The world of game design is filled with countless tropes. Everything fromAI behaviorto how a certain boss should look to how the player is allowed to interact with NPCs is all influenced on at least some level by tropes that have been in place since the very dawn of gaming. While some tropes are specific to one particular genre or one era of gaming, the colorfully-named ‘Die, chair, die!’ trope isn’t one of them, with its influence stretching across the entire gaming industry....

Since screen adaptations of popular books can be so hit or miss, it’s relieving forShadow and Bonefans that the Netflix adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse books actually turned out pretty well. The show represents the world and the characters well and has even brought a lot of new fans into the fold. But those who loved theShadow and BoneTV series likely want more content, and there’s no better place to look for that than where it all started - books!...

It’s no secret thatDungeons and Dragonsis having a major renaissance right now, thanks in part to the huge popularity of actual play streams likeThe Adventure ZoneandCritical Role. Many more people are discovering or rediscovering tabletop roleplaying games and using homebrew and official content to flavor their campaigns. Wizards of the Coast has released a plethora of sourcebooks and adventures, and the homebrewing community is thriving, with lots of people sharing ideas on social media....

Virtual reality has come an awfully long way in a relatively short amount of time, with the Oculus Rift having kickstarted an unprecedented period of growth for the technology. When compared to some of the medium’s earliest offerings,the PSVR 2 and other modern VR headsetsare infinitely more immersive, with a fantastic and ever-growing selection of games just waiting to be explored. RELATED:The Best PSVR Games for Children One of the best things about the PSVR 2 is the flexibility that it offers, with players able to choose whether to sit or stand as they play....

After arriving last year on PC to considerable critical acclaim and positive fan reception, Nightdive Studios’System Shockremake is now available on current-gen consoles. The road to theSystem Shockremake was a long and arduous one, with Nightdive practically forming just with the express purpose of reviving the franchise and making it more accessible. Nightdive would eventually form plans for both a remake of the original game and a full-fledged sequel inSystem Shock 3after remastering and porting the first two games to Steam, but more recent rights acquisitions put that sequel up in the air....

God of Warhas a storied history. It had a batch of successful hack-and-slash titles in its prime, as well as a recent RPG revival. After so many entries and such tremendous advances in gaming tech, some players might be loath to go back to the series' humble beginnings. That reluctance would be a mistake. RELATED:PlayStation Heroes Who Have Caused The Most Mayhem The originalGod of Warhas stood the test of time beautifully....

For many years, the classic sidescrolling beat-‘em-ups of the late ’80s and early ’90s seemed to be a thing of the past. Few notable entries had cropped up ever since, as theheyday of the subgenre had seemingly passed, much like the shoot’em up or text-based adventure. But with the rise of indies, as well as a growing appreciation of retro gaming, came glimpses of a beat-‘em-up renaissance. This is exemplified in a handful of titles like the sleeper hitScott Pilgrim vs....

When studio Ufotable createdFate/Zero, they became what many considered the definitive studio to bring Kinoko Nasu’sFateseries to life. After a successful TV adaptation of theUnlimited Blade Worksroute of the original visual novel, fans eagerly awaited whenFate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feelwould be put to animation. Starting in 2017, Ufotable and director Tomonori Sudou producedHeaven’s Feelas a trilogy of films rather than a TV series likeUBW, with the second film releasing in 2019 and the third in 2020....

Jumping online in a game likeElden Ringcan often lead to some strange encounters, from being put up against powerful invaders, to finding summoning hosts who are dressed in only a pot and underwear. However, other instances can lead to joining another player’s world whileElden Ringcopes with a glitchthat messes with the ways bosses are meant to be interacted with. In a clip that has recently been shared on theElden Ringsubreddit, this originally appears to be what is happening as a player is summoned into the hallway leading to Malenia....

In recent years, Naughty Dog has become best known forThe Last of UsandUncharted, two franchises that have sold millions of copies and spawned film or television spin-offs. However, there was a time when Naughty Dog’s flagship franchise wasJak and Daxter, a platformer centered on a boy and his half-otter, half-weasel sidekick. The series kicked off in 2001 withJak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, and during the PS2 and PS3 era it enjoyed great popularity....

Summary Since Nintendo announced that it would no longer make significant updates for its latestAnimal Crossinggame, fans have been expectantly waiting for any kind of news pertaining to the franchise. The series has become one of Nintendo’s most beloved IPs, especially afterAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsbecame a smash hitin 2020. Competing with the likes ofThe Legend of Zelda,Pokemon, andMariois no easy task, butAnimal Crossinghas become home to an incredibly creative and dedicated community....

Sonic the Hedgehogwill hit theaters with a much more preferable Sonic design on Valentine’s Day, 2020. Produced by Paramount and directed by Jeff Fowler,Sonic the Hedgehogwill follow a long lineage of video game movie adaptations. Whether or not the producers of this movie want it to be a part of that lineage is a different story as video game movies have been notoriously bad for as long as they have been around....

WWE 2K22is nearing its March release and 2K Games is building up to launch with a series of trailers unveiling WWE’s superstars and their new looks for the game. Up until now, the trailers have largely focused on WWE’s biggest stars, like Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, Drew McEntyre, and Bobby Lashley, but now it’s ready to get deeper into the heart of the roster.WWE 2K22’s latest trailer focuses on some of the promotion’s international stars, including Japan’s Asuka and Ireland’s Sheamus....