Adam Blevins

If there's one thing on Xbox could benefit from, it's community mods via the Creation Club. Whether it's or, players have been using mods for quality-of-life updates and also to add creative new fabrications. Mods come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from small menu adjustments to new sets of armor and weapons, and everything in between.

One of 's most intriguing mechanics is New Game Plus, where players unlock new sets of Starborn armor on each new playthrough after beating the game. The Starborn are cosmic entities who are later revealed to be humans who have passed through the Unity. The Unity grants all who pass through it access to the multiverse, and anyone who enters it leaves behind their original universe forever.

With the recent success of Prime Video's series, there's a real allure to returning to and making it feel more like its television counterpart. The show is not based on any of the games before it, instead adapting the world but bringing it to life with different characters and a brand-new story. The series feels like an unapologetic and authentic member of thegaming franchise, but some mods can turn the tables and give the same feel as the TV show.

Throughout its long tenure, the franchise has featured some of the most legendary and memorable characters in video game history. Since the debut of in 1997, some characters have appeared in multiple installments, while others made their namesake in a single game. However, because each of the games are self-contained stories, longevity and total appearances have not been what's historically defined the franchise's many great characters.

was one of the biggest games of 2023, but one element of the base game that is sorely lacking may help the DLC be a worthy addition. As Bethesda's first big single-player release since, the anticipation for was through the roof. While the game has improved vastly in the days since its release, there are still several updates needed before the launch of later this year.

Team Ninja's is one of the most expansive RPGs of 2024. The game features a complex combat system, a detailed skill tree, important story choices, and bonds that can lead to romance, otherwise known as Veiled Vows. There are several ways to develop bonds with characters in, including bringing them on missions, giving them gifts, and agreeing with them in conversation.

Bethesda's is certainly an expansive RPG, but it's not without shortcomings – an issue that can luckily be solved with mods. Prime Video's being so well-received by both fans and critics has familiar and new players alike venturing out for one more trip into the wasteland. has a next-generation update on the way, but there are some mods worth downloading that significantly improve the experience.

Since its release in early February, has taken the world by storm thanks to its one-of-a-kind premise and endlessly fun gameplay. No co-op game in history has ever encouraged teamwork on such a grand scale, pushing its players to work together to achieve the ultimate goal. In a world where many games are incomplete and released in poor condition, is saving modern gaming by constantly giving its player base reasons to come back.

Side quests are one of the many fun activities in that feature some important but mostly inconsequential characters. There are two types of side quests in; Bond Missions and Grass Roots Missions. The former are based around allies that can be bonded with, and the latter are more traditional side quests that feature unnamed characters never to be seen again.

Epic Games' has been the most popular battle royale game following its launch to global popularity in 2017. Over time, the game has effectively made some of its cosmetic items incredibly rare by only releasing them in the item shop once or forcing players to purchase other items outside the game to acquire them. Some players have begged for skins such as the Black Knight or Renegade Raider to return to the store, but Epic Games insists on not distributing these cosmetics any further.

The first important choice to make in is whether to kill or spare the bandit chief, Gonzo. The game is full of consequential decisions which can radically affect the overall journey, but not as much the final outcome. Bonds are a fundamental mechanic in, but some players meet the sharp end of a katana before ever developing a relationship with the main character.

From the moment Team Ninja's was announced in 2022, the comparisons to Sucker Punch's were inevitable. Although both of these games are set in Japan, there are far more differences than similarities between them. There's plenty of fun to be had in for those that enjoyed, but going in expecting an identical experience will only lead to disappointment.

As two of the biggest competitors in the market for open-world space RPGs, has officially usurped . 's Orbital Update, which launched on March 27, features several highly requested additions, including a reputation system, trade surges, fleet missions, and much more. These games are commonly pitted against one another as two of the best open-world space RPGs, and the developers at Hello Games have been working tirelessly since launch in 2016 to improve .

There are more than 40 maps in the , but some are undeniably more enjoyable than others. Many of the maps are direct recreations of iconic locations from the prequel and original trilogies, such as Endor, Dagobah, and Mustafar. While the has received bad reviews due to its poor optimization, some maps offer a great time for the players who can actually load into them.

Team Ninja's is littered with different features that can either enhance or complicate the experience. Between constantly changing stances in combat, finding certain areas impossible to reach, and having to defeat the same enemies repeatedly, the game can get frustrating quickly. pulls combat mechanics and exploration tactics from games similar to , and other, less complex titles like .

and are two epic samurai RPGs, taking place in different parts of Japan, and set hundreds of years apart. As one of PlayStation's biggest exclusives of the year thus far, the anticipation for was immense, and the game has mostly lived up to high expectations. From the developer Team Ninja, the game brings familiar elements with parallels to other samurai games from the last several years.

The features iconic characters from both the original and prequel eras of. is a remake of the original and from the 2000s, with notable improvements to the same maps and game modes. The reviews for the remaster have been mostly negative thus far, with some praise for the single-player but heavily criticizing the poorly optimized multiplayer.

Whether it's Soulsbourne games like or arcade brawlers like , the third decade of the 2000s stands far and above its predecessors. Nothing is as entertaining as a good video game, and the 2020s have not been a disappointment. Visual quality will never be the defining trait in any game, but advances in modern technology have undeniably enhanced the experience from decades prior.

Following its release on February 8, took the world by storm and achieved an unimaginable gaming feat. The sequel to the 2015 game delivered a cooperative experience like none other in the gaming space, encouraging an unprecedented amount of teamwork and collaboration. Although playing solo is an option in, it requires a very specific build and presents a much greater challenge than diving in with other players.

is now available on all platforms and has received universal acclaim as the best game the franchise has produced in quite some time. With long-overdue improvements across the board, jumping into the ring to take on modern-day superstars and classic legends has never felt better. After several years of middling mediocrity, wrestling fans now have a definitive game that delivers the most authentic wrestling experience available on next-generation consoles.

The hunting and fishing scene in is full of unique aquatic creatures and nearly invulnerable beasts. Whether it's random interactions with animals while out on the road or hunting them down with fervor, the wildlife in is a crucial part of the experience. Some prove to be much more of a challenge than others, but all the animals offer something of value, such as pelts, meat, and specialty items.

The trailer is the perfect example of how far modern gaming graphics have come in the 21 years since. Although the latest entry is still more than a year away, expected some time in 2025, the long-awaited teaser provided the first official look at the Miami-inspired city. With breathtaking skyscrapers, swampy marshes, and pristine beaches, Vice City has never felt more alive than it does in .

The first reactions to Ashoka, the latest live-action Star Wars series to hit Disney Plus, have arrived – and viewers are calling it an "epic" tale from the galaxy far, far away.