Kotaku Weekend Guide: 3 Great Games Keeping Us Grounded
Play it on: Xbox Series X/S, PC
Goal: Take down Boss_Wallducker.
I like boomer shooters just fine, but Mullet Madjack has me hooked in a way other games in the subgenre rarely have. Originally released last year on PC, the arcade FPS roguelite just hit Xbox Game Pass this week and is scratching my 3D Hotline Miami itch (happy 10-year anniversary to that game's sequel, by the way). While the shooting is snappy and the weapon upgrades are neat, it's the hyper-stylized art and fun level design that's kept me entranced. The premise is simple enough—save a minor internet celebrity from robber baron robots in a futuristic world that feels like The Matrix huffing neon glitter glue—but it's a perfectly alienated fit for the sicko event horizon our online culture currently finds itself sucked into. Never has a game met the moment with a vibe so pure (and engagingly deranged). — Ethan Gach
Play it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Goal: Brew a decent cup of tea.
I'm excited to try Wanderstop, the new game about, as its Steam page puts it, 'change and tea,' for a few reasons. One is that it's the first game from Ivy Road, a studio founded by Davey Wreden. Wreden previously created The Stanley Parable and The Beginner's Guide, both highly original games that were fully committed to their own distinctive visions. On the surface, in the trailers that I've seen, Wanderstop looks like it could be a fairly conventional 'cozy game,' another chill, low-key release in which you soak up the pleasant vibes while running a business of some kind—in this case, a tea shop. However, given Wreden's involvement, I suspect there's more to Wanderstop than that, and that sooner or later the game's gonna throw me a curveball. Which is what I want! I want to be surprised, caught off guard, to have my expectations undermined.
The other reason I'm excited is that I've seen the game receive a pretty wide range of critical reactions, from lukewarm praise to enthusiastic raves. (I haven't read these reviews yet because I want to go into the game knowing as little as possible, but it's clear to me that there's a good assortment of opinions on it out there.) I believe that most games should receive a much wider range of critical reactions than they do, but given that mainstream game criticism sadly still tends overwhelmingly toward consensus, when a game does receive a decent spread of critical responses I tend to sit up and take notice, because it inevitably means that the game is doing something interesting.
It doesn't mean that I'll love it; it just means that even if I don't like it, I'll probably at least think it failed in an interesting way, and I'd typically much rather play a game that tries something distinctive and doesn't quite come together than a game that plays it safe and succeeds. Of course, it's also possible that I will end up loving Wanderstop. I intend to find out one way or the other this weekend. But right now, this moment before I've even started it, is sometimes one of the best parts: to be on the cusp of beginning a new game, and not having any clue of just what to expect. — Carolyn Petit
Play it on: 3DS
Goal: Remember where everything is in Kalos
Pokémon's sixth generation has always been a weird one for me. I love the lore of the Kalos region and the Mega Evolutions battle gimmick, but despite that, I've never gone back to the 3DS games after all these years. With Pokémon Legends: Z-A coming out this year, however, it feels like the right time to return to my old copy of Pokémon Y and refresh myself on what came before. Game Freak was definitely still getting used to making games in 3D with X and Y, and as a result, a lot of the visual character the Pokémon had exuded in earlier games was drained from them in favor of mostly pretty lifeless 3D models. Back when the games came out, it still felt like a huge deal to finally see Pokémon in 3D on a handheld, but despite this visual shift, X and Y were a breaking point for me as I finally grew tired of the original Pokémon formula.
Today, Pokémon Y is a relic of a bygone era in a series that has started to think outside the box in recent years, which makes it kinda quaint to go back to after games like Legends: Arceus and Scarlet/Violet have taken some pretty big leaps. That said, the simplicity of old Pokémon still has its charms. If I'm going back to reacquaint myself with Kalos, I'd rather not have something dense and cumbersome. It's fine! It's pleasant! I can't complain too much about hanging out with my Raichu in a place we haven't visited in a decade. — Kenneth Shepard
For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
3 hours ago
- NBC News
Vampires, romance and billionaires: The bite-size Chinese shows gaining U.S. fans
HONG KONG — As U.S. television series produce longer and fewer episodes, a new genre from China is gaining American fans by going in the opposite direction. Known as minidramas, micro dramas or vertical dramas, they are soap operas condensed into a minute or two per episode. Each show, reminiscent of a telenovela, is split into dozens of chapters, each about two minutes long and with all the soapy elements: cheesy romance, over-the-top drama and abundant cliff-hangers. 'The revenge ones, oh, my God, they're so good,' California-based retail business owner Jacarius Murphy told NBC News in a video interview. Murphy is a fan of the minidramas, known as duanju in Chinese, which focus heavily on romance, revenge and fantasy. The stories tend to involve wealthy characters such as a chief executive who's secretly a vampire or a billionaire living a double life — characters often played by American actors. 'People want this fast dopamine hit, and they can snack on it while they're waiting,' said Anina Net, an American actress based in Los Angeles who has worked on minidramas for the past four years. The genre originated in China, where production companies have tapped into the popularity of short-form, vertical-produced, TikTok-style video content. About half of China's 1.4 billion people consume dramas in this style, according to a report released in March by the state-owned China Netcasting Services Association. The industry made $6.9 billion in revenue last year, more than China's total box office sales. The shows are 'still quite limited in genre, mostly romance-focused, with sweet, domineering CEO tropes and modern settings,' said Kaidi Dai, a Shanghai-based minidrama producer. Now, having figured out the Chinese market, the same companies are expanding into the U.S., where minidramas are finding success just a few years after the failure of Quibi, a short-lived, short-form mobile streaming service. The shows are available on platforms such as ReelShort, DramaBox and GoodShort, which offers free episodes and in-app purchases as well as subscriptions. Minidramas cost far less to make than standard TV shows and can make millions of dollars in revenue through a combination of user purchases and advertising. But adapting them to the U.S. market takes some tweaking, said Chinese filmmaker Gao Feng, also known as Frank Tian, who has a minidrama production company based in New York. Rather than remaking Chinese shows, his company hired longtime U.S. residents to craft stories that would appeal to American audiences. 'I believe that scripts determine 65-70% of a project's success,' he said in an interview. 'Apart from werewolves, CEO romances and hidden identities, we should explore new genres.' While many short dramas have been based on successful Chinese stories, 'if a platform cannot innovate continuously, it will face significant challenges,' he added. Among the most popular shows is 'The Double Life of My Billionaire Husband,' which tells the story of a woman whose husband is better off financially than he appears. All 60 episodes can be viewed in less than 70 minutes on ReelShort, the California-based, Chinese-backed minidrama platform that released it in 2023. 'Hilariously bad, oddly addictive,' reads one IMDb review of the show, which had more than 485 million views on ReelShort as of Friday. The Chinese-backed short-video app has vied with TikTok as the most popular product in the entertainment section of Apple's U.S. app store. 'The short videos on TikTok have laid a solid foundation for the popularity of short dramas,' Yan Min, who helped organize an industry conference in China last year, said in an interview. Min said ReelShort and other companies were advertising on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok to attract new users, catering to the 'evolving viewing habits of younger generations, who have grown up with platforms like TikTok and are accustomed to short, engaging content.' U.S. entertainment companies have taken notice of the trend. Netflix said in May that it was testing a vertical feed made up of clips from its shows and movies, while Disney said last month that it was investing in DramaBox through its accelerator program. Though minidramas seeking U.S. audiences are increasingly using actors with American backgrounds, they often shoot in scenic Chinese locations like the coastal city of Qingdao, with its Western-style villas and architecture, for greater authenticity. 'We seek actors and screenwriters who grew up in the U.S. and naturally embody an American style. Then we incorporate some Chinese elements,' said Ann An, a Beijing-based freelance producer for several minidramas made for foreign audiences. Turnarounds are incredibly fast in the industry as producers strive to keep costs low. An said a show can finish filming in 10 days, with a budget of under $70,000. The biggest key to the success of minidramas, though, is the cliff-hangers, which push viewers to keep paying for the next episode. 'The scriptwriters know exactly where to place these cliff-hangers, and they execute them very well,' said Apple Yang, a minidrama director based in London. That helps explain the appeal of minidramas even if their overall quality is sometimes 'underwhelming,' said Ying Zhu, a professor at Hong Kong Baptist University's Academy of Film. 'Make the dialogue real and less mechanic. Make it funny when possible and biting when needed,' Zhu said. 'One minute can pack in a lot of info if done well.'
Buzz Feed
9 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
17 Best Gaming Headphones
A HyperX Cloud Alpha Gaming Headset that'll easily connect with your PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One/ Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and your mobile device — basically, if you play a game on ANYTHING at all, you can use this headset alongside it. It has a detachable mic, perfect for swapping out when you're gaming solo instead of with your buddies. A Turtle Beach Recon 70 Multiplatform Gaming Headset for anyone who wants to add some color to their gaming setup — it has an awesome flip-to-mute microphone, is compatible with Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4 systems, and costs less than $40! A Razer BlackShark V2 X Gaming Headset you'll love if your current ones simply feel too heavy to wear for hours while chatting up and playing Fortnite with your squad. These have been crafted with a lightweight design, cozy memory foam ear cushions, and awesome noise-cancellation features to let you focus on schooling some noobs without another care in the world. Stylish Beats Studio Pro headphones that'll be worth the splurge, I promise. They have built-in spatial audio (it creates a surround sound–like experience), over 40 hours of battery, noise-canceling and transparency modes, a built-in mic, and are simple to pair via Bluetooth so you can use them alongside your favorite gaming system *and* to listen to music while you work. Win-win! A Gtheos Wireless Gaming Headset you can use in a 49-foot range with a PlayStation, PC, or Nintendo Switch, in case you typically get an urge to run around in a circle or jump up and down whenever you score big during Call of Duty. It also has a detachable mic, gorgeous lights, and a 40+ hour battery life. A SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 Multi-System Gaming Headset, starring 360-degree spatial audio to put you right in the middle of your game, whether that's a cozy moment in Disney Dreamlight Valley or an intense one in Baldur's Gate. A Logitech G432 Wired Gaming Headset featuring epic surround sound, so when you finally finish the dishes and get your kids to bed, you can truly unwind with a night of uninterrupted Call of Duty with your friends. A pair of Apple AirPods Pro with excellent noise cancellation that'll block out the noise of your upstairs neighbors fighting over what to order for dinner, so you can focus on more important things like mining to the deepest level in the Stardew Valley caves. Or Tozo earbuds many swear are *just* like AirPods but for waaaaaay cheaper — perfect for long-time gamers who are tired of wearing bulkier headsets and would be more than thrilled to rock a barely-there in-ear option. Their Bluetooth capabilities make them a great pick for anyone who prefers to play video games solo and doesn't use chat features. A Turtle Beach Recon 50 Wired Gaming Headset you'll adore so much you'll want to tell all of your fellow gamers about it — it costs less than 30 bucks, comes in fun colors, has high-quality 40mm speakers, and has attached in-line controllers to turn your mic on/off with ease (a must-have for anyone who is tired of hearing everyone yell "YES, MOM. I'LL BE UP FOR DINNER SOON!" in the middle of a Rocket League match. A Corsair Voice RGB Elite Wireless Gaming Headset starring an omnidirectional microphone to ensure anyone you game with will hear you loud and clear *and* will also give you the chance to channel your inner-pop star when you take a break from gaming to bop around your room to some Britney Spears tunes. A pair of wireless over-the-ear headphones designed to look like AirPods Max but without the need to save up for months to afford 'em. They're available in a bunch of fun colors and feature cushy padding that your ears will thank you for. Additionally, they have a built-in mic so you can still chat away on Discord while crushing your pals in Mario Kart. A Redragon H510 Zeus White Wired Gaming Headset that'll make you want to cancel your Friday night plans so you can plug in, cuddle up on your couch, and pull some virtual weeds while listening to the soothing sounds of Animal Crossing. It has a removable microphone, so if you decide to play a co-op game instead, you can just pop it back onto the headset. Wireless earbuds for mobile gamers or anyone who prefers to do their gaming on a handheld device, and, honestly, doesn't need to overdo it with a bulky over-the-ear headset. They have a built-in mic in case your mom calls while you're playing on your phone — no need to pause your game, you can just chat away! A Logitech G733 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset with the ability to select from playful preset lighting animations *or* the option to customize them yourself! It also has a super comfortable, reversible suspension headband, a special mic filter that'll ensure your voice sounds nice and clear, and an easy-to-use volume wheel right on the headset itself. A Bengoo G9000 Stereo Gaming Headset that comes in an array of colors that'll match the gaming area you've so carefully curated — who *wouldn't* want their headset to match their gaming chair?! It also has lovely memory foam earmuffs (comfy!) and great noise-cancelling abilities. Many reviewers noted this was their top choice for their kids who break headsets regularly. And a Somic GS510 Gaming Headset with light-up cat ears, because the *real* gamers know this is an unmatched vibe. Aiming to be the cutest streamer on the internet? This adorable yet practical pair will get you one step closer!
Engadget
a day ago
- Engadget
A brilliant puzzle-platformer, Enter the Gungeon on mobile and other new indie games worth checking out
Welcome to our latest recap of what's going on in the indie game space. Quite a few intriguing games dropped this week and some high-profile ones have been ported to more platforms. Before we get to those, though, I'd like to tell you about one of my favorite games of the year so far. I struggle to fully engage with many RPGs. By and large, I'm not interested in spending lots of time optimizing my character, speccing out a skill tree or scouring for the very best equipment to match my playstyle. I find it far more interesting when a game offers a limited toolset and a huge variety of ways to use those mechanics, typically by providing a small number of abilities and powerups as well as really clever level design. Such is the case with Öoo , which arrived on Steam last week and is the latest game from Elechead developer Nama Takahashi. This is a puzzle-platformer that you can complete in one sitting and it's utterly captivating. You play as a caterpillar that uses a bomb — and later a second one — to blow stuff up and move around. If you want to reach a higher platform, you'll need to detonate a bomb you're sitting on. The controls are simple too, as you only need to move, and drop and blow up bombs. The design of this game, though, is anything but simple. There's almost no text here, even in the menus. You learn by experimenting and figuring out how to navigate what's in front of you. You'll have to backtrack a bit to solve certain puzzles. It's so mechanically tight that a 15-second trailer is all you need to understand what Öoo is about: I smiled the entire way through this one — even when I got momentarily stumped — and I let out a satisfied chuckle or two when I figured out solutions to problems. It helps that the visuals (by artist Hachinos) and audio are charming as hell. The title of the game is absolutely terrific, too. The umlaut is important because it makes the lettering look like your character with a pair of bombs trailing behind it. This is emblematic of the level of thought, care and detail that Takahashi and co. have put into Öoo . That extends to the end credits, which lists several games that inspired this one. Such a beautiful touch. Öoo reminds me a bit of Animal Well . It doesn't have nearly the same level of depth as one of our favorites of 2024, but it doesn't need to. It's perfect the way it is. It also brings to mind another perfect game, Poinpy , with even composer Tsuyomi's work reminding me of that game's fantastic music. I'm still sad that it's impossible for me to play Poinpy right now, as it vanished from Netflix's catalog a while back. But Öoo did a bang up job of filling that hole in my heart. I can't recommend it highly enough. Elsewhere, there's a lovely little indie you can pick up for free on the Epic Games Store right now for PC, Android and (in the EU) iOS. Hidden Folks is a relaxing hidden object game by Adriaan de Jongh that features hand-drawn environments and funny, voice-generated sound effects. I'm only a little ways into this but I'm enjoying it so far. This week's other Epic Games freebie on PC is ragdoll physics sim Totally Reliable Delivery Service . Also, as a quick reminder, there will be a ton of video game news dropping over the next week as the world's biggest gaming event, Gamescom, is taking place. Check out our Gamescom preview for details on what to expect and how to watch the various showcases and streams, and maybe keep your fingers crossed for a Hollow Knight: Silksong release date, if you're so inclined. Join us on Tuesday as we liveblog our way through Opening Night Live. We'll be bringing you the tastiest news from the event throughout the week too. New releases A bonafide indie classic hit mobile devices this week. Bullet hell dungeon crawler Enter the Gungeon (iOS, Android) and its sequel, former Apple Arcade exclusive Exit the Gungeon (iOS, Android), are both free to try and you can keep playing them after making an in-app purchase. These versions include touch controls, with publisher Devolver Digital pointing out that you can "swipe, tap and poke your screen to conquer the depths of the Gungeon." The developers have, at long last, added online co-op so you can play with your friends without having to be in the same room. There's also a crossover here, as the Lamb from Cult of the Lamb becomes the latest playable character. The games' arrival on mobile could also give veteran Gungeon players a decent reason to revisit Dodge Roll's series. The iOS and Android ports could also help them pass the time until Enter the Gungeon 2 arrives on Steam next year. Another popular indie expanded to more platforms this week as Dorfromantik (previously only available on PC and Nintendo Switch) arrived on PlayStation and Xbox, thanks to the help of Headup. This strategy puzzle game from Toukana Interactive is all about building out a world using hex tiles, which makes my Takenoko -loving self happy. It's a chill, beautiful game that'll still get your cognitive gears turning a bit. A mobile version is also in development, but it won't be a straight port of the PC and console game. Instead, Toukana is working with ClockStone on a reimagining of Dorfromantik that's built from the ground up for touchscreen devices. TMNT went turn-based for the first time in series history with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown , which debuted on PC back in May. Strange Scaffold has now brought the game to Nintendo Switch (only in North America for now) and Xbox Series X/S. It's coming to Switch in European regions at a later date. PC players might have a reason to return to the game, as Strange Scaffold has updated it with a Remix Mode. This adds many more enemy types with new moves and attack patterns, as well as tougher challenges. Ra Ra Boom is a co-op, side-scrolling beat-'em-up from Gylee Games that landed on PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X/S and PS5 this week. I love the premise, which sees ninja cheerleaders from outer space descending to Earth to free the planet from a climate change-battling AI that perhaps did its job too well by ridding it of humans. Each of the four characters has their own abilities, including a ranged weapon. I've played Ra Ra Boom for about 30 minutes and, unfortunately, it hasn't clicked for me so far. I might give it another shot, but there are just too many other games out there waiting to be played. I do appreciate games that are about more than giving players something fun to do. There have been quite a few over the years that aim to help people learn a language. Another arrived on Steam this week in the form of Wagotabi: A Japanese Journey , which debuted on mobile last year. In this slice-of-life RPG from Wagotabi Limited, you'll explore Japan and its culture. It's designed to help players start learning Japanese and it was made with beginners in mind. It features mini games, tests and is fully voiced in Japanese. The developers say that more than 300 teachers spanning more than 60 countries have been reviewing the game, presumably to make sure its lessons are accurate. The Dark Queen of Mortholme has been available on for some time, and it landed on Steam this week with new features, including support for controllers and Steam Cloud, achievements and more. In this short experience from Mosu and publisher Monster Theater, you play as the final boss of a video game who has to keep fending off a pesky hero. There are multiple endings and the one that you see is determined by your dialogue choices. The Dark Queen of Mortholme seems pretty interesting, and I'm looking forward to checking it out. Upcoming CrisisX is an ambitious-sounding survival crafting project from Hero Games. It features an 1,200 km² open-world map with 12 terrains and biomes, including snowy mountains and hidden labs. You can forge teams, groups and communes to help you fend off dangers such as infected and other players. What's really wild is that CrisisX will seemingly be able to support up to 5,000 players on a single server. It's coming to PC, iOS and Android in the second quarter of 2026. Those who are attending Gamescom next week will be able to play it at the show, while a beta test is scheduled for later this year. I'm intrigued, not least because CrisisX might be the closest we ever get to The Last of Us Online . I feel like I first heard about Henry Halfhead forever ago, so I'm glad that this sandbox adventure finally has a release date. It's coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and PC on September 16. Henry is, surprisingly enough, a character that is half of a head. They're able to turn into any nearby object, and you can play as more than 250 different items. There's local co-op support too. It seems cute! Henry Halfhead is coming your way courtesy of Lululu Entertainment and co-publisher Popagenda. If not for Öoo , The Way of the Tray might have been my favorite game in a hot minute. You'll play as a waiter in a Japanese spirit world, where you'll serve orders to various spirits after catching and balancing them on your tray. Seems like one for fans of the restaurant side of Dave the Diver . The Way of the Tray , which is from Who is Terry and publisher Targem Games, hits Steam on August 25. CloverPit is a grungy, slot machine-based horror game that looks right up my alley. After all, it's billed as a "demonic lovechild of Balatro and Buckshot Roulette ." Sold. You have to accumulate a certain amount of cash each round to help pay off your debt, or it's off to the pit with you. It's not about gambling so much as it is finding ways to break the rules of a slot machine to help you reach your objectives. There's quite a bit of buzz behind this one from Panik Arcade and publisher Future Friends Games. It's had more than 700,000 demo downloads and is among the top wishlisted games on Steam. CloverPit is coming to said platform on September 3. Let's wrap things up for this week with a game that has a very cool aesthetic. Zoe Begone! is a bullet hell shooter with hand-drawn visuals. The idea here is that the action plays out on a film strip, with a devilish animator drawing and painting more enemies for our heroine, Zoe, to overcome. As you might imagine, solo developer Retchy took inspiration from drawn-on-film animation from the 1930s, particularly the work of Norman McLaren. As an admirer of Stan Brakhage's work, this speaks to me. Zoe Begone! is coming to PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch on September 17. A demo is available on Steam now. If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
