One of the biggest surprises of 2024 was undoubtedly Black Myth: Wukong, an action RPG from Chinese developer Game Science. Though not necessarily regarded as one of the all-time greats, it was certainly well-received and went on to sell an extraordinary amount of copies within a very short timeframe; reportedly over 18 million in just two weeks.
Naturally, then, this means that some sort of knock-off has inevitably appeared on the Nintendo Switch eShop, though the exceedingly blatant nature of this one has made it necessary for us to at least warn you not to fall for such shenanigans.
Pogs are something I never consciously think about until something reminds me of Pogs, at which time I am instantly very excited about Pogs. The latest reminder being Snow Town Geek Store, a shopkeeping sim brimming with 2000’s non-tude. Like the 2000’s themselves, it feels both alive with promise and liable to turn bad at any moment. But I do very much enjoy both its energy and soundtrack, based on what little information is currently available. A tray-tray for you, the discerning tray-tray viewer:
Happy New Year, Travelers! The Genshin Impact dev team wishes you an amazing start to 2025. Today, we’d like to share details about the upcoming Version 5.4 “Moonlight Amidst Dreams,” arriving on February 12. It will take you back to the land of Electro, Inazuma, where a grand celebration awaits! Join your new friend, Yumemizuki Mizuki, and reunite with familiar faces like Raiden Shogun and Yae Miko as they gather for the Mikawa Flower Festival. This enchanting event bridges the realms of human and youkai, inviting everyone to celebrate together under Inazuma’s shimmering moonlight.
A Grand Festival of Youkai and Humans
At the foot of Inazuma’s Mt. Yougou, the Mikawa Flower Festival shines brighter than ever this year. Once a grand gathering of youkai in ancient times, it has blossomed into a vibrant celebration where humans and youkai alike are welcome. With newfound energy and spirit, the festival weaves together old traditions and new friendships in a truly unforgettable way. This year’s festival boasts a new special event — the “48-hour Game Development Competition.” In addition, here’s a fun sneak peek of things to come: Raiden Shogun will be making a special appearance, and there are rumors that she’ll be investigating a strange nightmare involving an old friend…
In this competition, humans and youkai will have two days to create new games together. Thanks to the Kitsune Meal’s magic, youkai can now speak in human tongues, giving them the ability to combine their powers with human ingenuity, an enchanting team-up sure to promise exciting new mini-games in the making!
In the first entry, “A Little Fox’s Daydream,” Mizuki and Kokomi present an adventure through shifting dreamscapes, where a little fox must navigate between sweet dreams and nightmares to reach both tasty fried tofu and its target destinations.
The next creative entry, “Bunshin Phantasm,” offers a true test of strategy and teamwork from Sayu, Yoimiya, and Kichiboushi. Guide adorable Muji-Muji Daruma that mimic your movements to activate pressure plates and unlock your path to victory!
Don’t miss out “Akitsu Harpastum: Dreams Doubled,” presented by Thoma and his youkai friends! This is a creative fusion of the classic brick breaker game “Akitsu Yuugei” and elements of Mondstadt’s harpastum, perfect for solo play or co-op fun! As you complete these mini-games, you’ll earn Festival Stamps which can be exchanged for exciting rewards, including the 4-star polearm, “Tamayuratei no Ohanashi.”
Baku, Bathhouses, and Dreams
We’ve heard that the Aisa Bathhouse has introduced customized Mikawa Flower Festival-styled bathrobes, an initiative backed by its major shareholder, the new 5-star character Yumemizuki Mizuki! As a yumekui-baku, Mizuki can consume nightmares. As a clinical psychologist, she uses this gift to help her clients confront their deepest, darkest nightmares. Even a Natlanese warrior is among her clients, one who has a particularly severe affliction after returning from the Night Warden Wars. In Mizuki’s Story Quest, you will have the chance to visit Aisa Bathhouse in person, where you might be fortunate enough to experience her dream-altering treatments firsthand.
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In combat, Mizuki shines as a 5-star Anemo catalyst user, a versatile support character who combines Swirl DMG and healing into one elegant package. Her flexibility allows her to fit into various team compositions, including Pyro/Electro/Hydro/Cryo Element teams, while enhancing Swirl DMG — an effective means of boosting the party’s overall damage output! When using her Elemental Skill, Mizuki enters the Dreamdrifter state, floating gracefully while periodically dealing AoE Anemo DMG and boosting her team’s Swirl DMG.
Additionally, Mizuki can adjust her healing strategy depending on her team’s condition. Her Elemental Burst pulls in opponents and creates “Yumemi Style Special Snacks.” These snacks can be picked up and, depending on the HP of the currently active character, will heal them or deal AoE Anemo DMG. Mizuki’s unique talent also boosts healing, offering an extra 30% HP recovery when her teammates use HP Recovery Dishes.
Here’s another combat tip for Mizuki! While she’s in her Dreamdrifter state, her pick-up range for Yumemi Style Special Snacks is increased, making it easier to collect them in the heat of combat.
For Version 5.4’s Event Wishes, the first phase will have Yumemizuki Mizuki’s debut and Sigewinne’s rerun, and the second phase will bring back two reruns, Furina and Wriothesley. Mizuki will enter the Standard Wish banner after the Version 5.5 update.
Meeting Old Friends Never Gets Old!
Aside from reconnecting with old friends at the Mikawa Flower Festival, you’ll also run into more familiar faces during your adventures. The new event “Travelers’ Tales: Anthology Chapter” makes it possible to encounter your old friends in the open world! Simply look for the anecdote icons on your map to see what they’ve been up to recently.
For combat enthusiasts, the “Realm of Tempered Valor” event introduces a series of combat challenges with 25 floors for each challenge, playable solo or in Co-Op Mode. Reach certain milestones to earn an exclusive Namecard!
Looking for more fun things to do? Try the multiplayer fishing mini-game, “Invasive Fish Wrangler,” or dive into ad-editing commissions with your old friend, Xavier!
Continuing QoL Updates
Lastly, we want to share some recent optimizations that we’re working on to streamline your character development.
Level-Up Plans will be added to the “Training Guide.” Just set your level-up goals, and the system will calculate the materials you need, as well as show you where to find them! Other key interfaces will also display reminders for these required materials, including the Adventurer Handbook, Domain entrances, Domain completion screens, and the Battle Pass rewards.
Crafting materials will also become simpler! By clicking on “Craftable Amount,” you can teleport directly to the Crafting Bench. Moreover, an Auto Add button will be added to the Weapon Refinement interface to speed up the process.
That’s all for today! We hope you’ll be able to reconnect with old friends and make new memories at the Mikawa Flower Festival. Enjoy the festivities and sweet dreams of Version 5.4, and we’ll see you on your next big adventure!
The weekend is officially here, and we’ve rounded up the best deals you can find! Discover the best deals for Sunday, January 26, below:
Metroid Prime Remastered for $30
Metroid Prime Remastered is one of the best adventure games available on Nintendo Switch, and you can pick up the physical copy from Walmart this weekend for only $30. Starring Samus Aran, you’ll take control of the feared bounty hunter and explore the planet Tallon IV. If you have yet to experience the Metroid Prime series, this is the perfect starting point, especially with Metroid Prime 4 on the way later this year.
Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Collection for $44.99
The first six Final Fantasy titles paved the way for the series as we see it today. Many fans still regard both Final Fantasy IV and Final Fantasy VI as some of the best that Final Fantasy has to offer, with gripping narratives and engaging gameplay. This package includes all six Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters, which feature updated graphics, soundtracks, font, and more.
Sonic X Shadow Generations for $29.99
Sonic X Shadow Generations for PS5 is $20 off at Woot right now. This package includes a remastered version of Sonic Generations and a brand-new campaign focused on Shadow. Both 2D and 3D levels are included, making for the ultimate package for any Sonic fan.
Save $400 Off This ASUS Vivobook S 14 Copilot+ PC
Walmart has a great deal on this ASUS Vivobook S 14 that is packed with features. This laptop has a 14″ OLED screen, with a Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 as its processor. Compared to the last generation, this chip delivers up to three times the performance per thread, which is an excellent jump. Also included inside this laptop is 32GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a 1TB PCIE Gen 4 SSD, and more. For $799, this is a fantastic laptop deal that likely won’t last for long.
Meta Quest 3S 256GB for $349
Amazon has the Meta Quest 3S 256GB VR Headset with Batman: Arkham Shadow for $349 today. This headset is perfect if you’re just entering the VR space, and it’s equipped with everything you need to experience all the latest games out there. In our 9/10 review, we stated, “Raw processing power, full-color passthrough, and snappy Touch Plus controllers make the Quest 3S a fantastic standalone VR headset that also brings entry-level mixed-reality gaming to the masses for – arguably – the very first time.”
Pre-Order Twin Peaks: From Z to A
Twin Peaks is one of the most beloved projects of the late David Lynch, inspiring countless creatives across TV, film, and even video games. Currently, a reprint of the Twin Peaks: From Z to A Blu-ray set is up for pre-order at Amazon, and it’s discounted to $55.29 for a limited time. This 21-disc set includes all three seasons of Twin Peaks, the Twin Peaks: Fire Walks With Me film, and over 20 hours of special features.
Black Myth: Wukong for $54.99
Black Myth: Wukong was one of the biggest games of 2024, and for a limited time, you can score a physical PS5 copy of the game for just $54.99 at Woot. There are over 100 bosses to defeat throughout Black Myth: Wukong, with a variety of collectibles, enemies, and locations to discover. In our 8/10 review, we wrote, “Despite some frustrating technical issues, Black Myth: Wukong is a great action game with fantastic combat, exciting bosses, tantalizing secrets, and a beautiful world.”
Unicorn Overlord for $28.81
Unicorn Overlord for PS5 is available at Amazon for $28.81. This title was developed by Vanillaware, most recently known for 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Over 60 unique characters are available to choose from within Unicorn Overlord, where you command armies in tactical battle. We gave the gave a 9/10 in our review, stating “Unicorn Overlord is a visual delight that’s brimming with creativity, and an absolute must-play for any fan of strategy RPGs.”
Pyra & Mythra amiibo Up for Pre-Order at GameStop
The Pyra & Mythra 2-pack amiibo has been one of the hardest to find in recent years, with very limited availability at launch and no reprint on the horizon—unitl now. GameStop has opened pre-orders for a Pyra & Mythra amiibo reprint, making now the perfect time to harness the power of the Aegis and secure these amiibo for your collection. This 2-pack is set to release alongside Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition on March 20.
Silent Hill 2 for $44.99
Bloober Team’s remake of Silent Hill 2 is on sale at Woot this weekend for $44.99. Recreating one of Konami’s most beloved titles was never going to be easy, but the Silent Hill 2 remake delivers an immersive horror experience that preserves almost everything that made the original so great. In our 8/10 review, we said the game “smoothly polishes down the rough edges of the original game’s combat while taking a piece of heavy grit sandpaper to scuff up every rust and mold-covered surface of its nightmarish environments, successfully making them appear far more abrasive and menacing to explore.”
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate amiibo have been re-released time and time again, and the next one getting a restock appears to be the famous Metal Gear character Snake.
Here we are in 2025, ready to thrive, and Nintendo has kindly given us all some good news: ‘Switch 2’ is indeed Switch 2, it’s looking sexy… and watch this space. We’re paraphrasing, but that’s the gist.
Stephen King once famously wrote that there were three levels of terror: the gross-out, when blood and guts are everywhere; horror, as King put it, “the unnatural, spiders the size of bears, the dead up and walking around, it’s when something with claws grabs you by the arms”; and terror: “when the lights go out and when you feel something behind you, you hear it, you feel its breath against you, and you turn around, there’s nothing there.” King believed terror was the finest emotion of the three, and it’s the one he always tried to evoke in his readers. And make no mistake, terror is an emotion. Horror is something you experience. Terror is the work of the mind, the imagination of what’s absent, of what might be under the rug or around the corner. It is what you live through. Karma: The Dark World has its share of horror, yes. But it is primarily concerned with terror. And more to the point, it is good at it.
There were times during my roughly two-hour demo when I was playing at night, with headphones off, and I had to pause and take a breath. Horror games don’t generally “scare” me. I don’t jump, don’t yell, don’t scream. I know the tricks. But it was two in the morning and I was tired and alone and wearing headphones and something had wormed its way into my brain, and when I had to climb into that vent to enter that blocked-off, red-tinged room, I decided that was enough for the evening.
Karma is full of little moments like that, where you don’t want to go forward, don’t want to bear witness, but you must. Karma is set in an alternate-history 1976, and you’re stepping into the shoes of Roam Agent Daniel McGovern. Daniel is what they call a Nightcrawler. An employee of the omnipresent Leviathan Corporation’s Thought Bureau, he spends most of his time inside other people’s heads. As my demo started, he was being sent to investigate Sean Mehndez, who was accused of stealing something from the Winston Research Institute. You’re to investigate that, as well as an “unusual incident” that took place in the clerical office around the same time. It sounds, as Daniel notes, fairly routine. It isn’t.
Big Brother is Watching
Karma’s world is explicitly dystopian, and you’ll notice how wrong everything feels right off the bat. Some people have televisions for heads. Everyone has a social level, and every minor infraction is recorded, catalogued, tracked, and held against you – even things as seemingly insignificant as having a stain on your work uniform or applying makeup during work hours. Telescreens requiring user IDs, shaped like floppy disks, are tied to social level and hang in every room. Leviathan’s all-seeing eye is watching you. None of this stuff was explained in the demo I played. It didn’t need to be; you understand it immediately, the way you understand a weight hanging around your neck, the same way you understand a noose. This world is wrong, which only adds to what’s to come.
Karma is a first-person game, which only adds to the dread that creeps into you as you play. You are always aware of what you can’t see, what you have to look away from to progress, what might happen if you do. Daniel’s investigation starts off innocently enough. You explore the Research Institute, piecing together what has happened and solving simple puzzles. You need an ID to open the storage room, so you piece together the code by reading a diary entry and using that to find the clue you need in the world. But soon, The Horrors ™ start to creep in. “Don’t look back” appears scrawled on a wall when you flick off a lightswitch. If you do, you’ll see… something, a man, a shape, a ghost, appear and then vanishes. When you examine the recordings of infractions, some…thing with too many legs seems to be in the image. Something is deeply wrong here.
Karma builds dread in more subtle ways, too. Musical stings that appear and then vanish as suddenly as they came, seemingly at random. The lighting of a room. The destroyed area you’re to investigate. It always feels like you’re moving towards something, witnessing something, and often, you won’t want to. Daniel even moves slowly, lumbering, like he knows he shouldn’t be here, that advancing will lead him to a place he doesn’t want to go.
Splinters in the Mind’s Eye
The most memorable moment of my time with Karma came after I found the evidence of Mehndez’s crime. When I went to return it via the pneumatic tubes that dispensed my orders, I saw Mehndez walking, like a ghost, through the hallway. I followed him, and he led me into a dark room, with a single door. When I entered, I found myself in what I can best describe as Twin Peaks’s Black Lodge: red curtains everywhere, mannequins, a family around a table. It took me a moment to realize I was seeing Mehndez’s memories – his life, his fears, maybe. Something. I read about his daughter, saw her room, and then when I returned, they had moved in front of the TV, and eventually, they led me to an elevator going down. I descended.
What followed was one of the most disturbing sequences I’ve ever experienced in a horror game. Alarm clocks hanging from the ceiling, going off. Bodies covered in some sort of black goo, mannequins splattered with blood, lying haphazardly along gurneys. I learned about what had happened to Mehndez, to his wife, his daughter. I watched their home disintegrate; I put my hand into a computer and watched a man, strung up by his arms, explode; I entered an office and watched it go mad, the mannequins inside cowering in fear. At one point I turned around, tried to go another way, and they were all suddenly behind me, hands up, forcing me to go forward. Sometimes, the greatest horror is to be forced to watch. And I thought of Revelation. And a voice said “come and see,” and I looked.
I saw those mannequins hover, saw the black goo cover the floor, saw Mehndez’s home disintegrate further, learned what befell his family. And the curtains around me, always the red curtains. Then back into the office, answering the ringing phone, previously silent. “War. Peace. Freedom. Slavery. Ignorance. Strength,” said the voice on the other end. I recognized the words. Orwell. 1984. Big Brother is watching you. And I followed them, followed them until I reached an office where I could walk through the screen and see the big eye that had been watching me, and I saw that eye sprout more eyes, and I watched it follow me as I climbed stairs supported by nothing, and I saw three doors leading nowhere, and another phone, and I answered it, and someone, a woman, told me that she was sorry, that none of this was supposed to happen. And I entered the door in front of me, and something came after me, something I barely glimpsed but that horrified me all the same, and I fell. And then Daniel woke up, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Was it real? Had it happened? Had Daniel imagined it? Did it matter? Like him, I had experienced it and I will remember those images, real or not. We can be haunted by what seem like dreams, by the unreal, the uncanny, the wrong. It is where horror lives. In the mind. There was more to my demo past this, but terror is best experienced, so I will end here, and say Karma: The Dark World beckons you to come and see. And if developer Pollard Studio can deliver that feeling, that dread that compels, that horrifies, that you feel, for the rest of Karma: The Dark World’s runtime, then it is a journey that I will be happy to live through. My eyes are open.
“Additional titles will support online play after release”.
We’re now roughly a month out from the release of Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection on the Switch and Konami has this week released an “official trailer” showcasing what this new bundle has to offer.
Once again, it will include 14 games – starting with the original Game Boy generation and following on with Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance era titles. This latest trailer not only offers a look at this library but also introduces some new features including “online play”.
Have you been waiting to dip into Pokémon TCG Shrouded Fable? Now’s the time to rip open some packs thanks to the Elite Trainer Box dropping to under £40 on Amazon right now. This set has jaw-dropping cards, including Pecharunt ex and a lineup of stunning SIRs and IRs. For players and collectors, this expansion delivers playable cards and art that deserves a spot in your binder.
Shrouded Fable ETB UK Deal
It’s easier than ever to hunt for The Loyal Three and heavy hitters such as Persian IR and Cassiopeia SIR. We’ve got the deals and my take on some of the best cards in this set. Brilliant artwork will always hold its value and look the best in a trainer’s binder. I’ll die on this hill, so let’s dig in:
My Favourite Illustration Rares from Shrouded Fable
There’s plenty of illustration rares to catch in Shrouded Fable, but these are my favourites. Here’s what each one is going for by singles value at the time of writing, which should give you a few reasons to grab an ETB or five and get some Shrouded Fable opened.
Duskull 068/064: Currently going for around £20, which has shot up £7 since November 2024
Dusclops 069/064: Recently sold listings are £15 and £16, give or take, raising by a couple of bones from roughly £12 in November 2024.
Dusknoir 070/064: This bad boy has been sitting on the £20 fence since release.
Cresselia 071/064: £10-£14 is the current going rate, slightly up from its £9 kick-off beginning of November 24.
Munkidori 072/064: This cheeky Monkey is valued at around £13, up from £10 on November 24.
Fezandipiti 073/064: We’ll be generous and say The Fez is currently selling for around £8, which is where it’s been perched since Shrouded Fable dropped.
Okidogi 074/064: Another cheap yet stunning IR at around £7 right now, which has mostly stayed at the same value since launch.
Persian 078/064: This literal bad boy is fetching up to £60 right now, making this an insane chase card. It’s doubled in value since launch, making this an excellent card to keep ahold of.
SIRs I’d Love To Pull From Shrouded Fable
SIRs are usually more valuable than IRs due to their rarity and playability, but it also comes down to their artwork and is anyone actually likes the Pokémon. Here’s my favourites, good luck pulling these (pocket) monsters:
Okidogi ex 090/064: At around £20, the price for Okidogi ex has dropped by around £5 since launch. This means we can expect £20 to be around the going rate until Shrouded Fable goes out of print.
Munkidori ex 091/064: At roughly £18, this Monkey hasn’t climbed at all really since launch.
Fezandipiti ex 092/064: The Fez ex’s value dropped from £35 at launch to around £26, but it’s still a stunning card.
Pecharunt ex 093/064: We’re looking at £15 to £20 on this one right now, with highs going up to as much as £25 at launch.
Cassiopeia 094/064: At the time of writing, Cass sells between £30 and £40, which is an excellent price for THE chase card of this set. Similar to Persian IR, this card used to double its value back in November 2024.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box
The Elite Trainer Box is your starter kit for Shrouded Fable. It includes nine booster packs, a full-art Pecharunt ex promo card, and accessories like themed sleeves and damage dice. It’s priced right for anyone looking to rip open packs with a shot at secret rares. The storage box keeps your collection neat, while the sleeves help protect any high-value pulls.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable Kingdra ex Special Illustration Collection
This set highlights Kingdra ex with a beautiful full-art promo and foil cards for Horsea and Seadra. It also comes with five booster packs, giving you extra chances to pull something special. The Kingdra ex card alone is worth the purchase if you’re a fan of aquatic Pokémon or just love cards with bold artwork.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable 3-Pack Blister – Pecharunt
The 3-Pack Blister is the way to go for anyone on a budget. Three booster packs and a Pecharunt foil promo make this an easy pick for testing your luck without spending much. It’s small but mighty, offering solid value and the potential to pull a card that could make your week.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable Booster Bundle
Six booster packs in one bundle at £23.95 is a strong deal. This set is excellent for building up your collection or hunting specific cards from Shrouded Fable. It’s straightforward, affordable, and gives you plenty of chances to land something rare without buying a larger box.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet—Shrouded Fable Booster Bundle
Once you start pulling shiny hits, keeping them safe is a must. The 9-Pocket Portfolio holds up to 252 cards and features bold artwork of Pecharunt and the Loyal Three. At £12.99, it’s perfect for showing off your collection or keeping everything organized after a pack-opening spree.
