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Review: Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection Preserves More Classics When it comes to Mega Man handheld spin-offs, the Battle Network entries are some that tend to steal the show, but seeing the effort Capcom put into Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection makes me hope this compilation will help more people appreciate this trilogy as well. With this selection, we’re seeing full and complete versions of games, including elements that were formerly exclusive to Japan, while preserving the online experience for people who do want to play that way. It’s yet another solid example of Capcom game preservation. With the artistic direction, pairing of a young adult with a powerful ally who can help them save and protect their community, and collection of cards for attacks, it’s easy to make comparisons between Mega Man: Battle Network and Star Force , and I generally think there are enough commonalities with regards to design and narrative choices to make one worth trying if you like the other. Here, we follow the adventures of a young man named Geo Stelar. After the trauma of losing his father, he wants desperately to hope he’s still alive and follow in his footsteps as an astronaut. It’s because of that drive and grief that he’s given the Visualizer by his father’s former coworker and friend. When he uses it, he meets Omega-Xis, an alien from Planet FM who knew his father. The two of them end up fusing to become Mega Man. With that ability, the two can head into the Wave World and protect the Andromeda Key while working toward Geo and his father’s dreams. Things start with us seeing Geo deal with his grief over the loss of his father, get accustomed to socializing with peers, handle the shock that comes from being paired with an alien being, and grow into a hero capable of handling the responsibility and abilities thrust upon him. I will say that the first game ( Dragon/Leo/Pegasus ) does take a bit of time to find its footing both with the narrative and gameplay, especially since it’s new to us. By the end, it all comes together, and the series then very much hits its stride by the sequel Zerker x Ninja/Zerker x Saurian. I suspect someone will be fully invested in Geo and Mega’s story and in finding the best combos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q073yGVIyQ0 In terms of gameplay, Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection ’s three entries combine the collecting element and balance of real-world and Wave World elements. Like Lan in the Battle Network series, Geo is collecting abilities and forming a deck of sorts for battles. The difference here is perspective. While the exploration feels similar, the fights feel like action-RPG rather than a strategic situation. We watch from behind the Mega Man fusion of Geo and Mega, then select the Battle Cards that appear from our set folders to attack. By picking certain ones in the right order, we can trigger combos. So yes, there’s a strategic element to it, but it feels faster-paced and more active. Which makes it feel like a good time to talk about why the Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is honestly sort of worth it just for said Battle Cards. This compilation includes what are essentially full and complete versions of each version of the three entries in the series. Capcom completely preserved pretty much everything. Now, each installment had some exclusive cards. So if you’re playing Mega Man Star Force: Dragon, Leo, or Pegasus, there will be some abilities only in each game like Dragon Sky GX, Life Aura, or Pegasus Magic. However, there were also some only available via events or crossovers that previously only appeared in Japan, like the Andromeda Giga Card or Lunar Knights crossover ones. Those are here! It’s a fantastic and, as I’ve mentioned a couple times already, a wonderful means of preserving the full experience as Capcom intended. Another element that’s preserved is online multiplayer. You can battle other people and trade cards. There is a platform limitation in effect, so there’s no cross-play. However, it does mean you could pick one version and trade with someone else online to complete a Battle Card collection. Casual, Friend, and Ranked Match options are all available. Images via Capcom It’s also taking cues from past Capcom compilations, as the Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection features a lot of quality of life changes, with some of them being optional, and the standard art gallery and jukebox for soundtracks. For example, you can choose the standard appearance or an HD filter that updates the appearance, and there is a similar choice for the Battle Cards art and soundtrack. Minigames use buttons instead of touch screens. There is a new optional difficulty and you can use a Mega Buster Mode to make battles easier. There’s an auto-save, which I appreciated. Most importantly, the Noise Mod Gear is present and immediately available without any unlocking in Mega Man Star Force 3: Black Ace and Red Joker . So you have the Noise, Purpose, and White Cards. But the real gem here is how much control you have over gameplay. It isn’t just about choosing a difficulty or using an upgraded buster to breeze through a fight in Assist. You can determine how often you encounter enemies, with four varying degrees or the ability to turn them off completely. It’s possibel to turn guaranteed escape on. You can adjust damage reduction percentage. After a fight, you can choose to have Mega Man fully recover and determine how much reward Zenny he gets. You can turn the EX/V2 Boss Locator on or off. It’s even possible to set up a TATE mode display so both the top and bottom screens appear, as there are center, top/bottom, left/right, and vertical as possibilities. The only downside is, if you have a Flip Grip, Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection isn’t really compatible with it. That’s because when you select “vertical,” then insert the Switch in that peripheral, it will automatically be upside down. There are some elements to Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection that bother me a bit, but they’re incredibly minor compared to the additions present. Some of the UI choices look a bit odd, in terms of fonts, and it features the same sort of filter as the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection did. But then, I’m also the sort of person who’d probably have been happy to get all of these games on more platforms without any HD additions or adjustments. It’s something you do eventually get used to, but given how many other times we get choices to choose how we want the games to sound or what the dual screen layout should look like, I sort of wish there was a UI option as well. Likewise, sometimes the HD filter bugs me in the same way the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection ’s did. Images via Capcom Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is another win for Capcom game preservation efforts. It grants us access to elements unseen outside of Japan. We get complete control over the experience, with opportunities to make it easier or more difficult. We choose exactly how it displays, making the two-screen game feel as comfortable as someone would like. I’m still a bit disappointed with some font and HD filter appearances. But if you love Mega Man , this is another lovely tribute to an enjoyable spin-off series. Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC . The post Review: Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection Preserves More Classics appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraApr 2

Content Warning Console Versions Shadowdrop Following an April Fools Day 2024 debut, the game Content Warning appeared on consoles like the Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X on April 1, 2026 . While it was temporarily free when it first launched on PCs, it does cost $9.99/€9.49/£8.99 on digital storefronts. On Steam, it is now $7.99. Content Warning is a multiplayer horror simulation. Up to four players don diving suits, grab a camera, and head to a place called “The Old World” to film what they find on expeditions. The key is that you need to survive these encounters with the footage intact so you can upload it and become famous on SpookTube. The first three days determine the rest of the course of your session, as you need to become a success and initially get 480 views by the end of that in order to keep playing. If you do, you can continue expeditions to get more money for upgrades and fame. Here’s a trailer that shows how it looks and works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTi6n2nZb_A The console launch of Content Warning is accompanied by an update for the PC version. It adds a number of features. One is that it is fully compatible with the Steam Deck. Another is that cross-play is available on all platforms, and we’re able to enable it in the settings. This is one of multiple “games” to drop on April Fools’ Day 2026. Another is City Connection and Clover Lab’s browser-based baseball game featuring Hololive Vtubers . Content Warning is available for the Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. The post Content Warning Console Versions Shadowdrop appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraApr 1

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 .

SiliconeraMar 26

Pokemon TCG: The Best Perfect Order Cards Lumiose City, the setting of Pokemon Legends Z-A , is the focus of the latest Pokemon Trading Card Game set. We’ve seen a few new Megas recently, of course! But this expansion actually gets a lot more into the world and characters of Z-A . What, then, are the best Perfect Order cards? We’ll get into that too! The coolest Pokemon TCG Perfect Order cards Mega Zygarde ex is the obvious centerpiece of the set, both in flash and substance. It’s big, and the energy costs make it sort of unwieldy, but you’d probably feel pretty powerful if you got it up and going! Its three-energy attack deals 200 damage and makes it a bit more resistant to damage, and its five-energy attack flips a coin for each opponent and deals 150 to them on a heads. It’s also fun to see more Z-A characters . Jacinthe, Tarragon and Naveen get their own cards, and for a franchise (and, frankly, genre) that has often struggled with representation, we’ll note that these characters getting a bit more time is welcome. You can also spend some time in the city and eat a galette! Photo by Siliconera The most interesting Perfect Order cards This definitely falls into “interesting” because it feels way too unwieldy to be meta-relevant, but there’s a combo in this set that feels great to pull off. Combining Vivillon and Decidueye ex — yeah, two stage twos — gets you a lot! You can use Vivillon’s ability to shuffle your opponent’s hand and have them draw to four cards, and then Decidueye’s ability makes it ignore energy costs if the opponent has exactly four cards. Which means it gets a no-cost 240-damage attack that also discards an energy. A new stall candidate joins the fray in the form of Turtonator . Its Shell Spikes ability makes an opponent discard an energy if it’s damaged. Dewgong lets you move Water energy to your Active as much as you’d like, which could be handy with unpredictability or transferring energy from a beaten-up ally. This might be a fun combo with Lapras ex and its Hydro Turn attack, which does more damage with more energy and forces its own retreat at the end. Photo by Siliconera The most meta-relevant Pokemon TCG Perfect Order cards Never before has this one been so clear! It’s Meowth ex . Like Lumineon V and Tapu Lele GX before it, it’s a utility play, with a Last-Ditch Catch ability that lets you search for a Supporter when you put it on your bench. And they seem to be setting up this sort of ability for the long haul! “Last-Ditch” is now a sort of keyword, limiting abilities like it to one per turn. This may stop some legendary one-turn wins, but also? The game could use some balancing, so we welcome the attempt. In addition, we’ve got a few new Special Energy to use! Growing Grass Energy gives a Pokemon of the type an extra 20 HP. Rocky Fighting Energy prevents status effects from attacks. Telepathic Psychic Energy lets you search for Basics as a bonus when you attach it. These all seem like nice bonuses, and will probably make it into decks as long as they don’t have abilities that need energy cards to be basic. We’ll also mention Aromatisse , with the ability to pull two Psychic energy from your deck every turn and accelerate strategies, and Barbaracle , which similarly accelerates by attaching an extra Fighting energy each turn. The cutest Perfect Order cards This set has a few good ones! Our favorite might be Shinx , with an upbeat thick-lined illustration from artist Saboteri. An earnest Clefairy and calmer Dedenne are close runners-up. Seel looks like it’s having a good time, and we’re endeared to Snorlax doing its best to fit in the frame. The Illustration Rares also have a few standouts, like Rowlet and two alternative takes on those Dedenne and Clefairy. It’s honestly nice that Perfect Order only clocks in at 88 normal cards and 124 total, after the whopper that was Ascended Heroes , but it does mean fewer of these full-art chase cards to admire. The latest Pokemon Trading Card Game set, Mega Evolution: Perfect Order , will launch March 27, 2026. For more on the game, check out our Pokemon TCG archive . The post Pokemon TCG: The Best Perfect Order Cards appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraMar 22

Review: Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime Oozes Charm If a game can put you in a good headspace, that’s great. I love that. If it can do so while also challenging me to think critically, even better. Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime , the latest from Bonte Avond, stars charming characters, features incredible songs, challenges us with the Checkers -like Frogtime battles, and just makes whoever’s playing it feel good. It’s a lovely way to spend a few hours every day for a week, with the strategic element making it feel quite replayable. Bonnie Bear had a rough year, so much so that she wasn’t even going to celebrate her birthday, but her friends had other ideas. They surprise her with a cape and everyone getting Toad Bags so they can all play their favorite game, Frogtime, together. However, something else seems to be going on. A mysterious shell is also left as a gift by an unknown individual, quickly stolen by bully Rik Spek. (Who also eats her whole birthday cake.) While the group does eventually get the shell back, it leads to an even bigger predicament that leads to Ann being held captive inside of the artifact and puts the fate of Frogtime in jeopardy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKFsNrKK3xQ What really struck me about Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is the pacing and progression both in terms of the narrative and gameplay. The scope in both cases gradually grows and develops in such a way that we’re prepared for ramifications. In the case of the story, it’s seeing the way in which the journey develops and takes Bonnie to different places. We go from dealing with a bully to frogkind-saving implications. As for the Frogtime matches themselves, early challenges involve Rik Spek and his deck with a single legendary-tier frog to more competent folks like Botte. Likewise, we see the progression of Bonnie Bear’s self worth both through experience after each battle and due to actions taken throughout the game. But it isn’t just Bonnie, as we see that same sort of character development happen for supporting cast members. While we can go around and talk to folks, playing Frogtime and beating increasingly more adept opponents drives the action in Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime . I mentioned earlier it is like Checkers, in a way, but it’s more generally a turn-based strategy game and deck builder. Our Toad Bag holds frogs Bonnie’s collected, each with their own unique tendencies and damage-dealing levels. There is a 9x3 grid as the field, with the first and final rows being the starting points for Bonnie and her opponent. There must be six frogs in play at any time, with three from each participant, and you can only fit eight frogs in your Toad Bag at once. The goal is to get to the other player’s endzone so it can deal damage, with the one knocked out first as the loser. Images via Bonte Avond Though I find it easiest to compare Frogtime to Checkers , “jumping” opponents to make further progress and reaching the other side of the field are only part of it. The frog diversity really helps matches feel like a challenge. For example, some frogs’ strong point isn’t jumping! Like a Charger will deal two damage and, after moving twice and charging up, it will dash forward two additional spaces. A Hopper can be a great frog to play once after your initial three are placed, as its skills involve hopping over frogs, dealing a minimum of two damage, and potentially dealing up to five damage if it can perform double jumps. There are even special traits, like Riders, and one like a Dino Sir (frog riding a Brontosaurus-style dinosaur) will deal extra damage if it isn’t the only “Rider” you sent out to fight. Basically, there’s a lot to think about! It’s handled in a way that gets you thinking about synergy! If you spend a lot of time on it, you could end up spending way more time than necessary to build up a fantastic Toad Bag to tackle foes! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QGPMl0syXA Perhaps not surprising from a Bonte Avond game, but Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime features a phenomenal soundtrack. From silly little asides like, “Rik Spek (Look at My Six Pack)” to more serious ones like “Bonnie’s Theme,” it is fantastic. These are absolute earworms. Even though some got me choked up with some of the more poignant lyrics, they still made me feel great. Clearly, that’s something we need more of nowadays. Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime features the same heart and humor as other Bonte Avond games. Even better, it pairs that with a strategy game that might seem simple, but gets more involved as you find frogs. It’s incredibly charming, and Bonte Avond proves adept at making someone smile and tear up within the span of a few hours. Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is available on the Switch and PC . The post Review: Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime Oozes Charm appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraMar 20

Dead in Antares Is Fun When It Works Ishtar Games’ Dead in series always involves attempting to help a group survive in a perilous situation through smart choices and character management. Over the years, each entry’s tended to feel better than the last. Both Dead in Bermuda and Dead in Vinland had a lot of potential, when random luck didn’t get you down. With Dead in Antares , we’re seeing the next step in the series. It can be entertaining when things are working. However, between losing two save files so far, issues with important Key of Enlil items disappearing ( that’s patched now ), and the RNG involved, I couldn’t beat it just yet. This seems like it could be an enjoyable adventure and Ishtar Games is clearly working on issues, but I feel like it needs a few more patches. Dead in Antares involves a situation in which our crew of 10 people stranded on a foreign planet aren’t the only ones in danger. All of earth is. Our explorers went out into the universe on the Ixion to search for resources that could save civilization as we know it, but crashed and burned on a planet called Antares Prime. We now must follow Captain Amelia and help keep everyone alive, managing each person’s status, while exploring the world, interacting with Ataraxian and Atlantean aliens, and finding the means of getting off the planet and saving earth. However, while we can choose from Story, Adventure, Survival, and Last Chance Mission difficulties, if even one of the ten members of the Ixion dies, your run is over and you need to restart from the beginning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QOCub3pdQ0 The first thing that struck me about Dead in Antares is that despite the “playable” Steam Deck status, it’s really not meant for any kind of handheld gaming device. There was no controller support when I kicked in, and the nature of the UI means it’s best played with a mouse and on a larger screen. This is a very text-heavy game, and there are a lot of status screen elements to peruse when making choices about upgrades, station assignments, and combat. Some of it is well explained! I do feel like, while this is billed as a title where you don’t need past experience with the series, it definitely helped that I played Dead in Vinland . But if someone has survival management and life/stat management simulation experience, you'll be fine. When you first wake up on Antares Prime, not everyone is available. The first day, Captain Amelia, Liu the engineer, and William the medic are the only ones awake while the rest of the crew remains in hibernation. Each day involves some people heading out on an expedition in the immediate area to look for resources and items to salvage. When you return to camp after that outing, you can build up and manage stations and upgrade the areas to ensure you have water, power, and food. As you do things like build radar, you can explore more. After days pass, Polina the astrophysicist and others like Noemi and Maria are woken up to help provide more assistance in their areas of expertise. Days then involve going through exploration and camp phases to ensure progress is being made on both fronts. The gameplay loop is compelling and works well, and it's very easy to get caught up in the idea of spending one more day getting certain tasks done. As I mentioned ahead of time, random luck is one of the elements that can hurt the Dead in Antares experience, potentially putting you in a less-than-optimal situation in many ways. Enemies in battle are subject to range in terms of what their attributes might be, which means facing even ones you’re familiar with can be frustrating. Items you get when exploring? Random. Odds of people getting hurt or ill? Random. When you level up, the trait options the character gets to choose from also seems random. That’s probably most frustrating, since sometimes I had builds that seemed good, but bugs got in the way. I didn’t even get past 20 days on the planet during two runs due to my Dead in Antares save issues and other problems. This meant that I’d only unlocked the ability to have six members of the Ixion working toward survival and research, even though all 10 had woken up. As a result, I typically needed two or three people just getting food and water needed to keep the crew alive, three or four on my mission, and four doing nothing, and I never got far enough to enjoy the benefits of more folks active. Images via Ishtar Games It's those kinds of bugs that keeping me from completely recommending and reviewing Dead in Antares right now. As I've said, I lost two saves. One happened after only 11 days, which didn’t feel too bad, but I had trouble finding motivation to return after I lost one after 18 days. I experienced a missing Key of Enlil issue after a quest, though a patch did fix that. I also went through the early issue with battles not responding to inputs, which again was fixed a while ago . One problem I encountered most recently is an issue with crop infestations, but after checking the Steam forums it seems Ishtar Games is aware of it due to someone else dealing with it. While there's a full finished game here with some fascinating events and a gameplay loop that could be great when all's working well, at times I found Dead in Antares almost felt like an early access build. Ishtar Games seems on top of things, as hotfixes and full patches appear at a steady pace. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in a few weeks, the game is in a much better place. Because there is potential! I can see how some choices and decisions already started to matter in my files, even though I’ve yet to reach an ending yet due to bugs. Especially since some of the updates seem to combat RNG negative effects by doing things like adjusting experience for new characters after hibernation. I think by April or May, it could be worth playing. But for the moment, it could be best to wait for a few more updates. Dead in Antares is available for PCs. The post Dead in Antares Is Fun When It Works appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraMar 14

Nekopara Sekai Connect Mobile and PC Release Date Set Neko Works and Good Smile Company shared a release date for the mobile version of Nekopara Sekai Connect and a window for the PC port of the game. It will show up on Android and iOS devices worldwide on April 14, 2026, which falls in line with the promised Spring window . The Steam launch has an Autumn 2026 release window, but it will be possible to start on mobile and then continue by logging into the PC version. App Store , Google Play , and Steam product pages are already live. While it will include visual novel elements and existing Neko characters from Nekopara , the new game will also feature original characters and other kinds of gameplay. You’ll be managing La Soliel and taking part in a competition against other people in similar situations. This means getting cards for characters and equipping them to your deck for versus matches to be the more popular restaurant. If your shop ends up being the best, you’ll meet the Neko-creating AI and get a wish granted. There will also be segments in which you care for the characters by giving them food and brushing their hair, and the description also mentioned a rhythm minigame. Here are some of the latest screenshots for the PC version of Nekopara Sekai Connect . Image via Good Smile Company and Neko Works The Nekopara Sekai Connect mobile devices release date is April 14, 2026, and it will later appear on PCs via Steam in Fall 2026. Games in the original series are available on platforms like the Switch, PS4, PC, and mobile devices. The post Nekopara Sekai Connect Mobile and PC Release Date Set appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraMar 11

Death Howl’s Gameplay and Narrative Help It Fit on Switch Death Howl is one of those unique strategic roguelikes that someone could play for 15 minutes for five hours straight, and it means the Switch version couldn’t come soon enough. I thoroughly enjoyed this brutal game when I played it on the PC . But there’s something about the nature of it that makes the gameplay loop and narrative beats feel highlighted so well here. As a quick refresher, Death Howl is a strategic roguelike with a nearly monochromatic kinds of color palettes and melancholy story. Based on Scandinavian folklore, we follow a grieving mother named Ro searching the other side for her dead son Olvi who was stolen away from her. This means traversing different areas, facing all sorts of entities and beasts with abilities she gathers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGF-v--wGhk The narrative is fantastic. There are so many themes running through it. Revenge is a critical one, since there’s a central stag figure associated with her son’s death and apparent abduction. Not to mention she’s angry with Death itself over the loss. Coming to terms with the situation is another, since this is a journey about grief and clearly she’s going through the bargaining and depression stages while also being angry about everything and denying that this is a situation that can’t be undone. But there’s also this veil of uncertainty over everything. Due to the use of symbolism and design choices, Ro is an unreliable narrator and there are gaps in our knowledge as players. Which means part of the motivation that keeps us going is to finally know the truth of it all. Having the game on the Switch makes it easy to keep going so we can absorb the information and take in what possible truths could be hinted at as we play. The Switch also makes for a good way to appreciate the art direction in Death Howl in the same way that the Steam Deck and other handheld gaming PCs do. This is a strategy game with sprite-based designs, an isometric perspective of the board, and limited color palettes for each region. Actual spirit designs play with shading and color options to depict details that wouldn’t otherwise be possible with the limitations. When there are effects from actions and spell usage, we see intricate animations. While it is possible to view these and take away the excellence, I feel like having it in handheld mode where you could really take a moment to look closer at details. Image via The Outer Zone It also helps that the Switch port is a great version of Death Howl . Given how text-heavy it is for cards and combat, the color and font choices make it clear even when the lettering is little. It’s almost always clear and legible. Pair that with the great controller-based scheme carried over from the PC release, and it is quite comfortable to play. Handhelds are a good fit for roguelike games, and the artistic direction, narrative, and gameplay of Death Howl make it feel especially strong on the Switch. It’s a great port that plays well on the system. The nature of the storyline makes it a perfect game to play in a darkened room. Since the gameplay encourages deck experimentation and strategic decisions, you can really get cozy and experience it. It feels exceptionally at home here. Death Howl is available on the Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The post Death Howl’s Gameplay and Narrative Help It Fit on Switch appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraFeb 21

McDonald’s Japan Will Have Anime-Themed Uno Decks McDonald’s Japan will include Spy x Family and My Hero Academia Uno decks in its Happy Meals from February 27, 2026. They will be available for about three weeks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUnKaP1daAM There are two parts to the anime Uno collaboration. From February 27 to March 5, 2026, you can get the Anya, Loid, and Todoroki decks. Anya’s is Uno Flip, while Loid’s is just normal Uno. Todoroki's is Uno All Wild. Then, from March 6 to March 12, 2026, McDonald’s will launch the second half of the collaboration. During this period, you can get the Yor, Bakugou, and Deku decks. Yor’s deck is Uno All Wild, Bakugou’s is Uno Flip, and Deku’s is normal Uno. From March 13, 2026, you can get any deck from the above six. Images via McDonald's, Mattel These Uno anime decks are actually available on their own, so you don’t have to get a McDonald’s Happy Meal for them if you don’t want to. They’re more expensive that way, though. It should also be noted that Japan isn’t the first or only country to get these Uno decks. Canadian McDonald’s announced this collaboration in January 2026 , along with Boruto decks. The Spy x Family and My Hero Academia Uno decks will be available in McDonald’s Happy Meals in Japan from late February 2026. The post McDonald’s Japan Will Have Anime-Themed Uno Decks appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraFeb 21

Culdcept the First and Culdcept Begins Games Revealed Two new Culdcept games are on the way, with Culdcept the First heading to the PC and Culdcept Begins showing up on the Switch, Switch 2, and PC. While the latter first appeared in the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase February 2026 montage , the former only appeared when the Steam page launched. Culdcept Begins is the entry with a confirmed release date. That will show up on consoles on July 16, 2026. The Steam page for that only shows a 2026 window, so it is unknown if that will also be available at the same time. The page for Culdcept the First only notes “coming soon” and doesn’t even mention if it will show up in 2026. Both games feature similar gameplay , as they are board games that also blend in JRPG, TCG, and creature-collecting mechanics. You build up a deck of cards that includes monsters, spells, and items. Your goal as a Cepter is to defeat enemies and maintain territory on the board by installing your creatures in spots. It can almost feel a bit similar to Itadaki Street or Monopoly in terms of the conquering parts of the board. Culdcept the First is an updated release of the classic game, which adds features like quick saves and loads, bonus pack reward adjustments, and a rewind feature. Here’s the Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase montage that included Culdcept Begins clips. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFgscsKBMH4 And you can see the first Culdcept the First trailer below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHSea4GfAdc Culdcept Begins will come to the Switch and Switch 2 on July 16, 2026, with a PC version confirmed. Culdcept the First is also on the way to PCs. The post Culdcept the First and Culdcept Begins Games Revealed appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraFeb 5