Nothing says happy holidays like sitting down and playing a cozy, relaxing game. Whether you're looking for your next single-player adventure or a casual game to play with family and friends, there's no shortage of good (and bad) titles to choose from. There are tons of options within this genre, from adorable farming games to shop management journeys where you run your own business at a more casual pace. Let's take a look at Destructoid's picks for the ten best cozy games to come out in 2025. ## Table of contents * Best cozy games of 2025 * Tiny Bookshop * Date Everything! * Two Point Museum * Hello Kitty Island Adventure * Town to City * Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time * MakeRoom * Cast n Chill * Gemporium * Winter Burrow ## Best cozy games of 2025 ### Tiny Bookshop Screenshot by Destructoid As a lifelong reader and game lover, _Tiny Bookshop_ truly feels like it was handcrafted just for me. It's the pinnacle of what a cozy game should be, centering on running a small, customizable, seaside book shop while gently progressing a storyline that runs through the seasons and features a lovable cast of quirky characters. The experience is calm, thoughtful, and deeply comforting, encouraging you to slow down and savor the simple joy of books and community. You can take it entirely at your own pace, making it the perfect game to enjoy no matter what kind of mood you're in. This game filled my heart with joy and my to-read list with more books than I can reasonably handle, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. ### Date Everything! Screenshot by Destructoid _Date Everything! _is, without a doubt, the best dating sim I've ever played and one of my standout cozy games for 2025. This sandbox-style experience is a genuine love letter to art and creativity, with over 100 unique characters brought to life by an impressively talented voice cast and striking, memorable designs. Witty, charming, and endlessly addictive, it fully embraces its absurd premise with confidence, transforming everyday objects into unforgettable characters and stories you can't help but fall in love with. It's safe to say there's truly nothing else quite like it, and it delivers an experience you'll never forget. ### Two Point Museum Image via Two Point Studios It's time to jump right into some classic money management with _Two Point Museum_. The _Two Point_ series is well-known within the casual gaming space as being strange yet oddly fascinating, and _Two Point Museum_ is no exception. If you've played _Two Point Hospital_ or _Campus_ in the past, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. _Two Point Museum_ manages to kick everything up a notch with its mix of bizarre humor, satisfying visuals, and enjoyable gameplay that goes beyond just making rooms and watching your money go up. It takes everything that made past _Two Point_ games great and evolves them further, cementing itself as one of the greatest tycoon games to release within the past few years. ### Hello Kitty Island Adventure Screenshot by Destructoid I still remember my first hour playing _Hello Kitty Island Adventure_ at the beginning of this year. With 2024 being a strange year for me, I started 2025 feeling happier than ever, knowing we were beginning with a title that's still near and dear to my heart. Even if you're not a Sanrio fan, there's still plenty to love here, with a massive open world to explore, tons of quests to complete, and an in-depth, rewarding friendship system. If you're looking for a cozy game absolutely full to the brim with content, _Hello Kitty Island Adventure_ will be right up your alley. ### Town to City Image via Galaxy Grove I'll admit it: I adore voxel graphics. It's rare for a voxel game to look truly beautiful, but if there's one game that pulls it off flawlessly, it's _Town to City_. Made by the team behind _Station to Station_ , _Town to City_ masterfully combines feelings of relaxation with a unique spin on city building, building itself up as one of the most interesting games to come out this year. Normally, city builders can be stressful, especially if you struggle with resource management or are prone to min-maxing. _Town to City_ gives you the choice: take on the challenge of building up a town through the game's campaign mode, or jump into Sandbox mode and put all of your energy into creating a bustling settlement. It creates a perfect balance of cozy and challenge, all the while keeping you immersed with its beautiful art style and landscapes. If you're a fan of _Station to Station_ or want to try out a more casual city builder, this one is for you. ### Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Screenshot by Destructoid There are two sides to the _Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time_ coin. For those who played the original _Fantasy Life_ on the 3DS, this is a trip down memory lane with vastly improved graphics, revamped dungeon mechanics, and polished controls to make it feel modern. For the rest of us, it's a fantastic dive into a classic JRPG full of fun combat, unique skilling mechanics, and multiplayer features for wacky shenanigans with friends. Of all the entries in this list, _Fantasy Life i_ is the title I've put the most time into, by far. The main storyline is in-depth and stretches dozens of hours, with fellow completionists out there having well over 100 hours of skilling grinds, dungeon-crawling, and open-world exploration to conquer. It's an adorable and charming entry I couldn't put down for the first few weeks of playing, and I wholeheartedly recommend this one to any classic RPG fan who thrives on mastering life skill progression systems. ### MakeRoom Screenshot by Destructoid 2025 is the year of expressing creativity in our games, with _MakeRoom_ being another that steals the show. This title is all about unleashing your interior design skills as you take furniture pieces, change their colors, and arrange them in dioramas. You can make anything from cottage-style kitchens to gaming lounges, cafes, or even a place for your pets. Although _MakeRoom_ mainly focuses on interior design, you can do just about anything that your heart desires. It lets you recolor and resize furniture, change room sizes, and even recolor the map's background, giving you more to do than just mindlessly place down furniture. Combine this with an adorable cartoony art style, and you've got yourself a game that you can sink hours into if you're feeling particularly creative. It's quickly become my go-to chill game, especially when I'm in the mood to recreate rooms from a TV show I've recently watched or places I've seen in real life. ### Cast n Chill Image via Wombat Brawler Let's change things up with some fishing. If you're like me, you'll have at least a few games you enjoy just because they have a fun fishing minigame. Rather than just being a minigame, _Cast n Chill_ is all about you and your pet dog riding in a boat, fishing, and making a whole lot of money. It's a stunning game to boot, donning detailed pixelated graphics and impressive scenery straight out of a wilderness adventure. The twist? It's both an active and idle game. If you want to dive headfirst into learning how to catch fish, you can take a more active approach, master its mechanics, and reap the benefits. Sometimes, though, it's nice to enjoy your surroundings by taking a passive approach and letting the game play itself. Of the many fishing minigames and full games I've played, _Cast n Chill_ is up there as one of my favorites of all time. ### Gemporium Screenshot by Destructoid If you're tired of fishing, cooking, and combat, maybe mining is for you. _Gemporium_ is a short but sweet game where you play as a mole that recently inherited their Grandmole's gem business. It turns out, though, that she's in some serious debt, leaving you to pay it back by taking over ownership, collecting gems, and selling them to groups of customers. While this might sound like just another shop simulation game, it offers a great mix of strategy and fun without feeling stressful or chaotic. Like others on this list, you can go at your own pace and either speedrun paying off Grandmole's debt or take your time and treat it as a relaxing hidden gem within the cozy game genre. ### Winter Burrow Image via Pine Creek Games Last but certainly not least is _Winter Burrow_ , a survival game with a heavy focus on exploration and resource management. While it has some strong initial similarities to titles like _Don't Starve_ , don't let its art style fool you—it stands on its own as a completely separate and lovable game that, rather than being brutal and unforgiving in nature, is instead a pleasant and comforting experience. _Winter Burrow_ balances challenging survival mechanics with riveting storytelling in a way that's fun without being overwhelming or stressful. It calls itself a cozy survival game and proves it, letting you sit back and enjoy its story without getting spawn camped by monsters or starving to death every few minutes. It's easily one of my favorite survival games to date, making it a strong contender for one of the best cozy games to release this year. The post Best 2025 cozy games to play this holiday season appeared first on Destructoid.

The Frequency Mod Box, added to _ARC Raiders_ as part of a post-launch update, has suddenly become a popular item for raiders. This essentially has to do with the new Expedition 2 project, which requires you to commit a few Frequency Mod Boxes to complete the stage. While the item's location is random, this guide will help solve some of your doubts about where to look. ## Best locations for Frequency Mod Box in ARC Raiders The best spot to find the Frequency Mod Box is **Stella Montis**. This is by far the only spot where I have found the Frequency Mod Box. Ideally, you can find the item on any corner of the map. For better odds, you'll want to look in the rooms of **Medical Research** and **Assembly Workshops**. These two locations are high-tier loot areas compared to the rest of the map. Naturally, the odds of finding rarer items like the Frequency Mod Box will be higher. If you're in the locations, you'll want to look in every container and locker possible. Remember that there's no fixed location where you can find the Frequency Mod Box. As of writing, it's also not part of any quest rewards, but that could change in the future when the next update drops. Screenshot and remix by Destructoid There are also reports of players finding the item on the Spaceport Map. As of writing, I have never managed to find it on the map. However, make sure to look near the Rocket Assembly area if you're on Spaceport. There are no alternate ways of obtaining the Frequency Mod Box apart from obtaining it during a raid. Earlier, we could recycle/salvage the Frequency Mod Box to find valuable items like Advanced Electronic Components. However, you're going to need them to complete the Expedition 2 project if you want to reset your progress and begin fresh. The Stella Montis map is also an excellent area to find Ticks. You'll need to damage and destroy several of them if you're aiming to get three stars from the ongoing Trials. The post How to find Frequency Modulation Box in ARC Raiders appeared first on Destructoid.

The Perita Rebellion game mode is an excellent addition for _Warframe_ players who have reached the endgame stage. Added as part of The Old Peace update, the mode requires you to complete various missions on Perita. While the missions are reasonably complex, there are excellent rewards available for players. ## Table of contents * How does Perita Rebellion work in Warframe * All Perita Rebellion Order rewards rotation * Rotation A * Rotation B * Rotation C ## How does Perita Rebellion work in Warframe The Perita Rebellion mode sets a timer of 12 minutes for you to complete different objectives. Irrespective of how many objectives you manage to complete, the boss will always turn up after 12 minutes. That said, you'll want ot complete as many objectives as possible to get better rewards. While it's essential to defeat the bosses to get three crucial resources (Ascaris Prime, Lyroic Bridge, and Ren Hypercore), there are more rewards on offer. * 10 Ascaris Prime from Prime Vanguard * 10 Lyroic Bridge from Hunhullus Drops * 10 Ren Hypercore from Dactolyst Image via Digital Extremes As I mentioned earlier, you'll want to complete as many objectives, aka **Orders** , as possible. Completing an Order raises the amount of rewards by one, and completing ten of them automatically doubles your rewards. Moreover, the Orders themselves have their own pool of rewards that follows the typical rotation order in Warframe. ## All Perita Rebellion Order rewards rotation The Order rewards follow the **AABC order**. Rotation A has the highest number of rewards, but Rotation B and Rotation C also consist of some fantastic rewards. ### Rotation A Rotation A includes parts of Galariak Prime, Sagek Prime, Meso Relics, and random resources. The Perita Rebellion Orders are the only known way to get parts of the Galariak Prime and Sagek Prime. Item | Odds of rewards ---|--- 10,000 Credits | 5% 2,500 Endo | 5% Galariak Prime Blade BP | 5% Galariak Prime BP | 5% Galariak Prime Handle BP | 4.9% Sagek Prime Barrel BP | 4.9% Sagek Prime BP | 4.9% Sagek Prime Receiver BP | 4.9% Meso A9 | 3.65% Meso P17 | 3.65% Meso V11 | 3.65% Meso V12 | 3.65% Meso V13 | 3.65% Meso V14 | 3.65% Meso X1 | 3.65% Meso Y1 | 3.65% 150 Agnovidisc | 3% 60 Laudavi | 3% 25 Servoris | 3% Da-Ren | 2.30% Kaal-zidi | 2.30% Omn-Evi | 2.30% Sil-Tabol | 2.30% Vik-Anam | 2.30% Empazu-Shol | 1% Esto Vel-Ikha | 1% Lashta-Vak | 1% Metem-Erun | 1% Metem-Hakh | 1% Ubri-Kaneph | 1% ### Rotation B You'll always get one additional boss resource based on your selected Recall mission. ### Rotation C Rotation C includes five Tektolyst Arcanes, with each having an odd of 20%. * Zid-An Asheir * Zid-An Haras * Zid-An Osbok * Zid-An Sek-Eel * Zid-An Uskos The post All Perita Rebellion rewards in Warframe and how to get them appeared first on Destructoid.

The Holiday season is upon us, with the happiest day of the year almost at our doorstep. Everyone is at home, with their loved ones, enjoying the jingling bells, and likely hanging around Steam. But Steam isn't hanging around us, as it appears the Christmas spirit has brought it down. On Christmas Eve, i.e. tonight, Steam seems to be buckling, either under the weight of all the people using their free time to play some games, or those who are eager to purchase Christmas presents just in time for the big day. The Steam Winter Sale is currently ongoing, after all, so it was only a matter of time before a great influx of eager buyers brought the platform to its knees. It's just one of those days. Image via Steam According to Steam Status, every segment of Steam is currently offline or “unknown,” whatever that may mean. For most people, the chat seems to be in order, but the store itself and some other Steam services have been going off sporadically during the entire night. At one point, 25 percent of all Steam users were out cold (pun intended), and it's not just weekly maintenance that Steam usually performs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. However, the service seems to come back up rather soon after going out, meaning Valve is likely actively working on keeping everything in order, so if you're running into various errors, like the one that appears when “processing your request,” remember that it's not you but Steam itself. Let's hope all gets resolved and comes back up, permanently, by the time Christmas itself arrives. It'd be a damn waste of a good holiday without a proper round of Christmas gaming. The post The Holiday season seems to have brought Steam down appeared first on Destructoid.

The Thibaut Courtois Winter Wildcards SBC is now live in _FC 26_ Ultimate Team, and you can add an excellent goalie to your squad. This is the best version of Courtois that we currently have in Ultimate Team. To unlock the card, you'll have to complete two tasks. Both of them have specific requirements to meet, and this guide will help you solve the SBC without breaking your bank. ## Table of contents * FC 26 Thibaut Courtois Winter Wildcards SBC tasks * FC 26 Thibaut Courtois Winter Wildcards SBC solutions ## FC 26 Thibaut Courtois Winter Wildcards SBC tasks As mentioned above, there are two tasks, and here are the requirements. **Real Madrid** * Min. 1 Players from: Real Madrid * Min. 1 Players: Team of the Week * Min. Team Rating: 85 **LaLiga** * Min. 1 Players from: LALIGA EA SPORTS * Min. 1 Players: Team of the Week * Min. Team Rating: 86 Let's now look at some cheap solutions that you can use to complete the two tasks. ## FC 26 Thibaut Courtois Winter Wildcards SBC solutions **Real Madrid** * Any 87-rated TOTW card * Viggosdottir 84 * Nusken 84 * Ona Battle 86 * Tonali 86 * Marc Cucurella 84 * Esther 84 * Brahim 82 * Maddison 84 * Zaccagni 84 * Orban 84 **LaLiga** * Any 87-rated TOTW item * Batlle 86 * Buhl 86 * Bruno 86 * Sancet 84 * Schuller 86 * Tonali 86 * Ruben Dias 86 * Zaccagni 84 * Joao Cancelo 84 * Messi 86 The Courtois SBC will cost around 80,000 coins worth of fodder. You can reduce the completion cost by using cards that are already available in your Ultimate Team. Make sure that they're of the same rating so that you can meet the overall requirements of the squad. The 90-rated item is currently the best goalkeeper you can obtain in Ultimate Team, and it also includes the Cross Collector+ playstyle. It's got decent meta stats and playstyles, making it an ideal choice to use in competitive modes. The post FC 26 Thibaut Courtois Winter Wildcards SBC tasks and solutions appeared first on Destructoid.

The Icy Precision Evolution is now live in _FC 26_ , and it allows you to upgrade two items of your choice in Ultimate Team. The latest evolution, available for free, has two charges. You can either use the boosts on separate cards or chain them together into one. There are plenty of great options to consider, and this guide will help you to lock down the best based on the requirements and the offered upgrades. ## Table of contents * FC 26 Icy Precision requirements * FC 26 Icy Precision Evolution upgrades * Best players for Icy Precision Evolution in FC 26 ## FC 26 Icy Precision requirements Here are the requirements for Icy Precision Evolution in _FC 26_. * Overall: Max 85 * PlayStyle: Max 10 * PlayStyle+: Max 1 ## FC 26 Icy Precision Evolution upgrades The Icy Precision Evolution has only one level of upgrades. To obtain the boosts, you’ll need to complete specific tasks. **Level 1 upgrades** * Overall: +1 * Curve: +10|88 * Finishing: +12|90 * Shot Power: +10|90 * PlayStyles: Finesse Shot, Low Driven Shot|7 **Level 1 upgrade requirements** * Play 4 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player. ## Best players for Icy Precision Evolution in FC 26 You can include a wide variety of items in this evolution. I have considered items that will benefit the most from the offered boosts. * Karim Adeyemi TOTW * Ndoye Winter Wildcards * Carlos Pobega TOTW * Tajon Buchanan Thunderstruck * Haraldsson Winter Wildcards * Ndombele Joga Bonito * Thomasson Thunderstruck * Rafa Leao * Raso Thunderstruck These are arguably some of the best options you can include in this evolution. It's another perfect evolution that you can chain with other options. The overall rise is minimal, and we already have evolutions that allow you to use 86-rated cards in them. The post Best players for FC 26 Icy Precision Evolution appeared first on Destructoid.

I've always been a fan of big-budget blockbusters, whether it be movies or video games, but when it comes to the latter, I'm beginning to see the light more and more: indie games are the lifeblood. While 2025 had its fair share of AAA successes (_Death Stranding 2, Assassin's Creed: Shadows,_ and _Ghost of Yōtei_ spring to mind), it was dominated by indie games. Smaller teams, smaller budgets (mostly), but big aspirations and even bigger excitement. Here are Destructoid's picks for some of the best indie games throughout the year of 2025. ## Table of contents * Best 2025 indie games * Hades 2 * Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 * Ball x Pit * Absolum * Blue Prince * Hollow Knight: Silksong * Dispatch ## Best 2025 indie games ### Hades 2 Image via Supergiant Games The masters of the action roguelike genre returned with the 1.0 release of _Hades 2_. Supergiant Games iterated on and continues to perfect the addictive and satisfying gameplay, wrapped in a stunning art style set against Greek mythology to create one of the best overall games of 2025. ### Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Image via Sandfall Interactive There's an argument to be made about what's indie and what isn't, but this list was never not going to include _Expedition 33_. Sandfall Interactive's debut title was Destructoid's 2025 Game of the Year, and just about everyone else's, too. And it deserves it. ### Ball x Pit Screenshot by Destructoid _Ball x Pit_ caught my eye immediately when it dropped as a Steam demo earlier in the year. Upon release, I had the pleasure of reviewing it for Destructoid, and it became one of my top titles of the year overall. Base-building, ball-breaking, roguelike action wrapped up in a beautiful pixel art style created something truly memorable and still (so far) the most fun I've ever had with balls. ### Absolum Image via Dotemu Another gorgeous roguelike. Are you noticing a trend? Many of the top indies this year took the roguelike genre and put a lovely spin on it, like _Absolum_ , which is a fantastic co-op beat-em-up with a Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic and also one of my overall favorites of 2025. ### Blue Prince Screenshot by Destructoid Before _Expedition 33_ launched a few weeks later, _Blue Prince_ was at the top of many gamers' shortlists for GOTY 2025. It still deserves that honor as one of the more innovative and challenging puzzle games in recent memory. ### Hollow Knight: Silksong Image via Team Cherry When it comes to hype and anticipation, _Silksong_ had some insurmountable expectations after years of quiet and delays. Fortunately for everybody involved (including us gamers), it delivered and then some, offering a fantastic and challenging expansion of the Metroidvania genre. ### Dispatch Image via AdHoc Studio I got an early look at _Dispatch_ at a preview event with devs the month before it came out, and knew right away it would be something special. Many who helped create it previously worked at TellTale Games, and that quality shines through in every one of its eight episodes, crafting one of the best narratives of the year. Plus, it's got this hot, towering devil lady. The post The best indie games in 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Winter Offensive event in _Battlefield 6_ has three new challenges for you to grind, and you can unlock some unique camos in the process. Winter Offensive has added plenty of exciting stuff ever since it went live on Dec. 9. The current event objectives will allow you to increase your rewards haul if you're unsatisfied with it. This guide will provide all the essential information required to complete the tasks as quickly as possible. ## Table of contents * How to obtain all Battlefield 6 Winter Offensive event rewards * Flying High weapon charm * Scatterplot SU-57 vehicle * Undergrowth B36A4 weapon package ## How to obtain all Battlefield 6 Winter Offensive event rewards Three new objectives were added to the Winter Offensive events earlier on **Dec. 24** , and here are the available rewards. * **Flying High weapon charm** * **Scatterplot SU-57 vehicle skin** * **Undergrowth B36A4 weapon package** You can obtain all the rewards by completing three separate tasks over the next five days (more on that in the following parts of this guide). Let's look at how to obtain the rewards. Screenshot by Destructoid ### Flying High weapon charm To get this charm, you'll need to get 100 kills on freezing enemies. You'll have to take part in the **Ice Lock** game mode, as it features the freezing zone mechanics. To complete the objective, you'll have to kill 100 enemies that are affected by the freezing status. ### Scatterplot SU-57 vehicle The next part also needs to be completed in the Ice Lock game modes. Wait for enemies to appear in heat zones (areas that have fire sources). Deal damage to enemy players in those zones to complete this part of the objective. ### Undergrowth B36A4 weapon package This is the easiest task to complete, as you have to simply win 10 matches across any mode. The post All Battlefield 6 Winter Offensive event rewards and how to get them appeared first on Destructoid.

_Fallout 76_ players can enjoy the festive period of Christmas and New Year by grabbing some unique cosmetics from the Sunset Stranger mini-season that's now live across all platforms. The new event went live earlier on Dec. 23, and it will be live until Jan. 6. This guide will provide you with all the details required for completing this event and unlocking all available rewards. ## Table of contents * How to get all Fallout 76 Sunset Stranger event rewards * All Fallout 76 Sunset Stranger objectives * Week 1 * Week 2 ## How to get all Fallout 76 Sunset Stranger event rewards The Sunset Stranger event will have its own ticket that can be earned by completing challenges. The exact number of tickets you get will vary across different tasks. The main reward for this event is the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat, which is provided to all for free. To earn the tickets, equip the hat on your character, and start completing as many objectives as possible. Here's the list of all rewards you'll grind for when the event is live. * "Courier" Player Title Suffix * "Sassy" Player Title Prefix * "Stranger" Player Title Suffix * "Sunset" Player Title Prefix * A Fresh Delight! Poster * Blue Star Cap Player Icon * Build Mass with Sass! Poster * Deputy Badge Backpack Flair * Festus Player Icon * Sassy-Blitz Arcade Dart Machine * Sunset Sarsaparilla Bar Stool * Sunset Sarsaparilla Billboard * Sunset Sarsaparilla Bottle Clutter * Sunset Sarsaparilla Cap Clutter * Sunset Sarsaparilla Crate * Sunset Sarsaparilla Saloon Door Now that we know all the rewards, let's look at how to earn the tickets. Image via Bethesda ## All Fallout 76 Sunset Stranger objectives There will be three sets of challenges that will be active during the event. Do note that some of the information shared on this guide is in data-mined form. ### Week 1 Task | Tickets ---|--- Complete all Challenges to Kill an Enemy | 4 Eat Pre-war Food with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 25 Cripple a Human Head with a Pistol and the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 15 Kill a Rusted Deathclaw with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat equipped | 3 Kill an Enemy in the Burning Springs Region with a Pistol and the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat equipped | 35 Kill an Insect with a Pistol and the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 25 Kill a Radhog with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 15 Modify a Pistol with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 5 ### Week 2 Task | Tickets ---|--- Complete all Challenges to Kill an Enemy | 4 Build a Turret or Trap in a Workshop or C.A.M.P. with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 5 Catch a Fish in Burning Springs with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 10 Collect a Deathclaw Egg with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 3 Kill a Burning Ogua with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 1 Kill a Burning Radscorpion with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 20 Kill a Corrosive Stingwing with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 30 Kill Humans in the Burning Springs region with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat Equipped | 30 To complete the event, you'll need to kill an enemy in the Burning Springs Region and with the Sunset Sarsaparilla Deputy Hat on your character. This will fetch you 175 extra tickets. You can then use the tickets to unlock the rewards mentioned above. The post All Fallout 76 Sunset Stranger challenges and rewards appeared first on Destructoid.

> **Updated on December 24, 2025** : Added the new official Trello link as well as the unofficial community Wiki. If you're looking for a way to stay in the know with _GHOUL://RE_ _Roblox_ game, you're in the right place. Whether you are wondering about the combat, the crafting, or just when you can play the game, we've got the links, and we're here to share them. Here are the **_GHOUL://RE_ Trello, Wiki and Discord links**. ## GHOUL://RE Trello, Wiki and Discord Links Image by Destructoid First of all, here are all the links to everything for _GHOUL://RE_ : * **Official _GHOUL://RE_ Trello** * **GHOUL://RE Wiki** (Made by our BloxInformer team) * **_GHOUL://RE_ Discord Server** * **_GHOUL://RE_ Roblox Group** * **_GHOUL://RE_ Game link** The Trello is the best place to start if you want to be informed about all the in-game content. It's got info on: * Core mechanics (Combat, Stats, Skilltree, Equipment, Mission Board, Trinkets) * Ghouls & Kagune * Kakuja Info * CCG & Quinques * CCG Arata * All Skill Trees with all skills listed * In-Game Events * Bosses and Raids * All Clans for both Ghouls and CCG * All NPCs and enemies * All Equipment Items (including Boss drops) * Legendary Faces * All Clothing Items * All Locations Then, you should join the official Discord server which is a lively HUB for community interaction, questions and updates. Joining the Discord used to be a mandatory step if you wanted to get CC acess but nowadays it's just a very good place to get info and form raid groups. And, before you ask, YES, they do host giveaways on the server. Best of all, the _GHOUL://RE_ Discord server hosts all the patch notes/update logs for all the changes in the re-release. It'll give you an overview of every buff, nerf, rework and new content to the game. **That's all there is to it for our Official _GHOUL://RE_ Trello, Wiki and Discord guide. Stay tuned to Destructoid for more _GHOUL://RE_ guides and walkthroughs. If you haven't already, check out our _GHOUL://RE_ codes for some cool in-game freebies.** The post Official GHOUL://RE Trello, Wiki & Discord appeared first on Destructoid.

The Old Peace update introduced the Tauron Strike mechanic in _Warframe_ that allows you to work with extra abilities, and all of them offer unique bonuses. Once you complete The Old Peace update and unlock the Perita Rebellion mode, you'll be able to use the Tauron Strike mechanic. This mechanic, however, isn't entirely restricted to the Perita Rebellion mode as long as you can manage to secure Tektolyst Artifacts. Let's look at all the different weapons and their passives, along with how to obtain them. ## Table of contents * All Tauron Strike Tektolyst weapon passives in Warframe * Cogron (Unairu Passives) * Lorak (Zenurik Passives) * Nidri (Vazarin Passives) * Thara (Madurai Passives) * Vexoric (Naramon Passives) * How to get Tektolyst Artifacts in Warframe * How to perform a Tauron Strike in Warframe ## All Tauron Strike Tektolyst weapon passives in Warframe There are five different Tektolyst Artifact weapons to obtain in Warframe. * Cogron (unlocks Uniaru Tauron Strike nodes) * Lorak (unlocks Zenurik Tauron Strike nodes) * Nidri (unlocks Vazarin Tauron Strike nodes) * Thara (unlocks Madurai Tauron Strike nodes) * Vexoric (unlocks Naramon Tauron Strike nodes) Every weapon is associated with a specific set of nodes, and you'll want to use the one that suits your build. When you buy a Tektolyst Artifact (required to use these weapons outside Perita Rebellion), it will unlock five extra passive nodes. The first level will be unlocked automatically, but the remaining nodes and levels have to be unlocked manually using various resources. ### Cogron (Unairu Passives) * Cogron Tau Strike: Summon forth Cogron from the Void and brandish the mighty hammer, slamming it into the ground to create a cataclysmic shockwave that ripples 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 times. * Sundered Bounty: Shockwaves generate 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 pickups, in the form of Universal Orbs or Ammo. * Seismic Impact (requires Sundered Bounty): Shockwaves generate 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 pickups, in the form of Universal Orbs or Ammo. * Tempered Benison (requires Sundered Bounty): Shockwaves create 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 Armor Motes that grant +450 temporary Armor. Max 5. * Great Quake: Increase shockwave radius by +10 / 20 / 30 / 40%. ### Lorak (Zenurik Passives) * Lorak Tauron Strike: Summon forth Lorak from the Void and conjure its ruinous spells, calling forth a beam of energy from within. Enemies pierced by the beam have a 25 / 50 / 75 / 100 % chance to drop Energy Orbs if killed within 10s. * Prismatic Beam: Enemies struck by the Tauron Strike fire off smaller beams at other enemies within 5 / 10 / 15 / 20 m. * Spectral Pages: Create 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 spectral pages granting additional Cast speed, Ability Strength, Duration, and 100 bonus Energy per page. * Boundless Energy: Ability Strength, Duration, and cast speed granted by spectral pages increased by 25 / 30 / 35 / 40%. * Brilliant Insight: Spectral pages also fire off beams that blind enemies within 4 / 8 / 12 / 16 m. ### Nidri (Vazarin Passives) * Nidri Tauron Strike: Summon forth Nidri from the Void and plant the noble staff into the ground, creating a titanic splash of water that becomes a lingering vortex for 30s. 20 / 30 / 40 / 50% of damage dealt to enemies caught in the vortex is also inflicted upon all other enemies within it. * Rift Waters: Vortex strips enemy Overguard 10 / 15 / 20 / 25% per second. * Eroding Rapids (requires Rift Waters): Vortex applies 25 / 50 / 75 / 100% status vulnerability to all enemies within it. * Deathless Currents: Vortex heals allies for 100 / 150 / 200 / 250 health/s. Downed players inside the vortex will be instantly revived, and dead players will be resummoned. * Swelling Deluge (requires Deathless Currents): Increases vortex duration to 25 / 30 / 35 / 40s. ### Thara (Madurai Passives) * Thara Tauron Strike: Summon forth Thara from the Void and fire the great bow into the air, blanketing the area with a rain of explosive arrows for 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 seconds. * Overwhelming Power: Gain +2 / 3 / 4 / 5% Ability Strength for each enemy hit by the initial Tauron Strike for 30s. Max + 20 / 30 / 40 / 50%. * Rain of Arrows: On dealing damage, fire an arrow at an enemy with a 0.50 / 0.45 / 0.40 / 0.30s cooldown between arrows. This effect is only active for 30 seconds after a Tauron Strike. * Surging Storm: Increase Rain of Arrows radius to 3.5 / 4.0 / 4.5 / 5.0m. * Downpour: Rain of Arrows will also target 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 additional enemies within 10m. ### Vexoric (Naramon Passives) * Vexoric Tauron Strike: Summon forth Vexoric from the Void and swing the colossal sword, unleashing a wave of devastating energy. Gain +2 / 4 / 6 / 8 Melee Combo from each enemy hit. * Spectral Blades: Summon 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 spectral swords that are copies of the equipped melee weapon. Melee attacks will simultaneously trigger spectral attacks on any enemies within 10m. * Flowing Strikes (requires Spectral Blade): Increase the range of spectral melee attacks to 14 / 18 / 22 / 26m. * Hungering Blade (requires Spectral Blade): Spectral weapons have a 25 / 50 / 75 / 100% chance to attack the same enemy a second time. * Astral Cut: Tauron Strike slash size is increased by 20 / 40 / 60 / 80%. ## How to get Tektolyst Artifacts in Warframe Image via Digital Extremes You can obtain Tektolyst Artifacts from Marie by exchanging the following resources. * 150 Lyroic Bridge (Obtain from Hunhullus) * 150 Ren Hypercore (Obtain from Dactolyst) * 150 Ascaris Prime (Obtain from Prime Vanguard) Completing the Perita Rebellion missions will help you get all three of these resources. You'll also get 75 of all three resources from The Old Peace quest. The remaining quantities will require you to grind out the missions. While you can pick multiple Artifacts, they're expensive. Hence, you should always make your first pick carefully. ## How to perform a Tauron Strike in Warframe Once you have equipped a Tektolyst Artifact, you'll notice a circle near your energy bar. This circle represents how close you're to casting a Tauron Strike (think of them like ultimate attacks). Once you cast an attack, you'll have to wait for the charging process to complete. Here's how you can charge your Tauron Strike meter. * Killing an enemy gives you 0.2% charge. All your and your ally's kills in the same affinity will count. * Picking up a Convergence Orb will fill out the meter by 20%. You'll also have a temporary buff by picking up the orb. * Every Focus Lens will raise the charge gain rate. The gains are permanent, and you can get a 0.22% charge after killing an enemy (instead of the base 0.2%). The post All Tektolyst weapon and passives in Warframe (Tauron Strikes explained) appeared first on Destructoid.

Expedition 2 is now available in Projects for all _ARC Raiders_ players who are above level 20, and there are five levels to complete. The second Expedition project is structured in the same fashion as the most recent one. Whether you're someone who missed out on the first one or a new player, there's plenty of time to get the necessary items for completing the project. ## Table of contents * All ARC Raiders Expedition 2 Project requirements * Stage 1 * Stage 2 * Stage 3 * Stage 4 * Stage 5 ## All ARC Raiders Expedition 2 Project requirements Just like the first Expedition, the second one has several stages or levels. There are five of them this time, and you'll need to move progressively. Once you complete a stage, you'll unlock the next one. Every stage requires you to find certain items in the required amounts. ### Stage 1 Item | Req. Quantity ---|--- Metal Parts | 150 Plastic Parts | 200 ARC Alloy | 80 Steel Spring | 15 ### Stage 2 Item | Req. Quantity ---|--- Durable Cloth | 35 Wires | 25 Electrical Components | 20 Cooling Coils | 4 ### Stage 3 Item | Req. Quantity ---|--- Light Bulbs | 4 Battery | 30 Shredder Gyro | 10 Exodus Modules | 1 ### Stage 4 Item | Req. Quantity ---|--- Frequency Mod Box | 5 Advanced Electronic Components | 5 Ion Sputters | 3 Leaper Pulse Unit | 3 ### Stage 5 Item | Req. Quantity ---|--- Combat Items | Sell 200,000 coins worth of items Survival Items | Sell 100,000 coins worth of items Provisions | Sell 150,000 coins worth of items Materials | Sell 300,000 coins worth of items Once all five stages are complete, all you have to do is wait. You'll be able to join the Expedition 2 project's departure window once that goes live in February 2026. Once again, you'll have the utmost freedom to decide if you want to join Expedition 2 or not. Choosing to join the project will reset your progress, and you'll need to begin from scratch. However, you'll be duly rewarded with unique cosmetics, additional skills, stash spaces, and more. The post All ARC Raiders Expedition 2 requirements and how to complete them appeared first on Destructoid.

The Lost Colony DLC in _ARK Survival Ascended_ has been one of the biggest content updates to date, and it has its own share of bosses to take down. The new expansion and all the related content revolve around the Arat Prime map. There are two main bosses on the new map: the Lost King and the Lost Queen. This guide will provide you with all the essential information to know if you're looking to complete the expansion as quickly as possible. ## Table of contents * All ARK Survival Ascended bosses in Lost Colony DLC * Lost King * Lost Queen ## All ARK Survival Ascended bosses in Lost Colony DLC As mentioned earlier, there are two main bosses to take down: **Lost King** and **Lost Queen**. ### Lost King The Lost King is the main boss of Arat Prime. We already knew about his looks, all thanks to the trailer. You can find him at his palace, which is the hardest stage to complete. To enter, you'll need to craft a Red-Handed relic. Lost King comes in three different variants, with each having its own requirements. Image via Studio Wildcard **Alpha** * Five Alpha Ossidon Skill * Ten Alpha Zombie Brainn * 200 Prime Aberrant Sigil * 200 Prime Crimson Sigil * 15 Neophyte Horns **Beta** * Onne Alpha Ossidon Skull * Five Alpha Zombie Brain * 150 Greater Aberrant Sigil * 150 Greater Crimson Sigil * Ten Neophyte Horns **Gamma** * One Alpha Zombie Brain * 100 Minor Crimson Sigil * 100 Minor Aberrant Sigil * Five Neophyte Horns The Lost King is one of the most challenging enemies to take down, but doing so has its own rewards. For one, you get to complete the new story, which is pretty intense. This is also the only legitimate way of gaining a Gigadesmodus for yourself. ### Lost Queen Once you defeat the Lost King, you'll have to face the Lost Queen. You'll get to know that she was defeated by Lost King, who made her his queen. The location is the same as the fight directly transits to Lost Queen. Like Lost King, the Lost Queen battle will have mutople phases. Once you deal enough damage, she will become temporarily immune. You'll then have to break the beam to prevent her from healing and continue the fight. Once you defeat her, interact with the codex to lower the castle shields and turn the Arat Prime back to its original form. Defeating the Lost Queen officially completes the full Lost Colony DLC campaign. The post All bosses in ARK Survival Ascended Lost Colony DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

An open-world, soulslike deckbuilder sounds like a mishmash of genres that just shouldn’t work. But somehow, developer The Outer Zone has masterfully stitched them all together into something remarkably cohesive—a harrowing, punishing, and visually striking game about grief and survival called _Death Howl_. The game hit digital shelves on Dec. 9, and its premise is simple: You play as Ro, a woman who enters the spirit realm to save her son Olvi from the clutches of death. But the other side of the veil isn’t all that friendly to outsiders, and Ro must fight her way through dangerous spirits who aim to cut her search short and send her back to the world of the living empty-handed. Using mana and a deck of cards, you battle these spirits, moving Ro around a gridded battlefield. Each battlefield looks a little different, consisting of a set of tiles arranged in unique layouts with various environmental objects that can either help or hinder you in the fight. The foes you face vary greatly in design and combat style: floating crow heads that attack from a distance, infected molars that cause fissures at your feet (yes, you read that right), and jellyfish that can kill you with a single touch. Yeah, did I mention how dangerous the spirit world is? And that's why we don't skip dental cleanings. Screenshot by Destructoid Throughout your journey around the spirit world, you'll travel five different “realms." In every realm, you craft cards with items and Death Howls (or spirits) left over from the entities you defeat. Each realm has its own set of cards that vary in effects, giving you the chance to rebuild your deck with an entirely new playstyle for each region you visit. The Realm of Hostile Plains, for example, has an archetype based around movement. Certain cards in this realm increase the number of tiles you can move at one time, while other cards reduce their cost the more tiles you’ve traveled that turn. There are over 160 total cards in the game, and with the various playstyles they offer, gameplay never feels stale. Though you’re not limited to using only cards from the realm you’re in, cards from other regions cost more mana to play. And because you only have five or six mana per turn, and most cards cost between one to three mana, you’ll likely be swapping cards out every time you change realms. This isn’t a big problem if you choose to focus on one realm at a time. But the game _is_ open-world, and realms can become more difficult as you progress through them, so you may find yourself fast-traveling from one to another to train up. This then leads to you having to change out your deck every time you do so, which can be quite time-consuming. At the heart of each realm lies a powerful boss, or Great Spirit. In boss fights, you'll find fun and unique mechanics that challenge everything you've learned from the realm thus far, but getting to them won’t be easy. Don't forget— _Death Howl_ is a true soulslike experience, and any good soulslike boasts a difficulty level that's not for the faint of heart. Through limited health, frequent enemy encounters, and close-quarters combat, gameplay can be quite unforgiving, and you'll have to consider your every move. But whenever I lost a fight, I felt as though victory was within reach, and I was always eager to jump back into the fray and try again. Like other soulslikes, _Death Howl_ has a checkpoint system that allows you to restore health but respawns every foe you've defeated up until that point. As mentioned earlier, foes drop Death Howls that can craft cards or be put towards Teardrops that unlock new skills. Die in combat, though, and all your hard-earned Death Howls will be dropped at the location of your demise, and you'll have to return to the scene of the crime to pick them back up. If combat proves too difficult for you, or you can't progress past certain encounters, you can choose to grind easier encounters, stock up on Death Howls, and then use them to unlock better cards and more skills that will assist you in your next fight. Spend Teardrops to unlock skills in each region's skill tree. Screenshot by Destructoid These skills can be unlocked in each region's skill tree. Though they're all separate from one another, there's quite a bit of overlap between realms. Some skills allow you to charge an ultimate ability, which varies in effect depending on the realm. In one realm, for example, your ultimate increases the damage you deal in a turn, while in another, it deals damage to all enemies in a row. In between combat encounters, you’ll navigate the various spirit realms and their harrowing landscapes. _Death Howl_ 's environmental design is simultaneously creepy and breathtakingly atmospheric, with giant forests filled with poisonous mushrooms, corpse-filled crevasses, and ghouls of Ro’s regrets. Visually, the spirit world may seem straightforward at first glance—but make no mistake: it’s full of secrets, and those who pay close attention to their surroundings will be rewarded with hidden maps and extra resources. You'll also meet non-hostile characters who will assist you on your journey if you first solve their problems. These side quests add a layer of intrigue to the worldbuilding and help the spirit realm feel truly alive. I played _Death Howl_ on both my gaming laptop and my Steam Deck, and it ran excellently on both—though, I’ll admit, there were times when I couldn’t properly select cards or menu navigation was wonky, and I’d have to switch back to my mouse or touch screen to bypass the issue. These problems were few and far between, and they by no means disrupted my overall positive experience with the game. All in all, _Death Howl_ is a fantastic representation of both the deckbuilding and soulslike genres. The gameplay will teach you a few lessons, but the experience will be well worth your patience. The post Death Howl review – A soulslike deckbuilder that turns sorrow into strategy appeared first on Destructoid.

The Attacking Freeze Evolution is now live in _FC 26_ Ultimate Team, and you can complete the upgrade to improve a card of your choice. The free evolution might not raise the overall of your cards, but it adds every defensive playstyle available in the game. It's a great upgrade option to create an evolution chain, so let's look at the best options to consider for receiving the boosts. ## Table of contents * FC 26 Attacking Freeze requirements * FC 26 Attacking Freeze Evolution upgrades * Best players for Attacking Freeze Evolution in FC 26 ## FC 26 Attacking Freeze requirements Here are the requirements for Attacking Freeze Evolution in _FC 26_. * Overall: Max 85 * PlayStyle: Max 10 * PlayStyle+: Max 1 ## FC 26 Attacking Freeze Evolution upgrades The Attacking Freeze Evolution has two levels of upgrades. To obtain the boosts, you’ll need to complete specific tasks. **Level 1 upgrades** * PlayStyles: Bruiser, Jockey, Intercept, Block **Level 2 upgrades** * PlayStyles+: Bruiser | 1 * PlayStyles: Anticipate, Slide Tackle, Aerial Fortress **Level 1 upgrade requirements** * Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player. **Level 2 upgrade requirements** * Play 2 matches in Squad Battles on min. Semi-Pro difficulty (or Rush/Rivals/Champions/Live Events) using your active EVO Player. ## Best players for Attacking Freeze Evolution in FC 26 You can include a wide variety of items in this evolution. * Van de Ven TOTW * Vagnoman Thunderstruck * Davinson Sanchez Primetime * Danny da Costa Ultimate Scream * Tim Livramento Winter Wildcards * Rafa Mojica Joga Bonito * Mario Gila TOTW * Ryerson Winter Wildcards * Zakaria Thunderstruck These are arguably some of the best options you can include in this evolution. This is one of the best evolutions for creating a chain. Since the overall rating will remain low, you can immediately include the upgraded card in another evolution to create a stronger version. The post Best players for FC 26 Attacking Freeze Evolution appeared first on Destructoid.

About 15 years ago, I was a college student studying journalism and quickly losing my way. I was taking courses on how to become a beat cop writer, calling precincts about petty crimes and writing for newspapers, a dying medium. I had another course writing for broadcast journalism, which is somehow almost an entirely different language from what I had studied in the past. I hated it. I felt totally lost. Image via Activision So, I went to my student advisor and asked for help. She simply asked me what I enjoyed, and to write about what I knew. Well, at the time, all I really knew was _Call of Duty_ because I was playing a whole hell of a lot of it. And so that's where it all started for me. I spent the next year or so working on a 10,000-word magazine piece-style senior project (think of it as a thesis) that propelled me into something way greater than me. I found my senior project on my hard drive, and it honestly holds up pretty well. The theme of the project (titled _Answering the Call: Inside a Pop Culture Phenomenon_) was _CoD's_ wide reach as a popular game that went outside of the game experience, even all the way back then in 2010. Over the course of the year, I interviewed an esports competitor who became a friend, a journalist whom I looked up to, a couple who met on _CoD_ and ended up getting married, and numerous others. But one of the many things that drew me to the project was an ongoing lawsuit at the time between Activision and Infinity Ward co-founders Vince Zampella and Jason West. And in the process of writing about all of these things, interviewing people, and researching the franchise that I'd already sunk countless hours into, I found my passion and realized that my future was in writing about video games. And now today, many years later and after countless challenges and hardships, on my final working day of the year, I'm celebrating the most rewarding year of my games journalism career at Destructoid. I've had more fun in the past nine months of writing for this website than I thought was possible. But it also comes with great sadness as I and many others are mourning the sudden loss of the great Zampella, one of the _CoD_ franchise's creators and a visionary in the FPS genre. Photo via Getty Zampella passed away in a car accident on Dec. 21, leaving behind a legacy of greatness. _Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Titanfall, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi, Battlefield 6_. Legendary gaming moments like "No Russian," General Shepard's betrayal, or the bond between Jack Cooper and his Titan, BT-7274. He was an architect behind it all. But in today's somber reflection, I've realized he was also the architect of my career. He was not only the architect of one of the most successful franchises in history, but of friendships and love stories that will last forever. In his iconic games, he created jobs, worlds, and universes that will survive longer than any of us. Everything I've done this year, including traveling to industry events, reviewing over a dozen games, and interviewing many passionate developers, there's a good chance none of that would have happened without Zampella's work. And that's without even really delving into how deep his impact on gaming itself has been. _Call of Duty's_ massive success over the past 20 years helped shape the industry into what it became. _Titanfall 2_ is one of my favorite single-player FPS campaigns of all time. _Apex Legends_ was an excellent extension and memorable highlight of the battle royale craze. The _Star Wars Jedi_ games are a critically acclaimed handling of one of the most loved and respected IP ever. And his last title, _Battlefield 6_ , reinvigorated the franchise to become one of the top-selling games of 2025. Image via EA Zampella's impact can't truly be quantified today, just a few days after his untimely passing. For now, we can say that he helped craft modern-day FPS games as we know them. But strictly speaking for myself, although I never had the pleasure of meeting or speaking with him, I'm quickly realizing just how much he and his work have meant to me and millions of others, on so many levels. And so, I would just like to say thank you for all of this. The post If not for Vince Zampella and his work, I would not have found my career in gaming journalism appeared first on Destructoid.

The first full year of _Marvel Rivals_ was an impressive one in a number of metrics, but according to the developers working on the free-to-play hero shooter, the game is only beginning. Looking back on its first year, _Marvel Rivals_ delivered a lot of content. Whether it's MCU-based skins in partnership with _Fantastic Four: First Steps_ , limited-time events with free rewards, or a shocking amount of new heroes, a tough precedent has been set. But Marvel and NetEase Games are not resting anytime soon. Screenshot by Destructoid "2025 was more of a warm-up period for us," Marvel Games executive producer Danny Koo said in an interview with Den of Geek. "Next year, we’re going to have bigger plans. We’re not going to slow down. We’ve already planned more than a year ahead and I can’t wait for our players to see it." In just one year, _Marvel Rivals_ already has the same number of playable characters as another hero shooter, _Overwatch 2_ , after adding 12 to the game in 2025. That number will be surpassed quickly as Deadpool joins the roster in January, followed by Elsa Bloodstone in February, and another new hero every single month for the foreseeable future. This is going to be tough to balance, but I can't deny that this cadence keeps me coming back consistently. And according to publisher NetEase Games' publishing and marketing lead, Yachen Bian, 2026 will include more playable experiences to supplement the characters on offer. "In the next year, we want to provide more game modes," Bian said. "It’s why we have prototypes in the game, like PvE and 18v18. We want to give the players more choices of different game modes beyond the basic gameplay because your fundamental experience might be very different. When you’re fighting against zombies, it’s quite different from fighting against other people." The first year of _Rivals_ already included several new modes like _Marvel Zombies_ PvE mode, a Times Square social space, and even a PvP auto-battler mode, so if there's more in the works, I and many others will likely be continuing to log in and play some games occasionally for a long time to come. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj53c2Uxrtc With 2026 boasting the potential for more PvE experiences, popular and iconic heroes like Deadpool joining the roster, the launch of a new esports model, and further MCU partnerships likely in the pipeline (_Spider-Man: Brand New Day_ launches in August, followed by _Avengers: Doomsday_ in December), maybe they really are just getting started. The post Marvel Rivals’ successful and content-packed first year was just ‘a warm-up,’ executive producer teases appeared first on Destructoid.

Ever heard of _My Summer Car_? This aging gem of a game was made by a solo dev with the help of his wife and some friends, and was inspired by his childhood. The game now holds nostalgic meaning to thousands of gamers who enjoyed the punishing experience. If you were around for that, you might not know that a sequel is well on its way. ## My Winter Car Image via Amistech Games The follow-up to the charming (and supremely infuriating) _My Summer Car_ is called _My Winter Car_ , and we can be sure we'll have more beer-drinking, sausage-eating shenanigans to look forward to. As well as another immensely complicated car to build from scratch. The game is slated for release in December 2025, but at this point, we might well be facing a delay, as the year is almost over. Still, that doesn't mean we might still get it sometime this winter, and to me, it would be the perfect game to fight the winter blues and have another grand time in the beautiful Finnish landscapes. But why am I so eager for this game – Myself and 18,000 other followers? I'll explain. ## My Summer Car Explained Image via Amistech Games I first came across this game via YouTuber GrayStillPlays, and it looked genuinely hilarious. I picked it up and thought that I'd watched enough videos to know what to do. Boy, was I wrong. You see, this game has a form of permadeath that was really brutal. No matter how far you are, no matter how much work you've done on your car, crash, and it's all over. Yeah, you literally need to start from scratch. And by crash, I don't mean taking a turn at 90 miles per hour and hitting a tree dead on, no. Gently tap a fence at two miles per hour, and it's tickets. The vehicles in this game must have a safety rating of negative 9,000 or something. There are also a couple of "rivals" who speed around the map, largely ignoring road rules. So even if you're being super careful, one of these morons could come speeding around a corner at any time and end your run for you. Don't worry, though; there are many ways to save your progress now. Gone are the days of ultimate brutality, though that option is still there if you prefer. Then there's the insane complexity of actually building up your car. You find it in the garage in pieces, and you have to put it all together again without a manual or help of any kind, really. Make the simple mistake of connecting the battery incorrectly, and that's it, back to the start with your now crispy fried ass. Yeah, this is one game in which looking up a guide really is not a gaming sin. I know I did. The map itself also has so much to discover, and you'll even end up driving a sewage truck and pumping septic tanks for an income at some point, all on a diet of beer and sausages. It's funny, it's challenging, and, most importantly, it's incredibly fun. If you haven't yet, I highly recommend you check out _My Summer Car_ , so you can get as excited as I am about _My Winter Car._ With the release schedule as slow as it is over the holidays, this would be an absolute Godsend. Ever played _My Summer Car_ , Destructoid? If so, what was your fondest experience? I'd love to hear from you in the comments. The post This obscure little game might just save us from winter depression appeared first on Destructoid.

_The Division 2_ Y7S3 Mutiny Week 4 Manhunt has finally had its first HVT of the season to hunt, and doing so is necessary if you're looking to complete Scout 4 objectives. Taking down the HVT is pretty much necessary if you're planning to take down the Manhunt target that will appear in the Mutiny finale. This guide will help you clear all the steps in the Scout 4 operations. ## Table of contents * The Division 2 Y7S3 Mutiny Week 4 Manhunt HVT guide * Complete a hostage rescue * Complete Jefferson Plaza * Complete the Major Bungler ## The Division 2 Y7S3 Mutiny Week 4 Manhunt HVT guide Scout 4 operations begin with a specific set of clues that will be visible after you activate it. Here's what the set of hints suggests. * **"A group of former JTF personnel have been captured. Intel suggests Major Bungler might be involved."** * **"Major Bungler has ordered extra troops to Jefferson Plaza to crack down on defections."** * **"Reports indicate that Major Bungler is in Southwest."** While your task is to decode these hints, the following steps will make things easier for you. Image via Ubisoft ### Complete a hostage rescue The first task of Mutiny Week 4 Manhunt requires you to find an activity marked with a green handcuff symbol. You'll only find this symbol once you take control of every Control Point in a district. Go to the location and clear all hostiles. You'll get a random key drop from an enemy, which will open a door (highlighted once you clear all enemies). Use the key to spare the hostages, and this completes the first objective. ### Complete Jefferson Plaza Image via Ubisoft The next task is to clear the Jefferson Plaza on any difficulty. Located in the Southwest part of the DC map, you'll find stairs leading down to an underground metro station. Start the main mission available at this location at any difficulty to get more information about the HVT to take down. If you want to get this done quickly, your best bet is to lower the difficulty. ### Complete the Major Bungler The last challenge will pit you against Major Bungler. He is the first HVT of the Y7S3 Manhunt campaign, and you can find him in the southwest district. You'll first have to begin the Bounty and withstand three waves of enemies. Major Bungler will then appear, carrying a lot of arsenal. You should target the weapons first, since they can break. This will make the fight easier. You can also use your companions to help you clear the reinforcements without having to do it by yourself. Once done, you will receive an audio transmission. This transmission will reveal an interesting story plot that I will not spoil. Completing it will bring you one step closer to completing the seasonal finale. The post The Division 2 Y7S3 Mutiny Week 4 Manhunt HVT: Scout 4 solutions appeared first on Destructoid.

Weapons in Jujutsu Zero are hidden behind the Forager NPC found on top of a mountain as you'll see in the video below. They also have a really low drop chance from Special Grade chests you find in the open world. Here's **how to get Weapons in Jujutsu Zero**. ## Table of contents * How to Craft Weapons in Jujutsu Zero * Dragon Bone Guide * Inverted Spear of Heaven Guide ## How to Craft Weapons in Jujutsu Zero To craft weapons in Jujutsu Zero you have to **talk to the Forager NPC at the top of the mountain** as shown in the video above. **Weapons also have an abysmally low drop chance from chests** you find in the open world. As for the regular obtainment method, my video above will show you how to get to Forager starting from the Fast Travel point near the original village spawn. Simply follow my path to reach Forager and then talk to him. To craft weapons you'll need to: * Talk to Forager at the top of the mountain. * Be Level 300+. * Choose the weapon you want to craft from his dialogue options. * Get the materials necessary (See below for each weapon). * You can also **upgrade weapons** by **getting additional copies of the same weapon** the same as upgrading Cursed Techniques. Image by Destructoid Now that you know the basics of crafting weapons here's all the info you need for each weapon including crafting materials and how to get them. > **Related:Jujutsu Zero Cursed Technique Tier List** ### Dragon Bone Guide Image by Destructoid Here's everything you need to know about the Dragon Bone weapon in Jujutsu Zero: * You need 3 **Heavenly Fragments** to craft Dragon Bone or you can get it via Special Grade chests in the open world as a small chance drop. * Heavenly Fragments can drop from **Grade 3-Special chests** found in the open world as well as **Volcanic**(2.1% drop) and **Flame crates**(1.6% drop) you get from doing Jogo Raids on any difficulty. * The Dragon Bone Weapon gives you a +20% ATK increase and +35% Critical Damage increase at max upgrade (Upgrade by getting a copy of the same weapon) as well as CDR% and CR% as a passive. * Here are all the moves from the Dragon Bone which you get by increasing its Mastery (Farm the Level 1 mission for Mastery): * **F (Block)** : Spin the weapon forward blocking all attacks. * **R (Slash)** : Perform an AOE damage slash around you. * **C (Dash)** : Perform a slashing dash forward, damaging everything in a line in front of you and moving yourself forward slightly. ### Inverted Spear of Heaven Guide Image by Destructoid Here's everything you need to know about the Heavenly Spear or Inverted Spear of Heaven weapon in Jujutsu Zero: * You need 3 **Heavenly Fragments** and 3 **Cursed Iron** to craft the Inverted Spear of Heaven or you can get it via Special Grade chests in the open world as a small chance drop. * Heavenly Fragments can drop from **Grade 3-Special chests** found in the open world as well as **Volcanic**(2.1% drop) and **Flame crates**(1.6% drop) you get from doing Jogo Raids on any difficulty. * **Cursed Iron** is currently unobtainable so it cannot be crafted (Seems we can only get it via world chest drops with an abysmally low drop chance). * The Inverted Spear of Heaven gives you a +20% ATK increase and +35% Critical Damage increase at max upgrade (Upgrade by getting a copy of the same weapon). * Here are all the moves from the ISOH which you get by increasing its Mastery (Farm the Level 1 mission for Mastery): * **R (Sharp Whirls)** : Dash forward performing a 5-hit combo of slashes. * **F (Heavenly Blitz)** : Dash forward performing a series of teleporting slashes ending with a small AOE smash attack at the point you dashed to. * **C (Divine Slash)** : Slash forward and shoot out a line shockwave ranged attack at medium range. **That's it for my guide on how to get weapons in Jujutsu Zero. Check out ourJujutsu Zero codes for a bunch of free goodies.** The post How to Get Weapons in Jujutsu Zero – Locations & Crafting appeared first on Destructoid.

The Fury (Part 2) is the second stage of a three-part quest that's part of the From the Ashes DLC in _Avatar Frontiers of Pandora_. The latest expansion has plenty of new quests for you to complete. Part 2 begins from where Part 1 ends, following a discussion with Itu. ## Table of contents * Avatar Frontiers of Pandora The Fury (Part 2) quest walkthrough * Meet Itu at Maintenance Outpost Alpha and explore it * Overload the generators to delete data * Enter the Waste Management System ## Avatar Frontiers of Pandora The Fury (Part 2) quest walkthrough The Fury (Part 2) can be broken down into the following parts. * Meet Itu at Maintenance Outpost Alpha and explore it * Overload the generators to delete data * Enter the Waste Management System Once again, you'll need to have finished Part 1 first to gain access. ### Meet Itu at Maintenance Outpost Alpha and explore it Image via Ubisoft Head to **Maintenance Outpost Alpha** to meet Itu after saving him. He will explain the importance of the location to Lieutenant Chau and other members of the RDA. Begin investigating the outpost area, and Itu will then tell about some machines locked behind a door. You'll find a nearby generator that has to be destroyed. Go inside the door, and you'll find the server room. Use your knife to overload the security console, allowing Teylan to access the servers. ### Overload the generators to delete data A dialog will take place, followed by a cutscene after interacting with Itu. Your next job will be to overload **three generators** inside the facility to delete all the stored data. Hit the generator with your knife to complete the task. RDA forces will try to stop you, so you'll need to clear their threats. Go to the Waste Management System after destroying all three generators. ### Enter the Waste Management System Image via Ubisoft You'll find Itu in the Waste Management System. You'll find several dead animals inside the location, along with an injured Zakru named Nopsi. Interact with the creature to soothe it, but RDA soldiers will arrive to finish you off. Defend the Zakru from all incoming threats to complete the task, and then check with Nopsi and Itu to leave and finish The Fury (Part 2). The post How to complete The Fury (Part 2) in Avatar Frontiers of Pandora From the Ashes DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

The Fury (Part 1) is the first of a new questline that's been added to _Avatar Frontiers of Pandora_ as part of **From the Ashes DLC**. Divided into three parts, the quest takes you all across the new region in search of enemies and items. Part 1 begins with So'lek being informed by Teylan that RDA is capturing animals from all over the map. Your task begins with performing a thorough investigation into the situation. ## Table of contents * Avatar Frontiers of Pandora The Fury (Part 1) quest walkthrough * Locate and Investigate the distress signal site * Return the Stormglider egg * Gp to the Resource Containment Outpost * Access the control center at Resource Containment Outpost ## Avatar Frontiers of Pandora The Fury (Part 1) quest walkthrough The Fury (Part 1) quest can be broken down into four subparts. * **Locate and Investigate the distress signal site** * **Return the Stormglider egg** * **Go to the Resource Containment Outpost** * **Access the control center at Resource Containment Outpost** Image via Ubisoft ### Locate and Investigate the distress signal site Image via Ubisoft Your first task is to go to the crash site from where the RDA distress signal was sent from. The quest marker will lead you to the location in Silk Woods. You'll find a few RDA soldiers to defeat at this location. Investigate the surroundings to find more clues about what ot do next. ### Return the Stormglider egg You'll receive a Stormglider egg upon completing the previous part of the quest. You'll have to return it to its nest. The quest marker will lead you to the location. You'll encounter two adult Stormgliders at the location. They're the parents, and you'll have to avoid being seen by them as you place the egg. Use stealth to go past the Stormgliders and put the egg back in its right location. You'll then get a message that the RDA is en route to this location. Defeat all the arriving forces to proceed to the next part of the task. ### Gp to the Resource Containment Outpost Image via Ubisoft The next quest marker will take you to the Resource Containment Outpost. Go close and look for a vantage point to examine the facility. To infiltrate, you'll need to climb a wall and go inside. Defeat all the forces you find at the outpost and then free the trapped Soundblast Colossus. Further, defeat all incoming soldiers to prevent the animal from being killed. Once done, Teyland will open the gate to the outpost, and the beast will escape. ### Access the control center at Resource Containment Outpost Your last task is to access the control center of the Resource Containment Outpost. This will allow you to open Gate B and then head inside. You'll find multiple cages, and you have to use your knife to destroy the locks. This will free the captives, and you'll discover an NPC named Itu. Complete the following dialog set to finish the mission. The post How to complete The Fury (Part 1) in Avatar Frontiers of Pandora From the Ashes DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

Co-founder of Infinity Ward, co-creator of _Call of Duty_ , and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment Vince Zampella has died in a car crash, according to a new report from NBC4 in Los Angeles. Zampella was involved in a single-car crash on Angeles Crest Highway north of LA, according to the report, at about 12:55pm local time on Dec. 21. The vehicle veered off the road before hitting a concrete barrier and a passenger was ejected from the car. Both Zampella and the passenger did not survive. Image via Activision One of the architects of modern FPS games as we know it, Zampella's work history includes _Medal of Honor_ and the co-creation of the original _Call of Duty_ titles. Under his leadership, Infinity Ward released _Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare,_ and 2009's _Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2_ , after which he moved on to co-found Respawn Entertainment and oversee such games as _Titanfall_ ,_Apex Legends_ and __ the _Star Wars: Jedi series_. "Vince was an extraordinary person — a gamer at heart, but also a visionary executive with a rare ability to recognize talent and give people the freedom and confidence to create something truly great," said The Game Awards founder and friend of Zampella, Geoff Keighley. "He leaves behind an incredible legacy of work. I’ll miss our dinners and long conversations. And while he created some of the most influential games of our time, I always felt he still had his greatest one ahead of him. It’s heartbreaking that we’ll never get to play it." Zampella also was the leader of the Los Angeles branch of DICE, Ripple Effect Studios, one of the makers of _Battlefield 6_ , a franchise that he recently took over as its lead. His impact on the modern day gaming industry cannot be understated. He was 55 years old. Image via Respawn Entertainment Destructoid staff would like to send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and co-workers in this unimaginably difficult time. **Update on Dec. 22 at 3:33pm CT:** Electronic Arts, owner of Respawn Entertainment, released this statement this afternoon to confirm the news: "This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work. Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching. A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come." California Highway Patrol also put out a statement: "For unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed. The passenger was ejected from the vehicle and the driver remained trapped. Both parties succumbed to their injuries. It is currently unknown whether alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in this crash." **Update on Dec. 22 at 4:05pm CT:** Zampella's former studio Infinity Ward posted this statement on X/Twitter: "Rest in peace Vince. As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and _Call of Duty_ , you will always have a special place in our history. Your legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences to Vince’s family and loved ones upon this terrible tragedy." The post Vince Zampella, head of Respawn and Call of Duty co-creator, dies in car crash appeared first on Destructoid.

Dec. 22 marks the start of a new season in _ARC Raiders_ , and with it arrives a fresh Trials. The new set, available until Dec. 29, has five tasks to complete. As always, some of the tasks are harder to complete than the rest. This guide will provide you with all the vital information required for completing the tasks and obtaining three stars in the process. ## Table of contents * ARC Raiders Week 9 Trials guide * Search First Wave Husks * Damage Leapers * Harvest Plants * Search Frozen Raider Containers * Destroy Ticks ## ARC Raiders Week 9 Trials guide The Week 9 Trials can be broken down into five tasks. * **Search First Wave husks** * **Damage Leapers** * **Harvest plants** * **Search Frozen Raider Containers** * **Destroy Ticks** ### Search First Wave Husks The First Wave Husks are remains of gigantic metallic robots that have been destroyed in the war against humanity. Their remains can be found all over the maps, but the best spots have always been on Blue Gate. This map, in general, has a lot of remains across its different POIs. To increase the odds in your favor, you should wait for the Husk Graveyard condition, since that will increase the number of interactive metal shells. You'll also gain double contribution points when the map condition is active. ### Damage Leapers Screenshot and remix by Destructoid While this task is relatively simple, you'll have to be careful. Getting caught in the open by Leapers means almost certain death. One of my favorite spots is the elevator near the Water Control building on Dam Battlegrounds. A Leaper almost always roams the land near the elevator, and there's also a bunker. Being in the bunker will stop the Leaper's attacks from doing damage, but you can keep shooting at it. To get three stars, you'll want to use a weapon that has decent DPS, and you should always hit its joints and eyes. Those are the softer areas, and will be able to amplify the damage requirements in quick time. ### Harvest Plants Screenshot and Remix by Destructoid Various plants can spawn on every map, excluding Stella Montis. For example, the South Swamp area in Dam Battlegrounds has loads of foliage to go through. If you're on Blue Gate, the Olive Garden in the southern part of the map is a great spot to hit as well. Ultimately, you can also opt for efficient farming routes on YouTube. However, you can take your sweet time completing this task and ranking the rank to three stars. Your progress will be counted across multiple raids, so there's no necessity to for for optimal routes (I prefer completing this task by mixing with other quests). ### Search Frozen Raider Containers Screenshot and remix by Destructoid To find Frozen Raider Containers, you'll want to head to a map with the active Cold Snap condition. Frozen Raider Containers are nothing but ordinary Raider caches, but covered in snow. The frozen variants offer better rewards due to the map conditions. My favorite map for this has been the Dam Battlegrounds map, and you'll want to look at the spots marked on the screenshot above. However, you can also find Raider Containers on other maps, as long as the Cold Snap condition is active. ### Destroy Ticks The best map for this task is Stella Montis. The Stella Montis has multiple rooms that you can access via the doors. To be more specific, you'll want to target the rooms on the base floor. Many of these rooms can have Ticks hiding behind the doors. Ticks are easy to kill as they don't have much health or armor. However, they can swarm you quite quickly if you're not paying attention. It's best to use single-shot weapons against them, like shotguns that work well in short ranges. The post ARC Raiders Week 9 Trials (Dec. 22) – How to get three stars appeared first on Destructoid.

2025 gave us all-timers like _Clair Obscur: Expedition 33_ , which is what most people will likely remember down the line, but it's not entirely representative of this year. Despite great games, the industry lost countless developers and studios, and adopted some incredibly disappointing strategies. Let's list them, lest we forget. ## Black Ops 7 Image via Activision The _Call of Duty: Black Ops_ subseries began as an examination of the darkest parts of warfare. _Black Ops 7,_ however, ditches all of its themes to have players fighting off ridiculous monsters that players have compared to _Skibidi Toilet_ , a series of silly YouTube shorts for kids. Also, the game is full of AI slop. I absolutely get why a corporation would use AI to create bland iconography for achievements and whatnot. Still, Microsoft jumping on the bandwagon of copying Studio Ghibli via AI slop to create calling cards that have nothing to do with _CoD_ months too late felt especially cringe-inducing. ## The EAcquisition A few months ago, we learned how video game giant EA is being acquired by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Now, most wealthy countries are responsible for unforgivable stuff. I don't care that "a" Saudi Arabian company now owns a considerable percentage of the biggest games out there; I care that "the" people directly responsible for all sorts of human rights violations are the ones acquiring EA. Was the _Mass Effect_ series somehow getting an even worse conclusion on your bingo card? Well, too bad. ## Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Don't get me wrong: no one is saying _Bloodlines 2_ is a terrible game. It's actually a decent game, which is, somehow, worse. Let's clarify. The original _Bloodlines_ went through a gruesome development cycle that culminated with the release of an unfinished game. It only became a classic because fans reworked it to the point of making its great mechanics, story, and world not just playable, but greatly enjoyable. _Bloodlines_ 2 went through an even longer and more gruelling development cycle, which saw publisher Paradox going as far as to swap development studios for the project. The result, after so many years of waiting, was _ok_. _Bloodlines 2_ provides an incredibly diluted experience when compared to the original, but it plays well. Fans had spent these past dark years getting ready to fix this one when it came out, only to come to the dire realization that there's just not much below the already functioning surface to save. ## Microsoft leaves us in the dark Microsoft had been acquiring game studios as if they were Infinity Stones in the past few years. This is never a good sign, but, in this case, at least, it would likely point out that they were at least really serious about making new games, right? Well, not really, as 2025's version of Microsoft seemed hellbent on layoffs, studio closures, and, naturally, game cancellations. We often hear about the cancellation of games that the public had never witnessed past the screenshot format, but that was not the case with _Perfect Dark_. It was one of the many games that Microsoft killed out of nowhere, and it looked great. https://youtu.be/ofUi9DR9sc4 If you don't know much about _Perfect Dark_ , it's a series that conquered the hearts of many back in 2000 on the Nintendo 64 before fumbling it with the 360's _Perfect Dark Zero_ in 2006. Then, for nearly 20 years, it was just a promise Microsoft dangled in front of our eyes out of what now seems to be just pure cruelty. ## Civilization VII The _Civilization_ series has usually been a slam dunk, the rare series whose perceived errors are fun enough to become the stuff of legend. That, however, didn't ring true to _Civilization VII_ , a new entry that made the baffling decision to remove many of the series' beloved mechanics, and to add a bunch of confusing bloat that nobody really liked. Even before _Civ VII_ was out, there were already mods out to try to bring it closer to the glory of Civilizations past. ## Borderlands 4 After _Black Ops 7_ and _Civilization 7_ , _Borderlands_ destroyed its winning formula at just the fourth attempt. What a great year for "worst in the series" 2025 has been! Fans complained how the game was demanding on their wallets with its $70 to $80 price tag, and on their PCs, as it struggled on most systems. Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford downplayed the game's issues and claimed "real fans would find a way to make it work." The good news is _Borderlands 4_ has a good game underneath all the bad coding, if you can still stand the series' juvenile humor, that is. If not, just try out the best game in the series. ## Deus Ex Remaster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1RdKezTYNk The original, and only the original, _Deus Ex_ is one of the most celebrated games of all time. Fans were hyped for Aspyr's remaster as they'd done a stellar job with both the _Tomb Raider_ and _Soul Reaver_ reworks. They absolutely didn't do a great job here, considering how almost parody-level bad this looks To end on a better note, Aspyr has recently removed _Deux Ex_ _Remastered_ 's presence from the Internet, which seems to point to an attempt to do the game justice. The post The biggest disappointments in the games industry in 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.