Some actors take on a lot of work to bring their characters to life on screen. In the case of a film on Netflix, the lead actor trained for several years for a single scene.
Which actor is it? Bradley Cooper is an actor, but also a director. In both roles, he was involved in the film Maestro from 2023. It is about the famous composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, who lived from 1918 to 1990 and earned an excellent reputation during that time.
In addition to his work as a conductor, he composed numerous musical pieces, including well-known musicals like West Side Story. The film Maestro depicts a glimpse of Bernstein’s life and tells much about the conductor’s relationship with his wife.
Bradley Cooper directed himself and played the lead role. That alone would be a significant challenge, but Cooper was ambitious and wanted to make everything perfect. This led to a scene that was associated with years of preparation.
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Bradley Cooper as legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein in the trailer for “Maestro”
Every move must be perfect
Which scene is it? One of the highlights of the film is a sequence set in Ely Cathedral in the UK. There, the real Bernstein conducted an elaborate concert with the London Symphony Orchestra in 1973. The 2nd Symphony by Mahler was performed.
In his film, Bradley Cooper was keen to recreate that moment accurately. The scene lasts six minutes and 21 seconds in the finished movie, showing Cooper as Bernstein conducting the orchestra. And he does so with full dedication.
He seems completely immersed in the music and forgets everything around him. Cooper conducts with sweeping gestures and appears highly focused. In an interview with Indiewire, the actor spoke about his work on the scene:
“This scene worried me so much because we filmed it live. That was the London Symphony Orchestra. I was filmed live and had to conduct them. And I spent six years learning to conduct six minutes and 21 seconds of music.”
Bradley Cooper
Cooper watched a recording of the original performance long before filming and was thus able to study even the smallest nuances of the real Leonard Bernstein’s movements. It is clear that such an endeavor takes a lot of time. Six years is still an impressive number, and not many actors dedicate themselves to a role quite like that. Directors are often rather obsessed with a scene, like Kubrick with The Shining.
The fact that Cooper had to conduct a real, professional orchestra is significant and explains the pressure he was under. If you are interested, you can see a comparison of the real and performed Bernstein here:
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Was the long training worth it? Whether someone likes an actor’s portrayal is, of course, a matter of taste. However, those who watch Maestro will soon forget that it is Bradley Cooper. The makeup and the acting performance are simply too good for that.
Hollywood even rewarded the great effort with an Oscar nomination. Bradley Cooper was also nominated for numerous other awards, including for his work on the screenplay and direction. Did you see the film and think the effort was worth it? Feel free to let us know in the comments. Unfortunately, Maestro is not among the most successful films on the streaming service: The 10 most-watched films of all time on Netflix in ranking
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The campaigns of Critical Role, one of the most well-known groups in Dungeons & Dragons on Twitch and YouTube, are full of foes that the group was able to defeat with more or less brilliance. Here are 6 of the most powerful villains from Critical Role.
Spoiler Alert! This list contains spoilers for the campaigns Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein (and a bit of Bells Hells) from Critical Role.
The world of Dungeons & Dragons is full of dangers and challenges that test the characters of the campaigns and make them the heroes or villains they eventually become. The campaigns of the well-known streaming group “Critical Role” is also packed with nasty monsters, dangerous environments, and truly treacherous villains.
The stories around the heroes from Vox Machina (Campaign 1), the Mighty Nein (Campaign 2), and Bells Hells also include all the nasty villains that not only threaten their world but can also be very much tied to the personal backgrounds of the protagonists.
We want to present 6 of these villains to you in this list as a ranking. However, not only pure power plays a role, but also their presence in the campaigns and the influence they have had on the groups.
Here you see the teaser for Critical Role’s new campaign adaptation “The Mighty Nein”, which will premiere this November on Amazon Prime:
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The Mighty Nein – First Sneak Peek of the New Fantasy Series on Amazon Prime
Avantika appears in the second campaign of Critical Role and is not only a powerful but also a charismatic pirate and antagonist of the Mighty Nein.
As a warlock, she has a connection with – or is rather a servant of – Uk’otoa, a powerful leviathan demigod who is also the patron god of the half-orc Fjord of the hero group. This connection gave her access to powerful spells and abilities, making her – along with her ability to quickly see through lies and deceptions – an opponent that the Mighty Nein could not take lightly (at least not until the end).
Her greatest strength, however, was her fanatical determination to free Uk’otoa and to eliminate anyone who got in her way… even beyond death. For that made her even more powerful.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
What is slightly more complicated this time is obtaining strong items. You can no longer upgrade items at a vendor – instead, you need to find new, better loot that has a higher item level. We will reveal how that works.
After Legion Remix, Midnight will soon begin:
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WoW Midnight shows gameplay – All new features
How does item level work in Legion Remix? In Legion Remix, raising the item level is a bit different than in regular WoW. While you are completing endgame activities, loot will drop occasionally – whether from world quests, dungeons, or daily quests. However, depending on the quality level, there are caps that the gear can reach. Here they are:
Uncommon (green) items scale up to item level 571
Rare (blue) items scale up to item level 578
Epic loot (purple) scales up to item level 584
So this applies at least to most items you can obtain.
Collecting the best loot in Legion Remix will take quite some time.
How can you reach even higher item levels? However, 584 is not the limit, as certain items can continue to level up. Once your character has approximately the average item level of your current maximum, you will find better loot.
Example: So far, you have received green items with item level 540. Now that your entire character is equipped with these, you will receive instead items with item level 544 from quests. Once your character reaches item level 544, the item level will then increase to 547 – and so on.
However, for some item sources, it only stops at 740. Your item level can therefore continue to grow. This applies to loot from these sources:
The chest of timeless power, which you get for the daily quest.
Collecting 10 particles found throughout Legion Remix.
All raid content.
Mystic+.
How does this work in Mystic+? In the dungeons of Legion Remix, it is different. Your item level does not grow based on what you are currently wearing, but rather on your keystone level. This way, you can make significant jumps in item level when you tackle correspondingly difficult dungeons.
But beware: The maximum lies at a staggering “Mystic+63” – at this difficulty, items of level 740 drop.
Even though “Mystic+63” still sounds unrealistically high for now, it is only a matter of time until our characters in Legion Remix become so powerful that they can easily handle these dungeons. Especially at the beginning, this will likely be more than just a tough challenge, where trash mobs will probably need only to look at you for you to meet your demise. For these tough content, a tank is certainly needed – but why no one wants to play one is impressively illustrated by a graph.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Every week, a new episode of the Anime Gachiakuta is released. MeinMMO provides you with all the important information regarding the upcoming episode.
When does Episode 12 air? The next episode of Gachiakuta will be released on Sunday, September 28th, 2025. You need to be ready from 4:30 PM CEST / 10:30 AM EST / 07:30 AM PDT.
Where can I watch the episode? Gachiakuta is exclusively available on Crunchyroll. Currently, you do not even need an active subscription to watch the series. However, you should expect ads.
What kind of dubbing will the new episode have? Gachiakuta will be available at release in the original Japanese version with German subtitles.
Gachiakuta: Trailer with German synchronization of the anime
Gachiakuta is not trash, even though it’s about that
What is Gachiakuta about? In Gachiakuta, we experience the story from Rudo’s perspective. He is a boy who lives in the slums. The slums are situated between the wealthy residential area and the abyss, where the scum of human society ends up.
One day, Rudo is framed for a murder, which causes him to end up in the abyss as well. There, he has to fight for his survival, as garbage monsters and other evildoers make his life difficult. He vows to make his way back to the surface to take revenge on his enemies.
How well is the anime received? So far, Gachiakuta is rated above average. On MyAnimeList, the series currently ranks 550 out of just over 26,000 registered series on the platform (as of July 21 at 3:30 PM).
After the difficult launch of his game on Steam, a developer from Valve learned that a bug may have ruined his release. MeinMMO looked into what he is doing today.
Months after the release, they learned through an email from Valve that users who had the game on their wishlist did not receive an email notification from Steam at launch. This error affected fewer than 100 games. From Lechat’s perspective, it ruined 10 years of hard work on his game.
With this trailer, Planet Centauri celebrated its release on Steam.
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Planet Centauri mischt Terraria mit Pokémon
Developers are working on a new game
What are the developers working on? Despite the failure of their first game, Lechat is still working with his development partner Boris on a new game. This is said to be a roguelike that runs on the engine they developed for Planet Centauri.
Under his original Reddit post, Lechat explained that creating their own engine was one reason for the long development time of their game. The developers had good intentions: the own engine was meant to allow students from around the world to play a comprehensive game with many features on a simple laptop.
They aimed to differentiate themselves from the biggest competitors at the time, Terraria and Starbound, which required increasingly better hardware with a growing number of features. However, the own engine also led to numerous problems, causing the developers to spend 80% of their time fixing thousands of bugs.
With a new game on the same engine, this work was at least not entirely in vain, and hopefully, the major issues with the engine have now been resolved. They have also learned from the development time, as the new game is supposed to be released within a year.
As the developers revealed to Polygon, they are financially obligated to complete this project. The proceeds from this game are intended to enable further development of Planet Centauri and help bring future patches to the game.
Boris and Lechat lived together in a shared apartment for several years while working on their game to save money. Lechat even sold his car. They currently cannot afford additional updates for Planet Centauri.
How is Planet Centauri doing? To compensate for the launch error, Steam offered the developers a so-called Daily Deal: a game is featured on the homepage of the store for 24 hours in connection with a discount.
Indeed, Planet Centauri experienced a small increase in player numbers with a recent sale. According to SteamDB, they managed to attract 90 concurrent players, an improvement of 350% compared to previous months. While the originally hoped-for success did not materialize, the game received a number of positive reviews from players who had learned about the developers’ struggles.
In League of Legends the current season in the Korean league is still ongoing. Currently, 3 teams can still win the championship title. T1 and Fakerare out after losing to a major rival.
What is the current situation in the Korean league? The LCK 2025 Season playoffs are still ongoing in South Korea. Hanwha Life has already qualified for the league finals, whose jungler Peanut is ending his career this year.
Their opponent is still unclear, but Faker and T1’s chances of making it to the finals were dashed on 21.09.2025. In a close series, the team lost to a long-time rival.
Start video
The Life of Faker – Why He is a Living Legend
Close Series, but the Last Match Was a Clear Decision
What kind of match was it? In the lower bracket of the current LCK playoffs, T1 and Gen.G faced each other on September 21, 2025. The rivalry between the two teams and especially between the two mid-laners Faker and Chovy is a major highlight in the community. In 2024, a new viewer record could be celebrated.
Even though today’s best-of-5 was quite close, Gen.G was convincing in the last match.
In the first match, Gen.G won against T1 after nearly 36 minutes with a score of 17:11 and a gold advantage of nearly 8,000.
In the 2nd match, T1 recovered and managed to win with a strong 18:4 and a gold advantage of almost 10,000 in less than 30 minutes.
Match 3 was a bit closer. After about 34 minutes, T1 finished the game with 15:5 and a gold advantage of nearly 6,000.
Although T1 had match point, Gen.G made a comeback in the 4th match. After less than 30 minutes, Chovy’s team won 28:7 with a strong gold advantage of about 13,000.
Gen.G carried this momentum into the last match and defeated T1 in a close 32-minute match. With a score of 23:5 and a gold advantage of almost 12,000, Gen.G was ultimately victorious, thus earning the chance to compete for this year’s LCK title.
What’s next for Gen.G? On September 27, Gen.G will play in Round 4 against KT Rolster for a spot in the LCK finals. In Round 2, Gen.G narrowly lost to KT Rolster with a score of 3:2. The winner of the upcoming best-of-5 can then play against Hanwha Life for the LCK championship title on September 28.
What’s next for T1? With the defeat, T1 has firmly secured 4th place in the LCK 2025 playoffs. This means they have qualified for the Play-In Stage at Worlds 2025.
Unlike the other 3 teams, T1 must qualify again for the main event of the Worlds. On October 14, they will play against an unknown Chinese team to reach the Swiss Stage. This makes T1’s path harder than that of the other Korean teams that are directly participating in the main event of the Worlds.
Can T1 win the Worlds 2025? In 2024, T1 also did not win the LCK playoffs before the Worlds. Hanwha Life and Gen.G performed better there. Nevertheless, Faker and his team managed to win the Worlds. They were able to defeat their rival Gen.G already in the semifinals.
Playing at the Worlds means dealing with different pressures than having to perform at home. T1 seems to handle this pressure well thanks to Faker’s many years of experience. However, they must first qualify for the main event. A new music video shows that Faker is more than just an initial player: Faker is actually a pro in League of Legends, now appearing in a music video for a famous K-Pop band
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
For almost 10 years, American basketball star Kevin Durant could not access his Bitcoin wealth. However, this meant he could not sell hastily.
Who is it about? Kevin Durant is an American basketball player and 14-time NBA All-Star. Together with his long-time agent and business partner Rich Kleiman, Durant began investing significantly in Bitcoin in 2016 after the cryptocurrency was discussed at a dinner with his then teammates.
At a CNBC event, Kleiman explained that they had heard the word “Bitcoin” at least 25 times that evening. The next day they started investing. However, the agent did not disclose how many Bitcoins Durant bought.
Due to a “user error on our part,” Kleiman said, the basketball player had not been able to access his crypto wealth for years: Apparently, Durant had lost the password to his account on Coinbase, a platform for trading and storing cryptocurrency. Our colleagues at JV Tech reported on the case.
If you lose access to your cryptocurrency account, you usually cannot access your wealth anymore. However, other personal information can be frighteningly easy to find:
Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
Basketball star regains account after almost 10 years
How did that turn out? Brian Armstrong, co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, announced on September 19 in a post on X that the issue with Durant’s account had been resolved and that the basketball star could access it again.
Previously, Kleiman had joked that it was “actually crazy” that they could not restore access – especially since Kleiman and Durant are investors in Coinbase and the NBA star had already promoted the crypto exchange.
The whole situation unfolded amidst growing frustration from some Coinbase users, who reportedly faced similar difficulties accessing their accounts or getting help from customer service.
Comments on social media are also rather skeptical: A 9-year customer service case is not really something to brag about. In another post on X, Armstrong stated that the focus is on improving customer service.
Why is this good now? Because Durant could not access his account all these years, he never sold his Bitcoins – and the cryptocurrency has notably increased in value since 2016. Back then, the price was still below 650 US dollars, about 554 euros.
Among crypto investors, the expression “HODL” is well-known, originally a typo of the English word “hold”. However, it later became an acronym for “Hold On for Dear Life”.
This term refers to a trading strategy where users hold their cryptocurrencies despite price fluctuations instead of engaging in short-term trading (source: BTC Echo). In this sense, Durant has done everything right.
Legendary loot is a huge reason for joy among most players in Borderlands 4, especially when it is rare. One player finally received her second Legendary after 20 hours, but it came from a place where one does not expect such items.
In Borderlands 4, players want to have as many legendary items as possible. They are not only often strong in their stats, but they also have some crazy effects like a shield that fires rockets or a shotgun that blows up an entire room.
However, it can take some time before you hold such a legendary weapon in your hands. Especially if you are not explicitly farming for such items. One player found her second legendary item after 20 hours, but it was found in a toilet.
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In Borderlands 4 helfen wir einer Rakete ihre Mission zu erfüllen
Legendary items can theoretically drop anywhere, even in the toilet
What did the player find? Player Jennifer Locke posted a picture of her find on x.com. It is the legendary pistol Budget Deity. But it came from a toilet of all places. She writes: Not from a boss. Not from a badass. Not even from a chest. From a toilet.
According to her tweet, this is only her second legendary item after 20 hours (with multiple characters). The find amuses the community, and there are countless jokes about the toilet find in the comments. @TheReal_DealDan (x.com) writes that it is the best kind of Legendary.
Aside from that, there are users who complain about the low chances of legendary loot. For example, @MisfitOneFour (x.com) complains: The drop rates are ridiculous. I defeated 2 bosses and received no legendary items in both cases.
What’s the deal with legendary items in Borderlands 4? In Borderlands 3, players criticized that legendary items no longer feel special because they dropped quite frequently. For Borderlands 4, they wanted to change that. They reduced the drop rates to make it feel more rewarding.
But not all players seem satisfied with this, as can be seen from the comments on X.
How can I get legendary items in Borderlands 4? As seen with the toilet find, it can always happen that you get a legendary item. Even if the chance is very low, regular enemies or simple chests can contain strong items.
If you want to farm more specifically, you should farm bosses. This can be done relatively easily with Moxxi’s Big Encore Machine, as you can respawn them for money. If you are looking for something specific, you should check the boss drops.
The Anime lover of today should be able to look back on a nice selection on their own shelf. These classics should not be missed.
The world of anime is vast, colorful, and quirky. Nowadays, more series are released per year than ever before, and it is no longer as “nerdy” to come out as an anime fan as it was a decade ago. However, to prove to the whole world that one is a little bit “more” of an anime lover than all the people who jumped on the bandwagon during the pandemic, one must immortalize the love for Japanese animation art in their own living room.
Or in other words: Having a nice cabinet in the living room where some anime treasures stand out, to keep up with the world of weebs. Therefore, we present to you 5 anime series that are perfect for your shelf.
What is Neon Genesis Evangelion about? The world has been forever changed by the devastating “Second Impact”. Countless people died, entire species were wiped out. And strange beings called “Angels” repeatedly attack to cleanse the rest of the world. Still, various governments manage to repel the Angels time and again, but gradually, defenses are being broken through.
The young Shinji Ikari is contacted by his father to serve as a pilot in the “EVA” project and to control a giant fighting robot capable of standing against the Angels. What sounds heroic quickly reveals itself to be a dark web of different interests that gnaw rapidly at the boy’s mind and his surroundings.
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Neon Genesis Evangelion – Trailer for the Legendary Anime Series
Why should Neon Genesis Evangelion be on the shelf? Neon Genesis Evangelion is not only an absolute classic of the mecha genre, but also considered one of the great milestones that made anime more mainstream. NGE proved that action with giant fighting robots and an emotional, deep story with built-in social criticism do not have to be mutually exclusive. Whoever has the series on their shelf clearly says: I know the foundations and the classics; I don’t just chase the latest trends.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Even though there are already many villains that Luffy and his crew will have to face in the future of One Piece, Oda regularly introduces new characters who are even stronger than the previous ones. One of them even fought against the most legendary pirates in history.
Attention Spoilers: The following article contains spoilers for the last two arcs in the manga of One Piece.
Which character is being referred to? In chapter 1086 of the manga and in episode 1120 of the anime, Figarland Garling is introduced for the first time. He is part of the world government and is probably the strongest member of the Knights of God.
After the events on Egghead Island, he was appointed as one of the Five Elders, responsible for science and defense. Additionally, he is the father of Shanks and the Knight Shamrock. However, this is not the only reason why he is much stronger than other villains in One Piece. In the last chapter, Oda reveals the legends Figarland Garling has confronted.
Select a MMO video…
Figarland Garling stands on a level with Roger, Whitebeard, and Rocks
Who did Garling fight in the past? Within the world government, Garling is quite a well-known name, also because he was designated as the Champion during the events at God Valley. More details were revealed in the latest chapter (1160). 38 years ago, a gigantic battle took place on the island of God Valley.
The Celestial Dragons conducted a hunt for slaves and people they deemed unworthy. Among others, the Holy Knights participated, including the Figarland family. The Rocks Pirates intervened in this hunt, who ruled the seas even before Roger. Members included:
Rocks D. Xebec
Whitebeard
Big Mom
Shiki
Stussy
Kaidou
They came to the island for treasures and to rescue Shakky, the then Empress of Amazon Lily, who was presented as the prize for the hunt. The crew of Roger also attempted to attack God Valley.
The Holy Knights of God confronted the pirates, with Garling right at the forefront, who even ordered the Marine to retreat. Thus, he faced some of the strongest pirates in the history of One Piece. One can also assume, due to his position among the Five Elders, that he is stronger than the members of the Marine.
By comparison: Whitebeard could inflict quite a bit of damage to Akainu while injured and ill, even throwing him down. That Figarland has faced multiple pirates with such powers speaks for him.
As one already knows from previous chapters, the Holy Knights have even a certain form of immortality.
What makes Garling so dangerous? Apart from his strength that makes him one of the most powerful figures in the series, he is ruthless and shares a similar worldview with the aristocrats. This is probably one reason why he was appointed as an Elder by Imu.
His ruthlessness is evident in his dealings with the mother of his children. He killed her as he has chosen Shakky as his new bride. Within the world government, he probably even has the role of an executioner. He killed the world aristocrat Donquixote Mjosgard.
How strong he truly is will probably be revealed in the flashback to the God Valley incident currently being depicted in the manga. There, one will likely also see the role of Roger and Garp in this historical event. When the next chapter will appear and everything you need to know about it can be found here: One Piece: Chapter 1161 – Spoilers and release for the manga
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In 2022, Twitch issued new guidelines for showcasing gambling on the platform. Matthew “Mizkif” Rinaudoadvocated for the change back then, but now he says: It was a mistake.
Which streamer is being discussed? Matthew “Mizkif” Rinaudo was part of a group of streamers who threatened Twitch with a boycott if the platform did not take action against gambling. Mizkif sharply criticized Twitch for allowing such content at that time.
Now, exactly 3 years later, the streamer announced a new partnership with the online casino Stake – the very platform that Twitch had banned from showcasing gambling in 2022 as part of new regulations.
Numerous so-called casino streamers then migrated to Kick, the new streaming platform by the founders of Stake. Just in June 2025, Mizkif had expressed his strong opposition to such a move to Kick, citing bad experiences with one of the owners.
xQc was the number 1 on Twitch for years and was one of the streamers showcasing gambling there.
Start video
From Overwatch professional to number 1 on Twitch to 100 million $ – Who is xQc?
“Better gambling on Twitch than all the ads”
What’s behind the change of heart? Mizkif seems to see the partnership with Stake more as a benefit for his viewers. He explained that he has now disabled his sub-goal, a type of target value for paid subscriptions on Twitch. He no longer wants to complain about subscriptions as much.
At the same time, Mizkif accuses Twitch of ruining the platform with advertisements. Streamers should not be allowed to run more than 8 minutes of ads per hour. At the beginning of September, Mizkif apologized to fans on X for apparently accidentally showing 22 minutes of ads per hour.
Mizkif even states that he was wrong about gambling: “Screw the ads, I’d rather have gambling on Twitch than all the ads.”
A video in the subreddit LivestreamFail shows Mizkif’s announcement:
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How is that being received? Quite mixed. In Mizkif’s own chat, viewers express surprise and amusement about the unexpected partnership, with messages ranging from “finally” to “screw Stake.”
In over 500 comments under the clip on Reddit, the verdict is clearer. One response with more than 2,300 upvotes states: “The money was bigger than ethics.”
If you have problems with gambling or are worried about a loved one, contact the helpline of the Federal Ministry. The counseling team of BZgA can be reached at the number 0800 1 37 27 00free of charge and anonymously. Consultation hours: Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 363 days a year (excluding December 24th and 31st).
In recent years, there is a recurring sentiment that the MMORPG genre is stagnant and hardly developing. MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz has an even bleaker assessment.
However, the truth is that the most exciting projects will take several years due to long development phases. A lot can happen in that time. The early cancellation of a seemingly promising online role-playing game is not uncommon – the recent end of the Zenimax MMORPG serves as a reminder of this.
It is unfortunately also unclear whether the games will be worth playing. The MMORPGs released in recent years have unfortunately not honored this. On the contrary, one must note with regard to the representatives of the more recent past that the genre is not only stagnating but is actually regressing.
Throne and Liberty is unfortunately just an okay MMORPG with nice graphics and an exciting focus on the “Massively”, which has some pitfalls for gaming enjoyment.
Start video
Throne and Liberty: Trailer shows regions of the Wilderness of Talandre expansion
The old-timers show the newcomers how it’s done
Let’s go through which MMORPGs currently represent the cutting edge in various areas:
Best action combat system? For me, the clear winner would be Black Desert (from 2014).
Best tab-targeting combat system and the most varied group challenges? World of Warcraft (2004).
Best quests? Here, I choose The Secret World from 2012.
Most atmospheric world? Lord of the Rings Online from 2007.
Best mount system and most beautiful graphic style? Guild Wars 2
Who is writing here? Karsten Scholz is the MMORPG expert at MeinMMO. He has been dealing with the best genre in the world almost daily for 16 years. His private first contact was in 2005. Since then, he has accumulated several years of playtime in various online role-playing games and has played almost every relevant genre representative of the past two decades for at least a while.
This list could go on and on, and not a single MMORPG released in the last 10 years would land in the top position. The respective average ratings on platforms like Steam underscore the often mixed situation of the more recent genre representatives:
Throne and Liberty from 2024 on Steam: 67 percent positive
Pax Dei from 2024 on Steam: 56 percent positive (still early access)
Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen from 2024 on Steam: 74 percent positive (still early access)
The Quinfall from 2025 on Steam: 47 percent (still early access)
BitCraft Online from 2025 on Steam: 73 percent (still early access)
Other current MMORPG projects that can or could be played – such as Chrono Odyssey, Ashes of Creation, or Corepunk – confirm this depressing picture.
Meanwhile, our top 10 of the most popular MMORPGs on Steam are all oldies, many of which are over a decade old, such as SWTOR, Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV, the two versions of RuneScape, ESO, or Lord of the Rings Online.
The currently best-rated MMORPG on Steam – Star Wars: The Old Republic:
Start video
Star Wars: The Old Republic zeigt Grafikupdates im Trailer
When hope is absent, motivation also wanes
A major problem with this trend: Many genre fans are so disappointed with the status quo that they have no desire to invest much time and energy in a new game, which will quite likely have to consider server mergers or the rapidly shrinking community within the second or third month after launch.
Some MMORPGs that have been around for what feels like an eternity can benefit from this, and it is evident in increasing player numbers – here are some examples from recent weeks and months:
Guild Wars 2 has seen rising player numbers on Steam for several months now.
Start video
Guild Wars 2 sets sail for a new adventure in the announcement trailer for ‘Visions of Eternity’
Innovation and visible leaps are missing
Who can blame the players? Beyond technology, there has been so little progress in the genre over the past 10 to 20 years that one can have fun even with outdated MMORPGs today. Let’s take action combat as an example.
I previously mentioned that Black Desert represents the gold standard for me…and by a large margin. Asian developers have been known for years for offering massive combat experiences that the Western competition simply cannot match – Tera and Blade and Soul are other positive examples from the MMORPG genre.
However, something has happened in recent years. In many new online role-playing games, the combat just feels bad. There is a lack of proper hit feedback, the weight of strikes does not translate, input responses are not responsive enough, or fighting is simply not fun due to the few skills and combo possibilities. Positive exceptions? Not in sight.
The developers of Chrono Odyssey still have a lot of work to do to ensure that the battles of the MMORPG feel really good at release next year.
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Chrono Odyssey: Trailer from Summer Game Fest 2025 shows action-packed battles and a dark world
WoW was a problem, mobile is one
The enormous success of WoW and the numerous failed MMORPG attempts in the following 10 years have not done the genre any favors. Many games emulated the genre king so closely that structure and content often resembled each other without reaching the class of the original.
As for the many fails: Even today, after the incredible launch successes of Lost Ark and New World, there are hardly any developers or publishers willing to invest sufficient money in the development of an online role-playing game to be able to compete with the big names.
Aion 2 is set to be released on PC and mobile. This will inevitably have some negative impact on the PC version of the MMORPG.
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Aion 2: New trailer prepares for the Korean launch of the MMORPG
Meanwhile, all teams with small sizes and budgets can be happy if they manage to get their MMORPG across the finish line within a reasonably timely manner. One should not expect major quality leaps here. Therefore, many of these projects also rely on nostalgic experiences that aim at classics like RuneScape or EverQuest.
Equally significant is the trend towards mobile MMORPGs, which has increasingly emerged since the 2010s. The associated technical restrictions and negative effects that related payment models have on gameplay ensure that the MMORPG experience suffers.
Asian studios increasingly want to develop their games with a global market perspective, thereby omitting some of the peculiarities that previously hindered them from achieving significant success in the West. However, for this to work, they must not keep repeating the same mistakes: 5 mistakes that MMORPGs from Asia must avoid if they want to succeed with us
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
A look at the year 2025 shows: Gamers haven’t had it this good in a long time. The selection for Game of the Year is going to be really, really tricky.
The gaming industry has been in a deep crisis for several years. There are repeated reports of mass layoffs, major AAA titles flop catastrophically upon release, and we “gamers” have been lucky in recent years if we even got a single, really good game that was entirely free of “bullshit” microtransactions.
But 2025 was different. Because we got three phenomenal games, and a fourth is on the verge of launching. What stands out: Only one of them is a major AAA production; the rest come from smaller studios.
Expedition 33 will definitely be the Game of the Year 2025 … or?
When the game “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33” was released at the end of April this year, I was pretty much instantly sure: This is the Game of the Year, there’s no doubt about it. The story about the painter who literally eradicates a significant portion of the population every year, combined with the phenomenal combat system, brought everything a modern RPG in the JRPG style needed.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 hinterlässt bei den Spielern eine Leere
I played Expedition 33 multiple times in a row, lost myself in the story and the action-packed combat system, and only stopped when I had truly earned all the achievements. The emotional storyline of the game resonated with me for several weeks afterwards, and the grand soundtrack is a permanent guest on my playlist. Nothing else could compare, no matter how hard one would try.
At least that’s what I thought.
Donkey Kong and Silksong make everyone happy
Then the Switch 2 was released, I first got lost in retro games before the world of “Donkey Kong Bananza” captivated me. The childish graphic style initially put me off, but then I thought: Why not? The last time I played a Donkey Kong was on the SNES, and that was in the last millennium.
Donkey Kong Bananza was pure fun. No matter how old you are.
Well, what can I say? It took less than 10 minutes for Bananza to capture me as well. Regardless of what one might think of Nintendo right now due to curious patent incidents, the game is just unbelievably good. It is pure, unfiltered fun, no matter how young or old you are. I enjoyed smashing through the various levels and collecting golden bananas as if it were the most important thing in life. Donkey Kong Bananza is one of those rare video games that can be incredibly fun, whether you are 6 or 60 years old.
But that wasn’t the end of it. A few days ago, Hollow Knight Silksong was released, which impacted so hard that even the shop servers of different platforms went down. To my shame, I must admit that I haven’t tried Silksong yet. But I just rely on the statements from colleagues or the general gaming community: Hollow Knight Silksong seems to be everything one would expect from a good game. A game that took its time for development and was only released when it was truly finished.
Hades II will be the 4th game in the fight for the throne
But even that is not the end, because in a few days another hit is on the horizon – at least if you have even the slightest interest in the “roguelite” genre. Hades II will finally transition from Early Access to the release version and will be released on September 25. The game builds on the strengths of its predecessor, which even belongs to one of the very few games that has reached the “God Tier” on Steam.
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A popular roguelike on Steam finally leaves Early Access
Sure, a final evaluation of Hades II is not possible yet, and at least theoretically, the game could still take a nosedive at the last moment. But if we look at the opinions of those who have already played Early Access, that seems nearly impossible. They seem to have done everything right, both in terms of story and mechanics and improvements.
No matter who will ultimately win the “Game of the Year” award, one group has definitely won: the players. Because 2025 has produced so many strong games as we haven’t seen in a long time.
Warhammer is known as an extremely expensive hobby, into which fans sometimes pour thousands of euros. But do you really have to pay so much for the little figures? Not necessarily: With a few tips, you can save a lot and still enjoy Warhammer.
There are always memes about needing to sell at least one kidney for a complete army or even for individual figures. In fact, there are multiple models in the official shop for 800 euros, the currently most expensive one costs over 1,500 euros – without essential components like weapons and helmets (the Mars Pattern Warlord Titan).
To promote the whole idea of saving money while playing, a community even formed: Poorhammer. Here, fans simply create their models from inexpensive materials. However, there are ways to save money when it comes to Warhammer in general.
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The makers explain what Warhammer actually is
The cheapest option: Make the minis yourself
Strictly speaking, Warhammer is only the rulebook of the tabletop with the guiding principle: “What you see is what you get.” This means a game figure uses only the exact equipment that is attached to the model, according to the corresponding rules.
The basic rules are available for free on the official site, and the rules for certain factions can often be found online, at least in a simplified version.
Especially in friendly games, it is possible to use unofficial figures. These placeholders are called “Proxys” and can take all sorts of forms. One user even built an entire army made of tin for just 7 euros.
As long as the opponent agrees that the figures can be used, there is no problem. The only important thing is that the size of the “base,” that is, the stand foot, is correct. Only in official tournaments are you usually not allowed with proxies.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In League of Legends the Worlds is the most important tournament of the year. A legendary player has the chance for his first world championship title this year, as he must go to the military next year.
Which player is it? Those who have been involved with LoL e-sports for a while will have heard of Hang Wang-ho, better known as Peanut. Since 2014 (then still as a substitute player at NaJin e-mFire), the South Korean has played as a jungler with the best teams in the world.
At Gen.G he played between November 2018 and November 2019 and then again between November 2021 and November 2023.
Since November 2023, he has been playing for Hanwha Life, and currently, things look pretty good for the team. In the current LCK 2025 Season Playoffs, they are in the finals after defeating KT Rolster 3-0 on September 20. Due to their placement, they are already qualified for the Worlds 2025.
However, there is now sad news for Peanut fans. This will probably be Peanut’s last Worlds tournament, as he must go to the military.
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Neuling spielt eine Runde LoL – Deinstalliert direkt wegen seinen Freunden
Peanut must go to military service, does not have the same privilege as Faker
Why does Peanut have to stop? As it became known during the match against KT Rolster, Peanut is retiring after this season (Source: YouTube). He must serve in the military in South Korea.
In the country, every man is registered at age 18, drafted at 19, and must start military service by the age of 28. Peanut is now 27. The military service typically lasts between 18 and 21 months (Source: 90daykorean.com). In rare cases, men may be exempt from service, but they must achieve something significant for the country’s reputation.
LoL legend Faker, Chovy, and Zeus were able to be exempted from military service, because they won at the Asia Games in China in 2023. Usually, the almost 2-year military service means the end of one’s career.
Apparently, Peanut knows this as well, because during the match against KT Rolster, they played in the LoL Park in Seoul. During his last match at the stadium, he brought gifts for the stadium staff and thanked them for the time.
In an interview after the match, he said: I feel like I have played the most here. […] I feel like I have grown a lot as a player, and when I look back, it feels great to have finished my last game so strongly to reach the finals. That is such a wonderful thing (Source: YouTube).
What’s next for Peanut? On September 28, 2025, Hanwha Life will play in the finals of the LCK 2025 Season Playoffs against an as yet unknown opponent, possible candidates are T1, Gen. G or KT Rolster. After that, they will move on to the Worlds, for which they have already qualified. On October 14, 2025, the play-in stage begins, and the finals of the Worlds will take place on November 9, 2025 (Source: Leaguepedia).
In fact, Warhammer 40,000 is known for its absolutely absurd scales. Everything is bigger, worse, darker. But the one war machine that is supposed to overshadow everything else is officially much smaller than thought. A new fan complains about this and gets a crash course on: “How does Warhammer actually work?”
What are these units?
Titans are the largest war machines that the Imperium of Man has to offer. These battle suits are towering walkers that must be operated by several humans simultaneously. Titans sometimes have entire cathedrals as structures on their backs.
The pilot, or “Princeps”, is connected to the machine via neural links, allowing him and the Titan to form a unit. Conversely, this means: If the Titan is hit, the Princeps feels the pain himself.
How big are they really? There are various reports in the sources about the sizes of the Titans. According to official figures, the largest among them are about 60 meters tall. For comparison: An Imperial Knight is about 9 meters tall, a Space Marine averages 2.50 meters.
On Reddit, a user now complains that this is way too small. He is new to Warhammer, but has always imagined Titans to be much larger. So 100 meters should be possible, maybe even 200. These things should be towering over regular buildings – which in some illustrations is not the case.
In the responses, experienced Warhammer fans chime in and explain: One shouldn’t give too much weight to such numbers. Warhammer 40,000 is a fantasy setting where numbers mean nothing at all.
Titans could very well be larger – or perhaps not. It really doesn’t matter. Because no matter what it’s about, the “Rule of Cool” is always the supreme rule in Warhammer.
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Kill Lupercal: The Official Trailer for the New Series in the Warhammer 40,000 Universe
“Everything is canon. Not everything is true.”
Users comment: In Warhammer everything is always exactly how it needs to be to be as cool as possible. A Space Marine hits just hard enough so that the opponent dies as impressively as possible. The iconic Bolter has exactly as much ammunition as is necessary – or one bullet too few, if that’s cooler.
And even that shouldn’t be taken too seriously, explain other veterans. Because Warhammer is primarily one thing: propaganda. Almost everything you get from any official sources are not facts set by Games Workshop, but information from the world.
Accordingly, sources can differ because the respective authors have different foundations available or simply have different views. That all belongs to the canon, even if it is not true.
Even things that one might think they know for sure are, depending on perspective, interpreted differently. A user asks, for example, how many Primarchs there are. Sure, each of the 20 original orders has a Primarch. Or perhaps not?
There were 20 Legions, each of which has a “father” from which the Space Marines were bred.
However, two Legions have disappeared – or perhaps they never existed, so there are only 18 Primarchs?
For many players, the real gameplay of Borderlands 4 begins only after the story. The main focus is on builds. To make it easier for you, you should keep an eye on certain items starting from level 25, even if they are weak.
What happens at level 25? In a Reddit post, the user AlabastersBane gives Borderlands 4 players an important tip when they reach level 25, which he wishes he had known beforehand. It concerns firmware and the need to be cautious about which items you sell.
Once you reach level 25, items with firmware can drop, which you might need later in endgame from the Ultimate Vault Hunter-mode. So if you find such equipment, it’s better to store it in the bank instead of selling it, as it can be quite rewarding, especially if you want to build strong setups later.
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In Borderlands 4 helfen wir einer Rakete ihre Mission zu erfüllen
Powerful set bonuses that can make your builds stronger in endgame.
Why is firmware so important? Firmware can be found on all items that are not weapons starting from level 25. These include shields, repair kits, class mods, enhancements, and combat items (like grenades or knives). The rarity of the items doesn’t matter. Firmware works like set bonuses in other games. On its own, it has only a weak effect, while having 3 of the same firmware is the best possible result.
With this, you can gain new passive abilities that can further enhance the right build.
Why should you keep firmware on weak items? Once you’ve completed the campaign, you can transfer firmware from items to other items. There is a special machine in the various hub cities for this purpose, and a transfer costs money and Eridium.
However, you need to keep the following in mind:
Firmware can only be transferred to items of the same type. So, you can only transfer firmware from a class mod to the firmware of other class mods.
A firmware can only be transferred once.
The item from which your firmware is being transferred will be destroyed.
Thus, it is advisable to collect and store every item with firmware starting from level 25 so that you have options for transfer later if you need a set. Firmware drops are random, which makes early collection worthwhile.
How to best farm items with firmware? There are no dedicated farm spots just for items with firmware. You should ideally farm a specific legendary and pay attention to whether items with firmware drop as well. A good method would be the Boss Splashzone, which can be defeated quite easily.
Netflix offers a variety of strong series on its own platform. But which ones have been watched the most? Let’s take a look at the actual numbers.
On Netflix, viewers have a huge selection of series available. Especially the platform’s original productions often come with large budgets and provide good entertainment.
Netflix has now revealed which series have been watched most frequently. The numbers refer to the first 91 days after release. The ranking includes both English-language and non-English series.
If you thought that series in English would dominate the ranking, you are mistaken. Especially place 1 shows with impressive view counts that the Netflix audience is interested in strong, international productions.
One more note: Since Netflix counts views per season, a series can appear multiple times in the ranking. This underscores its popularity even more.
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The chaos begins in season 4 of “Money Heist”
Place 10: Money Heist – Season 4
Release Year: 2020
Episodes: 8
Views: 106 million
The fourth season of the Spanish heist series is also the most successful of Money Heist, but it ranks “only” at number 10. In the eight new episodes, Nairobi’s life is at stake after the protagonists are trapped in a bank. The iconic Professor does everything he can to save the gang from their predicament, while also grappling with his own problems.
For season 4, critics on Rotten Tomatoes concluded that the story increasingly feels confusing and laborious. Nevertheless, the series continues to entertain well, which is reflected in an overall rating of 80%. Users gave it 77%, thus thinking quite similarly. Compared to the other seasons, however, part 4 is still the weakest.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
Many MMORPGs regularly adapt traditional clothing from around the world. A few years ago, the developers of Final Fantasy XIV added a Dirndl. At the start of Oktoberfest 2025, our resident Bavarian and Dirndl expert Sophia Weiss analyzes how realistic the outfit actually is.
In Final Fantasy XIV, new outfits inspired by real traditional clothing are added to the online shop every few years. For players who are not from the respective culture, these are usually just pretty glamour or transmog outfits that they can equip their Warrior of Light with.
Since 2020, there have been two outfits in the online store that remind me a lot of the traditional clothing from my own homeland: the Dirndl’s Attire and the Bergsteiger’s Attire. Outside of my catgirl existence, I am a native of Upper Bavaria with roots in the Alpine region around Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Accordingly, I have been wearing Dirndls for as long as I can remember.
And of course, I wanted to know how well the developers of one of my favorite games have implemented our Dirndls. Please fasten your seatbelts; here comes a finely tuned info dump about my favorite family event clothing item.
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Monster Hunter Wilds und Final Fantasy XIV wagen ein Crossover
Dirndl in Reality – Tradition vs. Fashion
Before we look at the digital Dirndl, we need to know what a real Dirndl is. Dirndl is the term for women’s traditional clothing in the Alpine region, meaning in Southern Germany, Austria, and Northern Italy. There is a distinction between normal Dirndls and traditional clothing.
What is female traditional clothing?
Dirndls as a so called Tracht, a heritage attire, does not change with current fashion trends. For example, in Murnau am Staffelsee, my hometown, the female members of the traditional costume association wear Dirndls with black bodices, silver metal lacing, dark red skirts, light blue aprons, and matching shawls with fringes at various official events. They have red flowers tucked into the neckline.
More about this and pictures can be found, for example, on the official website of the association on the Website of the Market Murnau. But beware: Traditional clothing changes very little over time but varies from village to village, from region to region.
The internationally known Dirndl is subject to the taste fluctuations of the fashion market. It typically consists of a fitted dress with a bodice top, an apron, a blouse, and matching shoes. There are also top-skirt combinations and the lengths of the skirt are ranging from mini to ankle. Blouse styles change almost yearly.
You can check out the current fashion on the website of the shop Grasegger (German) from Garmisch. Most of my Dirndls, on the other hand, I purchased at Daller Tracht (German). Both sites offer a good overview of the current Dirndl fashion, as it is now also being seen at the Oktoberfest.
A request: Please avoid cheap polyester Dirndls if you want to buy one for Oktoberfest, for example. Rent a real one or invest in your own, higher-quality piece. Dirndls can be worn for almost any occasion, and I have been wearing my oldest one for almost 10 years now. I just regularly switch the blouses for a bit of current flair. A well-fitting Dirndl that suits oneself is worth the purchase price.
The Final Fantasy XIV Dirndl – How Accurate Is It Really?
The Dirndl in Final Fantasy XIV can be purchased for 18 USD or 11,16 Pounds in the online store. It consists of five parts: hat, bodice, fingernails, bracelets, skirt, and shoes (with socks). I will go through the outfit piece by piece, but I will skip the hat and fingernails.
The Bodice looks correct to me in terms of cut and fit. The gold triangles at the front would likely be connected by a silk ribbon or a metal chain in reality. It would depend on the current fashion and the manufacturer.
The deep cut of the bodice is no longer particularly fashionable today but can still occur in older models. The blouse covering the view into the neckline is completely accurate.
The blouse itself is also correct: relaxed t-shirt sleeves may not be very elegant, but they are possible. The white, wavy collar fits well with models from the 2010s. Currently, it is often high-necked, lace blouses or V-necks that are modern.
Dirndl Necklines
The deep neckline of the Dirndl is, in my personal view, also quite accurate. Of course, the currently more high-necked blouses speak against it, but just like in Final Fantasy XIV, my selfies from my early 20s often looked like this. There are also special Dirndl bras made specifically for this purpose that ensure the anatomy is correctly showcased in the Dirndl.
In the images of my character, a suitable necklace is still missing. Depending on personal taste, one can wear a large statement piece or a fabric collar. Designs often include flowers like edelweiss or hearts.
The back of the bodice in the game is supposed to be laced. This is not fundamentally incorrect, and could simply be a design choice made by the in-game tailor.
The bodice and the blouse. Very accurate!
The skirt of the dirndl looks fine at first glance. It is relatively long. Younger women often opt for the knee-length ones, as long skirts are considered quite proper. So the taste of the respective lady plays the main role.
However, it is important to note that a skirt always comes with an apron, and both parts should complement each other. A simple skirt goes well with a patterned, colorful apron. A skirt with a motif pairs well with a simple apron. However, the apron motif in the game seems to resemble porcelain painting, and I have never seen it in this form on a dirndl.
The white border at the bottom of the dirndl is also not very modern anymore, but that doesn’t make it less correct. Only the color and size of the bow do not quite match, in my view. It looks more like a scarf wrapped around the hips, independent of the dress. I would file it under artistic freedom.
The skirt? Also nice! Despite the tea service pattern.
Above all, the shoes truly excite me: pumps or the strappy shoes used in the game are still the go-to for many when it comes to the dirndl. Also, the fact that socks are depicted is correct for me:
While my shoe cabinet today is bursting at the seams, a hundred years ago, one typically had two, maybe three pairs of shoes at home. A pair of nice Sunday pumps made often of black leather was included for festive occasions like the Sunday church visit, weddings, funerals, etc.
And because one couldn’t regularly buy new shoes, the cool summer shoes were worn in winter as well. Just, as shown here, with warm socks or stockings.
The right pair of shoes. For weddings, funerals, celebrations… always fitting!
Yes, this is a proper Dirndl – Well done, dear developers
As an Upper Bavarian with dirndls in the closet, I am overall very satisfied with how Square Enix has implemented the fashion of my homeland. Here and there they have taken a bit of artistic freedom with the motif and the bow, but that is absolutely fine with me personally.
By the way: The bow is tied in the front right. Traditionally, this means that the wearer is already taken. Tied on the left would signify single, and tied in the back would mean widowed. Now the only question remains whether Square Enix had something specific in mind and is “shipping” the Warrior of Light with someone special or if someone just had a little accident.
On September 18, the new Dying Light: The Beast was released. The latest installment of the popular series has been well received by players, with much praise. Originally, it wasn’t even supposed to be released as a standalone game.
In Dying Light: The Beast, you play as Kyle Crane, the protagonist from the first game. After years of cruel experiments in a lab, you have gained special powers and are now seeking revenge on your captor.
What makes The Beast so good: On Steam alone, Dying Light: The Beast already has a rating of 91%, making it “very positive,” although only with over 10,000 reviews. According to SteamDB, over 97,000 players played simultaneously – just on Steam. Dying Light: The Beast is also available on PS5 and Xbox.
Nevertheless, players who rated The Beast are absolutely thrilled. It is said that Techland has once again shown why they are the masters of the zombie genre. The Beast is visually stunning, the gameplay is polished, and the overall experience is extremely immersive. An enthusiastic player writes:
This is my first Dying Light game and I am surprised at how good it is. I recommend it. I played for 8 hours on release day […] The story is good so far, it always keeps you guessing what will happen next. […] The price of the game is fair, not too expensive, not too cheap, just right. All in all, a 9 out of 10.
For some players, Dying Light: The Beast even has the potential for Game of the Year. Criticism, however, is directed at bugs that have allegedly not been fixed since the tests, and occasionally at the skill system, where one notices that the game was originally a DLC. However, such comments are only occasional; many fans celebrate a return to the feel of the first game.
Dying Light: The Beast shows its mix of open-world and action-survival horror in the trailer
A harder Dying Light with less freedom of choice
Unlike Dying Light 2, in The Beast, you have no factions with various side quests and their own stories, but a linear story without decision-making opportunities. The ending is fixed with the goal of placing Kyle Crane exactly where he needs to be. Because story-wise, The Beast takes place between Part 1 and Part 2.
Especially in comparison to Dying Light 2: Stay Human, The Beast is significantly harder. Enemy groups are quickly deadly, elite zombies like Shadow Hunters usually force you to flee – which is already difficult.
Because the small location in Switzerland where The Beast takes place has fewer climbing options than you might be used to from Part 2. Escaping and parkour must be well planned, otherwise, you’ll find yourself quickly back at the last save point.
The focus is especially on isolated boss fights and survival elements like crafting. Your weapons break quickly, so you’re constantly busy building and improving new items to avoid suddenly finding yourself unarmed.
As a special innovation, there is the Beast Mode. Kyle transforms – initially unwillingly, later intentionally – into a kind of super-zombie and beats enemies to a pulp with his bare hands, sometimes with very… graphic scenes reminiscent of glory kills from Doom.
