Do you remember the episode with Pac-Man from the Amazon Prime series “Secret Level”? In it, Pac-Man became a real monster. The episode will get its own game on Steam, where the yellow childhood hero turns into a devouring monster.
What kind of game will it be? During the Nintendo Direct, a new trailer for Shadow Labyrinth was revealed. This is a 2D action-platformer, where Pac-Man is not as you remember him:
You control Swordsman No. 8, who awakens on an alien planet. Your goal is to survive and uncover the mystery behind the world.
You are accompanied by a floating orb named PUCK. You need to find out what PUCK is up to and why he has chosen you.
Together, you must defeat various enemies by using your abilities or by devouring opponents after a fusion with PUCK.
Although the small yellow orb is named PUCK, it is clear that its design is based on Pac-Man. However, in Shadow Labyrinth, it no longer devours ghosts and cherries as Gaia, but your enemies.
The game has everything you would expect from a classic 2D Metroidvania. Tough battles, upgrading skills, and exploring different areas await you.
You can see the new trailer for the game here:
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Shadow Labyrinth: The Trailer for the Horror Version of Pac-Man
Secret Level is the template for the Pac-Man game
What is the game based on? Secret Level is an animated series where each of the 15 episodes focuses on a different video game. The episode with Pac-Man stood out particularly because it is especially dark.
From the small, cute character, a cruel being was transformed, trying to escape the maze by using an alien creature. The idea came from rights holder Bandai Namco: The team asked the showrunners to change Pac-Man so that the audience would question what the hell had been done to him.
In the MMORPG New World, the developers announced a new funny item that could lead to hilarious situations.
What kind of item is this? Gamers, and especially MMORPG players, have their own manners, words, and customs. While ordinary people might think of the word “kick” as referring to the local soccer field, in MMORPGs, it often means being kicked out of a group or interrupting abilities during boss fights, depending on the context.
In New World, the developers have now dedicated an item to this term. A shield, which you can also see on the cover image. The shield says “Kick me”, which is presumably directed at enemies and is meant to provoke them into attacking your tank. However, anyone who “misunderstands” this could end up kicking one or more tanks out of the group.
The shield could be the 5th reason to play New World: Aeternum. You can learn about the other four here:
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4 Reasons Why You Should Play New World: Aeternum
Developers want you to be kicked
What do the developers hope for? The shield with the inscription “Kick me” is meant to be deliberately misunderstood and lead to funny situations in groups. So anyone who gets kicked from their dungeon group because of the shield can thank the developers, who apparently intend this. The shield is one of the prank items that will be introduced this year on April 1, 2025.
Alongside the risky shield, between the prank day and April 14, 2025, you can secure the “Eternal Tyrant” package, allowing you to reign over your enemies with an iron fist and armor.
Additionally, there will be a mount in the form of the “Feral Rage” wolf, which is meant to bring you as a fearsome loyal companion to your battles.
In online games, there are always funny April Fools’ jokes that developers incorporate to troll the player base. The shield could be one of the best jokes of 2025. A selection of the best April Fools’ jokes from previous online games can be found here: The 7 best April Fools’ jokes from online games 2020 that we liked the most
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
After prolonged speculation, it is now certain that Ubisoft and Tencent are collaborating. The Chinese mega-corporation will have an influence on 3 successful franchises from Ubisoft in the future.
This subsidiary is set to encompass 3 major IPs from Ubisoft. These include Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. In an internal email that Insider Gaming has obtained, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot states that this step represents a milestone in the history of Ubisoft.
This historic agreement is primarily a recognition of the extraordinary work you have done over the years: The value of these three brands directly reflects your individual and collective talent and efforts that have allowed us to create these beloved franchises.
Why did the merger occur? The CEO of Ubisoft hopes that through Tencent’s investments, changes that have been discussed for several months at Ubisoft will be accelerated. Tencent is expected to promote the brands and turn them into global icons.
This means that games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows now partially belong to Tencent:
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Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Der offizielle Trailer zur Open World in Japan
Significance of the collaboration is still uncertain
What does this mean? What exactly this means is currently unknown. Ubisoft admits that there are many questions for the company’s employees that cannot be answered at the moment. However, Tencent’s investment gives the company influence over the direction Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six will take. Ubisoft states that:
The quality of narrative solo experiences will be enhanced.
The multiplayer offerings will be expanded more often with new content.
Free-to-play touchpoints will be introduced.
More social features will be integrated.
Moreover, the operational model of Ubisoft is expected to fundamentally change. What exactly this means will likely be seen in the coming weeks, months, or even years.
In addition, Ubisoft also wants to continue working on its other IPs that are not part of this subsidiary. The company mentions titles such as Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon or The Division.
What is Tencent? Tencent is the largest gaming company in the world, making it even bigger than Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo. The company has achieved significant success primarily through mobile games and microtransactions. Titles like PUBG Mobile or Brawl Stars contributed to the company’s market value.
On Steam, everyone is currently celebrating a new game where you rise from a small thug to a big drug lord with criminal energy.
What kind of game is this? Schedule I is an Open World Simulation game where you take on the role of a petty criminal trying to rise to become a big drug lord. In the end, you are supposed to have your own drug empire with houses, employees, and companies.
Warning: Schedule I is a fictional simulation. Drug abuse is dangerous and can have serious consequences. If you need help, you can find support at www.kmdd.de or call the addiction hotline at 01806 313031 (chargeable).
The game simulates the life of a criminal in every way. In addition to producing various drugs, they also need to be delivered and sold. With the proceeds, new equipment can be bought to produce more goods.
Later in the game, processes can be fully automated with employees, and entire production and distribution channels can be established. However, the drug business is dangerous; both the police and rival cartels will pay attention to your illegal activities as you grow and will try to put you out of business or take over your operations.
Here you can see the trailer for the game:
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Schedule I shows in the trailer what the simulation of criminal life looks like
Between crazy and genius
How is the game received? Since the game’s release on March 24, 2025, it has already achieved a peak player count of over 140,000 (via SteamDB), which is exceptionally strong for the simulation genre. On Steam, it ranks 2nd among global bestsellers, right behind Counter-Strike 2.
In terms of peak player numbers, the simulation has also broken into the top 10 and is holding 9th place within the last 24 hours as of March 27, 2025, 6:00 PM (via SteamDB). The player count of Schedule I seems to be growing every day; just on March 26, the game surpassed the new Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Despite the high player numbers, the game seems to be able to convince almost everyone. With an almost perfect rating of 98% based on over 9,400 Steam reviews, the crime simulator is on par with Portal 2 and Stardew Valley, even though the developers from TVGS have never previously released a game on Steam.
The fact that there are so few negative reviews could be due to the free demo version that anyone can try on Steam before purchasing the simulation. With a standard price of €19.50, the early access version seems to be well received by players.
Nintendo presented its latest Direct for the Switch. Fans were able to see once again the latest highlights coming to the console. Soon, the Switch 2 will follow. One of the announcements has totally excited the fans.
What is this new announcement? Nintendo announced Tomodachi Life: Where Dreams Come True. The title is set to be released in 2026 for Nintendo Switch. As in the predecessor Tomodachi Life, players dive into a life simulation where they are represented by a Mii.
This allows players to interact with friends and lead a virtual life. They can start a family, build a house, and engage in fun activities. It resembles The Sims or inZOI, but feels less serious due to absurd activities and the AI voice of the Miis.
Additionally, there were events that occurred in the game from time to time. These included a quiz show, frisbee throwing, or a magic show. There was plenty for players to do, which is why many are now looking forward to the sequel.
You can see for yourself in the trailer how silly Tomodachi Life: Where Dreams Come True really is:
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Tomodachi Life: Where Dreams Come True – The Switch Title in the Trailer
An alternative to The Sims is the highlight for fans
How did fans react? Many players on social media are very excited that Tomodachi Life has been announced. Numerous posts about this Switch title pop up all over social media.
One user on X even created a summoning circle from old Nintendo consoles and similar titles in advance to provoke the announcement.
Many other fans are thrilled that Tomodachi Life finally gets a sequel. At the same time, some are even joking on X that the title will be released before Silksong, which has been announced since 2019.
Why are fans so excited about this? The first Tomodachi Life was released about 11 years ago. Since then, fans have been waiting for a real sequel. So far, there has only been Miitopia as a possible alternative, which has a strong role-playing character.
Moreover, some users remember that the next Tomodachi Life should be even more inclusive. One player on X is looking forward to the possibility of same-sex relationships.
Is The First Berserker: Khazan now a Souls-like or not? – This is one of the questions that MeinMMO author Ody wanted to pursue while playing. After spending days battling the third boss in the game, he can say with great certainty: The action RPG made him sweat early on like hardly any other game in the genre.
[toc]
Since a friend showed me the remaster of Dark Souls on the Switch during a joint vacation a few years ago and I got to play it briefly, I haven’t been able to let go of Souls-likes. One could almost call it fate that the Dark Souls trilogy was on sale on Steam at the same time. In the meantime, I have already spent over 500 hours in Souls games. The time I invested in other FromSoftware titles like Sekiro and Bloodborne, as well as Souls-likes like Nioh 2 and Code Vein, is not even counted in that.
When I started with The First Berserker: Khazan, I thought I shouldn’t have too much trouble with it. There was already a discussion about whether the game qualifies as a Souls-like or if it becomes more of a classic action RPG. However, if the demo of the game sowed the first doubts in me, the finished game completely destroyed that illusion.
A darker but rather utilitarian campaign of vengeance
The dark action RPG shares its universe with the colorful and flashy action MMORPG Dungeon Fighter Online. However, you don’t need to have played it to follow the story. You are Khazan, a powerful general of the Pell Los Empire.
Khazan is falsely accused of treason and narrowly escapes death. He is saved through an alliance with the “Blade Phantom,” which grants him supernatural powers. Thus, strengthened by this demonic alliance, Khazan sets out to take revenge on those who betrayed him – and to become the first berserker.
From the first four missions I played, I can say that the story is well set up. It wouldn’t win an Oscar so far, but it was more than sufficient to motivate me to keep playing. In combination with the anime aesthetics, the design of enemies, and the dark atmosphere, the game repeatedly reminded me of Berserk, the dark fantasy manga by Kentaro Miura. That’s a big plus for me.
You can already get an initial impression of this atmosphere in the intro:
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The First Berserker: Khazan – The Dark Opening Cinematic of the Action RPG
Nioh meets Sekiro, but with some fresh ideas
The gameplay is a mix of various Souls game mechanics.
The First Berserker: Khazan especially reminded me of Nioh and Sekiro while playing. While the game employs Souls mechanics, it aims to be less frustrating. You collect Lacrima through fights, which serves as currency for leveling up, just like souls in Dark Souls or runes in Elden Ring. Upon every death, you leave your unspent Lacrima at the spot, but against bosses, you collect it again at the entrance to their arena.
If you complete certain boss challenges, you receive additional Lacrima for it. It doesn’t matter whether you defeat the boss in that round or not. Even failing progresses your character as long as you do well enough.
When it comes to weapons, Khazan focuses more on class than quantity, as there are only three weapon types: dual blades, greatsword, and spear. For most of the game, I slashed through enemy groups with the greatsword like Guts from Berserk, but each weapon type feels unique and powerful in its own way.
Parrying is everything in Khazan
Although the developers themselves aimed to create an action game and avoid frustration, I must say: On normal difficulty, the game ranks among the toughest challenges I’ve had to press through as a Souls fan.
These dragon-like creatures hit hard, and you encounter them fairly early on.
This high level of difficulty doesn’t always have good reasons: Often while playing, I felt that inputs were not executed as reliably as they should have been. Especially in a game that places high value on parries, it is frustrating when I seem to have pressed the button at the right moment, yet Khazan still takes the hit. And you will not get around parrying enemy attacks in this game. This is partly due to how stamina works:
Attacking someone or blocking an attack? That costs stamina
Dodging an attack or getting hit? You need stamina for that too.
You only consume stamina when perfectly blocking, meaning a parry. But in large groups of enemies, you can’t parry every attack. Even standard enemies like the dragon-like creatures have long attack chains and appear in larger groups starting from the third level.
The First Berserker: Khazan is also surprisingly merciless when it comes to healing: When you take damage, you heal through items or underworld energy. The latter refills with every rest at the Nexus. However, you can only heal four times at the beginning – even Dark Souls is more generous in that regard. Items that allow you to heal are also quite rare.
Even the third Khazan boss is as tough as a Souls final boss
What The First Berserker: Khazan refers to as “normal” difficulty feels more like an optional hardcore mode: Even with a completely over-leveled character, I took two days before I even saw that the third boss “Viper” has a second phase with a new health bar. At that point, I was level 40, and according to the developers, the area is recommended from level 18.
This boss almost ruined my test…
While you can summon spirits of the advocates for reinforcement against bosses, they often die much too early to really be of use. And don’t even think about facing a boss alone if you haven’t mastered its movement pattern perfectly.
The amount of time I spent on the Viper was similar to my first attempt against Gwyn from the first Dark Souls or the Soul of Cinder from part 3. However, those are the final bosses of their respective games. How could the third boss be so hard, I thought, and first looked for the fault in myself:
Have I overlooked any mechanics?
Can I farm healing items or at least improve my underworld energy?
Am I just out of practice?
After much frustration, the third boss finally fell
It would have been pretty embarrassing if my test had ended at this point. Especially since this is also my first playtest report ever.
Luckily, my rather low frustration tolerance in such games is balanced out by sheer stubbornness: I kept throwing myself at the boss until I could eventually memorize its attack patterns.
… but just almost.
When the Viper finally bit the dust after 3 days, the relief quickly gave way to another thought: Will the rest of the game now be too easy at my high level?
You would think the rest would be a walk in the park – but it wasn’t. And again, The First Berserker: Khazan surprised me by feeling like the hardest Souls-like I have played so far, despite not wanting to be a true Souls-like.
For testing purposes, I also tried the easy difficulty level. It is still challenging but noticeably easier. However, you cannot unlock all achievements there, and once you switch difficulties, you cannot go back with that character.
The First Berserker: Khazan is a game for masochists
The First Berserker: Khazan made me miss Dark Souls 2 during the 20 hours I have played so far, and that’s not meant as a compliment: Its “Scholar of the First Sin” edition is known for being unnecessarily frustrating, and I have angrily uninstalled the game from my hard drive several times.
Nevertheless, I kept crawling back because I simply did not want to give up on the game. Today, I have a strange love-hate relationship with Dark Souls 2: I still hate playing it, but that doesn’t stop me from doing so occasionally and even having fun with it.
The First Berserker: Khazan has the potential to become that kind of game: A game for masochists like me, who push through it out of sheer stubbornness and might come to love it in a few months (or even years). It’s also a game for anyone looking for a true hardcore experience. If you’re not a fan of hard Souls-likes, Khazan might not be for you.
Frederik “NoWay” Hinteregger (32) is the leading German streamer for League of Legends on Twitch. He has been competing again since 2025 in the NLC league, which Twitch and LoL currently dominate worldwide. There, he is now getting a legendary reinforcement: He will be playing alongside Jankos, the best jungler that Europe has ever produced. However, he first needs to make it through an event that he got himself into.
NORD Esports will restructure its roster for the upcoming split:
The Pole Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski (29) is coming new to the jungle. Jankos played for 5 years for the best team in Europe, G2, and is considered the strongest and most successful jungler that the West has ever seen.
Jankos has won 2 MVP titles, has been selected 14 times into an All-Pro team of the LEC, and has achieved many other personal records and titles. In 2019, he won the international tournament MSI and was the runner-up at the World Championship in 2019.
Additionally, two new players are coming for the botlane to NORD: Inaxe and Nash.
Start video
Former German LoL Pro is Now One of the Most Successful Twitch Streamers – This is NoWay
Fans discuss the transfer of Jankos to NORD Esports
This is how it is commented: On Reddit, there is lively discussion about the change in the roster. Because Jankos will replace one of NORD’s best players, the jungler Santorin.
The fans believe that the problem at NORD is that the players do not earn money with esports in the league but only through their Twitch streams.
Since Santorin and also former players of NORD, like Treatz, only have small streaming channels, participating in the league is not financially viable for them, and they are looking for paid jobs in esports in other leagues.
For Jankos, however, who himself operates a large Twitch channel and also plays for NoWay, competing in NORD is significantly more profitable.
This is the challenge for NoWay: The streamer NoWay has set a goal for 2025 to get fit. A first test awaits him on Saturday at a Red Bull event: “Jump & Run.” He will participate in an obstacle parkour – Red Bull also promises an additional gaming twist.
Initial attempts did not go well. On Twitter, he wrote: “I’m doing a Ninja parkour tomorrow and can’t even do a pull-up. Never been so scared of a stream.”
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For the movie The Lost World: Jurassic Park, a video game was released for the PS1, for which one of the main actors recorded a secret ending. In it, he congratulates the players but also has a well-meaning piece of advice for them.
The Lost World: Jurassic Park was the sequel to the successful first part by Steven Spielberg. The film was released in 1997. Still in the same year, a video game was launched. It was published by Electronic Arts and Sega and was available for the PlayStation 1 and the Sega Saturn.
In the game, players must master side-scrolling levels with one of 5 characters. Those who make it to the end unlock a secret ending. In it, none other than Jeff Goldblum speaks up, who plays Ian Malcolm, a mathematician, in the films. His message to the players still brings a smile 28 years later.
Trailer for the Jurassic Park sequel ‘The Lost World’
“Turn off the game, for heaven’s sake”
What does the secret ending look like? A video starts showing Jeff Goldblum on the beach. He looks into the camera and thus directly addresses the players.
At first, he expresses his joy and congratulates for completing the game. He also thanks the players for enduring so long. However, then his tone changes and he urges to put the game aside:
Turn off the game, for heaven’s sake, and go outside. Breathe the fresh air, take a walk, call a member of the opposite sex. You know what I mean? You have a whole life out there. Let the smell blow away.
Goldblum’s comments are meant to be humorous, but there is also some truth in them. As much fun as gaming is, one should not forget the real world out there. The core of his statement still holds true 28 years later.
Here you can see the clip in full length:
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What is Jeff Goldblum’s reaction to the video? Many years later, a journalist from Game Informer showed the actor the clip and recorded his reaction. Goldblum seems very amused by himself and nods in agreement with his younger self.
He can remember the day the video was filmed. It was probably on a beach in Hawaii. The line where players are urged to let the smell blow away was reportedly improvised by Goldblum himself.
An expert in corporate leadership explains why Gen Z does not call their supervisors “Boss” and that it’s “okay.”
The title image is a symbolic image.
Who is the expert? Selena Rezvani is an author and expert in corporate leadership, providing tips for leaders at her seminars. Rezvani has collaborated with several large companies during her seminars, including Microsoft and HP.
In a post on MSNBC, Rezvani discusses the fact that Generation Z does not call their supervisors “Boss,” explains why that is the case, and why it is okay.
Start video
Students spy on passersby with hidden cameras and AI, find name and address in seconds
Respect does not come from a title, but from competence
What does the expert say? According to Rezvani, Generation Z aims for a more relaxed approach at the workplace. They see the dynamics within a team more as “collaboration” rather than a “chain of command.” Additionally, authority for Gen Z is conferred not by a title but by competence and authenticity.
Rezvani emphasizes the importance of being transparent about challenges, admitting mistakes, and genuinely caring for employees. Furthermore, Generation Z values open communication and that their voice carries weight.
In general, Gen Z does not respect leaders because of their position but because they “inspire, teach, and empower.” Most importantly, however, Generation Z has the expectation that respect is reciprocal. They are therefore less inclined to follow leaders who demand respect without showing it themselves.
Does the expert also have tips for leaders? Yes, Rezvani says that skilled leaders should use the change driven by Generation Z toward a more relaxed workplace to build better-connected teams rather than being frustrated that young employees do not respect the traditional status of a superior.
Leaders should invite Generation Z employees to present their ideas and model teamwork. At the same time, according to Rezvani, leadership quality is best demonstrated when supervisors show the willingness to share their knowledge freely. The right approach to Generation Z can also help leaders reduce their own workplace stress: One in 5 bosses has considered quitting due to stress from Gen Z
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
The director of Dragon Age: The Veilguard left EA and BioWare at the beginning of 2025. Now she has a new project at Wizards of the Coast. But for that, another game had to die.
Who is the woman behind Dragon Age: The Veilguard? Corinne Busche was the Creative Director behind Dragon Age: The Veilguard starting in 2022. Before that, she worked for 18 years as a designer on various EA games, including The Sims 3 and The Sims 4.
In an interview with Game File, Dan Ayoub, the SVP of the Dungeons & Dragons company Wizards of the Coast, indicated that Corinne Busche is now the Creative Lead for a new project at one of their in-house studios. However, another game was canceled for this.
Start video
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Unleashes the Dragon in Official Launch Trailer
After 3 years, the new game by the Anthem developers died
What kind of game had to die? Unfortunately, very little was known about the game that Wizards of the Coast has now canceled. Here’s what we know:
The studio behind it was Skeleton Key from Austin, Texas, USA, which belongs to Wizards of the Coast.
The game was supposed to have a high budget.
A specific genre was not known, but horror was suspected.
What is Corinne Busche working on now? The former Creative Director of Dragon Age: The Veilguard is now employed in the same role at Skeleton Key. However, she is not working on the originally developed horror game, but on another project.
This game was already in development in parallel with the now-canceled one, according to the SVP of Wizards of the Coast. They had realigned the team to work on just one title. Most developers did not lose their jobs but are now working under Busche on the new game – this is what Dan Ayoub said in a conversation with The Game File (Paywall)
So far, Skeleton Key has not released any game. With the development of the new game seemingly having just recently started, it will accordingly likely take a while before there are first official information or even images of it.
Since it will be a game from Wizards of the Coast, it could be a game for one of the company’s own licenses. This includes, among others, the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering, as well as the pen & paper Dungeons and Dragons. If you want to really annoy your friends in your next D&D session, we might have just the right spell for you: An inconspicuous spell in Dungeons & Dragons is so powerful that it even threatens friendships
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Path of Exile 2, the developers presented a build that shows what a strong warrior should look like. However, the warrior hardly uses anything from his own portfolio.
What have the developers presented? In a video on YouTube, the developers of Path of Exile 2 introduced a build that allows the creation of a strong warrior character. What is interesting is that the warrior uses a crossbow and no melee weapon, and therefore also uses almost no skills that one would expect from a warrior.
The crossbow warrior presented by the developers can indeed take out large groups of enemies powerfully with just one shot, but he is merely copying what one would expect from a mercenary character.
Here you can watch the trailer for the new season “Dawn of the Hunt”:
Start video
Path of Exile 2 presents a new teaser for the big update Dawn of the Hunt
One shot is enough
How does the build work? The build can eliminate entire hordes of enemies with just one shot. Its attacks destroy the armor of the opponents, making them more vulnerable and easier to defeat. For this to work, the node “Anvil’s Weight” is needed, which causes the armor of the opponents to break by 10 % of the hit damage.
The attack that the warrior uses is the “Explosive Shot”, which is supported by the support skill “Armour Explosion” and triggers an explosion whenever an enemy’s armor is destroyed.
As with almost every current meta build, the crossbow warrior also uses the skill “Herald of Ice”, in this case in combination with the support skill “Exploit Weakness”. This further enhances the explosions and shatters the enemies.
To make the build truly strong, one increases the number of fired shots with the support skill “Scattershot”. A crucial unique item used by the build is the “Blueflame Bracers” gloves to convert fire damage into cold damage.
However, the crossbow wielder can still execute one skill of the warrior. When facing bosses, the developers recommend switching to a hammer and casting the skill “Hammer of the Gods” to defeat the bosses more easily. Anyone wanting to fully replicate the guide can find the original version by creator Struth Gaming on maxroll.gg.
Some fantasy series became known not only as books but also later through movies and series. A community on Reddit recently voted on which fantasy series is the best. While a legendary series is in first place, another author ranks second, surpassing even George R.R. Martin and Brandon Sanderson.
What was this survey about? In the r/Fantasy subreddit, a voting took place a month ago to determine the best fantasy series. 1,074 users participated in the vote, naming up to 10 fantasy books. If an individual novel is mentioned, it counts for the entire series.
According to the thread, over 10,000 votes were cast, and the entire list totals 1,348 novels and novel series.
While the legendary Middle-earth saga by J.R.R. Tolkien sits at number 1, George R.R. Martin and Brandon Sanderson only find themselves at 3 and 4.
Start video
Epic Trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship
George R.R. Martin is surpassed by a legend
What does the ranking look like? We won’t list all the ranks here, but especially the top 4 are interesting.
Rank 1: The Middle-earth Universe (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Rank 2: The First Law Universe (Joe Abercrombie)
Rank 3: A Song of Ice and Fire (George R.R. Martin)
Rank 4: The Stormlight Archive (Brandon Sanderson)
Seeing Middle-earth at number 1 is not so unusual, as Tolkien continues to shape the fantasy genre to this day. However, it is remarkable that Joe Abercrombie with his The First Law series surpasses the great legends Martin and Sanderson.
You can check out the other placements here:
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Abercrombie has published nine novels and a short story in the First Law Universe. Now, there is even mockery surrounding George R. R. Martin regarding how long his new novel is taking. He even has a role in a TV series.
Although Sanderson is only in 4th place, he is additionally represented at 8th place with his Mistborn series. In a similar survey from 2023 (via Reddit), Sanderson even managed to defeat Tolkien. There, the top 5 looked a bit different:
Rank 1: The Stormlight Archive (Brandon Sanderson)
Rank 2: The Middle-earth Universe (J.R.R. Tolkien)
Rank 3: The First Law Universe (Joe Abercrombie)
Rank 4: A Song of Ice and Fire (George R.R. Martin)
Rank 5: The Mistborn Series (Brandon Sanderson)
In 2023, Sanderson even made it into the top 5 twice, but Joe Abercrombie has already outdone Martin.
Are there any other peculiarities? For many fans, it may be surprising that Harry Potter only reached 12th place. However, it’s not just classic novels that made it onto the list. Several mangas have also made it onto the list:
One Piece by Eiichiro Oda in 50th place
Fullmetal Alchemist by Hiromu Arakawa in 111th place
Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama in 183rd place
Hunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro Togashi in 247th place
A player bought new hardware on Amazon for his gaming PC, but he was in for a nasty surprise. Instead of the purchased hardware, he received cat food and tissues. He then contacted Amazon’s customer service.
A player reports on Reddit that he ordered hardware for a new gaming PC. He already has his Ryzen 7 9800X3D and a GeForce RTX 5080 at home, but the rest was supposed to arrive in two Amazon packages. He was quite astonished when he accepted the packages and opened them.
Cat Food and Tissues
He explained that the packages were delivered by Amazon itself. To accept the packages, he had to provide a one-time password from Amazon. This is supposedly an additional security mechanism when ordering very expensive items.
However, the player explained that the first package already looked damaged, and when he opened it in front of the driver, he found expensive cat food but not the motherboard he had ordered. The second package also contained incorrect items.
When I gave the driver the code, he noticed that I was looking in the box. In hindsight, I shouldn’t have given him the code before I expected the contents, but in 99% of the cases I’ve used Amazon, everything was fine. This box was supposed to contain the motherboard and the power supply but contained cat food and tissues.
What’s next? The player has contacted Amazon. After the first employee was not very helpful, the second employee was more accommodating. At least they are now processing his case, and he was able to send his proof photos to Amazon.
The player now hopes that he will either get his money back or receive the correct hardware after all. Because without the missing components, he cannot build his PC. He mentions that he has saved for months for his new PC, and this is all quite frustrating.
Amazon itself shows in its app that both the RAM and the motherboard have been successfully delivered. After all, he successfully accepted the package with the code. However, the app does not check what was in the package.
Start video
In Germany, there are over 400 USB sticks protruding from walls – What is the ‘Dead Drops’ project?
Player only wants to order when he can monitor the purchase
What is the user’s conclusion? He states that he has never had such a bad experience with Amazon and will probably not order hardware through Amazon anymore. And if he does, then only with controls and photos of every single step:
I have been using Amazon for 15 years, and this is the worst experience I have had with them. Normally, customer service is quick and helpful, but I think the nature and value of the items mean they have to ‘investigate.’ I still remember ordering my first PC components on Amazon in 2016. I have no idea what will happen, but I have learned my lesson and will probably not buy things on Amazon anymore without recording the trip while I open the box, or at all, depending on how it goes.
Scams and Fraud with PC Hardware are becoming more frequent on Amazon
What is the problem with such fraud? At first glance, the purchased product and the seller also look reliable. The exchange in the box is noticed at worst by the next buyer. Or they might not notice, and they only wonder about the performance of their new GPU, which turns out to be much weaker than expected. Other fraudsters use different tricks to lure buyers away from Amazon.
Can you protect yourself against it? Many people now suggest making a video when unpacking particularly expensive hardware:
If you then hold fake goods or just a wrong product in your hands, you at least have the proof on your side.
Moreover, you can prove that you did not swap the goods, but that someone must have been in the package before you.
The Emperor is one of the most important figures in Warhammer 40,000 and is worshiped by most humans as a god—though he does not want this at all. The few who oppose the faith without being punished are the Space Marines. But even among the oldest of them, the certainty is now crumbling.
A huge cult surrounds the Emperor, with ecclesiarchy, inquisition, and a massive force of holy female warriors who burn anyone who insults their “God.” The Imperium doesn’t joke around here; after all, the Emperor is their guarantee of safety.
In the Imperium of Man, only the Space Marines can openly say that the Emperor is not a god without being visited by an inquisitor. Of course, because their “fathers,” the Primarchs, knew the Emperor personally.
Warhammer 40.000: Der Trailer zur Minaitur von Roboute Guilliman, dem Primarchen der Ultramarines
A god doesn’t have to be chaos
The only gods that are currently truly known among the inhabitants of Warhammer 40,000 are the four gods of chaos—aside from the Emperor. However, since humans regularly fight against gods, they mainly see negative traits in them.
In the novel “Dark Imperium: Godblight” by Guy Haley from 2021, Guilliman speaks with a scriptor of the Space Marines and a Farseer of the Aeldari about what makes gods. The conversation arises after Guilliman himself was apparently saved by divine intervention. A user shares a short excerpt on Reddit.
While the scriptor Donas Maxim insists that the Emperor cannot be a god, the Eldar Illiyanne Natasé provides somewhat cryptic explanations, emphasizing that the concept of divinity is not clear-cut. The beings known today as Necrons, for example, once had gods in the C’tan who had nothing to do with the chaos gods. The Eldar themselves had their own pantheon, which has nearly disappeared.
However, Natasé goes even further and states: What the truth is, ultimately doesn’t matter. If enough people believe something, it will become a reality in some way. The Farseer speaks from experience because his people have already accomplished exactly that.
Gods are born in Warhammer – and can die
Warp gods are entities that are nourished by strong emotions of psychic beings: Khorne by hate, Nurgle by despair, Tzeentch by hope. The Eldar have even birthed a god through their excess: Slaanesh, who then nearly wiped out the people.
The Aeldari’s own gods have also fallen, most of them at least. One still exists in For of Shards, one goddess is Nurgle’s captive, and one is said to have somehow escaped death. What is clear, however, is that even gods can die.
In contrast, new gods are repeatedly born or created. Not only Slaanesh, but even the T’au, who are actually not present in the warp, have their own goddess—simply because humans and other beings believe in them.
Natasé explains that gods seek worship and that, in the past, even mortals have ascended to divinity. Whether this can happen “against the will” of the mortal remains open—but it could be the case with the Emperor.
Big E has long been a god; he just doesn’t know it yet
The Emperor himself has always fought for a world where humans are their own rulers and no longer need gods. Accordingly, he himself never wanted to be a god. The fact that he is one is already deeply rooted in the faith of humans—with numerous indications.
Indeed, many fans and characters in the universe suspect that the Emperor has long been a god, and not just among humans. The Aeldari know the legend of a “Dark King” who would fit well with the figure of the Emperor.
Others suspect that the Emperor is actually a chaos god who has simply misled humanity to become more powerful. Because of this, the question often arises of whether the Emperor is even “good”. He was never truly human, but a Perpetual, a kind of infinite being with different moral views.
In an earlier post on Reddit, users debate whether the Emperor still has an influence on what happens. The flow of souls that is sacrificed to him daily could have made him unstable and turned him into a divine being, which he now must control to avoid either dying himself or destroying everything. That’s exactly why he fought for a world without gods.
In Monster Hunter Wilds, Kanya sends you on the quest “A One-time Catch” to catch a Fat Chunk, but what exactly is that, where can you find them, and which bait is the right one? We’ll show you.
Finding them is not a problem, but when it comes to catching them, you might run into issues, especially regarding bait selection and the right tactics. To ensure success on your hunt, we will show you everything you need to know for a successful catch.
Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds shows its first title update with a new monster
How to catch a Fat Chunk
What you need to consider while catching: Since Fat Chunks all have a proud weight and aren’t big for no reason, you need to be smarter during the hunt. Clicking a button at the right moment to reel them in is no longer enough; instead, you need to proceed as follows:
If a Fat Chunk bites, you need to tire it out
Move your bait in the same direction that your target is moving
Don’t push against it, or you’ll lose it
When your target jumps out of the water, you need to move your fishing rod in the same direction and then press the button to reel the fish in
If your target is no longer moving because it’s tired, try to slowly reel in your bait and pull the fish towards you
Don’t do this too quickly, or the Fat Chunk might break free as it regains strength
If you follow all these tips, the catch should be no problem. It is essential to take your time and observe how the Fat Chunk behaves. Based on your observations, you will then react situationally to the fish’s movements. Whatever you do, do not pull against it, or you will lose it.
Where can I find them? The best place to get a Fat Chunk is the large fishing spot in area 17 in the Crimson Forest. Make sure to fish during the time of abundance. We have found that this is where you have the best chances of encountering multiple Fat Chunks.
This area is worth visiting
You will notice when a Fat Chunk bites, as your character will hold the line much more strained, and the fish is not immediately reeled in. From this point, it is important to keep calm.
Which bait is the right one? Depending on the target, you need the right bait to entice the respective Fat Chunk to bite. Here are the suitable options for your hunt:
Name of the Fat Chunk
Type of Bait
Great Mackerel
Basalt Cartilage Bait
Gajau
Dust Bait
Spearfish
Basalt Cartilage Bait
Gourmet Tuna
Basalt Joint Bait
Goliath Squid
Tentacle Bait
Those were all the important details you should know for the hunt of a Fat Chunk. It is crucial to take your time, as your target will notice your frantic approach and use it to escape. However, aquatic creatures are not the only ones important for side quests. There is also a special snail that you need to catch for one of your colleagues: Monster Hunter Wilds: Find and catch the Megawatt Snail
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the upcoming update, alongside new arena challenges, official leaderboards will also be added to Monster Hunter Wilds. Especially console players see a huge problem with this and already perceive the lists as unfair.
What is the problem? Unlike players on Xbox and PS5, PC players can use mods. These are external programs that influence the game and can enhance the interface or provide useful features. Currently, these are not provided or checked by Capcom and can be freely used by players to customize their gaming experience.
This, however, invites cheating, leading many players to use mods to reach their goals faster – such as getting certain items more easily or increasing their damage. While this might not be a problem when playing solo, mods can sometimes undermine cooperation with others.
However, with the 1st major title update set to release on April 4, special challenges will be introduced, where mods will likely play an even larger role. For this update, official leaderboards and arena quests with special rewards will be introduced, where you can secure a spot based on your completion time.
Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds shows its first title update with a new monster
Special Rewards (also) for Cheaters?
So far, mainly players using mods to unlock paid DLCs have been banned. However, more and more reports are emerging from the community, where players’ experiences are affected by others using mods and cheats. Capcom has not yet commented on handling such players and generally pursues a rather liberal policy.
Originally, rewards for time challenges were mostly tied to personal completion times. Now, rewards have been announced in the livestream that depend not only on your time but also on your world ranking.
Players therefore suspect even more cheaters with the leaderboards: Where there are leaderboards, there are also many players who want to see themselves at the top. It is not far-fetched to think that mods and cheats will be used to help achieve that. In a thread on Reddit, the community is already discussing how Capcom will respond to this.
This is particularly significant since it involves not only leaderboard positions, but also exclusive rewards you receive for participating or achieving certain placements. Fans express concerns that players using mods will be distinctly advantaged.
Depending on your placement, you can earn additional rewards
Additionally, it is not the intention to cheat exclusive rewards. Therefore, players hope that Capcom will find a solution to exclude cheaters from the leaderboards.
What does the community say about this? In a thread on Reddit, there are numerous thoughts and ideas regarding this issue:
User Scizzoman comments: “It’s like this with every game that has global leaderboards. It has happened in Monster Hunter before. Hopefully, you can filter the leaderboards for friends, that’s always the best way to participate in rankings in games.”
Current_Sale_6347 notes: “Of course mods will inevitably enable the acquisition of these rewards for every player, but what would motivate players NOT to do this, assuming the global rankings are used for it?”
Tseiryu writes: “This existed in World with arena quests. The top players were clearly cheaters, but you could sort by friends’ times.”
Players hope that rewards will not really be tied to a specific leaderboard position, but rather to specific time limits of the respective positions. This would make obtaining the rewards at least more realistic and somewhat fair.
Nevertheless, the problem persists that many players will secure their placements and therefore rewards through mods and cheats. This already makes the list feel pointless and especially unfair.
As part of the event, a limited research task was also added to the game. Overall, you have until Sunday evening to complete it.
It consists of a total of 6 steps that require you to catch different amounts of bug-type Pokémon. In the end, you are supposed to collect a total of 150 bugs. That’s a lot! Is the effort worth it? We will show you what the rewards for the research are.
Start video
Pokémon GO: What’s in the new Season Powerful and Masterful
Bug-Catching: Limited research rewards you with Ninjatom and more
Here are the rewards: In the following table, you will find all the tasks with the corresponding Pokémon that you will receive.
Task
Rewards you with…
Catch 10 Bug-type Pokémon
Micrick
Catch 25 Bug-type Pokémon
Wommel
Catch 50 Bug-type Pokémon
Volbeat
Catch 75 Bug-type Pokémon
Illumise
Catch 100 Bug-type Pokémon
Thermopod
Catch 150 Bug-type Pokémon
Axantor
Complete all task goals
Ninjatom & a Lure Module
Are the rewards worth it? First, it should be clear that the main focus of the current event is already on catching bug Pokémon. They are everywhere, and there are bonuses for particularly good throws. This means: You will be able to achieve the target more or less easily.
The question is how much you play. Because if you only play for a few minutes a day, catching the 150 Pokémon by Sunday evening will be tight.
So: Is the effort to catch 150 Pokémon worth it? Given the Pokémon offered, one can say: definitely.
Because especially in the more difficult goals, there are some cool Pokémon.
Axantor is not often available in the game and is mostly caught through raids. You might still be missing it.
Ninjatom is a very rare Pokémon. You usually only get it through specific research, if at all. You should grab this one – there’s another one in the collector task for Bug-Catching, by the way.
Additionally, Illumise and Volbeat are regional Pokémon, which means you can catch the specimen you might be missing. So that’s not bad either!
What else is happening in Pokémon GO? The bug-catching event is the last major event of the current month, as March is coming to an end. However, the first dates for the upcoming month are already set. Among other things, there will be another Community Day, spotlight hours, and thematic events. Do you want to know what’s happening when? Then check here: All events in April 2025 for Pokémon GO.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
In Dragon Ball, it is possible to fuse with another person. As a result, a stronger fighter is often created. One of these techniques was invented by the mangaka Akira Toriyama only because the animation team got ahead of him.
Which fusion is it about? In Dragon Ball, there are several ways to fuse and become a stronger warrior.
With the correct execution of the Fusion Dance, Son-Goku and Vegeta fuse into Gogeta. In Dragon Ball Super, he is very aggressive, while in Dragon Ball GT he is rather playful. The Fusion Dance even made it as an emote in Destiny 2.
As Toriyama revealed in a previous interview (via Kazenshuu), Vegetto only exists because the team behind the anime stole the idea for Gogeta early on.
You can watch the trailer for the latest movie here:
Start video
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero – The Official Trailer for the Movie
Vegetto only got a chance because of Gogeta
Why was it invented? Toriyama came up with the idea to introduce fusion in Dragon Ball during a conversation with the artist Masakazu Katsura (via Kazenshuu). Originally, it was planned for Vegeta and Son-Goku to fuse into Gogeta via the Fusion Dance. Previously, Toriyama had already shown that Son-Goten and Trunks could fuse into Gotenks.
But the animation team got there first. Even before the mangaka could introduce Gogeta in the manga, he was already planned for the film “Dragon Ball Z – The Movie: Fusion”. Gogeta was supposed to have his debut in that film, not in the manga anymore.
As a result, Toriyama could no longer incorporate him into the manga and felt as if he had been cornered:
I constantly cross such dangerous bridges. (laughs) But just when I am backed into a corner, my brain waves tighten, and an idea pops up. Besides, I’m good at forcing things to stretch. (laughs)
So Toriyama had to find an alternative and then invented the Potara earrings. This allowed Goku and Vegeta to fuse into Vegetto. Toriyama also held onto the concept for years afterward, and to this day, there has been no appearance of Gogeta in the manga, only of Vegetto.
Originally, the earrings were supposed to be just ornaments. It was only after Toriyama had to come up with a new fusion that he came up with the idea of incorporating the ornaments. For Dragon Ball Daima, the mangaka invented another method of fusion. But unfortunately, it was not seen in use: Thanks to a new fusion in Dragon Ball, Son-Goku can become much stronger.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
With the Energy Blade, you can adopt a defensive or aggressive playstyle in Monster Hunter Wilds, blocking attacks or turning your weapon into a swinging axe that tears apart monsters. For a faster endgame fight, we will show you the best build with the weapons, armor, and decorations you need.
How is the build structured? For the best Energy Blade build, we first provide a brief overview of the essential items such as weapons and armors. Then we will explain in detail the important information about crafting your equipment, as well as selecting the right decorations for your armor. Finally, we will reveal the strength of the build.
This build will be continuously updated and completely modified depending on updates to match the current meta. So feel free to check back after every update to see what has changed.
With our directory, you can quickly jump to the individual points of the build:
[toc]
Energy Blade Build: Everything about Weapons, Armors & Decorations
Start video
Monster Hunter Wilds: New trailer introduces the energy blade
What is the best build for the Energy Blade? The best build for the Energy Blade relies on Frenzy and the status effect “Paralysis,” and there is a good reason for that. This significantly increases your damage and ensures that you can hit the monster much more reliably in your axe mode. Let’s have a quick overview of the necessary items:
Weapon
Chrono Kit (Artian Weapon) or alternatively Honest Lutemia
Armor
Dahaad Helm B Arkveld Armor B Dahaad Armguards A Gore Waist Guard B Gore Leggings B
Charm
Chaser Charm
How to craft the best Artian Weapon for the Energy Blade
What do I need to craft the Chrono Kit? For the Chrono Kit, you should ensure to choose two Attack and one Affinity infusion while crafting your materials. Also, make sure to select at least two materials from the elemental type “Paralysis” – this way, you will also obtain Paralysis as an element after crafting.
If you don’t have good components for the Chrono Kit yet, you can also resort to the Honest Lutemia. This is the Energy Blade from the Rathian of rarity 8.
As a secondary weapon, the Hunting Horn is also a good choice due to its buffs, as it can increase the attack power of all players within a certain radius.
Which enhancement bonuses should I focus on? When enhancing your Artian weapon, the following bonuses are especially important:
Attack
Affinity
Sharpness
Element
Which decorations are important? You can be more flexible with the decorations and choose the following options:
Magazine/Wall-Jwl 3
Morph/Wall-Jwl 3
Guardian/Craft-Jwl 3
Energy Blade Build: Armors and Decorations
Which armors are important? In our armor selection, we focus on the following equipment and effects:
Armors
Dahaad Helm B
Arkveld Armor B
Dahaad Armguards A
Gore Waist Guard B
Gore Leggings B
Chaser Charm
You need this armor for the Energy Blade build
Set Bonuses
Jin-Dahaads Uprising
Bind Counter I: Increases attack briefly after recovering from being Tangles, Frostbite, Power Struggle, or being downed.
Gore Magalas Tyranny
Black Darkness I: Triggers Frenzy when fighting large monsters.
Which decorations should I use? When it comes to the armor, it’s all about choosing the decorations that support your Frenzy, Affinity, and raw damage. You should equip the following:
Helmet
Powerful Jwl 2
Powerful Jwl 2
Chest Armor
Chain-Jwl 3
Powerful Jwl 2
Arm Guards
–
Thigh Guards
Chain-Jwl 3
Destroyer-Jwl 2
Armor Boots
Chain-Jwl 3
Reason-Jwl 1
Reason-Jwl 1
How does the strength of the build unfold?
This build mainly focuses on bringing your weapon into axe mode to wear down and paralyze the monster with consecutive blows. Frenzy is your best friend here along with the Powerful Jwl 3, as together with the effects you increase your affinity and thus your chance of critical damage.
The Chain-Jwl also helps you to increase your raw damage through the fast attack style of the Energy Blade, making your hits even more powerful. By combining this with the paralysis status effect, you increase your relaxed attack windows, allowing you to focus entirely on axe mode and maximize your damage output.
The great thing about the Energy Blade is also its sword mode, as it allows you to fallback on your shield to block in critical situations. So, you are prepared for every situation with this build.
After more than 500 hours, a player of Baldur’s Gate 3 finds a trove of secret voice lines, for which you must be quite annoying.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is massive, and some game content has not been discovered by the community even 18 months after the game’s release. When something new is found, the player base jumps on it – as is the case now with dozens of hidden voice lines that have likely eluded most players.
Start video
There are secret rooms in Baldur’s Gate 3 that only a few of you will ever see
What was found? In the Baldur’s Gate 3 subreddit, the player the-soul-of-wit made a post that has since gathered well over 3,500 upvotes. In it, he describes that he found numerous hidden voice lines in the game that had escaped him in the first 500 hours.
How can you hear these voice lines? For the characters to use their special lines, you must repeatedly click on them through their character portrait. The first few times, they will give you one of their normal lines. But if you don’t let up and keep clicking the same character, they will eventually get annoyed, feel harassed, or start delivering small internal monologues.
What kind of lines are there? Many of the lines are internal monologues of the characters, while others seem to address the player directly. Here are some excerpts:
Astarion:
“I have a brand new torture chamber. Come play with me.”
“Be very, very quiet now. I’m hunting fools.”
“I should have been a Drow. They have such stylish armor.”
Minthara:
“Your suffering will be spectacular.”
“You had my attention. Now you have my wrath.”
“You’ll wish I had stayed hidden.”
Halsin:
“Are you feeling a bit lonely?”
“Unwise, to poke a bear so much.”
“Calm down. There’s enough of me for everyone.”
Karlach:
“Eyes on the victory, stomach on the dinner.”
“Ahh, my eye!”
Jaheira:
“I would poke you too, but I’m afraid you want just that.”
“Calm down, I’m glad to see you too.”
“Well. You really have this omnipresent thing down, huh?”
Lae’zel:
“Does everyone have to be so tedious?”
“Weapons high, standards even higher.”
“There is no right or wrong, only the truth.”
By the way, the lines change depending on the situation the character is in. Because it makes a difference whether you are just peacefully exploring the world, the character is sneaking, or is engaged in a fight.
If you want to learn just a little more about the personalities of the different heroes from Baldur’s Gate 3, you should drive them to the edge of frustration. But always remember: “Don’t poke. The. Karlach.”
The fact that characters respond with annoyance to repeated clicks and have special voice lines for it is not exclusive to Baldur’s Gate 3. Especially Blizzard games like Warcraft III and World of Warcraft are also known for characters getting annoyed after being clicked on too many times. Here too, it ranges from comments that break the “fourth wall” to threats.
This is an AI-powered translation. Some inaccuracies might exist.
