The upcoming adventure focuses on one of the most iconic villains in the tabletop game's history, but the return of another classic foe could have the potential to steal the show. As a multiversal romp through various settings, has its fair share of familiar faces from past adventures. All of these disparate pieces are linked by the Rod of Seven Parts, a separated and scattered artifact that needs to be reassembled if the party has any hope of defeating Vecna.
As discussed by Senior Designer Amanda Hamon in a press briefing attended by, the powerful vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich has an important role to play in . Strahd is in possession of a piece of the Rod, but unlike the party or Vecna, he's only really interested in what the piece is worth to others. This scenario opens up a variety of possibilities for how the party will deal with Strahd, and stopping by Ravenloft might well be one of the big highlights of the campaign.
Major battles shouldn't be hard to find in, which has a thirty-page bestiary and leads up to a major confrontation with the human-turned-lich-turned-god, but chewing through Strahd's combat resistances isn't going to be the only way to get his piece of the Rod of Seven Parts. According to Hamon, acquiring it "," but the key to success could also lie in ""
«Strahd doesn't really care that much about it, but, you know, what's it worth to you? He's very interested in negotiating.» — Amanda Hamon, Senior Designer
Visiting Ravenloft has long been a highlight of multiple classic modules, and the terror of Strahd has received renewed attention in the fifth edition era thanks to the success of the widely adored campaign book. Dealing with him in could be a welcome return for parties that have already tackled that particular challenge, but it could also serve as a more bite-sized introduction for newcomers.
For anyone less enthused by the idea of negotiating with Strahd, also covers the kind of straightforward dungeon-oriented gameplay that originally defined Another of the classic villains involved in the new story is the demilich Acererak, whose Tomb of Wayward Souls tosses plenty of traps and monsters at any party who dares venture there. Rather than Acererak himself playing a starring role, a false lich called Rerak guards the tomb. It's actually possible to negotiate with him as well, but getting there will certainl require some blood, sweat, and tears.
The full scope of adventures to be found in will be revealed when the book releases in May, first through early access in local game stores andD&D Beyondbefore a wide release two weeks later. For now, it's safe to say that there are definitely fearsome foes to be found within its pages. Vecna is quite thevillain to contend
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's ship builder is probably the easiest way to waste away hours in the space-faring RPG, and a big May 2024 update is adding a whole new dimension to the system. It makes sense that ship customization features heavily in, as quite a lot of time is generally going to be spent in space across the course of a playthrough. Although the fast travel system makes intergalactic flight irrelevant, exploring space within smaller areas can lead to plenty of memorable encounters both large and small.
has made waves as a live-service game that offers the complete package of fun gameplay, an engaging community, and interesting updates, but one move could undo a huge portion of what it's built over the past few months. As a sequel to the modestly popular top-down shooter, the third-person follow-up has managed to go toe-to-toe with major IPs and stands out as one of the biggest successes of 2024. Not everyone has been able to get in on the fun – isn't available on Xbox – but that hasn't slowed its momentum much.
There's a lot to enjoy in the base version of , but one particular feature that didn't show up until DLC definitely should have been included for free. has always had a somewhat contentious space in the franchise, and a big part of it is a feeling that the game falls into a one step forward, two steps back problem. Enhanced gunplay and settlement building are just a couple of the significant new attractions, but missing roleplaying elements and fewer narrative complexities can be disappointing compared to prior titles.
's long-awaited next-gen update has now refreshed the game on both the Xbox Series X/S and the PlayStation 5, but it's still a better game on the former option thanks to one huge difference between the versions. Ever since first making its way to consoles with, the post-apocalyptic RPG series has had plenty of struggles with bugs and performance issues showing up in every game to varying degrees. The next-gen update does fix some key problems that have persisted in the game since launch, even if it introduces some of its own.
The new is an interesting addition to , but more than anything, it's a reminder that one older game in franchise deserves to have a proper comeback. Although the release model of has long relied on extensive amounts of expansion packs, the series also spent much of its lifespan spinning things off into proper side games. Although this could sometimes get very far from the original concept (like in ), the franchise also had its fair share of games that fulfilled core concepts in their own interesting ways.
Based on rumors so far, the Nintendo Switch 2 seems to be mostly focused on keeping what people love about the Switch and improving on it, but a new report indicates that one iconic element of the system could be going away with its successor. The long wait for news on the console has been full of ups and downs, dating back to the time when a Switch Pro was expected before a new system entirely. More recently, a presumed 2024 date seemed to slip out the window in favor of a 2025 release, making the wait even longer.
Navigating the world of isn't that tricky as a whole, but one element that's easy to get tripped up on is the game's approach to relationships. makes a major departure from both the original and by making relationship progress with party members a central part of the game, with the ultimate payoff lying in a number of potential dates at the Gold Saucer. Although the basic thrust of the system is clear enough, some key aspects aren't actually revealed until after the credits roll.
might not look like a game that would have much of an emphasis on the story at first glance, but by the time it reaches the ending, it proves that its narrative ambitions are greater than might be expected. As an unusual twist on the soulslike genre, packs intense fights and a healthy dose of platforming into a package that's more charming than most of its peers. Although the framing might seem like it wouldn't dwell in the grim, quiet corners that most soulslike games frequent, the story ends up having some serious weight.
Playing through to the credits in can take a while, but anyone particularly enraptured with the game might want to keep the adventure going after the ending. tells the story of a futuristic soldier named Eve working to retake a ruined Earth, a task that requires fighting plenty of hostile creatures with uniquely challenging attacks to parry and overcome. It can be tempting to rush through to keep the focus on the action, but there's also an appeal in ferreting out secrets in its harsh world.
isn't content to just be an average, everyday city-builder, and the game's commitment to doing something unique goes beyond its central concept. The obvious thing that makes different from other games in the genre is its blend of tactical battles into the mix, which gives it an extra dose of appeal. This isn't the only feature that's hard to find elsewhere, however, and another fairly unique addition also contributes to making its medieval settlements feel more like real places with real people.
has a lot of memorable characters, from the main party members to NPCs on the sidelines. Not every person who appears in the game is necessarily a winner – any charm points that Chadley might have are hard to appreciate when he won’t stop popping up on screen – but it’s hard to call any significant figure bland. The problem of overuse isn’t exclusive to Chadley, however, and even more engaging characters do sometimes wear out their welcome by the time the credits roll.
is a new physics-based party brawler set on carving out a niche in a crowded market, and there's one element in particular that could help give it an edge. Developed by Lightfox Games and published by Mad Mushroom, the publishing label of creator group OTK, is angling in part to hook streamers and their audiences into the game. Finding success in this area can be something of a gamble, but Lightfox isn't leaving the prospect entirely up to chance.