https://www.cbr.com Covering comics, movies, TV like no other in the world. CBR.com is all you need! Fri, 30 Jun 2023 22:15:15 GMT en-US hourly 60 Adaptations have always driven Hollywood, and while books, comics, and even toys have produced plenty of inspiration, it's time for the humble video game to take its spotlight. Recent successes like The Last of Us and The Super Mario Bros. Movie are indicators of the industry finally understanding how to take a game from the console to the screen.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 22:15:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/gaming-adaptations-currently-in-development/ The Sonic The Hedgehog franchise has one of the biggest supporting casts of any video game series. The games are full of heroes and villains, and more seem to be added with each installment. While most of these characters are playable in the various spinoff games, a great many of them are playable in mainline Sonic games.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 20:15:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-playable-sonic-characters/ Magic: The Gathering's Commander format is enormously popular and has a truly vast pool of diverse cards for all kinds of strategies. For the most part, Commander is a casual format where fun comes first, and brutal, highly competitive decks are not the norm. That said, the format has some salt-inducing cards, and EDHrec.com knows it.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 19:11:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/salty-mtg-cards-commander-format-according-to-edhrec/ The Final Fantasy series has long placed a heavy emphasis on storytelling and emotional payoff. Several Final Fantasy games, such as Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X, have won praise for telling some of the best video game narratives of all time.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-final-fantasy-endings/ Street Fighter's competitive history is among the most noteworthy and storied in the video game industry. Since Street Fighter 2's release in 1992, the franchise has become the bedrock for fighting games and the wider fighting game community, hailed for its varied and iconic roster.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/street-fighter-strongest-characters-op/ Character building is a significant part of Dungeons & Dragons. Players can spend hours fine-tuning their character to contribute to the party, fill in their weaknesses, or simply deal as much damage as possible. A character is the player's way of interacting with the world, and it's important to build them to be enjoyable.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 16:30:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dnd-class-builds-mistakes/ Tera Raids are one of the main features that have impressed gamers since the release of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, alongside their compelling storylines and new Pokémon designs. Tera Raids have drawn from cooperative aspects introduced by Dynamax Raids in Sword & Shield, but they have made improvements and twists on the concept to an impressive degree.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 15:20:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-scarlet-violet-pokemon-tera-raid-battles/ The March of the Machine and March of the Machine: Aftermath sets have brought Magic: The Gathering's latest storyline to a close. The threat of Elesh Norn's New Phyrexians has been mounting since as far back as the Scars of Mirrodin block. Since Kaldheim, they've been on the move with a plan to Compleat the entire Multiverse by force.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 14:10:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-march-of-machine-aftermath-wilds-eldraine-planes/ Super Mario Bros. Wonder's announcement was full of details that excited Mario fans. The reveal that fan-favorite character Daisy will at long last be playable in a mainline Mario game arguably won the most cheers. Fans have wanted to see Daisy win that honor for a long time, and she’s not the only one.

]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2023 13:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mario-characters-who-should-be-in-mainline-game/ In recent years, gaming has become known for a ton of standout open-world games that are both gorgeous and gripping. Players openly admit to spending hundreds of hours at times roaming these open worlds, sometimes even after all the quests have been completed, looking for secrets, taking in the environment, or messing around with mods.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 21:42:43 GMT https://www.cbr.com/beautiful-open-world-games/ Multiplayer is an ever-growing part of gaming. Players can reach out to compete or cooperate with other gamers across the world, all without leaving their seats. Cross-play is becoming more and more of a buzzword in multiplayer games. Letting people play together despite owning different consoles only expands a game's player base and widens the playing field.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 20:15:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-crossplatform-video-games/ At the end of the Super Nintendo's life cycle, Squaresoft and Nintendo teamed up to release the classic title, Super Mario RPG. The game was filled with tons of amazing characters, and it dove deep into the Super Mario universe's lore for the first time.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 19:10:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/super-mario-rpg-best-characters/ The Gen IX Pokémon games, Scarlet & Violet, introduced plenty to the franchise upon their release in November 2022. Still, the Terastal phenomenon and Tera Raids have been among the more notable additions. Tera Raids have proven to be an effective way of showing off the new battle mechanic, and players are flocking to them to reap the rewards.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 18:40:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/easiest-pokemon-scarlet-violet-tera-raid-strategies/ The best video games have a hook that defines their identity, and with many single-player games, that comes from engaging storytelling. The best narratives in any medium form strong attachments between players and the characters. Killing off some of the latter creates some incredibly emotional and heartbreaking moments.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 18:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/sad-video-game-deaths/ Some tabletop games lack narratives or worldbuilding, choosing instead to forefront gameplay and mechanics. However, this isn't a universal case. Some board or card games build a fictional universe to accompany the gameplay. This is much more common in wargames and tabletop roleplaying games, both of which typically include heavy narrative emphasis. And with any sufficiently epic storyline comes a suitably epic villain.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 17:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-tabletop-villains-dnd-pathfinder-mtg/ Plenty of roleplaying games are solo affairs that let the player explore the world on their own. However, many more give the player one or more companions on their way. This can be one individual they travel with, a party that they assemble over the game, or even a small army at their command.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 15:20:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-rpg-party-companions/ Out of the many classes featured in the Final Fantasy series, the Dragoons are perhaps the most iconic. Usually clad in dragon-like armor, the Dragoons wield spears and occasionally ride on dragons or are accompanied by a small dragon companion. Their signature ability is the Jump attack which sends the Dragoon high in the air and crashing down on their enemies.

]]> Thu, 29 Jun 2023 13:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ff-best-dragoons-ranked/ Final Fantasy’s impressive video game legacy continues to grow after more than 35 years, 16 mainline titles, and close to 100 games in the iconic franchise. Final Fantasy XVI finds ways to incorporate new concepts while also paying respect to the past. Mini-games are hardly a mandatory Final Fantasy component, but they’ve been present since the franchise’s first game with its 15 Puzzle bonus challenge.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 20:16:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-final-fantasy-ff-minigames/ Magic: The Gathering scored a major flavor win with its newest Universes Beyond product, The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth. This incredible set is based on author J.R.R. Tolkien's original The Lord of the Rings fantasy novel trilogy, meaning practically every card represents a particular magical item, character, monster, or location.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 18:10:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-lotr-flavorful-cards/ Towards the end of 2023, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet will be getting their two hotly-anticipated DLC drops, following in the footsteps of their predecessors, the Gen VIII games Sword & Shield. Scarlet & Violet's two DLC releases within The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, will be The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, both of which embrace obvious inspirations and bring exciting new prospects to the franchise.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 17:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/pokemon-fans-in-gen-ix-hidden-treasure-area-zero/ Video game programmers like to hide secrets in the games they design. Home gaming consoles are a treasure trove of opportunities for game designers to hide Easter eggs for fans. With so many games to choose from, gamers have been uncovering secret details for years.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 15:21:22 GMT https://www.cbr.com/console-arcade-games-biggest-secrets/ The Dark Knight class first appeared for playable characters to use in Final Fantasy III. Dark Knights wear heavy, usually black armor, wield large swords, are oriented toward doing a lot of damage, and can sometimes use dark magic. The class has appeared in almost every Final Fantasy game with a Job System and is considered a mainstay of the franchise.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ff-best-dark-knights-ranked/ The latest Nintendo Direct brought the welcome news of a Super Mario RPG remake, but it's one of many excellent SNES games worthy of a refresh. The Super Nintendo was a high point in the gaming brand's history, boasting an impressive catalog of titles consisting of several well-received series.

]]> Wed, 28 Jun 2023 00:16:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/snes-games-nintendo-should-remake-for-switch/ The Final Fantasy games have long been known for their top-tier writing, especially when it comes to their characters. Final Fantasy titles typically contain casts of likable, charming, sympathetic, or straight-up cool individuals. As a result, many fans mourn when these characters leave their games.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 22:15:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/ff-saddest-deaths-ranked/ Gunpla is an ever-growing hobby that more and more people are getting into. The name is a combination of Gundam and Plastic, the subject and material the kits are made from. Official Gundam kits are made by Bandai, but many Gunpla fans also enjoy model kits from other companies and product lines as well. Gunpla model kits are made with injection molded plastic and rarely need paint as they are colored right out of the box. They don't need glue either as they are snap-together kits, meaning they are a great way for beginners to get into the hobby.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 20:16:12 GMT https://www.cbr.com/essential-gunpla-hobby-supplies-tools/ The Final Fantasy series is a long and storied franchise that has been around since 1987. In that time, the series has had both mainline and spinoff games appearing across multiple console generations. The series takes a huge leap forward with each generation, but many of the older classics feel left behind as a result.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 17:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/classic-ff-games-without-remakes/ Video games, for all their freedom, often need to impose restrictions on players. They usually have tuned balance to stop players from outstripping the difficulty curve or falling well behind. Similarly, they can't let the player go wherever they want in the game's world due to creative and technical limitations.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:21:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/video-games-that-keep-breaking/ Localizing a video game is a difficult job. The team working on it have far more to do than simply translating every word or sentence. Localization involves replacing culture-specific idioms and concepts with ones that an external audience will understand, compensating for quirks of both the base language and the one being localized into, and ensuring that the dialogue flows just as well in another dialect.

]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:00:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/worst-video-game-localizations-translations/ For Dungeons and Dragons players, coming across a new piece of loot during the course of their adventures can be one of the most exciting and satisfying parts of the game. Whether it be a new weapon, piece of armor, or another magical artifact, discovering a treasure's properties and using it in the game is always a fun moment for the player.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 20:15:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dnd-legendary-items/ There's no doubt that online trading card games have exploded in popularity over the last decade. A niche genre prior to 2014, these games have since come to dominate the market, especially on mobile devices. Marvel Snap is one of the latest to make a big splash in the gaming world, but while popular, it's not for everyone.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 19:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/digital-trading-card-games-better-than-marvel-snap/ The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth is the newest card set for Magic: the Gathering, all based on J.R.R. Tolkien's famed The Lord of the Rings novel trilogy. This is a Universes Beyond product unlike any other, packed with lore-accurate cards that are also powerful and fun to use in the game.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 18:11:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-mtgs-tales-of-middle-earth-cards/ The diverse protagonists of the Assassin’s Creed series come from different walks of life and have very different personalities. Some of them have different methods, and some of them have different motivations for joining the Brotherhood. As different as they are, they all have at least two things in common: they are always deadly, and they are always dressed to the nines.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 17:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-default-costumes-in-assassins-creed/ One of Assassin’s Creed’s biggest drawing points is that each game is set in both a different time period and a different part of the world. The games are just as much about experiencing the culture and history of a particular setting as they are about stealth and assassination. Even games that take place within the same century can still feel vastly different by being set in a different place.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 15:20:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-assassins-creed-settings/ A video game sequel has high standards to live up to. It has to give fans more of what they love about the first game. However, it isn't enough to provide more of the same. Most successful sequels must find a way to stand out and improve upon the original.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 13:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/most-significant-gaming-sequels/ Aliens: Dark Descent invades the masses in June 2023. The real-time strategy game has drawn mixed and favorable reviews for its immersive survival horror and tactical shooter gameplay. The story takes place 20 years after the events of Alien 3, connecting the movies and the gaming franchise in ways that push the mythology of the Xenomorphs and the Weyland-Yutani corporation forward.

]]> Mon, 26 Jun 2023 00:15:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greatest-video-games-based-on-alien-franchise/ While it's remembered as the platform that introduced triumphs such as Uncharted, Infamous, and The Last of Us, the PlayStation's third iteration had a rough start. The Xbox 360 beat it to the punch in the marketplace as its exorbitant price tag and underwhelming launch titles scared away consumers. Fortunately, Sony could still rely upon its predecessor to move units and provide quality software.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 20:15:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/10-best-playstation-2-games-released-during-its-twilight-years/ The 2000s marked a period of innovation for video games, with many moving to computerized and mobile platforms. Without the need to purchase a separate console solely for gaming, games became more accessible and reached larger audiences. As a result, games became more in demand and developers could take bigger risks.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 19:11:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/forgotten-2000s-video-games/ The popularity of Games Workshop has risen in recent years as new fans come to love the books, comics, video games, and most importantly, the tabletop experience. The game is played with groups of miniatures making up a player's army. Some of these armies are visually stunning and help to tell the story of the campaign.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 18:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/warhammer-40k-age-of-sigmar-best-looking-armies/ With a 10-year gap since the last new mainline entry, the Pikmin series is returning in July, 2023 with Pikmin 4. After Captain Olimar has crash-landed yet again on planet PNF-404, the Rescue Corps is dispatched to save him. Unfortunately, the rescue crew also crash-lands on the planet, requiring the player to go and rescue them.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 17:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/pikmin-4-new-features/ Diablo games are notoriously intimidating and tough for newcomers to adapt to, a sentiment befitting the hellish landscapes and generally bleak setting of the series. Despite this, Diablo IV can be deceptively welcoming and accessible, as long as new players avoid making disastrous mistakes.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 15:20:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/diablo-iv-early-game-beginner-tips/ Diablo IV players who are looking for raw strength and power output should look no further than the Barbarian class. Across D&D and various other fantasy games, Barbarians are always notoriously aggressive, being able to tank a lot of punishment while also being able to deal plenty back in return.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 14:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/diablo-iv-best-barbarian-skills/ Most video games force players to do some of their hardest content before they end. Many games cap things off with a final dungeon. This is one last challenging area full of enemies, puzzles, and other content that players must work through before they reach the final boss and the game's ending.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 13:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-video-game-final-dungeons/ Out of all the classes in the newly-released Diablo IV, the Druid is easily the one that requires the most patience. Barbarian and Sorcerer are known for their quick level progression and high damage outputs, Necromancers for manipulation of the dead, and Rogues for their mobility and versatility. But Druid's supposed benefits are not so easy to tease out and get immediate results.

]]> Sun, 25 Jun 2023 00:15:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/diablo-iv-must-upgrade-druid-skills/ Video games go through trends much like any entertainment medium. Tropes, conventions, or entire genres spend time in the spotlight, commonplace across gaming, before they fade away over time. In gaming's short, rapid history, many changing trends have seen games become more sophisticated, accessible, and entertaining over time.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 22:16:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/gaming-trends-should-return/ It used to be that gaming magazines were as ubiquitous as gaming websites. They were a place for fans to hear about the latest news, and rumors and to learn about the creators responsible for their favorite games. Some were even places where fans could learn how to beat games, or at least get cheat codes to make them a little easier.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 20:15:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-old-gaming-magazines/ Held items are an integral part of a teams' strategy and synergy in competitive Pokémon battles. Unlike in normal gameplay, competitive battles limit teams to using only one of each item, with no duplicates. Trainers have to be particularly thoughtful in regard to their teams' selected held items.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 19:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/pokemon-best-held-items/ Everybody has their favorite cards in Marvel Snap, whether they are beloved Marvel characters or just excellent cards in the game. The best cards stand out for their low Energy cost, high Power output, or a genuinely useful ability. But there are plenty of great cards that just slip under the radar. These underrated cards deserve more of the spotlight that overpowered cards ultimately take for themselves.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 18:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-snap-best-overlooked-cards/ Each game in the Pikmin series stars an astronaut who must work together with the titular plant-like beings to survive and gather resources on the planet PNF-404. Though the first game starred only Captain Olimar, subsequent games have seen new characters explore the Pikmin’s strange and terrifying world. Regardless of their actual rank, these characters are affectionately referred to as captains by players.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 17:00:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/every-pikmin-captain-ranked/ Final Fantasy is full of rags-to-riches stories. Most Final Fantasy stories involve destined heroes rising up to fend off evil. Even going beyond scripted stories, the original Final Fantasy was a desperate attempt to save a struggling company. In modern times, Final Fantasy XIV was practically dead on arrival only to become one of the most popular MMORPGs of all time.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 15:20:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/every-mainline-ff-garuda-chronological-order/ Any game that offers a range of different classes is actively enticing and encouraging players of all play-styles. Diablo IV excels at this. While Barbarian and Rogue explore the reaches of melee and ranged weapons, Druid, Sorcerer, and Necromancer take very different stances on the uses of magic. Necromancer is an especially ominous and imposing magical class that focuses on manipulating the body.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 13:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/diablo-iv-best-necromancer-skills-upgrades/ Fighting games have a wide variety of characters from all walks of life. Some of them are heroes, and many of them are just ordinary people caught up in the game's bizarre plot. In order to really give these characters a reason to fight, however, a good number of these fighters are actually villains.

]]> Sat, 24 Jun 2023 00:15:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/popular-iconic-fighting-game-villains/ A lot of groundbreaking JRPG series have left a permanent mark on the gaming industry, yet few can compare to Final Fantasy. There are close to 100 games in the ever-growing Final Fantasy franchise, which celebrated its first release in all the way back in ‘87. Now, more than 35 years later, Final Fantasy is practically synonymous with the JRPG genre and there’s still no end in sight for Square Enix’s standout series.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 22:15:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/classic-final-fantasy-games-worst-qualities/ The Final Fantasy games have a high reputation for their storytelling. The games have led the way for JRPGs in being a more linear, story-centered experience than the typically more open Western RPGs. Many Final Fantasy games have gone down in history as a result of their settings, characters, and plotlines.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 20:15:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/final-fantasy-best-written-stories-ranked/ Fighting games often boast extremely large casts of characters. Despite the care taken by the developers to balance these rosters, at least one character from each game stands out as the main protagonist.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 18:10:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/most-famous-fighting-game-heroes/ Video games have begun to emphasize storytelling more and more in recent years. For many titles, the narrative is every bit as important as the gameplay. Many games tell conventional, cinematic stories. Titles like The Last of Us and Red Dead Redemption II have been compared to mainstream movies in their style and straightforward plots.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 17:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-video-games-weirdest-stories/ Gamers have a tremendous amount of nostalgia for the late '90s during the height of the Nintendo 64 and the original PlayStation. Many adult gamers grew up with these formative consoles as their first big gaming systems, and they're permanently tied to warm memories.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 15:20:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/harsh-realities-replaying-nintendo-64-playstation-one-games/ For players looking for versatility in their Diablo IV class, they should look no further than the Rogue. Rogues thrive on stealth and agility, being able to adapt to any situation. With the right preparation, they can attack from afar with ranged equipment and skills, or get up close and personal with fast and deadly strikes.

]]> Fri, 23 Jun 2023 13:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/diablo-iv-best-rogue-skill-upgrades/ One of the first summons Final Fantasy fans think of is Shiva, and rightfully so. Shiva, along with Ifrit and Bahamut, are the three most prominent summons in the Final Fantasy series having appeared in nearly every mainline Final Fantasy. It's tough to imagine a Final Fantasy without her or any major summon given their popularity. Shiva is an ice-elemental summon frequently depicted with long blue hair, pale blue skin, and often given the appearance of wearing little clothing.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 20:15:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/every-mainline-ff-shiva-chronological-order/ Steam Next Fest is a celebration of upcoming games, most often a selection of indie game titles. The digital festival is held on the Steam store and features tons of game demos and live streams, plus a bountiful list of games that are set to be released in the coming months. The live streams are often run by the developers themselves, so they can also answer any questions that viewers have. After playing the demos, players are encouraged to give feedback to help in the development of the game.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 19:50:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-steam-next-fest-demos-2023/ Consistency is difficult to achieve in any medium, especially video games. Many promising game series have come crashing to a halt when one game falls far short of fan expectations. Even series with a reputation for quality can suddenly produce a dud. Many franchises struggle to recover after this.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/video-game-franchises-no-bad-games/ When a video game fails, it's often on its own merits. The game plays poorly, tells a bad story, or fails to stand out from the crowded gaming market. Sometimes, other factors can spell a game's downfall. It might be poorly marketed or supported after release, leading it to die quickly.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 15:20:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/great-video-games-bad-release-date/ The Legend of Zelda has been one of Nintendo’s top performers ever since the adventure series’ debut for the original NES back in ‘86. More than 35 years and more than two dozen games later, The Legend of Zelda seems to be at peak popularity thanks to the Nintendo Switch’s satisfying Breath of the Wild successor, Tears of the Kingdom.

]]> Thu, 22 Jun 2023 13:00:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/vintage-zelda-nintendo-biggest-problems/ One of the most important elements of the Final Fantasy series is its summons. Being able to call upon a powerful ally into battle produces some of the most exhilarating moments as each summon's powerful attack or enhancement can change the tide of battle. On top of that, many mainline Final Fantasy games base their narrative around summons.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 20:15:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/every-mainline-final-fantasy-ifrit-chronological-order/ Some games like paying attention to the small stuff. For them, it's not only about making sure the gameplay or even the characters are enjoyable, both aspects that make for incredible games. Instead, some games go the extra mile to develop their worlds' lore and make sure players can discover that lore while playing.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 18:11:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-video-game-lore/ After many rumors and speculation, Nintendo held a highly anticipated Nintendo Direct on June 21, 2023. Nintendo Directs are a chance for Nintendo to share updates and reveals for its upcoming new projects. With this Direct coming hot on the heels of Summer Game Fest, it helped to keep the spirit of E3 alive in the hearts of gamers.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 17:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/june-2023-nintendo-direct-mario-pikmin-pokemon/ Over time, it’s become increasingly common for anime to adapt the generation's most popular games into animated series. However, it's just as common for the top anime to receive video game counterparts that allow audiences to control their favorite characters and recreate iconic scenes from anime classics.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 16:50:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-anime-video-games-ranked/ It's the dawning of a new era in Mortal Kombat. Fire God, and Keeper of Time, Liu Kang has restarted the timeline in the bloody fighting game franchise. Mortal Kombat 1 isn't just another reboot. It provides strikingly different takes on established characters, giving the Mortal Kombat franchise the fresh deviation it's long needed.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 15:50:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mortal-kombat-1-kameo-characters/ Video game stories lean heavily on their characters. The player has a uniquely close relationship with a video game's protagonist and as a result, most main characters in games are not only sympathetic but impressive. They have to be slick, entertaining, and cool so players will want to see themselves in the protagonist's virtual shoes. However, video game villains are equally important.

]]> Wed, 21 Jun 2023 13:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/coolest-video-game-villains-better-than-heroes/ Magic: The Gathering is a trading card game that can be played in many ways, including booster draft Limited. This is the most popular Limited format, which involves 6–8 players forming a pod, or group, and building powerful decks with cards in booster packs. Players will pass around the boosters and take one card at a time, and it takes some skill to do this right.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 19:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/avoidable-mtg-draft-mistakes/ The Pokémon Trading Card Game just released the Scarlet & Violet: Paldea Evolved set as the second expansion of the Scarlet & Violet series. In Paldea Evolved, a heavy focus was placed on the starter evolutions and the Ruinous Quartet, combining the three Japanese sets Snow Hazard, Clay Burst, and Triplet Beat into one.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 18:10:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/pokemon-paldea-evolved-tcg-missing-pokemon/ Summer is one of the best times of year to enjoy the great outdoors. The sun is shining, the air is warm, and plants are in full bloom. Though gaming is often stereotyped as a chronically-indoor hobby, tabletop roleplaying game enthusiasts can take their adventures with them effectively anywhere.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 17:30:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-ttrpgs-play-outside/ Since the original PlayStation's inception in the '90s, the brand has benefited from countless excellent games over the decades. The '00s were especially noteworthy, with this period technically encompassing the first three generations of home consoles.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 17:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/playstation-greatest-games-2000s/ In shonen anime and tokusatsu, it's not uncommon for characters to use a powered-up form during serious battles. This form changes the character's appearance and increases their power, but usually has some sort of limitation that keeps the character from using it all the time. Video games have similar powered-up forms.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 16:50:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-powered-up-video-game-forms/ Famous actors have been linked to successful video game franchises for years, but that doesn't make it any less surprising when an A-list celebrity appears out of nowhere to promote themself in an upcoming release. At E3 in 2019, Keanu Reeves broke the internet when he announced his involvement as Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077, and in 2023, Nicolas Cage arrived at Summer Game Fest to announce his arrival to the Dead by Daylight roster.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:50:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/nick-cage-video-games-dead-by-daylight/ While many video games tell largely black-and-white stories of good against evil, some weave a more complex narrative. Just like in real life, telling the heroes in video games apart from the villains isn't always easy. Sometimes the villains use design elements that audiences most typically associate with heroes.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:20:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/video-game-villains-who-look-heroic/ A good plot twist should be able to catch the audience off-guard. It should shock the audience and force them to re-evaluate everything they've seen. However, there are still certain rules for plot twists. The best ones have solid foreshadowing and clues leading up to them.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 14:10:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/sudden-video-game-twists-surprises/ Magic: The Gathering is a trading card game with several different formats, each with their own rules and card pools. The most popular multiplayer format is Commander, once known as EDH, or Elder Dragon Highlander. Overall, the Commander format is an outstanding and rewarding experience that many MTG players enjoy, though it's hardly perfect.

]]> Tue, 20 Jun 2023 13:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-commander-worst-parts/ SEGA is a legendary video game company that has survived through multiple eras of the industry. The gaming landscape would look very different without this publisher and developer. Working on titles for arcade systems, its own platforms, and other consoles, SEGA has produced a range of fantastic games that have stood the test of time.

]]> Mon, 19 Jun 2023 20:15:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/sega-best-retro-video-games/ Video game stories often transport players to wild and wondrous worlds full of things beyond human comprehension. Be it a fantasy world, the distant future, or even an alternate version of our own reality, there are always excuses for unexplained phenomena. And wherever there is the unexplained, there are scientists eager to explain it.

]]> Mon, 19 Jun 2023 19:40:13 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-video-game-scientists/ The Marvel Snap meta may shift with each new season, but there are some cards that will always remain popular and relevant. This relevancy isn't even always exclusive to a card's individual worth or competitive viability, as there are some exceptional synergies that elevate cards as a pair.

]]> Mon, 19 Jun 2023 19:10:20 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-snap-game-best-2-card-combos/ The PlayStation 4 era was filled with incredible titles like Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel's Spider-Man, and Horizon. However, all those great titles came at the cost of PlayStation abandoning amazing titles like Twisted Metal, inFamous, and more. Many of those titles would be just as successful today if they got a chance at a remake.

]]> Mon, 19 Jun 2023 18:10:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/playstation-remakes-fans-deserve/ Magic: The Gathering's most popular multiplayer format, Commander, challenges players to use a dazzling variety of cards from throughout Magic history. Every deck must have a powerful legendary creature or planeswalker to hold the deck together, while various creatures, spells, and enchantments help round out the perfect Commander deck.

]]> Mon, 19 Jun 2023 16:17:00 GMT https://www.cbr.com/mtg-best-commander-enchantments/ The saying goes: the best things in life are free. However, many would be hesitant to apply that adage to gaming. True to their name, free to play games don't charge players for accessing them. However, they often have content that can only be accessed by either sitting through ads or purchasing them with real-life money.

]]> Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:20:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/f2p-games-complaints/ Conquest mode is finally here in Marvel Snap. Conquest takes the battle format previously used in Friendly Battles and brings it to the competitive circuit. Here, players battle through multiple games against the same opponent, with a health system to determine the overall winner. Conquest takes cunning, resolve, and having the right cards — meaning that some players may be mismatched against a particular opponent.

]]> Mon, 19 Jun 2023 14:51:12 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-snap-conquest-mode-best-decks/ Player characters, or PCs, are the best part of Dungeons & Dragons. With a player character, a D&D player can immerse themselves in a fantasy world as someone with magical powers and incredible weapons, all right there on their stat sheet. However, when starting out, players might fumble with their low-level characters.

]]> Mon, 19 Jun 2023 13:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dnd-low-level-character-avoidable-mistakes/ Many Final Fantasy fans lament that their beloved franchise "hasn't been good since Final Fantasy X" or an earlier entry. In that time since FFX, the most highly regarded Final Fantasy mainline has been Final Fantasy XIV — an MMORPG. Yet every time a mainline Final Fantasy releases, hope swells that this will be the Final Fantasy mainline that challenges for the crown of best Final Fantasy game.

]]> Sun, 18 Jun 2023 22:15:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/how-ffxvi-is-already-better-than-ffxv/ The PlayStation brand has prided itself on its impressive catalog of games since its inception, but the 2010s was a particularly strong period. From the waning days of the PS3 to the resurgent run of the PS4, there was a great deal of variety last decade.

]]> Sun, 18 Jun 2023 20:16:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/greatest-2010s-ps-video-games-ranked/ Largely regarded as the grandfather of the fighting game genre, Capcom's Street Fighter II revolutionized the gaming industry, paving the way for a long-running franchise and a slew of copycats. The series laid dormant for many years as the genre transitioned to 3Ds, but the franchise came back into the ring in 2008 with Street Fighter IV to rave reviews.

]]> Sun, 18 Jun 2023 17:01:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/street-fighter-past-mistakes/ Independent video game developers can create industry-altering masterpieces just as easily as AAA publishers. Still, it can be harder for them to reach as broad of an audience with their pre-release marketing. Despite those challenges, however, many indie games have dedicated audiences anticipating their arrival.

]]> Sun, 18 Jun 2023 15:20:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/summer-2023-best-upcoming-indie-games/ In most storytelling mediums, sequels can be hit-or-miss and are often less popular than the original. However, this doesn't appear to apply to many video games. Sequels often build on and improve the original’s gameplay even if the story is lackluster. Because of this, many games are part of long and successful franchises.

]]> Sun, 18 Jun 2023 13:00:18 GMT https://www.cbr.com/famous-video-game-sequels/ The 80s were a tremendous time for video games and arcades. Every day, kids would flock to their local arcades to spend their change and try and beat the high scores on games like Pac-Man and Galaga. Certain games defined the era with their graphics or their popularity.

]]> Sat, 17 Jun 2023 20:15:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/arcade-best-games-defined-1980s/ Marvel Snap continues to grow every month, and while this normally entails new cards and locations arriving with each new season, June 2023 has seen the introduction of a new game mode in Conquest. Conquest has already added a whole new dimension to Marvel Snap, allowing players to play a different format and experiment with new decks without the pressure of rapidly losing cubes and ranks.

]]> Sat, 17 Jun 2023 18:10:17 GMT https://www.cbr.com/marvel-snap-conquest-mode-important-info/ Though Dungeons & Dragons is built to be the foundation for high-fantasy, swordplay, and sorcery adventures, some fans have experimented with the system. Tapping into almost any genre, these tabletop roleplaying enthusiasts adapt D&D to suit the story they want to tell.

]]> Sat, 17 Jun 2023 17:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/dnd-genres/ Conquest Mode is finally here in Marvel Snap, and it finally offers players a new way to experience this tricky card game. Conquest provides a new competitive challenge where matches are made up of multiple games, with a 10-health system that replaces the conventional cube-winning one-and-done format.

]]> Sat, 17 Jun 2023 15:20:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-conquest-mode-cards-marvel-snap/ The Summer of Gaming, or Summer Game Fest, is a major festival where plenty of well-known video game developers and indie studios come together to show off what they've been working on. It's an exciting event for video game fans and this year's event has delivered when it comes to bold and brave trailers.

]]> Sat, 17 Jun 2023 13:00:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-summer-game-fest-traiers/ It's difficult for a video game to get a sequel. Games development is an expensive, risky business. Games that underperform critically or commercially rarely get the chance for a second try. However, some mediocre game do well enough that the publisher supports a sequel.

]]> Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:10:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-sequels-to-boring-video-games/ Nintendo's roots go back as far as the end of the 19th century, but the 20th century really saw a colossal shift going into the turn of the millennium. The 1990s was an exciting decade for Nintendo, as technology was ever-improving and new franchises were blossoming. The '90s threw up some of the best Nintendo games of all time, and many of them still hold up today.

]]> Fri, 16 Jun 2023 17:00:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/nintendo-best-video-games-1990s/ The Legend of Zelda series is one of Nintendo's longest-running and most iconic franchises. A key part of The Legend of Zelda's storytelling is that most of its stories take place in different eras featuring reincarnations of the same characters. This is true of Link, Ganon, and the franchise's titular character, Princess Zelda.

]]> Fri, 16 Jun 2023 15:20:16 GMT https://www.cbr.com/all-princess-zelda-versions-ranked/ Assassin’s Creed Mirage is one of 2023’s most highly anticipated games. Starring Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Basim, Mirage promised a return to Assassin’s Creed’s roots. While this sounded encouraging to fans who were tired of the recent games' RPG style, no gameplay was shown to back up this promise.

]]> Fri, 16 Jun 2023 14:10:15 GMT https://www.cbr.com/assassins-creed-mirage-gameplay-walkthrough-highlights/ Nintendo Switch fans are spoiled for choice when it comes to the role-playing genre, with many games on the console boasting excellent writing. RPGs are well known for their focus on storytelling, even across a variety of subgenres.

]]> Fri, 16 Jun 2023 13:00:14 GMT https://www.cbr.com/best-written-nintendo-switch-rpgs/