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Latest by T. Franzese

Photo of arcade machines in Japan.

I didn’t understand the magic of arcades until I visited one in Japan

Visiting a Taito Station arcade in Osaka, Japan, gave me a deeper appreciation of how arcades inspired retro game design.
A beastren in Dragon's Dogma 2.

If you own a PS5 Pro, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the game to get during Cyber Week

If you own a PS5 Pro but haven't played Dragon's Dogma 2, you should pick up Capcom's ambitious RPG this Cyber Week.
A hunter fighting a fights a beast in monster hunter wilds.

Inside Capcom: how Monster Hunter Wilds’ sights and sounds are made

We went behind the scenes at Capcom's studio to see what goes into making a game like Monster Hunter Wilds.
Key art for Monster Hunter Wilds.

I played the first 5 hours of Monster Hunter Wilds and can’t wait to see more

We played the first five hours of Monster Hunter Wilds at Capcom's headquarters in Japan and came away impressed with its formula improvements.
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 enemies.

The best intro to Warhammer video games is $50 this Cyber Monday

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is just $50 this Cyber Monday and is worth checking out for anyone who wants to get into Warhammer 40,000 video games.
A boss-like encounter in Dragon's Dogma 2.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 review: Capcom’s latest RPG doesn’t hold your hand

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a RPG full of exhilarating emergent moments, but that comes at the cost of polish and approachability.
Vegeta in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is this year’s can’t-miss Cyber Monday game deal

Lots of great games are discounted for Cyber Monday, but Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero might be this year's can't-miss deal.
Concept art for the main characters of Star Wars Outlaws.

Star Wars Outlaws is on sale for Cyber Monday, and the timing is perfect

Star Wars Outlaws has improved a lot since its release, so it's worth picking up for $40 this Cyber Monday.
A team of heroes in Marvel Rivals.

What’s next in December 2024? 7 upcoming games you won’t want to miss

From Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to Marvel Rivals to Infinity Nikki, there are plenty of games to look forward to this December.
Key art for the Super Citizen Edition of Helldivers 2.

The best video game deals of Steam Autumn Sale 2024

The Steam Autumn Sale runs until December 4, and these deals on games like Helldivers 2 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance are worth capitalizing on.
players fighting each other in Chivalry 2.

3 new PS Plus games to play this weekend

Did you pull the trigger on a PS5 this Black Friday? These are some great games you can play on PS Plus right now to test it out.
Aliens: Dark Descent key art.

3 new Xbox Game Pass games you should play this weekend

Xbox Game Pass subscribers can have a good time playing Little Kitty, Big City, Aliens: Dark Descent, or Nine Sols this weekend.
A Steam Deck sitting on top of a PC.

Steam Deck is on sale for its lowest price yet during the Steam Autumn Sale

During the Steam Autumn Sale, you can get a Steam Deck for as little as $297, the lowest we've seen its price go yet on Steam.
A character performs a leaping attack in Dynasty Warriors Origins.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins’ free demo is already winning me over

While I've mostly played Musou spinoff games before, Dynasty Warriors: Origins seems like it will make me a fan of the main series.
The protagonists of GTA V pose for the camera.

3 new PS Plus games you should play this weekend (November 22-24)

Wondering where to start with the new batch of PS Plus Premium and Extra games? Consider Grand Theft Auto V, Resistance: Fall of Man, or Overcooked.
A cockpit view in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (November 22-24)

Xbox Game Pass just got some major new releases this week that might justify that Ultimate subscription for another month.
Key art for The Rouge Prince of Persia Update 10.

Now is the perfect time to start playing The Rogue Prince of Persia

The Rogue Prince of Persia just got better thanks to its biggest update since its early access launch.
Nintendo DS on a pink background.

20 years later, the Nintendo DS remains one of gaming’s best devices

The Nintendo DS turns 20 today, and it still stands tall as one of gaming's most creative, memorable systems.
A character holds a baseball glove in Backyard Sports.

A new Backyard Sports game is coming, all thanks to a private eye

Playground Productions reveals to Digital Trends how it brought Backyard Sports back and teases a brand new game launching next year.
A Chromatic plays Tomb Raider for Game Boy Color.

Chromatic review: The best new way to play Game Boy games

ModRetro's Chromatic is a new gaming handheld that you can use to play Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges, and it does that quite well.
Key art for Red Dead Redemption 2.

Play these 3 PS Plus games this weekend before they leave (November 15-17)

Some heavy hitters are leaving PS Plus soon, including Red Dead Redemption 2. Give them a try this weekend if you don't want to miss your chance.
Spyro in the Spyro Reignited Trilogy.

3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (November 15-17)

Xbox Game Pass subscribers can cause some mayhem in a suite of new game additions, including Spyro the Dragon.
Key art for Overwatch Classic.

Multiplayer games are entering their nostalgia era

As live service games get older and older, expect more nostalgic throwbacks to the games' early days, with new modes and limited-time events.
rue valley preview

Rue Valley puts a time loop spin on Disco Elysium

Rue Valley is the latest video game to utilize a time loop hook, applying that structure to a Disco Elysium-like RPG.
Concord's Secret Level episode.

Concord returns from the dead in Amazon’s Secret Level trailer

The latest trailer for animated anthology series Secret Level flaunts its celebrity cast and lineup of featured video game franchises.
Key art for Monster Hunter Outlanders.

Monster Hunter Outlanders is the most ambitious Monster Hunter mobile game yet

Monster Hunter Outlanders is a new mobile game aiming to replicate the gameplay experience of Capcom's console Monster Hunter games.
Key art for Void Sols.

I don’t usually enjoy Soulslikes, but this one is winning me over

If you struggle with Soulslikes, Void Sols' minimalist approach to the genre may be what wins you over.
Key art for Tetris Forever.

Tetris Forever is an excellent documentary, but a disjointed game collection

Tetris Forever tells one of the most entertaining stories in video game history quite well, but is disappointing as a collection of Tetris games.
Key art for World of Warcraft: The War Within.

Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct: How to watch and what to expect

Here's what you should know before tuning into the Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct to get the latest news on World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and more.
Someone picks up a Nintendo Switch OLED Model.

Nintendo Switch’s successor must overcome one major challenge

It's good that Nintendo Switch 2 is backward compatible with Switch games, but Nintendo's next console must give people a reason to upgrade.
Key art for Death Note Killer Within.

3 new PS Plus games to play this weekend (November 8-10)

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 - Turbocharged, Death Note Killer Within, and Ghostwire Tokyo are all PS Plus Essential monthly games that subscribers should check out.
An alien in armor with a light sword standing in front of a space ship window with a planet in the background.

3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (November 8-10)

StarCraft: Remastered, StarCraft II: Campaign Collection, and Metal Slug Tactics offer up strategic options to Xbox Game Pass subscribers this weekend.
Concept art of the characters people can play as in Project ARC.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is getting a 5v5 top-down shooter spinoff

Project ARC is a 5v5 top-down tactical shooter and spinoff of the popular battle royale game PUBG.
Art for the Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Save State

For Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, Square Enix expanded its past

I spoke with Square Enix about the distinct retro-inspired art style that gives Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake its name.