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Infinity Nikki 2.4 Arrives With a New Mysterious StorylineInfold Games has officially released the version 2.4 update for Infinity Nikki, titled The Forest Need Not Listen. The post Infinity Nikki 2.4 Arrives With a New Mysterious Storyline appeared first on COGconnected .

Mar 29

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope Expansion Launches This Summer, Adds “Huge New Storyline”In development even before the base game, Cost of Hope also includes the Iron Forest and Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant as new regions.

Mar 26

Krile Is a Surprise Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Standout So by now, I’m sure you’ve seen quite a few Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy previews, impressions, and maybe even reviews from closed beta impressions and people getting a chance to test it out. It’s a different sort of direction for the series. Especially after the (excellent) Opera Omnia and its story-heavy, turn-based battle approach. I got to spend a few hours going hands-on with the game, and I did enjoy that time more than I expected due to some rather optimal conditions. But I think the main reason I had a good time is because Krile from FFV might end up being a surprise standout character in Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy . Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy is a team-based game where folks go into 3v3 and attempt to be the team to take down a boss instead of the other team, while also purifying crystals by defeating smaller foes and minibosses. Taking down enemies (minions or opposing players) and restoring crystals builds up your Bravery for a Burst attack. Which is necessary, as you can’t actually deal damage to a boss unless you unleash that Burst. Aside from the default normal attack that happens when within range of an opponent and can be sped up by tapping the screen, equip five main Abilities and five passive ones to your character’s deck to use. (Cooldowns take effect after selecting one.) Abilities are picked up via gacha draws. After starting, you select Warrior of Light ( FFI ) Terra ( FFVI ), Cloud ( FFVII ), or Lightning ( FFXIII ) as your first character, and you can use single Character Tickets for a random gacha draw to get a new character/costume or wait until you get five to purposely pick one of the characters you haven’t unlocked yet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvlGrsq3qyw Which brings me to how I started using Krile during my preview session. I chose Terra during the tutorial process and figured I’d go with a Ranged role approach for this period. However, once I started to do a few pulls on the Ability banners, I ended up getting three out of Krile’s four exclusive Abilities, with one being the UR Legend of the Deep Forest healing ability. Basically, RNG decided my main for the session for me. And it’s a good thing it did, because it highlighted how critical the Support role, and thus Krile, might be in Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy. See, at launch there are only two Support characters in Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy , and they’re Warrior of Light and Krile . The thing is, Warrior of Light seems to be more of a buff-type unit, with two of his Abilities prioritizing enhancing everyone’s attack or preventing damage. Krile is essentially the only healer. Seeing as this is PVP, staying alive is critical. But even better is that another of her unique Abilities also involves a buff. Due to my luck when building up my Ability Deck, I ended up with the three most essential skills Krile would need to be a successful and useful member of a Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy team. One is her R Nightingale move. It’s the one with the shortest cooldown, and it restores 30% of everyone’s HP. You don’t need to be near them. You (and your teammates, of course) just need to be alive. It’s very helpful. So is the SR Hopeful Cheer once you reach the point in a match where you’re near the opposing team on the map and your allies hit a point at which they can use a Burst to start targeting the boss. That “moderately” buffs attack for 20 seconds. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but since matches are only a few minutes long that does go fast. The third (and best) skill in my arsenal turned out to be the UR Legend of the Deep Forest move. While the cooldown on that is substantial, for 15 seconds it will offer a regen effect that heals everyone for up to 300% of their health. Again, it’s an absolutely essential move once you’re at the midway point and in the line of the enemy team and boss’ line of fire. Screenshots by Siliconera But another thing I found I liked about Krile when using her is that she’s easily underestimated. Because I was relying on those three exclusive Abilities, I could slot in two more generic attacks (fire and gravity-based) to actually deal damage to opponents. It seemed like in the session, most people weren’t actually aware of how long her normal attack range was too, so I sometimes found I could sneak up on a human opponent who was near death and take them out. But also, since she is ranged and there to heal, I could hang back a bit. Basically, I’d position myself where I could keep track of my allies’ HP bars and try to time my Abilities to help when it’d be most useful. I’m not sure how long I might play Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy once the game does launch later this month, but I do know I’ll be using Krile as my character when I do. She’s just too helpful on a team. Her exclusive Healing Abilities are handy, and her not being one of the immediately offered allies might mean others won’t realize exactly how good she is right away, allowing those who do use her to take advantage of that. Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy pre-registration is open ahead of the March 24, 2026 release date on Android and Apple iOS mobile devices. The post Krile Is a Surprise Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Standout appeared first on Siliconera .

Mar 26

Everything Announced At the March 2026 Xbox Partner Preview The latest edition of the Xbox Partner Preview brought a number of reveals and updates for third-party titles coming to the Xbox ecosystem. If you didn’t catch the broadcast, we’ve rounded up a summary for every game featured, listed in alphabetical order.   Alien Deathstorm (World Premiere) Release Date: TBA The next game by Atomfall and Sniper Elite developer Rebellion is an atmospheric first-person adventure centered on combating aliens attacking a storm-battered off-world colony. Alien Deathstorm is coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC and will be available on Game Pass.   Artificial Detective (World Premiere) Release Date: 2027 The Showcase concluded with the reveal of this stylish, post-apocalyptic adventure. The game stars a robotic, wisecracking detective who must solve the mystery of why humanity disappeared. Well, save for a single human child that was somehow left behind. The robot detective and this child team up to crack the case in this third-person action-adventure title coming next year to Xbox Series X/S and PC.   Ascend to Zero Release Date: July 13 We’ve been impressed with this action roguelike for a while after playing its demo, and we finally have a release date. Ascend to Zero is a cyberpunk-inspired isometric action romp where players can freeze time to overcome enemies in battle. The fast-paced action, combined with the slick voxel presentation, looks great, and we learned it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass in addition to PC.   Bluey’s Happy Snaps (World Premiere) Release Date: Fall 2026 Look, we’re not afraid to admit that although we may be adults (and, in some cases, parents), many of us really like Bluey . The charming kids’ cartoon has a new game where Bluey and her sister Bingo embark on a photography-focused adventure, snapping pictures of Australian wildlife with their father Bandit’s camera. The game features new locations never seen on the show, and every picture is recorded in a cute scrapbook along with tons of collectibles. Look for Bluey’s Happy Snaps on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Game Pass.   Dispatch Release Date: Summer 2026 All five episodes of the hit superhero workplace comedy are finally flying to Xbox Series X/S. The narrative choice-driven adventure stars Robert Robinson III, a former superhero who is forced into a desk job as a dispatcher leading a team of reformed supervillains. Dispatching gameplay centers on answering emergency calls by determining the right team member for the job, and the story branches in several directions based on how you interact with your superpowered co-workers. Read more about the news here .   The Eternal Life of Goldman Release Date: 2026 This beautiful hand-animated 2D platformer has a new trailer and a release window. The whimsical story centers on Goldman, an elderly adventurer who travels to mystical islands to kill a mysterious entity called the Deity. The DuckTales-inspired precision platforming sees Goldman navigate platforming challenges and defeat enemies by bouncing on his cane, which can be customized with various parts to change its capabilities. We look forward to seeing how Goldman’s adventure plays out this year on Xbox and PC, as well as PS5 and Switch. Read more about the news here .   The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Release Date: Spring 2027 A new trailer revealed a fresh look at this latest video game adaptation of the hit sci-fi series, which, appropriately, draws a lot of influence from Mass Effect. The third-person action-RPG sees players controlling a customizable Captain who assembles a crew to confront a solar system plagued with conflict. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is coming next year on Xbox Series X/S and PC, and will be available on Game Pass.   Forever Ago Release Date: Fall 2026 If you enjoy emotionally heavy road trips, this narrative adventure is for you. It stars Alfred, a man in his mid-70s who brings his camera to various locations from his past to capture memories that explore loss and regret, as well as hope and friendship. Look for it this fall on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Game Pass.   Frog Sqwad Release Date: June 2026 As editor Charles Harte said so eloquently in his preview of Frog Sqwad, indie developers love frogs. And if you do too, this comedic puzzle-platformer may be up your alley. Either alone or alongside friends (up to eight players total), you’ll use your sticky frog tongue to explore levels and retrieve snacks to fill a food quota for a king. Failing this may result in you being on the menu instead. Frog Sqwad is coming this June to Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Game Pass.   Grave Seasons Release Date: August 14 If you’re looking for a fun thematic twist on the farming sim, Grave Seasons is just that. Payers control an escaped convict who begins a new life in a small, quiet town. All goes well until a serial killer begins running amok, and it’s up to you to find out who’s behind a series of murders. Along the way, you’ll farm crops, sell goods, and help the town become more prosperous. You’ll also interact with villagers, all of whom are suspects in the murders. Grave Seasons seems tailor-made for those who find true crime programs cozy viewing, and a public demo is also coming soon.   Hades II Release Date: April 14 Supergiant Games’ fantastic roguelike sequel is making its way to Xbox after previously launching on PC and Switch platforms. Players control Melinoë, princess of the Underworld and sister of Hades protagonist Zagreus, who embarks on a revenge mission against the Titan of Time that usurped her family’s kingdom. We scored Hades II a very rare 10/10 review score last year, so needless to say, we think it’s worth checking out if you haven’t done so yet. Hades II is coming to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC, and Game Pass. Read more about the news here .   Hunter: The Reconing - Deathwish (World Premiere) Release Date: 2027 Set in the World of Darkness universe, which includes properties like Vampire: The Masquerade and Werewolf: The Apocalypse, this cinematic trailer follows a team of hunters trying to eliminate a dangerous vampire masquerading (eh?) as a cop. Whether that’s merely a small tease of a grander plot or if this vampire is central to the story remains unclear. Players will have to wait until next year to find out. Read more about the game here .   Moosa: Dirty Fate (World Premiere) Release Date: 2027 This upcoming third-person action game takes place in Feudal Korea and boasts a painterly Korean-inspired art direction. After a powerful and mysterious force sweeps the land, causing crops and fields to wither to dust, players must track the source of this threat to save their people. Look for Moosa: Dirty Fate on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Game Pass.   Serious Sam: Shatterverse (World Premiere) Release Date: 2026 One of the most enduring first-person shooters returns with a brand-new entry that tackles the multiverse. The game stars five Sams from alternate realities who band together to save the Shatterverse from a god-like villain called Mental. Each Sam sports unique abilities and, of course, an arsenal of powerful weapons to mow down hordes of threats. The game is coming this year to Xbox Series X/S and PC. Read more about the news here .   S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope DLC Release Date: Summer 2026 S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is getting its first major story expansion this year that throws players in the middle of a big conflict between two familiar factions: Duty and Freedom. Cost of Hope takes players to locations such as the Chornobyl Nuclear Power plant, the Iron Forest region, and more in an expansion that developer GSC Game World says will take up to 20 hours to complete. Read more about the news here .   Stranger Than Heaven Release Date: TBA RGG Studio unveiled a new trailer for its enigmatic new action game about a mysterious and seemingly immortal character living through multiple eras of Japanese history. We know the game will unfold across five different eras of history, but we still don’t know much about what this tantalizing game has in store. Thankfully, a dedicated broadcast focused on Stranger Than Heaven will air on May 6, which will explore the game’s characters, settings, and story. Read more about the news here .   Super Meat Boy 3D Release Date: March 31 Meat Boy’s delightful-looking foray into the third dimension has a release date, and it’s much closer than we expected: March 31, or next Tuesday. Like the original, which helped define the old era of Xbox Live Arcade, Super Meat Boy is a steeply challenging precision platformer, but now you can watch Meat Boy explode into meaty chunks in fully 3D environments. Super Meat Boy 3D is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, and PC. Read more about the game here. Read more about the news here .   Vaunted (World Premiere) Release Date: 2026 This new third-person strategy game comes from a team consisting of former StarCraft and Guild Wars developers. Part space western, part Valkyria Chronicles, players control a band of dysfunctional treasure hunters who battle rival mercenaries to pilfer ancient loot in tactical combat that blends real-time shooting with turn-based action. Vaunted is coming to PC later this year. Read more about the news here .   Wuthering Waves Release Date: July 2026 This popular free-to-play action RPG is making its way to Xbox this summer. Players control an amnesia warrior named Rover who must uncover their past. Wuthering Waves boasts an anime-inspired look and an open world for players to explore, preferably atop the cool motorcycle you get. Wuthering Waves is coming to Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Game Pass.

Mar 26

Stalker 2: Heart Of Chornobyl's First Expansion, Cost Of Hope, Arrives This Summer Developer GSC Game World has revealed Cost of Hope, the first major expansion for its open-world survival shooter, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl , which originally launched on Xbox and PC in 2024 before coming to PlayStation 5 last year . The team describes Cost of Hope as a massive nonlinear expansion packed with dozens of hours of gameplay in the Zone, and it launches sometime this Summer simultaneously for all versions of the game. Revealed during today's Xbox Partner Preview with a new trailer, Cost of Hope puts players in control of Skif, the base game's protagonist, once more to navigate events that unfold alongside that base game's narrative. After installing the DLC, a signal on the PDA will trigger the new storyline as the game unfolds. GSC Game World says that your choices will shape what happens next and could affect not just the Zone, but far beyond it. Check it out in the Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl – Cost of Hope Expansion reveal trailer below:   "Duty, one of the oldest factions, sees the Zone as a threat that must be contained and destroyed," a press release reads. "On the other side, Freedom believes it's a gift – something to explore and harness for the greater good. For a time, this tension was held together by a fragile peace. But deals like that rarely last." Cost of Hope introduces two new regions to explore: the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant and the Iron Forest . Each region features its own hub, quests, and activities, alongside new weapons and gear for Skif to use in his fight against mutants, anomalies, and more. Curiously, despite dubbing Cost of Hope the "first major expansion" for Stalker 2, GSC Game World says Cost of Hope serves as a "middle chapter of the 'second trilogy,'" of the Stalker series, noting that Stalker 2 expansions will be released in installments. "Together with a future story DLC – details of which will be revealed later – it will form a new, expansive narrative arc within the Stalker saga," the studio writes. Here are some screenshots from the Cost of Hope expansion: The studio will share more about the Summer 2026 release window "soon," it writes in the press release. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and the Cost of Hope expansion will launch on all three platforms this Summer. What do you hope to see in this Stalker 2 expansion? Let us know in the comments below!

Mar 26

Here's How Crimson Desert Runs On PlayStation 5 Pro And Xbox Series X Update: Early this morning, Pearl Abyss issued a large patch for Crimson Desert first for PC, then for PlayStation and Xbox . The patch is live for all platforms, so we decided to spend some more time with the updated console versions of the game and see if they feel batter. We haven't had a chance to try the PlayStation version (will update this story soon with impressions), but can confirm that playing the game on Xbox Series X is already a more pleasant experience, to quote Zelda: Breath of the Wild's opaque and not-particularly-helpful patch notes . The patch did not make a radical improvement to the visuals (I would still advise you not to look too closely at the beards), but controlling Kliff feels much smoother and more responsive. I was successfully countering much more during combat and moving through the menus is much snappier. Now, that isn't to say that Crimson Desert no longer feels sluggish. Moving Kliff still feels heavier than I would like, but after the patch it feels like intentional design rather than the game being uncooperative as it was before. To read Game Informer' s full review of Crimson Desert , follow the link. [Original story published Mar 20, 2026 at 04:57 PM] Crimson Desert was one of the most anticipated games set to launch in 2026 and after years of waiting, it's finally out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. We gave it a 7 out of 10 in the Game Informer Crimson Desert review , and you can read that to learn more about our impressions of this RPG as a whole, but given the breadth of its vast open world, we also wanted to break down how it runs on consoles. If you're interested in how the game runs on PC, well, to keep it short, that's the best place to play Crimson Desert. But that's not necessarily surprising, especially for third-party games such as this. If you have a beefy PC, you can make Crimson Desert shine, and given the game's wide-ranging optimization on PC , there's a good chance the game will still look good even with an older graphics card. It's more challenging to determine how well a game runs on PC, given the wide variation in PCs from player to player, whether it's video cards, CPUs, or something else. That's the appeal of console gaming – games are (usually) good to go out of the box, per se, and don't require the tinkering that comes with playing on PC.   As such, my colleague and Game Informer executive editor Kyle Hilliard and I are writing up this story here to tell you how the game runs on consoles. You can read my PlayStation 5 Pro impressions below, and Kyle's Xbox Series X impressions beneath that. Crimson Desert PlayStation 5 Pro Performance I'll describe my time with the game's performance here, but if you're here for a quick look, the gallery above features a screenshot, taken at the same time and spot in the game, in Performance mode, Balanced mode, and Quality mode. Obviously, a big aspect of these various modes is the FPS of Crimson Desert, but that doesn't come through in screenshots so these images should give you an idea of the resolution of the game in each mode. For reference, Performance mode is 1080p, Balanced is 1440p, and Quality is 4K. Furthermore, the Performance mode runs at 1080p/60FPS, Balanced at 1440p/40FPS, and Quality at 4K/30FPS. I've toyed around with each setting and I'll say this: VRR seems quite necessary to enjoy this game at its best. Regardless of the mode, but especially in Performance and Balanced, when I turned VRR off, there was a great deal of screen tearing. Even in low-population areas, the screen tearing was apparent. As such, if you have a TV with VRR (I am using an LG C-model OLED TV), you should absolutely play with it on. With that on, the screen tearing disappears, naturally. Performance Mode – Crimson Desert on PS5 Pro However, screen tearing aside, I noticed a lot of environmental pop-in in the mid-range of your view at any given time on screen in Performance and Balanced mode. In Quality mode, pop-in was reduced to essentially zero. In the other two modes, though, there is a distracting amount of foliage pop-in and an even more distracting amount of terrain load-in. It's quite odd in that the mountainous rocks didn't necessarily pop in out of nowhere, but they almost morphed onto the screen. The resulting effect is a very jarring experience. I liken it to noticing something moving out of the corner of your eye – you're watching Kliff, the main character, from a third-person perspective, so your attention is on him, but in your periphery, you'll see a lot of movement in the cliffs of mountains, the leaves of forests, etc. I don't like it. I tried turning off 120Hz mode on my TV because I've seen some online suggest doing that to enhance your picture, but, truthfully, it changed very little for me. It might have sharpened the image up a bit (I won't pretend to know why), but my main issue with the visuals – the pop-in – remained. It's unfortunate because the 60FPS of the Performance mode, and the 40FPS of the Balanced mode, are actually quite stable in the game's opening hours. That said, I have read online that the FPS struggles to remain stable in more populated areas of the game, such as robust city villages and large-scale battles. Balanced Mode – Crimson Desert PS5 Pro With all this taken into account, the best mode for now seems to be Quality mode, with a well-implemented 4K resolution and a stable 30FPS. Unfortunately, 30 FPS isn't the move for an action game like this, so ultimately this is a lose-lose situation for me. I can, of course, get over the pop-in of Performance and Balanced as I've certainly done it for games before (ahem, Pokémon Violet), but it's obviously not ideal and further proof that this game was probably optimized for PCs first before anything else. Developer Pearl Abyss has already released a patch to address some visual issues, so I suspect the game will be running better in a month than it is today. Quality Mode – Crimson Desert PS5 Pro To sum up my thoughts: there's nothing particularly atrocious about the game's visual issues, but there's no obvious choice for which mode to play in. It depends on what you favor and prefer in open-world single-player RPGs: gorgeous resolution with a stable but lower framerate (Quality), or a higher framerate with blurrier resolution but lots of strange artifacting and pop-in (Performance or Balanced). Crimson Desert Xbox Series X Performance On Xbox Series X, much of the issues outlined above persist on Microsoft's platform. In a complimentary way, the game seems to have parity on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 Pro based on comparing Wes and I's experiences. Like the PlayStation 5 Pro screenshots, the gallery above similarly showcases screenshots taken at the same spot in the game in Performance, Balanced, and Quality mode in that order. I also saw improvements when toggling on the VRR setting, but compared to Wes' PlayStation experience, I didn't encounter much screen tearing. Environmental pop-in, however, was a distracting issue. But not nearly as distracting as protagonist Kliff's beard. On any of the settings, but especially Performance (more or less my universal setting of choice when given the option), Kliff's beard and other elements of fur and hair look fractured and low-resolution. But far and away my biggest issue was the noticeable lag time between pressing a button and seeing that action performed on-screen. Scrolling through menus is particularly slow and the few combat encounters I engaged in became less about pulling off combos and expert blocking and more about tapping RB to swing my sword as much as possible and hoping the enemy would die before I did. It felt like I was issuing battle commands to a Pokémon more than engaging with combat myself. Crimson Desert on Xbox Series X/S. Don't look too closely at the beard. The game, however, does look impressive in moments where you stop and taking it in. The screenshots above were taken from a moment when an NPC encourages you to slow down and take a look at the view. And when the environment did finish popping in, I fully admit being impressed by how far in the distance I could see and how great it looked. Like Wes wrote above, Developer Pearl Abyss is already patching both the console and PC versions of the game to address some visual issues. It's fair to hope that even in the coming weeks, the game will be running and looking better. But it seems, for the moment at least, PC, unsurprisingly, is going to be your best bet if you have the rig to handle it.

Mar 23

The Run – ReviewAn FMV horror adventure game where choices matter. That is what Paul Raschid’s latest game, The Run is all about. Known for his other FMV games such as Hello Stranger and Five Dates, Raschid once again delivers a stunning and beautiful game where an influencer experiences the run of her life. Story We follow Zanna Hendricks, a fitness influencer, as she wakes up in a small rural town in Northern Italy. It’s quite evident she’s rather great at her job, given she just hit five million followers. After a small introduction, she goes for a run in the forest near the town, where strange things begin to occur. Without spoiling too much of the story already, let’s just say that Zanna will have the run of her life in this otherwise peaceful town. Soon, Zanna finds herself coming face to face with a group of masked killers, and it is up to the influencer, or rather the player, to make it back safe without succumbing to these ominous-looking people. Graphics The game is essentially one big movie, and it is absolutely beautiful! Shot with beautiful cinematography and beautiful scenery imagery, The Run is not only a great game, but also a gorgeous one. Filmed in Northern Italy, the greenery and historical architecture really create a beautiful setting for this thrilling and exciting story we are about to witness. It is hard to speak of ‘character design’ in this type of game, but the portrayal of the characters is done very well. Roxanne McKee, known for her role as ‘Doreah’ in Game of Thrones, plays the lead. Her acting isn’t questionable at all; she made us roll our eyes early on, given her influencer persona. Then we have George Blagden as our deuteragonist, known for being in Vikings as Athelstan. He plays Zanna’s local hookup and local village boy. Both actors really carry the game well as they are met with various scenes of different emotions. Not once is there a less convincing moment they portray, all the way until the end. Aside from the beautiful cinematography, the game gives players the option to add in subtitles and edit their size, which can come in handy if you end up too focused mid-gameplay. Sound The score in The Run is very fitting. There isn’t too much to be said about the score, as it’s mainly there to fill in the silent scenes. When Zanna is running away from something, for example, the music features intense chase music so that the player experiences the same adrenaline rush as our protagonist. We didn’t really miss the lack of soundtrack, however, as there is always something happening, or people are talking anyway. The score is meant to emphasize actions in scenes, rather than actually setting the mood for whatever is going on. Gameplay The game is an FMV horror thriller. This means that it is essentially a movie you watch, but you get to decide the choices the protagonist makes. These choices make the main character go on a different path (sometimes literally), which leads to more choices, and eventually an ending depending on what you decide to do. Let’s start with the good things, which are quite a lot. There are a lot of choices throughout the game, making replays possible to discover what you missed in a previous run. The game also really eases you into it, giving you simple choices very early on in the story. This way, the player gets familiar with the main controls of the game, without immediately suffering dire consequences. Now, when you do run into one of those dire consequences, players get a do-over and back up to where they made the wrong choice. By doing so, the game encourages players to explore all options without being punished too hard for it. You could opt for a run where you hunt for all bad endings and could still make progress throughout the story in doing so. Another pleasant feature the game adds is the option to make choices time-based or to pause the movie at every choice. This way, the game allows itself to be a party game so you can bicker over the options with your friends, without needing to worry about the game progressing on without you. Now, as for the bad, there isn’t too much to nitpick here, but there are certainly a few points to be discussed. Firstly, some choices the player gets presented with are rather questionable. Without giving any spoilers, there are a few choices in the game that have little to no impact. Furthermore, some are also very obviously the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ choices, leaving the player little to decide on. Though it isn’t problematic in any sense, we did find ourselves frowning once the choices were represented. Another thing we thought was a bit of a pity is that once the game is over, you get to see your progress on a map, showing off where your choices branched off into a different timeline. Sadly, there is no way to replay or view that specific choice again, as it is just an image of the scene where this option was presented. Not being able to rewatch these scenes means you must start all over again from the beginning to make new choices, instead of being able to jump from one point to another. Luckily, you can skip previously viewed scenes by using the ‘tab’ button, as not to waste too much time if you’re going for a full-clear. Conclusion If you are looking for a more laid-back horror game, or something to play with your friends, or simply want something ‘different’, The Run is a perfect choice for you. This horror adventure game is a pleasant experience to go through, and for the low price of only €10, we surely recommend getting the game on Steam, Google Play, or the App Store.

Mar 23

Here's How Crimson Desert Runs On PlayStation 5 Pro And Xbox Series X Crimson Desert was one of the most anticipated games set to launch in 2026 and after years of waiting, it's finally out on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. We gave it a 7 out of 10 in the Game Informer Crimson Desert review , and you can read that to learn more about our impressions of this RPG as a whole, but given the breadth of its vast open world, we also wanted to break down how it runs on consoles. If you're interested in how the game runs on PC, well, to keep it short, that's the best place to play Crimson Desert. But that's not necessarily surprising, especially for third-party games such as this. If you have a beefy PC, you can make Crimson Desert shine, and given the game's wide-ranging optimization on PC , there's a good chance the game will still look good even with an older graphics card. It's more challenging to determine how well a game runs on PC, given the wide variation in PCs from player to player, whether it's video cards, CPUs, or something else. That's the appeal of console gaming – games are (usually) good to go out of the box, per se, and don't require the tinkering that comes with playing on PC.   As such, my colleague and Game Informer executive editor Kyle Hilliard and I are writing up this story here to tell you how the game runs on consoles. You can read my PlayStation 5 Pro impressions below, and Kyle's Xbox Series X impressions beneath that. Crimson Desert PlayStation 5 Pro Performance I'll describe my time with the game's performance here, but if you're here for a quick look, the gallery above features a screenshot, taken at the same time and spot in the game, in Performance mode, Balanced mode, and Quality mode. Obviously, a big aspect of these various modes is the FPS of Crimson Desert, but that doesn't come through in screenshots so these images should give you an idea of the resolution of the game in each mode. For reference, Performance mode is 1080p, Balanced is 1440p, and Quality is 4K. Furthermore, the Performance mode runs at 1080p/60FPS, Balanced at 1440p/40FPS, and Quality at 4K/30FPS. I've toyed around with each setting and I'll say this: VRR seems quite necessary to enjoy this game at its best. Regardless of the mode, but especially in Performance and Balanced, when I turned VRR off, there was a great deal of screen tearing. Even in low-population areas, the screen tearing was apparent. As such, if you have a TV with VRR (I am using an LG C-model OLED TV), you should absolutely play with it on. With that on, the screen tearing disappears, naturally. Performance Mode – Crimson Desert on PS5 Pro However, screen tearing aside, I noticed a lot of environmental pop-in in the mid-range of your view at any given time on screen in Performance and Balanced mode. In Quality mode, pop-in was reduced to essentially zero. In the other two modes, though, there is a distracting amount of foliage pop-in and an even more distracting amount of terrain load-in. It's quite odd in that the mountainous rocks didn't necessarily pop in out of nowhere, but they almost morphed onto the screen. The resulting effect is a very jarring experience. I liken it to noticing something moving out of the corner of your eye – you're watching Kliff, the main character, from a third-person perspective, so your attention is on him, but in your periphery, you'll see a lot of movement in the cliffs of mountains, the leaves of forests, etc. I don't like it. I tried turning off 120Hz mode on my TV because I've seen some online suggest doing that to enhance your picture, but, truthfully, it changed very little for me. It might have sharpened the image up a bit (I won't pretend to know why), but my main issue with the visuals – the pop-in – remained. It's unfortunate because the 60FPS of the Performance mode, and the 40FPS of the Balanced mode, are actually quite stable in the game's opening hours. That said, I have read online that the FPS struggles to remain stable in more populated areas of the game, such as robust city villages and large-scale battles. Balanced Mode – Crimson Desert PS5 Pro With all this taken into account, the best mode for now seems to be Quality mode, with a well-implemented 4K resolution and a stable 30FPS. Unfortunately, 30 FPS isn't the move for an action game like this, so ultimately this is a lose-lose situation for me. I can, of course, get over the pop-in of Performance and Balanced as I've certainly done it for games before (ahem, Pokémon Violet), but it's obviously not ideal and further proof that this game was probably optimized for PCs first before anything else. Developer Pearl Abyss has already released a patch to address some visual issues, so I suspect the game will be running better in a month than it is today. Quality Mode – Crimson Desert PS5 Pro To sum up my thoughts: there's nothing particularly atrocious about the game's visual issues, but there's no obvious choice for which mode to play in. It depends on what you favor and prefer in open-world single-player RPGs: gorgeous resolution with a stable but lower framerate (Quality), or a higher framerate with blurrier resolution but lots of strange artifacting and pop-in (Performance or Balanced). Crimson Desert Xbox Series X Performance On Xbox Series X, much of the issues outlined above persist on Microsoft's platform. In a complimentary way, the game seems to have parity on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 Pro based on comparing Wes and I's experiences. Like the PlayStation 5 Pro screenshots, the gallery above similarly showcases screenshots taken at the same spot in the game in Performance, Balanced, and Quality mode in that order. I also saw improvements when toggling on the VRR setting, but compared to Wes' PlayStation experience, I didn't encounter much screen tearing. Environmental pop-in, however, was a distracting issue. But not nearly as distracting as protagonist Kliff's beard. On any of the settings, but especially Performance (more or less my universal setting of choice when given the option), Kliff's beard and other elements of fur and hair look fractured and low-resolution. But far and away my biggest issue was the noticeable lag time between pressing a button and seeing that action performed on-screen. Scrolling through menus is particularly slow and the few combat encounters I engaged in became less about pulling off combos and expert blocking and more about tapping RB to swing my sword as much as possible and hoping the enemy would die before I did. It felt like I was issuing battle commands to a Pokémon more than engaging with combat myself. Crimson Desert on Xbox Series X/S. Don't look too closely at the beard. The game, however, does look impressive in moments where you stop and taking it in. The screenshots above were taken from a moment when an NPC encourages you to slow down and take a look at the view. And when the environment did finish popping in, I fully admit being impressed by how far in the distance I could see and how great it looked. Like Wes wrote above, Developer Pearl Abyss is already patching both the console and PC versions of the game to address some visual issues. It's fair to hope that even in the coming weeks, the game will be running and looking better. But it seems, for the moment at least, PC, unsurprisingly, is going to be your best bet if you have the rig to handle it.

Mar 20

Review: WiZmans World Re;Try Tries to Make Grinding Exciting Us getting a localized version of WiZmans World about 16 years after its 2010 Japanese debut on the DS is wild. A part of me wants to suggest people grab it and try it to help show there’s a demand for these sorts of releases and see what this snapshot of past JRPGs is like. Fortunately, WiZmans World Re;Try is mechanically interesting due to the Anima Fusion system, though it does get incredibly repetitive due to grinding to conquer dungeons. In WiZmans World Re;Try, a whole town is kept captive. Everyone in Wizarest is dealing with memory loss and finds themselves trapped in a town surrounded by dungeons. Those who try to challenge those labyrinths face untimely ends. However, as the adventure begins, a witch named Giselle discovers a child in the forest. He’s unable to speak, but she brings him to Archmage Adan and states she’ll raise him. Years later, he’s meeting with that same authority figure after Giselle’s disappeared into one of the dungeons and is about to start his own journeys into the depths. When he does, he learns she succeeded in creating artificial lifeforms called homunculi, an objective she’d had for years, and joins forces with Aen, Doe, and Toori to conquer these trials and find out the truth about the world and the apparent collapse that is leading to the influx of monsters and dangers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlnCMvjk2ww In terms of gameplay, WiZmans World Re;Try is a rather typical turn-based JRPG. There will be Main Quests that come from the Archmage and involve going into each of the dungeons surrounding Wizarest. However, you can (and should) also take on Sub Quests from villagers that provide opportunities to grind levels and gain rewards. Fights are traditional affairs in which a timeline on the top of the screen shows the order in which allies and enemies will act and you can opt to attack, use a skill, guard, use an item, or escape on your turn. An auto function is present, which is handy given this is a very grindy game. Dungeons and towns feature an overhead perspective, and the character and monster sprites generally look fine. You can also see the enemies on the map, making it possible to avoid or seek out encounters. The unique element to WiZmans World Re;Try is the Anima Fusion system. When you defeat an enemy, you might get their soul as a reward. Going to your lab in town lets you fuse that with Aen, Doe, and Toori to change their in-battle appearance and abilities. I suppose I’d say it is similar to the fusion mechanics with demons and Personas in Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series. You pick a homunculus, then select a soul. This then determines the boost in stats, Ex Attack, Skills, and appearance after they’re combined. Once done, you see the Anima Status with up to two combined and the results. The final appearance ends up looking like a female humanoid version of the monster souls used in the process. There’s a standard option, but it is possible to get manastones and other materials for more advanced ones involving catalysts that result in better final results. Images via Clear River Games The thing is that system is great and does encourage WiZmans World Re;Try dungeon diving, but also ties into the parts that get pretty tedious. This can be a grind-heavy game. Especially if you want Aen, Doe, and Toori to be at their best and capable of covering every elemental base when attacking due to a rock-paper-scissors sort of system. (Fire beats wind, wind beats earth, earth is better than water, and water will put out fire.) The fights themselves aren’t all that enthralling. If you can get into a routine, maybe put on some music or a show and play in handheld mode, it’s fine. But it doesn’t really challenge you beyond knowing you probably need certain extra souls to be prepared for a boss or some stronger fusions, so you better grind a bit to prepare. WiZmans World Re;Try isn’t the most exciting JRPG, but it is great we finally get to experience it after about 16 years. The Anima Fusion system is interesting, and there’s some pretty intricate spritework involved for some characters. The game is something of a grind though, so be prepared to work for your best combinations and to take down some bosses that appear in later dungeons. WiZmans World Re;Try is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the original game appeared on the DS. The post Review: WiZmans World Re;Try Tries to Make Grinding Exciting appeared first on Siliconera .

Mar 19

Palia’s Spring Update Provides Toadstool Tales Singularity 6 released its newest seasonal update for open beta free-to-play fantasy life-sim Palia . The "Spring Spectacle: Toadstool Tales" update sees players return to the Elderwood and explore the Zendruu Tree as they look to heal the forest and uncover various secrets. It laos includes new friendship quests for Ulfe, a new "Path of the Tadpole" Lunar Path, a reworking of the game's Photo Mode, a Spring Bounty Bundle Board, a new retirement feature for ranch animals, and new decor and premium store items. Palia is currently available in open beta on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. The game is set in a world where humans are considered a legendary race that disappeared thousands of years ago. Players are able to form and build relationships, including romance, with a diverse cast of NPCs, as well as interact with other players. The game is intended to cater to those who want to uncover the secrets behind humanity’s disappearance, as well as those who’d rather live an idyllic and quiet life in a lakeside village, with lots of customization options. The post Palia’s Spring Update Provides Toadstool Tales appeared first on RPGamer .

Mar 17

Hatch Dragons: How to contact the customer support serviceIn Hatch Dragons, players step into a cozy, magical world where adorable dragons slowly return to a once-forgotten forest. Instead of fighting intense battles, the game focuses on nurturing dragons and restoring the enchanted forest. As you progress, you hatch eggs, care for dragons, decorate, and gradually unlock the entire forest. However, even the most … The post Hatch Dragons: How to contact the customer support service appeared first on GamingonPhone .

Mar 17

Crimson Desert: Everything You Need To Know – Release Date, Time, Platforms and Editions Crimson Desert is an upcoming game from Pearl Abyss, the creators of the popular MMORPG called Black Desert Online. It is a single-player adventure set in the fantasy world of Pywel, where unknown, deadly threats are hidden in the lush forests, snowcapped mountains, and even deserts. Explore the open world, complete quests, or beat up […] This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire

Mar 17

Hatch Dragons Beginners Guide and TipsHatch Dragons is a relaxing dragon-collection simulation game where you raise adorable dragons while restoring a magical forest. Instead of focusing on intense combat, the experience revolves around nurturing dragons, discovering their lore, and gradually bringing life back to the environment. As you progress, you will hatch eggs, feed your dragons, collect rare species, and … The post Hatch Dragons Beginners Guide and Tips appeared first on GamingonPhone .

Mar 17

New content gets added to space colony sim Generation Exile while in Early AccessSonderlust Studios is hard at work adding new content to Generation Exile, their space-faring colony management sim where Earth is dead, and humanity is on a journey to find a new hospitable planet. Different biomes that offer different resources but also different types of threats are a key factor of the game, so this content update adds rainforests and the radiation that lurks inside them. Other content that spreads across all biomes was also added, such as generational trees that show how your settlers are linked together, and rebalancing of the overall gameplay. If you really love this sort of game, we recommend considering getting Generation Exile on Steam in Early Access, since it knocks 35% of the price. Word on the actual 1.0 release is said to come soon.

Mar 16

New Release Round-Up (March 12, 2026) Welcome to RPGamer's new release round-up. In this column, we look to provide our readers with details on the major RPGs released since our last update. Please note we do not currently include Early Access releases where the game is still in development. Pricing is shown in US dollars before application of any discounts, local pricing may vary. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster Platform: PC, Xbox Series X|S (previously released on Nintendo Switch 2) Publisher: Square Enix Developer: Square Enix Available: Steam , Xbox Store Price: $39.99 (20% launch discount) A remaster of Nintendo 3DS title Bravely Default , Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is set in the world of Luxendarc, where balance is kept by four elemental crystals. After a Great Chasm causes darkness to appear, four warriors end up teaming together on a journey to restore light to the crystals. It features a turn-based system where players can make use of Brave and Default options to use or store up multiple actions. DecaDungeons Platform: Nintendo Switch (previously released on PC) Publisher: Elushis Developer: Wathitdew Record Available: Nintendo eShop Price: $9.99 DecaDungeons is a first-person, turn-based dungeon crawler. The game is set in a cursed kingdom where every ten years, a chosen person must descend into forbidden dungeons with a magical six-sided die in the hope of ending the curse. Granblue Fantasy Platform: PC (previously released on browser, iOS, Android) Publisher: Cygames Developer: Cygames Available: Steam Price: Free-to-play with in-game transactions The Steam release of free-to-play RPG Granblue Fantasy is separate to the previous existing versions of the game, meaning that those with existing accounts will not be able to link them to the Steam version. Players control a male or female protagonist in a world of floating islands, recruiting other characters to fight with them in turn-based battles. It has received anime and manga adaptations, as well as fighting game Granblue Fantasy Versus and action RPG Granblue Fantasy: Relink . GreedFall: The Dying World Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Publisher: NACON Developer: Spiders Available: Steam , PlayStation Store , Xbox Store Price: $49.99 on PC, $59.99 on consoles Fantasy RPG GreedFall: The Dying World is set three years before the events of GreedFall . Players take on the role of a native Doneigad on the island of Teer Fradee, who is expected to act as a protector for the people and lands, which have been encroached on by colonisation efforts from foreign powers. However, they are forcibly taken to the continent of Gacane, which is currently plagued by a mysterious epidemic named the Malichor. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 Publisher: Capcom Developer: Capcom Available: Steam , PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop Price: $24.99 (10% launch discount) Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is part of the Monster Hunter turn-based spin-off series where players control Monster Riders, those who partner up with and raise monsters. The game is set in a land with two major nations, Azuria and Vermeil, which are facing a crystal encroachment that is destroying the environment. Meanwhile, twin Skyscale Rathalos hatch, which is a supposed portent of destruction last seen in a civil war 200 years ago. Those looking to read more about Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection can check out Michael Apps's review of its Nintendo Switch 2 version. Thysiastery Platform: PC Publisher: DIRGA Developer: DIRGA Available: Steam Price: $12.99 (30% launch discount) Turn-based dungeon-crawling RPG Thysiastery sees players control a group of bearers of the “Brand”, who have been drawn into a vast labyrinth. Players can ally with characters they meet while trying to find their way out through buried forests, underwater cities, and more. The game features permadeath, procedurally-generated areas, and randomly-generated characters, with players able to apply various difficulty modifiers. Sales Links Xbox Store PlayStation Store (North America) PlayStation Store (Europe) Nintendo eShop (North America) Nintendo eShop (Europe) Steam GOG.com Epic Games Store The Humble Store The post New Release Round-Up (March 12, 2026) appeared first on RPGamer .

Mar 12

Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea Is Natsume’s New Game Natsume announced another entry in its original line of farming sims under the Harvest Moon name, and the game is called Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea . There’s no release window yet. However, the company did confirm it will be on all current platforms, so we’ll see it on the Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC when it does debut. This follows Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home Special Edition , which debuted on consoles in August 2025. Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea will be one of those entries that spans multiple villages. Players start out in Bloomfield, and end up meeting the guardian wolf that lives outside of there. After they do, they end up visiting other places, like Maplehill, Quarrytop, and Tidewind, to meet their guardian spirits and address environmental issues keeping those towns down. In so doing, the Forest of Echoes’ fog and influence will fade, the Harvest Goddess will flourish, and you’ll also get to raise crops, animals, and relationship values with bachelors and bachelorettes. Here are the first screenshots for the new Harvest Moon game. Images via Natsume Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea is in development for the Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and there’s no release window yet. The post Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea Is Natsume’s New Game appeared first on Siliconera .

Mar 11

Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea Announced Natsume has announced a new title in the Harvest Moon farming sim series. Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea is in development for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2, though a release has not yet been announced. Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea is set in the land of Teradea, which is covered by the mist of the Forest of Echoes. Players control a character raised in Bloomfield Village, who sets out with their best friend on a mission to tame the wolves that appear at night. Their mission soon leads to them help the land's Guardian Spirits to revitalise Teradea. Players will visit various locations including the port village of Tidewind, mining village of Quarrytop, and the once-thriving town Maplehill. Between their travels, players will be able to tend to their farm and raise animals, harvest crops, and build their own life. The game will ten available love interests, as well as an animal companion system and various exploration abilities. Players will also need to evade wild animals in the wilderness to avoid losing items they have collected. [foogallery id="186704"] The post Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea Announced appeared first on RPGamer .

Mar 11

Krile Appears in the Next Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Trailer The run of Square Enix character trailers for Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy cast members continues with the FFV representative Krile Mayer Baldesion. (No relation to to Krile Maya Baldesion from FFXIV , though the MMORPG heroine is based on her.) As usual, it’s a chance to see how her original design influenced her appearance here and the way she works as a support unit on a team. To start, Krile is voiced by Yukari Tamura in Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy . Since there’s never been a voiced FFV , she isn’t carrying on a role from that. However, that actress did portray her in Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia. (The FFXIV character is played by Yoshino Nanjo.) Krile has a more casual outfit in this game, though she still wields a staff. In a nod to some other appearances and her connection to animals, she has cat ear hair accessories. Her title also references her grandfather Galuf. During the gameplay portion of the trailer, we see her use Hopeful Cheer, Legend of the Deep Forest, Nightingale, and Sealed Sacred Light. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvlGrsq3qyw The Krile Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy charactertrailer is the eighth one to appear so far. In case you missed some of the past ones, here are links to all the other showcases. Terra from FFVI . Cloud from FFVII . Rinoa from FFVIII . Zidane from FFIX . Lightning from FFXIII . Gaia from FFXIV . Prompto from FFXV. Next up should be the Kain trailer. Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy pre-registration is open ahead of the March 2026 debut on Android and Apple iOS mobile devices. The post Krile Appears in the Next Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy Trailer appeared first on Siliconera .

Mar 10

Blossom: The Seed Of Life Free Download (v1.0.8)Blossom: The Seed Of Life Direct Download Terraform a dead planet back to life in this open world survival crafting game. Explore ruins, gather resources, print machines, drive modular vehicles, grow forests, biomes, and ecosystems. Create life and make it thrive with your own hands. Hi, I’m Thorin — the solo developer behind Blossom, also known […] The post Blossom: The Seed Of Life Free Download (v1.0.8) first appeared on WorldofPCGames .

Mar 10

Review: Fatal Frame II Remake Is Pure Beauty in Terror Despite being a big fan of survival horror, Fatal Frame remained a blind spot for me. It wasn’t until I played the new Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake that I got to appreciate what made the series and this entry so special and influential. Despite my initial apprehension for such rereleases, this feels like a more complete version of what Fatal Frame series creator Makoto Shibata intended back in the PS2 era. It stays very true to form, even if feels a bit bloated compared to its lean, original version. Mio and Mayu Amakura are identical twin sisters. One day, while visiting the forest where they used to play as children, the siblings are spirited away to the long-lost village of Minakami, where identical twins are at the center of the village’s dark, complicated, and cursed legacy. Playing as Mio and armed with the Camera Obscura shortly after reaching the village, we as the player are tasked with defending our sister Mayu, and finding a way out of Minakami. Coming into the game, I already knew about the plot and its secrets. Even so, I was still deeply impressed with the interpersonal stories of Minakami village and that of the Crimson Sacrifice ritual. Screenshots by Siliconera Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a visually stunning rendition of the original 2003. The original fixed camera angles are gone, which is always a bit sad as a fan of that style. However, the translation to third person over-the-shoulder feels seamless, even though it’s a very different adoption from that of the Wii remake. The character models are very expressive and the environments follow suit. The first area where I took control as Mio is lush with vegetation and detail, obscured in a thick darkness with only the sharp moonlight cutting through it. However, compared to the original, the remake makes some important changes to its visual identity. While doing some research for this review, I noticed that the environments in the PS2 version were a lot more decrepit and dingier. They looked emptier and more threatening. Surely, a result of hardware constraints. The higher fidelity of the remake makes the world look a lot prettier and almost inviting. I didn’t mind this change, but I can imagine it being divisive among purists. The trade-off here is the improved lighting. As I advanced throughout the game, the aforementioned moonlight dimmed through clouds and fog and darkness became oppressive. By the end of the game, I was very impressed with the directorial choices regarding the use of color moonlight. Returning fans will also enjoy it. Won’t say more. Screenshot by Siliconera The visuals go hand in hand with the sound design. Walking around Minakami, I was always under the impression that an extra pair of feet was walking behind me. It’s truly unnerving. The sounds of the crickets in the night, the tense ambiance and combat music, and the moans of the wraiths add various layers to the sound, each one a different type of uncomfortable. I played with the Japanese dub, which was gorgeously acted. Likewise, the original ending song “Chou” by Tsukiko Amano is an incredible track and I’m glad they kept it. While I’ve talked about visual changes, the gameplay side switches things around as well. Combat in Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is slow and methodical, but attempts were made at making it more proactive. The Standard, Paraceptual, Exposure, and Radiant filters substitute the lenses of the original, while remixing the properties of its special shots — now done by spending Willpower, a sort of stamina meter. Each one serves one function inside combat and for exploration. The Paraceptual filter is good for long-range shots, to deal bonus damage to unaware wraiths. The Exposure filter has a fast reload rate, and I changed to it every time to avoid being caught defenseless. But my bread and butter was the Radiant filter and its massive damage — its trade-off being its short range. A caveat is that the colors of the Paraceptual and Exposure filters look ugly, and I would have liked them to be a bit more vibrant and interesting, like the Radiant filter. You can also equip charms, but these truly shine on New Game+ when attempting new endings, as you can equip more than one, and the item shop truly opens up. Screenshots by Siliconera I really enjoyed the addition of side stories that flesh out the inhabitants of Minakami village and make it feel more lived in. However, I’m not sure if due to these or other changes to the game, but what was originally a relatively short game took me about 17-18 hours to complete. In that sense, it reminds me of Silent Hill 2 Remake and how that game padded its time a bit compared to its original. On that end, your mileage might vary. On the other hand, the cutscenes and everything regarding the story in Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a 1:1 recreation of the original, something that I find an improvement over almost every other recent survival horror remake. I’m usually a sceptic about remaking influential video games. However, I think Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake walks a fine line between revamping an old title, with its improved systems and added side stories, and keeping everything that made the original PS2 game a special and deeply influential experience at the time. It remains a very special game, and there’s more to chew on for fans. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake comes to the Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam on March 12, 2026. A demo is available. The post Review: Fatal Frame II Remake Is Pure Beauty in Terror appeared first on Siliconera .

Mar 10

The ForestAs the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.