Yumemizuki Mizuki (say that five times fast) is a 5-star Anemo Catalyst user in Genshin Impact. As an on-field Swirl DPS, Mizuki’s build requirements are quite unique. Here’s how to build Mizuki to blow away your competition!

What Talents to level on Mizuki

The Swirl reaction on its own doesn’t rely on Talent levels to deal damage. The top priority for Mizuki is to reach level 90 with as much Elemental Mastery as possible. Then, you can work on her Talents.

As for her Talents, prioritize Mizuki’s Skill, then Burst. Her Skill levels will increase the bonus damage dealt by her Swirls. Mizuki’s Burst levels increase her healing. You can ignore Mizuki’s Normal Attacks since they aren’t used in combat at all.

Best artifacts for Mizuki

Mizuki should equip the 4pc Viridescent Venerer (4VV) set. This is hands-down the best artifact set for Mizuki’s damage. If you don’t have a full 4VV set, equip whatever you have that provides the most Elemental Mastery and use it to farm a full set.

As for artifact stats, Mizuki only cares about two: Elemental Mastery (EM) and Energy Recharge (ER). EM main stats across the board will result in the highest damage, and you should be able to get enough Energy Recharge through substats. An Energy Recharge Sands can be a comfortable option, though, if you prefer more reliable Burst uptime at the expense of a bit of damage.

How much Energy Recharge does Mizuki need?

Mizuki’s ER requirements will depend heavily on her team but generally aren’t that high. Instead of aiming for a specific number, I recommend just focusing on obtaining artifacts with EM main stats and ER substats. As a ballpark estimate, 160% should be fine for most teams.

Best weapons for Mizuki

Mizuki’s best weapon is Sunny Morning Sleep-In, her signature 5-star Catalyst. It grants a significant amount of EM, making it the highest-damage option for Mizuki. Before you go gambling on the weapon banner, though, see if you already have any of the other weapons that can work on Mizuki.

A Thousand Floating Dreams or Starcaller’s Watch are strong contenders for second place. While their passives aren’t ideal for Mizuki, they still provide a good amount of EM through their secondary stat. Both weapons are limited 5-star Catalysts, though, so I only recommend using these if you already happen to have them.

Mizuki’s best 4-star weapon

As for 4-star weapons, Sacrificial Fragments is Mizuki’s strongest option for personal damage. It has the highest EM secondary stat of all 4-star Catalysts and can potentially allow for shorter rotations through its passive. You don’t even need a high-Refinement Sacrificial Fragments since its passive isn’t actually necessary.

Wandering Evenstar results in less personal damage but provides an ATK buff to Mizuki’s teammates based on her EM stat. If you’re okay with sacrificing some of Mizuki’s damage in exchange for more team damage, Wandering Evenstar is a great option. Refinements are welcome, but they might be hard to obtain due to Wandering Evenstar’s status as a limited weapon.

Best free-to-play weapon for Mizuki

Fruit of Fulfillment is Mizuki’s best weapon for free-to-play players who might not have the other options above. Its ER secondary stat means you can safely opt for EM sands, and it provides Mizuki with a decent EM buff. Fruit of Fulfillment can be crafted at any blacksmith using billets. If you decide to equip Mizuki with Fruit of Fulfillment, I recommend Refining it as much as you can.

The post Yumemizuki Mizuki’s best builds in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

In Genshin Impact, the multi-element Traveler usually obtains Constellations by progressing quests and exploration in the many nations of Teyvat. Pyro Traveler breaks this pattern, though, and their Constellations are harder to obtain. Here’s what you need to unlock all of Pyro Traveler’s Constellations in Genshin Impact.

SPOILER WARNING: The content below contains heavy spoilers for the end of Natlan’s Archon Quests. Pyro Traveler Constellations are only obtainable after completing Chapter V Act V: Incandescent Ode of Resurrection, so come back here after you’ve experienced it!

Pyro Traveler Constellations explained

When you first obtain Pyro Traveler, you’ll see an animation where all six of your Constellations are unlocked at once. While this is exciting at first, the Constellations you unlock during the Archon Quest only take effect in specific scenarios.

These special Constellation effects start with the text, “When opposing the Lord of Eroded Primal Fire incarnated by Gosoythoth…” meaning they only take effect against this particular boss. This makes Pyro Traveler one of the most overpowered characters for the Lord of Eroded Primal Fire weekly boss challenge, but their Constellations lose their effects as soon as you leave the domain. Their true Constellations must be unlocked separately.

How to get Blazing Flint Ore

Instead of the typical Stella Fortuna, Pyro Traveler requires Blazing Flint Ore to unlock Constellations. Blazing Flint Ore is earned by reaching Reputation Level 4 with each of Natlan’s tribes. There are six tribes in total, so there are six Blazing Flint Ores to collect – one for each Constellation. (Only five tribes are available as of Version 5.4, but the last tribe should be released soon.)

To reach Reputation Rank 4 with each tribe, visit the obsidian totem at their tribal base, denoted by a triangular icon on your map. Complete bounties, fulfill supply requests, explore the area, and do world quests to fill in the Reputation meter. Tribal Chronicles quests are also a great source of Reputation EXP. Bounties and supply requests refresh every Monday, so it may take a few weeks to earn enough Reputation EXP. Once you’ve reached Rank 4, claim your Blazing Flint Ore from the rewards menu.

How to use Blazing Flint Ore

Once you have Blazing Flint Ore, head to the Throne of Primal Fire in Ochkanatlan. After witnessing The Captain take the throne, you should be able to teleport directly there. Make sure Pyro Traveler is in your party and interact with the throne to exchange your Blazing Flint Ores for Constellations.

The Constellations you unlock here act like normal Constellations and will be active for Pyro Traveler no matter where they are. You can view both the boss-specific effects and normal effects in your Traveler’s Constellation menu.

The post How to unlock Pyro Traveler’s Constellations in Genshin Impact appeared first on Destructoid.

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.

Despite what you may have heard, Roccia is an undeniably strong character in Wuthering Waves, but strength alone isn’t the only deciding factor when it comes to spending your hard-earned currency. The real question is: does she bring enough value to your account to justify the investment?

Is Roccia Worth Pulling in Wuthering Waves?

Roccia enters Wuthering Waves at an intriguing point in the meta. She is the best-in-slot (BiS) sub-DPS for two of the game’s most powerful damage dealers, Camellya and Havoc Rover. Her Concerto rotation is incredibly fast, and she boasts the best grouping abilities in the game by a significant margin. With all these strengths, why are some players hesitant to pull for her?

The answer is simple: competition.

The Sanhau Factor

Roccia’s biggest drawback isn’t her own kit but the existence of Sanhua, a highly accessible and extremely effective alternative. Sanhua, a 4-star character available for free by completing a specific Tower of Adversity stage, provides similar benefits to Roccia with some key advantages that make pulling Roccia seem like a bit of a gamble:

• Insane Concerto Speed – Sanhua arguably has the fastest Concerto rotation in the entire game, which benefits all teams, especially those reliant on Intro Skills for burst damage or applying self-buffs.
• Powerful Basic Attack Buffs – Like Roccia, Sanhua boosts Basic Attack damage, but thanks to the Moonlit Echo set and her innate strengths, her buffs are both strong and widely applicable. In fact, Sanhau's Bastic Attack buff is actually larger than Roccia's.
• Greater Team Versatility – Roccia’s buffs are specifically tailored for Havoc Basic Attack DPS units, which, at the moment, only include Camellya. Meanwhile, Sanhua's buffs work on a wider range of characters, making her a more flexible choice in many team compositions that may consider slotting Roccia in.

The Grouping Debate

Roccia’s unparalleled grouping ability is one of her major selling points and is certainly a significant factor to consider before pulling her. However, does the current endgame content of Wuthering Waves demand it? Honestly, no. Not really. The most difficult content in Wuthering Waves, the Tower of Adversity and Tactical Holograms, primarily feature single-target boss fights where grouping isn’t particularly useful. While her ability to gather enemies is impressive at first, its relevance to the meta remains questionable because of the current focus of the endgame. So then, what about her future?

Is Roccia Futureproof?

While this may all sound pretty iffy for Roccia, none of this is to say she isn’t a strong pull. She does far more damage than Sanhau and has access to far superior AoE. She absolutely is account-valuable, but meta relevance shifts over time, and right now, her role is somewhat niche. There is often another character that will fit better in her place on her team compositions. Five-star characters are expensive to acquire and even more expensive to build because of the intense RNG of Echo farming and limitations on Weekly materials. If you’re considering pulling for Roccia, ask yourself: Do I need Roccia right now for my current account?

If you have to pause before answering, it might be best to save your Asterite for a different character that better fits your long-term goals. That said, if you love her playstyle or enjoy her character like I do, there’s nothing wrong with pulling for favorites. Just ensure she aligns well with what your account needs, as there are future characters coming out that will likely be more valuable in the short term (Phoebe).

At the end of the day, Roccia is a strong character. But is she must-pull strong? Well, maybe in the future, when content involves AoE encounters and grouping, but certainly not right now. She is super fun to play, though.

The post Should you pull for Roccia in Wuthering Waves 2.0? appeared first on Destructoid.

Most 5-star characters in Genshin Impact are limited, meaning they’re only obtainable during specific event banners. However, a select few are relegated to the standard pool, giving players a chance to pull the character even when they’re not featured. Is Yumemizuki Mizuki fated to be limited or standard?

Mizuki will be a standard 5-star character

HoYoverse confirmed during a version preview that Yumemizuki Mizuki will be added to the standard 5-star character pool. This means her upcoming banner in the first half of Version 5.4 will likely be the only dedicated event banner for Mizuki. After her banner comes to an end, you’ll have a small chance to obtain her on other limited character banners, on the standard banner, or on Chronicled Wish banners.

Does this mean Mizuki will be bad?

Those who were around during the Dehya debacle might be anxious at this news. Standard 5-star characters range from fairly decent (Tighnari, Jean) to outright terrible (Dehya, Qiqi). Being added to the standard pool is a portent of mediocrity. Dehya, the most recent character to make her way to the standard banner, is notorious for being particularly weak.

Mizuki will likely never reach the power level of Mavuika or Neuvillette, but she doesn’t seem to be bad either. From what we’ve seen so far, Mizuki will have a unique kit, be easy to build, and work with many teammates. If you like Mizuki and want to play a Swirl DPS, then Mizuki will be a perfectly fine pull.

That being said, unless you really like Mizuki, I recommend holding off on her limited event banner. Save your precious Primogems for a character you love, and you might accidentally get Mizuki along the way. Emphasis on “might.” It took me more than two years of playing Genshin Impact to get my first Mona.

The post Is Yumemizuki Mizuki coming to the standard banner in Genshin Impact? appeared first on Destructoid.

Balachko is a special Pyro Fatui Agent in the Natlan region of Genshin Impact. As a Local Legend, Balachko is a miniboss with greatly increased health and damage compared to most overworld enemies. Three achievements are associated with defeating this shady figure, so let’s get to work.

Where to find Local Legend Balachko

Balachko can be found near the People of the Springs, in the cave to the left of the Sanctum of Rainbow Spirits domain. There are a few tribal enemies in a camp. Defeat all the enemies to clear the way and unlock a Precious Chest. Balachko is behind a locked gate that requires two Keys to Somewhere to open.

Where to find the Keys to Somewhere

The first Key to Somewhere can be found in a cage at the far end of the cave. The second Key is at the end of a rope dangling from the ceiling above the Precious Chest. You can climb on the chest or some nearby boxes to reach it or jump up with a tall character. Once you have both keys, activate the switch to open the gate. Balachko awaits in a small arena behind the gate.

Beating Local Legend Balachko: which clone is the real one?

Prepare to fight Balachko by bringing at least one Hydro character. You may also want to cook some food to grant yourself buffs. Local Legends are no joke; Balachko can down you in one hit if you’re not careful, and he has a massive health pool. Shielders like Zhongli and Diona can help prevent you from being one-shot. If you’re having trouble beating Balachko in your world, see if you can join someone else at a lower World Level. Since overworld enemies scale to the host’s World Level, you might have an easier time in co-op.

As a Pyro Fatui Agent, Balachko has a nasty habit of going invisible and summoning shadowlike clones of himself. Periodically, he will uncloak himself and attack you in tandem with his clones. Deal damage when you can, and wait for him to summon a ring of clones around himself. These clones will throw blades at you. Only the real Balachko throws a red Pyro blade. The clones throw white Physical blades. Look for the clone that launches a Pyro blade and hit it with Hydro attacks to break through Balachko’s disguise.

Once you’ve broken Balachko’s shield, he’ll be stunned for a while and take increased damage. Take this opportunity to deal as much damage as possible. You’ll only have a few seconds – enough for one team rotation. After he recovers, repeat the previous steps to stun him again.

How to get all achievements for Local Legend Balachko

Genshin Impact features three achievements associated with Balachko. They must be done one at a time; you can’t do multiple in one fight. Once defeated, Balachko respawns daily, so these achievements will take a minimum of three days to complete. If you don’t want to wait for him to respawn, see if you can tackle him in another player’s world.

Balachko Achievement 1

Balachko Achievement 1 is simply to defeat him. Refer to the steps above and do whatever you need to do to win the fight.

Balachko Achievement 2

Balachko Achievement 2 requires you to destroy only the real Balachko during the ring-of-clones phase. Look for the clone that throws a Pyro-infused blade and hit it with Hydro attacks. Single-target Hydro appliers like Yelan or Xingqiu are helpful, since AoE attacks risk hitting other clones in the area. Hitting a clone once or twice is fine as long as they are not destroyed. After meeting this requirement, defeat Balachko to get the achievement.

Balachko Achievement 3

Balachko Achievement 3 requires you to destroy three fake clones during one phase. I recommend bringing multiple Hydro characters to apply as much Hydro as fast as you can. I got this achievement using Xingqiu and Kokomi. Look for the clones throwing white Physical blades and hit them with Hydro attacks as quickly as possible. You need to take down three clones during a single phase. After taking down three clones, focus on the real Balachko. You might need to wait for the next ring-of-clones phase, where you can just target the actual boss. Defeat him to get the achievement.

The post How to beat Balachko in Genshin Impact: all achievements guide appeared first on Destructoid.

If there’s one thing that every Fallout game has taught us, it’s that humans never learn their lesson. As if Earth needed to endure any more nuclear explosions, Fallout 76 allows players to launch nukes of their own and even encourages them to do so. 

While obtaining pre-war nuclear launch codes was a privilege only a few in the world had, the post-apocalyptic wasteland hands out codes as if they were phone numbers. If you're looking to leave a radioactive scar upon Earth yourself, you're gonna need to know what Nuke Codes are currently active.

Currently active Fallout 76 Nuke Codes:

Nuke Codes reset every Sunday at 5pm PT / 8pm ET / Monday 12am UTC

What are Nukes Codes used for in Fallout 76?

In Fallout 76, Nuke Codes are weekly codes for launching nukes across the Appalachian Wasteland. When the codes reset every Sunday night, any codes held within player inventories will be deleted. Each code consists of eight digits corresponding to one of the three nuclear launch sites within the game: Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie. Since each code can be used by any player while they are active, the community comes together to decipher the codes each week so that individuals don't have to.

Besides nuking other players’ camps for fun, nuclear launches play a vital role in the endgame of Fallout 76. After an area is nuked, some of the highest-level enemies, loot, and mutated flowers spawn within the newly created blast zone. Some bosses such as the Scorchbeast Queen only spawn when particular areas are nuked. 

How to use Nuke Codes in Fallout 76

Every player is capable of taking advantage of the regions nuked by other players but to launch nukes of your own, there are some prerequisites. 

Here’s what needs to be done in order to use Nuke Codes to launch nuclear missiles:

1. Complete the Main Quest
2. Become a member of the Enclave faction
3. Complete the Enclave quest, I am Become Death (This acts as a tutorial for the launch process)

   1. Alternatively, having a team member launch a nuke will automatically complete the quest for you.

4. Obtain a Nuclear Keycard - By using the tracking terminal located within the Whitespring Congressional Bunker, you can trigger a repeatable quest to track a cargobot convey which carries a Nuclear Keycard.
5. Travel to any of the three nuclear launch sites: Alpha, Bravo, or Charlie
6. Fight high-level enemy hordes within the launch site. (Prepare for level 50+ robots)
7. Input the weekly Nuke Codes found at the top of this page that correspond to the nuclear launch site you’re at. (Ex. the Alpha code only works for Launch Site Alpha.)
8. Select your target and launch your nuclear missile

Where are the nuclear launch sites in Fallout 76?

There are three nuclear launch sites in Fallout 76, each located within the Savage Divide region. There aren't many differences between them, but if a player has recently used a site to launch a nuke, the interior will be on lockdown (effectively a cooldown state).

Where to find Launch Site Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie

Launch Site Alpha

Site Alpha is located North of West Tek Research Center.

Launch Site Bravo

Site Bravo is found directly South of the Palace of the Winding Path, or Northeast of the Grafton Dam.

Launch Site Charlie

Site Charlie is Southwest of Foundation within a warehouse facility.

The post Fallout 76 Nuke Codes this week, including launch site locations appeared first on Destructoid.

Not all DPS characters are made equal in Genshin Impact, and we have a pretty comprehensive list of who’s strong and who isn’t. But one strange interaction between an ability and a consumable item has elevated a certain Traveler from the bottom of the rankings to the top.

Hydro Traveler’s lantern bomb

Genshin Impact is currently celebrating the lunar new year with its annual Lantern Rite event. As part of the event, players can purchase items called Xiao Lanterns from an NPC in Liyue. Older players might even have some Xiao Lanterns stockpiled from the very first Lantern Rite event in 2021. Xiao Lanterns are consumable items that, when used from the inventory, summon pretty paper lanterns that float gently into the sky. You can summon as many Xiao Lanterns as you like, filling the sky with a cloud of lanterns until they despawn a few seconds later.

Well, if you create several Xiao Lanterns on top of an enemy and then use Hydro Traveler’s Burst, you can deal many instances of Hydro damage in quick succession. The damage is enough to decimate the toughest enemies and possibly crash your game. The sheer number of lanterns can cause massive amounts of lag, too.

How does the Hydro Traveler bug work?

There are two theories for how the Hydro Traveler/Xiao Lantern interaction works. Hydro Traveler’s Burst is usually pretty mediocre. It creates a moving ball of water that, while decently powerful, passes through enemies too quickly to deal meaningful damage. When the ball of water first hits an entity, it triggers one tick of AoE damage. Additional damage is dealt at a fixed rate if the enemy remains within the water bubble as it moves forward.

The first theory is that Xiao Lanterns are coded as unique entities, so when the ball of water hits a lantern, it triggers an instance of damage. Multiply this by several dozen lanterns, and you get lots of damage ticks at once. This explains the rapid rate of damage that outpaces the ability’s normal tick rate.

The second theory is that Xiao Lanterns are physically stopping the ball of water from passing through the enemy. The lanterns have collision, so a wall of lanterns can prevent Hydro Traveler’s Burst from moving forward, forcing the enemy to take repeated ticks of damage. While this interaction may be happening, it doesn’t explain how so much damage happens at once, well beyond the typical tick rate for a Hydro Traveler Burst.

Will Hydro Traveler be patched?

As of writing, Genshin Impact’s developer HoYoverse has not acknowledged any issues with Hydro Traveler or Xiao Lanterns. It’s unclear if this interaction will be patched, since Xiao Lanterns are only available for purchase for a limited time. Items like Xiao Lanterns can’t be used in the Spiral Abyss, either, limiting where this strategy can be used.

I don’t recommend trying to trigger this bug yourself. It’s clearly unintended behavior, and HoYoverse has a history of cracking down on players who exploit bugs to gain an advantage. Your account may face a temporary or permanent ban. In the meantime, let’s just wait and see if we get apologems in the mail.

The post Genshin Impact bug turns the weakest character into the strongest DPS in the game 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.

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.

The best Kingdom Hearts characters have a ton of personality, have been through hardship, or simply have powerful abilities that dynamically elevate the series' battle scenes. A key element why Kingdom Hearts resonates with so many people is not just the non-stop action; but the passion behind the cast's motivations.

Characters like Sora and Roxas aren't afraid to express their emotions: to cry, to scream, to love, to smile. Many of the legendary series characters are more intriguing than the average RPG cast, and it's refreshing to see heroes, (or in some rare cases, villains), that we can relate to.

Warning: There are spoilers for Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts 3, and Kingdom Hearts 3: Remind in this list.

15) Xigbar/Luxu

One of the best factors of the Kingdom Hearts narrative is how it intrigues its fans with subtle nods and mystery. Xigbar is certainly one of those characters that make you think. If you've played and finished Kingdom Hearts 3, you'll know that he is in fact Luxu, the Master of Masters' right-hand man. His witty humor makes him a great foil for Sora, and his boss battle in KH2 is phenomenal.

14) Goofy

Despite his clumsy origins in cartoon form, Goofy is a reliable ally for Sora. He's the one in the Keyblade Hero 3 that gives the spiky-haired hero valuable advice and is the level-headed person in the group. Without fail, he's always there for his friends and knows when to pack a punch when it's time to go to battle.

13) Donald Duck

Although Donald Duck sometimes forgets to heal us when we need him most, he's the best ally anyone could ask for. He comes in clutch for Sora time and time again as the group's reliable mage. Sure, he's a little hot-tempered, but that's just one of the many reasons why we love him. Someone's got to stand up for Sora, right?

12) Naminé

When Naminé first appeared in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, she came off as a mysterious force with her peculiar ties to Organization XIII. Bit by bit, we started to see her significance in the KH lore, especially during the end stages of Kingdom Hearts 2. While she still has a bit of mystery to her, her complexity makes her shine, and it's only made me all the more curious about her enigmatic nature.

11) Master Xehanort

Xehanort's presence is felt in almost every Kingdom Hearts entry, a testament to his significant influence on the series. He even has a whole arc named after him, with the Xehanort Saga, also known as the Dark Seeker Saga. It totally makes sense why, considering that he's pretty much the major antagonist for the entire series. He's the big bad that everyone's afraid of, including his multiple forms with Ansem, Xemnas, and many more.

10) Master of Masters

We really don't know much about the Master of Masters, but from his few appearances so far, fans have been intrigued by his presence. He seems to have everything planned with the Book of Prophecies in his mind and has a strangely goofy (not our pal Goofy) vibe from him. His personality makes him such an odd antagonist and the intrigue makes him one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters.

9) Ventus

Since Ventus basically looks like a carbon copy of Roxas, he sometimes gets overshadowed by Kingdom Hearts 2's main protagonist. But let's not forget that Ventus is a major protagonist, himself, with his crucial part in Birth by Sleep. As an apprentice to the legendary Master Xehanort and Eraqus, you already know he's a force to be reckoned with. You can even consider him as one of the most powerful Kingdom Hearts characters, alongside his other two companions, Terra and Aqua.

8) Xemnas

Xemnas is a badass antagonist in Kingdom Hearts 2. The Organization XIII leader has dual blades, and his laser swords would put even Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul to shame. Xemnas is also an antagonist who has a just cause for his actions. He wants himself and his fellow Nobody Organization members to have hearts again but can only do so by making Sora defeat the Heartless. Therefore, he causes chaos throughout the worlds.

7) Xion

Xion is another Nobody stuck with a dreaded path ahead of her. Those who have played 358/2 Days know that she's a fun, charismatic character who's similar to Sora in many ways. Roxas and Axel get to know her throughout the game as she struggles to wield the keyblade. The story behind her existence is a fascinating mystery that begins to unravel as the days continue. By the end, your heart will be broken as a friendship is torn apart by fate.

6) Terra

Compared to Ventus and Aqua, Terra often gets a bad rap as one of the more 'gullible' protagonists of Birth by Sleep. However, if you take a closer look, you'll realize just how exceptional he is. Terra's ability to see the good in people, akin to Sora, and his willingness to learn from his mistakes, adds to his realism as a character. His flaws do not define him, but rather, they contribute to his growth and development, making him a relatable and compelling character.

5) Aqua

Another character Kingdom Hearts fans love (myself included!) is Aqua. She is strong-willed, disciplined, and has a sharp wit about her that few other Kingdom Hearts characters possess. She has a stern exterior, but when it comes to her friends, she will do anything in her power to protect them, especially Ven, who drifted to sleep for a decade before she could rescue him again. She's one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters in my mind because of her adept abilities and strength.

4) Axel/Lea

Axel (or Lea) is a Nobody that nearly everyone loved as soon as he appeared on-screen. He has a rambunctious personality and likes to work outside the lines. His unpredictable nature and break-the-rules flair helped him gain a buddy in Roxas. He also goes through a tragic story as he's forced to take out his own best friend, who has lost their memories. Axel is just plain one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters: "Got it memorized?"

3) Roxas

The character that has arguably lost the most in the Kingdom Hearts series is Roxas. He loses his friends, has his body completely taken away from him, and is told that he was never meant to exist. It's quite tragic! During his time in Twilight Town, he tries to think positively. He is loyal to his friends like Hayner and Axel.

However, Roxas is less trusting of others than Sora in many ways. It makes for a refreshing change of pace from Sora's happy-go-lucky approach. He's more critical, able to think on his feet, and is a sharp wise-cracker. He also has a wonderfully dramatic theme song. Hopefully, we get another game with Roxas again, his badass dual-wielding style included.

2) Sora

To some, Sora can be a nuisance. He's loud and obnoxious at times. However, what makes Sora one of the best Kingdom Hearts characters is his compassion for others. Unlike many video game protagonists, he is willing to show his feelings. He begs on his knees to see Kairi again towards Organization XIII member Saix. He cries when the Guardians of Light fail in one fell swoop in Kingdom Hearts 3. 

That willingness to show his emotions, within a genre filled with masculine protagonists, is a breath of fresh air. He's super relatable.

1) Riku

It can be argued that Riku has the most character progression of all of the cast in the KH series. He grew accustomed to the darkness as Maleficent convinced him to twist him into a servant. He betrayed his best friend Sora for the wellbeing of Kairi (even fighting against him). Then, after Xehanort's Heartless took over his body, Riku suffered for a long time, even taking the form of the person he hates.

But he took that form to protect Sora and fight off the powerful (and angry) Roxas. Riku has an amazing character arc as he tries to reconcile his past mistakes. His struggle is the reason why he's the best Kingdom Hearts character.

The post Best Kingdom Hearts Characters, ranked 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.

Despite being available throughout the 1.0 versions of Wuthering Waves, the Lootmapper tool is locked to you in Rinascita from the moment you arrive there. Thankfully, this useful tool can be unlocked, but it's going to require a bit of effort on your part.

How to get the Lootmapper License in Wuthering Waves 2.0

If you attempt to use the Lootmapper tool while in Rinascita, you'll be greeted with a message informing you that you need a license to make use of it. Unfortunately, this is where the in-game information ends on the matter which can leave you scrambling for knowledge aimlessly. Fortunately, the method of obtaining the said license is simple.

To unlock the Lootmapper of usage within Rinascita, you must first raise your Rinascita Sonance Casket Collector Level to 6. This is, naturally, done by collecting the many Sonance Casket: Ragunnas you'll find floating all around Rinactita's wilderness.

Sonanace Caskets are usually found floating in mid-air, so they can be somewhat annoying to find. However, they appear on your mini-map when you are near one, so at least you know when you're close. Search high and low and use the Grapple and Flight tools to pick them up as you come across them.

Once you have some, you need to give the Sonance Caskets to the Plushie Village, in order for them to count. After enough have been obtained, you'll earn the Lootmapper Use Permit: Rinascita item, which must be consumed from your inventory to function. This is a permanent action, and doing so will allow you to use your Lootmapper anywhere within Rinascita boundaries.

Where to find the Sonance Casket Collector in Wuthering Waves 2.0

Unlike the first major area in Wuthering Waves, the Sonance Casket Collector in Rinascita is not located within the main hub: Ragunna City. Instead, you must find the collector in order to submit your Sonance Caskets. Thankfully, I have that information for you as well. The Sonance Casket Collector is located within the Plushie Village I mentioned earlier, but more specifically, within the Garden of the Lost area of Rinascita.

The Garden of the Lost is located far from Ragunna City, so if you've not yet ventured from it yet, you'll have a bit of a journey on your hands. If you already have access to the Flight tool, though, you can reach this area within a few minutes pretty easily.

Once you've arrived in the Garden of the Lost, you'll automatically receive a side quest tasking you to restore Plushy Village, which is done by giving up the Sonanace Caskets you find to the collector there. The collector can be found directly Southeast of the Garden of the Lost waypoint, just up the stairs.

Depending on your progress, the collector may be a pair of hands or Teensy Weensy, a rabbit-looking Echo.

Regardless though, speak with the NPC present there to submit your Sonance Caskets. When you have enough, you'll receive the permit. All you need to do, then, is use it from your Consumables inventory, and you're good to go!

The post How to unlock the Lootmapper in Wuthering Waves 2.0 appeared first on Destructoid.

PlayStation 2 is often known as one of the best consoles of all time, as it introduced many iconic games that are still widely popular today. After all these years, it still holds up as my favorite console, and I even have a PS2 keychain on my lanyard to prove it.

The only problem is how difficult it can be to play these classic entries now that we've entered the modern age of the PlayStation 5. Fortunately, the PlayStation Plus' Classic Catalog and remasters allow us to experience nostalgia again. So, without further ado, here are the best PS2 games you can play on the PS5.

Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy

Let's kick off with a true classic, Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. If you're a fan of Naughty Dog's impressive collection, including The Last of Us and Uncharted, you'll be fascinated to see the roots of this renowned studio, apart from its other popular series, Crash Bandicoot.

The story follows the adventures of its titular character, Jak, and his furry companion, Daxter. You'll embark on a heroic quest to find the cure for Daxter's condition after he transforms from a human to an ottsel (half otter and half weasel). The Precursor Legacy is a lot more light-hearted and comedic than the following titles in the series. And, if you get hooked on this one, you can complete the trilogy with Jak II and Jak III.

Ratchet and Clank

Ratchet and Clank presents another iconic duo of the PlayStation universe from the beloved studio Insomniac Games. Everything about this series screams fun as you wield a diverse array of weaponry and eliminate the lap dogs of the villainous Chairmen Drek. Here, you'll see how Ratchet and Clank met, opening the door to the rest of the series.

As one of the first games I played as a kid, Ratchet and Clank holds a special place in my heart, becoming a cherished part of my childhood. Even as an adult, I find myself drawn back to it, especially with the 2016 remake that beautifully updates its graphics, evoking a sense of nostalgia while also feeling fresh and new.

War of the Monsters

If you ever wanted to go on a monstrous city rampage like Godzilla or King Kong, you should definitely play War of the Monsters. The title basically explains what this fighting game is all about, allowing you to battle it out with a fellow beast.

Compared to other fighting games I've played, War of the Monsters is a whole new level of chaos. The destructible environment means that everything around you can be reduced to rubble, turning an entire city into a battleground. The freedom to roam the map adds another layer of strategy to your attacks, and you may even get lost in its significant size.

Primal

Step into the action-adventure world of Primal, a classic PS2 game that follows the journey of the main protagonist, Jen Tate. You'll also assume the role of her ancient companion, Scree, with the ability to seamlessly switch between the two powerful characters. Engage in intense battles with demons from the immortal realm, unleashing devastating combos for satisfying takedowns.

This dark pathway explores four distinct demon realms, all to uncover the origins behind Tate's supernaturality. It'll help you discover her four demon forms: Wraith, Djinn, Undine, and Ferai.

Dark Cloud

Dark Cloud is a JRPG known for its adventurous dungeon-crawling and customizable world. You'll take on the role of Toan (name can be changed) and other playable teammates to fend off the ancient evil connected to the Dark Cloud tales.

When you've had your fill of battling, you can take a breather and contribute to the growth of various towns. It's a rewarding experience to witness the tangible progress of your town over time, providing a welcome respite from the challenging dungeons.

Sly Cooper Collection

Experience most of Sly Cooper's thievious escapades with the PlayStation 2 Sly Collection. Like many on this list, this series holds some of my fondest memories with the PS2, starting out with Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus. You'll meet the entire Cooper Gang with Bentley, Murray, and, of course, Sly. They'll put their thieving skills to the test to claim the ultimate prize of the Thievius Racconus, a book stolen from Sly's family that contains his legacy's secrets.

Once you've knocked out the first one, you can start playing Band of Thieves, often considered the fan favorite. But, for me, my most treasured Sly entry has to go to Honor Among Thieves, one of the last installments of the collection.

Shadow of the Colossus

Any time there's a discussion about the best PlayStation 2 games, Shadow of the Colossus always ends up in the conversation. Its awe-inspiring and visually stunning designs of its immersive world and the legendary Colossi are still highly regarded even today.

Play as the young man known as the "Wander," on a mission to explore the Colossi-run lands for a mystical revival power. The road to this ancient ability is treacherous, where almost every showdown feels like a boss fight.

Bully

When Bully first came out, I probably spent more than a month on it, diving into the school life of the rambunctious Jimmy Hopkins. Despite the game releasing back in 2006, I still regard it as my second favorite game of all time (my number one is on this list, too). It's just got so much packed into one game, including memorable side missions, an elaborate school system, and a whimsical cast of characters.

One of the things that drew me to Bully was its slightly less violent nature than Rockstar Games' other hit series, Grand Theft Auto. I wasn't really allowed to play GTA in my younger days, so it was nice to have a sorta PG-13-esque alternative. But don't get me wrong; Bully is still pretty violent, where you'll often go toe-to-toe against Bullworth Academy's notorious bullies in Jimmy's quest to become the top dog of the school.

Tomb Raider: Legend

You'd probably have to be living under a rock if you haven't heard of one of PlayStation's most iconic characters, Lara Croft. There are a lot of ways you can start your Tomb Raider journey, but since we're on the scope of PS2 games on the PS5, you can try out Tomb Raider: Legend.

Lara finds herself on yet another epic adventure in the hopes of finding ancient artifacts. With her dual pistols and dynamic agility, she navigates through diverse environments, from dense jungles to icy snowscapes. As you raid the game's numerous tombs, you'll uncover the enigmatic origins of Lara Croft to further the franchise's expansive lore.

Max Payne

If you're looking for an action-packed story PS2 game, look no further with Max Payne. It's the first-ever title to introduce Bullet Time in games, offering the player better control with its slow-motion gunplay. You can think of it as the origins of Red Dead Redemption's famous Dead Eye targetting systems, considering that Rockstar Games published Max Payne.

Although Max Payne has been on a path of justice as an undercover cop, the journey turns violent when he's wrongfully framed for a murder. It'll certainly be a challenge in light of the cops and mob that's hot on his tail, but fortunately, you got the Bullet Time on your side to ease the tension.

Grand Theft Auto Trilogy - The Definitive Edition

I know I've covered a lot of Rockstar Games on this list, but I just have to add one more to the pot with the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy collection. GTA is likely one of the biggest franchises out there, and it relatively started with the three games presented here. With this Definitive Edition, you'll get to play Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City, and San Andreas, all remastered for the PS5 with improved graphics and gameplay.

San Andreas is one of the most widely known entries, taking us back to the '90s with Carl 'CJ' Johnson. Going even further back, Vice City centers around the 1980s, in which you'll experience the revengeful path of Tommy Vercetti. Last but not least is Grand Theft Auto III, featuring the dark origins of Liberty City with the character, Claude. With the highly-anticipated release of GTA 6, it's the perfect time to start or get back to the trilogy on the PS5.

Indigo Prophecy

Indigo Prophecy, also known as Fahrenheit, is an underrated PS2 game made by Quantic Dream, the creators of the beloved Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls, and Detroit: Become Human. This interactive narrative was one of the first times I experienced a choice-based game where you'll have to make life-altering decisions as multiple characters.

What made it so interesting to me was the unique gameplay of playing as the killer and the cop chasing you, making you question whose side you should be on. There's also some life-simulation mixed in with Indigo Prophecy's sanity meter. That means you must keep the characters happy by performing mundane tasks like eating, sleeping, or showering, all the while dealing with the turmoil of your crimes.

Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal

While I do love the original Ratchet and Clank, the third entry, Up Your Arsenal, is probably at the top of my list. Ratchet and Clank are in their prime, making you feel like an absolute boss in this galactic world. Once again, the duo needs to save the world with a mission to stop the series' long-standing villain, Doctor Nefarious.

One of the significant reasons why Up Your Arsenal is my favorite among the series is the base of operations of the Galactic Rangers. You'll get to embark on many activities here, such as playing Captain Qwark minigames, customizing your suit, and taking on new missions across the galaxy.

God of War HD

Apart from icons like Lara Croft and Sly Cooper, God of War's Kratos has become a household name, especially with the successful 2018 release of God of War. But, before Kratos became a father to Atreus, it all started with the PS2, where he was a demi-god Spartan warrior for the God of Olympus. Wield the legendary weapon, the Blades of Chaos, and take down notable figures from Greek mythology.

If you enjoy the chaotic life of the great Kratos, you can experience another PS2 gem with God of War II. Heck, you can play the entire series while you're at it, including other hits like PS3's God of War III and the PS4/PS5's Ragnarok.

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection

Concluding this list of the best PS2 games to play on the PS5, I present to you my most cherished series, Metal Gear Solid. While Bully holds a special place as my second favorite title, the timeless appeal of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater makes will always my number one, regardless of the years that have passed. The entire franchise is brimming with the most compelling narratives and diverse gameplay mechanics, most of which can be experienced in the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection.

Although the first one wasn't technically released on the PS2, as it initially launched on the original PlayStation, the other two in the collection did. Still, you can start off with Metal Gear Solid to witness the monumental Shadow Moses mission of Solid Snake, as he must destroy the bipedal tank Metal Gear. It's also perfectly fine to begin with Snake Eater, given that it's a prequel for the entire series. Then, you can eventually throw in Sons of Liberty in there to discover MGS's second protagonist, Raiden. I'm hopeful that Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will make it the PS5 to relatively complete the collection, but at least there's Metal Gear Solid: Delta to look forward to.

The post 15 Best PS2 games you can play on PS5 appeared first on Destructoid.

The Lifer is a difficult boss to find and an even harder one to defeat in Wuthering Wave's Rinacista, thanks to his unique location and his various buffs. Here's a walkthrough on how you can find and defeat it.

Where to find the Lifer in Wuthering Waves

The Lifer is at the center of the massive maze located at the heart of the Fagaceae Peninsula zone, within Oakheart Highcourt. This location makes up most of the entire zone in size, and it is difficult to navigate, especially since some illusionary trickery is involved with reaching the center. More on that soon.

Upon laying eyes on this huge maze, your first instinct might be to use the Flight Utility tool to soar over the walls. Unfortunately, those illusions I just mentioned will prevent you from doing so: you'll get to the center, but reach a dead end every time. Instead, you have to enter the maze at its designated entrance and follow the breadcrumb trail laid before you to get to the proper center.

Navigating the maze

Begin by heading to the Fagaceae Peninsula, Oakheart Highcourt Resonance Beacon. Teleporting to it puts you directly in front of the correct entrance.

You'll know you're in the right place if you see this ominous-looking statue in front of you.

Make your way through the entrance behind the statue and interact with the stone tablet before advancing further.

The tablet talks a bit about the lore of the maze, but the important part is in parenthesis: you need to follow the path of tablets littering the maze to reach the Lifer in the middle.

Once you're done looking at the tablet, advance past it, following the pathway. Do not take the leftmost detour area.

You want to continue to head toward the inner section of the maze for now, so make sure the path you take is doing just that. You will likely encounter several enemies on your way, so take care of them as they appear. Keep following the path until you reach the next stone tablet on the ground, then interact with it.

This is where things can get confusing. The path to follow now is cut off thanks to three Overflowing Palettes in the area, which you must solve to progress. Make a mental note of how you reached the tablet before proceeding.

Now, the first Overflowing Palette is at the top of the tree above the maze, in the center platform it holds up. Climb the tree (or use Flight) until you reach the platform itself.

The last two Overflowing Palettes are located outside the maze entirely, in the towers overlooking and surrounding it. Enter the tops of each and solve the puzzle in the middle.

Once all three Overflowing Palettes have been solved, you will get a cutscene depicting the return of color to the area. Gameplay-wise, golden swirls will surround the entire area above the maze, allowing you to use Flight indefinitely as long as you stay within the golden track. This is the key indicator that you're ready to enter the inner section of the maze and face the Lifer.

Return to the tablet you left behind earlier. Head back through the main entrance and retrace your steps if you're having trouble navigating back to it from above. From the tablet, head left and take the first left turn you come across.

The moment you take the turn, head right and follow the path around. Do not continue left once you've cleared the walls surrounding the turn. Follow the path around and take the next right you come across, heading toward the innards of the maze.

Ignore the next left turn and walk past the maze door on your right until you reach the second left turn in the area. You'll know you're in the right place when you see another stone tablet near you.

Interact with the tablet, then follow the path leading away from the center of the maze. Once you hit the back wall, take the next right.

From here, follow the path all the way around until you see the next stone tablet you'll be interacting with. You'll know you're in the right place if the area is lit with golden light.

Follow the path toward the golden light, making your way to the final stone tablet. Beyond it lies an open doorway leading into the heart of the maze's depths. Step through, and you will find yourself face-to-face with the Lifer.

How to defeat the Lifer in Wuthering Waves

The Lifer is an extremely powerful enemy in Wuthering Waves, thanks to the ridiculous amount of buffs he can access at any given time. However, before you can face it in a fight, you'll need to play its game first.

The game is an odd combination of Tic-Tac-Toe and chess. The Lifer controls the white pieces while you control the black ones. Your goal is to line up your pieces. You can either beat the Lifer at its game to reap the rewards—a tough task that will likely require several attempts—or the tried and true method of combat. After a few rounds of failure playing the game, you'll be given the option to fight it out directly instead.

Selecting this option will initiate direct combat, but before you do, notice that the Lifer has 300% Enemy Strength. This means that fighting it now will result in a very difficult encounter you will likely lose. However, you can weaken him significantly by disabling most of its buffs.

How to turn off the Lifer's buffs

Disabling the Lifers' buffs is directly tied to playing its Tic-Tac-Toe game, though your goal is not to win this time. If you look around the Lifer's room, you'll notice several doors, including one behind it. These doors all lead to different previously inaccessible areas of the maze. Some also lead to locations where you can remove a buff from the Lifer. You can determine which doors lead to areas tied to the Lifer's buffs by using Sensor and following the purple path it reveals.

These doors can be opened by lining up your black piece with any of them. Doing so will open up the initial door and clear a full path to the outer portion of the maze to an area that was not accessible to you before. You can do this for any of the doors at the center.

Once you've opened a door, follow the path all the way to the back and look for a terminal in the area.

Interacting with the terminal will let you disable a number of the Lifer's buffs. You may need to find a key piece around the area with the terminal before you can do so. Each terminal has one, located in the same room.

Fighting the Lifer

Once you're satisfied with the number of buffs removed from the Lifer, you can engage him in combat and defeat him pretty easily. Ignoring the buffs, the Lifer is just an empowered Chop Chop, with an extremely similar move set.

Of course, if you're looking for a challenge, you can also engage the Lifer with all of his buffs enabled. This will require a lot of firepower and constant DPS, as the Lifer will heal himself if you take too long to deal damage. He is also extremely durable, able to tank some of the most powerful attacks in the game with ease.

The post How to reach and defeat the Lifer in Wuthering Waves 2.0 appeared first on Destructoid.

Overflowing Palettes are a brand new type of puzzle found throughout all of Wuthering Waves 2.0, and they can be quite tricky to solve. If you're having trouble with them, here are a few tips and tricks you can use to get yourself closer to the solution.

How to Complete Overflowing Palettes in Wuthering Waves

Overflowing Palette puzzles can be difficult to solve because the solution to them is not always obvious. More often than not, the color you need to switch all the blocks to is not the color you want to start using immediately. In most cases, the objective color is the last one you want to use after you've prepared all the other blocks to swap to that color.

The best way to approach these puzzles is with a focus on connectivity. Blocks are only recolored if they are, in some way, connected to each other. Since you only have two to three moves you can make, it is important to recognize how you can connect disconnected blocks in as few moves as possible.

You're aiming to connect everything together, in an Overflowing Palette puzzle, so that you can change all the disconnected blocks into one connected color. When everything is connected and colored, the puzzle becomes significantly easier to decipher because you know exactly which blocks will have their color altered when you aim to paint another color over them.

Another key aspect of this puzzle is reducing the number of colors in the puzzle itself. The more blocks of a different color present, the more difficult these puzzles are to finish. Ideally, this is your primary goal over everything else initially, and it ties in directly to what I mentioned earlier about coloring disconnected blocks.

These tips will help you solve every single Overflowing Palette puzzle available in Wuthering Waves 2.0, as they all follow the same core aspect of color control and connectivity.

The post How to solve Overflowing Palettes in Wuthering Waves 2.0 appeared first on Destructoid.

Of all the additions added in Wuthering Waves 2.0, the Flight tool is likely the most impactful regarding exploration. Normally, you cannot use Flight if you're too close to the ground, but there are two handy little tricks that will allow you to always circumvent this limitation.

How to fly from anywhere in Wuthering Waves

To be clear, Flight is only allowed within Rinascita, not Huanglong or The Black Shores, so 'anywhere' refers to any of the zones that make up Rinascita, including interiors.

With that clarification out of the way, Flight can be used from any position and any location as long as you meet the sole criteria of being high enough off the ground. At times, you may find yourself unable to use Flight because you simply cannot ascend enough. Elevation plays a big role in this, as climbing up a hill will often prevent standard use of the tool. However, you can overcome this obstacle by using the Grapple tool or the Superjump technique. One requires more technical skill than the other, but I will cover both so you can decide which you want to use.

Using Flight with the Grapple Tool

Since height is the only thing that prevents you from using Flight at all times, you can utilize the Grapple tool to remove this limitation. To do this, first, perform a standard jump, then use the Grapple to pull yourself higher into the air. Using the Tool Wheel, swap to Flight and press the Tool button immediately after. If you do this correctly, you'll be soaring from locations that were previously impossible to take off from.

The one downside to using Flight this way is that it requires you to constantly swap Tools every time you want to take off. Opening the Tool Wheel drastically slows down time, which allows you to easily access the Grapple Tool and swap to Flight, but it's still a cumbersome set of actions that might get old fairly quickly. The upside is that this method doesn't require any real technical know-how of Wuthering Wave's robust movement system.

Using Flight with the Superjump Technique

Alternatively, to using the Grapple to gain height, you can use a complex set of aerial motions to artificially ascend beyond your normal jump capabilities. This is the Superjump technique, and it is more efficient and effective to perform over using the Grapple, though it does require more effort to learn and understand initially.

First, select any character with a standard downward plunge. This is a requirement for the technique, as not all characters in the game can perform it. Characters like Yinlin, for example, cannot use Superjump because her downward plunge is unique to her. It needs to be a standard plunge attack.

Once you've selected your character, to perform a Superjump in Wuthering Waves, follow these steps in order:

1. Perform a single Standard Jump
2. While in mid-air, initiate a Downward Plunge attack
3. Before the attack executes, cancel with a mid-air Dodge
4. Initiate a Downward Plunge again
5. Use the Flight Tool

This technique exists because every one of the above-mentioned steps allows you to gain a small amount of height with each one. This is clearly more complicated than simply using the Grapple and may require some practical practice on your end. However, I assure you that after some lab time, you'll find Superjump to be a much more convenient method of activating Flight from anywhere you like. Practice this, and it will become second nature to you. Then, soar freely.

The post How to use Flight from anywhere in Wuthering Waves 2.0 appeared first on Destructoid.

After what's felt like an eternity, Wuthering Waves 2.0 has finally been released, and with it came the newest five-star Resonator, Carlotta. Carlotta packs a serious wallop and introduces a new style of play not seen before her release, so if you've pulled her, or are planning to, here's everything you need to know.

Best Carlotta Build in Wuthering Waves

Carlottla is a Glacio DPS character, and the first five-star Pistol user in Wuthering Waves. Her weapon type comes with certain expectations, but I urge you to put these aside because Carlotta does not play like any other Pistol character before her. Carlotta is a unique combination of a Burst and DPS character, in that she has solid consistent damage, with a very powerful burst coming entirely from her Ultimate ability. In fact, her goal is to reach the most powerful state of her Ultimate before using it for maximum damage output. This requires you to pay attention to a number of factors and fits right into her gameplan.

Carlotta's Gameplan

Despite appearances, Carlotta is a number-complex character, meaning the mechanics you need to be paying attention to often have little visual feedback. In Carlotta's case, her most important mechanic is Moldable Crystals, which ties to almost every other mechanic she has access to. Moldable Crystals is a stacking buff (max six stacks) that she gains when performing many of her numerous actions. Without getting stuck in the weeds on this, her most reliable ways to gain Moldable Crystals are the following:

How to get Moldable Crystals

• Mid-Air Plunge Attack - Earns her three Moldable Crystals. If not hitting a target, you must follow this up with a Basic Attack to earn the crystals.
• Basic Attack Two - Earns her three Moldable Crystals only when she does not have Moldable Crystals. This is because Carlotta will utilize her Enhanced Basic Attacks when she does have crystals, dealing more damage and charging her Forte faster.
• Resonance Skill - The first part of the Skill only. Earns her three Moldable Crystals
• Heavy Attack - Earns her three Moldable Crystals.
• Dodging - Earns her three Modlable Crystals

Carlotta consumes stacks of Moldable Crystals to charge her Forte. The more crystals consumed, the faster her Forte charges. This is important to understand, so make note of it for now. We will return to it later. Here are the main ways she consumes Moldable Crystals:

How to consume Moldable Crystals

• Enhanced Basic Attacks - Replaces standard Basic Attacks while you have Moldable Crystals. Consumes one crystal per attack.
• Resonance Skill - The second part of the Skill only. Consumes all available Moldable Crystals.
• Dodge Counter - Activates a special riposte ability that consumes following a Dodge. Consumes one Moldable Crystal.

You are doing all of this gaining and consuming of Moldable Crystals to charge Carlotta's Forte Bar to activate two special buffs upon completing filling: Tinted Crystal and Final Bow.

• Tinted Crystal - Allows Carlotta to use her enhanced Heavy Attack, which does massive damage in an AoE around her while reducing the cooldown of her Skill by six seconds. Tinted Crystal has a 22-second cooldown, but this cooldown only affects the AoE nuke, not the cooldown reduction portion. You will know if this buff is active if Carlotta's hair has crystalized
• Final Bow - Buff's Carlotta's Ultimate damage by 80%. This buff is depicted as an hourglass on your buff bar. Once her Forte bar is filled, she will receive this buff permanently until her Ultimate is used. While her Ultimate is active, she will gain the full benefit until it has concluded or she is switched out during it.

Resonance Skill and Liberation

I've talked a bit about Carlotta's Resonance Skill and Ultimate already, but there is a bit more to say about them separately.

Carlotta's Resonance Skill, Art of Violence, is a two-part skill that requires two inputs to execute. The first part rewards you with three Moldable Crystals but also applies a very powerful debuff on the enemy hit called Dispersion. This debuff completely freezes any enemy hit by it for 1.5 seconds. This also works on bosses.

Her Ultimate Era of New Wave is the source of her Burst damage, but the initial hit also applies a powerful debuff called Deconstruction on any enemies hit by it. Deconstruction causes your damage to ignore 18% of the enemy's defense, and this is the case for your entire team.

In Summary

With all of that said, in a nutshell, Carlotta gameplan is to:

• Generate and Consume Moldable Crystals to fill Forte
• Fill Forte to activate Tinted Crystal and Final Bow
• Use Ultimate with Final Bow active
• Use Forte to reduce Skill cooldown
• Use Tinted Crystal buff to launch a powerful AoE nuke
• Repeat

Any additional buffs that support the above flow, like intro skills, weapons, or team composition mechanics, enhance Carlotta's ability to perform.

Best Echoes for Carlotta in Wuthering Waves

With the release of Wuthering Waves 2.0, a slew of new Echo sets also came into the picture, and one of them is extremely ideal for Carlotta. She has three options to use, with the newest set being the best choice.

• Frosty Resolve - This set gives Carlotta an abundance of additional Resonance Skill damage, which is why it is the most potent set for her. A majority of her damage is considered Resonance Skill damage, making it the best option by a decent mile.
• Lingering Tunes - Lingering Tunes is one of the original sets in Wuthering Waves, but it still packs the generic punch it always has by offering Carlotta a large amount ATK% the longer she remains on the field. Generally speaking, Carlotta likes field time, so this is a solid set to consider while you're farming up the new one.
• Freezing Frost - As a Glacio character, Carlotta also reaps the benefits from the significant Glacio damage Freezing Frost offers her. It simply requires Carlotta to attack with her Basic Attack to gain the full benefit of this set, so while it is technically the weakest set number-wise, it is still an excellent option for her while farming the new set.

Carlotta is built like any other DPS character, so the ideal Echo setup for her is '43311', which refers to the Echo Costs for all five Echo equipment slots.

• 4-Cost Echo (Crit DMG, Crit Rate)
• 3-Cost Echoes (Glacio DMG Bonus or ATK%)
• 1-Cost Echoes (ATK%)

Best Weapons for Carlotta in Wuthering Waves

As the first five-star Pistol character in Wuthering Waves, Carlotta doesn't have many options for weapons to choose from. In fact, she only has two. The most recommended weapon is, naturally, her signature, The Last Dance. This Pistol gives her unconditional ATK% while significantly buffing her Skill Damage when her Intro Skill or Resonance Liberation (Ultimate) is cast.

The second option is the generic Static Mist, which serves as a solid stat stick for Carlotta thanks to its Crit Rate substat. However, Carlotta is a main DPS character and cannot really take advantage of Static Mist's ally buffing ability in any real way. Also, as a Standard five-star weapon, it will never compete with The Last Dance in any Echo setup, making it always the worst five-star option.

If you do not have The Last Dance or Static Mist, I strongly urge you to reconsider pulling for Carlotta, as there are no viable four-star weapon choices for her, and her performance will greatly suffer if you try to use one.

Best Team Compositions for Carlotta in Wuthering Waves

Carlotta likes to have a lot of field time to perform her combos and stack up her Moldable Crystals, but she isn't required to be glued to it. Thanks to her versatility, she is actually rather flexible with several teammates and is a preferable option for hypercarry and quickswap setups.

Carlotta/Zhezhi/Shorekeeper

This is the premium Carlotta team composition, and it performs extremely well thanks to both Shorekeeper's and Zhezhi's buffing mechanics. Carlotta naturally serves as the hypercarry, but before she takes the stage, you'll want to open with Shorekeeper's Ult into an immediate swap to Zhezhi. Zhezhi then generates her Concerto very quickly and, thus, provides Carlotta with a significant boost in Glacio and Skill damage with very little delay. By the time Carlotta switches in to dish out damage, all buffs should be active, which is ideal for Carlotta's Ultimate, which should be used with Final Bow active.

If you prefer a quicker buff cycle, Shorekeeper can be swapped out with Verina for a similar effect.

Carlotta/Changli/Verina

This is Carlotta's premium quickswap team composition, and it works well thanks to Carlotta's and Changli's longer-than-normal animations during combat. Long animations are a positive for quickswap teams because as long as a character is performing an animation, they will remain on the field and can be swapped back to without losing most buffs. This setup doesn't really use a rotation as much as others, only needing Verina to perform her chores to get her ATK% buff going. Carlotta and Changli then swap between each other's long animation attacks, performing their chores until it is time for them to unleash their big bursty attacks.

If Carlotta has activated her Ultimate while Final Bow is active, do not quickswap during it. If you do, Carlotta will lose the massive 80% damage buff to it, which is not good.

Carlotta/Sanhau/Shorekeeper

This is a strong hypercarry team composition that focuses on the extremely quick Concerto generation of Sanhau to get both Shorekeeper's and Carlotta's buffs up and going ASAP. Sanhau plays the role of sub-DPS buffer here and should be using the Moonlit Clouds set for the additional buffs.

The traditional rotation for this comp is opening with Sanhau via using her Skill/Ultimate, then swapping to Shorekeeper before Sanhau's Concerto is full. From here, Shorekeeper builds her Concerto and uses her Ultimate. With a full Concerto, swap back to Sanhau, who should already have a full Concerto, then immediately swap to Carlotta. Carlotta then remains on the field until it's time to renew her Ultimate buff.

Sanhau does not buff Carlotta in any meaningful way outside of the Moonlit Clouds set, but the Basic Attack buff she does provide is not entirely useless to her; it is just not ideal.

Best Sequences for Carlotta in Wuthering Waves

Carlotta is a decently strong character at S0, and does not require Sequences to clear any of the content in Wuthering Waves. That said, she certainly does benefit considerably from her first few, and you may want to consider going for them, thanks to their effects. Without a doubt, S3 is your best stopping point, but that is not exactly easy to get. If you're interested in knowing what her Sequences do, then here they are, condensed for your clarity.

• Beauty Blazes Brightest Before It Fades (S1) - When hitting a target with the Deconstruction debuff, those hits have an additional 12.5% Crit Rate. When hitting a target with the second portion of her Skill, Carlotta gains 30 additional Forte. Great Sequence that increases her damage a bit while speeding up her rotation speed.
• Fallen Petals Give Life to New Blooms (S2) - More than doubles the damage of her Ultimate (126% Damage Increase). Considering her Ultimate is a large bulk of her damage, it is a strong Sequence to consider.
• Adelante, Cortado, Spinning in Grace (S3) - Carlotta gains a second mechanic to her Outro Skill, allowing her to dish out 1032.18% of her ATK to any enemies hit when she swaps out with a full Concerto. This one has huge potential and is a large buff to her quickswap playstyle. If this wasn't enough, though, it also buffs her entire Resonance Skill damage by 93%. This Sequence gives Carlotta a considerable spike in damage and should be the stopping point if you're investing in her.

• Yesterday's Raindrops Make Finest Wine (S4) - Whenever Carlotta uses any form of her Heavy Attack, she buffs herself and her entire team with 25% Resonance Skill Damage for 30 seconds. This is actually a rather strong Sequence because Resonance Skill Damage buffs are rare in Wuthering Waves. This also helps future-proof her as she can now play a sub-dps role for characters like Jinhsi, who like Resonance Skill Damage.
• Toast to Past, Today, and Every Day to Come (S5) - Buffs her Forte-empowered Heavy Attack by 47%. Decent, but not worth investing in unless you're going straight to the bottom with S6.
• As the Curtain Falls, I Remain What I Am (S6) - Massively buffs the damage of her Ultimate while also enabling it to inflict the Scattering debuff on targets hit. Scattering functions almost exactly like Dispersion, freezing enemies hit for 1.5 seconds. The difference is that the next hit will break Scattering's freeze, but this isn't an issue since all shots of Carlotta's Ultimate will inflict it. Effectively, this ensures that no enemies will be hitting her while it is active. Very strong, very effective.

The post Best Carlotta build in Wuthering Waves – Weapons, Echoes, team compositions, and Sequences appeared first on Destructoid.

The Dynasty Warriors series is known to feature co-op, letting you team up with a friend to take on waves upon waves of enemies on screen. With the higher graphical quality on offer, however, does Dynasty Warriors: Origins co-op exist?

Can you play Dynasty Warriors: Origins co-op?

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a much-anticipated release for this month, and many fans are likely expecting the next game to be fully co-op. Well, I'm sorry to burst your Musou bubble. Dynasty Warriors: Origins, at this moment in time, has no co-op features.

On Steam, the game listing clearly states that the game is "Single-player" above other tags, including Steam Achievements, Steam Trading Cards, Steam Cloud, and HDR available.

The lack of co-op multiplayer could be due to the game's bigger scope compared to past entries in the series. "I’m happy to say the scale is bigger than ever in Origins, with more enemy and army counts on the battlefield than I’m pretty sure, well, ever," said our hands-on preview in November 2024. "In fact, with a somewhat more direct approach to combat compared to other entries in the series, you can actually find yourself quickly overwhelmed by how many enemies are actually on the battlefield." It's too bad that we won't have a friend with us when we feel "overwhelmed" by the number of enemies on screen.

Other action co-op games to try

In addition to some earlier entries in the series, like Dynasty Warriors 8 and Samurai Warriors 5, there are other awesome multiplayer action games out there you can try instead if you're bummed about Dynasty Warriors: Origins lacking a co-op mode.

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends is a PS4- and PS5-exclusive title by Sucker Punch. It takes you through some vivid levels with stellar combat and a gorgeous art style. Another series that lets you take on enemies together in a strategic manner is Monster Hunter.

If you want a local co-op experience, however, Darksiders Genesis might do the trick. It plays similarly to the Diablo series. The developer "Airship Syndicate went all out with providing full freedom of movement so each character is fun to use at any point, all the way down to the Devil May Cry-like floating after leaping into the air and firing off dual pistols," said our 8 out of 10 review. "There’s combos, but not so many that it gets absurd."

The post Is Dynasty Warriors: Origins co-op? 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.