Who thought that guessing where you are in the world by looking at an image would be this fun? The makers of GeoGuessr thought so,?? and they were right! If you are looking to get in on the fun but don't want to put up with?? ads or buy a subscription, we've got you covered.

Here are the best free GeoGuessr alternatives in 2025.

Best free GeoGuessr alternatives in 2025

OpenGuessr

If you have played the original GeoGeussr at all, you may be pleased to know that OpenGuessr offers the same experience, but for free, thanks to community donations. While there is an annoying pop-up that appears every once in a while, you can jump in and play the basic gameplay mode without spending a dime?.

You ??can choose from several map modes, for example, urban cities only. This can make things slightly? easier than being dropped in the middle of the desert.

There are also comm?unity-selected maps—such as train stations or?? airports, for example—if you want to play an even more specific mode. There is also multiplayer and a variety of other game modes, so if you plan on using it we recommend creating an account.

The only limitation here is that the game will still show street names, as it doesn't use the original GeoGuessr API to filter them. But this is a small complai?nt for what is a great (and free) alternative.

Geohub

This is still one of the best free alternatives to Geoguessr around. You will have to cre?ate an account before playing, unlike other options o??n this list, but it's pretty quick and easy.

The game features a lot of different maps. If you are interested in guessing only countries, cities, famous landmarks, or specific places in the US or Canada, you'll love Geohub.

You can also create and save your own maps and use them to play? together with your friends, and you can take part in daily challenges against other players for a spot on the scoreboard. It also features a great menu-based interface that makes customizing a match a breeze.

Geotastic

This used to be one of the best free alternatives to GeoGuessr, but to use it now you'll have t?o create an account and put up with ads. If you aren't bothered too much by ads, t?his is still an okay alternative, even though some gameplay modes are only accessible through donations.

Still, Geotastic features many different gameplay modes, ?such as daily challenges and even commun??ity tournaments. If you want to be part of a solid community, this will be a great way to do it.

Players can either create a local ??game as part of the single-player mode or opt for an online lobby for the multiplayer option.

Guess Where You Are

If you are looking for a more barebones alternative to GeoGuessr, but want one that is entirely free and also features no ads, then Guess Where You Are will do the trick. The site drops?? you into a random spot in the world and you can start playing right away.

But there are also more gameplay modes since the game will let you access daily challenges and even community-created tournaments where you can compete for a high score. You can a?lso hide street names once you have enough XP points to reach level 3, which will require creating an account and then diving in to guess right a few times.

Overall, while it does not offer a lot of features compared to other alternatives,? this is a great option for a quick play with your friends or if you are planning to stream on Twitch.

World Guesser

Here's another great alternative to GeoGuessr if all you want is the basic gameplay loop. You can also get hints in this itera??tion of the game.

World Guesser starts out pretty easy, so don't be surprised if you see the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Lib?erty at first. It will get progressively harder after a few rounds, though.

That is all there is to this simple free alternative, no multiplayer, no other gameplay modes or cust?om maps. But if all you are looking for is guessing where you are, it's a solid entry.

Zoomtastic

Time for something a bit different. Zoomtastic uses the same idea as GeoGuessr but presents it differently. You get a zoomed-in map that, over a few seconds, will start slowly zooming out. You get presented with four different answers as to what the place is called, a??nd you need to answer as fast as possible to get more points.

Who doesn't love multiple-choice questions? It is, unfortunately, a bit limited, in that you can only guess countries, cities, and landmarks. There is a recently added historical-based game which? is an interesting new idea.

Yo?u can also create your own game modes, so if you only want to do airports or train stations with friends, you can.

Worldle

This is a simple alternative to GeoGuessr with no ads and no subscription-based service. Simply visit the website and get ready to guess. The? catch is that you only get six rounds for free per day. You're also allowed multiple attempts to guess, which is great if you are just learning how to play.

Also, after each round you get a little hint circle to narrow down the place and country you are looking for. Pretty useful if you are not a big fan of the frustration of the original GeoGuessr.

There are a couple of gameplay modes as well, such as Streaks where you try to rack up as many points as possible by guessing correctly consecutively. You can also customize distanc?e and other options to make the game more or less difficult.

Seterra

Created by GeoGuessr, this is a bit of a different game. ??It's a map quiz, rather than a Google Maps-based guessing game. Still, if you love geography then you'll enjoy this game. You can play with friends as well, all for free.

Think of it as a more kid-friendly version of GeoGuessr that helps you learn more about geography, instead of simply ??trying to guess where you are in the world.

Seterra has a web version for computers and m??obile apps for Android and iOS. You can customize quizzes can and you select the locations you want your quiz to feature. The entire world is available across all seven continents, so ?get ready to learn.

Hide & Seek World

This multipl??ayer alternative has a varied and interesting selection of gameplay m??odes on offer, with the basic one being an iteration of hide and seek. One player hides somewhere on the map while others try to find them.

Unfortunately, its free mode is pretty limited since you only get tw??o public games per day.

You can still join games hosted by players with a membership for free, ?however. If you're interested, a membership is only a coup?le of dollars per month.

In other gameplay modes, you can find Wolly (the site's mascot) around the world, while competing with up to twenty other users. It's a great site to enjoy with friends, but as a strict alternative to GeoGuessr, it is a bit limited.

Cityguessr

If you are looking for a highly simplistic (and free) alternative and the thing you like the most from GeoGuessr is just guessing cities, then Cityguessr is perfect for you. You'll see a photo of a city in Europe (or Fra??nce or the UK?) and you will have to guess which city it is.

You have two minutes to guess while looking around and exploring as much ??as you want. You can take as many guesses as you want as well, so it's not super strict. There are also leaderboards and... that's it. Quite barebones, but still free and with no ads.

The post Best Free GeoGuessr Alternatives in 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

While the controls on the Deck work pretty fine for most genres, there's something innately relaxing about sitting back and playing with the touch screen. And few games are quite as suited to this purp?ose as deck builders.

So here are some of the best deck builder games you can play on t?he Steam Deck.

Which are the best deck builder games on the Steam Deck?

Slay the Spire

Nothing comes close to this—one of the original roguelike deck builders. While there were games in the genre before, Slay the Spire kickstarted the overall idea. Many have tried to imitate it, but few have come c?lose. Choose one of the starting characters and prepare for a long sequence of fights w??hile you try to climb to the top of the spire.

However, the path you choose will be the key to su?ccess, since your chosen strategy is the only difference between a successful climb and a miserable failure. Every encounter, event, and path on the spire map presents opportunities for risk and reward.

Are you going to take a chance on a mysterious event, and perhaps get your hands on rewards and boons, or stick to a safer route with no rewards in sight? With a unique 2D graphic style, atmospheric music, and lore far deeper than it might seem at first, Slay The Spire remai??ns the best game in the genre. It runs great on the Deck, an?d both the touch screen and controls are a joy to use.

Wildfrost

With an overwhelming slew of positive reviews, this is another great addition to your collection of deckbuilders. Wildfrost will have you thinking about which cards to add t??o your deck and which ones to use in battles.

Each journey starts by choosing a leader for y?our flock, with each one bringing its very own skil??ls and unique stats. You then start your trek in the wild frozen lands, trying to survive and find companions that can help you along the way.

With a cute art style and an overall clean look, this is perfect for fans of the genre who want to bring their decks on the go. Indeed, Wildfrost works per?f?ectly well on the Steam Deck and is verified.

Stacklands

Do you want to build your deck using people, buildings, and food instead of cards? Then you are ready to establish your own medieval settlement in Stacklands. Open packs of cards to add villagers, reso??urces, buildings, and tasks to your settlement. But that’s not all, since stacking them in creative ways will be the main mechanic used to grow your little village while enjoying a wonderful sense of discovery.

Help feed hungry villagers with new technologies such as fire and the fridge while you arm your warriors to repel attacks from rats, g?oblins, and evil wizards beset on conquering your realm.

Stacklands works like a dream on the deck, and the touchscreen is easy to use. If you're not a fan of fast-paced combat and loops, you can also play i?n “pacifist�mode and enjoy a more chilled experience.

Ballionaire

While most of the deck builders on this list are pretty relaxed in terms of pacing, Ballionaire is a bit of an exception. Instead of collecting cards, you build? your very own Pachinko board.

Your goal is to build the perfect pachink??o board to trigger insane combos and earn boons. You can then modify the very rules of the game using these boons to further your progress.

With so many different combinations to try out, plus endless replayability via mods, Ballionaire will be perfect for those looking for a different, more action-oriented flavor of deck builder. Plus, it works pretty great on the Steam Deck, with fantastic touch controls that give you complete control o?f the board.

Dicey Dungeons

Despite being a few years old, this classic roguelite featuring dice protagonists is still one of the best offerings in the genre. This delightful game combines a great art ?style with a quirky story that will have you root for your die as they go against the evil Lady Luck. The gameplay is also rich in ideas and quirky mechanics.

While it might feel a bit on the easy side, especially compared to other offerings ??in the genre, it offers great ba??ng for your buck, even featuring limited-time events during special occasions throughout the year—such as Haloween.

Each of the six characters feels unique and has their own style of gameplay and dialogue, making Dicey Dungeons a great pick. I?t works great on the Deck, too?, whatever your style of play.

Backpack Battles

What if the strength of your character came from how well you organized the items in your backpack? That'd be pretty strange, right? Backpack Battles offers a different flavor of roguelike deckbuilding by having you collect and combine items in your backpack. T??he more stacked it is, the more likely you are to win the next battle.

You ?can also go up against real builds of other players in the online Ranked mode, or simply have a good time in Casual for a good time without pressure.

While still in Early Access, the team is working hard on the game and what's on offer is already great value. Backpack Battles is also already ve??rified on the Deck, so it's perfect for those quick sessions.

Ascension: Deckbuilding Game

Want to go back to the classic deck builder experience? Meet Ascension, the game adaptation of the original board game. While this might be more complex than other titles on th?is list, it will be manna from heaven for any serious lovers of the genre.

Not only can you play ag??ainst the computer, but also online against friends to see who can employ the better strategy through their selection of cards. The game also comes with well-made tut??orials that teach you how to play in just a few minutes.

It's a gr??eat game for short sessions since it doesn't feature a story or campaign mode—it's all about single matches. Also, if you want to expand the base game, there are tons of DLCs to try ?out.

The game, overall, works fine on the Deck even though it?? might require you to input some text via the keyboard sometimes, which you can conjure up by pressing the Steam button plus X.

Loop Hero

In Loop Hero, you wield an expanding deck of mysti?cal cards to place enemies, buildings, and terrain along each unique expedition loop for the brave hero.

By surviving as long as possible and using all the cards at your disposal, you can recover loot that will make your hero powerful and unlock new hero classes. Plus, between loops, you can return to the survivors' camp to ex?pand and unlock new features and abilities.

This is a slightly different flavor on your classic?? deckbuilder, but a strong contender for one of the best in the genre. It's genuinely hard to put down. Since this is a great game to play in short bursts, it is perfect for on-the-go sessions with your Steam Deck. It works pretty well on the device with no big issues.

Across the Obelisk

Lead your team on a quest to save a brave party of strong heroes whil??e trying to survive as long as possible. You'll face tough battles and tricky events on the way through. You ca??n play this deck builder with friends in co-op mode, but it's also enjoyable solo.

There are an incredible number of cards to choose from, and several interesting class combinations that you can unlock while upgrading your party of heroes. Across the Obelisk doesn't reinvent the wheel in terms of mechanics or ideas, but for any fans of the genre, this is a great game to sink a few hour??s into every day.

On the Deck, it works perfe?ctly most of the time, but there can be times when you'll have to squint to read the small text descriptions, but it's not a serious problem??.

Knock on the Coffin Lid

If you've already played the classics such as Slay the Spire and Monster Train, then it may be time to go beyond the grave and sink into this grim, ho?rror-tinged deck builder. You have three characters to choose from, which might not feel like much, but they?? have four subclasses as well. Each one basically works like an entirely different character, with unique attacks and cards.

Exploring maps will uncover events with unique options for each charac??ter, and the story is well-written and brought to life thanks to some excellent voice acti??ng.

This title also works great on the Steam Deck, even though it is currently unverified. Since the overall action does not reach a crazy pace, the touchscreen should be more than enough to win battles by choosing the right strategy. Knock on the Coffin Lid is a labor of love that will please de?ck builder fans.

The post The best deck builder games for the Steam Deck appeared first on Destructoid.

The original Nintendo 8-bit console has an incredible library of games, with more than 1000 officially licensed games and even more unofficial titles. Which ones are the most overlooked and worth rediscovering? We? have selected ten of them.

What are the most overlooked NES games?

Monster Party

Imagine you are strolling along a quiet village road. All of a sudden, thunder strikes, and everything turns grim, bloody and scary. That is the first level in Monster Party, a game that somehow managed to pass almost ?unscathed the fiery censorship eyes of early 90s Nintendo. This is one of those rare full-on horror games on the NES, with so man?y references to classic genre movies such as The Thing and Little Shop of Horrors.

Even the story is quite deranged, with a boy tasked to help a monster get back his world, with even a gorey fake ending! The gameplay is an interesting mix of RPG and classic sidescrolling action as well, with short levels an?d memorable boss fights. There are even bosses who won't fight you because they are too scared. Unfortunately, the Western version is still missing a few references that will have horror fans giddy with delight, so if possible, we would recommend checking out the Japanese version.

Little Nemo Dream Master

One of my favorite tropes from early 90s platformers is dreamy mechanics and levels that go into full-on fantasy mode. Much like Castle of Illusion for Sega consoles, Little Nemo Dream Master floats in that same direction. It features many unique and interesting ??gameplay ideas at its levels, plus the chance to ride anything from a frog to a gorilla, as long as you have enough candy to share. Naturally, you will need the animals to complete certain levels but don't expect the game to ever hold your hand.

With the animated movie quickly fading into obscurity, un?fortunately, the game seemed to follow suit, and it is rarely remembered except by true NES aficionados. It is definitely worthy of being rediscovered today for its many unique mechanics.

Capcom at the time was on a roll with tie-in platformer games, even though with some pretty forgettable ones such as Avoid the Noid. Both Little Nemo and Ducktales 2 will surely make many platformer fans happy.

Kickle Cubicle

There are a lot of simple and quirky puzzle games on NES, especially ones originally inspired by Sokoban (the game where you move crates in the right spots). Here, Kickle Cubicle takes the idea and ra??mps it ??up to eleven with many challenging levels where you will have to figure out how to survive, as you will have to contend with springs, ice floors, and all kinds of traps and tricks.

Luckily, Kickle can freeze most enemies with his icy breath?, which works quite well against them. But then, you can also walk up and give them a good kick in th??e rear. Talk about icy revenge! Naturally, each world will pit you against a boss at the end.

As with many puzzle games on the NES, this brings quite a bit of bang for your buck, with even a special post-game world to unlock. If you are looking for more obscure puzzle games, we also recommend Eggerland, which has recently received a?n English translation patch.

The Battle of Olympus

Often categorized as little more than a Zelda II clone, this unfairly treated action RPG from 1988 is instead quite different. This feels more like an early example of a Metroidvania, as you explor?e Greece, kill enemies, buil?d up levels, and collect olives (which function just like rupees).

Naturally, you can solve several side-quests to get upgraded health, shield, and speed. If you have been on the hunt for a sort of demake of Hades?, you could definitely get your fill of ancient Greek gods here.

While it can be a bit too cryptic in some places for the modern player, it is also fair to say that no one will yell at you for consulting a walkthrough. The Battle of Olympus allows you to exp??lore freely, along with going back to previously visited areas to open up new places, especially since there are a lot of secrets a??nd hidden power-ups. Naturally, in the end, you will have to fight none other than Hades in a two-phase fight that will leave you quite breathless.

Faxanadu

On a console that is mostly categorized by the two Zelda games, other 2D RPGs are often overlooked and forgotten. But don't give up on them; since Faxanadu is one of the better examples of the genre o?n the console, it's not an accident that the game has garnered a cult fol??lowing over the last twenty years.

??Thanks to its simple and atmospheric graphics, complete with areas filled with fog and atmospherical effects, plus grotesque enemies and huge bosses, this is one adventure with all the right ingredients to be of interest to lovers of old-school action RPGs. Not ?to mention, lovers of Norse mythology as it is all about climbing that huge world tree.

While it featured an original password system, which still works well, as it will allow you to pick up where you died, you can still use save states if you are planning on emulating it. This is an adventure that any serious The Legend of Zelda lovers can't afford to miss out on.

Space Shuttle Project

Houston, do you read me, over? We have something quite different here. Indeed, in this game, your objective is not to rescue the princess or save the Mushroom Kingdom but instead to successfully launch and fly one of NASA's historic Space Shuttles as a shuttle commander. But what if I told you this feels like a precursor to WarioWare?

Indeed, the game features a lot of minigames through the six missions the player has to complete in order to launch the shuttle. For example, you will have to activate oxygen?? and hydrogen pumps or get additional crew members to board the shuttle before the clock runs over. In space, you will have to control your astronaut around debris and various space hazards, along with keeping an eye?? on the air gauge.

Along with a classic series of Quick Time Events, this is a very different experience than most NES games. But it might definitely be worth ??it since,? if you make it through to the end, you will receive congratulations directly from former US President George Bush himself! Or, well, maybe it's not worth it?

Isolated Warrior

This unique isometric action game is from the developers of other quite solid offerings in the genre, such as G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and Mutant Fighter. You'll help Max Maverick, the last survivor?? of his planet, rep?el an alien invasion.

With a unique perspective lifted directly from the classic SEGA arcade Zaxxon, the game offers smooth gameplay, fun weapons, many different types of enemies, and some of the finest isometric graphics s??een on the NES. There are even some, quite rare for the genre, story bits here and there, with Max reminiscing on his life between levels.

The game originally featured some technical problems, which can also be avoided today via emulation. While it would be too much to say that Isolated Warrior reinvents the ?wheel, it is one of the best of its kind in a genre that does not usuall?y get a lot of attention on the 8-bit Nintendo console.

Jackie Chan's Action Kung Fu

I hear you: a Jackie Chan game that ended up being forgotten? Perhaps because he still wasn't really a well-known action hero in the West back in 1990, but who cares? Action Kung Fu is one of the most fun experiences on the NES, wherein you'll fight against a powerful sorcerer to save Jackie's sister from certa??in doom.

The game has huge sprites and so many different fun enemies and ideas. Players punch and kick their way past frogs, ninjas, birds, and other enemies. But don't forge?t that?? good ol' Jackie can also use special moves like the Tornado attack and the classic 360-degree spin kick.

Somebody might c??omplain that the game is a bit on the easier side, and it can be finished in a matter of a few hours, even if you have never played it before. But do you even mind when the gameplay never gets boring or stale?

Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti

In the '80s, compan??ies were busy making little parodies of their classic games, and Splatterhouse: Wanpaku Graffiti fits the bill perfectly. The original gory and tragic hor?ror game becomes a quirky, deformed romp with Dracula doing the Thriller dance and drinking Coke to refill his health.

A killer in a hockey mask has never looked so cute while axing down zombies and ancient Egyptian divinities. Beyond the parody, Wanpaku Graffiti m?anages to bring the horror to a dimension of entraining 2D platforming, which never gets too hard for its own good.

While t?he pacing could have been improved here and there, this is still a great adventure. You will definitely want to stay for that out-of-nowhere ending too! This game is ideal for a bit of Halloween fun.

Sid Meier's Pirates!

This is a title that any serious PC gamer should probably?? be familiar with, even though the series has been dormant for a bit. Back in the 90s, most platforms and consoles got their own ?version, and on the NES, there's really little that can compare to its mix of open-world exploration, strategy and naval battles.

Ported to the 8-bit console by none other than Rare, the NES version does away with some of the more complicated systems of the original PC game, as can be expected. What is left, though, is still quite the unique strategy game. KOEI released a ton of different strategy games on the NES, but Pirates! keeps things simple, with the focus on exploration, plundering and bri?nging back the treasure to be divided between your c??rew.

The post The 10 Most overlooked NES games appeared first on Destructoid.

Regardless of whether you are playing on a Steam Deck or a rather old Android tablet, retro gaming is a hobby that you can pick up for free. But what about controlling your favorite classic game? Let's find out if gaming on a budget can work while? also getting an inexpensive Bluetooth controller.

Which are the best cheap Bluetooth controllers for retro gaming?

8BitDo Zero 2

If you are looking for the most bas??ic and portable solution on the market, then the Zero 2 by 8BitDo is definitely the best choice. It is going to set you back just 20$, and it is a d-pad and 8-button combination that should do the trick for most of the classic retro games from the 80s and 90s. It supports most of the platforms you might want to use it on, from Android to the Switch, Windows, and Steam.

Clearly, it might not be an ideal solution if you are going to play any kind of more modern games, such as Super Mario 64 or any game requiring camera movement in a 3D environment. It can be recharged via USB and should last you for about 15 hours of playing. For a basic solution that you can bring with you basically anywhere in your pocket and bring out for a quick game of Metal Slug?? at this price, it is honestly very hard not to recommend.

Retro-bit Sega Genesis Wireless Controller

Many will tell you that one of? the best controllers ever made, at least from a purely design standpoint, is the one for the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis. Leave it to Retro-bit to bring back that classic design, but with all modern commodi??ties such as rechargeable battery, 2.4 GHz Bluetooth, and an included sleep mode to save on battery. Basically, you get one of the best D-pad experiences from the 90s, with none of the issues.

The official wireless Sega Genesis pad by Retro-bit will set you back around 25$, which is a great price for its quality. The lag is?? almost non-existent, making it perfect to?? play even the most high-tension titles in wireless mode.

It is compatible with the original Sega console, plus its modern mini variant, along with PC and Nintendo Switch. Included in the price is a storage case, so you can bring it with you for those Golden Axe co-op sessions.

8BitDo Lite 2

For more modern retro gaming or if you are looking for a controller that not only features a r??obust D-pad but also two well-designed analog sticks, just a few dollars more should net ?you the Lite 2.

Again, it might not be the 100% ideal solution for 3D games, but since it can be easily found at less than thirty dollars, this is a downright steal. Along with all of the features of the original Zero 2, it also comes with vibration and motion cont?rol support for the Nintendo Switch. While the controller doesn't support Steam natively, you should be able to connect it with the Deck by putting it in "Switch mode."

If you are ?looking for more sturdy classic controllers that should fit most retro games, along with being perfect for modern games, we would recommend taking a look at the SN30 line by 8BitDo, even though that is in the 40-dollar range.

RetroFlag Classic 2.4G Controller-M

Setting you back just twenty dolla??rs, this is another controlle??r modeled after the classic Mega Drive / Genesis design, with a high-quality D-pad and some very good responsive buttons. It also features all-around solid compatibility since the controller works with the Nintendo Switch, on Windows, and the Raspberry Pi.

The controller can be?? connected both via the included USB receiver and via Bluetooth, which should make it easier to use on several platforms and consoles.

The RetroFlag Classic comes?? with a rechargeable battery, which will last you quite a few hours on a single charge. This is a tried and true ti??meless design that will fit your retro gaming needs just fine.

KingKong 2 Controller

This might be a little bit more on the pricier side, running at around 45-50 dollars. But, then again, if you are looking for a simple solution for all your needs,? retrogaming or otherwise, the KingKong 2 will do the trick without brea?king the bank.

It is compatible with basically everything you might want to use it for, from Nintendo Switch, Pc, Android, and iOS. The controller features quality analog triggers and a very simple reconfiguration of ?the buttons, so you can easily switch on the fly from playing on a Nintendo console to all other ??platforms.

Not only does the KingKong 2 controller's build quality have a n??ice premium feel, but the GuliKit company offers replacement parts for every part of the controller, so you can easily replace buttons or the rubber coating on the sticks without being forced to buy another one.

PlayStation 3 Dualshock

This might sound like a weird?? recommendation, but hear us out. If you are using a Steam Deck, the PS3 Dualshock controllers are recognized natively by several devices, so if you have an old controller lying around or can get one for cheap, you h?ave a quite cost-effective and sturdy controller that you can use.

Naturally, its compatibility varies, and you cannot think about connecting it to the Switch as it is. But it should work on the Deck. Some users have reported trouble with the latest version of the Steam Deck OS, but with a bit o??f fiddling, the controllers still work perfectly.

While you might be tempted by the cheap price of some of the PlayStation 3 knockoff controllers, we advise you not to buy any of them. While they might cost you l??ess than ten bucks, they are often flimsy and chea??p controllers and would not last you more than a few months. Also, the official PlayStation 3 controller is guaranteed to be used on the deck. With other controllers, that compatibility is unknown.

FAQ

Does it make sense for me to buy a Bluetooth controller?

Naturally, the answer to this question would depend on your specific needs. Generally speaking, it can be a purchase worth your money. Without breaking the bank, you can get a portable controller that works on several devices and with different emulators. Thanks to the ?wireless connection, you don't have to worry about your device having the right ports or drivers.

Are Bluetooth controllers compatible with all consoles and platforms?

Not really. In this list, we tried to cover all possible situations, but as a generic recommendation, always make sure, before you buy a controller, that it is com??patible with the device you want to use it for. Check the reviews as well. For example, most Bluetooth controllers could be compatible ?with Android or Windows, but using them on a Steam Deck might be out of the question.

Are cheap Bluetooth controllers worth it?

Obviously not; that's why we don't recommend going to Wish or AliExpress to buy the first controller that pops up. While clearly the more you spend and the better ?the control is, still that doesn't mean you have to spend fifty dollars to get a decent one. It all depends on your needs, how often you are going to use it, and if you value compatibility, portability, or build quality overall.

When should I use a wired controller instead of a wireless one?

Overall, there are only a couple of cases where a wired controller would be superior to a wireless model. If you are looking for the best response and the least laggy controllers, then one that comes with a cable is always the best option. But, for your generic gaming needs, a wireless controller should not have a lag?? that is too noticeable in any case. Also, it might happen that after a few years of use, your Bluetooth controller's battery has given up the ghost. In that case, indeed, the lack of a wire would make it all but unusable.

The post Best inexpensive Bl??uetooth ?controllers for retro games appeared first on Destructoid.

Ah the joys of gaming on the go were perhaps never brighter than in the good days of the Game Boy Advance. But what if you could still have that same joy on your?? mobile device?

You would just need to learn all about the best GB??A emulators for Android. Keep readi??ng!

Which are the best Game Boy Advance emulators for Android?

My Boy!

Recognized by many players to be the best emulator available for Android devices, Myboy runs most games on the old Nintendo handheld pretty much without issues. Not only that, but it will take up little space, and resource-wise, it's also pretty lightweight. It's got most of the options you would expect, such as controller customization and filters of all kinds and, if you switch over to another app, it will suspend the game and leave it for you to resume. Finally, its on-screen controls are probabl?y the best around.

While this emulator has a free version available (the Lite version), its features can feel a bit limited. For example, fast forwarding is stuck to 2x, while the pro version can go up to 16x, which can be pretty useful for those long stretches of narrative in RPGs that you have already played. Also, the free version limits you to one save slot, which could be enough for most simple games, but we all know you will? need more for longer games. But with the paid version being just a few bucks, if you have been using the emulator a?nd found it worthwhile, that could be an upgrade worth your money.

Retroarch

This is one that tends to pop up on most lists of emulators for Android devices that you can find. This is because Retroarch is not a single emulator, but a frontend that can be used to emulate most consoles and systems of the past, as long as you download the necessary bios and files. This also means that it is quite a bit more complicated to use, as it has separate options for its base program and specific ones?? for?? the platform you are emulating. If you aren't really interested in emulating more than a couple of systems, it might not be worth the trouble.

Still, it remains one of ??the few free GBA emulators to offer an almost-perfect experience. It is hard to argue that the GBA core that it uses is one of the faster and more accurate around. If you are looking for pixel-perfect emulation on your Android device, then you can't do a lot better than Retroarch. With that said, if ease of use and overall resource effectiveness are more important to you, then you could be better off with one of the other emulators on this list.

John GBAC

We can all agree the Game Boy Advance had so many incredible games, but what about the Game Boy Color? Definitely less so, b??ut still if you are looking to emulate both handhelds, then this free emulator will do the trick. It combines both previous John GBA and John GBC emulators, which have now been discontinued, so if you want to make sure the emulator works on future Android releases, this is the one you are looking to install on your device.

This is another free emulator, supported by ads. While it would be nice to have the option to pay to disable the in-game ads, they are tolerable, as long as you avoid exiting and going back to the emulator again and again. Some players have reported some trouble with the emulator reading some ROM files, especially in some Pokémon games, but overall this works pretty fine and, in the realm of free GBA emulators, remains one of the b??est around.

Gba.emu

This is a paid emulator with no free version available, ??but it's got most of the features you would expect from a GBA emulator. With precise video and audio emulation, and great controller support, this is one we would especially recommend if you are a more serious player and want to spend several hours in your favorite Game Boy Advance games. Get your?self a nice Bluetooth controller and you will have no trouble playing your favorite games.

Gba.emu supports all kinds of different phones and even devices such as Nvidia Shields. Its experience is aimed at users who ar??e not experts at emulating games, but are still looking for accuracy and quite satisfying speed, without having to sacrifice additional features. The emulator is also being constantly updated, so that you won't feel left out with future Android releases.

Vgbanext

Another paid emulator an?d this one doesn't have a free version available. But still, with an asking price that is surely reasonable, Vgbanext not only emulates the Game Boy Advance but also most other classic Nintendo consoles of the past such as the NES and the original Game Boy. Plus, it offers all the classic features you can expect such as numerous save slots for all your games, and the pretty handy rewind function.

But, most appreciated by its many users, is the compatibility with Google and Android TV. This means that you?? can use your Android device to play GBA games on your home TV, which is pre?tty nifty. Also, if you already have a decent Bluetooth controller, Vgbanext offers the whole package, you wouldn't really need anything else to play your favorite GBA games.

Lemuroid

Another free emulator that can run several consoles and old systems, with some degree of accuracy and prett??y good speed. The main issue with Lemuro??id is that its on-screen controls are not customizable and take up too much of the screen. Still, if you are serious about playing games on your device, then you surely have a Bluetooth controller already, so this shouldn't be a dealbreaker.

On the plus side, not only is Lemuroid free but it has no in-game ap??ps of any kind. Just pure and free emulation that, while not pixel-perfect, it will allow you to run most of the GBA games you are looking for. Also, its interface is quite friendly and most users should be able to quickly set it up without much trouble. Clearly, finding games to emulate is a different topic, but o??n that, we would recommend going to Google or looking on YouTube.

The post Best GBA Emulators for Android appeared first on Destructoid.

Retrogaming is getting more expensive each day. With consoles from the 80s now approaching the forty-year-old mark, and gamers wanting to get their hands on '90s consoles, it seems prices aren't going to slow down anytime? soon. So which are the cheapest retro consoles to collect, to avoid breaking the bank?

The cheapest retro consoles to collect

Keep in mind that the prices we indicate here are base?d on eBay auctions from the past few months and can be heavily subject to fluctuations. Take those with a grain of salt and just as generic references to have a vague idea of what you are going to pay, depending on the conditions of the consoles you are looking for as w?ell.

Nintendo NES

Indeed, the original NES is still relatively cheap?, especially for a console that is now speedily heading past its 40 years. Still, if you are fine with getting your hands on an unboxed NES, you should be able to spend even less than a hundred dollars. Naturally, prices may vary in your local ar??ea, but getting one from the US is overall easier because of the success of the console in the country, while a European NES might be slightly more expensive (we've seen prices up to 350$ for a complete boxed PAL NES).

Also, since this is quite an old console, getting one boxed and complete might indeed set you back quite a bit. Another thing to keep in mind is to make?? sure that the console is working before dropping your cash, so always pay via secure methods and check the ratings of the seller, to at least make sure that you will get your money back in case of problems.

The NES g??ame collection is quite ?vast, so getting your favorite games might cost a pretty penny as well, and the console is also region-locked so be careful when planning to buy one.

PlayStation

The original PlayStation (or PSX) is another good example of a console that was so popular back in the day that, as of yet, prices for a complete boxed one have not grown much over the last few years. But we are pretty sure they will do so quite egregiously soon, so now is as good as a time as any to get your hands o??n one.

Even a complete boxed PSX shouldn't break the bank, and you could find one in go???od condition for around 120-150 dollars.

Also, the good thing with PlayStation is that games aren't, as of yet, quite expensive so you should be able to build up a good selection of titles quickly, such as Tekken 2, Gran Turismo, and Crash Bandicoot, for a decent price. But, since this is a console with a laser, before starting to hunt for games, you'd better make sure that the CD reader is still working correctly, which you can do with a demo disc or, if all else fails, ??an audio CD.

PlayStation 2

Speaking of consoles with a pristine selection of games, the PS2 is definitely up there with the best consoles of all time, with such classics as Kingdom Hearts, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and Final Fantasy XII. And, luckily, it is a sturdy console that still hasn't skyrocketed in price and you should be able to get one for around 150$, boxed and all. Prices can be even lower? if you are happy with one that doesn't come with its box or with all of its ori?ginal accessories.

Building up a collection of games is also relatively cheap, especially compared to collecting some of the older cartridge-based consoles. Prices for all its various editions can vary quite a bit, espec??ially for some of t??he limited edition colors.

Still, prices between the original "phat" and the later slim revision do not really differ that much, so we would still?? recommend going for a later model, which, along with s?aving space on your shelf or TV cupboard, can last you longer.

Sega Master System

Another old 80s console that, perhaps because it was never appreciated enough, still seems to command pretty decent prices. You should be able to get one unboxed for under 130$, while again pric??es for a boxed one wildly vary depending?? on the edition that you are after.

Overall, a PAL Master System might be slightly cheaper as they were much more common, which is useful to keep in mind since the console ??is region free so you can get games from all over the world and run them without issues.

Now you might think the Master System's library is too small to justify collecting for it, but you'd be wrong. Not only are there some classic RPGs of yore, such as Phantasy Star, but also some pretty fun 2D platformers such as Alex Kidd in Shinobi World and the quite decent Sonic the Hedgehog which was a different take than the original Mega Drive one. They can also be relatively cheap, so it should be conveni??ent to build up a collection without going broke.

Nintendo Wii U

Ok, we know what the general consensus on the Wii U is and that is exactl??????????????????????????y why we put the console on our list. This i?s a very cheap console to get if you are after the brand-new boxed experience and you want to be the first to play it.

Definitely not?? something we can say for a lot of o?ther consoles on this list.

If you are looking to play all the original Wii games you remember from your childhood, by settling on the often unjustly hated follow-up, you can get your hands on a?? much more recen??t console, plus a small tablet to go along with it.

While getting an original Wii can save you a few bucks, we would still recommend getting a newer console which offers more features. That is, unless you are after the original Wii's Gamecube emulation?, which was sadly removed on the Wii U. A plain Wii U should set you back just 80 dollars or perhaps even less, depending on how many accessories you want included. Even the deluxe set, complete with games and the gamepad, rarely goes for more than a hundred bucks.

PS Vita

Alright, you might feel this is not strictly a retro console, but hear us out. You can get a working Vita for 140$, which is (quite frankly) a great portable device to play retro games on. By modding the console, which is pretty easy to do, you can install just about anything you want on it, including classics such as Doom and Quake and of cours?e, all? kinds of emulators, so you can even play old arcade games using MAME.

Naturally, prices for a Vita might change wildly depending on the model. The original?? Vita had quite the premium Oled screen, but also a proprietary charging cable, the latter Vita (2000 model) goes for an LED screen, b??ut you can charge it with a simple MicroUSB cable.

Overall, we would not recommend going for a PSP, although they can be cheaper, as some of them hav?e problems with batteries that literally explode. Unless you are 10?0% sure of who you are buying the console from, better to be safe than sorry. A PSP Go on the other hand? Quite an interesting proposition.

Game Boy Advance SP

Ah the joys of the original Game Boy Advance, especially that of being so hard to see while playing that you needed to stand on the surface of the sun. ??Ditch the idea of the original GBA, and settle instead for the shell ?design of the SP.

Not only do you get much better screens, especially if ??you manage to find the later AGS 101 edition, but the backlight is there, while still being able to run all of the original GBA games, along with the Game Boy and Game Boy C??olor games.

We can't even begin to list all of the classic games available on the Game Boy Advance, but let's just start with Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga and Metroid Fusion.

The GBA SP also runs games from all over, so if you find a cheaper US version of the game you have been looking for, you won't have any problems running it. While a boxed GBA still goes for a pretty penny, you can get an unboxed but perfectly? working GBA SP for less than 90$.

The post The 7 cheapest retro consoles to collect appeared first on Destructoid.

The Steam Deck is a great way to enjoy gaming on the go, or even grab a quick game bite while lounging on the sofa. But what if we tell you your experience on the Deck could be made better through a couple of simple steps? Let's see what are the best apps for your Steam Deck?.

The best apps to improve your Steam Deck experience

Keep in mind that most of the apps in our list can be installed by using t?he Discover menu, which can be accessed by heading to t??he "Power" section of your Steam Deck menu. Now select "Desktop mode," and you will be booted into a desktop-like environment. Click on the menu button in the bottom left and you can use the on-screen keyboard to search for any apps in the Discover section.

Mozilla Firefox

Do we really need to explain this one? We think you have probably already used it on your computer or your mobile device. Firefox is one of the best browsers around??, and while you might only use your Deck to browse the Steam marketplace, browsing websites would be quite difficult without a specific web browser. There are a lot of different ones you can try, such as Microsoft Edge and Opera, but we do believe Mozilla Firefox is still the best option.

By using a web browser on the Deck, you can check a walkthrough and find useful information on a game you might need, such as how long to beat it. While, clearly, all web browsers do the same thing and work just a??s well on the Deck, other apps ?also require having one installed. For example, if you use Epic Games Store on the Heroic Launcher (see below), often you will need to confirm details in a browser window. Not having one installed means that the game will often freeze or exit without providing any details.

Heroic Launcher

??The Steam Deck, out of the box, is ready and willing to play all of your Steam games, of course. But what if you want to play games from the Epic Games Store, GoG, or any of the other storefronts? Doesn't seem doable, right? Wrong, it is and doesn't even require a lot of tinkering. Say hello to the Heroic Launcher, an app that you can install on ??your Deck and run just like one of the games in your Steam library.

Once run, the Launcher can be configured to interface with several stores, such as the mentioned Epic Games Store, GoG, Ubisoft, and so on. But ?what if you have compatibility issues? No worries since, thanks to its built-in Wine Manager, you have a ton of different options and plugins to make games run even better. Heroic will also suggest which Proton versions to use if you are unsure. Heroic can easily double or triple your librar??y of available games without even having to install an SD card. Lutris is also a good alternative.

EmuDeck

Perhaps all the games available on Steam are not enough for you, or perhaps you want somethin??g older that you can't get anywhere else. Like that classic PlayStation platformer or that obscure PC Engine shoot 'em up. Enter EmuDeck, one of the best tools to allow you to play retro games on devices that weren't originally designed to play retro games, with additional features available to improve the experience. Clearly, the d-pad on the Deck would not be the best to play classic retro 8-bit games, but you can still give it a decent atte??mpt.

The Deck can run a lot of different consoles, including ones such as the NES, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, GameCube, and even more recent ones. But that's not all; if you have already used EmuDeck, then you can easily transfer your cloud saves over to the Deck so you won't lose that progress in Chrono Trigger. Also, if you have any good Bl?uetooth controllers, EmuDeck will al??low you to quickly set them up for much more comfortable gameplay. This is a must-have for any retro fans.

Discord

Again, we probably don't think we need to thoroughly explain this one. Chances are that you are already using it to communicate with your friends or other users, along w??ith having joined one (or more) of its millions of servers. Naturally, the app becomes even more necessary if you are going to play any cross-platform titles and want to stay in touch with your friends. Or, perhaps you want everyone on your friends list to know what game you are currently playing.

While the app is not as easy to recommend as it once was because of more and more bloatware, not t??o mention many interesting features now locked behind a paywall, it is still easy to install and use. Also, while there are alternatives to Discord, such as Skype, chances are all your friends will already use it anyway. Perhaps it would make more sense to use Discord on your phone or other mobile device, but switching apps on the Deck is easy, just via a long press of the "Steam" button.

Chiaki4deck

Have you been greedily eyeing the PlayStation Portal, thinking you don't really want to spend that kind of money on a simple streaming device? Well, you are in luck because with a Deck, you can get an experience that is quite? similar and, many users swear, even better than Sony's expensive portable device. Enter Chiaki4deck, an app that you can use to stream PS5 games directly from your console to your portable Steam device.

The app ran into som??e problems at first, with users complaining about the app's performance degrading in a few minutes. But luckily, this issue seems to have been fixed, so you can go ahead and try Chiaki4deck for yourself. While Chiaki does require a bit of customization before running it, as it might not work perfectly out of the box, once it's set up, it is very easy to use and should guarantee efficien?t performance with any game. If you are looking to stream Xbox games, try XBPlay instead.

Moonlight

Since we are on the topic of streaming games, Steam already provides its own specific app to stream games from your PC: Steam Link. This usually works quite well, but many users have problems with its performance. So, if you are ?unsure if Link is the ideal streaming app for you, then you'll be happy to know there is a free alternative you can try out. Plus, Moonlight, as opposed to Link, supports HDR natively and can improve latency if you have been having issues.

Installing Moonlight requires a couple of more steps than usual, as you need to ins?tall S?unshine first. Sunshine provides the server from which the games will be streamed. You can do this, as always, by using the Discovery section of the menu in Desktop mode. Once they are both installed, the setup for Moonlight is easy and mostly painless, and you will be streaming games from your PC in no time, having a great experience while saving battery life.

Decky Loader

Wondering how to customize your Deck beyond buying a silly-looking silicone cover? By using Decky Loader, you can choose fro?m a vast selection of plugins and scripts that will not only change the looks of your Deck but also improve how you use it. For example, do you want to add NES sounds to your Deck or perhaps show off some tasty Windows 95 wallpapers? You can do it really easily through a huge free library of items. But wait, there's more!

You can also use the app to look up and apply the recommended settings for any game in your library automatically. Plus, by using Deck??y Recorder, you can easily record gameplay footage that you can upload to Steam or?? use for your Let's Play YouTube channel. Also, look up FAQs easily and see many useful details on each game you have. Decky Loader will improve your life as a Deck user, no doubt about that.

Foliate

Why not take a break between playing your favorite games with a good book? While that might not sound like the most engaging proposal, reading a book on the Steam Deck is feasible thanks to its great screen. Also, by bringing your Deck with you, you can consider leaving your Kindle or ebook reader at home, which will definitely save you a bit of hassle. So, if you would like to think of your D??eck as an all-in-one platform to read, play, and even watch movies (see below), then head over to the Discovery section of the Desktop mode.

Foliate, along with other apps that you can find, such as Sigil and Bookworm, will do the heavy lifting and leave you to your reading. Foliate includes handy features such as different reading modes (paginated and scrolled), font customization, light/sepia/dark modes, and a useful progress slider so you ca?n keep track of where you left off. Whoever said that reading is the enemy of gaming?

VLC (Videolan)

Sure, streaming is still the easiest way to access content on any device you currently own or are thinking of buying. But if you possess a digital collection of media, perhaps a leftover ?from your iPod days, or maybe you would like to watch on the Deck those old Vines you made as a kid, then VLC is the app you need. It will allow you to play any kind of media content transferred to the system or loaded from an SD card.

Naturally, VLC (or Vi??deoLan) is not the only app that you can install on the Deck. You can easily find other media players, such as Kodi or MX Player; it is just a matter of preference since all of them do the same thing. Also, these apps support streaming from another source, so you can watch content directly from your computer or cast a video from t??he Deck to another device (such as your Google Cast). If you have been dreaming of a DRM-free world, then this is your first step into a wider universe.

ProtonUp-Qt

This might be a bit more for the "option nerds" among you, but hear us out. If you have been playing games in non-native Steam mode, perhaps because you are a retro fan or indie games downloaded from Itch, then ProtonUp-Qt will be a powerful help. This app will let you not only inst??all several GE-Proton versions but also customize them through compatibility options within SteamOS.

This will greatly improve game compatibility in case you have been running into problems trying to run anything outside of the store. Find the tool in the Discover store, then run it in Desktop mode to get an interface with which you can install more compatibility options. If you are not planning to run anything outside of the Steam store, then ProtonUp-Qt is probably not needed, but thanks to its ease of use and accessibility, it is still a great app?? to keep handy.

The post 10 best apps for your Steam Deck appeared first on Destructoid.

The seasons turn, as the Byrds would say, and that is indeed what happens in Fisch. With ever-changing weather and seasons slowly turning, how can you make the most out of it? We will take a look at all the different seasons in Fisch and how to profit from the weather as well.

How to control the weather in Fisch

In Fisch you will find that there are six differ?ent weather conditions. Each one will affect the catch rate for certain fish, but the good n??ews is that, except for the default condition (clear), all other conditions can be changed by using a specific Totem.

Here are the different weather conditions found i??n? the game.

??As mentioned, most of the weather conditions will simply affect the type of fish you can catch, except for the Eclipse and Aurora Borealis. Both of these conditions occur quite rarely, not without the use of a totem, but can allow for some special events to happen.

• Eclipse: required to open the Ancient archives, along with collecting the Solar Fragment, doesn't affect any kind of fish.
• Aurora Borealis: increases luck by 600%, will make the player earn the "experienced true beauty" badge.

How seasons work in Fisch

Much like in real life, Fisch features four different seasons: Spring, Summer, Winter, and Autumn?. Each one lasts about 576 real minutes or about nine hours. You can find out which season you are currently in by checking out the button at the bottom right of the screen.

Fish affected by the turning of the season will spawn at a much faster rate, of about 25%. If you also possess the Seasons rod, this rate will be even higher, about 20%, for a total of 50%. During off??-seasons, the fish spawn rate will be lowered by about? 15%, this occurs even if the fish doesn't have a preferred season.

How to modify the time of day in Fisch

Much like seasons and weather, the time of day also plays an active role in how many fish you can catch in the game. The way the time cycle works in Fisch is alternating the rising and setting of the sun and moon. In turn, these events constantly affect the catch rates of fish, w??hich are in turn called diurnal or nocturnal.

Each day and night cycle lasts around twelve ?and a half minutes, with an entire day taking around 25 minutes of real-time. There are several factors that can extend or modify this duration, for example, issues on the server such as lag or other player-related factors such as the use of a Totem.

If you are looking to speed up the day and night cycle, you can use a Sundial Totem. If you are fishing during a fish's preferred time, then the catch rate is the default one, but outside of it, its spawn rate will be drastically reduced by a whopping 90%. If a fish doesn't have a preferred time, the penalty will always be?? present, regardless of the time.

To disable these effects, you can get ahold of the Nocturnal Rod, which can be obtained from Synth's Shop, found in Vertigo, for 11,000C$. If you are looking to quickly ?fill the Beastiary, its high luck stat and lure speed penalty make this Rod a great choice.

The post Complete Fisch seasons and weather guide appeared first on Destructoid.

Everyone likes a big base with many useful buildings, right? Sure, but in order to build one in Enshrouded you will have to use a lot of different building blocks. Let's find out, then, all about the build?ing blocks and material locations and put all those resources to good use.

How to find all building blocks and materials in Enshrouded

Here are all the different building blocks available in Enshrouded, along with the steps required to unlock them and the materials you will need to c?raft them.

By collecting them, you will be able to build everything currently available in Enshrouded, along with using the many roof blocks and terrain material??s as well.

The post All build??ing blocks and material locat??ions in Enshrouded appeared first on Destructoid.

Who says history has to be about boring dates and faraway events? Indeed, the ga?ming medium, while s??till young, has progressed very rapidly and there is no time like the present to learn more about its past. If you are curious, we've collected some of the best books to learn about gaming history.

The best books to learn about gaming history

Masters of Doom: How ??Two Guys Created an Empire and Tran??sformed Pop Culture

"Can it run Doom?" is now a classic meme and not by a random coincidence. All 30+ years later, the first-person shooter by ID Software remains one of the most seminal gaming experiences, a title that has reached most of the platforms and consoles a?nd, well, even fridges and pregnancy tests. This true hardcore FPS has also been made endlessly replayable?? thanks to its fanmade mods and maps. But its dev history is also quite fascinating, with two creative people such as John Romero and Adrian Carmack going head to head, plus the huge controversy following its release, that would later lead to the creation of ESRB.

Masters of Doom by David Kushner follows the story closely, interviewing them along with mostly everyone else involved with the development. You will learn how Doom came to be, how the experience with the previous Wolfenstein 3D was, of course, the base for the game, and how ID Software, at the time, had way? more experience with 2D platformers than demonic first-person shooters.

The book also covers what happened with the sequel and, subsequen??tly, with Romero leaving the company. Masters of Doom is now a classic book about one of the most important games ever made, not to be misse??d even if you have a slight interest in gaming history.

Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World a?n Extra Life

Whatever your favorite game is, be that Minecraft, Final Fantasy VII, or Halo, one thing is for sure: video games as we know them would not be the same without Japanese culture. Chris Kohler takes us on a journey through the Japanese gaming industry??, analyzing its early games and how they managed to introduce narrative and other gameplay facets to the nascent medium.?? The book is enriched by many interviews with important figures of Japanese gaming such as Shigeru Miyamoto and Hideo Kojima.

Despite the book being published in 2005 and containing several slightly outdated topics and takes, this is still a great starting point to learn more about how Japan influenced video games and how their affluent RPG experience came to be. Clearly, this is not a book to learn about the entire world of Ja??panese gaming or the history of its industry and Kohler's claim was never that. It is written from his personal perspective and his experience while living in Kyoto. It remains a great? introduction and a fascinating read on how Japan first perceived gaming in a much different light than Western culture.

Atari Inc.: Business is Fun

This one might be a little bit for the gaming history nerd, but if you have a slight interest in how the gaming medium evolved, it is impossible to forget about Atari and how the company managed to shape the early years of the gaming industry. If you ever wanted to know more about the early days of coin-operated gaming, along with how the company came to release one of the most successful early consoles ever, the Atari VCS (or 2600)??, Atari Inc. provides more information than you could ever dream of.

A huge project eight years in the making, mad??e up of 800 pages with hundreds of interviews and access to materials never before available, including nearly never-before-seen photos, memos, and court documents, you will learn everything from the genesis of the company to the $538 m?illion death spiral in 1984.

There are also bonus chapters on Steve Jobs's time at Atari, which will definitely interest the Apple fans out there, along with the creation of the seminal arcade game Breakout. Not to be missed is also the creation of Atari's "Xerox PARC", a research facility up in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains. Atari Inc. also covers the creation of "Rick Rats Bi?g Cheese Restaurants", which would later become the well-known "Chuck E. Cheese's" chain of restaurants.

Jacked: The Unauthorised Behind the Scenes Story of G??r??and Theft Auto

Love or hate it, the Grand Theft Auto series remains one of the biggest gaming franchises ever and one that has well transcended the boundaries of the gaming medium. Still, even many hardcore fans might not know that the first game was released by a small UK studio in 1997, as a top-down game on PC and PlayStation. Jacked by David Kushner is a great read if you are interested in finding out all that happened since then and the birth of Rockstar Gaming as one of the biggest and most i??nfluential c?ompanies in the industry.

Kushner spent years researching and interviewing many former developers, in Jacked he reveals the juicy details of what was going on behind the scenes. In the end, a toxic blend of egos, crazy PR campaigns, and an obsessive work ethic came together to create a huge company that, more than once, almost spiraled out of control. The book also covers the full story behind Hot Coffee, the controversial hidden minigame in GTA San Andreas that nearly killed the company. Whether you are a fan of the series or not, Jacked will be an engrossing read on ??what it takes to create one of the biggest games ever released.

Game Over: How Nintendo conquered the world

Game Over by David Sheff was one of the first gaming history books ever written, at a time when the subject wasn't really being researched at all (the industry was still too young). Despite its age, having been first published in 1993, ??and some of the later chapters not having aged well at all (prophesizing the downfall of the PC industry...), it is still a fascinating read and a must-have fo??r anyone who calls themselves a Nintendo fan. Sheff went to great lengths to research how Nintendo managed to make its foothold in America, despite being a Japanese company at heart and in culture.

While Game Over naturally focuses on the story of Nintendo of America, there is nothing about what was going on in Europe, but plenty of attention is also de??voted to the Japanese branch. The key players in how Nintendo rose to fame are all interviewed, with many of their personal stories interspersed with the overarching business narrative.

Despite its age (or perhaps because of it), the author also does not avoid some controversial topics on how Nintendo ??rose to power. It might also bring a smile to the reader to ride on Sheff's predictions?? for what was going to happen to Nintendo post-1993.

Console Wars: Sega, Nintendo, and the Battle that Defi??ned a Generation

The 90s were all about the console wars. Schools were plagued by fights, with many young children arguing about who had the best console, the best graphics, or the best version of Mortal Kombat. Perhaps that is a bit of a dramatization, but the console wars were definitely real and would never again be as tough and violent. But what was really going on behind the scenes?? While in the early 90s, Nintendo had a virtual monopoly on the American video game industry, less so in Europe. Sega, on the other hand, seemed to have no hopes of ever competing with Super Mario.

Based on over two hundred interviews with former Sega and Nintendo employees, Console Wars retells the story of how Sega managed to reposition itself as the market leader in the United States, albeit for a brief time. While some of what Tom Kalinske told in this book can be taken with a grain of salt, the overall narrative of the underdog is still very much there. Through ideas like a combined US and Japanese team to follow up the original Sonic the Hedgehog and incredibly aggressive market campaigns, it would be a battle fought everywhere, from living rooms and schoolyards to boardrooms and C??ongress. Console W??ars is a perfect retelling of a time that, most probably, will never happen again in the same way.

S?hareware Heroes: The renegades who redefined gaming at the dawn of the internet

Today, it might feel like the "Shareware era" came and went, leaving nothing in its wake, except distant nostalgic memories, but that impression would be incorrect. In the book, Richard Moss explains how shareware, a term meaning "a program or game that was meant to be shared", was a cultural phenomenon first and foremost. Not only was it the same industry that would birth the likes of ID Software, Apogee, and Epic MegaGames, but also would lead to the release of industry-wide shocks such as Wolfenstein 3D and Doom.

Shareware Heroes retells the story of this unique time in gaming through interviews and research, from the beginnings of the shareware model to the evolution of the concept through BBS and the internet, along with the rise of shareware's major players. Developers managed to pl??ug gaps in the video gaming market by creating games in niche and neglected genres on PC, such as vertically-scrolling shoot-'em-ups, racing games, or RPGs. Then, in the early 90s, as the video game market was growing and shifting, major publishers ended up taking control, with the shareware system fading into the background. This is a great way to find out about a subculture that had an enormous influence on how games would be developed and sold after the 90s.

The post 7 of the best books to learn about gaming history appeared first on Destructoid.

Ah, the nineties. Just ten years ago, we... wait, thirty years ago!? Yes, it has been quite a while since that edgy decade, but we can still relive the cheap thrills through the golden age of the 2D platformers. Since the genre hasn't seen much of a resurgence lately, let's see which 90s platformers are still worth your ??time.

Which 90s platformers are still worth your time?

In this list, we will go through some forgotten platformers and ones that are a little less forgotten but still rarely celebrated as much as classics such as Super Mario World or Sonic the Hedgehog. Ready to jump, stomp on enemies, and get rid of thos??e bosses?

ActRaiser

Someone might say that it is cheating to start with this gem from 1990 and the early days of the Super Nintendo, but ActRaiser is seriously one of the most unique platforms to come from the entire decade. Square Enix put everything in one single package: a little bit of side-scrolling action, a slice of Sim City, and a god simulation a là Populous. Each time you complete one phase of?? the game, like a side-scroll??ing level, you move on to the next.

The Super Nintendo had many unique 2D platformers, most of which had been forgotten (like the Japanese-only Melfand Stories) but still worth your time. However, ActRaiser stands pretty much alone for its unique game design and could be a perfect way to spend? hours if you want something more from your standard 2D platformer. We would recommend sticking to the original title, if possible, since the recently released remake, ActRaiser Renaissance, is not the perfect way to revisit this unique gameplay mix.

Another World / Out of this World

Sure, I hear you; this is not what you would call a forgotten title. But in the last few years, so many games have come out that pay homage to this classic. I feel that there is no time like the present to look back and appreciate how unique Eric Chahi's 1992 platformer still is. This is one of the first times the term "cinematic" was used t??o describe a videogame, and you can easily see why, from the intro to the overall gameplay.

The pacing and flow of the gameplay feel like nothing that was released before, like an interactive sequence where your task is trying to survive to the end while discovering an alien world and helping your new friend. The way that Lester discovers new technologies and tries to survive the many strange creatures and cruel mechanisms provides a newfound immersion that still feels refreshing after all these years. While the original was followed by an official sequel, Heart of the Alien, and one sort-of inspired successor in the guise of the classic action title Flashback, the original is still very much worthy of your ??time.

Gex: Enter the Gecko

While the Gex series started as a classic 2D platformer, this 3D outing was the moment when it became worthy of your attention. With a smorgasbord of pop cultural references delivered through the suave voice of Dana Gould, this 3D platformer is the right mix of Crystal Pepsi and pizza rolls to bring you back to the late 90s. While it doesn't have the perfect accuracy of Super Mario 64 or, Gex forbid,?? its brilliant level design, it does ma??ke up for it with unique levels, strange enemies, and, well, nostalgia.

It is worth remembering that the camera movement in these early 3D platformers is a bit of an acquired taste nowadays. Constantly having to readjust the camera when you move, since it is relative to movement and not to the character, makes walking in a straight line slightly irritating. Unfortunately, playing it today means having to struggle with emulators, but you will still find Enter The Gecko offers p??lenty of nostalgic value and entertaining gameplay.

Lollipop

While the Commodore Amiga was never particularly known for its quality 2D platformers, albeit with perhaps a couple of exceptions such as Zool and Superfrog, Denmark was the country that gave the computer its last hurrah. Lollipop, d?eveloped by Brain Bug, is a certified classic 2D sidescrolling platformer from 1994 that manages to transcend its lack of original ideas by presenting perfe?ctly oiled gameplay.

Help a little girl traverse many fantastic levels while defeating unique enemies and feeding on sweets that give her powers. With some incredibly pretty pixel art graphics, plus a seriously tasty soundtrack that almost reaches the heights of Donkey Kong Country, this one is a? perfect recommendation for the platformer connoisseur who has played almost anything. It makes things even better that the game is readily available on GOG and can be played on any modern PC machine.

Desert Demolition

How many times have you watched Wile E. Coyote try to catch that pesky roadrunner and want to control him so you can finally wring its neck? Or perhaps you are one of those people who thought poor Wile had it coming? Well, either way, Desert Demolition presents a platforming experience that feels exactly like an interactive Looney Tunes episode. You can play as both Beep-Beep and Wile, be the prey or the predator (or perhaps both simultaneously?), in this great but often forgotten 2D platform ??on the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis.

Developed by the brilliant BlueSky software team (responsible for the unforgettable Vectorman series, also on the Mega Drive), this sweet but short platformer will have you either prepare traps for the roadrunner to fall into, like a real version of Home Alone or be on the run while escaping them constantly. Think of it like Sonic the Hedgehog but on crack. It is two entertaining experiences in one package, with beautiful animations and quite appropriate "interactive"?? soundtrack, an absolute joy to play even today.

McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure

I know, I know. You saw McDonald's, and you are already scrolling away. That is perfectly understandable. But what if I told you this clown-starring, Big Mac-smelling and corporate rear-kissing platformer was developed by Treasure, the same company responsible for the fabulous Gunstar Heroes and Sin & Punishment? Indeed, despite the corporate branding, this is a brilliant 2D platformer, an ??often unjustly ??forgotten gem on the Mega Drive.

With many beautiful ideas, level design that never fails to impress, fantastic bosses, and a clever way of recovering health (going to a shop to buy hamburgers, what else!), Treasure Land Adventure is a delightful romp through a different time. There is even a built-in Tetris minigame to collect treasure ??and money. Perhaps it might be a little bit easier than other games of the era, but does every game need to be soulslike hard? I don't think so.

Ren & Stimpy - Stimpy's Invention

Can you get any more 90s than recommending a game featuring Ren & Stimpy? The classic cartoon starring a psychotic chihuahua and a good-natured dimwitted cat enjoyed a brief popularity, especially before it was turned down by the network, quickly becoming forgettable. There are around 5 or 6 games featuring Ren & Stimpy released on most consoles of the time, but the one that can be most fun to rediscover today is Stimpy's Invention.

You have to switch between t??he two characters using their different abilities to traverse the obstacles presented on each level, all based on episodes from the cartoon. Of course, both Ren and Stimpy come with so many fun animations and quips from the TV show that anyone looking for a good dose of 90s zaniness will walk away with their bellies full. The screenshots alone do the talking. The game is also relatively short and will last you ??only a few hours, not ever overstaying its welcome. This was also developed by BlueSky software. Was there anything these guys couldn't do?

Toejam & Earl

Perhaps this might not be as unknown as others on this list, especially because the alien duo saw a return to form in 2019, but this does not make the original less worthy of still being played. The funky duo of Earl and Toejam crash their ship on Earth and have to recover all the pieces to finally go back to their planet. Unfortunately, those horrible ?humans are doing their worst to prevent that. Taking pictures, offering awful fast food, and harassing the poor aliens. This won't do!

The original presents a sort of random-generated terrain for every level that the du??o has to traverse to get the spaceship parts, with an incredible amount of crazy pickups that allow the duo to fly, rocket skate, and throw tomatoes. While the 2019 remake is, overall, slightly more balanced in its RNG mechanics, the original still works quite well and oozes 90s fun. Also, the sequel, while ?going in a more classic 2D sidescrolling direction, comes highly recommended thanks to its perfect graphics and funky soundtrack.

Demon's Crest

Started as a spin-off of the ultrahard Ghost n'Goblins series, Demon's Crest is the second title in the series and still sees you controlling Firebrand, the Red Devil from the main game, as he's trying to rank up in the world of gargoyles. Don't you miss spinoff games? Imagine today a game where you control a nameless zombie in the world of Dark Souls, trying to quickly rise the ranks by killing heroes, well, very slowly. Ok, back to Demon's Crest, this is Capcom doing what it did best: an action platforme?r with exploration and resource gathering.

Not only do you get some strategy in your action platformer, but you are also free to tackle the levels in any order. Quality platforming gameplay, coupled with other modes, never gets boring, and the freedom of the player was quite a rare thing for its time. It doesn't matter if you are not familiar with or even don't really like the original Goblins series, as Demon's Crest shows gameplay ideas that are still fun today while still maintaining qu??ite the high difficulty, of course.

Congo's Caper

Is there anything worse than being forced to live as a human when you are a ??happy monkey living in a tree? Definitely not; that's why Congo is out for revenge while still having to save Congette. Along with the classic 2D sidescrolling gameplay, we can swim, roll down hills and swing our trusty club to attack enemies. One hit means going back to our monkey form, but luckily, collecting rubies can give us back our form and even turn us into Super Congo, the unstoppable monkey machine.

Despite being a sequel to Joe & Mac, while for some reason abandoning the names of both characters, this plays much more smoothly, adding many new moves to Congo's arsenal. Plus, the graphics get a real update, with so many beautiful colors, showcasing the great palette that the Super Nintendo is capable of. While Data East was never known for its attention to detail, Congo's Caper is a delightful 2D romp? and one often forgotten SNES platformer still?? worth your time, even more than its original title.

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Despite all your best efforts at hiding from them, the Twisteds will find you. If you are just starting out in Dandy's World, you might have problems surviving for long. So, which are the best toons for beginners in this unique Roblox horror experience? Let's find out.

Which are the best toons for beginners?

Early on in Dandy’s World, you want a toon that is both easy and quick to unlock.?? You have four good choices to? consider.

Poppy

Poppy is a balanced character that is immediately available when you start Dandy's World. She does not have any clear specialization, but due to her stats, we would recommend using Poppy mainly as a survivalist. Her ability, Panic Pop, lets her activate a heart for an immediate 50% speed boost for three seconds when attacked, th?us allowing her to escape dangerous situations.

Since Poppy does not bring much to the table otherwise, it is a good idea to? equip Extraction-based Trinkets such as the Blue Bandana and speed-enhancing Trinkets like the Pink Bow. Playing Poppy is a great way to get accustomed to how the game works without having to worry too much about dying.

Tisha

Tisha is a great toon to pick as your second choice right after starting off with your main one, Boxten or Poppy. You can unlock her by bringing 500 Ichor to the shop. She has high skill check and movement speed. Her main ability is to create a pulse that can increase the movement speed of toons around her b??y 25% for ??five seconds. She is perfect for the role of distractor, running around and getting the attention of the Twisteds.

Her extraction speed and stamina are quite low, but you should still be able to complete machines in little time thanks to her ability. The ?movement speed should also help with the low stamina, at least if you don't run around too much.

Rodger

Our magnifying gl??ass toon is the best at collect??ing research, and his low speed �while it can be a problem for more experienced players �should help you learn how to move around effectively while earning Ichor in the process. Rodger's high extraction speed should also help with completing machines quite faster than other toons. If you are out to collect information on the Twisteds, Rodger is clearly a great toon to have, but that is his best and only use case.

If you want to counteract his low movement speed, trinkets like the Pink Bow or the Speedy Shoes can help. You can unlock?? Rodger by paying 1000 Ichor and completing ??at least 50% of research on any Twisted.

Finn

The fishbowl-like Finn brings high skills in extraction and skill check, making him quite the ideal support Toon to pick for Dandy's World beginners. His passive ability, Reel In, lets him become faster by 33% whenever a machine is finished. Finn will always get a spe?ed boost during Panic Mode, which can be useful to esca??pe difficult situations.

Still, Finn's stamina is pretty low, so while his movement speed and skill check make up slightly for that, you still want to bring along some stamina-based items like Chocolate or Pop. Finally, mak??e sure to choose cards such as Well-Paced to counteract his low stamina. You can unlock Finn by collecting 500 Ichor and finishing 15 different machines.

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Players are downright confused about what is happening with the Hex of Whispers power in the latest season of Diablo IV. First, it was added to the game and now it is not working. Why is the Hex of Whispers not working in season 7? Let's find out? what's going on and what you can do to fix it.

Why is Hex of Whispers not working?

This new Witchcraft power that made its debut just a few weeks ago, launched along with the original Season 7 drop, has been indeed deactivated. With the 2.0.1 hotfix, released t??he day after the launch of the new Season, on January 22, Blizzard con??firmed that the power has been removed because it is "causing stability issues". Naturally, the development team is working to bring it back and fix any of the issues it was causing.

Apparently, some players are understandably confused because the ability can still be unlocked, but it cannot be used once it is in the characters' possession. While this can indeed be cause for confusion, it is confirmed that the ability remains deactivated, and, currently, there is no news on when it is expected to come back. So it is not a bug or a server issue, if you have purchased or unlocked the ability and now can't use it, it is because has been temporarily removed by Blizzard fo??r causing game-breaking issues that they are working to fix.

Luckily, the patch notes did not say anything about the power being removed, so you need not worry about having wasted your money or your time, the ability will be brought back. As stated in the hotfix patch notes, a fix will be deployed "as soon as we can." We will update this guide as soon as we have news from ?Blizzard on a possible release date.

What is Hex of Whispers?

Hex of Whispers is part of the new witchcraft powers that debuted in the new Season 7 update of Diablo IV. Any enemy afflicted with the Hex of Whispers will be dealt a certain amount of shadow damage the next time damage is dealt. After dealing damage to one enemy, the power ??will transfer its effec??ts to another enemy up to a maximum of 6 times. Hex of Whispers can only be applied once every 5 seconds.

To unlock the Hex of Whispers power, once it is back in the game, you will need to upgrade the Growth and Decay Altar, located near the Tree of Whispers. This is mainly done by progressing through the Season of the Witchcraft questline, as you will raise favor with the Coven by completing quests. ??Once you have reached level four, you are free to unlock this power, it will cost 25 Restless Rot just like all the other powers a??t the Growth & Decay altar.

The post Why is Hex of Whisp??ers not working in Diablo 4 season 7? appeared first on Destructoid.

Ready to join the coven like it's a late 90s Wicca movie? Wi??tchcraft is coming to Diablo ?4, and it is time to learn all-new, unique powers and complete quests to please your new friends. But to do so, you'll have to find Forgotten Altars. Where are they?

Where to find the Forgotten Altars in Diablo IV

The Forgotten Altars spawn ran?domly in dungeons all over Sanctuary; they can also be found in pits sometimes. Usually, they spawn in place of a healin??g well or shrine, so it can be useful to keep in mind that they will be visible from the mini-map.

Forgotten Altars should not be confused with the Main altars that appear close to the Tree of Whispers. These can be used to upgrade structures in the new Season. Instead, the Forgotten Altars are used to learn the new Lost Powers. Using them randomly unlocks one of the Powers, so you will need to find a?? few of them if you want to unlock them all.

How to find the Forgotten Altars

To increase your odds of finding a Forgotten Altar, drink a magic elixir called Draught of Whispers. Once used, these incr??ease your chances of finding a Forgotten Altar by 50%. The effect?? only lasts an hour, so use it while you're already on your way to a dungeon.

Also, once you access The Pit and start leveling up the Torment difficulty, you will get a higher? chance of finding Forgot??ten Altars.

What are the Lost Powers in Diablo IV?

The Lost Powers are some of the more powerful upgrades to your character than the new Diablo IV season can provide.

They are the following:

• Aura Specialization: increases the size of your Aura Effects by X number of times. At Rank 10, all enemies inside your aura will have a 50% higher chance of being inflicted a critical strike.
• Breath of the Coven: when you deal damage or use your Witchcraft powers (Eldritch, Psyche, and Growth & Decay) to apply a crowd control effect, your Attack Speed is increased for 10 seconds by X number of times. The effect stacks once per each unique Witchcraft effect.
• Hex Specialization: your Hex Effects' potency is increased by X number of times. Upon reaching Rank 10, the Critical Strike chance is increased by 10% against enemies afflicted by any of your hex effects.
• Piranhado: when an enemy is afflicted by an Aura effect and a Hex, a circle of Piranha, the Piranhado, will appear and start to pull enemies towards it while dealing an X amount of physical damage over 12 seconds. It may appear once every 20 seconds. Upon reaching rank 5, Piranhado moves itself towards nearby enemies.

These powers can be upgraded like the other ordinary Witchcraft powers at the cost of much more Restless Rot, thus making grinding even more of a necessity. Alternatively, you can upgrade them at the Forgotten Altars, at t??he same cost as other po??wers.

The post Where to find Forgotten Altars in Diablo 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Traveling underwater is never fun in games, it's often slow and tedious, and Fisch is no exception.?? How to get around faster? Well, the Tidebreaker can really make a difference in helping you clear those distances faster. But how do you get the Tidebreaker in Fisch? We'll give you the information you need.

Where is the Tidebreaker in Fisch?

The Tidebr??eaker can be bought at the NPC Merchant, which is located in Desolate Pocket, right on the central island. It will cost 80.000C$, so you better be already saving money for it. But how can you get to Desolate Pocket and reach the merchant?

It is ??not really straightforward to reach this island, so here's what you need to do to reach the merchant:

• Buy some diving gear from the NPC merchant in Moosewood; you will need at least the Basic kind.
• Head to the Statue of Sovereignty then head towards northwest, until you see a red buoy in the ocean, just beyond Sunstone Island.
• Dive right under where the buoy is and you should reach, at one point, a quite large recess.
• At the bottom of this pit, there will be a sign warning of danger ahead in the caves, a classic skull and bones kind.
• From the sign, continue to the right and head through the cave.
• Keep clear of the sea mines, you can use the glowing coral as a guide to pass through safely.
• Finally, at the end of the passage, you will come out into the Desolate Pocket, a quite big underground cavern.
• Now you are ready to head to the merchant who is on the middle island, to buy the Tidebreaker.

What is the Tide Breaker?

The Tidebreaker is the fastest way, at least at the moment, that you can travel around underwater in Fisch. This powerful underwater motor will allow you to wade through the water at gr?eat speed, it even lets you dream of being a little dolphin and do little jumps out of the water. It is the best way to explor??e underwater while not having to worry too much about running out of air.

While originally the Tidebreaker was quite powerful, it has since been nerfed. One used to be able to use it to jump really high in the air, but this isn't possible anymore. This makes it quite underpowered for being the most expensive device of its kind in Fisch and not something worth saving up for unless you do have a l?ot of money. It is not even much faster ?than most boats, which can still be used in the ocean.

Since it is quite expensive and not worth it at that price, we would recommend, instead, jumping for a cheaper alternative, the flippers. They will allow you a bit more speed while traveling underwater and will only set you back 9.000C$. They can be bought at all merchants in the Desolate Deep. There is also a faster v?ariety, the Super Flippers, but they are quite more expensive at 30.000C$.

The post How to get Tidebreaker in Fisch appeared first on Destructoid.

Ready to meet the desires of the witches? Well, the new characters in Diablo 4's latest seasonal update might not be witches per se, but they sure know something about witchcraft. So, let's get some new powers by learning how to complete the Poison in the Roots quest in Diablo 4.

How to complete Poison the Roots in Diablo IV

This quest revolves around completing a certain magic ritual, which is all about lighting braziers in a very specific order and then using blood to draw a circle in front of it. This completes the quest and lets you access some new and tasty powe?rs, such as being able to run around with a giant frog that spits poison at your opponents.

But first, let's see how to light the braziers in the correct order. Once you have spoken to Gelena and got the quest, you will find your??self right in front of the Tree of Whispers, the location where the ritual will take place. You will see the magic circle and three braziers, with several char?acters in front of them. You will hear them speak a word after the ritual has started.

Once the initial part ?of the ritual is over, start from the leftmost brazier, which is the one in front of the witch that said "Ayh." Now, proceed in a counterclockwise manner and activate the one in front of the "Yew," then complete the brazier with "Oun." Once you have lighted them in the correct order, you will see Nangari Blood spawn in front of you and pick up the three vials.

Now, walk around the perimeter of the circle, which is how you will ??trace it with the blood. Just try to stay close to the ritual circle, and you should be done with this step quickly. Once the ritual is underway, several enemies will spawn and you will be tasked with keeping them out of the ritual f??or a certain period. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes.

Once you have defeated ??enough enemies, the ritual will complete, and you can finally speak to Gelena. she will thank you, as they now can breathe a little easier. This completes the Poison in the roots quest.

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There are a lot of rare mutations and curious fish to catch if you know where to look in Fisch. But, of course, you will have ?to be prepared, finding the right spot and bait if you want to avoid wasting a lot of time. So, let's se?e how to catch the subspace fish mutation in Fisch and the basic info you need.

Where is the Subspace mutation in Fisch?

There is no specific place to find this kind of fish, as mutations in Fisch can indeed appear everywhere in the map. If you are looking to make this Su??bspace mutation quite more common, you will need to possess a specific exalted enchantment, the Quantum. Once it is applied to your rod, Subspace mutations will appear with around 25% probability.

But how c?an you g??et your hands on the Quantum mutation?

How to get the Quantum enchantment

If you want to get your hands on the Quantum enchantment, first, you need an Exalted relic. But, alas, they are pretty rare. There is a 1/2000 chance of being found; you can try to use the Rod Of The Exalted One to make things a bit easier. If you have not completed the Keepers Secret puzz??le, you will get three Exalted Relics as a reward.

Once you have an Exalted relic (or any relic at all), you can enchant your rod by going to the Statue of Sovereignty. Talk to the NPC there, Cole, and give him the amount (400C$) he wants. Now, ride the elevator t??o the bottom to get to the Altar. Now, once down, walk to the pedestal and interact with the Altar but keep in mind that this will only work during the night.

If you have a rod with an Exalted enchantment, bring ?it with you as that will make your cha??nce of rolling another Exalted enchantment a bit higher. But, on average, exalted enchantments have a 1 in 7 chance of being rolled. The process will exhaust the relic while applying a random enchantment to your currently equipped rod.

What is the Subspace mutation?

The Subspace mutation first appeared in Fisch in version 1.13, released on the Roblox platform in early January 2025. You can recognize a Subspace fish by looking at t??he color, if it is a slightly faded bright red color while sparkling with pink particles, then you have found one. This mutation will make any fish value greater by five times, making it one of the best ways to earn money fast, second only to the quite rare and difficult-to-get Aurora mutation.

The Quantum enchantment will go together quite well with rods that already have higher-than-average base stats, such as the Rod of the Forgotten Fang or the Rod of the Depths, thus making it a great choice for veteran Fisch players.

The post How to catch Subspace fish in Fisch appeared first on Destructoid.

Are you bored of playing 52 pickup or middle-of-the-road solitaires? Then it's time to explore the world of card games on PC that, never before, has ??offered so many different flavors and mechanics for a wide audience to enjoy. Whether you're a fan of traditional classics or co??llectible card games with deep lore, we'll take a look at the best card games on PC.

The best card games to play on PC

In t??his post, we will explore many diff??erent kinds of PC card games, from bonafide classics that have completely redefined the genre to more obscure titles. From beginner-friendly games to complex challenges for seasoned players, this list will be the ace up your sleeve to find the perfect match for your style of play. Pick up those cards, shuffle the deck, and get ready to deal with an exciting array of card-based adventures!

Balatro

Let's start with a recent classic, one small indie game that, in the space of a few months, has become one of the true cult hits of 2024. Starting from the simple mechanic of playing like a solitaire poker game, Balatro takes that idea ??and infuses it with so many? different roguelike mechanics, endless possibilities, and infinite replayability. Here the Jokers are crazy wild, as they will offer all kinds of powers and combinations, so better choose carefully if you are looking to reach the end.

But that's not all, as you will need as many chips as possible to beat the many difficult blinds while unlocking bonus hands and decks as you progress naturally. Every small edge you can get your hands on will be a great help as you make your way towards the boss blind, and perhaps secure your victory. Balatro is not on??ly one of the most unique and time-consuming card games from the last few years but also for the overall PC game market.

Slay the Spire

Despite having a few years behind it, Slay the Spire is the one that really kickstarted the fusion of card games with roguelike mechanics. Many have tried to imitate it, but few have done it successfully. Choose one of the starting ch??aracters and prepare?? for a long sequence of fights while you try to climb to the top of the spire. But the path you choose will be a key to success since your strategy is often the only thing that makes the difference between victory and defeat. Every encounter, event, and path on the spire map presents opportunities for risk and reward.

Are you going to take a chance on a mysterious event, which might get you useful rewards, or instead stick to a safer route with easier battles but no rewards in sight? With a perfect 2D graphic style, atmospheric music, and lore that goes quite a bit deeper than it might seem at first, Mega Crit made one of the best games in the style. Make no mistake, Slay the Spire is well worth?? being played today, this modern classic is still inspiring and?? influencing the genre.

Stacklands

What if you like your card games with a hefty dose of strategy and unique RPG mechanics? Well, nothing better than Stacklands then, one very unique experience in the realm of card games. Open packs of cards to add villagers, resources, buildings, and task?s to your settlement. But that's not all, since stacking them in creative ways will be the main mechanic to grow your little village whil??e keeping a wonderful sense of discovery.

By unlocking new technologies, you can find new ways to feed your starving villagers. But, alas, it is not all smiles and roses. Often you will have to repel attacks from rats, goblins, and even evil wizards that come to conquer your realm. But if you don't like combat, you are more than welcome to play the "pacifist" mode and just enjoy the single mechanic of keeping everyone fed. Stacklands is a unique experience that is made even better through its sever?al DLCs.

Inscryption

Well, who said that card games have to be pleasant and cozy? Inscryption is one of the weirdest entries in the list and, from Daniel Mullins, the developer of Pony Island, we weren't expecting anything different. Battle a weird multi-form creature using cards with animals of all kinds and, pretty soon, eve??n your past self! While we are not going to spoil what happens next, keep in mind that this card battle is only the beginning of the game and the design direction will be much different later.

As you build your deck and make choices with consequences, you'll uncover cryptic puzzles, unsettling lore, and scary and memorable twists that will reshape the gameplay. Inscryption’s haunting atmosphere, brought to life through its eerie visuals and atmospheric soundtrack, will keep you on edge throughout. With layers of meta secrets, plus a story that unfolds in unexpected ways, Inscryption is a chill??ing and unforgettable journey into the unkn??own realm of card games.

Griftlands

What if every decision in your life came down to a battle of cards? Well, that would make each day significantly longer. But that's the heart of Griftlands, in a rundown sci-fi world where you decide how to shape your future, make life-changing decisions a?nd, of course, try to survive battles against alien enemies such as the Shroogs. Keep building up your deck to get through most events and get people to help you.

With memorable world-building ideas and many unique characters to choose from, the game wears its inspiration on its sleeves, from other classics in the genre. Clearly, it does not reinvent the wheel, and perhaps some will find the narrative unengaging, but the deckbuilding gameplay works really we??ll and will definitely please fans of the genre looking for something else to play.

Monster Train

If you have already played Slay the Spire to completion and you wished the game would feature a bit of the Pokémon flavor, Monster Train is the answer for you. As opposed to other entries in the genre, you are more than encouraged to experiment with your decks and cards, since there is also less random?? generation. Each playthrough will take more or less one hour, so it's perfect for those bite?-sized sessions on the go.

There are a huge number of different factions that you can combine together. Also of note is the high-quality art style, as opposed to the more "indie" propositions of the rest of the card games on PC?. Buy your ticket, board the train to hell, and try to survive the rid??e.

Tabletop Simulator

This is a bit of a different proposition than most other entries in this list, as this one allows for full-on experimentation with everything from the board and card games universe. Berserk Games provides players with a g??reat platform they can use to create, share, and play virtually any card (or board) game. Also, thanks to its physics engine, you can manipulate game pieces, shuffle cards, roll dice, and even flip the table in frustration.

While the basic offering includes 15 games to start with, such as Poker, this is one game where you want to gift a copy to your group of friends and start experimenting. And if you don't feel like experimenting, the Steam workshop will offer a huge variety of card games for you to try out. There are also Discord servers to discuss other games with like-minded individuals. If you ever asked yourself, "how many different card games can I play without buying more than one title", then Tabletop Simulator has the answer for you. All of them!

Wingspan

What is the real reason you play card games? If it is to relax and unwind, then battling your way to the top might not be your cup of tea. What about a cozy card game all about birds and nature? Wingspan, the digital version of the original card game, feels like a relaxing walk in the park, with the ultimate goal being not that of survival or killing the big boss, but attracting bir??ds to your wildlife preserve. Have fun and also learn a bit about our feathery friends.

Each bird you play can be combined to make some powerful additi??ons to one of your three habitats. Also, the cards reflect how the actual birds behave in real life, and you have more than 170 of them. For example, pelicans will fish, magpies can find precious items, and your geese will form a flock. Thanks to its small 30-minute sessions, you will come out feeling refreshed just like a full-on forest immersion, without having to move away from your PC.

Cobalt Core

Ready to maneuver your own spaceship and carefully choose your crew? Thanks to a unique single-axis way of battling and playing cards, Cobalt Core brings a bit of the gameplay and atmosphere of FTL: Faster than Light in a roguelike card game much like Slay the Spire. Through cards you can order your crew to raise shields to protect your ship or to strike first, to try and?? disable your enemies before they have a chance to react.

Movement will be one of the keys to defeating your enemies and surviving battles, but one unique thing that Cobalt Core brings is a lot of heart and charm. Each character will have something to say? about the situation they are in, along with some amusing snippets of lore. Also, since the overall difficulty is much lower than other games on the list, this might be a good one for someone curious about the genre but looking to avoid being punished too much.

DICEOMANCER

If you don't mind a little dice in your cards, then DICEOMANCER brings you a unique experience where every number on the screen can be re-rolled through dice. But that's not all, as the ga?me features over 500? different cards to use. They will form the backbone of your strategy as you are going through a difficult day in the life of characters that just wanted to go about their lives and instead, find themselves in the midst of battles and combat.

This is another one I can recommend to those unfamiliar with the genre, as it's often recognized as being easier than the classics on this list and can be beaten in 10-15 hours (as opposed to 80+ of the others). With pretty handpainted art and a quirky soundtrack, DICEOMANCER could be the little cult hit you need to exp?and your palate.

Marvel Snap

What if you could play a card game in the Marvel Universe �and for free, too? Welcome to Marvel Snap, one you might be familiar with as it is on its way to becoming a bonafide classic, thanks to its quick matches and strategic gameplay. Build your deck of 12 cards and battle across randomly selected locations, but be careful of their unique effects. With matches lasting just a few minutes, Marvel Snap is designed to be acce??ssible while ??offering enough depth to be well-suited to more strategic thinkers.

While the overall mechanics can be easy to master, as it will be all about synergies between cards and the locations, the standout feature is, as the name implies, the "snap". This lets you double the number of currency you are betting on a match, just like the bluff in poker. This way, you can push opponents to retreat or force them to accept those high-stakes gambles. With vibrant art, fluid animations, and all of the classic heroes and villains you can desire, Marvel Snap is definitely recommended for ??all card game or Marvel enthusiasts.

The Zachtronics Solitaire Collection

Perhaps you saw the "solitaire collection" title and rolled your eyes... but wait before you scroll away. Zachtronics has been a unique software house working in the space between programming and games, and their solitaires follow this philosophy to a T. In this collection, you will find eight different solitaire?? variants, with unique puzzle minigames blended in that add a whole new layer of gameplay to the usual card games.

Also, this collection does not feature any kind of the usual help that you might find in other games, so no undo button or anything else. Either you complete the game or you will have to restart?. If you are looking for something a bit different from your usual Windows solitaire or your grandma's card games, then this collection will surprise you.

Cookard

What if you are a fan of cooking and cards? Those two don't really go together, do they? We don't want to get pasta sauce on our precious jokers. But Cookard presents a gameplay that, while resembling Stacklands, does its own unique thing. Each dish requires several steps and, of course, ingredients. You need to drag ingredient cards (such as eg??g or dough) and utensil cards, together. But you better hurry because those custome??rs won't wait forever.

If you do not like your strategy card games to feature a lot of conquest and battles, then this game will give you that relaxing atmosphere you mig?ht need. Think of it like an automated solitaire where you need to take care of your food-making machines. Not only is i?t great for newcomers to the genre, but it's fun in short bursts and should last you a fair amount of hours. And did I mention it's also free?

The post Best card games to play on PC in 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

Founded in late December 1990 in the UK, Team 17 is one of the oldest game developers and publishers that is still active t??oday. They have released all kinds of games across several decades. But which might be the best Team 17 games of all time? We list our favorites in this ranking.

Which are the best Team 17 games?

Team 17 managed to get through the 16-bit, 32?-bit, and 64-bit eras unscathed, and the company is still releasing quite successful and memorable titles today. We have thirty-five years of games to go through, so there are definitely a lot of games that have been forgo??tten and, perhaps, justly so. But which ones might still be worth taking a look at? Here are our picks.

10. Yoku's Island Express

Among the many early games released in the first year of release of the Nintendo Switch, Yoku's Island Express probably stands alone as being one of the most unique. In a refreshing blend of pinball mechanics and platformers (and no, this is not Sonic Spinball luckily...), the player controls the super cute b?ug Yoku, guiding them through obstacles and challenges.

Thanks to clean graphics, infectious music, and gameplay mechanics which can be quite easy to pick up and play but also difficult to master, this is still one gre?at Switch title to pick up on the eSho??p. Perhaps might be time for a sequel on the Switch 2?

9. Going Under

There is nothing worse than being an intern, feeling like you're just being used for the most menial and degrading tasks in the office, when you are actually there to learn. Developed by Aggro Crab, Going Under takes that disquieting fe?eling and brings it over to a zany and quirky Diablo-like dungeon crawler. Make your way? through the remains of failed startups, dating sites, and cryptocurrency.

Along with a unique art style plus an original theme, Going Under also features?? perfectly functional and engaging combat mechanics, with a little bit of roguelite thrown in for good measure. The jokes might definitely be hit or miss, with several misses, but ?they never ruin the atmosphere or get in the way of the gameplay.

8. Stunt GP

Unjustly forgotten today, this Dreamcast and PC game, along with its often-forgotten PlayStation 2 port, was released at the worst possible time. In 2002, the craze of the alternative racing game (remember POD, Rollcage, Wipeout 2079, etc?) was slowly dying. Therefore, it got quickly lost? in the superabundance of games, but that was a fate it never really deserved. With twenty-four different tracks to perform some deadly stunts on, this was one quite seriously fun experience, despite its overall brevity.

Developed by a small team inside Team 17, this was one of their last hurrahs before transitioning to being mostly a publisher of games developed by other teams. Simple to pick up and play, and highly recommended for its co-op split screen mode. To make matters worse, today Stunt GP is quite difficult to easily pick up and play along with being unavailable on any official digital storefron??ts.

7. Superfrog

In the wake of the launch of Sonic the Hedgehog and its quick rise to glory, along with that of the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis, many home computers were watching in jealousy. But it was most definitely the Amiga to receive the most 2D platformers after 1991, with Superfrog by Team 17 probably being one of th??e few that still stands the test of time.

Control a frog with superpowers that can also fly, through the use of power-ups like wings, plus speed up or down by ingesting pills. Classic 2D platformer gameplay that has aged quite gracefully. The game was remade in 2013 in an HD version which used to be available on Steam but has been since delisted. At this point, there is sadly no legal way to play Superfrog.

6. Alien Breed

Part Gauntlet, part unofficial Aliens-tie in, Alien Breed was the first big hitter by Team 17 and one of the reasons the company was put on the map back in the Amiga days. With a top-down view of the action gameplay and a thick atmosphere with no music but only foreboding sounds of machinery, Alien Breed presented quite a unique e??xperience for the early 90s.

The original was quickly followed by several other titles, such as Tower Assault. While the second game maintained?? the same gameplay as the original, the third went full-on 3D, a classic FPS and alien-hunting experience. The game was also rebooted in the early 2010s, making it another trilogy, this is more complicated than Star Wars at this point! But if you want to know where it all began, there is no better s?tarting point than this suspenseful action game.

5. Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

While the original Yooka-Laylee title was a quite competent attempt to bring back that classic late 90s 3D platformer crazy, the sequel went on?e step beyond. Keeping that same level of high challenge, Impossible Lair brings the player a quite tasty mix of having to achieve specific goals in levels, sometimes quite different ?from simply completing them, while collecting abilities that will change how the levels actually work.

Impossible Lair closely follows the style of classic 2D platforms of the past, not a coincidence that part of the team worked on the Donkey Kong Country? series. If you were ever a fan of the genre, you will find a refreshing take and an all-new difficulty to try to deal with.

4. Overcooked

One of the first great original games that brought back the classic co-op experience, Overcooked brings two (or more) chefs to a selection of completely wacky kitchens where they will have to fight against all types of obstacles and challenges to bring patrons their precious food. Try not to fall into lava, avoid the ice and try ??to slice those carrots and onions as fast as possible.

The single-player mode still exists, but this time we wouldn't recommend it. Despite the existence of a sequel of the bigge??????????????????????????r and better variety, ten years down the (kitchen) line Overcooked will still bring that same joy to whoever decides to sit down on the couch and play. Now that's one kind of nostalgia we can all agree on.

3. Dredge

In the depths of the sea, no one can hear you scream, but they can definitely hear your boat creaking as it desperately tries to escape a huge monster in the fog. Behind the cozy face of a nice little fishing game, Dredge hides the soul of one of the scariest horror games released in the last few? years. During the day, simply go ahead and sell your fish to the local mark??etplace to buy upgrades for your boat, but then when the sun sets, get ready to be careful of what is lurking in the dark.

In the stillness of the night, your boat will have to deal with Eldritch horror hiding in the dark and foreboding fog. This is not a full-on horror experience, as there are no jumpscares, instead the game brings a strong sense of dread. With five islands to explore, plus even more through its different DLCs, the simple gameplay loop of Dredge will live on in many players' minds.

2. Blasphemous

Sometimes, it's not easy to explain what a game does superbly right, since it does not really reinvent the wheel. Indeed, Blasphemous, developed by the Spanish team The Game Kitchen, is a classic side-scrolling 2D action game. Kill enemies, gain new pow?ers, unlock new places to go, and dispose of huge and scary bosses. So far, there would be really no reason to explain its second position.

But thanks to its atmosphere, the writing, the music, and the way it beautifully incorporates religious symbols from Catholicism while exposing the horror beneath, Blasphemous stands apart from all of its peer?s. Almost six years later, and after a perfectly competent sequel, it still stands supreme as one of the best examples of the genre.

1. Worms Armageddon

If anyone has heard of the name Team 17 then they are also probably aware of Worms. The series is one of the most representative of the early days of the co-op era, before the internet, where friends would play one against the other trying to make their worms team go boom. Among the many games in the series, Armageddon stil??l r??emains to this day, one of the best examples.

By allowing incredible customization, from the flag to the sound effects of each worm, along with presenting very entertaining game modes and ultra-wacky scenarios, Armageddon provided something for everyone to enjoy. Even in single-player, it was a perfectly acceptable experience, and nobody would recommend playing Worms on your own! Sadly, the series then lost its way after 2003. If you have to play one Worms game today, bring your post-apocal?ypse to the fie??ld and join the wormy army.

The post 10 Best Team 17 games, ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Tracking down and catching ghosts is not an especially easy task, often because many of these entities will vary their speed and, therefore, might be quite difficult to identify. But which are actually the slowest ghosts in Phasmophobia? We take a?? look at all of these ectoplasmic fri?ends to identify which ones move the slowest out of them all.

Which are the slowest ghosts in Phasmophobia?

While most ghosts in Phasmophobia move around at an average speed, there are several that will slow down considerably when certain conditions ar?e met. They are the following.

10. Raiju

This type of ghost is not particularly fast, so it shouldn't normally give you any problems ??in identifying it, but still, its speed can vary quite a bit when approaching electrical appliances, such as a TV and computer. Near those devices, t?he Raiju speed can go as high as 2.5 ms.

9. Oni

The Oni is an average ghost that will not change speed, regardless of its approach t??o the player or their actions. Since they possess quite great strength, they can be quite a formidable opponent, but at least they won't ever change speed, not even during hunt events. On the plus side, since they are quite active, this makes them easy to spot and identify.

8. The Mimic

The mimic is one great trickster and its overall speed is basically impossible to predict. This is because they will change their behavior with one of the other ghosts every 30 seconds. This means that their base speed can be an average of 1.7 ms, but also go quite low if they change with one of the other ghosts in the list. but i??ts base speed is quite average and it can go even lower than that. Since they have four pieces of evidence in Normal mode, The Mimic can be identified with 100% certainty once you collect the??m all.

7. Jinn

This is one to watch out for, as t??hey can be quite territorial and will attack if they feel threatened. While their basic speed is quite an average one, they will move faster when the breaker is on and the player is in their line of sight. Careful since they will not gradually move faster, but instead automatically reach a speed of 2.5 ms as soon as they see you. Otherwise, their speed is average.

6. The Twins

These two troubl?emakers, during hunt events, will vary speed around 10% of the average 1.7 ms, since they are basically two different entities. This means that their speed constantly changes back and forth, they can move as slow as 1.53 on average, but also move slightl??y faster, at 1.83 ms.

5. Moroi

Risen from the grave to drain the energy of th??e living, these curse-loving ghosts are known to move around at a slightly slower speed than most average ghosts, at around 1.5. But since they live on human energy, the lower the team's overall sanity and the faster the Moroi become, so better be careful to not lose tracks of these clues.

4. Hantu

These frost-loving entities, perhaps because of their hobby of sticking close to the ice, move a bit slower than ?the average, at around 1.4 ms. But when in colder temperatures, their speed will start to move up and can go as high as 2.25 ms. If you wanna make sure that the Hantu will not speed up, keep the generator always on.

3. Thaye

While stron??g and fast as soon as they enter the location, these slowly aging gho??sts will start to become weaker as time passes. This means that their speed varies on their current age, it can go as high as 2.5, but also as low as 1.0 ms.

2. Revenant

The Revenant can be quite tricky with its speed since it will move slowly, at least be?fore detecting the player, but then speed up a bit after that. Still, if we are looking for slow ghosts, then the revenant definitely q??ualifies with its 1.0 ms.

1. Deogen

While they can be fast during a hunt, the ghost will slow down considerably when approaching the player, going down as slow as 0.4 ms. But when not in the line of sight, they can go as fast as 3.0 ms. They are definitely the slowest entities out of them all, but still that doesn't mean they sh??ouldn't be approached carefully if you want t?o make sure to identify them correctly.

The post 10 Slowest ghosts in Phasmophobia appeared first on Destructoid.

It feels good to be king, but it does feel even better to be the king of the monsters. Yes, with Godzilla having recently landed in Fortnite, many players have wondered how to play as this huge beast. First, let's discover how to find Godzilla on the map in Fortnite.

Where is Godzilla in Fortnite?

To find the king of the monsters in Fortnite, you'll have to wait for a specific portal to open. This is quite rare, as players have reported quite a low percentage of the event happening. In ??any case, you should be keeping an eye on the sky for any signs of unusual colors or activities, that is usually a sign that the portal will spawn soon. You will get a notification once it happens.

S??ome players have reported having luck between Shattered Span and Seaport City, which is the location close to where Godzilla's footprints were first spotted. But after it opens, you'd better be quick about it since only ??the first player to go through the Godzilla portal will actually become it. Once you reach the portal, you only need to go through it to transform.

How to reach the Godzilla portal as fast as possible

As mentioned, it is essential to? be as fast as possible once you get the notification that the portal has spawned. A good strategy might be to reach a vantage point in the map so you can take a look at your surroundings and quickly reach the portal when it spawns.

Naturally, since everyone will probably start to race after it, having items that can help you is also crucial. Keep in mind that other players will be racing for the same goal. Naturally, vehicle?s like the Hoverboard will be essential equipment that can help you, but also? weapons that can be used for dash attacks, like the Kinetic Blade can give you some much-needed speed boosts.

What are Godzilla's powers?

If you are the lucky player to have the chance to transform into the King of the Monsters, you can use three main abilities to defend yourself from the other players. Here are the current abilities that can be used as Godzilla in Fortnite Chapter 6:

• Roar: this mighty call will let Godzilla see nearby players.
• Mighty Stomp Attack: Godzilla brings down its huge paw and makes nearby players fly away, dealing quite a lot of damage.
• Heat-Ray: by firing a laser ray from its eyes, the huge beast can burn through and easily destroy players and structures.

This doesn't mean that Godzilla can be left alone to fight, it will still need the help of its te??ammates since the other players can still attack the huge beast. The beast's weak spots can be targeted for extra damage, plus players are able to grab Godzilla’s fragments. These restore 40 Health points and also give three dash charges.

The post How to find Godzilla on the map in Fortnite appeared first on Destructoid.

As part of the new additions in the Slime Rancher 2 update 0.2.0, the Yolky Slimes are one of the cutest new slimes t??hat we have seen in the game in a while. But, they can be extremely hard to find as they are of the rare variety. Where can you try to get them? We will ??tell you all the most useful tips that we have.

Yolky Slime spawn locations

Usually, the best places to hunt down the Yolky Slimes are nests of wild chickens ??on Rainbow Island or, generally, where wild chickens will spawn. Unfortunately, these nests are quite rare to come by, so you will have to be careful around them since Yolky?? Slimes will pop up of the nests as you walk just around the nests themselves, and that only happens the first time, in a single day, that you happen upon them.

We would recommend mapping out a quick path through the nests that you have found around your ranch. This way, you can come up with a daily farming routine that includes looking for t??hese nests, since they will spawn Slimes each day. If you don't see any,? try to walk past them several times.

Another clue is of the audio kind; Yolky Slimes can often be heard producing a sort of high-pitched whine if they are just idling or bumping into other slimes ??or objects. Unfortunately, even if you raise your volume, it is pretty difficult to hear it clearly. We would recommend keeping a lookout for nests instead.

How to harvest Yolky plorts

Once you manage to capture a Yolky Slime, it can be easily brought to the conservatory and, luckily, it will not despawn. When they are near chickens, they can inspire the production o?f giant eggs, but only if the chickens themselves have enough space to reproduce. That means you should have one hen and one rooster in one single coop, any more than that and you might risk not using the Yolky Slimes to their maximum potential.

Finally, it is good to keep in mind that the giant egg that the chickens will produce must be opened within three in-game hours of being spawned if you are looking to harvest the highly nutrient (and quite expensive) yolky plorts. Just pick up the egg and throw it ?aga?inst any walls. Eggs that are too old will not contain any nutrients, but instead only little chickadees.

The post Where to find Yolky Slime in Slime Rancher 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

Buzz Lightyear, while a bit stubborn, proved to be a great friend to cowboy Woody and the biggest asset in solving their many problems and tough situations in Toy Story. But what about playing as the toy astronaut in Brawl Stars? Here's how you can unlock him.

How do you unlock Buzz Lightyear?

Buzz Lightyear was one of the many unlockable gifts and characters in the Brawlidays advent calendar in December 2024, available from the December 12th launch day right up to the 31st. The character can be used to participate in the Toy Story event in Brawl Stars, which will last until early February 2025.

What if you missed out on getting the character at the time? As of writing, there is no way to unlock Buzz Lightyear in Brawl Stars. Perhaps he will be av?ailable in the future, because of the success of the character the developers may bring him back for another Toy Story-related event. In that case, ??we will see to update this guide.

What kind of fighter is Buzz Lightyear in Brawl Stars?

Buzz Lightyear is a legendary Damage Dealer brawler who can use three different modes. In his first mode, Laser mode, Buzz Lightyear has quite ?low health, plus moderate-high damage output, long-range, and fast reload speed. He will attack with a laser blast that damages enemies ov?er time upon contact.

For his Super, Buzz lets go of five lasers in a sweeping?? motion? from left to right, each inflicting damage over time when they hit an enemy. Bravado, his Hypercharge, grants him a 26% speed boost, 25% damage boost, and a 5% shield boost when using his Laser mode.

In Saber mode, Buzz will have quite a high HP count, with moderately high damage output and very fast movement speed but a shorter attack range. This time, he will leave the lasers at home and swing his trusty saber in a wide, close-range arc. Fi??nally, the Super attack will make him leap into the air, jumping over walls and dealing damage when landing hard on the ground, knocking enemies back. In Saber mode, he gets a 25% speed and shield boost, plus a 5% damage boost ?using Bravado.

Finally, ??in his third (Wing) mode, Buzz will fire two lasers that deal damage based on th??e proximity of the enemies. His third and final Super attack will make him fly high above the ground, dropping bombs that will deal area damage to opponent below. He gets a 24% speed boost, 25% damage boost, as well as a 5% shield boost with Bravado here.

Buzz uses his Turbo Boosters as a gadget, which lets him dash for a short distance in one single direction, which you can change on the? go.

The post How to unlock Buzz Lightyear in Brawl Stars appeared first on Destructoid.

In the mid-90s, trying to come up with a unique birthday present was no easy task, thanks to the absence of sites like AliExpress. That is how Arron Hawke, a meteorologist from the UK, ended up developing a unique point-and-click adventure game as a gift for his little sister, Neighbours: the Adventure. Th??e game was an unauthorized tie-in based on the Australian soap opera Neighbours, and it would end up being one of the very first fan games to make its way to players all over the world.

Hawke remembers that he decided to develop the game as a present and also because he had been rewatching old tapes of the show while making his way through university and work. "My mum watched it in the mid-'80s, and while pretending I wasn’t interested, I soon found myself invested in the characters". In the end, the project became much bigger than he anticipated, taking up to a full two years of develo??pment.

Developed on the Commodore Amiga, the game uses stills from the actual program, taken from the VHS Arron had been watching. The player can interact with various characters f??rom the show, using a classic interface with verbs, while moving around through different locations is accomplished by simply clicking on the appropriate direction on a compass.

What makes Neighbours: The Adventure still notable today?

As opposed to other fan games that came before, Neighbours: the Adventure is unique for its complexity, as Arron ended up developing a fully-fledged adventure game. The story was taken from an episode of the soap opera, where Paul Robinson tries to buy the Lassiter's Complex, a small shopping and hotel complex in Erinsborough. Coincidentally, that very same year the soap ??????????????????????????opera also received an official tie-in game, a skateboarding action title published on most popular home computer of the time.

In the end, despite all of his hard work, although seemingly happy about the gift, Arron remembers his sister did not seem to be very interested in actually playing the game. Naturally, Neighbours: the Adventure could not receive a commercial release, since Arron did not own any copyrights over the images he used in-game. Still, that did not stop him from distributing the g?ame for free by sharing it through floppy disks and uploading it on the bulletin board networks of the time??.

The game definitely transcended its? humble ori??gins and even managed to get reviewed in a couple of magazines of the time, such as Amiga Power, which gave it a 60% noting how "it's fun in a warped kind of way", while The One Amiga gave it a rating of 83% apparently appreciating how "there's a few digitized screens of the sexy twins to ogle over if you get bored with the game itself".

The soap opera Neighbours is still going strong today, enjoying its 40-year anniversary since its original network release in Australia, on the Seven Ne??twork, in March 1985. While Arron never became a game developer after this first experience, he seems to recall the experience as a fun little time. "The game didn’t ?bring me fame or fortune," he notes, "ultimately, I failed, but I had a good time failing".

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Each new update to the much beloved Roblox fishing game brings some new prey that you definitely want to get your hands on. In the latest Fisch January 2025 update, we got introduced to the Treble Bass, an elusive and quite special fish. But what would be the best bait and rod to catch i?t? Keep reading and w?e will tell you everything you need to know.

Which is the best bait to catch the Treble Bass in Fisch?

The best bait to catch the Treble Bass would be the Magnet, and the best place to find it is in the waters around Moosewood. The Magnet bait can be easily found even in common crates, along with ??the more elusive Bait crates. You can also be gifted some Magnet bait if you complete at least five of the quests by the Angler NPC.

What is the best rod to catch the Treble Bass?

Since this fish is quite fast and moves in an unpredictable way, you will need a rod that can counter all of that. For example, you can use the Arctic Rod, as it will grant you a 15% Resilience stat, plus a 0.25 control boost which will make it slightly easier not to ?be caught by surprise by the movements of the Bass. But it's not easy to find.

Otherwise, if you are not very advanced in the game, you might think about using the Steady Rod which can be obtained by the merchant at Roslit Bay for a mere 7000C$ and will bring you the necessary dose of resilience and control to handle th??e elusive Treble Bass.

Best strategy to catch the Treble Bass

As mentioned, the best place to start your hunt for the Treble Bass is in Moosewood, specifically the small Pirate island in front of the pier. The fish can be caugh??t at any time during the day and in any weather conditions, so you don't have to worry about that. You can tell if you've hooked one by the shimmering sound that will play, additionally, a question mark, all in gaudy rainbow color, will appear above your character's head.

The Treble Bass? will not be caught easily, as it is quite a rare catch and will move erratically across the player bar when you get one. Additionally??, while you're trying to catch it, you will be penalized with a -50% progress speed decrease.

While it might not be the easiest fish to catch, it is worth trying as getting one wi?ll net you 1200 XP, and that's not all. On average, the Treble Bass weighs around 2.5 kilograms and will b?ring you quite a hefty profit, as it can be sold for 2444C$.

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Doesn't time fly when you are having fun? Well, even if you are not, those hands on that grandfather clock ain't stopping any time soon. But look on the bright side: in 2025, there are so many games tha?t are turning thirty y??ears old. It's time for them to leave home, find a partner, and start a family!

Jokes aside, while many of those games are still celebrated today, there are many others that seem to have been somewhat forgotten by critics and audiences alike. Which ones might sti??ll be worth your time and money? Here are our best picks from the best year in the mid-90s.

Which games from 1995 you might want to revisit?

Donkey Kong Country 2 : Diddy's Quest

In a case of sequels being almost better than the original, what we could perhaps define as a "Terminator 2-case," Donkey Kong Country 2 (or DKC2) does give the first game a run for its money. While many might reasonably feel that something is missing because Donkey Kong is not the main p?rotagonist, the? dynamic duo of Diddy and Dixie do not monkey around and do add a lot to the gameplay.

With Diddy having a good attack and Dixie being able to float and help with those nasty jumps, Diddy's Quest can reasonably be called - at least most days of the week - a superior game to the original. But there's more! David Wise is back with one of his best soundtracks ever (just listen to Stickerbush Symphony!), even beyond simple nostalgic feelings. DKC 2 is a great example of the final years of the glorious era of 2D platforms. Fortunatel??y for users who want to revisit this classic, it's currently available as part of Nint??endo Switch Online's SNES Classics software line-up.

Warcraft 2 : Tides of Darkness

While the original Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, back in 1994, was a perfectly alright real-time strategy game that started Blizzard's journey into the genre, the sequel still showcases how much care and attention the company put into the series. By creating a huge amount of lore for their sequel to their small hit, Blizzard sold several million copies of the game and helped to create, along with Westwood's Command & Conquer (also released ??in 1995), the short-lived RTS boom.

The gameplay not only offers solid RTS action but also stand-alone scenarios for bite-sized gameplay sessions, along with skirmishes against the computer. While the much greater atmosphere and narrative focus that Blizzard will put into Diablo is yet to come, it is easy to see where it came from and the huge influence the game had on Starcraft. If you are curious to see how Blizzard became one of the biggest gaming companies, Warcraft 2 is a great history lesson and still quite the engaging RTS game today. Warcraft 2 recently received a quite decent remastered version, so there's no time like the present to dive back into the ??history of The Second War.

The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery

The mid-90s were a great period for the so-called FMV adventure genre. The explosion of the CD-ROM as a medium, also thanks to Myst, meant that developers finally felt authorized to include as many video sequences as they could while providing some decent video quality as well. Sierra was among the first companies to jump on the FMV adventures bandwagon. While 1995 would also be the year of Roberta Williams' Phantasmagoria, that game today is a little difficult to recommend because of a certain scene, so instead, I'd go with The Beast Within.

The second game in the Gabriel Knight series sees the writer travel to Germany to seek more information on the bloodline of the Schattenjäger, the defenders of the faith. In the end, he will find himself dealing with a mystery involving werewolves and attacks on the local population. With interesting homosexual subtexts, a main character that feels both shy and charismatic, and incredible production values for the time (the soundtrack even includes an aria specifically written for the game), The Beast Within might easily be the best FMV adve??nture of its time. The game is also relatively easy to get ahold of and play, as it can be found on GOG and Steam, and running it on modern systems is a mostly hassle-free experience.

Time Crisis

In this case, we can safely say that t??he first original in the series might not really be the best. But still, that doesn't mean that it should be left to rot beneath the sands of time. Perhaps it might be less obvious today, but Namco's 1995 title debuted unique gameplay features for the genre, such as the ducking mechan?ic, weapon reloads and time-limited missions to complete. Indeed, before 1995, reloading your weapon in an on-rails shooter wasn't even a thing. How far we've come!

While the more well-known PlayStation port would arrive only two years later, also sadly missing the nifty pedal that you could use to duck on the original arcade cabinets, it is still an i??ncredibly fun experience all thirty years later. While it is a game you mi??ght want to use a gun for, as using the original PlayStation DualShock is definitely not as exciting, the experience is still mostly intact from the arcade original. Sadly, playing it today is a bit of a headscratcher, as the game is not available legally anywhere, and the two-player mode is even harder to emulate correctly. On the plus side, PlayStation games are still cheap. Well, relatively so, at least.

Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island

How do you follow up a groundbreaking classic such as Super Mario World? Well, it turns? ??out you don't. In fact, Yoshi's Island originally started life simply as a new platformer starring Yoshi, as Nintendo felt all the ideas with Mario were, more or less, already spent. Turns out they were quite wrong! Still, the game spent three years in development, with the team working to add more and more magic tricks to an already unique platformer where the little dinosaur has to transport baby Mario safely from start to end. The Super Nintendo cartridge even had a special chipset for all the crazy graphic modes the team developed.

Perhaps thanks to such a beautiful alchemy, Yoshi's Island looks beautiful still today. Its hand-drawn look was achieved by first drawing the graphics by hand, then digitally scanning them and approximating them pixel-by-pixel. While the release of Donkey Kong Country the year before had the team doubt themselves and run for the hills to add a couple of pre-rendered videos, luckily, the graphics were left as t?hey were. The gameplay might be a little infuriating at times, especially because of the cries of Baby M, but it is a lovely platformer all thirty years later. Playing it is relatively easy, as the game is available on the SNES Classic edition and on the Switch.

Star Wars: Dark Forces

What if you could play Doom but with Stormtroopers and a fistfight with the Rancor? Well, there are so many mods for the classic ID title that you might easily find several ones, but that is really not what Dark Forces feels like. If you ever wanted to play a rightful old-school FPS taking place in the Star Wars universe??, this one will definitely do the trick. Kyle Katarn is also now quite a respected character in the overall lore, so there is really no reason not to fully embrace his adventures while he is trying to steal the plans of the?? Death Star.

Well, that last part might not really be accepted lore today (see Rogue One), but the part about the Dark Troopers surely is. While it might feel a bit clunky if you are more accustomed to post-2002 first-person shooters, especially in its kind of cumber?some level design, Dark Forces brings all the right ingredients to make you feel like a small mercenary making his way through the Empire's strongest defenses. There's no better time than the present to revisit since Nightdive Studios made a wonder??ful remaster in 2024, currently available on GOG.

Chrono Trigger

Do we even need to explain why this classic RPG is on this list? How about being the product of Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest), Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy) and Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball)? They were a true dream team that thought of making an RPG together while on a trip to the United States. A? story that starts like a mostly light-hearted romp with friends getting together to enjoy a day at the fair soon becomes m??ore and more ominous in tone as the stakes become much higher.

Chrono, Marle and Lucca are one of the best teams ever seen in an RPG, and the rest of the main cast are endearing as well. There are no random battles, so combat is less infuriating, and progression is quite linear, with not that much grinding. Everything flows beautifully. The soundtrack is also gorgeous and is one of the earliest works of famed composer Yasunori Mitsuda. Mitsuda took on Chrono Trigger after expressing how unhappy he was with Squaresoft's pay at the time and has since made music for well-known RPGs like Xenoblade Chronicles and Soul Sacrifice.

If you have time to try only one title on this list, let it be Chrono Trigger for sure. Playing it today is, lu?ckily, much easier than other titles on this list, as the game is available on many different platforms such as Steam, Android, PlayStation and the virtual console. Unfortunately, ther??e's currently no port on the Switch; perhaps on the Switch 2?

Beyond Oasis / The Story of Thor

While Sonic the Hedgehog was quite the ideal response to the domination of Super Mario & Nintendo, spearheading the success of the Mega Drive / Genesis 16-bit console, Sega felt like they were still missing something. Where was their Zelda? Try as they might, Phantasy Star never really seemed to rise to the ranks of an unforgettable RPG series such as Final Fantasy. With Beyond Oasis, the company got as close as they could.

Also released on the Sega Mega Drive, this is a top-view action adventure with an open world to explore, a classic story and engaging gameplay. By having to switch weapons to attack enemies plus collecting magic spirits, the player helps Prince Alì in his quest to stop the evil that is threatening to engulf the land. Thirty years later, Beyond Oasis is still a thrilling and fairly long action RPG that is well worth a revisit. Unfortunately, it is often forgotten in favor of other, more well-known titles. Luckily, you can easily pick it up and play right now, as the RPG is available on the Switch online and on Steam as part of the Mega Drive classics collection.

Ristar

Speaking of Sonic the Hedgehog, our little cute yellow star guy here was actually supposed to be the true successor to Sonic. In an alternate timeline, the launch of Ristar in 1995 would mean that the little star would go on to enjoy a long and fruitful career as the new mascot of Sega and their new console, the Saturn. Alas, that wasn't meant to be. Poor Ristar's debut did not get as much marketing budget and attention sin??ce the launch of the new 32-bit console happened at the same?? time, and Sega did not seem to care that much anyway.

While Ristar's overall arc resembles more that of a Ri-comet, that doesn't mean you should not play this cute and enjoyable 2D platformer today. With some of the best graphics on the Mega Drive, plus a beautiful soundtrack and a cheeky mix of relaxing platformer and hard-as-nails gameplay, this title will transport you back to that wonderful time when 2D platformers were still reigning supreme. Today, the game is a bit difficult to find and play legally, e??ven though it has been digitally re-released a bunch of times in the past.

Earthworm Jim 2

Ending the list of the classic 2D platformers, we could not forget about dear ol' wormy here. The sequel to the original, and already quite weird, Earthworm Jim presented many new gameplay ideas that seemed to all be thrown at the wall to see what stuck. While not all of them stick the landing, the overall craziness of the project, the furious pacing of the gameplay, the weird levels and ??Jim himself all made for quite the unforgettable little package. A very 90s package at that.

We have side-scrolling levels, final bosses that really want to have nothing to do with you, a whole cheese b??lock to destroy with your weapon and, of course, let's not forget the two cows on the Level Complete screen that will smile at you coy (or was it mooy?). Unfortunately, our worm - like many other mascots - did not survive the jump to 3D and was put to rest back in the ground. Luckily, you can unearth the earthworm today by heading to Steam, along with its Nintendo Switch Online counterpart.

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Sometimes in life, challenges have to be completed by using nothing other than meat. Well, I don't know how true that is, but it might definitely be the case for this Roblox game. If you have been wondering what exactly you have to do in order to complete the Butcher's Method challenge in Guts and Blackpowder, keep reading, and we'll guide you through it.

How to complete the Butcher's challenge

The basic objective you have to comp??lete in order to ace ??this challenge is, apparently, simple. Just play on a single map in the game by using only the "delicious leg" weapon. You'll also have to get 50 kills, and you are not allowed to use any guns or grenades. If that isn't enough, you will also have to beat that map.

So ??it might sound not that difficult, to survive a map and get 50 kills by using only your "delicious leg" weapon. But no, unfortunately, this is quite a tough challenge since the leg meat is little more than a ??fake weapon, or a meme one if you will. So what can you do to bring home this challenge successfully?

How to survive the Butcher's Method challenge

The delicious leg is a melee weapon that does not even have a lot of range. This means that in order to get any kills, you'll have to get close to your enemies and keep attacking. As this weapon does quite low damage compared to the axe or the sabre, you will need to swing your meat at least 5 or 6 times in order to kill an enemy. At least, the leg is quite faster in its swings than the other melee weapons in Guts & Blackpowder.

We would re?commend targeting zombies with your "delicious leg" weapon, as they are slower than most enemies and usually attack in waves of 2-3 so you should have an easier time dealing with them. But they are also quite deadly and can easily bite you, so you will have to keep your distance which is easier said than done when you ar??e only allowed to use a melee weapon.

Also, that doesn't mean they will go down that easy, as they will still require several meat swings. Even a sapper will require several hits, but you can at least take out a bomber without dying. Still, make no mistake, this is one of the toughest challenges in the game, so you will need a lot of practice and a good amount of patienc??e to pull this off.

How to unlock the delicious leg in Guts and Blackpowder

This secret weapon used to be only unl??ockable through admin commands, but now the player can get one, too, if they reach one of several conditions on a map. These conditions are:

• Killing 200 zombies in Objective mode without dying.
• Healing with 5 teammates without taking damage.
• Using the crucifix 7 times without taking damage.

You will need to do this on a public server, and we would recommend using the Leipzig map. Killing 200 zombies is quite long and tedious, but if you prefer that method, you can definitely try it out with an appropriate class like infantry. Another good trick is to play as the chaplain, starting with the crucifix you can use the required amount of times ?as fast as possible, while no??t taking any damage. Otherwise, you can use the Surgeon class and heal five teammates, then escape the map without taking any damage.

If you have met one of the ?conditions but can't find the weapon in you??r inventory, try looking at the shop to see if the delicious leg is now for sale.

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A bit like Monopoly's get-out-of-jail-free card, you can get out of having to do your time in My Summer Car, no matter the severity of your sentence. How? By escaping, course. Let's find? out what kind of sentences you can expect in the game and how to get out of having ??to sleep in a cell.

What are the prison sentences in My Summer Car?

My Summer Car features various prison sentences related to your vehicular actions. Here they are ??and the punishments they come with:

• Attempted manslaughter: If you have been attacking an NPC and punched them unconscious, you will get a 2-day sentence. This happens with everyone except for someone you have been fighting while in a drunk state, as they won't report you to the police.
• Evasion: If you fail to stop when a police officer asks you to, you will get a 3-day sentence. You might get several such sentences in a row if you have repeatedly done that.
• Manslaughter: Killing someone with your vehicle (by running them over or any other means) will get you a 10-day sentence. Each casualty will add up to your prison time.
• Traffic fatality: Colliding with another vehicle is fine, but if the driver is killed in the accident, you will get a 5-day sentence. Again, each casualty will add up to your prison time.
• Unpaid fine: If you forget to pay a fine, you will get a variable sentence based on the amount owed and how many days have passed since the deadline.

Your final sent??ence will calculate all infractions together, so you might even end up with a month-long stay in jail. You can look at the current time by looking at the Teksti-TV. Spending time in jail will decrease your stress, but more than 10 days in the penitentiary will cause your character to tattoo their hands, which can't be removed.

Once your jail time ends, the game will spawn you at the bus stop in front of Teimo's shop. That's?? all well and good, but if you don't want to spend all ??that time confined in a cell, there are a couple of alternatives.

How to escape from jail in My Summer Car, explained

Escaping from jail (which you can make easier with the "noclip" mod) means you will be on the run and will have to hide? from the police forever. They will keep looking for you at all times until you either decide to go back to jail or continue being on the run and live undercover. They won't get tired of this at any point, so this method is d??efinitely not recommended.

Currently, the only safe way to escape jail is using the MSC Editor. This is a ??save file editor that you can use? to modify many of the stats in the game. Once you have committed a crime and the police are after you, go to your bathroom and save your game.

?Now, use MSC editor to open your save file, which should be called "defaultES2File." Search for any values containing the words "wanted." Each line will be a crime you have committed and that you are about to be arrested for, such as "wantedevasion" or "wantedattemptedmanslaughter". You can use the editor to change those values from 1 to 0. Save, load back the game, and the police will be gone.

If you are already in jail and the game has already been? saved, then you can search for the string "numberofbools," which is the number of days in your jail sentence. If you reduce it to 0, you will be automatically teleported out of the jail. Be sure to also check for any crimes that you are still wanted ??for, or you will probably end up back in the slammer pretty soon.

The post My Summer Car: All pris?on sentences and how to escape jail appeared first on Destructoid.

Are you stressed or feeling particularly anxious because of trouble in your personal life? Luckily, there is a great solution: h??igh temperatures. That's exactly what a sauna is for and, in ??games, they work exactly like in real life. But if you have been wondering how the sauna functions in My Summer Car, keep reading, and we'll explain how it works and what you can use it for.

How does the sauna work?

The sauna in My Summer Car works just like one in real life. You have to turn up the temperature and use cold water to make the room more hu??mid. The first thing we recommend is starting to work on the sauna quite a bit before you plan to relax in it. We'd say about ten to fifteen ?minutes of real-time.

You will find two sa?unas in the game, so let's see h?ow each one works.

How to use the electric sauna

You will find this one at the back of your house. The sauna stove has two dials on the bottom, turn up the first knob, the temperature, then turn up the second knob, which is the timer. Both will have to be turned to the maximum. You will hear the stove start making noise. Remember to also close the door, or the sauna will take even more time to heat up. The ideal temperature for the sa??una is between ??60 and 80 degrees, but the higher the temperature goes, the better it will be.

Be careful not to leave the sauna on the maximum temperature mark if you are not using it, since it might catch fire. Also, while it works great for relaxation, sitting inside the sauna too much will increase your th??irst.

After the temperature has gone up enough, which you can check by looking at the thermometer on the wall, you can start pouring water on the stones. You will find a small bucket with a ??ladle inside the sauna, or outside. Brin?g it to the bathroom and fill the bucket up with water by clicking the action button. Then, bring the bucket inside once you are ready to relax and pour water on the stones, by right-clicking. That will fill the room with steam and make it much better.

If you are havi??ng difficulties throwing water effectively on the stones, try to check where the water is going when you throw it. Also, try placing yourself right i?n front of the stove while aiming the bucket a bit higher.

How to use the firewood sauna

This other sauna can be found on the island, in the cottage that is right there. To heat up this one, s??ince there will be no electricity, you will have to use firewood. Get ready to chop some wood, then open the hatch and throw the wood inside. You can throw inside as many as you like??, but four is the maximum amount of wood that will burn at the same time.

Once the wood is placed inside, press the action button to light the fire then close the hatch. Wait for the temper?ature to rise, again between 60 and 80, then get ready for some relaxation. The firewood sauna can also be used to cook meat and fish, which you can do by placing raw pieces on the stones. Once the flame is lit, just place it, and it ?will slowly cook while you are relaxing.

There are two achievements you can get by using the sauna. One is the "Welcome to Finland," which you will get by simply using the sauna successfully, and the other is the "Golden Steam" achievement, which you can unlock by, well, doin????g your business on the stones.

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The three Gauntlet missions V are part of the Heist package which was one of the new feature that GTA V br?ought to the franchise. Procuring cars is definitely a big part of the Heist missions and, indeed, fin?ding these three particular vehicles is an essential part of completing the Gold Heist.

But since those cars can be pretty easy to miss, we will be providing you with the particular locations of the vehicles in the game, along with details on how to successful??ly follow the gold requirements.

Where are the Gauntlet cars in GTA V

You should receive an email from a friend of Lester regarding some hints about the locations of all three cars. Clearly, you can't just go stealing a random Gauntlet vehi?cle that you might spot driving around in the city, but you need to provide specific ones that will be u??sed in the Heist. Once you bring them back to the garage, they will also need to be modified.

Finally, keep in mind that those cars have to be delivered without a scratch, so better be used to driving carefully! Let's look at where to f?ind the??m.

First Gauntlet car: Pillbox Hill

The first car you will find on the roof of a parking garage that is located in Pillbox Hill. If you want to find it quickly, it might also be a good idea to use the freeway as a waypoint. You can recognize the right garage since it's the one located just to the right of it, with a ??couple of skyscrapers in the background as well. The car will be easy to find, as it will be the only vehicle parked on the roof.

Second Gauntlet car: Rockford Hills

The second Gauntlet car will be parked in a reserved spot in the Rockford Hills, opposite the Vangelico sto??re and in front of the CaCa store. If you ?have been playing other Heist missions, you might remember this location for the Jewelry Heist. The Gauntlet will be free for the taking, so take it back to Los Santos Customs while driving carefully.

Third Gauntlet car: Mission Row

The final Gauntlet is?? also in a parking lot, this one located in Missio??n Row, on Sinner Street, a short road with nothing much on it. The car is parked in front of a laundromat and usually next to other ordinary cars, so it can be the hardest one to spot if you are not specifically looking for it.

What are the Gold requirements for the Gauntlet cars

?There are three requirements to bring back the Gold for all the Gauntlet cars. They are the following:

• Mapped - awarded for bringing back the right Gauntlet cars
• Not a Scratch - awarded for delivering the cars without any damage
• Pimped Out - awarded for spending at least 17.000$ to modify the three cars

It might be useful to keep in mind that these requ??irements will apply to all three cars, so better be sure to de??liver them unharmed and spend enough money on them.

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