Screen Rant - Game Features

What New Games Are On Game Pass & What Games Are Leaving (January 2024)

Glenn Bunn — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:06:23 GMT

Every month brings new games to the Xbox Game Pass service, with the regularly changing roster in Microsoft's subscription offering plenty of titles for different types of players to enjoy. These can be titles from acclaimed long-running franchises, and sometimes titles from Microsoft's first-party studios are added for no additional cost upon their launch, making Game Pass one of the better deals in gaming.

One Cyberpunk 2077 Change Makes The Game Harder, But So Much Better

Glenn Bunn — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 16:30:14 GMT

Cyberpunk 2077's 2.1 update has included several new changes, and while it makes one aspect of the game much harder, it greatly improves its portrayal of one particular Cyberpunk character: Adam Smasher. From the moment he first appeared during the Arasaka heist, the company's massively cybernetically enhanced head of security, Adam Smasher, was built up to be an intimidating foe.

A Game Based On One Popular Manga Series May Be Coming In English Soon

Derek Garcia — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 15:30:17 GMT

Given the vast number of fighting games and arena brawlers based on popular Shonen anime and manga, fans might assume that all the major franchises have seen English-language video game releases, but one major title that has been overlooked up until now could see its first localized game soon: Hunter x Hunter. Shonen is perhaps the best-known category of manga and anime in the West, featuring over-the-top battles and heroic adventures. These translate particularly well to video games, and most of the big-name series, especially those released in the publication Shonen Jump, have found audiences in English-speaking territories. Hunter x Hunter is one Shonen Jump hit that has, unfortunately, never had a video game localized outside of Japan.

What Pokémon TCG Expansion Is After Paldean Fates In 2024

Carrie Lambertsen — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:30:15 GMT

Pokémon Trainers for the Pokémon Trading Card Game can look forward to a good start to 2024, with not only the upcoming shiny-focused expansion Paldean Fates, but another new expansion shortly thereafter. The popular TCG is currently focusing on cards that are based on the most current video game entries, Scarlet and Violet, with both Pokémon and game mechanics that are similar to what is seen there. Now, a new expansion could be seen in the upcoming months, with ties to the Paradox theme that occurs in the games.

Genshin Impact 4.5 Leaks Reveal New Banner Characters

Bruno Yonezawa — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 13:30:15 GMT

A set of new Genshin Impact 4.5 leaks has allegedly revealed some of the characters that are intended to be featured during the upcoming update. While Version 4.4 is still on its way, with several leaks of its own surrounding its impending release, the next, some details concerning Version 4.5 are starting to arise. At the moment, the vast majority of the leaks revolve around the next update, however. There have been Genshin Impact 4.4 skin leaks, for instance, as well as mentions of an unexpected extension to a well-beloved region of Teyvat. There have even been hints at a new deity inhabiting such an area.

Using This Baldur's Gate 3 Ability At The Wrong Time Has Unexpectedly Hilarious Results

Ben Brosofsky — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 13:00:15 GMT

Baldur's Gate 3 features a wide variety of magical abilities to use throughout an adventure, and this consequently means that not every supernatural effect or interaction works exactly as expected. Figuring out powerful combinations or unique exploits for spells and features is part of the fun for many, even if developer Larian Studios has taken care to patch a number of major issues to achieve a more proper ideal of balance. Some magical side effects offer no mechanical advantages at all, however, making their mark through the game's amusingly incorrect handling more than anything else.

The Mario Remake You've Been Waiting For Is Probably Coming Sooner Than You Thought

Andrew Zhou — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 12:00:14 GMT

While the official release date for the remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door hasn't been confirmed outside a 2024 launch window, certain evidence suggests that the game's release date will be sooner rather than later. Widely regarded as one of the best games in its own series, and the last game to follow the formula and mechanics of the original Paper Mario, The Thousand-Year Door has consistently been among the most widely-requested Nintendo classics to be ported to the Switch.

This Classic Nintendo RPG Deserves A Remake For Its 30th Anniversary In 2024

Ben Brosofsky — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 21:29:17 GMT

2024 marks the 30th anniversary of beloved Nintendo RPG EarthBound, and it's high time that the game gets a new, freshened up treatment to introduce it to a new generation. The second installment in the Mother series, EarthBound takes a very different approach to the RPG experience from most of its contemporaries. With a unique modern American setting and a penchant for mocking genre staples, there's a reason that the title is especially well-remembered today as an innovative game and thoroughly engaging experience.

Baldur's Gate 3's Best Companion Isn't A Companion At All

Ben Brosofsky — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 19:30:13 GMT

The companions of Baldur's Gate 3 are among the most memorable aspects of the game, but one of the best characters to have around isn't even a companion in the traditional sense. Although the word "companion" can mean a lot of different things in real life, it specifically refers to potential party members in Baldur's Gate 3, who fill out an adventuring group in the same way that Dungeons & Dragons players would at the game table (or in a multiplayer Baldur's Gate 3 campaign). It's consequently no surprise that companions tend to be some of the most interesting characters in the game.

Hogwarts Legacy: Should You Tell Sebastian The Truth?

Carrie Lambertsen — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 18:30:14 GMT

In Hogwarts Legacy, players can choose to live out their lives in the wizarding world however they please, including making dialogue choices. However, when it comes to telling Sebastian the truth during "In The Shadow of the Undercroft," it can be tricky to know what the right call is. By this point, the protagonist and the Slytherin student will have spent some time together, which makes it tempting to be honest. Conversely, Professor Fig has continually stressed the importance of keeping their secret private.