of the slash is also "untouchable." There is a reason why this weapon returns in every game.

5. Blades of Chaos (God of War)

God of War, despite how old the series is, is still one of the most gripping action games you can play. That's partly thanks to the Blades of Chaos that Kratos wields in the original trilogy and into the modern era. They rip and tear through his enemies in ghastly ways. You'll see these mythical beasts torn apart by the strength of these blades as you perform the most satisfying quick-time events imaginable. The way these dual swords are thrown around like whips is awe-inspiring, and Kratos can perform some impressive combos with this weapon. The Blades of Chaos are indeed mighty, and one of the coolest weapons in games.

4. Diamond Sword (Minecraft)

One of the best items you can craft in Minecraft is the Diamond Sword. It's hard to find the resources, but once you have it in your hands, you'll have no fear. Famous YouTuber of the time when Minecraft was in its early years TobyTurner (Tobuscus) even made a song about it and it received millions of views. You can even purchase an officially licensed replica of this sword at stores like Amazon many years later, so it's easily iconic. The Diamond Sword is also featured in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with Steve being able to craft it during battles. The sword is so overpowered that it can take out a rival on the stage at 45% stamina as shown by Nintendo Unity on YouTube.

3. The Keyblade (Kingdom Hearts)

The Keyblade is an iconic weapon that Sora wields in the Kingdom Hearts series. Taking on many forms, this weapon can seal or open any lock and can strike foes with strong attacks and magic. Sora can even heal his allies like Donald and Goofy with a Cure spell. The original form of Sora's keyblade the Kingdom Key features a keychain that resembles the iconic Disney character Mickey Mouse as well. The crown that acts as the blade's edge is also a heavy symbol of the series overall.

Another neat fact about the Keyblade is that with every hit, a cool effect flies out of the blade. Each Keyblade, such as Jungle King, Monochrome, and Oathkeeper, has a different effect. You can get a replica Kingdom Key from many different conventions, and Bandai makes an official version with a keyhole light attached to it. I dream of having one of those someday.

2. Buster Sword (Final Fantasy VII)

You cannot make a most iconic video game swords list and not include the Buster Sword. This weapon is ridiculously gigantic for a slender man like Cloud Strife, and yet it's so wild that it works with the character. Each slash of the blade is heavy and feels impactful as you strike the likes of Sephiroth and Cactuars. It looks cool every time Cloud rests the Buster Sword and sheathes it on his back.

You can always see it clearly sitting on his back during cutscenes as well, making its presence known. Additionally, there's this glowing silver shine that looks so beautiful as you fight through Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Lastly, one of the coolest mechanics with the Buster Sword is that you can change the Materia equipped, adding the glow of the stones that are attached near the bottom of the blade.

1. Master Sword (The Legend of Zelda)

There was probably no doubt since you clicked this article that the Master Sword would take the top spot on this list. And for good reason. The Master Sword from The Legend of Zelda series is legendary. Nintendo makes it an event whenever Link picks up the majestic weapon for the first time. When Link is reunited with the Master Sword in Breath of the Wild, it's a magical moment, especially after the many, many hours of weapons breaking so quickly.

Additionally, in Ocarina of Time, the weapon lets Link shift between the child and adult timelines in what was an industry-changing moment. It even has its own theme song throughout the series like Zelda does. The hilt has a beautiful blue and yellow ornate design, and the blade itself glows in a stunning blue as it attempts to repel anything malevolent close by.

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The best PS2 games began the hype of the most popular franchises we know today. This includes the likes of God of War, Kingdom Hearts, and Ratchet & Clank; here are the games that represent the best experiences on Sony's best-selling platform.

10. God of War

God of War is one of the PS2's most iconic games, and for good reason. It features outstanding character action as you whip your enemies with the Chains of Olympus and take them down in grisly detail. The storyline is epic, the visuals are still cinematic to this day, and you'll love the intense boss battles from this game. Kratos might be one-note in this PS2 interpretation when compared to the reboot-quel PS4 series, but it's still fun to take down the Greek gods one by one. What brings it down a bit are the annoying puzzles that spoil the game's pace.

9. Beyond Good & Evil

One of the most underrated games on the PS2 (and also one of the best) is Beyond Good & Evil. It features a riveting story that has you uncovering a sci-fi conspiracy. You're taking pictures for the IRIS Network, revealing details about a corrupt organization that is taking prisoners. It's set up in a Zelda-like way, where you solve puzzles, take down bosses, and try to get through each "dungeon" alive. It also has an open world to explore with plenty of secrets to find. There are lots of animals to take pictures of to get money and other rewards.

"The game manages to draw one in and keep the player involved with a charming game world and a strong, atypical female protagonist," said our review of the 2011 HD version.

8. Sly Cooper & The Thievius Racooonus

After playing this game very recently on the PS5, thanks to PlayStation Plus Premium, Sly Cooper & The Thievius Racoonus holds up exceptionally well. The art style looks stunning on screen as it has comic book-like visuals. It's fun to clobber enemies with Sly's cane and stealthily move across each level with the abilities this raccoon gets from his ancestors. The developer Sucker Punch Productions (inFAMOUS, Ghost of Tsushima) continues to throw in twists to the gameplay to keep Sly's adventure fresh from beginning to end. Check this game out now for a unique 3D platformer that takes place around the world.

7. Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

From one platforming hero to another, Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy is by far the best of this Naughty Dog-developed trilogy. It features bright, bold visuals, with plenty of entertaining platforming challenges across the game's world. The biomes are varied and present engaging game designs. Additionally, Daxter is a successful comedic relief for the game as he tries to shake Jak back alive after he is taken down by his enemies. The Precursor Legacy also controls greatly as Jak rolls and jumps his way to each platform. It is an impressive visual spectacle for the PS2 and should be praised.

6. Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal

Arguably the best of the three platforming mascots from the PS2 era is Ratchet with his best pal Clank. I challenge you to find a PS2 game funnier than Ratchet & Clank 3: Up Your Arsenal. It has the hilarious antagonist Dr. Nefarious alongside his straight-person sidekick Lawrence with funny banter and well-timed slapstick. You also get Courtney Gears, a funny albeit dated reference to Britney Spears. Ratchet & Clank are also fantastic as the protagonists of the game with quips of their own.

Up Your Arsenal features all kinds of weapons at the Lombax's disposal. You have the electrifying Shock Blaster, the powerful Plasma Whip, and the Qwack-O-Ray, which turns your enemies into explosive ducks. The developer Insomniac Games is so creative with its weapons, and the platforming is also varied all the way through with fun segments like using the gravity boots and riding grind rails with Ratchet's footwear.

5. Resident Evil 4

While Resident Evil 4 hasn't aged the best when compared to other games on this list, you can't deny its importance in the industry. It revolutionized the third-person shooter genre with great controls (at the time), powerful guns, and exhilarating blockbuster moments that kept us glued to the screens.

It also brought in an era of quick-time events, which began a cinematic era in gaming, for better or for worse. This Capcom game delivers a successfully creepy atmosphere with its dark European aesthetic. The storyline is also effective as you try to save the President's daughter, who has been kidnapped by this scary cult.

"The game proves that sometimes all you need is a simple gameplay hook, as well as the bravery to stick with it, in order to drive home a compelling experience," said our review of this game's HD version in 2011.

4. Kingdom Hearts 2

Square Enix delivered one of the best PS2 games in 2005 when Kingdom Hearts 2 launched that December in Japan. It has an engaging narrative with fascinating original characters to meet, in addition to Final Fantasy and Disney heroes along the way. In addition, the combat is stellar and still has the best action RPG system to date. The reaction command mechanic has you dynamically react to enemy attacks, and the combat options available to the player, such as abilities, magic, drive forms, summons, and more, are immense.

The boss battles are also epic as you confront the powerful Organization XIII, heartless, and nobodies that stand in your way. I'll never forget pressing triangle and cross as fast as I can to block Xemnas' constant barrage of lasers toward Sora and Riku. The scale of each world is incredible too, especially when you consider it was developed for the PS2. The World That Never Was features a massive castle that you need to work your way up to stop Xemnas' plans. The attention to detail in each Disney world is also immaculate. Mulan's visual art style with the smoke and fire is replicated to perfection, and Beast's Castle looks as impressive as it does in the movie Beauty & The Beast.

3. Persona 4

The Persona series is well-renowned, and for good reason. After you finish each entry, you'll feel like you're saying goodbye to your friends with a tearful smile, and that's the same with Persona 4. Each character is well-rounded with likable traits and weaknesses that they show throughout the deep storyline. You'll also get to know them through your social links, and as you increase your bond with them, your abilities grow.

The combat revolves around collecting different monsters called Shadows and using their abilities in battle. You can even fuse them to create stronger creatures for your moveset. It's a fantastic game loop and will keep you playing for many, many hours. We gave the Golden version on Vita a 10/10 rating in our review. "The summoning system of the Persona games has been likened to Pokemon’s monster collecting and, while they’re similar in the collection aspect, I feel Atlus’ work is quite a bit deeper in scope, and certainly more adult," it said. "For being engrossing they’re on the same level."

2. Shadow of the Colossus

Shadow of the Colossus is an artistic masterpiece that every gamer should get the chance to play. With incredible visuals and stunning music, you play as Wonder on an incredible journey to save his love. To do that, you have to take down these gigantic creatures fittingly called colossi. The game features a protagonist that isn't perfect. He is slim, stumbles around, and can fall down easily. It sounds frustrating at first, but part of the charm is that you're playing as this weaker man fighting against these terrifying beasts. He isn't Kratos, he's relatable.

The colossi themselves are levels as you're trying to find a way to scale up them and strike your sword into their weak spot. When the puzzle of how to climb a colossus is solved, you get a rush of satisfaction as the magnificent track "The Opened Way" blasts out loud in glee. Everything in this game comes together in a beautiful package, and it's one of PlayStation's best games ever.

1. Final Fantasy X

One game triumphs over the mighty colossi, and that's Final Fantasy X, arguably Square Enix's magnum opus. Final Fantasy X tells a stellar story. As a fish out of water, the main protagonist Tidus experiences a new world 1,000 years into the future. The characters he meets along the way have interesting personalities that change the trajectory of the narrative significantly. They all have their own roles to play in the party. You'll get invested in every character, especially Yuna and Tidus, who share a touching romantic story across the game's lengthy campaign. The voice performances are also impressive, especially if you consider this is the first mainline game in the Final Fantasy series to feature voice acting.

I cried multiple times when I played this as a kid and after playing through the game five or so years ago, I had the same reaction. What helps add to the drama and emotion of the narrative is the impeccable soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu, who delivers his best work with themes like "To Zanarkand" and "Movement in Green."

Spira takes your breath away

What is just as memorable is the sights of Spira, the land where Final Fantasy X takes place. The designs of the temples, the gorgeous scenery of Besaid, and the grand cities of these islands stick in my mind decades after playing Final Fantasy X for the first time.

Additionally, the turn-based combat system is one of the best the legendary Final Fantasy series has to offer. You can switch our party members for strategic depth, interact with objects during the battle in a puzzle-like fashion against bosses, use special abilities, and utilize the mega-customizable Sphere Grid that lets you progress your characters in your own way.

"Its story, which follows summoner Yuna on her journey across the world of Spira to fight Sin, is one of Square Enix’s best," said our review of the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD remaster. "Likable characters with memorable outfits, a fantastic musical score, and a powerful ending made this game one of the best role-playing games of the PS2 era."

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It's a new year, and to help celebrate the month of January 2025, we have a bunch of stellar games, including a remaster of a beloved Vita game and the next entry of a popular action franchise. You'll also blow heads off in excessive detail as you fire your powerful weaponry in Sniper Elite: Resistance.

Dynasty Warriors Origins (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Price: $69.99
Release Date: January 17
Trailer

The Dynasty Warriors series looks as epic as ever in this next entry. As a nameless hero protagonist, you're stepping into the field of hundreds of warriors. You'll be utilizing fast-paced combos and abilities called arts to take down these foes. There's also a strategic element to the visual madness on screen as you command your allies to advance or cavalry charge to victory (or failure). You'll also have to manage the morale of your forces, which should be quite the challenge. Hopefully, you'll still be able to enjoy the breakneck action despite the strategic elements of this new entry.

"Omega Force and Koei Tecmo have taken a lot of the staples from the franchise like massive-scale battles and expanded them while also improving the overall game through better storytelling, more interesting combat, and a player character-driven focus," said our preview.

It will be launched on consoles and PC systems on January 17. Those who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition can start on January 14.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Publisher: Binary Haze Interactive
Developer: Adglobe, Live Wire
Price: $19.99
Release Date: January 22
Trailer

An indie highlight from the January 2025 games lineup is Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist. It's a sequel to the critically acclaimed Metroidvania Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. The sequel was previously launched through Steam Early Access and has an impressive Overwhelmingly Positive 97% rating on Steam.

In this entry, you play as an attuner named Lilac, who can summon the power of the Homunculi. In this journey, you wake up from a laboratory, try to find your lost memories and save "precious friends in the Land of Fumes," according to the Steam page. You'll come across pretty 2D art and 30 different unique skills from the companions you meet as you explore this post-apocalyptic world. There's also a lot of equipment, relics, and items to find on your adventure.

Freedom Wars Remastered (PS4, PS5, Switch, PC)

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Dimps
Price: Unannounced (as of the time of writing)
Release Date: January 10
Trailer

The PlayStation Vita hidden gem Freedom Wars finally gets a remaster on modern platforms on January 10. It has a unique scenario for this co-op action game. You begin your life as a criminal for just being born, and you're fighting enemies and finishing missions to reduce your sentence. Bandai Namco says the game supports a 4K resolution and 60 frames per second on all current-gen platforms. Additionally, the game has upgraded textures, but to be honest, from the screenshots and footage so far, you can still tell it was originally a Vita game.

The game has an overhauled weapon crafting system, new difficulty options, and more gameplay upgrades in Freedom Wars Remastered. As you play through the game, you'll be given Thorn weapons to help you traverse each level and take down enemies. These weapons let you set traps, provide healing, and more benefits to your team. The materials you gather from fallen enemies will let you upgrade your weapons, similar to the Monster Hunter series. The original Vita release of Freedom Wars received an 8/10 score from our review, so the remaster may be worth checking out.

Sniper Elite: Resistance (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Publisher: Rebellion
Developer: Rebellion
Price: $49.99
Release Date: January 30
Trailer

Sniper Elite: Resistance takes us back to World War 2 as we snipe Nazis in a hidden war amongst occupied France. We play as Harry Hawker, an operative tasked with eliminating the Wunderwaffe, a weapon that would guarantee the Nazis victory in the war. Sniper Elite's X-ray kill cam is back in this game as it gives us the visceral details of a bullet entering the noggin (and other body parts) of your enemies. You'll need to consider gravity, wind, and even your heart rate to get the perfect shot.

As you play through Sniper Elite: Resistance, you'll be able to customize and upgrade your weapons with all manner of scopes, stocks, barrels, magazines and other attachments. You'll also get the ability to use armor-piercing shells to finish your task when the game drops onto physical and digital store shelves on January 30.

Tales of Graces f Remastered (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC)

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: TOSE CO. LTD
Price: $49.99
Release Date: January 17
Trailer

Asbel's adventures return in Tales of Graces f Remastered when Bandai Namco releases this JRPG for modern platforms on January 17. This new version of the adventure includes graphical improvements, auto-save functionality, the ability to turn off enemy encounters, and the addition of dashing rather than the slower running. You can also skip cutscenes with this release, and icons have been added to the UI to make the experience clearer. Most of the original DLC from the PS3 version is included in the package.

The story revolves around three kingdoms vying for control of the world. Our heroes, such as Asbel, Richard, and Sophie, must work together to save the beautiful world Ephinea. While playing this on the PS3, my teenage self loved the probably corny storyline, which focused on the friendship between the characters that grow from childhood; hopefully, it ages well.

Honorable Mentions

The January 2025 games lineup has many remasters and ports. They include the Wii platformer Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and the new remaster of the PS1 classic Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 also finally arrives on PC in January.

• Airborne Empire Early Access (PC) - January 13
• Assetto Corsa EVO Early Access (PC) - January 16
• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch) - January 16
• Border Town Early Access(PC) - January 23
• Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) - January 23
• Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) - January 28
• Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (PC) - January 28
• Cuisineer (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - January 29
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure (Switch, PC) - January 30
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (PC) - January 30
• Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (PS4, PS5, Switch) - January 30

The post Here are the most anticipated January 2025 games appeared first on Destructoid.

Tekka Maki in Disney Dreamlight Valley is a tasty Japanese dish you can make for your pals like Donald and Mickey. Unfortunately, the ingredients take a long while to grow.

All Tekka Maki Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

Tekka Maki can be made with the following ingredients in Disney Dreamlight Valley:

• Tuna
• Seaweed
• Soya
• Rice

Tuna can be fished from the waters of Glade of Trust and Forgotten Lands in the original valley. The ingredient can be found in white ripples within the water.

Seaweed can be found in a similar spot to Tuna. Use your fishing rod and set the feed to a place outside of ripples within any spot in the Valley. You should get Seaweed pretty quickly. This ingredient is also used to feed turtles in Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Soya can be purchased from Goofy's Stall in the Lion King-themed Sunlit Plateau. The clumsy character sells the green beans' seeds for 60 Star Coins. It annoyingly grows within one hour and 30 minutes. You can speed up the process with some Miracle Growth Elixir.

Rice is also bought from Goofy's Stall, this time in the Glade of Trust. The seeds are 35 Star Coins each, while the ingredient itself is 92 Star Coins each. Rice is a little quicker to grow than Soya and takes 50 minutes. Rice can also be used to make another Japanese dish, Sake Maki, which includes Salmon instead of Tuna.

Once you have all the ingredients, go to a cooking station at your home or Chez Remy. Then, place them all into the pot to create your Tekka Maki. It can be sold for 366 Star Coins or consumed for 984 Energy. Now, you have the delicious recipe in your culinary repertoire!

The post How to make Tekka Maki in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

During the holidays, it's only natural to want to play the best Christmas games, and thankfully there are some that fit that criteria. While some may not fill us with the typical holiday cheer, they are all impactful in one shape or another as we take down criminals as Batman or defame a scoundrel writer from copying a student's work by going into different realities.

5. Life is Strange: Double Exposure

Life is Strange: Double Exposure, which takes place over the holiday season, is the most recent entry on this list. It uses the Christmas theming well, as you solve a puzzle in the game by using an annoying ornament as a distraction, and attend a Krampus party at the college's favourite bar. The game itself tells a thrilling story as Max Caulfield returns to the series and shifts between realities rather than reversing time. The ending is disappointing for most fans, but the journey getting there is an entertaining one. It's one of the best Christmas games because it tells a fantastic story within the setting.

"Although it relies a little too much on your having played the first Life is Strange, it continues the adventure well and balances the feeling of familiarity while still keeping things refreshing," said our 8/10 review. "If you enjoyed the first game, you’re in for a treat with this one."

4. Tom Clancy’s The Division

While Tom Clancy's The Division takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting, it still somehow brings some holiday cheer. While you're shooting up thugs on the streets, you'll see some stunning holiday scenary in the city of New York, a setting that truly gets into the spirit of Christmas. You'll explore a snowy landscape with Christmas lights strung up on trees. The references to the season are everywhere.

"Manhattan is a joy to walk through, and each mission brings you to a new location that’s either brimming with life, or sapped of it in an equally cool way," said our review. Furthermore, the game's online community is still active, despite its age, and the third-person shooting feels stellar. The progression is satisfying as you team up with friends on blockbuster levels and use gadgets to triumph over your foes.

3. Kingdom Hearts 2

While the game itself is not completely holiday-themed, Kingdom Hearts 2's Christmas Town is certainly a highlight in the JRPG franchise. It has Sora meeting Santa Claus within the universe of The Nightmare Before Christmas alongside Jack Skellington. It's adorable that the hero stopped believing in the mythical figure and is therefore not on the nice list. The scenery looks ripped straight from the movie's "What's This?" segment with its interpretation of the North Pole

It's colorful, has weird angles to its architecture, and there's a thematic carousel that can be spun to attack the heartless. Sora, Donald, and Goofy even get their own Christmas costumes. Donald looks like a snowman while Goofy's a reindeer: cute. It's a wonderful world in Kingdom Hearts 2 that even has a Christmas wrapping mini-game.

2. Batman: Arkham Origins

From the bright artistic stylings of Christmas Town to the dark, depressing Gotham, Batman: Arkham Origins does a stellar job of representing the holidays in its own way. It features the city with some neat decorations sparsed throughout as Batman tries to survive Christmas Eve. The decorations somehow fit the darker artstyle of the Arkham series. It's also cool to see Batman's cape swooping in the air amidst the falling white snow. It's one of the best Christmas games because it really gets the setting right.

As you'd expect from the Arkham games, there's stellar combat that's awesome to pull off as you rack up a combo. You can also expect stellar performances from the likes of Troy Baker (The Last of Us) as The Joker and Roger Craig Smith (Assassin's Creed 2) as Batman.

It might be disappointing that Mark Hamill didn't reprise his role for Arkham Origins, but our review says that "Troy Baker does an impressive turn as the Joker, whose scenes are sometimes pretty damn fun to watch."

1. Spider-Man: Miles Morales

There's nothing more festive than helping out your community in times of need, and Spider-Man: Miles Morales emphasizes that with its side quests. You're stopping thieves from stealing toys and helping the neighborhood of Harlem by saving the local shelter F.E.A.S.T. The game's main narrative also centers around family, friends, and the community Miles is desperate to protect while Peter is away. It's very sweet, but crushing at the same time as the story moves forward.

You get the holiday spirit by exploring the city too as shops and the streets themselves are adorned with Christmas ornaments. At the end of one side quest, Miles' crush Hailey adorably gifts him her scarf to stay warm, and Miles places a beanie on his head to complete the look. This festive style is then unlocked for Miles to wear on his adventures. It's one of the best Christmas games because it truly gives you the vibes of what the holiday is really about.

Our review complimented "the Christmas time period and wintery sparkle of the city," which helped "add to the feeling that this is not a copy-and-paste job" as a "spin-off" sequel.

The Christmas theming is stacked on top of an amazing game as well. The action is fast-paced, the storytelling is effective and dramatic, and New York looks stunning and filled with details in Insomniac's interpretation.

The post 5 best games that take place during Christmas, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

The year was 2006 and Sony's PlayStation 3 was hitting markets around the world, unless you lived in Europe or Australia. The seventh console generation was upon us and Sony was determined to wow critics and fans alike with its Spider-Man-inspired font, Blu-ray drive, and plenty of exclusives that are some of the best PS3 games around.

It was a beloved console with some of the best titles in all of gaming, in my opinion. So we've compiled a ranking of the best you could find on the PlayStation 3.

The Top 20 PS3 games you can play

20. Journey (2012)

Starting off this list is the calming, albeit emotional experience of Journey. Through gorgeous visuals, you're experiencing the life of a Traveler, who tries to reach the top of the mountain in the distance. With tears in my eyes, I traveled through beautiful vistas, met a new friend, and reached the top of the mountain with Austin Wintory's music sweeping me off my feet. This is a game I don't want to spoil too much, but take it from me, it deserved to be nominated for Game of the Year in 2012. It even won accolades from multiple outlets.

"Journey’s interactive, visual, and aural elements work together, rather than fight with each other, in order to provide a flowing, seamless, influential, and utterly exhilarating experience," said our review.

19. inFAMOUS 2 (2011)

inFAMOUS 2 is the best superhero game on the PS3, bar none. As Cole McGrath, you have control over some badass powers such as electricity and napalm, depending on your narrative choices in the game. The unique scenery of New Marais (inspired by New Orleans) adds to the gripping narrative as a new threat called The Beast looms over Cole. Your choices determine what happens in the world drastically, and the characters you befriend are a major part of that. inFAMOUS 2 has blood-pumping action throughout as you zip across the Louisiana city and zap foes in Hollywood-like fashion. Try out this game if you haven't already.

18. Rock Band 2 (2008)

The best music-rhythm experience on the PS3 is easily Rock Band 2. If you still have your plastic instruments lying around, it can make for a great party. Strumming the guitar or banging the drums to the beat is always a blast, especially with the rock tracks selected by developer Harmonix. Rock Band 2 arguably has one of the best song lists in the series with "Everlong" from the Foo Fighters, "American Woman" by The Guess Who, and "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas.

There's something special about getting all your friends together and playing your favorite songs together. It's a part of the PS3's history I'll never forget.

17. Rayman Legends (2013)

We weren't graced with many PS3 platformers, unlike the Wii, but Rayman Legends came to save the day in 2013. Competing with the majesty of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. series, Ubisoft brought immense creativity into Rayman Legends. There are fun rhythmic levels with zany covers of well-known songs, spy-themed stealth levels in a 2D plain, and hours of fun slipping, sliding, and jumping our way through intense levels from Ubisoft Montpellier. The bosses are also charismatic and present unique challenges to the player. Rayman Legends is a no-brainer if you want a great platformer for you or to enjoy with your friends on PS3. It's a hidden gem on the PS3.

16. Ultra Street Fighter IV (2014)

The pinnacle of fighting games is often the Street Fighter series, and the fourth entry is one of the best. Ultra Street Fighter IV is the one to get as it has all the characters and most of the DLC included. Each character is animated well for the PS3 era, and each of the stages are filled with personality. Additionally, learning each character is compelling and when you pull off a neat combo, it does feel rewarding.

"All in all, Ultra Street Fighter IV looks and feels fantastic, and despite the fact that many of its 'new' pieces of content have been seen and used before, it’s still very much an exciting riff on an already-solid fighting game," said our 8/10 review back in 2014.

15. Assassin's Creed II (2009)

Still arguably the peak of Ubisoft's premier series, Assassin's Creed II features excellent stealth gameplay, a charming protagonist by the name of Ezio Auditore, and many standout moments within its storyline. The game replicates the gorgeous Italian scenery in its Renaissance era. The stunning detail of the architecture from that time period is unreal. It was also cool to meet and assist legendary figures of the time like Leonardo di Vinci and Lorenzo de Medici.

Jesper Kyd's "Ezio's Family" is also an epic theme from this game's soundtrack that is still present within modern Assassin's Creed games today. Ubisoft truly captured something special with this entry of the series that it hasn't quite matched its quality since. All this matched with the stellar stealth that Ezio is able to pull off makes Assassin's Creed II a triumph.

14. BioShock Infinite (2013)

BioShock Infinite is a cacophony of chaos in all the best ways. You're drifted up into the world of Columbia, which at first seems like a paradise but turns out to be anything but. The narrative punches you over and over again with dramatic scenes between Elizabeth and Booker, pulling you into the universe of BioShock further and further. The visuals of this floating island city are incredible as it's filled with details. This first-person shooter also has plenty of satisfying magical abilities (Vigors) at your disposal like sending a flock of vicious crows at your enemies or shocking them to death.

"In an industry full of games that seem to struggle with satisfying conclusions — an area BioShock itself famously failed in — Infinite is one of those rare games with a perfect beginning, an engaging middle, and a perfect end," said our 10/10 review.

13. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (2011)

One of the best Japanese RPGs from the PS3 era is Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. It blends the majesty of Studio Ghibli's anime visuals with a fun turn-based combat system from developer Level-5 that brings to mind the Pokemon series. You're collecting creatures, using spells as a young wizard Oliver, and exploring a stunning world with visuals from the studio that brought us Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and Laputa: Castle in the Sky. Additionally, the emotional story about a boy trying to save his mother is truly engrossing and had me gushing into tears, like any good Studio Ghibli movie would. What helps that is the wonderful soundtrack by Joe Hisaishi.

12. Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time (2009)

More than 15 years after its initial release, A Crack in Time is still one of the best Ratchet & Clank games you can play today. The storyline is epic as Clank realizes his hidden role in the universe as Ratchet tries to find his robotic buddy. The Lombax also finds out there's another one of his kind, adding a father figure into the narrative. As you'd expect from any game in the series, Ratchet will get bombastic weapons at his disposal, such as the Spiral of Death, the Groovitron, and the goofy Sonic Eruptor which pulses burps at your foes. The time-oriented puzzle segments with Clank are also quite engaging.

"No surprise, exploring planets and blowing up a wide assortment of curious alien lifeforms is as fulfilling as ever in A Crack in Time," said our review. "The simple act of breaking boxes and collecting bolts hasn’t gotten boring, and is as addictive as it was in 2002 when Insomniac introduced the furry/metal duo to PlayStation 2 gamers."

11. Persona 5 (2016)

This may be a latecomer for the PS3 but Persona 5 is a masterpiece RPG you can get on the system. It has everything you want from a game of this genre. Magnificent visuals, spectacular music, a robust battle system, deep characters, and a thrilling story that keeps you entertained for around 100 hours. You'll be enthralled by the game as you collect Personas for your character, like the Pokemon series, and fuse them together to create stronger creatures for your move list.

Additionally, you have to make sure you schedule your time wisely as you spend time with your favorite characters and upgrade the protagonist Joker's stats by going to the gym, eating a burger, etc. "It still has the rigid backbone of a JRPG, but the organs, skin, and soul are teeming with more personality than most of us could even dream up," said our review for Persona 5.

10. Grand Theft Auto V (2013)

I really wanted to put Grand Theft Auto IV here, but there's no denying the juggernaut that is its sequel. A massive campaign split amongst three leads and a much-awaited online mode that has been running ever since led to Rockstar raking in obscene amounts of cash. Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online have been carrying the series since 2013 and it's easy to see why.

9. Batman: Arkham City (2011)

2011 brought us one of the more classic Batman and Joker storylines with the release of Batman: Arkham City. Rather than be confined to the haunted halls of Arkham Asylum, Batman prowls the cordoned streets of Gotham City which serve as a larger prison for some of the more deranged criminals. Written by the legendary Paul Dini and featuring iconic performances from Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, Arkham City was the sequel the original deserved. It's just a shame that Rocksteady took Two-Face's words to heart.

8. Dark Souls (2011)

It's truly something incredible to see a genre not only be born but also completely dominated by the studio that spawned it. Sure, FromSoftware put out Demon's Souls two years earlier, but it was Dark Souls that really grabbed everyone's attention. Moving fully into the spotlight, masochists could indulge themselves in the comfort of their living room rather than having to book sessions in that neighborhood (you know the one). Dark Souls rebranded FromSoftware as it was no longer known for the Armored Core series. Rather, they were the developer that was going to make you suffer in the best possible way.

7. LittleBigPlanet (2008)

Every so often, the world is gifted with a character that is so undeniably cute, that it transcends borders. LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy was exactly that as it donned various costumes and personalities to then hurtle through player-made levels full of platforming challenges. It was a title that took advantage of more readily available internet and unleashed players' creativity upon one another. It was Super Mario Maker well before Nintendo came to the obvious conclusion itself.

6. Portal 2 (2011)

I'm going to be real with you when I say I cannot overstate how gigantic Portal 2 was to gaming in general. It bent the zeitgeist to its will and even those (like me) who weren't into it at the time, could not avoid it. What's even more peculiar to say, is that it's all well deserved. Portal 2 lived up to expectations in a way that Duke Nukem never could.

Portal 2 puts players back in the bouncy calf boot things of Chell as she must work with GLaDOS against the new AI foe, Wheatley. With brilliant writing, performances by J.K. Simmons, Stephen Merchant, and Ellen McLain, a two-player mode, and even more mechanics, Portal 2 was a mind-blowing experience. There's nothing like banging your head against the wall trying to figure out a puzzle and then immediately feeling like an idiot once you get it.

5. Mass Effect 2 (2011)

Mass Effect was rough around the edges, Mass Effect 3's ending was a massive letdown, and we don't talk about Mass Effect: Andromeda. That leaves us with Mass Effect 2 which just might be my favorite single-player science fiction title of all time. It serves as the undeniable high point of the trilogy, as Shepard plays the good cop pushed too far who must put together a rag-tag crew of equally badass individuals.

Shepard is working for the bad guys, teaming up with the greatest supporting cast of all time, and squashing alien bugs before heading off on an epic suicide mission. Building up my team and watching them come through the other side of the wringer is easily one of my top experiences in any game. I would die for most of the Normandy SR2 crew, except Grunt, Jacob, and Zaeed. They can stay on the ship or get jettisoned into space.

4. God of War III (2010)

God of War II left Kratos and players alike on quite the cliffhanger. Leaving behind the PlayStation 2 for the PlayStation 3, technology had progressed far enough to handle the raw power and fury of Kratos' wrath for the Greek pantheon. The final entry in the eponymous trilogy was a high mark that burned brightly in the ruins of Olympus.

After doing a short stint with Maury Povich and learning that Zeus was his father, Kratos, being the reasonable demi-human that he is, stormed Mount Olympus with an onslaught of Titans to put an end to the meddling gods who had pushed him too far. From Poseidon to Zeus, God of War III pulled out all of the stops with its QTE finishers. Like the tales of old, it cemented Kratos' tale as an epic.

3. Red Dead Redemption (2010)

I'm not much of a fan of the Western genre in general, so when I tell you that Red Dead Redemption consumed me, that should lend some credence to the level of artistry on display here. From the dusty single road of Armadillo to the relative metropolis that is Blackwater, John Marston's journey was a bittersweet one. Rockstar created a world unlike any other and it was freeing to simply ride the countryside or take on the occasional odd job.

Despite the betrayal he suffered at the hands of Edgar Ross, there was no keeping a good man down as John Marston rose from the literal grave in the phenomenal Undead Nightmare DLC. I still haven't forgiven myself for what I did to the Sasquatch.

2. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009)

Not content to rest on its laurels after dunking on Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, Naughty Dog jumped right into the development of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Running on a brand-new engine and boasting additional multiplayer modes (as was the style at the time), Uncharted 2 put players back in the boots of Nathan Drake on another globe-trotting adventure.

The Uncharted series is one of those where you don't need to worry about keeping up, as you would in a live-service title, and delivers a compelling story through action-packed set pieces and fantastic acting. Uncharted 2 was a high point in an already stellar series that had many itching to boot up their PS3 as often as possible.

1. The Last of Us (2013)

I mean, who didn't see this coming? Of course, Naughty Dog was going to nab the top two spots. The Last of Us killed it on practically every front, from gameplay to narrative. It's a bleak and realistic look at an apocalypse. Fellow humans are a tremendous threat and the fresh take on zombies kept it all from feeling like a tired retread of the genre.

Ellie and Joel are anything but 2D as they deal with trauma and hard choices at nearly every step of their journey. It is such a profoundly strong story that sucked players in back in 2013 and then pretty much everyone else in 2023 when the television series was released. Sure, there was plenty of controversy and mixed feelings regarding its sequel, but you can't deny that The Last of Us was the greatest title released on the PlayStation 3.

The post The 20 best PS3 games of all time, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

2025 is filled with many important gaming anniversaries, including the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking Resident Evil 4 and the intense action experience of God of War. Next year will also help us call back to our former love of plastic instruments with the first Guitar Hero rocking its way to homes around the world 20 years ago.

January 2025 anniversaries

January celebrates the anniversaries of one of the first 3D fighting games Battle Arena Toshinden, and a story-focused favorite from the PS3 era, Life is Strange, which has since spawned many sequels. Since its launch in January 2015 ten years ago, the Dying Light series has sold over 30 million copies. The first Dying Light received a 7/10 review score from Destructoid a decade ago. Resident Evil 4 also revolutionized the third-person shooter genre.

• Battle Arena Toshinden (PS1) - January 1, 1995 (30th)
• The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (GBA) - January 10, 2005 (20th)
• Mercenaries (PS2, Xbox) - January 11, 2005 (20th)
• Resident Evil 4 (GameCube) - January 11, 2005 (20th)
• Mario Party 2 (N64) - January 24, 2000 (25th)
• Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath (Xbox) - January 25, 2005 (20th)
• Dying Light (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - January 27, 2015 (10th)
• Radiata Stories (PS2) - January 27, 2005 (20th)
• Life is Strange (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC) - January 30th, 2015 (10th)

February 2025 anniversaries

February 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of one of the most important PC games ever, The Sims. It revolutionized the simulation genre with its compelling gameplay that revolves around growing up, getting a job, and making a family. You also have the technically impressive The Order: 1886, which came out 10 years ago and still looks incredible today.

• The Sims (PC) - February 4, 2000 (25th)
• Ice Climber (Arcade) - February 4, 1985 (40th)
• Evolve (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - February 10, 2015 (10th)
• Vagrant Story (PS1) - February 10, 2000 (25th)
• Star Fox Assault (GameCube) - February 14, 2005 (20th)
• WarioWare: Touched! (DS) - February 14, 2005 (20th)
• Star Wars: Dark Forces (DOS) - February 15, 1995 (30th)
• Ristar (Mega Drive/Genesis) - February 16, 1995 (30th)
• Kirby and the Rainbow Curse (Wii U) - February 20, 2015 (10th)
• The Order: 1886 (PS4) - February 20, 2015 (10th)
• Dragon Ball: Xenoverse (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One) - February 20, 2015 (10th)
• FIFA Street (PS2, Xbox, GameCube) - February 22, 2005 (20th)
• Gran Turismo 4 (PS2) - February 22, 2005 (20th)
• Resident Evil Revelations 2 - Episode 1 (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC) - February 24, 2015 (10th)
• Tekken 5 (PS2 version) - February 24, 2005 (20th)

March 2025 anniversaries

In March 2025, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening and God of War, two stellar character action games from the PS2 era. FromSoftware fans will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bloodborne, hoping for a modern remaster for the Soulsborne game.

• Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening (PS2) - March 1, 2005 (20th)
• Helldivers (PS3, PS4, Vita) - March 3, 2015 (10th)
• Panzer Dragoon (Saturn) - March 10, 1995 (30th)
• Chrono Trigger (SNES) - March 10, 1995 (30th)
• Ori and the Blind Forest (Xbox One, PC) - March 11, 2015 (10th)
• Mario Party 10 (Wii U) - March 20, 2015 (10th)
• Wario Land 3 (GB) - March 21, 2000 (25th)
• God of War (PS2) - March 22, 2005 (20th)
• Lumines (PSP) - March 22, 2005 (20th)
• Bloodborne (PS4) - March 24, 2015 (10th)
• Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (N64) - March 24, 2000 (25th)
• Mega Man 7 (SNES) - March 24, 1995 (30th)
• Pillars of Eternity (PC) - March 26, 2015 (10th)
• Excitebike (Arcades) - March 1985 (40th)

April 2025 anniversaries

This month, the famous Lego series of video games from Traveller's Tales began with the Star Wars franchise. Additionally, the critically acclaimed studio Double Fine Productions broke into the scene with their mind-themed 3D platformer Psychonauts. The Legend of Zelda also had its arguably most creepy entry with Majora's Mask on the Nintendo 64.

• Lego Star Wars: The Video Game (PS2, Xbox, GBA, PC) - April 5, 2005 (20th)
• I Am Bread (PC) - April 9, 2015 (10th)
• Jade Empire (Xbox) - April 12, 2005 (20th)
• Mortal Kombat X (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - April 14, 2015 (10th)
• Titan Souls (PS4, Vita, PC) - April 14, 2015 (10th)
• Mortal Kombat 3 (Arcade) - April 15, 1995 (30th)
• Psychonauts (Xbox, PS2, PC) - April 19, 2005 (20th)
• Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (GameCube) - April 20, 2005 (20th)
• Mega Man Legends 2 (PS1) - April 20, 2000 (25th)
• Crypt of the Necrodancer (PC) - April 23, 2015 (10th)
• Guild Wars (PC) - April 26, 2005 (20th)
• Jumping Flash! (PS1) - April 27, 1995 (30th)
• Kerbal Space Program (PC) - April 27, 2015 (10th)
• The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64) - April 27, 2000 (25th)
• Wild Arms 2 (PS1) - April 30, 2000 (25th)

May 2025 anniversaries

There aren't as many releases during the summer season, and unfortunately, this is true in May. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt made a huge splash when it released in 2015, however, with its huge open world and expansive storyline. It has since sold over 50 million copies. Splatoon also made a splash with its ink-based take on the third-person shooter genre.

• Forza Motorsport (Xbox) - May 3, 2005 (20th)
• Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - May 5, 2015 (10th)
• Project Cars (PC) - May 6, 2015 (10th) / May 12 (10th for PS4, Xbox One versions)
• Donkey Konga 2: Hit Song Parade! (GameCube) - May 9, 2005
• Invisible, Inc (PC) - May 12, 2015 (10th)
• The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - May 19, 2015 (10th)
• Perfect Dark (N64) - May 22, 2000 (25th)
• WarioWare: Twisted! (GBA) - May 23, 2005 (20th)
• Daikatana (PC) - May 23, 2000 (25th)
• Catlateral Damage (PC) - May 27, 2015 (10th)
• Splatoon (Wii U) - May 29, 2015 (10th)

June 2025 gaming anniversaries

June 2025 celebrates the anniversary of some treasure cult classics. The Legend of Dragoon is a beloved JRPG PS1 classic that will have its North American 25th anniversary. Additionally, Rocksteady's last great game Batman: Arkham Knight finished the studio's great trilogy 10 years ago. Her Story received a 10/10 review from Destructoid back in 2015 as well, marking it as one of the best games of that year.

• Massive Chalice (Xbox One, PC) - June 1, 2015 (10th)
• Digimon World 4 (PS2, GameCube, Xbox) - June 2, 2005 (20th)
• Heroes of the Storm (PC) - June 2, 2015 (10th)
• Space Channel 5 (Dreamcast) - June 4, 2000 (25th)
• Street Fighter Alpha (Arcade) - June 5, 1995 (30th)
• Lego Jurassic World (PS3, PS4, Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, 3DS, PC) - June 12, 2015 (10th)
• Juiced (PS2, Xbox) - June 13, 2005 (20th)
• The Legend of Dragoon (PS1) - June 13, 2000 (25th) - North American release date
• Fallout Shelter (iOS) - June 14, 2015 (10th)
• Battlefield 2 (PC) - June 21, 2005 (20th)
• Destroy All Humans! (PS2, Xbox) - June 21, 2005 (20th)
• Batman: Arkham Knight (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - June 23, 2015 (10th)
• Deus Ex (PC) - June 23, 2000 (25th)
• Her Story (PC, iOS) - June 24, 2015 (10th)
• Diablo II (PC) - June 29, 2000 (25th)
• Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (PS1) - June 29, 2000 (25th)
• Jet Set Radio (Dreamcast) - June 29, 2000 (25th)

July 2025 gaming anniversaries

There aren't that many games to celebrate in July. Rocket League released in July 2015 and immediately had success, partially thanks to its inclusion on PlayStation Plus as a free title on launch. Final Fantasy IX is the last PS1 entry to launch on the system and impressed many with its more fantasy-based setting. Facade also released with a creepy premise of characters reacting to what you text.

• Facade (PC) - July 5, 2005 (20th)
• Final Fantasy IX (PS1) - July 7, 2000 (25th)
• killer7 (PS2, GameCube) - July 7, 2005 (20th)
• Rocket League (PC, PS4) - July 7, 2015 (10th)
• The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (PS4) - July 15, 2015 (10th)
• Castlevania: Dracula X (SNES) - July 21, 1995 (30th)
• Mario Superstar Baseball (GameCube) - July 21, 2005 (20th)
• MechWarrior 2 (DOS) - July 24, 1995 (30th)

August 2025 anniversaries

August 2025 lets us look back at the 20th anniversary of the adorable Nintendogs, which released with the Nintendo DS. Until Dawn also launched 10 years ago and has become one of PlayStation's best horror franchises. You can play a recently released remaster to celebrate Until Dawn's 10th anniversary.

• Comix Zone (Sega Megadrive/Genesis) - August 2, 1995 (30th)
• Grandia II (Dreamcast) - August 3, 2000 (25th)
• Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES) - August 5, 1995 (30th)
• Rare Replay (Xbox One) - August 7, 2015 (10th)
• Everybody's Gone to the Rapture (PS4) - August 11, 2015 (10th)
• Geist (GameCube) - August 15, 2005 (20th)
• Volume (PS4, Vita, PC) - August 18, 2015 (10th)
• Nintendogs (DS) - August 22, 2005 (20th)
• The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (PS2, GameCube, Xbox) - August 23, 2005 (20th)
• Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow (DS) - August 25, 2005 (20th)
• Evoland 2 (PC) - August 25, 2015 (10th)
• Until Dawn (PS4) - August 25, 2015 (10th)
• Dragon Quest VII (PS1) - August 26, 2000 (25th)
• Disney Infinity 3.0 (PS3, PS5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, PC, iOS, Android) - August 30, 2015 (10th)

September 2025 anniversaries

September 2025 is a huge month for video game history. The first Rayman game launched 30 years ago, and the Super Mario Bros. series from Nintendo had its debut 40 years ago. Additionally, the indie hit Undertale made a huge impact on the gaming community 10 years ago.

• Mad Max (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - September 1, 2015 (10th)
• Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC) - September 1, 2015 (10th)
• Rayman (PS1, Saturn, Jaguar) - September 9, 1995 (30th)
• Super Mario Maker (Wii U) - September 11, 2015 (10th)
• Burnout Revenge (PS2, Xbox) - September 13, 2005 (20th)
• Super Mario Bros. (NES) - September 13, 1985 (40th)
• Undertale (PC) - September 15, 2015 (10th)
• Battalion Wars (GameCube) - September 19, 2005 (20th)
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (PS1, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color) September 19, 2000 (25th)
• Fahrenheit: Indigo Prophecy (PC, PS2, Xbox) - September 20, 2005 (20th)
• Legend of Kay (PS2) - September 20, 2005 (20th)
• Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (PS2, Xbox, GameCube, DS, PSP) - September 20, 2005 (20th)
• Ninja Gaiden Black (Xbox) - September 20, 2005 (20th)
• Skylanders: SuperChargers (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, Wii U, 3DS, iOS) - September 20, 2015 (10th)
• We Love Katamari (PS2) - September 20, 2005 (20th)
• X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (PS2, GameCube, Xbox, PC) - September 20, 2005 (20th)
• Ultimate Spider-Man (PS2, GameCube, Xbox, PC, DS, GBA) - September 22, 2005 (20th)
• Command & Conquer (DOS) - September 26, 1995 (30th)
• Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves (PS2) - September 26, 2005 (20th)
• Lego Dimensions (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U) - September 27, 2015 (10th)
• Persona 4: Dancing All Night (Vita) - September 29, 2015 (10th)
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 (PS4, Xbox One) - September 29, 2015 (10th)

October 2025 gives us Pheonix Wright anniversary and more

October 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of Halo 5, the return of Rock Band 4 10 years ago, and the debut of one of Capcom's famous franchises Pheonix Wright: Ace Attorney 20 years ago. Shadow of the Colossus is also a magnum opus of art and gameplay design.

• The Beginner's Guide (PC) - October 1, 2015 (10th)
• Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness (GameCube) - October 3, 2005 (20th)
• Skies of Arcadia (Dreamcast) - October 5, 2000 (25th)
• 2064: Read Only Memories (PC) - October 6, 2015 (10th)
• Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance (PS4) - October 6, 2015 (10th)
• Rock Band 4 (PS4, Xbox One) - October 6, 2015 (10th)
• Black & White 2 (PC) - October 7, 2005 (20th)
• The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge (PS2, Xbox) - October 10, 2005 (20th)
• SOCOM 3 (PS2) - October 11, 2005 (20th)
• SSX on Tour (PS2, GameCube, Xbox) - October 11, 2005 (20th)
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney (DS) - October 12, 2005 (20th)
• Minecraft: Story Mode (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC) - October 13, 2015 (10th)
• Downwell (PC, iOS, Android) - October 15, 2015 (10th)
• Broforce (PC) - October 15, 2015 (10th)
• Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U) - October 15, 2015 (10th)
• Gyromite (NES) - October 18, 1985 (40th)
• Quake 4 (PC) - October 18, 2005 (20th)
• Jak X: Combat Racing (PS2) - October 18, 2005 (20th)
• Shadow of the Colossus (PS2) - October 18, 2005 (20th)
• Guitar Hero Live (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U) - October 20, 2015 (10th)
• Tales of Zestiria (PS3, PS4, PC) - October 20, 2015 (10th)
• Assassin's Creed Syndicate (PS4, Xbox One) - October 23, 2015 (10th)
• TimeSplitters (PS2) - October 23, 2000 (25th)
• Call of Duty 2 (PC) - October 25, 2005 (20th)
• Civilization IV (PC) - October 25, 2005 (20th)
• Ratchet: Deadlocked (PS2) - October 25, 2005 (20th)
• Shrek SuperSlam (PS2, GameCube, Xbox, PC, DS, GBA) - October 25, 2005 (20th)
• Soul Calibur III (PS2) - October 25, 2005 (20th)
• Spyro: Year of the Dragon (PS1) - October 25, 2000 (25th)
• SSX (PS2) - October 26, 2000 (25th)
• Tekken Tag Tournament (PS2) - October 26, 2000 (25th)
• Halo 5: Guardians (Xbox One) - October 27, 2015 (10th)

November 2025 gaming anniversaries

November is another groundbreaking month for games. Some of the highlights for the anniversaries this year include the ahead-of-its-time Shenmue for Dreamcast, Fallout 4 with its 10th anniversary, and Counter-Strike on PC, which changed the FPS genre forever 25 years ago.

• Counter-Strike (PC) - November 1, 2000 (25th)
• Star Wars Battlefront 2 (PS2, Xbox, PC, PSP) - November 1, 2005 (20th)
• Twisted Metal (PS1) - November 5, 1995 (30th)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC) - November 6, 2015 (10th)
• Crash Bash (PS1) - November 6, 2000 (25th)
• Fallout 4 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - November 6, 2015 (10th)
• Shenmue (Dreamcast) - November 6, 2000 (25th)
• Guitar Hero (PS2) - November 8, 2005 (20th)
• Gun (PS2, GameCube, Xbox, PC) - November 8, 2005 (20th)
• The Movies (PC) - November 8, 2005 (20th)
• Rise of the Tomb Raider (Xbox 360, Xbox One) - November 10, 2015 (10th)
• Romancing SaGa 3 (SNES) - November 11, 1995 (30th)
• Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival (Wii U) - November 13, 2015 (10th)
• Mario Kart DS - November 14, 2005 (20th)
• Shadow the Hedgehog (PS2, GameCube, Xbox) - November 15, 2005 (20th)
• Sonic Rush (DS) - November 15, 2005 (20th)
• Tomb Raider: Chronicles (Dreamcast, PS1, PC) - November 17, 2000 for PS1, then other platforms (25th)
• Condemned: Criminal Origins (Xbox 360) - November 15, 2005 (20th)
• Perfect Dark Zero (Xbox 360) - November 17, 2005 (20th)
• Star Wars: Battlefront from EA (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - November 17, 2015 (10th)
• Banjo-Tooie (N64) - November 20, 2000 (25th)
• Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy Kong's Quest (SNES) - November 20, 1995 (30th)
• Kameo: Elements of Power (Xbox 360) - November 22, 2005 (20th)
• Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time (DS) - November 28, 2005 (20th)

December 2025 anniversaries

The last month of the year surprisingly has a lot to celebrate, despite this being a moment that usually quietens down the releases. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is still growing strong with an intense online community, and Kingdom Hearts 2 is one of the most beloved RPGs from Japan ever made with exciting combat and a thoroughly entertaining story that mixes Square Enix and Disney characters together.

• Just Cause 3 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - December 1, 2015 (10th)
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - December 1, 2015 (10th)
• Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U) - December 4, 2015 (10th)
• Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS) - December 5, 2005 (20th)
• Super Mario Strikers (GameCube) - December 5, 2005 (20th)
• American McGee's Alice (PC) - December 5, 2000 (25th)
• Yakuza (PS2) - December 8, 2005 (20th)
• Dragon Quest VI (Super Famicom) - December 9, 1995 (30th)
• Dark Cloud (PS2) - December 14, 2005 (25th)
• Tales of Phantasia (Super Famicom) - December 15, 1995 (30th)
• Suikoden (PS1) - December 15, 1995 (30th)
• Final Fight 3 (SNES) - December 22, 1995 (30th)
• Kingdom Hearts 2 (PS2) - December 22, 2005 (20th)
• Time Crisis (Arcade) - December 1995 (30th)

The post All major 2025 gaming anniversaries appeared first on Destructoid.

The best Switch multiplayer games excel at bringing friends and family from all gaming backgrounds together. Whether you're competing for glory in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or making jokes in any given Jackbox Party Pack, there are a lot of Switch multiplayer games to play. Here are the best Switch multiplayer games on the Switch: just keep in mind a few of them require a Switch Online subscription!

20. Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival simulates the famous Japanese drum instrument and lets you go bananas with the Joycon or a specific taiko controller (if you have the money for it). You're drumming with the left and right Joycon to the beat, in a frantic manner, to familiar songs like Undertale's "Megalovania," Frozen 2's "Into the Unknown," and even the Super Mario Bros. theme. You can expect some classical music and J-pop in the mix as well. If you've played the Donkey Konga series from the GameCube, it's somewhat similar.

19. Just Dance 2025

This is arguably the most accessible party game for anyone on the Nintendo Switch. All you have to do is pick up a controller (you can even use your mobile phone) and dance like the coaches on screen. While the songlist isn't as varied as it could be, Just Dance 2025 has a selection of fun songs to dance to, including Lady Gaga's "Pokerface," Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso," and Madonna's "Vogue." Most of the choreography is easy to understand and follow, giving plenty of thrills for the whole family. The visuals of each dance set pop on screen, and Ubisoft ups the ante in this retrospect.

18. Golf with Your Friends

Golf with Your Friends is like mini-golf but elevated in the video game space. The courses have wild elements to them, such as flowing rivers, explosive bombs, and factory machinery that get in the way of your hole-in-one. You can also bounce the balls, leading the way to creative shots towards the end post. There are many different courses to choose from, and they're each very fun with friends online around the world or on the couch. I can't count the number of times I've laughed while playing Golf with Your Friends. The game has a Very Positive score from over 43,000 players on PC platform Steam.

17. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

As a spiritual successor to the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles beat-em-ups of the 90s, Shredder's Revenge is totally radical. This game is so much fun with friends as you take down enemies together in classic arcade-style action. You can have six people on the screen at once, and it supports online multiplayer if you don't have your friends on the couch. The retro pixel-style graphics are gorgeous on-screen, and TMNT fans can see all manner of references to the universe in-game. This game is an absolute delight, especially if you like beat-em-ups like Turtles in Time and The Simpsons Arcade back in the day.

"TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge delivers exactly what one expects," said our review. "It’s a great-looking, great-sounding, and great-playing love letter to one of the most beloved franchises of all time."

16. Fall Guys

Fall Guys is a fun party game battle royale that has you running as silly bean guys running through obstacles. As each round passes, you're trying to be one of the last players to progress to the last mini-game and race to win the crown. Most of the mini-games that developer Mediatonic has made are genius and push your platforming, reflexes, and puzzle skills to the test. It's immensely fun with friends as you try to outdo each other in this silly battle royale. It used to be a paid experience, but Fall Guys is now a free-to-play game.

15. Tetris 99

Tetris 99 is the perfect marriage between the puzzle genre and the popular battle royale format. You're trying to be the last to survive against players who stack blocks on your screen as they impact your gameplay. It gets exciting as the gameplay speeds up and more players get eliminated. It's super intense when you're in the last five players in the pool. If you succeed in the game, you can get different themes with the in-game currency. There have been themes based on the Pokémon series, Xenoblade Chronicles, and more. You can check out Tetris 99 for free with any Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

14. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is one of the best 2D platformers of the last decade. It has wonderfully creative levels across the jungle and frozen environments that Donkey Kong and crew have to deal with. It also has fun segments with mine carts on a dangerous track! There's also something really entertaining about being shot from a barrel cannon at high speeds. The platforming feels solid, as you'd expect from a Nintendo game, and the environments are brimming with color and detail.

"It’s an incredibly crafted platformer with an HD sheen and an insane attention to detail, and any fan of the genre owes it to themselves to experience it," said our 10/10 review.

13. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

It's super satisfying to show your accomplished settlement in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You can show off the designs of your village, the lovely villagers you have, and how immaculately themed each room is. It's also a relaxing way to hang out with friends as you clean up the island and fish with them. Some have even been married in the game during the COVID pandemic. This is a game that came just at the right time as it cooled down many gamers in a stressful situation. However, it's still fun to this day.

12. Rocket League

Football + cars is a simple concept, but it works incredibly well. Now available as a free-to-play title, you can use fast cars to shoot balls or stop a shot from getting in the net. There are also a ton of adjustments you can make to the car, like the patterns, flag, body shape, and paint of your vehicle, to make it stand out among the crowd. There are micro-transaction elements to be aware of, but you don't need to spend a penny to enjoy the intense sports action of Rocket League. 

11. Minecraft

There's a reason why Minecraft is so popular, despite the fact that many popular content creators are still making videos about it more than a decade later. Building a home or even a grand statue with your pals is a wonderful premise. You can also adventure through caves, get precious resources, and then escape the various scary enemies who stand in your path. The Creeper will get you eventually. It's also a relaxing game to partake with a calming soundtrack and strangely blocky yet gorgeous views of the world around you.

10. Runbow

Runbow is a hidden gem to the nth degree.

This party-platforming hybrid has you trying to survive quick platforming levels that constantly fluctuate. Nine players compete to be the first one to the flag at the end, and the wild, colorful visuals truly pull you into the game. In fact, the platforms camouflage and blend with the constantly switching colors and disappear, adding an extra amount of challenge. While playing Runbow at an Extra Life event, I was shocked to pass through a tough section, getting so much fun from the chaotic nature of the game. This is a surprisingly entertaining Switch multiplayer game that you should pick up.

9. Nintendo Switch Sports

Nintendo Switch Sports does what it says on the tin. Like Wii Sports, you get a bunch of entertaining physical recreation activities to play. The Joy-Con does a great job of replicating the Wii remote, but unlike Wii Sports, this game supports online play, adding more replayability. You can compete to be the very best and unlock new costumes for your characters along the way.

You can play badminton, golf, soccer (football), volleyball, and bowling, and one of my personal favourites is Chambara. Read our review of the game if you aren't sold yet!

8. Ultimate Chicken Horse

I've never laughed so hard at a game beyond Ultimate Chicken Horse. The goal is simple: You need to head to the exit of the level. However, with each passing turn, you place obstacles in the way.

The action gets chaotic as rotating spikes are stuck to honey, and pucks fly towards you at lightning speed. The fun revolves around the idea of making the level as difficult as possible for your rivals, but at the same time, easy enough to finish the stage. It can get so intense that your jaw drops.

7. Splatoon 3

One of the best Switch multiplayer games is Splatoon 3. The goal is to cover each area with as much ink as possible. If your team expands its ink more than the other, you win. That's it! Kinda.

You're using all manner of different weapons like a bow and arrow, a paint roller, and even katanas to win. The clothes you unlock throughout the game give you different abilities as well. The concept is simple, but Nintendo's maps and unique take on a third-person shooter with ink-splitting make Splatoon 3 stand out. The co-op-focused Salmon Run is engrossing as well. "You jump into a match, ink some turf, kill some enemies, see who wins in dramatic fashion (sigh or cheer), and repeat," said Chris Carter in his Destructoid review. "It’s a loop that works even better than before because of all the aforementioned wrinkles in the formula, with some gameplay smoothing as well."

6. Jackbox Party Packs

The Jackbox Party Packs are perfect for friends and family. The games are relatively easy to understand, and the only controller you need is your phone (or another device that has internet and browser access). You'll be surviving in Trivia Murder Party by answering out-of-the-box questions, trying to come up with the funniest one-liners in Quiplash, and even trying to get the most dates amongst yourselves in Monster Seeking Monster. 

Jackbox Games has so much creativity within its game design, and its Party Packs will help create memorable experiences for everyone in your immediate vicinity.

5. Mario Party Superstars

While the Jackbox Party Packs can create memorable experiences, Mario Party Superstars might be infamous for your friendships. The board game-like title has you competing to get the most stars. You're exploring the board, finishing entertaining mini-games for coins, and then, by the end of the game, you'll be ranked by the number of stars and coins you own.

It gets really competitive, too, as you can steal coins and stars from other players. If you've played a Mario Party game before, you may recognize some of the boards Mario, Luigi, and the like play on. Memorable mini-games also return to the classic series like Mushroom Mix-Up and Bumper Balls.

4. Fortnite

This may get a lot of flak, but Fortnite is an absolute blast. This battle royale has impeccable controls, a stunning Unreal Engine 5-powered world, and extremely cool weapons that are added each season. It's constantly being updated, adding new, surprising gameplay elements. Teaming up with friends, completing missions, and then winning the match is so much fun within Fortnite. The game is far more accessible now for those who don't want to build; there's a zero-build option that is solely focused on shooting and world exploration.

It's also wild to see Kratos, Master Chief, Goku, and Spider-Man all at the same party. With Fortnite, anything can happen. You don't want to miss out.

3. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Excellent game design? Check. Fun four-player multiplayer? Check. Gorgeous visuals? Check. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is the full package. This previous Wii U exclusive excels on Switch with the addition of faster movement speed and the addition of online play. The music is also stellar from the start, especially for the introductory world of Super Bell Hill. I still listen to the covers of that track regularly!

The cat forms in 3D World also let you crawl up walls, adding momentum to the already stellar Mario platforming format. It's one of the best multiplayer Switch games you can play on the hybrid system.

2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is an incredible achievement. The character list is huge with heroes and villains from all over gaming history. Third-party characters like Final Fantasy's Cloud, Metal Gear Solid's Snake, and Castlevania's Simon Belmont fight against the likes of Mario, Link, and Fox in epic battles.

Tallying up your opponent's health meter to high percentages with your arsenal of attacks and then launching them into the stratosphere is super fulfilling. There's a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competitive scene for a reason, as many love the simple but deep combat of the game.

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The best Switch multiplayer game is undoubtedly Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The tracks are absolutely stunning with plenty of detail and gorgeous artistic visuals. Driving in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe feels perfect as you drift around corners and get a successful boost.

Additionally, the music keeps up the exciting tone, and a big orchestra performs the score. This is a game you can set up in a living room, and four people will quickly grab a controller and play. It's simplicity at its best. Hopefully, you can avoid that annoying blue shell!

The post Top 20 best multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Magma in Disney Dreamlight Valley is a resource that's needed for quests and to make some cool items in the game, like the Madrigal Family Door. It can be found only in the DLC called The Storybook Vale.

Magma location in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Magma is a resource dropped in the new land of Mythopia within the Storybook Vale realm. It's the Grecian-inspired area reigned by the God Hades, who is separated from the Mistress of All Evil Maleficent.

Go to any location in Mythopia and mine the rocks from there. There is a chance to get Magma or even Shiny Magma from these rocks. Bring along a buddy who has the Mining specialty attached to them. You're more likely to get Magma from each rock while mining it, but it also increases their friendship level, opening up new quests and items for you. It's a win-win.

What can you make with Magma?

You'll need Magma for four different Hades quests, including 20 for the Fine, I'll Do It Myself friendship quest with the Lord of the Dead. However, there are also some items you can craft with Magma. The Madrigal Family Door, for instance, is unlocked after finishing the Re-order puzzle. The recipe asks for the following:

• 2 Magma
• 5 Gold Ingots
• 5 Gravel
• 5 Lightning Spice
• 500 Storybook Magic

Gold Ingots can be crafted by merging Gold Nuggets and Coal Ore together, or you can buy them at Kristoff's Stall. Gravel can be picked up by shoveling dirt in Mythopia (I had more luck in The Elysian Fields), and Lightning Spice is a herb that can be picked up in Mythopia, too. The last ingredient is hard to miss because it's bright yellow.

The post How to get Magma in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Pure Ice in Disney Dreamlight Valley is a wintry resource that can be gathered to craft items like the Fountain of Thebes and finish quests. This is only available in The Storybook Vale expansion.

Where to find Pure Ice in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Have your pickaxe ready in Disney Dreamlight Valley? Good. Head over to Everafter and hit the rocks in this new area to get Pure Ice. Everafter is the area inspired by Sleeping Beauty, which is being run by the Mistress of All Evil Maleficent. Magma is gathered in Mythopia, Hades' domain. You can also find Volcanic Rock in this area within the Disney Dreamlight Valley DLC.

It has a lower chance of appearing, but you'll eventually find Pure Ice. Make sure you're with a pal in Disney Dreamlight Valley who is proficient at mining. This gives you a chance of getting even more Pure Ice, while increasing their friendship level. Pure Ice's opposite Magma can also be retrieved by mining rocks in Mythopia.

What is this resource used for?

Pure Ice is used for multiple quests in The Storybook Vale DLC. It's also an ingredient within crafting recipes like The Stained Glass Window to Imagination.

You'll need the following to make The Stained Glass Window to Imagination:

• 2 Pure Ice
• 20 Broken Weapons
• 5 Dusty Violet Roses
• 5 Fuchsia Eternal Poppies

You can also make a neat Agrabah Chair by crafting the item with the following ingredients from The Storybook Vale:

• 1 Sorcerer Hat Hermit Crab
• 5 Iron Ingots
• 500 Story Magic

The post How to get Pure Ice in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Infinity Nikki is blessing the world with its stunning visuals and fabulous outfits, and it's available as a free-to-play experience. Many are wondering, however, if there are any Infinity Nikki gacha elements to worry about.

Are there Infinity Nikki gacha elements?

Infinity Nikki has you collect costumes for special abilities and gorgeous new outfits to wear in the game. While some can be received by simply progressing in the game, other outfits are exclusively gacha.

How does the gacha system work?

It works very similarly to Genshin Impact. You can get four- and five-star outfits from the Resonance (like Wish) system. With every 10 Revelation or Resonite Crystals, you'll get a guaranteed 4-star or higher piece of an outfit. You'll need to gain Stellarites or Diamonds to get these Crystals.

Diamonds act similarly to Primogems if you've played Genshin Impact. You'll gain them from completing quests and finishing in-game activities. These diamonds can be used to get the Revelation and Resonite Crystals. You'll need 120 of them to gain one, so 1,200 Diamonds are required to gain a 10-pull.

If you want to skip the Diamond grinding, you can pay for Stellarites, another currency that can be used to gain Crystals. They cost the following in real money:

With the first top-up, you'll get a double bonus. For example, if you spend $0.99 on 60 Stellarites, you'll get a bonus 60 Stellarites for 120 in total.

Certain costumes can be purchased outright. If you head to the bottom tab of the Store, you can access four different outfits, such as the Scalry Dream dress. They each vary in press and might be on sale.

The post Is Infinity Nikki a gacha game? appeared first on Destructoid.

A Lobster Roll in Disney Dreamlight Valley is a wonderful five-star dish you can make for your Disney pals like Elsa and Jack Skellington if they request it. It will need five different ingredients.

All Lobster Roll Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

To create this delicious dish, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Lobster
• Garlic
• Wheat
• Butter
• Lemon

Lobsters can be caught from the Glade of Trust within golden ripples in the water. Keep fishing out of other ripples if you can't find any that are golden, as they'll keep refreshing into new colors. Also, take a companion who has a fishing specialty so you can increase their friendship level and gain a chance to get more lobsters with each catch.

Garlic is a bit easier to find. It can be picked up within the Forest of Valor. Look at the ground, and you'll see green leaves flowing from the soil. Grab them, and you'll get Garlic.

Wheat is bought from Goofy's Stall at the Peaceful Meadow. The seeds can be bought for 1 Star Coin and grow within a minute of being planted and watered.

Lemons are found from trees in the Forest of Valor and Glade of Trust. Go up to any of these trees and pluck the fruit for your gastronomic needs.

Lastly, Butter is purchased from Chez Remy, the rat's restaurant, for 190 Star Coins. You'll need to finish the Ratatouille realm in the main castle to unlock the restaurant and the ingredients that await in it.

Once you have all the ingredients, head to a cooking station within your house or Chez Remy. Throw all the ingredients in the pot, and you'll soon have a Lobster Roll ready to eat. It counts as a 5-star meal, so this should help towards your Dreamlight goals. You can sell the Lobster Roll for 1,959 Star Coins or eat it for 4,928 Energy.

If you want to expand your culinary repertoire, try to make a Ratatouille. You'll never know when the restaurant critic will appear.

The post How to make Lobster Roll in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

The Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcane Garlic Crab recipe helps you create a four-star dish to wow your pals like Remy and Elsa. Thankfully, most of the ingredients are easy to find.

All Arcane Garlic Crab Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

Arcane Garlic Crab is made with four different ingredients. Two of them require The Storybook Vale DLC.

• Sorcerer Hat Hermit Crab
• Salt Crystal
• Garlic
• Any Spice

You'll find the Sorcerer Hat Hermit Crab by fishing at The Bind. Head to the water and try to find a golden ripple within the waves. Get your fishing rod and catch this Sorcerer Hat Hermit Crab from within it. There's a possibility of getting an extra Sorcerer Hat Hermit Crab if you hang out with a buddy who has a fishing specialty.

Salt Crystals are found within the waters of Everafter. Fish in a spot other than a ripple to gain Salt Crystals for the recipe.

Garlic is an easy ingredient to find in Disney Dreamlight Valley. Head to the Forest of Valor, and you'll see the crop growing within the grass. You can pick up the cooking ingredient from the soil. It has green leaves flowing from the ground.

Lastly, you can pick any spice for the Arcane Garlic Crab. One of Storybook Vale's spices is Black Pepper, which can be bought from Goofy's Stall in The Elysian Fields from Mythopia. You can buy its seeds from Goofy for 70 Star Coins. It takes an hour and a half to grow.

After getting all of the ingredients, go to a cooking station in your house or Chez Remy. Once made, you can sell the Arcane Garlic Crab for 1,429 Star Coins or eat it for 3,265 Energy.

The post How to make Arcane Garlic Crab in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.