Your wallet will be taking a critical hit by the end of the February 2025 games lineup as it includes epic RPGs like Avowed and the highly anticipated multiplayer title Monster Hunter Wilds, which is likely to be a mega-hit on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. Monster Hunter Wilds will be the first game in the series to include crossplay, likely adding to its value for fans.

Avowed (Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Price: $69.99 (on Xbox Game Pass from day one)
Release Date: February 18
Trailer

Famous RPG developer Obsidian is launching its next fantasy roleplaying game, Avowed, into the wild on February 18. This game is a new action RPG that takes place in the acclaimed Pillars of Eternity universe but doesn't necessarily require you to play those games to get into this experience. You'll be investigating a plague that has afflicted the Living Lands, and it is up to you to thwart it with your melee and magical skills. Back in November, our preview called the game a "masterpiece in the making."

"Its accessible mechanics make it a welcoming experience for newcomers to the genre, while its diverse combat tactics provide a satisfying challenge," said the article by Kristina Ebanez. "In just a few hours, I found myself lost in its expansive world, filled with a variety of activities." Hopefully, it can deliver, despite its limitation to 30 frames per second on Xbox Series X|S. It's one of those February 2025 games to be excited for, regardless.

Civilization VII (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)

Publisher: 2K
Developer: Firaxis Games
Price: $69.99
Release Date: February 11
Trailer

The next entry in the legendary strategy series Civilization VII is heading to PC and consoles simultaneously on February 11. Starting with any leader, you can start your own civilization, build its cities, and create new technologies to make your civilization competitive against others. You'll have to deal with each Age as time progresses, adding new gameplay mechanics to learn and adapt to. The leader you choose, like Benjamin Franklin or Lafayette, has a unique ability, and according to the Steam page, "can further be improved with customizable attributes earned through gameplay." They are no longer tied to a specific society.

"Firaxis probably could have gotten away with a safer approach with this installment, opting for just better graphics," said our 9/10 review. "Instead, it boldly revamped a lot of the core systems to make the entire game more streamlined for both newcomers and veterans alike."

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Publisher: Deep Silver
Developer: Warhorse Studios
Price: $69.99
Release Date: February 4
Trailer

Gamers can live out their medieval fantasy in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the sequel to the crowdfunded hit. You'll be playing as Henry in this 15th Century Europe-inspired land, forming choices and clashing blades with thy enemies with steel. This open world game is advertised to feature "bustling cities" and "lush forests" as you explore the historic-themed areas.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 seems to be the first big critical hit of 2025. It currently has an 88 Metacritic score from 53 different outlets for its PC version. "Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is one I often dreamed of existing when I was growing up watching a ton of medieval-time movies and TV shows," said our review. "One where you get to actually make decisions, and have complete control over your choices, right or wrong." It also says that the game has "such a satisfying and rewarding combat system," despite some bugs along the way.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Publisher: Sega
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Price: $59.99
Release Date: February 21
Trailer

The wacky adventures of Goro Majima continues in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii as he forgets who he is and becomes a captain of the sea. After getting shipwrecked and saved by a kid named Noah, he finds himself on the high seas taking on modern-day pirates and criminals along the way in an eccentric adventure that features dual-blade action and a customizable ship. It may put the extremely dull Skull and Bones to shame as it also features naval combat.

As this is a spinoff, fans are expecting the game to be shorter than the mainline Like a Dragon/Yakuza titles. Thankfully, it will be around 1.3-1.5x longer than Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, according to a Famitsu interview (via GameRant) with Ryu Ga Gotoku boss Masayoshi Yokoyama, so there will be quite a lot of content to scour through.

Monster Hunter Wilds (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Price: $69.99
Release Date: February 28
Trailer

You can mark your "Proof of a Hero" when Monster Hunter Wilds finally launches on February 28 for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with crossplay support. As you'd expect from past titles, we'll be taking on terrifying beasts, using their body parts and fur for new armor, and protecting the world from foes beyond our comprehension. This time, it all takes place in the Forbidden Lands, which has drastically changing weather than can dynamically alter our gameplay experience. "Not only will hunters have a multitude of weapons and armor to choose from, but the art of the hunt itself has evolved as hunters learn to anticipate monsters’ behavior and familiarize themselves with their environment," explains the Steam page.

You'll be able to get a sneak peek of the action when the second open beta begins on February 6 and ends on February 9. Another starts a week later on February 13 and runs until February 16. When the game fully launches, it's likely going to be one of the most popular February 2025 games.

Honorable mentions from February 2025 games lineup

As you can see, there are many games to look forward to in February 2025, and your wallet's probably cowering in fear. Unfortunately, other notable releases are coming this month. They include:

• Rift of the Necrodancer (PC) - February 5
• Ailuri (Switch, PC) - February 7
• Jump King Quest (PC) - February 12
• Afterlove EP (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) - February 14
• The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II (PS4, PS5, Switch, PC) - February 14
• Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) - February 14
• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - February 18
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection (Switch, PC) - February 27
• PGA Tour 2K25 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - February 28

The post February 2025 is a packed month for video games, here’s why appeared first on Destructoid.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is all about interacting with lovable Sanrio characters and turning them from acquaintances to your best friends. What better way to befriend them than to invite their friends and family to join the party?

One character you can invite is Cappuccino, Cinnamoroll's best friend who enjoys napping and snacking. As long as you have a cabin full of food prepared for him, he'll visit throughout the year to liven up the island. Here's how to get Cappuccino to visit your island in Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

How to invite Cappuccino as an Island Visitor in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

The two requirements for inviting Cappuccino to your island are waiting until he begins traveling and building a cabin that meets his requirements. Currently, Cappuccino will arrive in Hello Kitty Island Adventure on February 6, 2025, giving you only a few days after My Melody's reminder to prepare a cabin for him.

Before Cappuccino visits your island, you'll need to prepare a cabin with the following requirements:

• Must have two Bakery items.
• Must have two Coffee items.
• Must have two Pizza items.
• Must have two Soda items.

You're good to go as long as you meet these four requirements. You can use any cabin available in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, but I'd recommend spots like Spooky Swamp, Mount Hothead, or Cloud Island if you have it unlocked. You can also upgrade a cabin or two if you want Cappuccino and other visitors in more populated areas like Seaside Resort.

How to meet Cappuccino's Cabin requirements in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Unlike other visitors who want specific furniture types or food, Cappuccino is all about food. That said, you'll need to unlock the oven, espresso machine, pizza oven, and soda machine. The oven is available early on in your playthrough, but the others require exploring each region and befriending Hangyodon, Retsuko, and Pompompurin.

Once you unlock each machine, you'll be ready to create two of each dish. Although any that have these four tags are solid additions to your cabin, here are some easy early-game ones I recommend:

Although these are a few recommendations for easy recipes, you can use any oversupplied items. For example, if you have a ton of Sugarkelp from befriending Keroppi, you can turn it into Sugarkelp Cakes, Dessert Pizza, or Sweet Soda. Even if a recipe fails, the default options work for Cappuccino's cabin requirements, allowing you to experiment and discover new recipes.

Once you have every item, unlock any cabin you wish using some spare Strawberry Crates before placing everything down. After satisfying his cabin requirements, you'll have to wait a day for Cappuccino to visit, so don't worry if he doesn't appear right away.

The post How to get Cappuccino to visit in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

It feels like the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 was a long time coming. We've been anticipating it for a few years now, especially with the OG Switch now very much reaching the end of its lifecycle.

In fact, sales of the hybrid console suggest everyone's on tenterhooks, just waiting for the arrival of the Switch 2. In a recent financial report, Nintendo said that sales have decreased once more, with net profits down by 31.4% year-on-year.

A further statement in the report says that sales from the company's "game console business decreased by 31.7% year-on-year to 895.5 billion yen." Nintendo even saw a decrease in "mobile and IP related income," which is being blamed on a decrease in sales on the likes of The Super Mario Bros. Movie that was released in April 2023.

Switching over

Despite even sales of the Nintendo Switch OLED edition dropping when compared to the last financial year, it wasn't all bad news. Sure, sales of Nintendo first-party games also dipped somewhat, but the likes of Super Mario Jamboree and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe have now sold 6.17 million and 5.38 million units, respectively.

In fact, according to the report, Jamboree's "cumulative global sell-through" exceeded 5.6 million copies within the first eleven weeks of its release. This means it surpassed the "pace of sales" when compared to other Switch games like Super Mario Party and Mario Party Superstars.

However, the decline in sales overall won't come as a great surprise to many. It seems fairly clear that the gaming industry is just now waiting for the release of the Switch 2.

Nintendo announced the follow-up system recently, but we don't have a release date for it yet. We've been told it's coming sometime this year and that more details are to follow at the next Nintendo Direct, which is scheduled for April. No doubt, sales of the original Switch are only going to decline as we go forward.

The post It seems everyone is waiting for the Switch 2, as Nintendo records more sales decreases appeared first on Destructoid.

Iron and ingots are two of the most important resources you'll find in Hello Kitty Island Adventure. You'll use it in numerous crafting recipes, including ones for quest items and valuable gifts for villagers. Fortunately, there are two easy ways to farm iron early in your playthrough.

Best ways to get Iron in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Typically, the main way to get iron in Hello Kitty Island Adventure is to travel around Mount Hothead and pick it up off the ground. However, there are two better methods to obtain iron quickly and consistently:

1. Use the Nul Collection Box to get 14 Iron every 24 hours.
2. Play the Gemstone Match House minigame in Gemstone Mountain.

The best strategy for maximizing your iron farming is to activate the Nul Collection Box in Seaside Resort as soon as you log into Hello Kitty Island Adventure. Once you do, you'll have 24 hours to play in the Gemstone Match House or roam around Mount Hothead for extras.

Nul Collection Box

The Nul Collection Box is one of the best ways to get resources around Friendship Island if you don't want to go around and grab them yourself. After progressing through the main story enough to complete Meet the Island Beings and Terra Nul, you'll equip one of the island's Nuls with a Collector Hat, allowing you to use the Collection Box to get various materials. You'll obtain the resources — in this case, 14 iron — after 24 real-world hours.

Overall, if you want to prepare for the following day or don't have enough time to play Hello Kitty Island Adventure, the Collection Box is one of the best ways to get any resource with little effort. However, the Gemstone Match House is a great alternative if you prefer active gameplay and item-collecting.

Gemstone Match House

The Gemstone Match House is located in Gemstone Mountain, north of Spooky Swamp. You'll find it above the Gemstone Town mailbox in a building with a yellow roof.

The main purpose of the Gemstone Match House is farming resources like iron, Shiny, and a few miscellaneous collectibles using Game Tickets. In exchange for one Game Ticket, you'll swap up to two pairs of grayed-out crystals, lighting them up in hopes of matching two of the same type. A successful match gives you another chance to match, letting you chain them if you find several.

Each successful match gives you either two irons, Shiny, or other rewards like furniture and music. Iron is by far the most common prize you'll get from this, letting you get upward of eight to ten with one Game Ticket if you get lucky with your matches. Even if you don't find any matches right away, the puzzle won't reset, letting you memorize their locations and create some chains.

The Gemstone Match House is a fantastic way to get iron quickly if you have enough Game Tickets to play a few rounds. Game Tickets also spawn on the ground daily, so you can grab more the next day if you run out.

How to make Iron Ingots in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Before you can craft ingots using your newly acquired iron, you'll need to find its crafting recipe blueprint in Gemstone Mountain. The ingot crafting blueprint appears on a small barrel near the Gemstone Match House.

Once you collect this ingot blueprint, head to Chococat's crafting table to find the recipe. You'll need three iron for every ingot you create, so be prepared to farm the Gemstone Match House and ask the Nuls to collect some iron for you occasionally.

The post How to farm Iron and Ingots in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

The Seafood Salad Disney Dreamlight Valley recipe is a fantastic healthy option for your friends like Donald and Mulan. You'll only need two ingredients to create this dish, thankfully.

Seafood Salad Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

To create the two-star meal Seafood Salad, you'll need two ingredients. They include:

• Any Seafood (Squid, Lobster, etc)
• Lettuce

Lettuce is easy to find. You can buy the seeds for 3 Star Coins from Goofy's Stall in the Peaceful Meadow. You may also be lucky and be able to purchase the actual ingredient itself. Thankfully, the seeds don't take long to grow after being planted and watered. The growing process takes just three minutes.

You can use any seafood for this dish. One important thing to note, however, is that fish don't count towards the Seafood Salad. You'll need to catch lobsters, squid, basically anything without fins. Clams, Oysters, and Scallops are the easiest to find as they can be picked up from the sand at Dazzle Beach.

If you want the dish to be more valuable, however, you may want to find Lobsters instead. You can find the crustacean in the Glade of Trust within orange ripples. Use your fishing rod and try to catch the lobster.

By the way, you should hang out with a valley friend who has the fishing specialty on them. Not only will their friendship level progress, but they have a chance to double your catch, so you can get two lobsters with one cast.

Create the dish

Head to any cooking station within Chez Remy or your house and chuck both ingredients in the pot. You'll then have the Seafood Salad ready to eat. If you have Lobster in your dish, you can sell it at Goofy's Stall for 1,245 Star Coins or eat it for 2,865 Energy.

Have spare lobsters in your bag? You can make an awesome Lobster Roll. It probably won't beat the one I had in Boston though!

The post How to make Seafood Salad in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure features a massive map full of treasures, villagers to befriend, and mysteries to solve. Some areas require having several stamina wheels to access. The only way to permanently increase your stamina is to eat Stamina Apples after collecting their slices.

Here's how to find all the Stamina Apple Slices in Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

How to make Stamina Apples in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Making a Stamina Apple in Hello Kitty Island Adventure requires collecting five Stamina Apple slices and using them at Chococat's crafting table. When you obtain your first five slices, Chococat will automatically assign you a quest, Fantastic Fruit, letting you unlock the apple's crafting recipe. Without talking to Chococat first, you won't be able to make a Stamina Apple even if you have enough slices.

There are two ways to get Stamina Apple slices in Hello Kitty Island Adventure:

1. Open Golden Chests around the map.
2. Befriend villagers around Friendship Island.

Early on in your playthrough, the easiest way to get Stamina Apple slices is to befriend a few characters. After eating your first apple, you'll have enough stamina to explore most of the map, giving you access to most locations outside of ones that require more stamina or are locked behind certain quests.

You can find 25 Stamina Apple slices during your Hello Kitty Island Adventure, giving you up to five extra stamina wheels. Let's take a look at every Stamina Apple Slice friendship level requirement and map location.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure Stamina Apple Slice friendship levels

You can also obtain up to 15 Stamina Apple slices by befriending villagers in Hello Kitty Island Adventure. While some are available as early as friendship level three for some characters, others require reaching late-game levels of 20 or higher. Here's the complete list of villagers who give you Stamina Apple slices and their level requirements.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure Stamina Apple Slice map locations

The remaining 10 Stamina Apple slices in Hello Kitty Island Adventure are tucked away in golden treasure chests around Friendship Island. Some are accessible early on, while others require a few stamina upgrades. Here are all 10 Stamina Apple slice chest locations:

Seaside Resort

The first Stamina Apple slice location in Seaside Resort requires completing the main story quest Power Up the Gate and entering the Beginners Bridge puzzle chamber. After befriending Chococat, you'll craft a Power Crystal Sensor that leads you to several puzzle rooms, including one directly west of his crafting station. This chamber houses the first golden chest and Stamina Apple slice.

The second location within Seaside Resort requires traveling to Hopscotch Islands. These islands are directly northwest of the main Seaside Resort area, with the golden chest on top of its highest point. Although you can get here without flippers, having them available makes this trip much easier.

With these two locations out of the way, it's time to travel to Spooky Swamp.

Spooky Swamp

Spooky Swamp has one golden chest location directly south of the Ghost Tour Ride's mailbox. If it's your first time in the swamp, you'll have to travel to the northernmost section until you start seeing railway tracks before heading west onto a raised cliffside. The chest containing the next Stamina Apple slice is nestled next to a tree and some peculiar blue-gray rocks.

Rainbow Reef

Rainbow Reef has two Stamina Apple slice chests, with the first chest only being accessible if you have flippers. The second requires the snorkel and either the Mermaid Outfit or extra stamina from apples.

Starting with the easier of the two, teleport to either the Moon Island or Cozy Islands mailbox and start swimming toward their middle point. If you zoom into your map, you'll find a tiny gray circle, indicating the stone platform housing your next golden chest. Head to this spot to find another Stamina Apple slice.

The second chest is a little trickier, requiring at least three stamina wheels or the Mermaid Outfit. Directly north of Kelp Maze and south of Gemstone Mountain is a massive trench with a blue Power Crystal and a golden Stamina Apple chest at the bottom. Using your snorkel, descend to the very bottom to find the next chest.

Gemstone Mountain

Next is Gemstone Mountain, a region north of Spooky Swamp with three Stamina Apple slice chests. The first is the easiest of the three, located on a cliff south of the Oasis Mailbox and Pompompurin's Dessert Boat. Although you don't need an extra stamina wheel for this location, having one from now on will help you in the next few locations.

Our next destination is tricky to navigate, as it requires traveling to the entrance of Icy Peak in Gemstone Mountain. Icy Peak is the mountain and cave system in the area's northeast corner. Fortunately, we won't have to enter this dangerous area, as the next stamina apple chest is east of the entrance's Mailbox along the cliff's edges.

I'd recommend having an extra stamina wheel or two for this climb, as it's very easy to run out even if you take the long route along the main path. With enough parkour skills, though, you can get away with doing this without extra stamina.

Our final Stamina Apple slice location in Gemstone Mountain requires venturing directly into Crystal Caves. You can find this cave system below the Icy Peak Entrance mailbox, with its entrance surrounded by purple crystals.

Before entering the cave, make sure you've unlocked the snorkel and either the Mermaid Outfit or some extra stamina. You only need one extra wheel, but having a second will make swimming much easier. Once you head inside, jump into the water directly south of you and swim all the way down until you spot the golden chest next to a puzzle chamber.

Mount Hothead

Last on the list is Mount Hothead, which holds two more Stamina Apple slices. If you haven't completed story quests like Enraging Ruins and Fire Up the Volcano, you'll need at least two extra stamina wheels to access these chests. In most cases, these will be the last two slices you collect outside of friendship-level ones.

Once you've acquired some stamina upgrades, climb up the mountain past Retsuko, the pizza oven, and the Mount Hothead mailbox until you reach the levels below the Upper Ruins entrance. You may have to get a little creative with climbing up, but a good rule of thumb is to look for ledges to rest on if your stamina gets low.

If you already have the Upper Ruins entrance mailbox unlocked, jump down to the right-most platform directly below it to save time. Either way, head up (or down) Mount Hothead until you find the golden chest next to a rope fence in front of one of the ruins' entrances.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure's final Stamina Apple slice location is deep within Mount Hothead's caves. More specifically, you'll need access to the Lava Caves, which you can access either through the Caldera mailbox if you've visited before or by climbing up the mountain. Completing Enraging Ruins and Fire Up the Volcano will make this much easier, but you can get through here without the quest if you haven't met Retsuko's friendship requirements.

Regardless of your strategy, you'll initially find the Lava Caves entrance directly east of the Caldera mailbox. Much like the rest of Mount Hothead, you'll encounter several ledges that make traversing this area possible, albeit tricky if you accidentally fly or step on lava. Hug the walls, land on as many safe ledges as possible, and conserve some stamina to fly around the molten rock spots for the best chance at getting past these rooms.

After the first room, you'll have a break from moving along a minecart track and running around safe paths. Shortly after the minecart ride, you'll encounter an area in the top-left corner of the map, requiring you to travel north across the lava river and enter a small cave entrance to access the final golden chest.

The post All Stamina Apple Slice locations in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

The Apple Cider Glazed Salmon Disney Dreamlight Valley recipe is a tantalizing meal for any of your Disney friends like Minnie or Goofy. This three-star dish can be created from ingredients you can find in the original valley, no DLC is needed.

Apple Cider Glazed Salmon Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

To create Apple Cider Glazed Salmon, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Salmon
• Apple
• Sugarcane

You can fish for Salmon in the Sunlit Plateau or the Frosted Heights. If you have some of the DLC, you can also catch it from The Grasslands or The Promenade. They are caught from white ripples in the water as they are a common fish to obtain. Bring a friend from the valley who has the fishing specialty attached to them. For example, I had Mirabel with me. Catching fish with a person with this specialty increases their friendship level and gives you a chance to double your catch.

Apples can be picked from trees in the Plaza. There is one tree that's right next to my house in the game, making this fruit easy to grab.

Lastly, Sugarcane seeds can be bought from Goofy in Dazzle Beach. He sells them for 5 Star Coins each. They'll take seven minutes to grow once you've planted and watered them.

Let's bring this dish together

Now you have all of the ingredients, you can now bring them together in any cooking station. Head to your home or Chez Remy (Remy's restaurant, which also sells Butter, Eggs, and more). Throw all three ingredients into the pot, and you'll have the Apple Cider Glazed Salmon ready to serve. C'est magnifique!

You can sell the Apple Cider Glazed Salmon for 271 Star Coins or eat it for 1,572 Energy. It may also be a dish that a villager requests at Chez Remy. If you give it to them, their friendship level rises significantly. If you keep cooking three-star dishes, this will contribute to your Dreamlight tasks.

The post How to make Apple Cider Glazed Salmon in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Unlocking important tools in Hello Kitty Island Adventure requires collecting specific resources and crafting them. One material you need for zip lines and the snorkel during Kuromi's Deep Diving quest is Spark, an item that's surprisingly easy to make once you learn its recipe.

How to unlock Spark crafting recipe in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Before crafting Spark, you'll need to unlock its recipe by completing Pochacco's level four friendship quest, A Zipline Adventure. The two of you will ask Chococat for help fixing broken ziplines around Friendship Island, revealing that you need Spark to power them up. Chococat will then give you a Spark crafting recipe blueprint, unlocking access to this material for the rest of your playthrough.

How to craft Spark in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Now that you can access Spark's crafting recipe, you'll need three Light Stones for one you craft. Light Stone is Kuromi's bonus material from gifts. The better the gift, the more stones she'll give you.

Here are some of the best gifts to give Kuromi if you're looking to stockpile some Light Stones:

• Spicy Pumpkin Latte
• Pumpkin Spice Soda
• Jack-O-Lantern
• Pumpkin Pie
• Pumpkin

The best choice depends on how far you are in the game. If you're still early in the game, giving Kuromi pumpkin pie is your best bet. Later, Spicy Pumpkin Latte and Pumpkin Spice Soda will become your go-to as you get more resources and unlock the Espresso and Soda machines.

Once you give Kuromi a few gifts and receive some Light Stone, bring it to Chococat's crafting bench to make some Spark.

How to use Spark in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

One of the most important uses of Spark is crafting a Snorkel to dive underwater. Alongside this, any crafting recipe for cooking stations you unlock through friendships also requires Spark, among other items, to create. Generally speaking, any item you'd expect to use electricity, like Holograms, will use Spark in their recipes.

You'll also need Spark to repair ziplines around Friendship Island. While the zipline in Seaside Resort is the first you'll encounter, you can also find some connecting Spooky Swamp to Gemstone Mountain and the mountain to Mount Hothead. Keep a few Spark on hand if you run into any of these during your travels.

The post How to find Spark in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

There's a ton of content in Hello Kitty Island Adventure that takes place underwater. You can find an entire city in the water, with one character, Hangyodon, residing within it. You'll need a snorkel to reach this region, but making one requires traveling around the map for various resources.

How to unlock Deep Diving in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Crafting a snorkel and unlocking diving underwater requires completing Kuromi's friendship level six quest, Deep Diving. During the mission, she'll let you borrow her snorkel to dive underwater in the swamp and grab her locket. Although she won't let you keep it, she'll give you a crafting recipe that allows you to make your own.

Below is the snorkel's crafting recipe:

• Rubber (10)
• Spark (2)
• Ingot (2)

Once you have all three items, head to Chococat's crafting table to create a snorkel, completing the Deep Diving quest and allowing you to dive underwater anywhere on Hello Kitty Island Adventure's map.

How to find Rubber

Rubber is an abundant resource all around Seaside Resort. You'll find Rubber on the ground as you explore this area, appearing as dark purple balls along pathways and hills. They also respawn regularly, giving you tons of opportunities to pick some up as you play.

How to craft Spark

Spark is trickier, requiring you to complete Pochacco's level four friendship quest, A Zipline Adventure. Pochacco discovers a broken zipline during this quest and asks for your help repairing it. You'll both ask Chococat for assistance, giving you a Spark crafting recipe.

Creating one Spark requires three Light Stone, a resource Kuromi gives you whenever you give her a gift. Since you need level six friendship to unlock the snorkel, you'll likely have plenty of these already. If not, find Kuromi and give her some gifts before heading back to your crafting station and making two Spark.

How to find and craft Iron Ingots

Next up are ingots, which you can craft using three Iron. It is found in Mount Hothead, a region northwest of Seaside Resort. The easiest way to get here early on is to go to Moon Island and swim to the southernmost dock connected to Mount Hothead.

Iron spawns regularly along rocks in Mount Hothead rather than grass or sand. Although it isn't as common as rubber or sticks, you can still find several around rocky areas that appear as small ore-like stones. If you have a couple of stamina upgrades, you can also climb the mountain for more spawns.

You will also need an ingot crafting recipe, which you'll find next to a cabin in Gemstone Mountain. You can access this area using bridges connected to Spooky Swamp and Mount Hothead. Spooky Swamp's ziplines also act as a quick and easy way to reach this area. If you finished the zipline quest from earlier, you can visit one northwest of the Ghost Cart Ride and use it to access Gemstone Mountain directly. From here, you'll find the recipe on a barrel north of the Gemstone Town mailbox.

The post How to get a Snorkel in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

Sanrio is near and dear to my heart. Although this world of Hello Kitty and her friends only recently entered my life, I have several friends and family who adore these guys. I've lost count of the times my siblings have mentioned Hello Kitty, Kuromi, or Cinnamoroll in random conversations.

For me, this was a blind playthrough of Hello Kitty Island Adventure. Although I'd known about the Apple Arcade version through several friends, I'd never played it myself, making this a fresh start rather than a direct comparison. I mainly thought the characters were cute, but playing this has since made me develop an unexpected appreciation for them and the Sanrio universe, leaving me satisfied for a while.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure (PC, Nintendo Switch [Reviewed], iOS)
Developer: Sunblink
Publisher: Sunblink
Released: January 30, 2025 (Switch/PC)
MSRP: $39.99

When I first booted up Hello Kitty Island Adventure, I was half expecting to see the Switch get yet another game about small animals occupying an island and going about their business. There was a part of my mind that feared it'd be the same game, either simplified or changed to be less appealing, giving my first few minutes a peculiar feeling of unease. Thank goodness, it only took a few minutes for me to realize there was more to this adventure than just a quick copy-paste.

Instead, Hello Kitty Island Adventure immediately greets you with the game's main cast, and Hello Kitty herself guides you through your first few minutes. Things start simple: you're on a plane with each Sanrio character, giving you an opportunity to talk to each one and learn more about their thoughts on your upcoming adventure. It's a nice way to introduce you to their world without shoving lore and exposition in your face. Or, well, you can skip this part entirely if you just want to hop onto the island and get started right away.

Speaking of the island, this map is massive. Its scale isn't apparent at first, but as you run around and discover the world around you, you quickly realize just how much is here and how much each character will rely on you in the days to come. It's sometimes overwhelming while equally exciting, especially if you prefer exploration over menial tasks.

Don't worry, though. There's plenty of questing to do if that's your thing. The only thing that overwhelmed me more than the size of this map is how many quests Hello Kitty Island Adventure tosses your way within the first few hours. Beyond story missions, you'll get all kinds of friendship quests, random side adventures, and even daily tasks to keep you playing. It's easy to log on, blink a few times, and suddenly realize you spent the past few hours doing fetch quests for the characters. There are even minigames and puzzles everywhere to get your brain going and unlock some neat little trophies.

Are these quests full of grand adventures and entertaining moments, or are they mostly mindless chores and fetch quests you can finish on auto-pilot? If anything, it feels like a mix of both. Advancing through the main storyline is satisfying, especially as you open more areas of the map and meet new characters. Between that are hours of farming materials, raising your friendship with the Sanrio cast, and occasionally having to wait a real-world day to make meaningful progress because you're one friendship level away from unlocking another quest. It's much less noticeable early on when progression is simple and quick, but it starts to drag later on at times.

On the topic of friendships, Hello Kitty Island Adventure has a peculiar system that I'm mixed on. Every day, you can give up to three items to each character to raise their friendship levels. The points you get change depending on the item's tags and a character's preferences, so giving the same item to Hello Kitty and someone like Tuxedosam will have different effects.

This game relies heavily on gift-giving for progression, with nearly every quest locked behind a specific level. You're also limited to three gifts daily for each character, forcing you to wait until the following day unless you reset your counter with a rare item. There's a part of me that likes thinking about what gifts I want to give someone without feeling tempted to speedrun the game in a few days, but another part that gets overwhelmed by the need to give out dozens of items every day. Needing several days to unlock one quest can suck sometimes, but with how much content is available, I barely noticed it until I progressed later in the game.

Even as friendship limitations make questing a little awkward sometimes, the interactions between you and each Sanrio character make things fun and interesting. They all have the same personalities and cartoony animated expressions I'd expected from them, but there's something about their style and attitudes that makes me smile every time I play. Sunblink nailed their look, personalities, and overall vibes, even if the lack of voice acting is a missed opportunity.

I'm pleasantly surprised by how much Hello Kitty Island Adventure lets you do outside questing and chatting with other characters. It has your standard skills like cooking, crafting, and fishing with some more advanced activities you unlock later down the line. A lot is locked behind quests and friendship levels, but unlocking these opens up many opportunities to explore the island in different ways without following linear paths or going into autopilot the entire time. I don't know about you, but I tend to sidetrack from quests a lot to cook some food or fish for a couple of hours, even if it doesn't help much with progression. The only difference this time is that everything you do in this game helps in some way, mostly with gifting or crafting quest items.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a wonderful game that distinguishes itself from the crowd and stands tall as a densely packed, enjoyable experience. Although it can use improvements in some areas, the Switch version of Hello Kitty Island Adventure is absolutely worth picking up if you've been looking for an Animal Crossing-like game to try out and either don't have an iPhone or are on the fence about getting an Apple Arcade subscription and prefer one-time payments. It plays well with no major performance issues — at most, I found a slightly long loading screen. Considering the game's size, though, I can easily forgive this.

With updates coming out every month and recurring events changing things up, every day feels different on this island. I'm looking forward to seeing how Hello Kitty Island Adventure's future unfolds.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

As you befriend Kuromi in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, she'll show you a Green Power Crystal that activates a nearby Haunted Mansion. Upon entering, you'll find several doors you need to activate to reach the top floor and advance through the Re-Haunt the Spooky Swamp quest.

Although this goal sounds simple, you'll instantly find a peculiar quest objective titled "Survive the Haunted Mansion." In short, you need to solve puzzles within ten rooms to light up their respective lights. Here's how to complete all ten haunted mansion rooms in Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure Re-Haunt the Spooky Swamp quest guide

After inserting the Green Power Crystal into a nearby pedestal and activating the haunted mansion, you'll find a door leading deeper into the building. From here, you'll find a total of ten numbered rooms along an ascending staircase, each holding puzzles that range in difficulty and complexity. You'll also spot a treasure chest near the mansion's entrance containing a witch costume you'll need later in this quest.

Here's the solution for all ten haunted mansion rooms during Hello Kitty Island Adventure's Re-Haunt the Spooky Swamp quest.

Spooky Swamp Haunted Mansion - Room one

The first haunted mansion room is by far the easiest, acting as a small maze with a second door at the end. If you move forward in this room, you'll eventually run into a mirror blocking the way to the exit. Instead, you'll need to head back to the room's entrance, turn right, and head up past the chairs.

From here, you'll have two paths leading to the exit. Take the bottom path and run up to complete the first of these ten rooms.

Spooky Swamp Haunted Mansion - Room two

The second room acts a little differently, featuring disappearing floor panels rather than invisible mirrors. On the ground, you'll see raised square panels that, when stepped on, teleport you back to the room's beginning. Run through the corridor while avoiding these squares to reach the exit and complete the second room.

Spooky Swamp Haunted Mansion - Room three

Now that you know how invisible mirrors and floor panels work, it's time to complete a room that combines both. The third room will start you in front of several dining tables, with mirrors and squares appearing throughout the path between the start and exit. From the beginning, head right and travel up past the first set of tables before moving to the middle and running straight into the doorway, completing the third room.

Spooky Swamp Haunted Mansion - Room four

Room four is much trickier than the last three rooms, requiring you to enter the correct door. The catch? There are 11 doors to choose from. If you want to figure out this puzzle without hints, head through each door individually until you find the correct one leading to a green-lit entrance.

If you've already tried this, you'll find the correct door on the second floor to your left. It's the door to the left of the mirror. Entering this will complete the room instantly, teleporting you in front of the fourth entrance and preparing you for the halfway point.

Spooky Swamp Haunted Mansion - Room five

It's time for another puzzle in room five. This time, we have a two-part puzzle involving colored buttons and levers to your left. Finding the button solutions requires solving the levers, so we'll start there.

To your left, you'll find four grey levers in a square that, when pulled, will turn green. To complete this puzzle, activate each lever in clockwise order until you've pulled all four to turn them all green, unlocking a door that leads to the button solution.

Once you read the door passcode pedestal, step on the red and green buttons to finish the puzzle, unlock the exit and officially mark the halfway point in the Haunted Mansion portion of the Re-Haunt the Spooky Swamp quest.

Spooky Swamp Haunted Mansion - Room six

Remember those levers from the previous room? It's time to repeat this puzzle but with a two-by-three grid of levers. Although the method before won't work, that's alright because this solution is even simpler: activate two levers in opposite corners to complete the puzzle and open the next exit. Make sure to open the treasure chest outside of room six's exit before heading to the next area.

Spooky Swamp Haunted Mansion - Room seven

It's time to test your maze skills with room seven. If you move forward in this room, you'll see four purple bookshelves blocking the way to the exit. You'll need to clear these away using levers found throughout the maze.

There are four levers to find in the maze. Here are the steps to finding the first one:

1. From the entrance, head forward and turn right at the first intersection.
2. Head down at the next intersection before right and immediately running up the next corridor.
3. At the My Melody painting, turn right, head up, and turn left to find the first lever.

Once you activate the first lever, your first bookshelf will disappear, opening a new path. Retrace your steps and approach this new entrance before following its snake pattern to the bottom of the room. You'll find the next lever here, opening a new path directly north of the previous one. Head here to start searching for the third lever.

Fortunately, this next one is also simple. Starting from the second bookshelf's location, head left through the path until you reach the wall before going up, turning right, and activating the next lever. This will open the bookshelf on the opposite side of the hall, unlocking the route to the final lever.

Here are the steps to finding the fourth and final lever of the room:

1. Head right through the third bookshelf's corridor until you reach a wall.
2. Head up slightly before turning right.
3. Head down at the first intersection, following the snake pattern until you find the lever.

Now that the final bookshelf is gone, head through the door to complete room seven. We're now on to the eighth room, which, fortunately, is slightly simpler than this one.

Spooky Swamp Haunted Mansion - Room eight

We're back to disappearing floor panels with room eight of Hello Kitty Island Adventure's haunted mansion. If you try to walk straight forward in this room, you'll step on a trap panel and be sent back to the beginning. Don't worry; there's an easy way to solve this one.

In this room, you'll also find two buttons that, when stepped on, reveal which panels are trapped and which are safe to traverse. Starting from the panels next to the left button, take the following path to reach the exit:

1. Walk up from the button until your character stands next to a small window.
2. Walk right until you stop in front of the exit door.
3. Slowly move diagonally from this spot and walk right until you reach the wall.
4. Move up to the clock before running left and exiting through the door.

Of the ten rooms in this mansion, room eight is one of the most challenging, with the next being noticeably easier. It's time to pull some more levers.

Spooky Swamp Haunted Mansion - Room nine

Upon entering the ninth room of the haunted mansion, You'll first find two levers and three paths, two of which have their floor removed. Pulling the right lever will lead you to a dead end, while the left creates a path to the next section of the room.

You don't have to do anything else once you reach the second set of paths. Instead, head down the right-most path and exit the door before entering the final puzzle room of this mansion.

Spooky Swamp Haunted Mansion - Room ten

Two branching paths will greet you in the tenth and final puzzle room. Heading right brings you to a dead end, while running up leads you to a lever. Pulling this activates parts of the floor that were previously inaccessible, allowing you to advance through the room. Don't move right from here, or you'll fall off the map and have to start over.

Instead, return to the entrance and go down the right path from before. With the lever activated, you now have a full path to the opposite side of the room, leading to another lever. You'll now be blocked off from the left side of the map and instead have a pathway in the center of the room to travel down for a third lever. Pull this to unlock another path.

With a new path leading north of your current spot, run up, and be careful you don't accidentally fall into the small one-tile gap in the floor. Before reaching this edge, turn right and follow the wall before pulling the fourth lever. Although you have more tiles leading to the door, it's not quite enough to get you out of the room.

Although you've already pulled every lever in the room, you can still activate them again to change the floors. With this in mind, head to the center lever again and pull it before running to the bottom right and activating it. You'll now notice a long path around the room's perimeter that, although long, leads to the exit door.

After leaving this room, you can access the haunted mansion's final room. You'll find another Green Power Crystal for a nearby Ghost Tour Ride here. Although the journey up this mansion was long, you can make the exit short by using the "0" labeled lever to the left of the final room, bringing you to the bottom of the stairs next to the exit.

Completing the Re-Haunt the Spooky Swamp quest

Congratulations, you've successfully survived the Spooky Swamp's Haunted Mansion. To complete Hello Kitty Island Adventure's Re-Haunt the Spooky Swamp quest from here, head north and follow the map marker to where Kuromi is and activate the Ghost Ride podium. You'll have a brief chat with the group before learning more about the ghost ride and your next objective.

Although the Ghost Ride is partially active now, you'll need to clear away some dense fog before it becomes fully operational. You'll find levers around the area to turn on lamps that, once activated, will clear some of it away.

Getting rid of the fog and riding the Ghost Ride will lead you to discover a Secret Cave in the Spooky Swamp. Within the cave, you'll spot a treasure chest containing a Spooky Witch Hat and a third Green Power Crystal. It's time to unlock one last podium.

Unlike the previous locations, this one requires you to dress up as a spooky witch. By now, you'll have two parts from the mansion and this cave. After equipping them through your inventory, head south toward the quest market and talk to the Nul before inserting the final Green Power Crystal. After one final conversation, you'll unlock a new crafting recipe and complete the Re-Haunt the Spooky Swamp quest.

The post How to survive the Haunted Mansion in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

The Nintendo Switch is getting a lot of attention again, especially with the January 2025 announcement of the Switch 2's development. With the Switch 2's release later this year and new titles coming out for various beloved series, this year is already looking exciting.

Whether you've been watching the latest updates for games announced years ago or are looking forward to unexpected launches later in the year, there's plenty to look forward to in the coming months. Let's check out some of the most highly anticipated games on Nintendo Switch and the Switch 2 in 2025.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Starting things off is one of the most highly anticipated Nintendo games of the past few years, Metroid Prime 4. Initially announced at E3 2017, with its development restarting in 2019, it wasn't until June 2024 that we got an official announcement trailer revealing a 2025 release date.

Although Metroid Prime 4's trailers haven't dove too deep into the game's lore or specific mechanics, knowing it still exists is enough to stir up some hype. There's no word on its exact date yet, but between the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Metroid Dread, Metroid Prime 3's launch all the way back in 2007, and Metroid Prime Remastered coming out two years ago, knowing the window for the fourth's release already ramps up the anticipation beyond belief.

Guilty Gear -Strive-

At long last, we're getting a Guilty Gear game on the Nintendo Switch. Although the original got ported to Switch in 2019, we haven't seen other entries go far beyond PC, PlayStation, and traditional arcade machines until now. It's even available right now, launching on January 23, 2025.

We may have had Guilty Gear Strive on PC and PlayStation for a few years now, with Xbox arriving shortly after, but there's something satisfying about having plenty of options to choose from. If its original launches didn't drive up the anticipation, the possibility of more Guilty Gear ports coming in the future after this is enough to feel hyped.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

It's already been almost ten years since Xenoblade Chronicles X originally launched. What better way to celebrate its 10th anniversary than to launch a remaster the same year a new Nintendo Switch is releasing? Although it doesn't quite match the exact date, you'll be able to try this latest entry even earlier on March 20, 2025.

Whether you're looking to relive old memories of the original Chronicles X or loved Xenoblade 3 so much that you're optimistic about the remaster's enhanced features, everyone's anticipating this to carry the torch well.

The next Mario Kart entry

It's been a while since there's been this much hype for a new Mario Kart game, and it isn't even from an official announcement trailer. Instead, its initial appearance is in the first Switch 2 teaser, paving the way for speculation on what this title is and whether it's Mario Kart 9. There's no word from Nintendo on what this entry is, but knowing a Mario Kart 9 release in 2025 could be on the horizon certainly sparks some excitement.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Sanrio fans, it's time to rejoice as Hello Kitty Island Adventure expands to the Nintendo Switch and PC on January 30, 2025. Although it's been around on iOS since 2023, you'll be able to meet Hello Kitty and her friends in this cozy Animal Crossing-like game at the beginning of the year, with PS4 and PS5 versions coming out later in the year. If you're a fan of Hello Kitty, this one is for you.

The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy

As a long-time Danganronpa fan, I instantly recognized its style and almost thought we were getting a sequel. I pushed those thoughts aside quickly, especially after seeing The Hundred Line Last Defense Academy's grid-based fighting and twist on a familiar apocalyptic storyline.

Not much is known about it yet, but Too Kyo Games has confirmed it'll launch on April 24, 2025, giving us a few months to learn about this new world and its inhabitants.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered

Remember last year when we got a remastered collection of the first three Tomb Raider games? If you were hyped for that, Aspyr has another surprise with a second collection targeting the fourth, fifth, and sixth installments. Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is coming quickly, arriving on the Nintendo Switch and several other platforms on February 14, 2025.

This is one of those collections I'd gift to a friend or family member so they can go on a nostalgia trip, especially considering how unpolished these were compared to the first three games. I'm looking at you, Angel of Darkness.

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game

I'll come right out and say it; I'm a sucker for relaxing, cozy games, especially if it's in a world like Middle-earth. Exploring the pleasant day-to-day side of Hobbit life is a nice change of pace, and we'll all be able to experience it on March 25, 2025.

While some of us love to take trips down nostalgia lane, dream of more games from our favorite series, or take on some fighting games, others get just as hyped over farming, cooking, and fishing all day in their games. Either that, or you're a Lord of the Rings fan, which is just as good of a reason to feel excited to try a new game.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A

It wouldn't be a year of growing anticipation for Switch games without including an upcoming Pokemon game. Although there's no confirmed release date yet, Game Freak and The Pokemon Company have confirmed that the latest installment to the series, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, is coming out sometime in 2025.

Currently, little information is provided about Pokémon Z-A's new gameplay mechanics and story outside of its taking place in Lumiose City, Kalos. However, we'll likely see Mega Evolutions return, much like in Gen 6, where this setting was originally introduced, so that alone is worth getting excited over.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2

2025 may seem like another year of remakes, remasters, and collections, with Capcom Fighting Collection 2 being among the ever-growing bunch. This is another one with no confirmed release date yet, but we know these early 2000s entries will arrive sometime this year.

Here's the full list of games included in the collection:

• Capcom vs. SNK Millenium Fight 2000 Pro
• Capcom vs. SNK 2 Mark of the Millenium 2001
• Project Justice
• Capcom Fighting Evolution
• Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper
• Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein
• Power Stone
• Power Stone 2

First the Marvel vs. Capcom Collection, and now this gem. This one is another opportunity to experience a trip down memory lane or learn more about the Golden Era of fighting games through some of the most well-known entries of their time.

The post The 10 most anticipated Nintendo Switch games of 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Eggplant Puffs Disney Dreamlight Valley recipe helps you make a delicious three-star meal. It could potentially be a dish that one of the villagers like Simba or Jack Skellington could request at Chez Remy as well.

Eggplant Puffs Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

To create the tasty Eggplant Puffs for your friends in Disney Dreamlight Valley, you'll need the following three ingredients:

• Eggs
• Cheese
• Eggplant

Honestly, this is one of the easiest dishes to make in the game. Both Eggs and Cheese can be purchased at Chez Remy after completing the rat's quests in the Ratatouille realm in the Castle. Cheese is 220 Star Coins, while Eggs are 180.

Eggplant seeds are available at Goofy's Stall in the Frosted Heights, which is admittedly quite difficult to reach if you don't have the Dreamlight. You can rack that number up by completing duties and finishing quests from characters along the way. You can also craft Dreamlight by finding Dream Shards in the ground.

Back on the topic, however; Eggplant seeds are 95 Star Coins, but if you're lucky (and you don't want to wait), the ingredient itself might be available for 462 Star Coins.

What is this meal worth?

Once you've gained all the ingredients, go to any cooking station like Chez Remy. Add the Eggs, Cheese, and Eggplant into the pot. You should have the Eggplant Puffs ready to go. They might be the flattest texture you can find in the game, but hey, they can be consumed for 1,941 Energy or sold for 991 Star Coins at Goofy's Stalls. You can also make Ratatouille with Eggplant and other ingredients.

The post How to make Eggplant Puffs in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Aquamarine in Disney Dreamlight Valley is a rare precious gem that can be used to make items like Ariel's Crafting Station and the Blue Light High Beach Torch. You can find it in two different biomes within the original valley.

Aquamarine Disney Dreamlight Valley locations

You can find the pretty gem Aquamarine from two different spots in the Titular Valley any day of the week:

• Dazzle Beach
• Forest of Valor

Before you venture out, make sure to bring a Disney friend who has the Mining specialty. Talk to them, and there should be a pickaxe symbol to the left of the "Let's Hang Out!" option. You'll want to do this as you have a chance to get the gem twice, saving you loads of time in the long run.

Next, head to either Dazzle Beach or the Forest of Valor and start striking the rocks with your Royal Pickaxe. It doesn't matter if the gems show or not; there is a chance they'll drop as a reward regardless. Once you've broken all of the rocks in one area, move on to the next. Keep alternating to let the rocks respawn.

What can you make with Aquamarine?

Once you've acquired enough Aquamarine gems, you can start to create decorations for the village. Ariel's Crafting Station, unfortunately, doesn't arrive until you reach Friendship Level 7 and unlock a particular quest.

To make a Blue Light High Beach Torch that would fit in with Dazzle Beach's environment, you'll need the following:

• 5 Fiber
• 3 Sand
• 5 Softwood
• Aquamarine

You can create five pieces of fiber at the Crafting Station by using one piece of Seaweed. You can catch Seaweed by using the fishing rod outside the water ripples at Dazzle Beach. Use your shovel to pick up Sand at the beach. You can also get Sand by breaking the shells. Lastly, Softwood is found in the Plaza, Peaceful Meadow, Forest of Valor, and the Glade of Trust underneath or near trees.

You should also try to find another gem, the Topaz, while you're around the original valley.

The post Where to find Aquamarine in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

2024 is already looking to be an interesting year for gaming, with several remakes and remasters arriving in early January and brand-new releases making the waves later on. 2023 was an exciting time, gaming in 2024 was slightly underwhelming, and it's only a matter of time before we learn what 2025 entails.

It is very easy to forget the sheer volume of games that launch throughout an entire year. One month alone can have dozens of releases, let alone the rest as game development teams announce their plans.

If you’re looking to plan ahead or tell others about an upcoming release, we have an ongoing list of games confirmed to launch in 2025. We’ll also continue updating this list as we learn about new releases and delays.

Updated January 23, 2025: Updated with release date information for Ninja Gaiden 4, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, South of Midnight, and Doom: The Dark Ages, as highlighted during the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct.

January 2025 game releases

• Beyond Citadel (PC) - January 2
• Wuthering Waves (PS5) - January 2
• Click Mage (PC) - January 6
• Chocolate Factory Simulator (PC) - January 7
• Desktop Mate (PC) - January 7
• Sea Fantasy (PC) - January 7
• Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana (PC4, PS5, Switch) - January 7
• My Summer Car (PC) - January 8
• The Last Flame (PC) - January 9
• Freedom Wars Remastered (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch) - January 10
• Airborne Empire (PC, Early Access) - January 13
• Dreaming Isles (PC) - January 13
• Heroes of Hammerwatch II (PC) January 14
• Hyper Light Breaker (PC) - January 14
• Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (iOS, Android) - January 14
• Aloft (PC) - January 15
• Age of Darkness: Final Stand (PC) - January 15
• Age of Water (PC) - January 16
• Assetto Corsa EVO (PC, Early Access) - January 16
• Blade Chimera (PC, Switch) - January 16
• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch) - January 16
• DreadOut Remastered Collection (PC, PS4, Switch) - January 16
• Dynasty Warriors: Origins (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - January 16
• Football Coach: College Dynasty (PC) - January 16
• Morkull Ragast's Rage (PC, Xbox Series X/S) - January 16
• Cyclopean: The Great Abyss (PC, Early Access) - January 17
• Skystead Ranch (PC) - January 17
• Tales of Graces f Remastered (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - January 17
• Helskate (PC) - January 20
• Into the Emberlands (PC) - January 20
• Needy Streamer Overload (PS4, PS5) - January 21
• Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - January 22
• Gravelord (PC, Early Access) - January 22
• Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PC) - January 23
• Guilty Gear Strive (Switch) - January 23
• Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) - January 23
• Synduality: Echo of Ada (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - January 23
• Space Engineers 2 (PC, Early Access) - January 27
• Cuisineer (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - January 28
• Eternal Strands (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - January 28
• Neptunia Riders VS Dogoos (PS4, PS5, Switch) - January 28
• Tails of Iron II: Whiskers of Winter (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - January 28
• The Stone of Madness (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - January 28
• Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (PC) - January 28
• Warside (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Switch) - January 28
• Cardfight!! Vanguard Dear Days 2 (PC, Switch) - January 30
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure (PC, Switch) - January 30
• Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch) - January 30
• Sniper Elite: Resistance (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) - January 30
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (PC) - January 30
• Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - January 31

February 2025 game releases

• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - February 4
• Rift of the NecroDancer (PC) - February 5
• While Waiting (PC, Switch) - February 5
• Keep Driving (PC) - February 6
• Civilization VII (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - February 11
• Urban Myth Dissolution Center (PC, PS5, Switch) - February 12
• Hyperdevotion Noire: Goddess Black Heart (Switch) - February 13
• Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Ultimate (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - February 13
• Date Everything! (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - February 14
• Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - February 14
• The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II (PC, Switch) - February 14
• Avowed (PC, Xbox Series X/S) - February 18
• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape one (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - February 18
• Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch) - February 20
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) - February 21
• Crystar (PS5) - February 27
• Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection (PC, Switch) - February 27
• Monster Hunter Wilds (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - February 28
• Amber Isle (Switch) - February
• Midnight Murder Club (PC, PS5, Early Access) - February
• Morsels (PC, PS5, Switch) - February
• On Your Tail (Switch) - February

March 2025 game releases

• Everhood 2 (PC, Switch) - March 4
• Two Point Museum (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - March 4
• Dragonkin: The Banished (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - March 6
• Fragpunk (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - March 6
• Grimoire Groves (PC) - March 6
• Split Fiction (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - March 6
• Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch) - March 6
• Wanderstop (PC, PS5) - March 11
• Beyond the Ice Palace 2 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - March 13
• Bionic Bay (PC, PS5) - March 13
• Matcho (PC, PS5) - March 13
• Lost Records: Bloom & Rage - Tape two (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - March 18
• Assassin's Creed Shadows (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - March 20
• Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Switch) - March 20
• Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - March 21
• BLEACH Rebirth of Souls (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - March 21
• Gedonia 2 (PC) - March 24
• Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - March 25
• Atomfall (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) - March 27
• The First Berserker: Khazan (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - March 27
• inZOI (PC) - March 28
• Psycho Patrol R (PC, Early Access) - March 31
• Football Manager 25 (PC, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - March
• Killing Floor 3 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - March

April 2025 game releases

• The Last of Us Part II (PC) - April 3
• South of Midnight (PC, Xbox Series X/S) - April 8
• All in Abyss: Judge the Fake (PC, PS5, Switch) - April 10
• Star Overdrive (Switch) - April 10
• Koira (PC, PS5) - April 17
• Mandragora (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - April 17
• Lunar Remastered Collection (PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch) - April 18
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - April 24
• FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - April 24
• Tempest Rising (PC) - April 24
• The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- (PC, Switch) - April 24
• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (Switch) - April
• Magic Inn (PC) - April
• Ratatan (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - April

May 2025 game releases

• Doom: The Dark Ages (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - May 15
• Revenge of the Savage Planet (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - May

June 2025 game releases

• Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road (PC, PS4, PS5, iOS, Android, Switch) - June

October 2025 game releases

• Double Dragon Revive (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S) - October 23

Games with unknown release dates (2025)

• A.I.L.A
• ARC Raiders
• Astrobotanica
• Biped 2
• Borderlands 4
• Capcom Fighting Collection 2
• Coffee Talk Tokyo
• Crimson Desert
• Crown Gambit
• Dave the Diver Into the Jungle
• Demonschool
• Descenders Next
• Directive 8020
• Dispatch
• Doom (SNES)
• Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
• Dune Awakening
• Dying Light: The Beast
• EDENS ZERO
• Elden Ring: Nightreign
• Fable
• FBC: Firebreak
• Flappy Bird
• Floatopia
• Freeride
• Game of Thrones: Kingsroad
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure (PS, PS5)
• Herdling
• Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era
• Hotel Barcelona
• inZOI (PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
• Last Spartan: Glory Over Madness
• Little Nightmares 3
• Lost Soul Aside
• Mafia: The Old Country
• Mecha Break
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
• Mio: Memories in Orbit
• Mistfall Hunter
• Moth Kubit
• MOUSE: P.I. For Hire
• Nanuka: Secret of the Shattering Mood
• Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
• Ninja Gaiden 4
• Nivalis
• One Move Away
• Paralives
• Perfect Dark
• Recettear: An Item Shop’s Tale HD Edition
• Rematch
• Ritual of Raven
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
• Rune Factory: Project Dragon
• Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker
• Shadow Labyrinth (Pac-Man)
• Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope DX
• Showa American Story
• Slay the Spire II (Early Access)
• Solasta II (Early Access)
• Solo Leveling Arise (PC)
• Sonic Racing CrossWorlds
• Splitgate 2
• Stalcraft Operations
• Star Overdrive (PC, PS5)
• State of Decay 3
• Steel Paws
• Subnautica 2
• Terminator: Survivors
• The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 1st
• The Legend of Baboo
• The Outer Worlds 2
• Time Flies
• Vampire Dynasty
• Wheel World
• Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Games with unknown release dates (2026)

• Blackfrost the Long Dark 2 (Early Access)
• Onimusha Way of the Sword
• Screamer
• The Witcher 4

The post 2025 Video Game release date calendar appeared first on Destructoid.

Even when it is out of season, the Gingerbread House in Disney Dreamlight Valle has a lot of value to the wonderful Disney friends around you, like Mickey and Goofy. Here's how you can make it.

All Gingerbread House Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

To make a Gingerbread House, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Wheat
• Egg
• Vanilla
• Sugarcane
• Ginger

Wheat can be bought from Goofy's Stall in the Peaceful Meadow. It's super cheap as the ingredient itself is 2 Star Coins, while the seeds are 1 Star Coin. Both may be available at the stall. The seeds grow within a minute after getting planted and watered.

Eggs can be purchased at Chez Remy for 220 Star Coins after finishing the Ratatouille realm quests in the castle.

Vanilla is found within the Sunlit Plateau. Look at the ground, and you'll find a green plant with small yellow/white petals growing from within the grass. Pick it up, and you'll gain Vanilla for the recipe.

Sugarcane is found at Goofy's Stall in Dazzle Beach. You can buy its seeds for 5 Star Coins each. You can also make Cheesecake with this ingredient.

Lastly, Ginger can be found growing in the Forgotten Lands. This ingredient can be picked up like Vanilla. The green plant with regular, slightly lengthier leaves on it gives you Ginger.

Now it's time to make the 5-star dish

Once you have all of the ingredients, go to any cooking station at your house or in Chez Remy. Throw in all five ingredients together, and then you'll have a Gingerbread House in your inventory. You can sell it to Goofy's Stall for 545 Star Coins or eat it for 1,460 Energy points.

The post How to make a Gingerbread House in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

The Miracle Growth Elixir in Disney Dreamlight Valley lives up to its name as it instantly grows vegetables like Pumpkins and Lettuce. Thankfully, it's fairly easy to make by finding Vitalys Crystals and more from the game.

Miracle Growth Elixir Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

To create the awesome Miracle Growth Elixir in Disney Dreamlight Valley, you'll need the following ingredients:

• 10 Vitalys Crystals
• 10 Rich Soil
• 500 Dreamlight

Vitalys Crystals are found within a cave around the Sunlit Plateau called the Vitalys Mine. Look for the waterfall near a stone bridge to find it. You'll first want a companion with you, who has the Mining specialty, so the process becomes faster. Mine at the rocks that have a blue streak to them. Hit them with the pickaxe, and you have a good chance to get a Vitalys Crystal. Having a companion with you gives a chance of getting another Vitalys Crystal.

Rich Soil is gained by digging up the soil at any location, especially within the Plaza. This is a random drop. Having a digging specialty companion with you may help with the process too.

Dreamlight is gathered by completing quests and finishing Duties like taking a picture or collecting enough apples. You can check your objectives on the menu. It's under the first section "Dreamlight." You can also craft Dreamlight with Dream Shards.

How to use this elixir

Once you have all of the ingredients, go to any crafting station near your house or in Scrooge's store. You can find the Miracle Growth Elixir from the list of options.

Make sure to pick the correct potion. Once it's made, use it from your inventory menu. Then, equip the water can. Spray it on the crops you want to see grow instantly. You only have a few limited uses so pick your crops wisely.

The post How to make Miracle Growth Elixir in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

The Amethyst in Disney Dreamlight Valley gem is a precious resource used for multiple quests and can help craft a special object to decorate your environments. Here's how to find the Amethyst so that you can help villagers like Ursula and Nala with their friendship quests.

Amethyst Disney Dreamlight Valley locations

Amethyst in Disney Dreamlight Valley can be spotted in two different locations within the original valley:

• Frosted Heights
• Forgotten Lands

Thankfully, you won't need any of the DLC to get this material. Head over to the Frosted Heights or Forgotten Lands and use your pickaxe to strike the rocks in the area. Also, take a buddy with you with the mining proficiency to gain bonus rewards from striking each rock. You'll also get that friendship level up.

How to Make a Purple Wrought Iron Streetlamp

Once you've gathered Amethyst, you can create a Purple Wrought Iron Streetlamp. To make that, you'll need the following:

• Two Glass
• Five Iron Ingots
• One Amethyst

You can create Iron Ingots at the crafting table by mixing Iron Ore and Coal Ore. You'll get those materials from mining rocks (and the number of resources grows when hanging out with a friend who has the mining specialty). Glass can be formed by crafting Sand and Coal Ore. Dig at the sand of Dazzle Beach with your shovel to get the resource.

If you don't want to make a Purple Wrought Iron Streetlamp, you can also sell Amethyst for 500 Star Coins at any of Goofy's stalls.

The post Where to find Amethyst in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

Hey, gamer, are you ready for some $60 re-releases of old games? I know – perhaps unironically – that I am. I love playing games I’ve already played, preferably when they look slightly better than I remember. Again, totally sincere here. This is something I do more often than I’m comfortable with.

At the time of writing, very little has been said about what games will be coming to the Switch 2. There will probably be new games, but will there be old ones? Also probably! Nothing has really been announced, but we can speculate. So, let’s do that.

Now, Nintendo has said that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible, and while they say there will be exceptions, I’m going to guess this will be a rarity. I’m assuming, perhaps over-optimistically, that most games will still be supported. So, we’re not going to talk about Switch games we want to play on our Switch. Instead, let’s talk about titles that Nintendo hasn’t given a glow-up to that will perhaps be given a second look when the new console comes around.

Chibi-Robo

My heard breaks for Chibi-Robo. The 2007 GameCube title is among the many that I won’t shut up about, but it’s gotten a raw deal. It wasn’t all that popular at launch, to begin with, but then its sequels kind of failed to follow-up on it. Okay, not all of the sequels. Okaeri Chibi-Robo: Happy Richie Ōsōji for the Nintendo DS was a pretty faithful and enjoyable sequel, but if you can’t tell by the moniker, it never got released in North America.

Anyway, maybe if more people had a chance to play it, more people would love it. A good way to find out would be a re-release on Switch. Unfortunately, it would be too late for its developer, Skip Ltd., which seems to have disbanded. The key staff from there is currently working on a spiritual follow-up, KoROBO, which is just legally distinct Chibi-Robo. So, I guess worst case scenario, we’ll maybe get KoROBO on the Switch 2.

F-Zero GX

A few years ago, I’d opine Nintendo’s treatment of F-Zero in the same way I would with Chibi-Robo, but recently, the company has remembered that it exists. They’ve put many of the classic titles on their Nintendo Switch Online service and even released a (sort of) new entry: F-Zero 99.

However, many point to the 2003 GameCube title, F-Zero GX, as the best the series has to offer. It’s certainly extra, but then, what else would you expect from the crew that would go on to develop the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series? While a true follow-up would be the best-case scenario, a port would also be appreciated. The game deserves more respect.

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

It was long rumored that the two Wii U Legend of Zelda remakes, Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD, would make their move to the Switch. They didn’t. So, we’re still waiting.

On the other hand, if they do decide to port it to Switch 2, I’m hoping that they, at the very least, allow you to undo the desecration they did to the lighting style. The original version had a striking, unique cel shading that evoked the look of a cartoon, which helped support the stylized art. Wind Waker HD sort of smoothed that over, then added a metric tonne of bloom. It looks, uh, good. It just doesn’t have the same effect. It felt like an HD fan mod, like the art team didn’t really care about artistic intent.

It’s not the end of the world, and I’m not sure if that’s, like, a difficult thing to change. I don’t know how these shaders are implemented. I just know that whenever I think about playing Wind Waker again, I’m left wondering whether I should play the GameCube or Wii U version, and it would be nice to have one without compromises.

Lost Kingdoms Collection

Armored Core VI reminded a lot of people that FromSoftware made games before Demon’s Soul. And while I’d love a King’s Field Collection… There’s no but on that sentence, I’d love a King’s Field Collection. But I’d also love a Lost Kingdoms Collection.

The two Lost Kingdoms games were strange RPGs where you used cards to cast magic. Neither was spectacular, but both are unique in their own way. Unique enough that they should be experienced. Unfortunately, they sold about as well as tires made of bread, so not many people tried them out. Relatively speaking. Now’s a good time. People will eat anything FromSoftware touched. In fact, maybe we should bring back Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor.

Battalion Wars

Speaking of Battalions, I’m sure I’m not the only one who loved that strange little Advance Wars spin-off, Battalion Wars. It was this weird in-between of squad-based tactics and real-time strategy. You could take control of any of your units, and the vehicle controls were a bit like Halo’s.

We got a sequel on Wii, Battalion Wars II, but I swear that game is, like, 95% tutorial for some reason. Every level seemed to be a tutorial. That was kind of the Wii for you. In an effort to make things accessible to everyone, they usually made things fun for no one. So, I’d take a collection, but it’s maybe not necessary.

Cool Riders

Cool Riders should just be on everything. But, right now, it’s not on anything. Unless you count arcade. It is an absolutely incredible perversion of OutRun (seemingly having been intended to be titled OutRiders). You choose from a cast of weirdos on tricked-out bikes and fly through a fever dream distortions of places from around the world. It takes the OutRun formula and tweaks its nipples, turning it into a high-speed blur of over-stimulation. You need to play it, that might not be an option for you right now, so shovel it onto the Switch 2.

Star Fox Zero

Okay, now do it right this time. Star Fox Zero feels like one of the most tragic victims of Nintendo’s need to over-innovate. Or, possibly, it’s specifically Shigeru Miyamoto’s need. So, rather than just being a standard on-rails shooter, it required you to aim with the gamepad screen while flying with the stick. It sucked. 

As much as I detested the waggle rolling in Donkey Kong Country Returns, I got used to it in a small way and could live with it. It wasn’t ideal. The dual-screen controls of Star Fox Zero were cement shoes; they sank the whole game.

The game itself is fine. Somehow, I got through it. Even without the dual-screen controls, it wouldn’t be spectacular, but it would be far better than the series has seen since Star Fox 64. So, it would be nice to get an updated version on the Switch 2. The only upgrade needed would be the deep-sixing of the second-screen aiming.

Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller

Hey, Sega. Instead of making a live service multiplayer Crazy Taxi that no one wants, maybe just re-release the best one. Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller not only included a new level set in a version of Las Vegas, it also took the better levels from the first two games and edited them slightly to balance them for the new skills in your repertoire.

For extra credit, Sega could just include all the levels from all the games. But let’s slow down. Wouldn’t want to distract them from building platforms where they can sell endless skins.

Rule of Rose

It’s tempting for me to put my beloved Chulip on this list, but maybe that’s too predictable. How about Rule of Rose? It’s an incredibly unique take on the survival horror genre during its heyday on the PS2. For its main antagonists, it turns to the real monsters of the world: children. You play as Jennifer, a young woman who gets tormented by a group of orphans.

Its humanity manages to come through all the abstract weirdness of the game. Beneath the grimy horror is a story far more tragic than it is terrifying. It’s less about monsters, and more about what causes a person to become a monster. And I don’t mean some sort of virus. I mean fear of losing something.

Unfortunately, Rule of Rose had a pretty big setback in the fact that its combat is terrible, even by survival horror standards. It’s the hit detection that really drags it down. Even if this was improved slightly in a Switch 2 port, it would go a long way in making the game more palatable than it was at its 2006 release.

Metal Max 2 Reloaded

Metal Max is the best series to have barely touched North American shores. To date, of the series’ mainline seven games (not counting remakes), only two have been localized in English (Metal Saga and Metal Max Xeno). I’d take pretty much any out of the series to hit the Switch 2, but Metal Max 2 Reloaded is generally considered to be one of the high points of the series.

The games are JRPGs that center around tanks. The acquisition, upgrading, and utilization of tanks. You can always get out of your tank, but – and I hope this isn’t news – there are a number of advantages a steel-armored machine of war has over your squishy human flab. Metal Max 2 Reloaded is a DS remake of an SNES game. Yet, despite its vintage, it is an extraordinarily sprawling adventure across a post-apocalyptic world packed to the gills with bizarre monsters. It would be the perfect introduction to anyone who hasn’t experienced Metal Max before.

The post 10 games we want to see get a Switch 2 port appeared first on Destructoid.

It's official: the Nintendo Switch 2 is releasing in 2025, and Nintendo has already given us a sneak peek of what to expect. Although Nintendo hasn't confirmed a list of games that will be released on this upcoming system, we have at least one that's likely to arrive, with plenty of speculation on future titles.

All confirmed and rumored games available on Nintendo Switch 2 release

Starting with the official Nintendo Switch 2 announcement trailer, it looks like a new addition to the Mario Kart franchise — likely Mario Kart 9 — is all but confirmed for a Switch 2 launch title. Although there's no release date for the console or game yet, with a new Mario Kart game usually releasing every two to four years, we're due for another soon. It was only a matter of time before we got word of one.

The other most likely candidate for a game releasing on the Switch 2 is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. While it was initially announced as early as 2017 at E3, Nintendo restarted its development, with some speculation that this second console had something to do with it. With a predicted 2025 release date, it'd be no surprise if Metroid Prime 4 ends up being among the first series to launch on the Switch 2.

Let's check out some other potential Switch 2 games we might see in the next year or two:

• A new Super Mario entry
• A new Legend of Zelda entry
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection
• Pokémon Legends: Z-A
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
• Past game remakes/ports

In particular, we'll likely see various remakes and ports from the previous Switch or from other consoles and PCs to carry to the Switch 2. The main candidates for this early on are The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, but only time will tell where the releases will go from here.

The post All Switch 2 launch titles confirmed and rumored appeared first on Destructoid.

It was difficult to be a Nintendo fan during the Wii years. The initial hype around its motion controls died pretty quickly when it became clear its real-world application was extremely limited. Worse, Nintendo seemed to be looking to gain favor with a broader audience and it seemed that its output suffered.

What sucked most was that it felt like motion control was being shoehorned into everything. Mostly because they were. I think 2010’s Donkey Kong Country Returns is exemplary of this. Retro Studios did an admirable job continuing Rare’s legacy, but the absolutely baffling decision was made to incorporate controller shaking. In particular, you had to shake the controller to get DK to roll. Rolls were necessary as a form of attack, but more importantly, rolling was used to extend jumps. Precise jumps, specifically. Jumps that you would see in the hardest levels. And it didn’t matter how simple the motion was, it was unreliable.

There was no reason for it, it could have easily been bound to the same button as “pick up/grab,” you know, just like it was in earlier games. You couldn’t turn it off. The mere fact that it had to be this was frustrates me to even talk about, but actually playing the most difficult levels with this hamstringer drove me insane.

So, anyway, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD doesn’t use motion controls and is better for it.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch)
Developer: Retro Studios, Forever Entertainment
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: January 16, 2025
MSRP: $59.99

Technically, you could play Donkey Kong Country Returns without motion control on the 3DS already with Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, but I feel like this sort of game needs a bigger screen.

The original Donkey Kong Country series was a heavy-hitter on the SNES, practically putting Rare on the map. If someone tells you that those games were only loved for their graphics and had standard gameplay, they were clearly in a Genesis household. Rare may have fronted with the lavish 3D-to-2D sprites, but the level design was top-notch. Sometimes maddeningly so. Loads of variety across its worlds.

After Nintendo and Rare had split, it seemed unlikely the series would continue in any form, so it was a surprise to see it again in 2010, and even more surprising to find out that it’s every bit as good as the original trilogy (motion control frustration aside). Honestly, while I prefer the vibes of the SNES titles better, the levels in Donkey Kong Country Returns reach offensive levels of creativity. From riding rockets to avoiding giant rhythmic hammers, it’s a master class at setpieces. It provides a stiff but fair challenge across its eight (main) worlds, and constantly finds new ways to surprise.

One of the first things that greets you when you start up a new game is a difficulty setting. There are two, and they’re hilariously named “Modern” and “Classic,” which made me wonder what year this is. “Modern” is easier because I guess COVID caused our thumbs to atrophy and our patience to thin. You have three hearts by default, and Cranky’s shop carries more items.

Beyond the fact that something from 2010 is considered no longer modern, I find it amusing that there’s an easier difficulty because Donkey Kong Country Returns already has difficulty options. It caused a bit of discourse at the time, even before the Dark Souls Easy Mode debate. There’s the Super Guide that plays the level for you if you screw up a few too many times, something that became insulting after the motion controls let me down during difficult segments. There are also potions that make you invincible for a while. But, yeah, extra difficulty options never hurt. I just wish they didn’t also make me feel old and worried for the new generations at the same time.

The story of Donkey Kong Country Returns is somewhat divorced from the original series, which was an escalating fight against an insane lizard. Donkey Kong’s banana horde is stolen again (as Cranky Kong points out, “So, who hasn’t stolen your bananas at this point?”), but this time, it’s by a strange army of tiki idols that can hypnotize the wildlife. Thankfully, DK’s advanced primate brain is immune to hypnosis, so he sets out to reacquire his bananas, assumedly before they turn brown.

Much of Donkey Kong Country Returns feels like a re-tread of the first game. You have all the barrel blasting and mine carting that made that title stand out. Moreover, the heaps of tantalizing secret items that are dangled just out of reach make a return. While it’s a linear platformer, Retro Studios followed Rare’s example of sticking extra challenges and hidden nooks to find as you race to the goal. More importantly, you’re rewarded for searching things out, with additional levels awarded, mainly for collecting all the KONG letters.

The view is zoomed out a lot farther, and climbable surfaces have been added, which allows levels to have a lot more verticality to them. This also means that minecart sections require fewer split-second reactions. Personally, I never had a problem with the minecarts in the SNES game, but I know some hate those levels, so maybe this is less vexing? If it’s not, you’re going to hate the rockets.

Alongside the minecart segments, there are levels where you ride a rocket barrel through a forced scrolling section. These require you to press the jump button to pull up and raise your altitude, so it requires a bit more awareness than, say, a scrolling shoot-’em-up. It requires a feel for the responsiveness of the rocket, and there are some really narrow parts that might end up frustrating. I loved the rocket segments each and every time; they may be my favorite part of the whole experience. There’s something to be said about the simplicity, but Retro Studios was still able to put in some incredibly thrilling segments around your rocket-propelled journey.

The bosses are a bit more of a mixed bag. Each one is heavily pattern-based, and there’s a lot of variety between them. Unfortunately, that same variety means that some are better than others. I had difficulty even figuring out what I had to do on some of them. Adding to that, the collision detection in Donkey Kong Country Returns is questionable a lot of the time, and this seems to manifest most when it comes to bosses. I’d find myself taking damage when I was clear of danger to the point where I captured a video of one moment, then viewed it and confirmed that the two models didn’t intersect. What the hell? I’m not sure if the shaky collision was this way in the original version. It’s only a minor annoyance overall; it just seems like an out-of-place loose thread in an otherwise tight and polished game.

The graphical glowup in Donkey Kong Country Returns is pretty understated. It’s mostly what it says on the tin: a higher-resolution version of the original. Donkey Kong has some added fuzz, but it’s clearly set before Tropical Freeze since he hasn’t yet discovered the amazing conditioner that gave him his incredible coat in that game.

The best comparison I can give is to say it’s like Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD. Nothing has really changed art-wise. The lighting is better, but it’s far from astounding. The textures are sharper, but they haven’t really changed. Backgrounds are largely untouched. It’s not the same magnitude of upgrade that Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door got, it’s largely just Donkey Kong Country Returns with more pixels.

It was nice to revisit the game. I find that with platformers, unless they’re extremely unconventional, they kind of get sectioned away in my brain. Even when they’re particularly well-executed, as is the case with Donkey Kong Country Returns. But actually sitting down and playing them, I find I can still appreciate them.

And while Donkey Kong Country Returns HD doesn’t revolutionize the game, it still manages to become the definitive version of the title. If you haven’t played it before, you owe it to yourself to try it out. Retro Studios outdid themselves. They took what came before and expertly expanded and improved on it. It’s an astounding display of creative level design that is near unmatched in sidescrollers. And now you can play it without having to shake your controller.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD appeared first on Destructoid.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons first came out in March 2020, but since then, many players have stepped away from their islands. Animal Crossing: New Horizons has a way of pulling you back in, though.

There’s an undeniable appeal about escaping reality to cultivate your own getaway island community of interesting, albeit sometimes irritating, characters. Even though Tom Nook is a capitalist overlord, that detail can be overlooked thanks to the charm of having full design control. 

But it’s understandable if you don’t want to dive right back in where you left off, especially if it’s been months or years since you last played and aren’t sure what you put where or why. Sadly, you can only have one island per Switch console. This means that multiple users on a switch can play on the same island, but how to reset the entire thing? Or remove a player? 

Thankfully, there are options for both. Here’s how to start over or get your island back to yourself.

How to reset your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Resetting your Animal Crossing: New Horizons island isn’t possible through the game itself. Instead, you’ll need to dive into the Switch console settings, but it’s a relatively easy process. You’ll need to make sure that Animal Crossing: New Horizons isn’t running by pressing the home button and then X to close the software, then go through the following steps:

1. Open system settings on the Switch
2. Select “Data Management” on the left side of the screen
3. Select “Delete Save Data” on the right side of the screen
4. Select Animal Crossing: New Horizons
5. Select “Delete all save data for this software”
6. Confirm that you want to delete the save data
7. Return to the home screen and open up Animal Crossing: New Horizons again

Once you’ve followed these steps and opened up Animal Crossing: New Horizons again, rather than traveling to your old island, you’ll be greeted by the familiar faces of Timmy and Tommy. You’ll be able to select your name, birthday, and have the choice between four different island layouts. 

Of course, this does mean that you’ll need to go through the tedious process of starting everyone over from scratch, but it does give you free creative freedom to make your island your own again. 

How to remove a player in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

If you’ve had more than one player registered on your island at any point and want to delete just their save data, you can do that through the Settings in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This is not a full reset, but it will get rid of everything associated with a single player. Any money or miles that they accrued while playing will be deleted, and their home will disappear too, as well as any memories that residents had of them ever existing. Any backups they made of the island will also be deleted. 

If you want your island to be solely yours, here’s how to delete another player’s save file:

1. On the title screen of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, press the Minus button to open up game game settings
2. Select “Save Data”
3. Select “Delete resident registration”
4. Select the resident that you’d like to remove and confirm to delete their save data

Remember, you can’t use this option to delete your own registration. The only way to remove yourself from the game is to delete an entire save file using the steps laid out in the section above.

How to visit your old island in Animal Crossing: New Horizon

You can technically visit your old island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but you won’t have any control over it or be able to change anything while you’re there. Plus, this will take some actual prep work and won’t be possible if you’ve deleted your island on a whim. 

To visit your old island after you’ve deleted it, you’ll need to make a note of that island’s Dream Address. To do this, follow these steps:

• Enter your home and lie down in bed
• Select “Yeah, I want to sleep”
• Select “I’d like to share a dream”

This will create a unique 12-digit code associated with the island as it was when the code was made, allowing you to revisit it at any time, even if you have since deleted the island itself. To use this code and pay a visit to your previous island home, follow these steps:

• Enter your home and lay down in bed
• Select “Yeah, I want to sleep”
• Select “I want to dream”
• Input the 12-digit Dream Address

The post How to reset your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons appeared first on Destructoid.

It's a new year, and to help celebrate the month of January 2025, we have a bunch of stellar games, including a remaster of a beloved Vita game and the next entry of a popular action franchise. You'll also blow heads off in excessive detail as you fire your powerful weaponry in Sniper Elite: Resistance.

Dynasty Warriors Origins (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Price: $69.99
Release Date: January 17
Trailer

The Dynasty Warriors series looks as epic as ever in this next entry. As a nameless hero protagonist, you're stepping into the field of hundreds of warriors. You'll be utilizing fast-paced combos and abilities called arts to take down these foes. There's also a strategic element to the visual madness on screen as you command your allies to advance or cavalry charge to victory (or failure). You'll also have to manage the morale of your forces, which should be quite the challenge. Hopefully, you'll still be able to enjoy the breakneck action despite the strategic elements of this new entry.

"Omega Force and Koei Tecmo have taken a lot of the staples from the franchise like massive-scale battles and expanded them while also improving the overall game through better storytelling, more interesting combat, and a player character-driven focus," said our preview.

It will be launched on consoles and PC systems on January 17. Those who purchase the Digital Deluxe Edition can start on January 14.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Publisher: Binary Haze Interactive
Developer: Adglobe, Live Wire
Price: $19.99
Release Date: January 22
Trailer

An indie highlight from the January 2025 games lineup is Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist. It's a sequel to the critically acclaimed Metroidvania Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. The sequel was previously launched through Steam Early Access and has an impressive Overwhelmingly Positive 97% rating on Steam.

In this entry, you play as an attuner named Lilac, who can summon the power of the Homunculi. In this journey, you wake up from a laboratory, try to find your lost memories and save "precious friends in the Land of Fumes," according to the Steam page. You'll come across pretty 2D art and 30 different unique skills from the companions you meet as you explore this post-apocalyptic world. There's also a lot of equipment, relics, and items to find on your adventure.

Freedom Wars Remastered (PS4, PS5, Switch, PC)

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Dimps
Price: Unannounced (as of the time of writing)
Release Date: January 10
Trailer

The PlayStation Vita hidden gem Freedom Wars finally gets a remaster on modern platforms on January 10. It has a unique scenario for this co-op action game. You begin your life as a criminal for just being born, and you're fighting enemies and finishing missions to reduce your sentence. Bandai Namco says the game supports a 4K resolution and 60 frames per second on all current-gen platforms. Additionally, the game has upgraded textures, but to be honest, from the screenshots and footage so far, you can still tell it was originally a Vita game.

The game has an overhauled weapon crafting system, new difficulty options, and more gameplay upgrades in Freedom Wars Remastered. As you play through the game, you'll be given Thorn weapons to help you traverse each level and take down enemies. These weapons let you set traps, provide healing, and more benefits to your team. The materials you gather from fallen enemies will let you upgrade your weapons, similar to the Monster Hunter series. The original Vita release of Freedom Wars received an 8/10 score from our review, so the remaster may be worth checking out.

Sniper Elite: Resistance (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC)

Publisher: Rebellion
Developer: Rebellion
Price: $49.99
Release Date: January 30
Trailer

Sniper Elite: Resistance takes us back to World War 2 as we snipe Nazis in a hidden war amongst occupied France. We play as Harry Hawker, an operative tasked with eliminating the Wunderwaffe, a weapon that would guarantee the Nazis victory in the war. Sniper Elite's X-ray kill cam is back in this game as it gives us the visceral details of a bullet entering the noggin (and other body parts) of your enemies. You'll need to consider gravity, wind, and even your heart rate to get the perfect shot.

As you play through Sniper Elite: Resistance, you'll be able to customize and upgrade your weapons with all manner of scopes, stocks, barrels, magazines and other attachments. You'll also get the ability to use armor-piercing shells to finish your task when the game drops onto physical and digital store shelves on January 30.

Tales of Graces f Remastered (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC)

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: TOSE CO. LTD
Price: $49.99
Release Date: January 17
Trailer

Asbel's adventures return in Tales of Graces f Remastered when Bandai Namco releases this JRPG for modern platforms on January 17. This new version of the adventure includes graphical improvements, auto-save functionality, the ability to turn off enemy encounters, and the addition of dashing rather than the slower running. You can also skip cutscenes with this release, and icons have been added to the UI to make the experience clearer. Most of the original DLC from the PS3 version is included in the package.

The story revolves around three kingdoms vying for control of the world. Our heroes, such as Asbel, Richard, and Sophie, must work together to save the beautiful world Ephinea. While playing this on the PS3, my teenage self loved the probably corny storyline, which focused on the friendship between the characters that grow from childhood; hopefully, it ages well.

Honorable Mentions

The January 2025 games lineup has many remasters and ports. They include the Wii platformer Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, and the new remaster of the PS1 classic Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 also finally arrives on PC in January.

• Airborne Empire Early Access (PC) - January 13
• Assetto Corsa EVO Early Access (PC) - January 16
• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch) - January 16
• Border Town Early Access(PC) - January 23
• Star Wars Episode 1: Jedi Power Battles (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PC) - January 23
• Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S) - January 28
• Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (PC) - January 28
• Cuisineer (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC) - January 29
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure (Switch, PC) - January 30
• Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (PC) - January 30
• Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (PS4, PS5, Switch) - January 30

The post Here are the most anticipated January 2025 games appeared first on Destructoid.

Tekka Maki in Disney Dreamlight Valley is a tasty Japanese dish you can make for your pals like Donald and Mickey. Unfortunately, the ingredients take a long while to grow.

All Tekka Maki Disney Dreamlight Valley ingredients

Tekka Maki can be made with the following ingredients in Disney Dreamlight Valley:

• Tuna
• Seaweed
• Soya
• Rice

Tuna can be fished from the waters of Glade of Trust and Forgotten Lands in the original valley. The ingredient can be found in white ripples within the water.

Seaweed can be found in a similar spot to Tuna. Use your fishing rod and set the feed to a place outside of ripples within any spot in the Valley. You should get Seaweed pretty quickly. This ingredient is also used to feed turtles in Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Soya can be purchased from Goofy's Stall in the Lion King-themed Sunlit Plateau. The clumsy character sells the green beans' seeds for 60 Star Coins. It annoyingly grows within one hour and 30 minutes. You can speed up the process with some Miracle Growth Elixir.

Rice is also bought from Goofy's Stall, this time in the Glade of Trust. The seeds are 35 Star Coins each, while the ingredient itself is 92 Star Coins each. Rice is a little quicker to grow than Soya and takes 50 minutes. Rice can also be used to make another Japanese dish, Sake Maki, which includes Salmon instead of Tuna.

Once you have all the ingredients, go to a cooking station at your home or Chez Remy. Then, place them all into the pot to create your Tekka Maki. It can be sold for 366 Star Coins or consumed for 984 Energy. Now, you have the delicious recipe in your culinary repertoire!

The post How to make Tekka Maki in Disney Dreamlight Valley appeared first on Destructoid.

There's tons of content in Waframe's 1999 update, but its biggest new mode is undoubtedly the PvPvE Faceoff mode. However, this mode has had a mixed reception in the Warframe community.

Before we dive into what's going on, take a look at all the new modes added in, whether Faceoff is worth running for Conclave standing, and how to start dating. Now, keep reading to learn everything you'll need to know about what folks think of the new Faceoff mode in Warframe.

What's going on with Faceoff in Warframe

In general, Warframe players really appreciate a new way to earn Conclave standing, and the PvPvE approach with Faceoff feels, to many, like a better fit for Warframe than did the game's now-dead suite of PvP modes, but that doesn't mean Faceoff's current state is perfect.

Gamers have a variety of issues with Faceoff, but some are likely bugs or simply unintentional, not design that needs to be tweaked. This includes the biggest problem with Faceoff right now: the health and general tankiness of Assassination mobs. In short, they're too spongy.

Another similar issue is matchmaking. Currently, queuing into the mode can take a while, and every match begins with up to a few minutes of waiting around for it to start. Plus, the mode is currently plagued by disconnections, host migrations, and other problems of that nature.

That said, there are a number of other issues players are having with Faceoff that aren't obvious glitches or unintended interactions. Here are some of the top complaints:

• Too much RNG for a competitive mode: some objectives require you to randomly drop items from enemies or get enough enemies to spawn nearby, and this makes for a very unfair feeling experience when those things don't go your way but do for the other team.
• Conclave standing rewards for playing Faceoff are way too low. Missions for other syndicates can award you 9,000 standing or more in a single match when Faceoff is capped at 3,000. Plus, you only get 1,500 standing if you don't manage to win, which isn't always guaranteed.
• The other team disconnecting means you'll get worse rewards for completing the mission — the same rewards you get for playing the squad vs AI version of Faceoff. If you're playing Faceoff for standing, that means you won't get any standing at all for finishing the mission.

This isn't a comprehensive list of every problem people have with Faceoff, but these are some of the biggest ones right now. While there are many complaints out there, many are also giving their take on ways Digital Extremes can improve the overall Faceoff experience.

How Faceoff in Warframe could get a lot better

Once the defenses of Assassination mobs gets adjusted and a few matchmaking upgrades are implemented, players still have a ton of ideas on how to make Faceoff itself better:

• Mirror spawns, modifiers on enemies, and objective locations for both teams. Then, matches won't feel one-sided when a particular team gets blessed with good RNG and the other doesn't, forcing one a loss and guaranteeing one a win — assuming the losers don't quit.
• Increase standing rewards by at least 50-100% to keep pace with standing rewards from other syndicate missions. Even 3,000 standing for a loss and 6,000 standing for a win wouldn't be an especially large amount to earn in a single match when it comes to Warframe missions.
• If a team disconnects or quits, allow the remaining team to earn the same rewards they would have initially. This means that instead of a team getting punished for staying in a match, they'll get rewarded with a free win, instead of getting their time wasted.

Others suggest making the buffs and debuffs you can find more relevant, making objective indicators clearer, and better explaining how all the various mechanics of the mode work in-game. But it's still early days for the 1999 update, so many are still getting their thoughts together.

It seems inevitable Digital Extremes will make changes to the mode, once the developers get back from Christmas vacation, but it remains to be seen exactly what's going to change. For that, we'll all have to wait and find out. For now, though, you may want to hold off grinding Faceoff.

The post The community has mixed feelings on Warframe’s big new PvPvE Faceoff mode appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the most surprising additions to Warframe: 1999 is the Backroom, a brand-new take on player housing that gives players their own apartment to decorate. However, you're going to need quite a few different decorations to furnish the Backroom fully, so where can you get those?

Before we even get into decorations, make sure you learn everything you need to know about the Backroom and other important 1999 additions like the calendar system and all the new modes added. If you're ready to decorate, read on to learn where you can get the best decorations.

What to know about decorations in Warframe

Firstly, the Backroom has its own unique 1999 style, and since new decorations haven't been added with the 1999 update, there isn't a series of decorations that perfectly match the Backroom. Also, even if you remove the built-in furnishings of the Backroom, a few will still be left behind.

For decorations in general, it's worth keeping in mind that you'll need as many of a certain decoration as you want to place, so you can't place multiple copies of something if you only own one. You also can't place the same decoration in the Backroom and elsewhere if you only own one.

If you plan on stuffing your Backroom absolutely full of decorations, don't expect this to be done in an afternoon, either. Acquiring decorations mostly means spending syndicate standing, and thanks to daily standing caps, the Backroom will likely be something you decorate over time.

Zariman decorations in Warframe

The vendor Hombask, located in the Chysalith on the Zariman Ten Zero, is arguably the single most important place to find decorations for the backroom. Hombask sells a ton of different decorations, but you can find a lot of normal-living-space-type furnishings there.

So, expect to find benches, rugs, tables, lamps, and the like. Beyond that, though, what's particularly relevant to the backroom are the walls you can buy from Hombask. There are a few different varieties, but these will be essential to setting up different rooms in your new place.

As you might expect, you purchase these decorations with The Holdfasts standing. Playing Chrysalith bounties, particularly on Steel Path, is an effective way of acquiring standing. Make sure to search out as many Voidplumes as you can in each mission for extra standing.

Sanctum decorations in Warframe

The vendor Bird 3, located in Sanctum Anatomica on Deimos, is another important place to find decorations for the Backroom, albeit less so than the Zariman. Bird 3 sells a rotating selection of items, most of which are luxurious, golden furniture pieces and lighting fixtures.

Five items are offered each week, out of a total of 13, so it takes three weeks to fully cycle. Unfortunately, you can only purchase one of each decoration each week. We'd recommend checking in with Bird 3 each week to see if anything catches your eye, so you don't miss out.

Like the Zariman, you purchase these decorations with Cavia standing. Playing Sanctum Anatomica bounties, once again on Steel Path, is a great way of getting standing. While doing so, you can pick up various Voca that can be exchanged for more standing with Loid.

Duviri decorations in Warframe

The vendor Acrithis, located in the Dormizone on the Zariman Ten Zero, also sells a variety of interesting decorations that can fit well in the Backroom. Acrithis has a static selection of decorations, and they're mostly furniture with a Duvuri aesthetic, so think elegant earth tones.

While these decorations don't rotate, you can only purchase them with Enigma Gyrums, a resource unique to Duviri. You can earn Enigma Gyrums by completing Duviri Enigmas, which are puzzles found in Duviri's 'The Duviri Experience' mode. That's the only way to get them.

Since you can't buy these with standing, they do require more effort to unlock, so we'd recommend taking a look at Acrithis' wares to decide if the decorations he offers are worth buying. The Duviri Experience is a good way to get resources for Incarnons, however—so two birds, one stone.

Market decorations in Warframe

The last major place to get decorations is Warframe's in-game shop. Of course, that means they'll cost you Platinum. As always, one of the best ways to earn Platinum quickly is by cracking open relics and selling the various Prime parts you get via trading, but there are other ways, too.

There isn't a specific theme to the decorations available on the market, and there are a lot of them. However, most of the decorations on the market are trinkets. Think little tchotchkes or posters. So, you won't find much in the way of walls or furniture like you can at the above spots.

Decorations on the market are cheap, but they'll add up quickly, and considering how precious Platinum is as a resource, you might want to focus your energies on decorations from the Zariman first and foremost, since there's a wide variety available.

The post Where to get all the best decorations for the Backroom in Warframe appeared first on Destructoid.

One of Warframe: 1999's biggest additions to the game is its romance system. Like real life, though, starting up a relationship in Warframe isn't necessarily easy, and it can take some time.

Before you even think about romance, you'll need to play the 1999 quest, decide who you want to date, and understand the new seasonal system. Beyond that, here's how to start dating ASAP.

How Chemistry works in Warframe

Chemistry is your 'relationship XP' in Warframe, and it's represented by your Chemistry Rank. There are six ranks in the game, and they are as follows:

• Neutral
• Friendly
• Liked
• Trusted
• Close
• Best Friends / Loved

You need to hit certain Chemistry Ranks with each Hex syndicate member to have the option to date them. Although, the rank required varies from Hex member to Hex member. Plus, depending on your interactions with the members, they might not want to date you.

Chemistry Rank is gated by your rank in the Hex syndicate. So, you'll need to be a certain rank in the syndicate to level up to certain Chemistry Ranks. However, any Chemistry you earn will be 'banked' for use later on whenever you hit the appropriate syndicate level.

This means that even if you're at the maximum Chemistry Rank with your current syndicate level, once you level up the syndicate, any additional earned Chemistry will then be applied to your Chemistry Rank. No need to worry about wasting any Chemistry you manage to earn.

Here are what ranks in the Hex syndicate you'll need to hit which Chemistry Ranks:

• Friendly: Fresh Slice (Rank 2)
• Liked: 2-for-1 (Rank 3)
• Trusted: Hot & Fresh (Rank 4)
• Close: Pizza Party (Rank 5)

How to earn Chemistry quickly in Warframe: 1999

There are three ways to earn Chemistry in Warframe: sending gifts, messaging, and completing side objectives on 1999 bounties. Luckily, you can't lose Chemistry, only gain it.

As you get to know a Hex syndicate member, their messaging profile will give you information on what sort of gifts they'll like, or you can check out our guide on the best gifts to give every member. You can only send a gift once per day, though, and the wrong gift won't increase Chemistry.

You can also acquire Chemistry by chatting with a Hex syndicate member. You can have one chat per day, although, like with gifts, Chemistry gains are not always guaranteed, depending on how your conversation goes. Saying too many wrong things might even make you undateable.

The only guaranteed way to earn Chemistry is via 1999 bounties. Each of the six available 1999 bounties is tied to a specific Hex syndicate member, and if you complete the optional side objective during a bounty, you'll earn Chemistry with the respective member. This can be done once each day.

Lastly, as you progress through 1999's seasonal calendar, the birthday of each member will come up, and you can choose to have a special birthday conversation when those arrive. This will give you another chance at earning Chemistry outside of your normal daily chatting.

So, if you want to earn Chemistry as fast as possible, you'll need to do the following:

• Chat every day
• Send a gift every day
• Complete bounty side objectives every day
• Send a birthday message when you can

How to rank up the Hex syndicate quickly in Warframe

Earning Chemistry is only one part of the puzzle. To hit the higher Chemistry Ranks, you'll need to be leveling up your Hex syndicate, too. Like with the other syndicates in the game, ranking up the Hex is a pretty straightforward process, gated only by your daily standing cap.

The best way to level up the Hex syndicate is by playing bounties, particularly the Steel Path variant of bounties. It's even better if, during bounties, you search for and pick up Hex Treasures. Six types of Hex Treasures can all be traded in for Hex standing:

• Big Bytes Pizza — 2,500 standing
• Argon Burger Meal — 1,500 standing
• 35mm Film — 750 standing
• Cheddar Crowns Cereal — 750 standing
• Mood Crystal — 750 standing
• Chuggin' Along Sixpack — 750 standing
• On-Lyne CD — 750 standing
• The Countessa Comic — 750 standing

You can memorize where treasures appear just by playing missions, but using the Parallax Landing Craft with its Orokin Eye air support is easier. Simply use this ability in a mission, and all Hex Treasures within a 150m radius will get highlighted for you to grab.

How to start dating someone in Warframe: 1999

Once you hit the required Chemistry Rank with a Hex syndicate member (and the corresponding Hex syndicate rank), you'll be presented with a new dialogue option when you visit that character in the Höllvania Central Mall. You can choose to start up a relationship from there.

You can also start (or end) relationships over messaging, but messaging can be unpredictable, so you're probably better off just visiting the person in question directly once your Chemistry is ranked up. Similarly, once you start a relationship, you can break up the same way.

Once you've begun a relationship, you'll get to have a New Year's Eve kiss with your partner when the 1999 seasonal cycle is over. A season takes place over the course of a month in real-time, so your first opportunity will be on January 12th, 2025.

Remember that there's only this one chance for the kiss in a given cycle, and you can only get a kiss with a Hex syndicate member you're currently dating. After the cycle resets, you can reset your relationship progress, start over, and date someone new in the next cycle.

The post How to quickly level up your relationships in Warframe: 1999 and start dating appeared first on Destructoid.

Feeling lonely? Well, if you're a Warframe player, you won't have to anymore, thanks to a new romance system in the 1999 update. But just how many partners can you rack up?

Before we get into how high your virtual, shall we say, body count can go, you should take a look at who your options are, how the new calendar system works, and make sure to complete the 1999 quest. Once that's all done, read on to learn exactly how many people you can romance in Warframe: 1999.

You can romance one person at a time in Warframe: 1999, but...

The romance system works in Warframe by leveling up your relationship with people to a certain level, and you'll have the option to start a relationship with them. Once the in-game 1999 calendar cycles through a year or a real-time month, you'll get a New Year's Eve kiss with them.

You can only romance one person at a time, but you can break up with somebody if your heart has focused on somebody else. However, since you'll only have one chance throughout a monthly cycle to have a New Year's Kiss, you can only 'fully' romance one person in a month.

At the time of writing, the first Warframe: 1999 cycle will end on January 12th, 2025. Once a cycle is complete, you can reset your progress, wiping all your conversation history and setting your relationship levels with all the people you can romance back to zero.

As a note, the group chat you have with all the Hex syndicate members will not be reset after a monthly cycle ends, and your standing with the Hex syndicate will also be independent of the romance system and seasonal cycle of Warframe: 1999 content. Resetting is just for relationships.

So, while you can only see one romance through to the end in a month, you can date every member of the Hex squad over time if you so choose.

How breaking up works in Warframe: 1999

Once you're in a relationship with someone, you can initiate a breakup by visiting the person in question at the Höllvania Central Mall and selecting the 'Break Up' dialogue. Depending on the personality of the person in question, you may or may not be able to get back together.

We'd suggest only breaking up with somebody if you're totally sure they aren't the right one for you. Make sure you're careful when messaging your partner, as breakups can also be initiated through the messaging system, just as relationships can be started over a message, too.

The post Can you romance multiple people in Warframe: 1999? appeared first on Destructoid.

The best Switch multiplayer games excel at bringing friends and family from all gaming backgrounds together. Whether you're competing for glory in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate or making jokes in any given Jackbox Party Pack, there are a lot of Switch multiplayer games to play. Here are the best Switch multiplayer games on the Switch: just keep in mind a few of them require a Switch Online subscription!

20. Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival

Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival simulates the famous Japanese drum instrument and lets you go bananas with the Joycon or a specific taiko controller (if you have the money for it). You're drumming with the left and right Joycon to the beat, in a frantic manner, to familiar songs like Undertale's "Megalovania," Frozen 2's "Into the Unknown," and even the Super Mario Bros. theme. You can expect some classical music and J-pop in the mix as well. If you've played the Donkey Konga series from the GameCube, it's somewhat similar.

19. Just Dance 2025

This is arguably the most accessible party game for anyone on the Nintendo Switch. All you have to do is pick up a controller (you can even use your mobile phone) and dance like the coaches on screen. While the songlist isn't as varied as it could be, Just Dance 2025 has a selection of fun songs to dance to, including Lady Gaga's "Pokerface," Sabrina Carpenter's "Espresso," and Madonna's "Vogue." Most of the choreography is easy to understand and follow, giving plenty of thrills for the whole family. The visuals of each dance set pop on screen, and Ubisoft ups the ante in this retrospect.

18. Golf with Your Friends

Golf with Your Friends is like mini-golf but elevated in the video game space. The courses have wild elements to them, such as flowing rivers, explosive bombs, and factory machinery that get in the way of your hole-in-one. You can also bounce the balls, leading the way to creative shots towards the end post. There are many different courses to choose from, and they're each very fun with friends online around the world or on the couch. I can't count the number of times I've laughed while playing Golf with Your Friends. The game has a Very Positive score from over 43,000 players on PC platform Steam.

17. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge

As a spiritual successor to the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles beat-em-ups of the 90s, Shredder's Revenge is totally radical. This game is so much fun with friends as you take down enemies together in classic arcade-style action. You can have six people on the screen at once, and it supports online multiplayer if you don't have your friends on the couch. The retro pixel-style graphics are gorgeous on-screen, and TMNT fans can see all manner of references to the universe in-game. This game is an absolute delight, especially if you like beat-em-ups like Turtles in Time and The Simpsons Arcade back in the day.

"TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge delivers exactly what one expects," said our review. "It’s a great-looking, great-sounding, and great-playing love letter to one of the most beloved franchises of all time."

16. Fall Guys

Fall Guys is a fun party game battle royale that has you running as silly bean guys running through obstacles. As each round passes, you're trying to be one of the last players to progress to the last mini-game and race to win the crown. Most of the mini-games that developer Mediatonic has made are genius and push your platforming, reflexes, and puzzle skills to the test. It's immensely fun with friends as you try to outdo each other in this silly battle royale. It used to be a paid experience, but Fall Guys is now a free-to-play game.

15. Tetris 99

Tetris 99 is the perfect marriage between the puzzle genre and the popular battle royale format. You're trying to be the last to survive against players who stack blocks on your screen as they impact your gameplay. It gets exciting as the gameplay speeds up and more players get eliminated. It's super intense when you're in the last five players in the pool. If you succeed in the game, you can get different themes with the in-game currency. There have been themes based on the Pokémon series, Xenoblade Chronicles, and more. You can check out Tetris 99 for free with any Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

14. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is one of the best 2D platformers of the last decade. It has wonderfully creative levels across the jungle and frozen environments that Donkey Kong and crew have to deal with. It also has fun segments with mine carts on a dangerous track! There's also something really entertaining about being shot from a barrel cannon at high speeds. The platforming feels solid, as you'd expect from a Nintendo game, and the environments are brimming with color and detail.

"It’s an incredibly crafted platformer with an HD sheen and an insane attention to detail, and any fan of the genre owes it to themselves to experience it," said our 10/10 review.

13. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

It's super satisfying to show your accomplished settlement in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You can show off the designs of your village, the lovely villagers you have, and how immaculately themed each room is. It's also a relaxing way to hang out with friends as you clean up the island and fish with them. Some have even been married in the game during the COVID pandemic. This is a game that came just at the right time as it cooled down many gamers in a stressful situation. However, it's still fun to this day.

12. Rocket League

Football + cars is a simple concept, but it works incredibly well. Now available as a free-to-play title, you can use fast cars to shoot balls or stop a shot from getting in the net. There are also a ton of adjustments you can make to the car, like the patterns, flag, body shape, and paint of your vehicle, to make it stand out among the crowd. There are micro-transaction elements to be aware of, but you don't need to spend a penny to enjoy the intense sports action of Rocket League. 

11. Minecraft

There's a reason why Minecraft is so popular, despite the fact that many popular content creators are still making videos about it more than a decade later. Building a home or even a grand statue with your pals is a wonderful premise. You can also adventure through caves, get precious resources, and then escape the various scary enemies who stand in your path. The Creeper will get you eventually. It's also a relaxing game to partake with a calming soundtrack and strangely blocky yet gorgeous views of the world around you.

10. Runbow

Runbow is a hidden gem to the nth degree.

This party-platforming hybrid has you trying to survive quick platforming levels that constantly fluctuate. Nine players compete to be the first one to the flag at the end, and the wild, colorful visuals truly pull you into the game. In fact, the platforms camouflage and blend with the constantly switching colors and disappear, adding an extra amount of challenge. While playing Runbow at an Extra Life event, I was shocked to pass through a tough section, getting so much fun from the chaotic nature of the game. This is a surprisingly entertaining Switch multiplayer game that you should pick up.

9. Nintendo Switch Sports

Nintendo Switch Sports does what it says on the tin. Like Wii Sports, you get a bunch of entertaining physical recreation activities to play. The Joy-Con does a great job of replicating the Wii remote, but unlike Wii Sports, this game supports online play, adding more replayability. You can compete to be the very best and unlock new costumes for your characters along the way.

You can play badminton, golf, soccer (football), volleyball, and bowling, and one of my personal favourites is Chambara. Read our review of the game if you aren't sold yet!

8. Ultimate Chicken Horse

I've never laughed so hard at a game beyond Ultimate Chicken Horse. The goal is simple: You need to head to the exit of the level. However, with each passing turn, you place obstacles in the way.

The action gets chaotic as rotating spikes are stuck to honey, and pucks fly towards you at lightning speed. The fun revolves around the idea of making the level as difficult as possible for your rivals, but at the same time, easy enough to finish the stage. It can get so intense that your jaw drops.

7. Splatoon 3

One of the best Switch multiplayer games is Splatoon 3. The goal is to cover each area with as much ink as possible. If your team expands its ink more than the other, you win. That's it! Kinda.

You're using all manner of different weapons like a bow and arrow, a paint roller, and even katanas to win. The clothes you unlock throughout the game give you different abilities as well. The concept is simple, but Nintendo's maps and unique take on a third-person shooter with ink-splitting make Splatoon 3 stand out. The co-op-focused Salmon Run is engrossing as well. "You jump into a match, ink some turf, kill some enemies, see who wins in dramatic fashion (sigh or cheer), and repeat," said Chris Carter in his Destructoid review. "It’s a loop that works even better than before because of all the aforementioned wrinkles in the formula, with some gameplay smoothing as well."

6. Jackbox Party Packs

The Jackbox Party Packs are perfect for friends and family. The games are relatively easy to understand, and the only controller you need is your phone (or another device that has internet and browser access). You'll be surviving in Trivia Murder Party by answering out-of-the-box questions, trying to come up with the funniest one-liners in Quiplash, and even trying to get the most dates amongst yourselves in Monster Seeking Monster. 

Jackbox Games has so much creativity within its game design, and its Party Packs will help create memorable experiences for everyone in your immediate vicinity.

5. Mario Party Superstars

While the Jackbox Party Packs can create memorable experiences, Mario Party Superstars might be infamous for your friendships. The board game-like title has you competing to get the most stars. You're exploring the board, finishing entertaining mini-games for coins, and then, by the end of the game, you'll be ranked by the number of stars and coins you own.

It gets really competitive, too, as you can steal coins and stars from other players. If you've played a Mario Party game before, you may recognize some of the boards Mario, Luigi, and the like play on. Memorable mini-games also return to the classic series like Mushroom Mix-Up and Bumper Balls.

4. Fortnite

This may get a lot of flak, but Fortnite is an absolute blast. This battle royale has impeccable controls, a stunning Unreal Engine 5-powered world, and extremely cool weapons that are added each season. It's constantly being updated, adding new, surprising gameplay elements. Teaming up with friends, completing missions, and then winning the match is so much fun within Fortnite. The game is far more accessible now for those who don't want to build; there's a zero-build option that is solely focused on shooting and world exploration.

It's also wild to see Kratos, Master Chief, Goku, and Spider-Man all at the same party. With Fortnite, anything can happen. You don't want to miss out.

3. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Excellent game design? Check. Fun four-player multiplayer? Check. Gorgeous visuals? Check. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is the full package. This previous Wii U exclusive excels on Switch with the addition of faster movement speed and the addition of online play. The music is also stellar from the start, especially for the introductory world of Super Bell Hill. I still listen to the covers of that track regularly!

The cat forms in 3D World also let you crawl up walls, adding momentum to the already stellar Mario platforming format. It's one of the best multiplayer Switch games you can play on the hybrid system.

2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is an incredible achievement. The character list is huge with heroes and villains from all over gaming history. Third-party characters like Final Fantasy's Cloud, Metal Gear Solid's Snake, and Castlevania's Simon Belmont fight against the likes of Mario, Link, and Fox in epic battles.

Tallying up your opponent's health meter to high percentages with your arsenal of attacks and then launching them into the stratosphere is super fulfilling. There's a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competitive scene for a reason, as many love the simple but deep combat of the game.

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The best Switch multiplayer game is undoubtedly Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The tracks are absolutely stunning with plenty of detail and gorgeous artistic visuals. Driving in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe feels perfect as you drift around corners and get a successful boost.

Additionally, the music keeps up the exciting tone, and a big orchestra performs the score. This is a game you can set up in a living room, and four people will quickly grab a controller and play. It's simplicity at its best. Hopefully, you can avoid that annoying blue shell!

The post Top 20 best multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

There's a ton of new content in Warframe: 1999, including two new rifles and a new pistol: the Reconifex, the AX-52, and the Vesper 77. But how do you get your hands on them?

Keep reading to find out exactly what you'll need to do, and once you get your weapons, check out our builds for the Reconifex, Vesper 77, and AX-52 to get you to slaying ASAP.

How to get the Reconifex in Warframe

Firstly, you can buy the Reconifex from the in-game shop directly for 240p. However, that's not the only way to acquire its weapon. You can also buy its blueprints from Amir of the Hex syndicate once you reach rank four. Here are the standing costs and crafting materials required:

• Reconfiex Blueprint: 15,000 standing to buy. 30,000 credits, a Reconifex Barrel, a Reconifex Reciever, and a Reconifex Stock to craft.
• Reconifex Barrel Blueprint: 5,000 standing to buy. 20,000 credits, 40 Techrot Chitin, 10 Techrot Motherboards, 2 Neural Sensors, and 1 Argon Crystal to craft.
• Reconifex Reciever Blueprint: 5,000 standing to buy. 20,000 credits, 60 Efervon Samples, 60 Höllvanian Pitchweave Fragments, 15 Experimental Arc-Relays, and 500 Ferrite to craft.
• Reconifex Stock Blueprint: 5,000 standing to buy. 20,000 credits, 60 Höllvanian Pitchweave Fragments, 30 Techrot Chitin, 8 Techrot Motherboards, and 1 Orokin Cell to craft.

You can also drop all of the above blueprints by playing 1999 missions. You can check out exactly what missions drop, which blueprint, and the drop rates on the Wiki. However, chances are quite low, so you're better off playing missions for standing and hoping to get lucky.

How to get the Vesper 77 in Warframe

Like the Reconifex, you can buy the Vesper 77 from the in-game shop for 200p. Once again, that's not the only way to get it, though. You can buy its blueprints from Amir of the Hex syndicate once you reach rank three. Here are the standing costs and crafting materials required:

• Vesper 77 Blueprint: 15,000 standing to buy. 20,000 credits, a Vesper 77 Barrel, a Vesper 77 Reciever, and a Vesper 77 Handle to craft.
• Vesper 77 Barrel Blueprint: 5,000 standing to buy. 20,000 credits, 40 Höllvanian Pitchweave Fragments, 16 Techrot Chitin, 20 Experimental Arc-Relays, and 1 Argon Crystal to craft.
• Vesper 77 Reciever Blueprint: 5,000 standing to buy. 20,000 credits, 80 Efervon Samples, 16 Techrot Chitin, 12 Techrot Motherboards, and 300 Salvage to craft.
• Vesper 77 Handle Blueprint: 5,000 standing to buy. 20,000 credits, 80 Efervon Samples, 40 Techrot Chitin, 6 Techrot Motherboards, and 200 Polymer Bundles to craft.

You can drop Vesper 77 blueprints from 1999 missions, too. Check out the Wiki for the list of which missions reward which parts, as well as drop rates. However, dropping the parts is rare, so you're better off playing the missions for standing and lucking into maybe dropping a blueprint.

How to get the AX-52 in Warframe

Unlike the weapons above, you can't buy the AX-52 from the in-game shop. And while you can buy its blueprint from Amir of the Hex syndicate once you reach rank four for 30,000 standing, you can craft it directly without needing to craft other parts for it. The materials required are as follows:

• 20,000 credits
• 80 Efervon Samples
• 40 Techrot Chitin
• 6 Techrot Motherboards
• 200 Polymer Bundles

There isn't a chance to drop the blueprint for the AX-52 by playing 1999 content, so you'll have to focus on grinding up the Hex syndicate to rank four and then acquiring the 30,000 standing necessary to purchase the blueprint. As mentioned above, though, there are no component parts to buy.

The post How to unlock all the new weapons in Warframe: 1999 appeared first on Destructoid.