There are a lot of Cooking Stations to unlock in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, each of which has a number of dedicated recipes that can be cooked. The Egg Pan Station is a Cooking Station that’s unlocked towards the later stages of a playthrough, and it’s definitely worth working towards. 

The Egg Pan Station in Island Adventure is specifically dedicated to sweet Crepes and Omelets, which shouldn't come as a surprise when you consider what this station actually is. If you want to know how to unlock, upgrade, or use the Egg Pan Station, here's everything you need to know.

How to unlock the Egg Pan Station in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Unlocking the Egg Pan Station is mostly done through Pekkle and a frustrating search for Rockadoodles. To unlock it, you'll need to complete the following objectives:

• Complete the “Open the Nature Preserve” quest
• Find Pekkle and level up your friendship with him to level 8
• Complete the “Rockadoodle Round Up”

Once you’ve done that, a new Around the Island quest will appear called “An Egg-cellent Plan.” Completing this quest will unlock the Egg Pan Station, which you’ll find located close to the Rockadoodler Corral in Gemstone Mountain. 

How to upgrade the Egg Pan Station in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

The Egg Pan Station uses Eggs as its main ingredient. Once you unlock the Station itself, you’ll be able to add one additional ingredient to cook various recipes. However, you’ll want to work towards upgrading the Egg Pan Station, because this unlocks the ability to add a second additional ingredient, so you can make even more recipes. 

Unfortunately, upgrading the Egg Pan Station can end up being pretty frustrating. While upgrading the other Cooking Stations in Island Adventure is almost completely done through leveling up friendships with villagers, the Egg Pan Station is different. 

To level up the Egg Pan Station, you’ll need to find and photograph 102 individual Gudetamas. The lazy egg can be found in various locations across the map, with 96 to find in the early-game areas and further ones to discover in the late-game, like Merry Meadow and Cloud Islands. Even if you find Tophat Gudetama each week, he doesn't count towards your total.

Once you’ve taken 102 Gudetama photos, interact with the Gudetama Board in Seaside Resort to upgrade the Egg Pan Station and unlock that precious second additional ingredient. 

All Egg Pan Recipes in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

To make this easier to navigate, let’s split this into one-ingredient and two-ingredient recipes. Two ingredient recipes will only become available to make once you’ve upgraded the Egg Pan Station. 

All recipes require one egg alongside the noted ingredient(s).

One ingredient Egg Pan Station recipes

Two ingredient Egg Pan Station recipes

The post All Egg Pan recipes in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

Whether you’ve played Final Fantasy XI previously and are taking a break, or your interest has been piqued by the latest round of Final Fantasy XIVs Alliance Raids, FFXIV players will soon have a chance to enter Vana’diel at a discounted rate thanks to the Echoes of Vana’diel Discount Campaign. 

The campaign was announced at the tail end of the Live Letter from the Producers 85 live stream on January 7, and it offers players a discounted 30 days to explore Vana’diel and learn more about the world that inspired the Echoes of Vana’diel Alliance Raid series currently underway as part of Dawntrail. 

Between February 12 and March 11, FFXIV players who sign up for a new FFXI account or reactivate an existing one can cut their FFXI service fee in half for the first 30 days. This service fee is usually $11.95 (service fee) plus $1 (character fee), totaling $12.95. If you sign up (or reactivate your account) during the campaign period, you’ll only pay $6.95 for your first month. 

If you’re new to FFXI, you will need to purchase a copy of the game itself to play. Currently, you can purchase it via the Square Enix Store or Steam. Either way, the cost of the game is $29.99. On the plus side, purchasing the game also comes with its own 30-day free play period, so you’ll end up with 60 days of game time for half the cost of a usual month.

This is an amazing opportunity to learn more about the characters we’ve already encountered during FFXIVs Echoes of Vana’diel story and those we’ve yet to meet in the two as-yet-unreleased Alliance Raids. The story is more or less understandable even if you’ve never played FFXI, but the additional knowledge would certainly help to make sense of things. 

Once your initial 30 days are over, you’ll then need to pay the full service fee if you want to keep playing FFXI, which you likely will once you’ve immersed yourself in the world for a full month.

The post FFXIV players can soon step into FFXI’s Vana’diel at a discount appeared first on Destructoid.

Final Fantasy XIV players still don’t have a set date for patch 7.2 (at best, we know it’s coming at some point in late March), but we do have a preliminary date for patch 7.18. Best of all, the minor patch will come with a cute collaborative emote for all players. 

Patch 7.18 is due to release on February 25, although this is a scheduled date and is liable to change should last-minute adjustments be needed. This final patch of the 7.1x series comes around a month ahead of patch 7.2, which is due to drop at some point in the latter half of March. During LLP 85, in which players were given a ton of details about patch 7.2, we were also told of this fun photo-based collaboration.

As part of the 7.18 update, Final Fantasy XIV has teamed up with FujiFilm to celebrate Instax, an instant camera brand owned by the company. In-game, this will allow all players to get their hands on a special new emote, which sees your character using a virtual version of the Instax camera to get a snapshot. 

Once the photo-taking emote is released, alongside patch 7.18, Final Fantasy XIV will hold a Screenshot Sweepstakes. These Sweepstakes allow players to submit their screenshots via Twitter for a chance to win items such as Modern Aesthetics - Cloud Strife or the Gaelicat Hat. We’ve seen plenty of these competitions in the past, and they always bring fans together across the globe in appreciation of the Group Pose skills on display. 

Unfortunately, exact details of how the emote will be obtained have not yet been revealed and are likely to be given closer to the scheduled release date for the patch. I’m sure I’m not alone in admitting that I’ll do whatever it takes for this cutie because it deserves a place in my vast and ever-growing collection of emotes. 

If you like the camera used in the emote, it closely resembles the Instax Mini 12, which is currently available to purchase in five different colors for $79.75.

The post FFXIV: Patch 7.18 scheduled for February 25, including new Instax collab emote appeared first on Destructoid.

Concern has been building within the Final Fantasy XIV community lately over a worrying third-party tool called PlayerScope, which exploits a weakness in the Blacklist feature to track down players. During LLP 85, Naoki Yoshida took a moment to address concerns. 

Before viewers were informed about what to expect from the upcoming patch 7.2: Seekers of Eternity, Yoshida took a moment to discuss the worrying plugin, with Foxclon (Toshio Murouchi) providing English Translations. 

He began by stating that, regardless of what the plugin can find, it cannot pull personal identifying details about any player. It’s reassuring to know that the plugin isn’t too much of a security risk, but that doesn’t stop it from being problematic.

The plugin works by exploiting the Blacklist feature, which was updated as part of Dawntrail’s release to ensure that if you blacklisted one character on somebody’s account would also add their alternate characters to the blacklist as well, preventing somebody from being able to find you on an alternate character. This was a commonly requested feature and highly celebrated when it was implemented, but the new system has backfired and allowed for PlayerScope to be created and abused. 

After explaining how it works, Yoshida went on to discuss what the development team plans to do about it. He didn’t go into too much detail, stating that they are still actively working on the issue and more details would be given soon. However, he did say that changes would be coming to the system in patch 7.2 when it releases at some point in late March. 

However it changes, Yoshida assured that the changes already made to prevent stalking or harassment would remain in place. There are no plans to return to the old blacklist system, but changes will be coming to counteract this plugin and what it can currently do. 

As always, Yoshida urged viewers to stay away from any third-party tools or plugins, reminding them that they are strictly against FFXIV's terms of service and that players caught using them risk being banned permanently from the game.

The post FFXIV: Naoki Yoshida addresses concerns surrounding third-party tool during Live Letter 85 appeared first on Destructoid.

After months of what some within the community have called a “content drought”, Final Fantasy XIV has successfully reignited passion in players with Live Letter from the Producers 85, providing insight into content coming in patch 7.2. 

Patch 7.2, titled “Seekers of Eternity”, will be releasing at some point during late March, and is filled to the brim with new things to unlock and explore. Not only are we getting new MSQ quests and Arcadion Raids to dive into, but also some much anticipated side content is finally set to drop.

As always, translations used to write this round up were supplied by Miuna and Iluna Minori over on the FFXIV Discord server.

Cosmic Exploration screenshots aplenty

After teasing viewers with a very clear image of Cosmic Exploration on the desk in front of them while they discussed possible future FanFest locations and the cuisine in Saudi Arabia, Yoshida and Foxclon finally went into detail about what we can expect from Cosmic Exploration, the new content designed for Crafters and Gatherers. 

According to Yoshida, a new planet will be added with every major patch of the 7.x series (7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5), each of which will need to be restored and rejuvenated by the community of players. 

We were shown many before and after screenshots, displaying how the setting of the first planet will change over time once goals are met. There will be zip lines to transport players around the surface of the planet, and an ever evolving base of operations. 

It was stated that whereas the previous content of this type, Shadowbringers' Firmament, could only be seen changing and evolving by players who were there at the time, players who dive into Cosmic Exploration later on will still be able to see how it has changed over time.

After being told that more details will be coming during the next Live Letter, we were shown sneak peaks of two things that scream Star Trek more than FFXIV. The uniform shown (above left) will be available for players to earn in some way through Cosmic Exploration, while the teleporters (above right) were shown without too much explanation.

Occult Crescent details revealed

Deep within Shade’s Triangle, the mysterious and unmapped region of Occult Crescent makes up the setting for the third Large Scale Battle Content, spiritual successor to both Eureka and Bozja. 

Like the previous two, Occult’s Crescent will pit players against a myriad of formidable foes, including large scale bosses, and a 48 player raid that will be available to complete from the very beginning. 

Throughout the screenshots, one shared feature are the strange bubbles in the sky. Yoshida mentioned these multiple times, but refused to comment on what they could actually be. It’s likely not the only mysterious thing we’ll come up against when the content goes live. 

Occult Crescent will also include a new mechanic, which will likely work in a similar way to Lost Actions in Bozja, but is altogether more cute — Phantom Jobs. 

Players will be able to equip these Phantom Jobs alongside their main job while inside Occult Crescent, and each job will grant the player buffs or additional actions. Many of the Phantom Jobs are known from previous Final Fantasy titles, and Yoshida commented that while it may be hard to implement them as full Jobs within the MMO, he wanted to include them here and have some fun with their respective skills. 

Relic Weapons are going back to the beginning 

In a move that will either be welcomed or enrage you, the obtainment of Relic Weapons appears to be getting something of an overhaul. With many players commenting that Endwalker’s Relic Weapons were far too easy to obtain, developers have decided that it might be best to return to the beginning and reinstate previously used methods. 

It wasn’t stated clearly whether this will include a similar mechanic to the books of Zodiak Weapon fame (on a personal note, I might cry if this turns out to be the case), but it was revealed that there will be two different ways to obtain Relic Weapons in Dawntrail. 

Players will be able to obtain a Relic Weapon through completing objectives within Occult Crescent, or they will be able to take part in previously existing duties and activities. This sounds very similar to the ways in which players can now obtain Shadowbringers weapons, which require you to either complete objectives within Bozja, or to complete duties outside of it.

New MSQ content

As always with a major patch, new MSQ quests will be added in patch 7.2. Although no details of the plot were provided, Yoshida made comments about characters' facial expressions, urging players to pay close attention to them. He also noted that Sphene reminds him a little of Asahi, and as Yoshida never says anything without a deeper meaning, this is definitely something to look into before the patch drops. 

We were also shown some sneak peaks of the next MSQ dungeon, revealed to be named “The Underkeep”. While showing off a boss arena of this dungeon, Yoshida mentioned that players might be expected to dance in the dance hall, although didn’t detail exactly what he meant by this. 

Arcadion: Bruiserweight Tier

As expected, the next tier of the Arcadion Raids will be coming in patch 7.2. The Cruiserweight tier will feature four new fights of both normal and savage difficulty, although savage will come the usual week after the normal fights are introduced. 

We were given a few screenshots of the upcoming raid storyline, as well as one from one of the fights itself. Not many details were given, but Yoshida did allude to the arena itself and hint that it might be there as more than simply a backdrop. Dancing seems to be a recurring theme in the upcoming patch, with the arena looking very much like a disco, and mechanics described as “high tempo”. 

Trials and tribulations

The next trial to be introduced was revealed to be named “Recollection”, and both a normal and extreme version will be available to take on when patch 7.2 drops. We were only shown two screenshots from this trial, but Yoshida admitted that while testing the normal difficulty fight, it proved too difficult to complete. As such, mechanics are currently being removed to make it a less challenging experience. 

As always, the a new Unreal Trial will be coming as part of patch 7.2. This time, Suzaku and her DDR mechanics are getting an Unreal makeover, pitting players off against the firebird all over again at a much higher difficulty. 

Hildibrand returns

Although the adventures of Hildibrand may not be a universal favorite, it’s still beloved content in FFXIV. 7.2 will see more quests added to Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures story line. With introductions (and memory fixing) having taken place, we can now get into the crime noir plot in a more meaningful way. 

Yoshida noted that the story line is “a bit over the top”, but by this point players would expect nothing less from Hildibrand and Nashu. 

Dawntrail’s second Allied Society makes its debut

With the Pelupelu already featuring as an Allied Society for Combat Jobs, players have been waiting to see who would come next, and what Jobs they would focus on. 

Well, it was revealed during the Live Letter that the next Allied Society will be the Mamool Ja, who will focus on Gathering. If you’ve not yet leveled Botanist, Miner, or Fisher, then this will be the perfect opportunity to do so. 

Frontline (Secure) is making a comeback

Frontline (Secure) has been missing from rotation since patch 6.4, but it’s undergone a pretty impressive redesign and will be making its return as part of patch 7.2. These updates have changed the appearance of the map significantly, and that’s not all that’s changing in PvP. 

Series 8 will also begin when patch 7.2 drops, and job actions will be tweaked, with additional actions being added to select classes. Which Jobs will be getting additional actions wasn’t specified, but we can expect more details during the next Live Letter. 

The Cornservant makes a brief return

One of my personal highlights of Dawntrail so far has been the Cornservant and its heartwarming quests to feed the many peoples of Tural. Because of how popular this little guy proved to be with both players and the dev team alike, it will be making a brief comeback with an additional quest for players to complete. 

Other updates coming in patch 7.2

As with all major patches, there are a whole host of smaller updates that need mentioning. As you might expect, a new Allagan Tomestone of Mathematics will be added into the mix, likely replacing Heliometry, while Allagan Tomestones of Aesthetics will be phased out. 

The Sunken Temple of Qarn is also set to benefit from Duty Support, which will be interesting, considering the number of mechanics at play within the dungeon.

The post FFXIV patch 7.2: Seekers of Eternity due in late March, including long-awaited Occult Crescent and Cosmic Exploration appeared first on Destructoid.

There are a lot of tools and pieces of kit in Hello Kitty Island Adventure. While each of these pieces of equipment is useful in its own way, you’ll definitely find yourself using some things more than others. 

Whether you want to make the perfect gifts for each of the Sanrio villagers, or you just want to make one of everything it’s possible to make, you’ll need to venture far and wide and complete a long list of quests to unlock some of the equipment. 

Here’s how to unlock all of the major, most useful tools and machines in Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

Cooking Stations in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Cooking Stations are, at least to begin with, machines that can only be used in specific locations. Some of the Cooking Stations (such as the Oven and the Pizza Oven) can eventually be crafted and placed in visitor cabins, but you’re most likely to venture to their original locations. 

Here are all of the Cooking Stations currently available in Island Adventure on PC and Nintendo Switch and how to unlock them:

Cooking Station upgrades

Each of the Cooking Stations (except the Cauldron) can be upgraded when certain requirements are met. This allows you to cook using two additional ingredients on top of the base ingredient for each Station, rather than just one, unlocking further recipes to cook.

Here’s how to upgrade each Cooking Station:

• Oven: Level 15 friendship with Hello Kitty
• Soda Machine: Level 6 friendship with Pekkle
• Dessert Machine: Level 13 friendship with Pompompurin
• Egg Pan Station: Take 102 Gudetama photos
• Pizza Oven: Level 9 friendship with Retsuko
• Espresso Machine: Level 4 friendship with Hangyodon
• Candy Cloud Machine: Level 5 friendship with Kiki

Player based tools in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

There are 11 player-based tools in Island Adventure that allow you to further interact with Friendship Island. These are invariably unlocked by leveling up friendships with villagers and completing their quests. 

These tools will either appear on the tool wheel (such as the Net, Fishing Rod, or Camera), or they will automatically become available to use when you approach an object that requires the tool (such as the Watering Can or Pickaxe). 

Here are all the player-based tools and how to get them:

The post All major tools how to unlock them in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

Once you’ve started to prepare and repair the Visitor Cabins in Hello Kitty Island adventure, you’ll open up a world of possibilities when it comes to additional Sanrio characters who can come along for a vacation day. 

Getting visitors to your island is often as simple as decorating a Cabin in a certain way, but some require more forethought. Milk, for instance, requires you to have befriended several other rare visitors, while other visitors will only appear at certain times. 

It's worth trying to get as many visitors to your island as possible, even if it means switching out the decor of each cabin between months, because each visitor will reward you with certain items in return for talking to them. On top of this, some visitors have the potential to unlock additional quests when they become five-star permanent residents, so befriending them all is worthwhile.

The most challenging of the time-fixed visitors are those who only visit during certain real-life seasons. Here are all of the season-locked visitors in Hello Kitty Island Adventure and how to lure them into coming to visit. 

What are the seasons in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

The seasons in Island Adventure follow the same rough dates as those in real life, but it can be hard to keep track of when each season is set to arrive or change. To make this easier, here’s where each month falls in terms of seasons:

Spring visitors in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

During the Spring season, there is only one island visitor who is specific to Spring and they will show up as long as you’ve met their other requirements.. 

Macaron

Macaron is the love interest of Pompompurin, and she can pay a visit to your island at any time during Spring. If you talk to Macaron during a visit, she will give you a Pink Clouds Ice Cream. 

Here are the requirements for attracting Macaron as a visitor:

• Cabin must be placed in Gemstone Mountain to be close to Pompompurin
• Cabin must be decorated with five Hugs & Hearts items

  • Hugs & Hearts items can be obtained during the Hugs & Hearts event, which takes place during February each year

• A Sakura Pudding must be placed inside the Cabin

Macaron is required as a five-star permanent resident if you want to unlock the following quests:

• "Sweets for the Sweetest"

Spring and Fall visitors in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Additionally during spring, but also during the Fall, there is one other Sanrio character who will make a weekly appearance. 

Nuts

Once a week during Spring and Fall, Nuts will make an appearance. Nuts is Cinnamoroll’s friend and brother to Cappuccino and Coco. When you talk to Nuts during a visit, he will give you a Coconut. 

Here’s everything you need to do if you want Nuts to visit:

• Cabin must have three pieces of Kawaii furniture
• The following items must be present in the Cabin:

  • Coconut
  • Toasted Almond

You'll need to befriend Nuts (and his brother Coco) if you want to unlock the following quests:

• "Cinna-Run-Around"
• "Cafe Cinnamon Unite"
• "Time for Milk"

Summer and Winter visitors in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Unlike the other seasons, no visitors are specific to either Summer or Winter. Both seasons share the same three possible visitors, who will appear if you’ve kitted out a Cabin with their specified desires. 

Pam

Pam is a penguin and Tuxedosam’s younger brother. He also has another brother called Tam, who we’ll get to in just a second. Pam will reward you with Fabric if you talk to him during a visit. He can pay a visit at any time during Summer or Winter, as long as you’ve met the requirements. 

Speaking of which, here’s all of the requirements you need to meet if you want Sam to visit:

• Cabin must be in Seaside Resort or Cozy Islands to be close to Tuxedosam
• Cabin must be decorated with five pieces of Fwish furniture
• Cabin must have a Clothing Stand with one piece of clothing on display
• Cabin must have two aquariums, including fish within

Tam

Tuxedosam and Pam’s other brother, Pam, can also pay a visit at any time during Summer or Winter. Like Pam, talking to Tam during a visit will reward you with a swatch of Fabric. His requirements are similar to Pam's, but he does have some specific requests.

Here’s how to lure Tam as a visitor:

• Cabin must be in Seaside Resort or Cozy Islands to be close to Tuxedosam
• Cabin must have one piece of Summer’s End furniture

  • Summer’s End furniture can be obtained through the Sunshine Celebration event, which takes place towards the end of Summer each year

• Must have five pieces of furniture displayed on Clothing Stands

  • You’ll need five clothing stands to meet this requirement

Coco

Unlike either Pam or Tam, Coco will only visit once a week during Summer and Winter. He’s a friend of Cinnamoroll and a brother of Cappuccino and Nuts. As with Nuts, Coco will give you a Coconut if you talk to them during a visit. 

To attract Coco as a visitor, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• Cabin must have three bookshelves of any type
• Cabin must contain at least one of each of the following items:

  • Coconut
  • Chocolate Coin

Coco is needed as a five-star permanent resident if you want to unlock the following quests:

• "Cinna-Run-Around"
• "Cafe Cinnamon Unite"
• "Time for Milk"

Fall visitors in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Fall features the most specific seasonal visitors, with three Sanrio characters who can show up during the season. Each of them has their own requests, and two of them are (in my opinion) the cutest visitors of all. 

Baku

Baku is Kuromi’s best friend who can visit at any time during the Fall. He can fly and sniff out dreams, and talking to him during a visit, he will reward you with a Pumpkin Spice Soda.

Here’s what you’ll need to do if you want Baku to visit:

• Cabin must be in Spooky Swamp to be near Kuromi
• Cabin must be decorated with five Spooky Celebration items

  • Spooky Celebration items can be obtained through the Spooky Celebration event, which is held during October each year

Berry 

I’m just going to say it: Berry (and his best friend Cherry) are adorable little demons, and I’m (im)patiently waiting for Fall so that I can befriend them. With that said, Berry will visit every two weeks during the Fall, and talking to him while he’s there will reward you with a Jack-O-Lantern. 

Here’s how to get Berry as a visitor in Island Adventure:

• Cabin must have three items with the “Joke” tag
• Cabin must have five items with the “Spooky” tag
• Cabin must have two items with the “Sweet” tag

Cherry

If you like cute little demonic creatures, then Berry’s best friend Cherry is also a possible visitor during the Fall. She will also visit every two weeks during the fall, with her visits happening on alternate weekends to Berry. When you talk to Cherry during a visit, she will give you Pink Clouds Ice Cream. 

If you want Cherry to come along, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

• Cabin must have three items with the “Fancy” tag
• Cabin must have five items with the “Spooky” tag
• Cabin must have two items with the “Pink” tag

Full seasonal visitor schedule in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

If you’re certain of what you need to do or just want to check when you can expect a certain character to arrive, here’s the schedule for all seasonal visitors:

The post All seasonal visitors and how to get them in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

There are many useful tools and equipment to unlock and use in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, and all of them are trapped behind friendship leveling and quests. The Watering Can is a hugely useful tool that takes considerable effort to unlock. 

If you’ve been wandering around Friendship Island and wondering what those little pink closed flowers on the floor are, don’t worry; you’re not alone. Those flowers only become meaningful once you’ve unlocked the Watering Can, which is not an easy task. 

How to unlock the Watering Can in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

If you want a Watering Can, you’ll need to focus on leveling up your friendship with My Melody. She’s the key to the Watering Can and the Pickaxe, which comes first. In short, she’s a very useful friend. 

To level up My Melody, you should focus on giving her gifts daily and make the most of Friendship Bouquets and Friendship Blossoms to give her more than the standard three gifts per day. Unfortunately, her two- and three-heart gift preferences are difficult to get. 

The best gift to give My Melody is a Pink Latte, which is a two-heart gift and becomes available to make as soon as you’ve unlocked the Espresso Machine at the Comedy Club through Hangyodon. You can make it using either of the following recipes:

• 1 Candlenut + 1 Strawberry
• 1 Candlenut + 1 Sakura

Either way, once you’ve successfully dragged My Melody’s friendship level to 14, you can complete her quest, “Crystal Vay-Cay.” When you’ve completed that, another quest called “Flower Power” will become available from My Melody, which will eventually reward you with the Crafting Plans to make a Watering Can. 

To make a Watering Can, you’ll need the following resources:

• 2 Mechanisms

  • Crafted using three Gizmos, which are the return gift from Chococat

• 5 Ingots 

  • Crafted using 3 Iron, which can be found all around Mount Hothead and Crystal Caves

How to use the Watering Can in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Once you’ve actually managed to obtain a Watering Can, you’ll find it very useful. Like the Pickaxe, it’s not a selectable tool and instead becomes available to use as soon as you get close enough to anything that needs watering. 

Here are all the ways to use your Watering Can once you’ve got it:

• Gift Flowers

  • Little pink closed buds found in all regions. When watered, these open up to give items, recipes, or Crafting Plans. 

• Flowers

  • Although watering flowers is not strictly needed for them to grow, it does reduce their growth time by one day each time they’re watered. 

• Rainfall Flowers

  • After completing Chococat’s “Rain or Shine” quest, you’ll be able to water blue Rainfall Flowers that will produce one Raindrop each. These flowers appear in only some areas and only when it’s raining. 

• Merry Meadow

  • After unlocking Merry Meadow, you’ll need to plant and cultivate four Giant Seeds, which will eventually turn into Beanstalks and unlock more of the new area. These need watering every day for three days before they fully grow. 

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

The map in Hello Kitty Island Adventure is absolutely massive, filled with nooks and crannies to explore that hold secrets waiting to be discovered. The initial map is expansive enough, but there are also new areas to unlock as you progress. 

Merry Meadow is one of these new areas, which can only be unlocked as you progress into the mid-game stages. It’s filled with secrets, new resources, and a lot of plots where you will eventually be able to plant and breed flowers. If you want to know how to find this lush, floral area and unlock its full potential, keep reading. 

How to unlock Merry Meadow in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

All quests in Island Adventure are hidden behind friendship levels and connected to multiple different characters. Unlocking Merry Meadow is no different, and it will only be possible once you’ve completed the following steps:

• Complete the “Power Up the Gate” quest
• Reach friendship level 4 with Pompompurin
• Complete the “Dessert-ed Boat” quest
• Reach friendship level 11 with My Melody
• Complete the “Revive the Oasis” quest

Once you’ve done all that, you’ll need to wait one real-life day after completing the "Revive the Oasis" quest. When you enter Island Adventure the next day, you’ll have a new quest available to complete with Pompompurin called “Curious Caverns.” 

He’s noticed that the waterfall opened up in the previous “Revive the Oasis” quest has knocked some stones loose, and he wants them removed as they’re unstable. There is only a single rock to remove using your Pickaxe, in the location marked below:

Once this rock is removed, you’ll gain access to Merry Meadow. Here, you’ll find a few new resources and collectibles:

How to open up all of Merry Meadow in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

To begin with, you’ll only have access to the small lowest section of Merry Meadow. To gain access to the higher areas, including the Greenhouse on the Overlook, you’ll need to find and plant Giant Seeds in the large patches of dirt located close to cliff faces (pictured above). 

You’ll then need to water these Giant Seeds over three real-life days, which requires a Watering Can. To get one, you’ll need to reach level 14 friendship with My Melody and complete her “Crystal Vay-Cay” quest. 

Once you’ve grown the first Giant Seeds into a Beanstalk, you can climb it to reach the next level of Merry Meadow. Up here, there’ll be another seed to find and plant, beginning the three-day cycle over again. There are a total of four Giant Seeds to find and cultivate, meaning that the process of unlocking Merry Meadow in its entirety will take 12 days. 

Unlocking the entirety of Merry Meadow will unlock the following features:

• Wish me mell (a new character who resides in Merry Meadow)
• Critter Corral
• Greenhouse
• Hidden exits that lead to different areas of Friendship Island

The post How to unlock Merry Meadow in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

As we head towards the latter days of Winter, the temperature outside is slowly creeping upwards, but it’s still not warm by any stretch of the imagination. If you want something to warm you from the inside out, there are few better things than a spicy romance novel. 

In case you’re not clued in on modern literary terms, spicy means nothing more than sexy. Spicy romances have a lot of sexual content, often described explicitly, and can leave even the most stiff-lipped of readers feeling hot and bothered. 

There are countless examples of spicy romance, one of the most famous (although not good in any sense) is Fifty Shades of Grey. That won’t be included on this list, but it is a recognizable example of the subgenre. 

Here are 10 spicy romance novels that are, unlike Fifty Shades of Grey, actually worth reading. 

Twisted Love by Ana Huang

As is pretty common in the spicy romance subgenre, Twisted Love offers an amazing example of a male character whose behavior would simply not be tolerated in real life, but somehow makes him likable in terms of his character. 

Twisted Love is a story of two troubled people, Ana and Alex. Alex is Ana’s brother’s best friend, and although they shouldn’t fall in love, of course they do. There are dark moments, but most importantly for the purposes of this list, a lot of spice. 

Neon Gods by Katee Robert

Don’t get caught up on the fact that Neon Gods is a dark and smutty retelling of Greek gods and goddesses. Hades and Persephone ruled over the underworld together, and this is a modernized retelling of that tale filled with spice and darkness. 

It’s not as if mythology isn’t inherently filled with romantic ideas anyway, but Robert adds a whole new level, piling on the chemistry between the two main characters in a way that will always leave you wanting more, even when you’ve finished the very last page. 

Praise by Sara Cate

Most people, at some point in their lives, experienced a breakup that left them feeling empty and worthless. It’s an experience that’s easily relatable, and that’s how Praise begins, but it’s far from where it ends. 

After Charlotte is left hollowed by a horrible breakup, she mistakenly gets dragged into a BDSM-based affair with her ex’s father. Oh, and he’s also her boss, and twice her age, all of which makes the relationship entirely forbidden. But that’s what makes you want to keep reading, because surely this can’t end well?

Priest by Sierra Simone

It’s common knowledge that a priest must take a vow of celibacy, but that doesn’t make keeping it easy, and therein lies the main plot of Priest by Sierra Simone. Tyler is a 29-year-old priest in charge of his own church, and he has done some very un-priestly things. 

Priest acts as a confession for the main character, who despite his vow of celibacy and role as a priest, has broken every rule in the book after meeting a woman he cannot stay away from. So much so that he had sex with her on the altar of his church. That’s a lot of sin, and Priest is filled with sinful moments to enjoy, as well as a sweet love story to boot. 

Bared to You by Sylvia Day

If you want a love story filled with both sex and angst, then Bared to You is an absolute must-read. Two damaged people come together for a spicy romance that helps them to fix themselves and each other, with many, many NSFW (not safe for work) encounters along the way. 

Admittedly, the story does, at times, take a backseat to the sheer amount of smut involved. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s not worth reading if you need a story to keep you going between steamy scenes. Both main characters grow together, overcoming trauma through each other. 

Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt

Let me just put this out there: I’m a sucker for a second-chance romance, and Left of Forever is an amazing example of the trope with a lot of spice thrown in for good measure. Wren and Ellis fell in love as kids, they had a life and a child together, and then everything fell apart. But is that the end?

No, it’s not. What starts off as a simple weekend dropping their son off at college turns into a “one last try” road trip filled with love, memories, and arguments. Left of Forever is filled with huge feelings and hurdles to overcome, as well as some seriously steamy moments between the former husband and wife. 

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher

There’s a common theme that runs through steamy romance novels, and it revolves around an impossibly rich man falling for a woman with barely a fraction of his wealth. There’s definitely a questionable power dynamic involved, but there’s also a “forbidden” and risky appeal to the entire trope. 

The Fine Print is a good example of this trope done well, because the power imbalance ends with the money and doesn’t transfer into the bedroom. Zahra is feisty, and she isn’t afraid of Rowan, who happens to be her boss, so he can’t push her around because he’s loaded. There’s also a large element of enemies-to-lovers involved here, so if that’s your thing, you’ll love The Fine Print. 

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

Another tale of an employee and her boss who are incapable of staying away from each other despite the rules and self-imposed limitations, Beautiful Bastard was originally released online under a completely different name. Now, it’s been fully published and is loved by fans of the spicy romance subgenre, for good reason. 

Things are a little crazy at certain points within the story, and there is a huge amount of smut that sometimes overpowers the actual narrative that Lauren is trying to portray. However, if you’re looking up a list of spicy books, then you’ll probably be okay with that. 

The Hook Up by Kristen Callihan

A hook-up becomes a "situationship" that becomes more. It’s a common trope within romance, and although there’s nothing particularly new brought to the table in terms of narrative within The Hook Up, there’s a lot to love. 

Anna and Drew could not be more different. He’s the quarterback, endlessly popular, and lives his entire life in the limelight. She's prickly, funny, and couldn’t care less about him or his ball-throwing abilities. But then something happens to bring them together, and they both want different things, but can he convince her that he’s more than he seems to be?

Bohemian by Kathryn Nolan

A shy nerdy guy who ends up in charge of a struggling bookshop, and a model who only goes there for a photoshoot ends up finding more than she bargained for. That’s the main pairing in this story of love and steam, and that’s what makes Bohemian stand out in an ocean of rich-man-poor-woman pairings. 

There’s also a looming choice that both the main characters and the reader must face, and although you see it coming from a mile away, it doesn’t make the decision any easier. Do you take a chance on something that you never expected? Or do you savor the memories and move on?

The post 10 romance books that will keep you warm this winter appeared first on Destructoid.

However you look at it, vampires and their lore are a massive part of modern horror. The bloodthirsty creatures have appeared in everything from the darkest settings to children's stories and everything in between. 

The concept of vampires has been around for thousands of years. The first known written reference to them dates back to 1,047 AD, and the idea of blood-sucking monsters has gone on to inspire writers for generations. 

If you’re after some vampire tales to keep you awake at night, here are 10 of the best books I’ve ever read on the subject. 

Vampires: A Handbook of History & Lore of the Undead by Agnes Hollyhock

I’m just going to start this out with the one and only non-fiction book I’ve included on this list, because if you’re going to read about vampires in fiction, then it’s a good idea to know about the lore and history of the mythical creature. 

In Vampires, Agnes Hollyhock looks at the basis of the vampire myth, as well as some famous historical people who have been accused of vampirism themselves, such as Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Bathory. It’s always interesting to see myth and reality crossover, and in this case, a little bit scary as well. 

Dracula by Bram Stoker

If you think of vampire books, then Dracula is likely the first title that springs to mind. It’s a classic for a reason, and absolutely a must-read if you’re interested in vampires or the dark, gothic vibe that Stoker brings to the table. 

This where knowing the history of the vampire comes in handy. Dracula was based on Vlad the Impaler, and Stoker did an incredible job of turning a person from history who has all but turned into a thing of myth, into an actual myth. Now, Dracula is a name known worldwide and nobody will ever think of vampires without thinking of the character created by Stoker. 

Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

Imagine the tales that could be told by a vampire who chose semi-life willingly, has reached 200 years of age, and has seen countless people live and die around himself. That’s the premise of Interview with the Vampire, and it’s filled with dark reality and history expertly woven together by Rice. 

The dark and unbelievably gothic tale is of Louis, who chose to become a vampire after the death of his younger brother, and Lestat, the vampire who turned Louis into a vampire, an all-around pretty terrible guy. It’s all told to a young reporter, who learns absolutely nothing from the whole sorry tale and will leave you feeling angry but glad to have read this epic book. 

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro is renowned for his mythical horror movies, but he’s a pretty great writer as well. The Strain, released in 2009, puts a different spin on vampirism and turns it into an almost zombie-esque contagion that threatens to overtake New York City. 

Of course, all of the well-known vampire tropes are there. The contagion is transmitted through biting, and those bitten then go on to become vampires themselves, but there’s also a huge amount of relatable modernity to the story. The CDC plays a huge role, with epidemiologists taking on the “Ancients” and a former Nazi SS soldier (no, seriously) to overcome the threat. 

Fledgling by Octavia Butler

Imagine opening your eyes one day with no memory of your life before that moment, suffering from critical injuries, and no idea how you got to where you are. That’s how Fledgling begins, with Shori waking up in a cave and stumbling into a world of unknowns. 

As an Ina, Shori is essentially a type of vampire who feeds on human blood, but who manages to co-exist with humans because their vampirism is biological. In essence, they’re just another species of humans with a blood-drinking quirk. It’s an interesting take, and Fledgling is an incredible read if you’re looking for a new perspective on vampires. 

Anno Dracula by Kim Newman

Anno Dracula is by far one of my favorite vampire-themed books of all time because it hammers home a truth about humanity that everyone knows but is somehow ignored in polite society — humans are greedy, and we will take what we can if we can get away with it. 

Anno Dracula is an alternate history of the 19th century in which Van Helsing did not defeat Dracula, and the iconic vampire ends up actually turning Queen Victoria. The rest of Britain quickly follows suit as the country descends into chaos, with a predominantly vampire population. Those who don’t choose to turn are hunted, jailed, or impaled without trial. The plot features many real people, including Jack the Ripper, and gets pretty dark, but it’s such an incredible read. 

Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin

George R.R. Martin is now world-renowned for writing Game of Thrones, but he’s also written stories from outside of the Westeros universe, including Fevre Dream, in which vampires and their hunters play a pivotal role in the plot. 

It’s all set on the Mississippi River in the mid-1800s, with Abner Marsh and Joshua York joining forces to create a riverboat named the Fevre Dream. Abner thinks it’s just a riverboat, but Joshua is using it as a cover for multiple layers of hidden truths and outright lies. There’s a lot of drama and more twists than the Mississippi River itself, and you’ll be glad that you read Fevre Dream when it’s done. 

The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas

Another example of a writer choosing their version of vampirism to be biological rather than supernatural, The Vampire Tapestry is almost an accidental novel. Charnas originally only wrote the first chapter, which then spun further chapters, which then became a book of five interconnected tales. 

Each chapter is novella-length, and each tells a different tale from the perspective of different characters. Each story connects through Dr. Weyland, a vampire himself, who doesn’t quite understand why he wants to feed on human blood. He learns more about himself through the five different stories and the characters he meets in each. 

I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

If you’re more familiar with the movie starring Will Smith, you probably think that I’ve gone off track and perhaps lost my mind along the way. After all, I Am Legend has nothing about vampires or blood drinking. However, the movie is loosely based on the 1954 post-apocalyptic novel of the same name, by Richard Matheson. 

The vampires in I am Legend are not just any old vampires, and this book takes the concept of vampirism to a whole new level of gore and darkness. These vampires will drain a human's blood within seconds, and quite violently at that. Survivors become vampires themselves, while the lucky ones are killed during an attack. 

Salem’s Lot by Stephen King

When Stephen King writes a book about vampires, and then goes on to say that even he thinks it's his favorite of all the books he’s ever written, you absolutely listen to him. He’s the king of modern horror, after all, and his opinions carry weight when the book he’s talking about is Salem’s Lot. 

A vampire moving into your childhood town is never ideal, but when the vampire starts turning the townsfolk, it really becomes something of a problem. Ben returns to Jerusalem’s Lot to write his next novel but soon finds himself in the middle of a twisted plot to turn the town into a coven. There is no happy ending, but Salem’s Lot is a wild ride from start to finish.

The post 10 best vampire books for adults appeared first on Destructoid.

Back in the ‘90s, diving into a multiplayer game of anything was much more difficult than it is now. Nowadays, you can play against or with people from every corner of the planet with minimal effort, a massive change from the limitations of times past. 

When the Nintendo 64 was released in 1996 (I know, I feel old too, I’m sorry), multiplayer console gaming was still a relatively new concept, but that didn’t prevent Nintendo from releasing a very long list of games that could be played with friends or family through split screen. 

Here are 10 of the best multiplayer games from the golden era of the Nintendo 64. 

GoldenEye 007 

Starting off with what is widely deemed to be one of the best N64 games of all time, GoldenEye 007. There are multiple different multiplayer deathmatch modes to enjoy, all of which will see you squaring off against other players to try and come out on top. 

Perhaps the most enjoyable mode is “The Man With the Golden Gun”, which places a Golden Gun at a fixed point on the map. This gun is capable of one-shotting any other player, and the only way to take it from another player is by killing them. Whoever holds the gun for the most amount of time wins, and things never fail to get highly competitive. 

Mario Kart 64

It’s nearly impossible to write any list of N64 bangers without including multiple Mario entries, and this one will be no exception. The first of Mario’s appearances on this list comes in the form of Mario Kart 64, which is an undeniable classic these days and just a small part of the franchise still beloved by Nintendo fans everywhere. 

There’s something absolutely addictive about racing around a track against friends, shooting out traps to sabotage their efforts to beat you. There’s a thrill every time you hear another player groan when they slip or get shot from behind, and winning might not get you anything other than bragging rights, but those bragging rights are oh-so sweet.

Mario Party 2

While the first Mario Party is definitely fun, it does have some challenging minigames that can, at times, feel almost impossible to win. It’s widely accepted that Mario Party 2 took the successful concept of the first game, and just made it better in every possible way. 

The idea is to purchase the most stars using coins earned through winning various minigames around a virtual board game. Virtual dice rolls dictate where you can go, and the board is filled with traps that mean even just winning minigames isn’t enough to ensure that you win the game overall. 

Quake II

Admittedly Quake II was released (and has since been re-released) on a multitude of platforms, but it was released on the N64 at some point, and it gets a spot on this list because it’s just so good. 

Like GoldenEye 007, Quake II features a variety of different multiplayer modes. However, while Quake II has all of the competitive modes, such as the 1 vs 1 deathmatch or Capture the Flag, it also has a mode that enables players to team up and take on a multiplayer version of the main game. 

Worms Armageddon

Worms might not be the first franchise that you think of when considering titles for the N64, but it definitely should be considered among the best examples of multiplayer on any platform. Worms Armageddon is not only fun, but it will also get you thinking tactically and getting competitive with whoever you’re playing against. 

You can create your own custom teams to test out, with each worm given a name of your creation. This does end up in tragedy when that worm takes a dive off the map, however. There are endless weapons, resulting in endless possibilities for new and hilarious catastrophes to befall enemy teams. 

Super Smash Bros. 

Super Smash Bros. has been causing arguments between friends and family since 1999. It’s the ultimate rage-fueled button-mashing experience, and I’ll never be convinced that anyone actually has a clue what they’re doing. Regardless, Super Mario Bros. might be the pinnacle of multiplayer fun on N64. 

You set your own rules in multiplayer, and then regularly live to regret them. Ending a match with two or more players having the same score will result in sudden death, which is always a tense time, even without mentioning the additional 300% damage for all players during that portion. 

Donkey Kong 64

Donkey Kong 64 is such a nostalgic game for anyone who was around during its release, and playing through the main story is something to enjoy even now. However, the multiplayer modes are perhaps one of the best features of Donkey Kong 64, and there are multiple to choose from. 

There are six multiplayer minigames, to be precise, and all of them will set you against other players to come out victorious. Whether you want to outright take lives from other players until only one person is left standing in Monkey Smash, or you want to knock each other off the platform in Battle Arena, dragging your friends into Donkey Kong 64 is always worth it.

The New Tetris

Let’s face it, Tetris has strange addictive qualities, likely thanks to its simplistic nature that requires nothing more than dropping shaped pieces into a space to make lines. It’s easy, and that makes it fun. 

The New Tetris takes that beloved concept and adds up to three other players to play against, all vying for the high score. It also adds the concept of “Blocks” which can be made by creating 4x4 squares rather than lines, which then add additional points when a line within that block is cleared. 

Lego Racers

As a kid, there was no game that could keep my attention for longer than Lego Racers. Building your own car out of Lego pieces, taking on the courses one at a time, and unlocking new parts for your car were all just so enjoyable. 

The multiplayer Versus Race mode is simple, allowing two people to play on a split screen with just the two of them on the track, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less fun. You can pick from pre-built or custom cars, and test out your skills on any of the tracks from the single-player mode. 

Perfect Dark

If you liked GoldenEye 007 and its multiplayer capabilities, then there’s absolutely no way that you wouldn’t like its spiritual successor Perfect Dark. It takes everything good about GoldenEye 007, and improves the mechanics and gameplay by a huge degree, rendering perhaps the best N64 multiplayer game of all time. 

There are various different types of deathmatch modes to play with friends, as to be expected, but there are also other elements. Players can team up to take down bots (or control them, depending on modes), complete challenges, and just have endless fun while also trying to get the highest grade at the end of a match. 

The post 10 Best Multiplayer N64 games appeared first on Destructoid.

There are a lot of things to distract you from your everyday tasks in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, and perhaps none are more distracting than the Challenge Courses littered across the many different locations. 

There are a total of 48 Challenge Courses to take on and complete, with a varying number of them in each distinct area. Completing Challenge Courses will reward Trophy Pieces as well as the plans needed to make the trophies. Each course has a Bronze, Silver, and Gold tier time. 

How to Challenge Course work in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

The starting point for every Challenge Course takes the form of a flower on a stick, below which you’ll find a pink platform. When you stand or run over this platform, Athlete Coins will appear on the land, or Obstacle Rings will appear if the course is underwater. 

The aim of any Challenge Course is to run around and collect all of the Athlete Coins, or swim through all of the Obstacle Rings. Each tier requires you to complete the course in a certain amount of time, and you’ll earn one Trophy Piece per course when you complete the course within the required time. 

With those Trophy Pieces, you can then think about crafting the Trophy for each area. However, you’ll need to complete every Challenge Course in an area before you can craft each Trophy. 

Every Challenge Course in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

The 48 individual Challenge Courses are split across the seven individual areas of Island Adventure. To make this easier, let’s split this by area and then go through the location of each Challenge Course. 

Seaside Resort Challenge Courses

There are seven Challenge Courses spread across Seaside Resort. All of these are accessible as soon as you start a new game.

Here’s the name of each Challenge Course in relation to the map above:

1. Visitor Island Chase
2. Resort Roundabout
3. Grassy Hill Hustle
4. Sandbar Dart
5. Seashore Sprint
6. Small Island Shuffle
7. Moon Island Marathon

Spooky Swamp Challenge Courses

Once you’ve unlocked the Resort Gate and gained access to the Spooky Swamp, you’ll be able to begin taking part in the eight Challenge Courses within the area. You’ll need to have crafted some Flippers before taking on some of these, but luckily you’ll be able to do that soon after you’ve entered the area and met Keroppi. 

Here are all of the Challenge Courses shown above:

1. Lily Pad Leap
2. Swamp Plaza Scamper
3. Preserve Path
4. Hedge Maze Havoc
5. Spooky Swamp Hop
6. Waterfall Falls
7. Ghost Tour Gallop
8. Tidepool Traverse

Gemstone Mountain Challenge Courses

You’re likely to travel to Gemstone Mountain for the first time after you’ve explored the Spooky Swamp, and it’s an expansive area. This is an expansive area, so you might have a hard time reaching some of the nine Challenge Courses at first, but you’ll soon find them as long as you explore thoroughly. 

Here’s what each of the Challenge Courses marked above is called:

1. Oasis Race
2. Cactus Garden Chase
3. Gemstone Bridge Bolt
4. Mountainside Rise
5. Corral Stampede
6. Small Hill Scramble
7. Down Mountain Descent
8. Island Cliff Shimmy
9. Donut Pond Splashdown

Mount Hothead Challenge Courses

There are a surprisingly small number of Challenge Courses on Mount Hothead, with only six on the volcano, and some of them won’t become accessible until you’ve worked through a substantial amount of the story quests unlocked by leveling up characters. It is, however, possible to reach the top of the volcano before this point if you’re stubborn enough, although I wouldn’t recommend doing so. 

Here’s each of the Challenge Courses located on Mount Hothead:

1. Caldera Plunge
2. Hothead Hot Foot
3. Hot Spring Hustle
4. Lava Rock Drop
5. Mountainside Slide
6. Ruins Reach

Rainbow Reef Challenge Courses

Rainbow Reef can only be accessed once you’ve reached level 6 with Kuromi, which will unlock the crafting recipe for a Snorkel. Once you’ve got this, you can begin exploring the underwater world of Rainbow Reef. There are six Challenge Courses to complete down here, all of which require you to swim through Obstacle Rings. 

Here’s all six Challenge Courses located down in Rainbow Reef:

1. Underpass Paddle
2. Comedy Club Circuit
3. Coastal Trench Traverse
4. Kelp Maze Crawl
5. Reef Arch Ridge
6. Sunken Ship Swim

Merry Meadow Challenge Courses

Merry Meadow is a late-game area that only becomes accessible after completing the quest “Curious Caverns”, which itself becomes available one day after completing the main story quest “Revive the Oasis” once My Melody reaches level 11 friendship. There are six Challenge Courses here, and you’ll need to plant three Giant Seeds and cultivate them over three days to reach all of the Challenge Courses. 

The six Challenge Courses in Merry Meadow are as follows:

1. Beanstalk Blastoff
2. Meadows Marathon
3. Garden Go Round
4. Ridge Rumble
5. Cascade Caper
6. Lumber Leaping

Cloud Island Challenge Courses

Once you’ve reached friendship level 17 with Hello Kitty, and as long as you’ve completed the quest “A Challenging Rescue”, you’ll be able to unlock Cloud Island through a quest called “Stargazing”. This new area adds a final six new Challenge Courses to complete. 

Here are the six courses added to Cloud Island:

1. Moonlight Slide
2. Water Wings Fly
3. Small Cloud Bop
4. Cloud Cabin Cruise
5. Jet Stream Glide
6. Circle Time Soar

Challenge Courses needed for Multiplayer in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

While a lot of these Challenge Courses can be completed for nothing more than bragging rights, there are a select few that you’ll need to complete with a friend if you want to level up your friendship with them in Multiplayer. 

Here are all of the Challenge Courses you’ll need to complete alongside a friend, what friendship level it’s needed for, and what tier you need to beat:

The post All Challenge Courses in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

The season of love has returned to Eorzea, and Final Fantasy XIV players have another chance to get their hands on a romantic reward for completing 2025’s Valentione’s Day event. 

This year, the main reward is the Bouquet emote, allowing players to offer an obscenely large bundle of roses to another. If you want to get this emote, or any of the other items available this year, we’ve got you covered. 

How to get the Bouquet emote in Final Fantasy XIV

To get the Bouquet emote for your collection, you’ll need to complete the quest that makes up this year’s Valentione’s Day event. It’s a pretty straightforward quest that won’t even require you to leave Gridania.

To begin the event quest “I Promise You a Rose Garden”, head to Old Gridania and talk to Astrid at Mih Khetto’s Amphitheatre (X:10.2, Y:9.4). It turns out that the Botanist in charge of growing the roses is having relationship drama, and who better to act as a relationship counselor than the Warrior of Light? 

After talking to Astrid, head to the Greatloam Growery, either on foot or via the Botanist’s Guild Aethernet Shard, and find Laurovic (X:10.3, Y:9.4). He’ll tell you the full story of Sylginie, his former love who disappeared out of the blue some time ago,  and ask that you go out in search of her with only a description of an Elezen with silver hair and a Rose Earring. 

To find her, you’ll need to go back to Mih Khetto’s Amphitheatre. Your task is made simple thanks to the names given to the three NPCs that you can possibly talk to:

• Woman with a Rose Hairpin (X:9.9, Y:8.9)
• Woman with an Orchid Earring (X:9.5, Y:8.7)
• Woman with a Rose Earring (X:10.4, Y:9.1)

Either speak to them all or head directly for the one with the Rose Earring to complete this step of the quest. Of course, things aren’t ever simple in FFXIV. As it turns out Sylginie does not want to see Laurovic, and sends you off to tell him such. You’ll find him close to the Shaded Bower (X:12.8, Y:9.2), and talking to him will provide a new twist to the story. 

Now the task has changed, and you must plant a rumor around Gridania in order to entice Sylginie out of hiding. You’ll have a choice between saying that Laurovic has been detained by an Ishgardian Knight, or that he’s entered into a duel with one. Either way, the results will be the same, so it doesn’t matter which you choose. 

To spread the rumor, talk to the three following NPCs:

• Woman with a Rose Hairpin (X:9.9, Y:8.9)
• Woman with an Orchid Earring (X:9.5, Y:8.7)
• Woman with a Rose Earring (X:10.4, Y:9.1)

With the rumor in circulation, seek out Laurovic at the Greatloam Growery (X:6.1, Y:7.4) to trigger the final pivotal cutscene of the quest, and see him reunited with Sylginie. 

After that, all that’s left to do is head back to Astrid at Mih Khetto’s Amphitheatre to complete the quest and obtain the Bouquet emote. 

Valentione’s Day 2025 additional rewards

If you want to get the full set of rewards exclusive to the 2025 Valentione’s Day event, make sure to visit the House Valentione Maid (X:10.6, Y:8.7). This “Purveyor of Love” can be found just outside the main entrance to Mih Khetto’s Amphitheatre, and has the following items for sale:

• Heartfelt Valentione's Day Advertisement (2,000 Gil) 
• Prismatic Heart Left (8 Gil)
• Prismatic Heart Right (8 Gil) 

The post How to get the Bouquet emote in Final Fantasy XIV (Valentione’s Day 2025 event guide) appeared first on Destructoid.

If you’re into cozy games or Sanrio, then there’s no doubt that Hello Kitty Island Adventure is the perfect combination of the two. While it’s endlessly enjoyable to run around with familiar characters, it only gets better when you drag a friend along with you. 

Playing with friends in Island Adventure comes with a long list of benefits, as well as some rewards that are only available through multiplayer. This isn’t anything new for anyone who has played on Apple Arcade prior to the Steam and Nintendo Switch release on January 30, but if you’re new on any platform, here’s how multiplayer works and everything you can get for simply playing with a friend. 

How does multiplayer work in Hello Kitty Island Adventure?

To invite someone to your game or join somebody else’s game, just open up the Phone and select the “Multiplayer” icon. Here, you can grab a code and send it to your friend, which they can input in the same location to join your game. Whether you’re the host or the guest, you’ll need to work quickly. These codes refresh every five minutes. 

If you’re hosting, it’s best to keep the multiplayer window open until your friend is connecting, as closing the window can cause the code to refresh, rendering the old one useless.

If you’re playing on Steam, you can also very quickly invite any friend on your Steam friend’s list, and they will automatically enter your game once they open up the Steam Overlay and accept the invite. 

While playing with a friend, the guest will gain access to all of the areas, crafting stations, and unlocked characters that have been unlocked by the host, even if those things aren't available on the guest's own island. While a guest does retain access to their own inventories, resources on the host island are not shared until you reach friendship level 15. 

Those are the basics; now let’s get onto specific aspects of multiplayer in Island Adventure. 

Gifting items in multiplayer in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

While a guest cannot give gifts to any of the characters unlocked on the host island, gifts can be exchanged between the guest and the host. Trading gifts with a friend is done in the same way as you would usually gift items to the various Sanrio characters. 

Most items are eventually giftable, with clothing items becoming available to gift after reaching friendship level 13, but there are some items that can never be given as gifts, regardless of level. 

Here’s the full list of items that can’t be transferred between two players as gifts:

*While an Island Bouquet cannot be gifted to a friend, a guest can use it while on the host’s island to regenerate items for collection. 

Increasing multiplayer friendship in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

As with any of the Sanrio characters residing on the island, you can also increase your friendship with any guest to your island. This is done by completing Friendship Tasks, which require you to complete certain things together. You can complete three tasks from each newly unlocked level per week. 

There are a total of 20 friendship levels that can be completed, taking 31 weeks in total to reach level 20. The first five levels can be completed within the first week, with subsequent levels having more tasks to complete and therefore taking longer. 

Here are a few things to remember when it comes to these tasks:

• Each task must be completed by each individual player. 
• When it comes to completing challenges, each player must collect at least one token along the trail.
• If items need to be collected and handed in, each player will need to give an equal number of the specific item. 
• Selfies must be taken by both players. 
• When required to decorate a Cabin, each player will need to host the other and allow them to decorate the Cabin that was gifted at friendship level 5.
• Minigames must be completed by both players.
• When a fish is required to be handed in, huge versions of that fish are not accepted.

When required to decorate a cabin, each player will need to host the other player and allow them to place the specific item into the Cabin that was gifted at friendship level 5. 

Here’s all of the tasks you’ll need to complete to increase your friendship level in multiplayer and how many weeks it will take to reach each level:

Rewards for leveling up multiplayer friendship in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Leveling up your friendship with another player will reward Friendship Beads and other fun things, such as emotes and new multiplayer features. Here’s all of them, along with a description of what each reward does:

What to do with Friendship Beads in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Friendship Beads are a special type of currency that can be exchanged with Keroppi for past event furniture items. You can only trade with Keroppi if you’re the host during a multiplayer session.

The item available for exchange will change every week, with each item after the first costing 2 Friendship Beads each. There is no specific order to the items that can be obtained, so you’ll need to visit Keroppi regularly to get your hands on past event items that can’t be obtained elsewhere.

The post Complete guide to Multiplayer in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is filled with beloved Sanrio characters with whom to befriend and interact. Each character has their own quests that need to be completed, allowing you to earn some useful rewards that aid in progression and exploration. 

Hangyodon is likely to be one of the last characters you rediscover after the unfortunate ending to your plane journey. He’s located underwater inside his Comedy Club, and his level 6 friendship quest, called “Comic Relief,” is particularly useful. 

However, to complete this quest, you’ll need to locate the three pieces of a Mermaid Outfit, and in a huge expanse of water, it’s all too easy to overlook the pieces as you swim by. 

How to find the Mermaid Outfit in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

There are a few things you’ll need to check off before you can even try to get the Mermaid Outfit. To help, here’s a handy checklist of everything you’ll need to have already done:

• Unlock the Resort Gate
• Unlock and craft Flippers (unlocked via meeting Keroppi)
• Unlock and craft Snorkel (unlocked via Kuromi’s level 6 quest)
• Unlock and level Hangyodon to level 6

Where to find the Mermaid Outfit in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

The Mermaid Outfit is split into three pieces, spread out over a fairly large area. Here’s how to find each piece, along with a map showing the location of each item. 

Scale Mermaid Tail

The most important part of any mermaid is obviously the tail, and this is the easiest part of the Mermaid Outfit to find. It’s located directly behind the Mermaidifier, on the underwater cliff face. If you’re struggling, just keep adjusting your depth in the water until you see a ‘!’ appear on the screen. 

Scale Mermaid Armor

To find the Mermaid Armor, head back to the Comedy Club, where you can find Hangyodon, and then travel to the southwest. It’s easiest if you stick to the paved path to get there, and you’ll find the Mermaid Armor hovering in the middle of this path before you reach the circular area at the end. 

Scale Mermaid Tiara

The crowning glory of the Mermaid Outfit is the Tiara, and you’re best off hunting for this after you’ve picked up the Mermaid Armor. It’s pretty much directly west from there, in the patch of underwater shrubbery nearby. Again, a '!' will appear once you get close enough to the item, alerting you to its presence even if you can't see it.

Once you’ve got all three pieces, put them on via the clothing section of your inventory and then head back to Hangyodon at the Comedy Club to show off your outfit and continue the quest. 

How to use the Mermaid Outfit in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

The Mermaid Outfit is a massively useful clothing option, and you might just find that you’ll end up keeping it on permanently if you spend a lot of time in the water. 

First of all, the Mermaid Outfit slightly increases your swimming speed, which is definitely a bonus. However, the biggest perk of the Mermaid Outfit comes from the massive increase in Stamina when diving. Wearing the Mermaid Outfit, you can swim for a very long time without having to come up for air (or getting a black screen when you run out of stamina). 

The set also has the added benefit of a transformation between the land and the water. On land, you’ll be wearing a regular pair of pants, but this will automatically turn into a tail when you enter the water. 

Eventually, you’ll get the option to put your Mermaid Outfit into the Mermaidifier itself, allowing you to instantly become a mermaid when entering any water, regardless of whether you have the outfit equipped or not. This won’t happen for a while, though, so it’s probably best to keep the outfit on in the meantime.

Getting the Mermaid Outfit will also unlock Tuxedosam’s level 5 friendship quest, “Tuxedosam’s Dye Upgrade,” which will allow you to dye not only the Mermaid Outfit but all of the other clothing items available in Island Adventure as well. 

The post How to get the Mermaid Outfit in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

Haunting Adeline was published in 2021, and has gone on to be something of a cult classic among readers who crave the incredibly dark, twisted romance that unfurls within the pages. With non-con, abuse, and spicy romps aplenty, fans of the genre are always thirsty for more. 

I have to admit that Haunting Adeline and its ilk are not my favorite sub-genre of romance. I prefer something more pure, and while angst is great, I believe there is such a thing as too much. However, I’ve read enough dark, twisted romances in my time to know which books will appeal to readers of Haunting Adeline. 

I mean, if a book comes with trigger warnings included before the story even begins, then you know you’re in for an interesting ride, right? The dark romance sub-genre definitely isn't for everyone, but it has its own audience.

Here are 10 books to read if you devoured Haunting Adeline and want something similar to dive into. 

The Ritual by Shantel Tessier

If you want a story of intense manipulation and gaslighting that begins as romance and ends up unbelievably dark and twisted, The Ritual has you covered. It’s part of a series of books depicting the Lords, an elite secret society that can only be entered by giving your blood. Definitely intense, but if you’re a fan of Haunting Adeline, then you’re going to be pulled in by The Ritual in the same way. 

Lights Out by Navessa Allen

Lights Out takes the themes of the dark romance genre and adds a modern twist by throwing in the algorithms of social media and their ability to give viewers exactly what they want. Admittedly, this is not as dark as Haunting Adeline, but it definitely follows the same themes, and there are even some moments of comedy to be found, which serve to break up the darkness. 

Little Stranger by Leigh Rivers

I’m not sure what it is about the dark romance subgenre that calls so heavily for the theme of “man owns woman even though woman doesn’t know it yet,” but that’s basically the entire premise of Little Stranger. Malachi is obsessed with his former foster sister in a way that he definitely shouldn’t be, and he will stop at nothing to possess her. Incredibly dark, insanely twisted, and comes with some extreme trigger warnings. 

Hooked by Emily McIntire

I never thought I’d live to see the day when the story of Peter Pan was re-imagined into a dark and steamy romantic thriller, but that’s what you get when you read Hooked. It can be difficult to overcome nostalgic childhood memories of Hook and Wendy, but once you get through that part, there’s a twisted tale of love, betrayal, and double lives waiting to be uncovered. 

Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Butcher & Blackbird is part of the Ruinous Love trilogy by Brynne Weaver, and of all the books on this list, I’d recommend it above any of the others because it’s the only one I’ve ever gone back to re-read. It’s a story of two people wrapped up in a competition to kill as many people as they can, but love can bloom on the battlefield, and it makes life a hell of a lot more complicated, considering they’re meant to be competing against each other.

Corrupt by Penelope Douglas

With themes of infidelity, non-con, and violence all wrapped up in an unhinged storyline, Corrupt is definitely up there with Haunting Adeline in terms of its darkness. Erika is obsessed with her boyfriend's older brother, Michael, and is responsible for his friends going to prison. Michael has been watching Erika and now has the opportunity he’s been waiting for to destroy her life in every way he possibly can. 

God of Malice by Rina Kent

God of Malice makes it to this list because it’s not as dark as Haunting Adeline. No, it somehow manages to be impossibly darker. There are moments in this book that will make you feel ashamed to be reading it, but if you like the subgenre, you’ll find yourself unable to put it down. Extreme trigger warnings for this one, including non-con and abuse. Don’t go into this expecting anything other than the darkest themes. 

Once You’re Mine by Morgan Bridges

The stalker theme is strong in Once You’re Mine, with a man obsessed and a woman who knows she’s in danger but, for some reason, finds it impossible to follow her gut. The list of trigger warnings for Once You’re Mine is extensive, including murder, kidnapping, and tampering with birth control. It should go without saying by now that this is not for the faint of heart, but you wouldn’t be here if that applied to you. 

Hostage by Piper Stone

If it was the spice in Haunting Adeline that really hooked you, then let me introduce you to Hostage. It’s a reverse harem dark romance, which should tell you everything you need to know, and there are, of course, heavy non-con themes and a huge number of twisted sexual encounters. However, there’s also an intriguing story that will keep you hooked as well. 

There Are No Saints by Sophia Lark

There Are No Saints is the perfect morally grey anti-hero story of a serial killer who suddenly finds himself obsessed with a potential victim. The problem is he’s not the only killer out to end her life, and now he has a choice between taking her life himself or protecting her at all costs. Although there is a redemption arc element, the emphasis is very much on the twisted mind of the serial killer fighting to retain control. 

The post 10 Best thrilling books like Haunting Adeline appeared first on Destructoid.

With the Final Fantasy XIV x BlackMilk collaboration collection set to drop on February 3, BlackMilk have released a preview of all of the items that will be available, including their prices. While most are surprisingly reasonable, some do seem overpriced. 

BlackMilk is well known for its collaboration collections at this point, and its FFXIV collection has been a popular talking point among players since it was announced on January 27. Thanks to an advanced preview, we now know the cost of each item.

• Cactuar Knit Crop ($57)
• Cactuar Knit Mini Skirt ($57)
• Chocobo High Waisted Pocket Shorts ($57)
• Chocobo Chick Baby Tee ($38)
• Black Mage Hoodie Sweater ($82)
• Mothercrystal Giant Tee ($51)
• Il Mheg Longline Swing Tee Dress ($76)
• Il Mheg Swing Tee Dress ($70)
• Job Icons Spectre Maxi Dress ($101)
• Job Icons Asymmetric Trench Coat ($158)
• World Map Cuffed Pants ($76)
• World Map Squared Up Bishop Skater Dress ($82)

Now, some of these are what I would call reasonable. For a lace maxi dress covered in job icons, I will spend $101. Maybe not happily, per se, but I will because it’s pretty. However, I can’t help but notice that the rest of the items are pretty much all at least 89% polyester and seem massively overpriced. 

Take the World Map Cuffed Pants:

These are, I’m sure you’ll agree, glorified leggings. There is no zip or button at the top, they’re made of 89% polyester, and are going to cost you just under $80. I don’t know about you, but that seems like a stretch for a pair of leggings with a print that isn't even lined up along the seams. On the plus side, they do have pockets, which is definitely a bonus. I’m not sure it’s enough to warrant the price tag, though. 

If you hope to get your hands on either of the "sets," I have bad news. The Cactuar Knit coord and the Chocobo tee and shorts combo are sold separately. The Cactuar set will set you back a staggering $114, while the Chocobo set will cost $95. Until the prices were released, these have only ever been displayed as full sets, so I can see this separation of items coming as a surprise to those hoping to grab the outfits.

This is still an exciting opportunity to get your hands on some officially licensed FFXIV merch that’s actually wearable in an everyday way, as long as you can afford it. And therein lies the problem. Players already pay for their subscription each month, and we all have lives to pay for, so is it really worth forking out for shiny polyester clothes?

The FFXIV x BlackMilk collection goes live at 1 p.m. PST / 4 p.m. EST on February 3, and the clothing brand is insistent that it’s going to sell out fast. If you want to get your hands on anything from the collection, you should be on the website for the drop. You can add items to your wishlist now to have easy access to them when the time comes. 

The post FFXIV x BlackMilk collab prices revealed, and some are more worth it than others appeared first on Destructoid.

If you’ve been playing Hello Kitty Island Adventure since it was released on Steam and Nintendo Switch on January 30, then you’ve likely already discovered the sheer joy that is adventuring around the map and taking photos of the various hidden Gudetamas.

Gudetama is my absolute favorite Sanrio character, so you can bet that I began seeking him out wherever I went as soon as I got my hands on the Camera. I’d even go as far as to say that I consider myself well-versed in his hiding places at this point. There is, however, one Gudetama that is an absolute nightmare to find and has always proved elusive for players. 

If you’re looking for the Tophat Gudetama, here’s everything you need to know. 

What is Tophat Gudetama in Hello Kitty Island Adventure?

Tophat Gudetama is a specific Gudetama that can be discovered once a week after you’ve completed Pochacco’s quest “Gudetama Snap.” There aren’t any friendship level requirements associated with unlocking the ability to find Tophat Gudetama, but you will have to talk to Pochacco regularly to pick up the recurring “The Laziest Egg” quest each week. 

Once you’ve picked up this quest, Tophat Gudetama will appear somewhere on the map for you to find, and that’s where the problem lies. With an ever-changing hidden location, you will be hunting around for a while before you manage to get the shot. 

How to find Tophat Gudetama in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Once you’ve picked up “The Laziest Egg” from Pochacco, you’ll need to wait until the next day for Tophat Gudetama to appear. He’s an elusive little lazy egg, and he does like to make you wait for his not-so-grand entrance. 

As his location changes week to week, you might need some help spotting him. If that’s the case, the Hello Kitty Island Adventure Discord community has your back. You can access the Discord server through your phone in-game, and once you’re all set up, you’ll be able to loiter in the Tophat Gudetama channel until someone shares his location. 

On the week beginning January 27, 2025, Tophat Gudetama appears on the end of the pier close to Mount Hothead (shown above), just north of Moon Island. His location will change after the server reset at midnight (local time) every Monday.

Tophat Gudetama rewards in Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Of course there would be little point seeking out Tophat Gudetama if there wasn’t a reward in it for you each week. For each Tophat Gudetama that you successfully find and photograph, you’ll be rewarded with a different Decorative Gudetama Plan, allowing you to create your own collection of the lazy egg. 

There are a total of 52 Decorative Gudetama Plans to unlock, so you’ve got at least a year's worth of content if you’re a fan of Gude and his lackluster approach to life. As should be expected, most of the Decorative Gudetama recipes require multiple eggs to craft, so you might want to head down to the Rockadoodler Roundup and begin stocking up now.

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

As part of the Fireworks Season update to Infinity Nikki, a bunch of new content has been added, including main quests, random quests, and even some side tasks that are easy to overlook. The New Bloom Festival is now active, and one of its events is the Whim Tangram Event. 

The Whim Tangram Event is a lime-locked event with a new puzzle unlocking every two days while the event is active. The first of these Tangrams is available to complete as soon as you log in after January 23, 2025, with others unlocking every two days after that. 

Here’s everything you need to know about Tangrams, and how to solve them in Infinity Nikki.

What is a Tangram?

A Tangram is a type of traditional Chinese puzzle composed of seven uniquely shaped pieces, called Tans, that must be formed into a given outline. These range in difficulty from easy to generally infuriating, and are a good way to boost brain power and critical thinking. 

It makes sense that they would feature in Infinity Nikki, because the game is developed and run by Chinese developer Papergames. 

How to find and solve Tangrams in Infinity Nikki

Tangrams are marked on the map using the same icon as other minigames, but hovering over them will reveal that they are indeed Whim Tangrams. 

The first Tangram (and likely the three ones that unlock as time progresses) is available to complete upon talking to Qiao He, who is located on the large ship docked to the south of Florawish. She’ll give a brief overview of Tangrams, and then invite you to take on the challenge of completing them. 

You’ll be given an outline shape, and seven Tans around the board that must be placed to entirely fill the outline with no overlap. Clicking on a Tan will pick it up, and then you can move it wherever you like before letting go of the mouse button, and place it down by pressing “Place” in the bottom right corner. 

Above “Place,” there’s a “Rotate” button. While some Tangrams come with rules that prevent the rotation of Tans, those in Infinity Nikki do not have this rule. Use the “Rotate” button as much as you like to make sure all of the Tans fit, completing the image. 

Remember, Tangrams are designed so that there are multiple different ways to arrange the Tans and fill the shape, so there are multiple solutions for each Tangram. 

All Tangram solutions in Infinity Nikki

Tangram 1 - Boat (January 24)

Tangram 2 - Kneeling Lady (January 26)

Tangram 3 - Lotus Flower (January 28)

Note: This one is tricky, as the Tans will only slot into place once the yellow square is rotated to one very specific orientation. Keep your eye on the red dot that indicates where the Tan will slot into place, and you'll eventually get the Lotus Flower.

Tangram 4 - Mountain Range (January 30)

Note: As with the previous Tangram, you'll need to make sure that the yellow square Tan is in a specific orientation, otherwise you'll be unable to complete this Tangram.

Rewards for completing Whim Tangrams in Infinity Nikki

For completing each Tangram in Infinity Nikki, you'll be rewarded with the following basic resources:

• Diamonds
• Shining Particles
• Bling

But the main reason to complete the Tangrams is the additional, event-limited Flower Lanterns. This item can be placed into any water, allowing you to create a romantic scene for photo opportunities or simply to enjoy the ambiance.

If you want additional Flower Lanterns, they can also be purchased for 100 Bling each while the event is live (until February 25) from Zhuo Hua on the dock close to the boat where the Tangrams can be completed.

The post How to solve all Whim Tangrams in Infinity Nikki appeared first on Destructoid.

It’s not very often that my anime-loving side and my nu-metal-loving part get to meet in the middle, but the opening credits for Netflix’s upcoming Devil May Cry anime adaptation just dropped, and I am very much experiencing the best of both worlds. 

In what might be the most shocking reveal of the year, and I mean the whole year and not just the last month, Devil May Cry will have a truly epic opening credits sequence with a massive blast from the past musical accompaniment — Rollin’ by Limp Bizkit. 

Netflix dropped the opening credits for the much-anticipated anime adaptation of Devil May Cry almost out of nowhere, and expectant fans immediately took to the comment section on YouTube to voice pretty much the same reaction across the board: “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.” 

I have to admit, the track does fit impeccably with the dark and brooding vibe of Dante. Many expressed that they could picture him listening to it relentlessly, and I have to agree. Fans have long been excited about the prospect of a new DMC anime, and this has just floored me and many others. It’s nice to know I’m not alone, and this is 100% going to end up on the short list of anime with opening credits that I adamantly refuse to skip over. 

I mean, listen to it, and if you have already done so, go and listen again because it's just so good. I'm fairly confident Limp Bizkit are experiencing a jump in viewing stats for the video as I write. There's nothing like a renewal of interest in a classic, and this has certainly reminded fans of this absolute gem.

I guess we shouldn’t really be surprised, as there were beats of nu-metal in the teaser trailer that Netflix shared in September, and the dark subject matter of DMC definitely lends itself to the heavy guitar riffs of Rollin’.  

Devil May Cry is set to release on Netflix on April 3, and this unexpected drop from Netflix has definitely reignited discussion and excitement over the upcoming series. Sadly, only eight episodes will feature this absolute banger of an opener. With Nero’s original English voice actor Johnny Yong Bosch switching to voice Dante in this adaptation, there are high hopes for an epic series. 

The post Devil May Cry Netflix opening credits revealed, and nobody was expecting this appeared first on Destructoid.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure has finally hit Steam and Nintendo Switch, welcoming an influx of new players to the fold. However, the Steam launch did not go as smoothly as Sunblink hoped, with players confused by version options and wording, but now there’s half a fix. 

If, like me, you woke up first thing this morning and immediately opened Steam to download the impossibly cute Hello Kitty Island Adventure on PC, you may have noticed something a little strange. There were two options: the basic game and the Deluxe version, which promised extra items and outfits with “no need to wait.”

Some people purchased the basic game with a view to upgrade to the Deluxe version later if they liked the experience, because it was labeled as a DLC. But once they’d purchased the basic version, there was no option available to buy the Deluxe version content.

After some pushback from players, this issue has been rectified after Valve apparently contacted Sunblink directly and suggested changing this system. Soon, players who purchased the Standard version will have the option to upgrade. 

Here’s what Sunblink has said via the official Island Adventure Discord server:

For those who have not yet purchased the Deluxe version of Island Adventure, or upgraded to it, a word of warning. The Steam page description of the Deluxe content is badly worded, and while it states there is “no need to wait” for all of the extra goodies, everything is locked behind mid-game quests. You’ll end up playing for hours before you get the outfits you’ve forked out for, so bear that in mind if you want to spend the extra cash for the upgraded version. 

Plus, those who have previously played Island Adventure on Apple Arcade have noted that all of the items included in the Deluxe version are actually available during repeat events and can be obtained by putting in a little more effort during those events. This means that nothing is exclusive to the Deluxe version, and the bulk of the “300 unique items” is a pile of 100 Sticks. 

The post You can now upgrade to Hello Kitty Island Adventure Deluxe on Steam, but is it worth it? appeared first on Destructoid.

The history of gaming is filled with twists, a fascinating tale of ‘what ifs’ and ‘maybes’ that has culminated in the current console wars and exclusivity rights. One of the ‘what ifs’ comes in the form of the ‘Nintendo PlayStation’, and it really is a rabbit hole of a story. 

It’s jarring, isn’t it? To see the Super Nintendo controller with the PlayStation branding that we’ve now all come to know so well. How did it get there, and why? Here’s everything you could ever want to know about the sordid tale of the doomed Nintendo PlayStation.

The birth (and death) of the Nintendo PlayStation

Back in the late 1980s (1988, to be precise) Sony and Nintendo were actually working together very well. Sony were working on not only a standalone CD based add-on for the Super Nintendo, but also a hybrid console that would combine both formats. It seemed like a good idea, at the time, and around 200 prototypes of this dual console were created. 

But then things went horribly wrong, and the exact story varies depending on where you get it from. Either way, some things are known for certain. On June 1, 1991, Sony announced that they would be working on a CD add-on for the Super Nintendo at Summer CES. The very next day, in an act of betrayal that must have really pinched, Nintendo announced that the company would rather partner with Philips to create this add-on. 

Nintendo apparently grew concerned that they were being used as a ‘prop’ in Sony’s ambitions for a console release, and had uncovered details that warned of Sony’s intention to take all of the profits, but that’s never quite been entirely confirmed. 

As a result, most of the prototype consoles were destroyed, and others were lost to history for a very long time, but more on that later. 

Whatever happened to the Philips CD-i?

Though the partnership between Philips and Nintendo didn’t actually get off the ground and produce a joint console, Philips were left with the rights to create Nintendo video games. They used these rights to create games for the already existing Compact Disk Interactive, otherwise known as the CD-i. 

Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of it before. While the CD-i itself was around for almost a decade, the gaming aspect was doomed and short lived. Only four games were ever released for the platform (Link: The Faces of Evil, Zelda’s Adventure, Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, and Hotel Mario) with two further cancelled titles (Super Mario’s Wacky Worlds and Mario Takes America) rounding up the total number of releases for this ill-fated platform to six. 

The rediscovery of the PlayStation Nintendo

This is where the story takes a fortunate and fascinating turn. One of the prototype consoles had escaped being destroyed, and was instead stored away by former Sony CEO Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson when he became a Board of Director member at Advanta. There it remained, until 2009. 

When Advanta filed for bankruptcy, all of the company’s former property was included in a bankruptcy auction and a former worker named Terry Diebold decided to pick up a few lots, mainly because he wanted some tableware that took his fancy. Unbeknownst to him, Terry paid $75 USD for a lot that included a long-lost piece of gaming history. 

But he had no idea what he’d stumbled upon, and put it into his attic for six years. 

It was only when Terry’s son, Daniel, found the console in his father’s attic that news of its discovery came to light, with Daniel posting a short clip to YouTube shortly after to prove its existence. 

The Diebolds then handed the PlayStation Nintendo prototype off to Benjamin Heckendorn, otherwise known as Ben Heck Hacks on YouTube, trusting his extensive knowledge of console restoration to get the prototype working again. And get it working he did. 

So now we have a PlayStation Nintendo prototype that will run Nintendo Cartridges and Audio CDs, but what happened next?

Where is the Nintendo PlayStation now?

After touring the world with their fascinating discovery, the Diebolds eventually decided to put the Nintendo PlayStation up for auction via Heritage Auctions, a well known online collectibles auctioneer. Interest was high, understandably, but the prototype eventually sold on March 6, 2020, for $360,000 USD including fees. Not much, considering the Terry Diebold's claim that he turned down an offer of £1.2 million a few years before. A bargain, by all accounts.

It was purchased by Californian Greg McLemore, an entrepreneur who is most known for founding both pets.com and toys.com, websites that are now defunct. It seems like an odd choice of purchase for the man, but it turns out that McLemore is an avid collector and cataloger of arcade and video game history, running the online site Arcade Museum since 2000. 

And, as far as anyone knows, the Nintendo PlayStation is still in his hands. You can still see the prototype on the Museum of Obsolete Technology page of the aforementioned website. 

The Nintendo PlayStation timeline

Don’t worry if you’re a little bit confused by this perplexing winding tale. Here’s the full timeline, condensed:

Legacy and influence on modern gaming

Despite their disastrous collaboration with Nintendo, Sony persevered and released the PlayStation 1 in 1994. In a turn of events that has probably been a thorn in Nintendo’s side ever since, the console sold more than twice as many units than the Nintendo 64, which was released two years later. 

I think it’s safe to say that PlayStation has had a choke hold on the gaming sphere ever since, and we’re now on the fifth iteration of the console, with no signs of slowing down. This begs the question of what could have been had this collaboration been not doomed to fail?

Without focusing too much on the simple fact that PlayStation exists, I think it’s useful to consider the other influence that PlayStation has had on the gaming industry. Console wars between Sony and Microsoft have driven development of newer, more powerful consoles for decades now, and that shows no sign of changing any time soon. 

While it’s understandable to wonder about what could have been, it’s perhaps a good thing that the Nintendo and Sony collaboration never actually materialized into anything. The gaming industry would likely be a vastly different place if it had, and with all of the incredible releases that have come in the last 30 years, I for one happen to quite like it just the way it is. 

The post A brief history of the Nintendo PlayStation appeared first on Destructoid.

When it comes to absolute powerhouses of anime, Naruto is up there with the best of them. Across Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, you’ve got 720 episodes to sit down and binge, but are all of them strictly necessary?

While the original Naruto series is 220 episodes worth of world building and getting-to-know-everyone fun and drama, Naruto: Shippuden adds a whopping additional 500 episodes, furthering the story and adding new characters into the mix. 

To watch all of Naruto: Shippuden, you’ll need over 200 hours spare (more than 8 days), and that’s one hell of a time sink and a rather daunting commitment. And that’s without adding in the time to watch the original series first, and then the huge number of Boruto episodes that come after. 

While each episode holds a certain amount of world building and additional lore, not every episode is considered to be integral to the overarching story of Naruto. If you’re wanting to know which episodes are canon and which are considered filler, we’ve got you covered. 

Should you skip the filler in Naruto: Shippuden?

While filler episodes of Naruto: Shippuden don’t really bring anything to the table in terms of the overall story, you will miss out on some important world building and background if you choose to skip over them. For instance, Kakashi’s Anbu Arc (episodes 347 - 361) offers valuable insight that will help you to truly understand the impact of Kakashi, who is an absolute fan favorite character.

There are a lot of moments you’ll miss if you choose to skip over the filler, but the choice is yours to make. You won’t be left wondering about anything by missing these episodes, and you can always go back later to fill in the gaps once you’ve reached the end of the main story. 

Consider it like completing the main story of a game, then going back to complete side quests afterwards. 

Every filler episode in Naruto: Shippuden

Naruto: Shippuden meets back up with the now beloved characters two years after the original series ends, and there’s a whole new cast of people to meet and events to catch up on. However, of the 500 episodes that make up Naruto: Shippuden, 203 of these are considered to be filler. 

Sometimes, entire arcs of the anime take you off on side stories that aren’t strictly necessary if you only want to keep up with the main story. 

Here’s every filler episode of Naruto: Shippuden, along with what arcs that they make up:

• Episodes 57 - 71 (Twelve Guardian Ninja Arc)

  • “Robbed of Sleep” to “My Friend”

• Episodes 91 - 112 (Three-Tails’ Appearance Arc)

  • “Orachimaru’s Hideout Discovered” to “A Place to Return To”

• Episodes 144 - 151 (Six-Tails’ Unleashed Arc)

  • “Wanderer” to “Master and Student”

• Episodes 171 and 172

  • “Big Adventure! The Quest for the Fourth Hokage’s Legacy” (Part 1 & 2)

• Episodes 176 - 196 (Past Arc: The Locus of Konoha)

  • “Rookie Instructor Iruka” to “Drive Towards Darkness”

• Episodes 223 - 242 (Paradise Life on a Boat Arc)

  • “The Young Man and the Sea” to “Naruto’s Vow”

• Episodes 257 - 260

  • “Meeting” to “Parting”

• Episode 271

  • “Road to Sakura”

• Episodes 279 - 281 (Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation Arc)

  • “White Zetsu’s Trap” to “The Allied Mom Force!”

• Episodes 284 - 295 (Fourth Shinobi World War: Confrontation Arc)

  • “Helmet Splitter: Jinin Akebino!” to “Power: Episode Final”

• Episodes 303 - 320 

  • “Ghosts from the Past” to “Run, Omoi!”

• Episodes 347 - 361 (Fourth Shinobi World War: Climax / Kakashi’s Anbu Arc)

  • “Creeping Shadow” to “Kakashi: Shadow of the ANBU Black Ops - Squad Seven”

• Episodes 376 and 377 

  • “The Directive to Take the Nine Tails” and “Naruto vs. Mecha Naruto”

• Episodes 388 - 390

  • “My First Friend” to “Hanabi’s Decision”

• Episodes 394 - 413 (In Naruto’s Footsteps: The Friends’ Paths Arc)

  • “The New Chunin Exams” to “Hopes Entrusted to the Future”

• Episodes 416 and 417 (Birth of the Ten-Tails’ Jinchuriki Arc)

  • “The Formation of Team Minato” and “You’ll Be My Backup”

• Episodes 422 and 423 (Birth of the Ten-Tails’ Jinchuriki Arc)

  • “The One Who Will Inherit” and “Naruto’s Rival”

• Episodes 427 - 450 (Jiraiya Shinobi Handbook: The Tale of Naruto the Hero Arc)

  • “To the Dream World” to “Rival”

• Episodes 464 - 468 (Kaguya Otsutsuki Strikes Arc)

  • “Ninshū: The Ninja Creed” to “The Successor”

• Episodes 480 - 483 (Childhood Arc)

  • “Naruto and Hinata” to “Jiraiya and Kakashi”

How to watch Naruto: Shippuden

Regardless of whether you want to consume every episode in order, or you want to get through that main story and then get the side stories under your belt, how you can watch it depends on where you’re located. 

Here’s how to watch Naruto: Shippuden in both the US and the UK:

Naruto: Shippuden in the US

If you’re US based, then you can watch Naruto: Shippuden on both Hulu and Crunchyroll. Each has all 500 episodes available, and offers its own perks and advantages, depending on your watching style. 

Hulu offers 473 of the 500 episodes with English dubbing, so it’s easier to watch in the background or if you’re not entirely able to focus on subtitles. However, the episodes are split into strange and inaccurate seasons, so it’s easy to lose track of exactly where you are unless you’re paying close attention to the episode numbers. 

Crunchyroll, on the other hand, only has the series available with subtitles. However, the episodes are split into their respective arcs (for the most part, it all seems to fall apart after the Fourth Great Ninja War - Sasuke and Itachi arc), so you can find specific episodes pretty easily as long as you know which arc they belong to. 

Sadly, you’ll need to subscribe to either of these streaming platforms if you want to binge the entirety of Naruto: Shippuden, because it’s simply not possible to complete the series within a 7 day trial. The cheapest Hulu subscription is $9.99 per month, while the cheapest Crunchyroll subscription is $7.99 per month. 

Naruto: Shippuden in the UK

If you’re based in the UK, you can still watch Naruto: Shippuden via Crunchyroll. The fan subscription package for us Brits is £4.99 per month. Sadly, that’s our only option when it comes to bingeing this beloved anime, unless you want to invest in a VPN (or happen to have one) to use for this purpose. 

Wherever you are, you can also add Crunchyroll to your Amazon Prime account as an additional subscription, which does make it a lot easier to manage and cuts back on websites you need to visit in order to watch. 

The post Naruto Shippuden filler list of episodes and arcs appeared first on Destructoid.

When it comes to board games, there’s a wide variety of themes to pick from, and something to entertain you whatever your mood. If you’re looking to get bogged down trying to escape from captivity, then you can’t do better than a prison escape board game. 

The first prison escape board game that instantly comes to my mind is “Prison Break”, based on the hit TV show of the same name, which aired between 2006 and 2017. However, for some bizarre reason, the Prison Break board game was only ever released in French, and I’m hedging my bets that you’re looking for something more English to play. 

If that’s the case, here are 10 alternative board games that will have you fleeing captivity in one way or another. 

Escape from Colditz

Escape from Colditz is probably at the top of the list of games that may come to mind when you think of the prison escape theme, and it’s something of a classic even if there are some wildly questionable gameplay elements at play. Like watching an old black and white movie, you just have to accept it was made in a different time if you want to enjoy it. 

One player is designated as the German Security Officer, and then assigns a nationality to each Prisoner of War. These prisoners must then secure the four parts of their Personal Escape Kit (food, disguise, maps, and a compass) to try and make it past the walls and out into the world. It’s a game based on the luck of a dice roll, and definitely worth considering if you want a touch of prison break at your game nights. 

Monopoly

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Monopoly might not be your first guess when it comes to prison escape, but hear me out. Sure, it’s mostly a game about building up a property empire and swindling other players out of their hard earned money, but there is a prison. And if you’re anything like me, you end up there rather a lot while playing and have to deal with those “just visiting” flaunting their freedom. 

I know, it’s a stretch, but there are surprisingly few purely escape based board games out there. While Monopoly doesn’t put too much focus on the jail aspect, the fact that you actually have to put some effort into getting out makes it worthy of this list. 

EXIT: Prison Break

Technically, this is more of an escape room in a box than it is a board game, but it’s still played at the tabletop so forgive me for being loose with the rules here. EXIT: Prison Break is for two to four players, and comes with everything you need to set up a make-believe prison escape room in your own dining room or wherever you play. 

The game comes with multiple cards, including riddles that must be solved as a team in order to escape. There are also decodor disks to help along the way, each of which works to figure out a separate type of riddle. EXIT: Prison Break is great if you want something that isn’t going to cause competitive arguments, and would rather work together to reach freedom. 

Star Wars: Escape from the Death Star

Based on the events of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Escape from the Death Star has players acting out the roles of Han solo, Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia as they try to make it to the control room, track down the Death Star Blueprints, and flee to the safety of the Millenium Falcon to make their escape. 

Sadly, you’ll be unlikely to find an original copy of Escape from the Death Star, since it was released in 1977 and is now considered a fairly popular collectors item. However, it was rereleased in 2019, so you should be able to get your hands on that version pretty easily. Whichever version you get, it’s a worthy addition to any board game collection. 

The Great Escape

The Great Escape is a remarkable true story that became a silver screen classic, with one of the most infuriatingly catchy theme songs in the history of mankind (admit it, you can hear it in your head right now, can’t you? You might be more familiar with it from Wallace and Gromit, but that’s beside the point), but did you know there’s a board game based on the events of the movie and released in 1960? 

Following the themes of the epic tale, The Great Escape is remarkably similar to Escape from Colditz (which weirdly was released three years later) with easier to follow rules and a much more appealing game board. You’ll need to gather resources and make your escape along with some friends, all while avoiding detection by the German Security Officers. 

Sadly, you might have a hard time finding a copy of this as it's been out of of print for decades. However, copies do show up on eBay and other auction sites occasionally, so you might get lucky.

Dungeon Escape! 

Prisons can take many forms, and perhaps none are more slimy or depressing than a literal dungeon. Unlike many of the other games on this list, Dungeon Escape! is different every time you play it, and you’ll need to keep your wits about you to make your way out of the dungeon. 

Not only do you have rival players to worry about, but there are also traps and monsters along the way, just waiting to cause you drama as you make your escape. Handily, you can gather up different useful items such as Enchantments or Weapons that can be used to aid your escape, but there’s always something waiting around every corner to challenge you. 

This is a pretty niche and old game, but you might get lucky and find one listed on auction sites such as eBay. 

Battlestar Galactica: The Board Game

If you’re a fan of the Battlestar Galactica TV show, then you’ll absolutely love this board game version of it. You play as familiar characters, and while the main aim of the game isn’t prison escape, there’s definitely an element of it in there. Someone in every game will choose to side with the Cylons, and if you’re suspected, you’ll be thrown in the brig and need to escape. 

There’s a hint of AmongUs about the Battlestar Galactica board game, with mistrust and sabotage being necessary to complete a game. For those not siding with the Cylons, there are added complications of fuel and food shortages, contamination in the food supply, and political unrest, all of which need to be dealt with while keeping the traitors locked up in the brig. 

Escape from the Asylum

Asylums are just another type of prison, and imagine how you’d feel getting thrown into one by your own brother when you don’t need to be there at all. That’s the vague premise of one of the stories in Escape from the Asylum, a cooperative mini escape room in a box that requires you to retrieve personal files, hide from the night guard, and make a bid for freedom. 

There are multiple different stories to complete, split over two halves of the game. To complete each story, you’ll need to complete different challenges and puzzles, and doing so will enable you to unlock how each of the stories intertwine together to form a larger, more dramatic tale. 

Mystery Rummy: Escape from Alcatraz

Rather than taking on the role of the escapee, Escape from Alcatraz puts you in the shoes of the guards trying to prevent the escapes. It’s technically a card game, made up of 81 cards in the Plans deck and 31 in the Actions deck, and you’ll need to collect points by foiling the escape plans of prisoners within the walls of Alcatraz. 

Escape from Alcatraz is a remarkably straightforward game, and really easy to learn quickly. It’s designed for groups of two to four, which is great for game nights with the family, but also excellent if you want to have a quiet night in with a friend or partner. It also has a really quick play time of 30 minutes per round, so you can just reset the deck and keep playing if you want more. 

Escape from Iron Gate

Escape from Iron Gate takes inspiration from games like Escape from Colditz and The Great Escape, but modernizes the rules and gameplay elements, making them more streamlined for the 21st century. The game board is really nice, and it’s really easy to pick up in a short space of time, so it might be the best game on this list if you want something new to play without having to study the instruction guide. 

In Escape from Iron Gate, you’ll need to work your way through the four areas (Cellblock, Yard, Cafeteria, and Warden’s Office) as you slowly work your way to freedom. You’ll also need to earn items by completing puzzles, or completing pictionary or charades-style challenges, which can then be handed to the Commissary to earn your ticket to the next area. You win by making your escape first, and it’s as simple as that. 

If you are still hungry to grow your collection after these suggestions, check out our list of essential board games to add to your collection, or our list of games for big fans of Root.

The post 10 Best board games that involve escaping from prison appeared first on Destructoid.

Cooking isn’t just a basic necessity for survival, it can actually be a pretty fun hobby. It’s like magic, adding basic ingredients together to form a delicious meal that would otherwise not exist without your input. It’s fun, and fulfilling in more ways than one. 

Of course, life is busy, and the arrival of DoorDash and UberEats has definitely made the idea of ordering food that you don't have to cook a far too tempting prospect. However, there’s something relaxing about the process of cooking, and if you’re lacking inspiration, there are endless cookbooks to get you started. 

If you’re a gamer, there are a select few official cookbooks (and hundreds of unofficial ones that we don’t talk about) to inspire your mind and make your stomach growl, and I’ve got an entire shelf filled with a collection that’s ever-growing. 

Here are 14 of the best gaming-inspired cookbooks, all of which are official to the franchise that they represent.

Fallout: The Vault Dweller’s Official Cookbook

Ever wondered about the secret recipe that goes into every bottle of Nuka Cola? Perhaps you want to make your own Stimpaks, cook up some BlamCo Mac & Cheese, or even some Baked Bloatfly (don’t worry, it’s actually vegetarian meatloaf). 

Well, the official Fallout Cookbook offers all of these recipes and more that are perfectly themed to the lore of the Fallout universe, along with vintage style art, and even some “handwritten” annotations from Vault dwellers of the past to help you along the way.

Each recipe also provides S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats, which is a nice lore-preserving touch, and suggests other recipes to cook alongside if you want to make a complete multi-course meal. Everything in this cookbook is delicious, and most importantly, surprisingly quick and easy to cook up. 

The Official Stardew Valley Cookbook

If you’re more into the cozy side of gaming, the Stardew Valley cookbook might be the perfect option, especially if you’re a vegetarian or vegan. Sticking admirably close to the themes of the game, not one of the 52 recipes in this cookbook contains meat, and while not all of the recipes are exactly as they are in-game, you can make Pink Cake, or even a Lucky Lunch. 

The artwork is beautiful and effective in keeping with the whole cozy vibe that Stardew Valley brings to the table. This makes an amazing Stardew themed gift and, best of all, if you aspire to cook just one recipe from the book a week, you’ll have a whole year's worth of weekly Pelican-Town-inspired dishes to chow down on. 

Minecraft: Gather, Cook, Eat! An Official Cookbook

When you think of Minecraft, cooking might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but there is an official cookbook to accompany the best selling video game of the 20th century. Admittedly, if you go into this expecting your food to be entirely constructed of cubes then you might be a little disappointed. Then again you could always take the extra time to make it happen, but even I’m not that dedicated to the culinary arts. 

There are a total of 40 recipes included in Gather, Cook, Eat!, with something for everyone to make regardless of skill level, including everything from Baked Potato Bites to Suspicious Pie. I would recommend confining your gathering endeavors to the local supermarket, but again, that’s up to you. 

The Necronomnomnom: Recipes and Rites from the Lore of H.P. Lovecraft

I know what you’re thinking, this one isn’t based on a game so why is it on this list? Listen, I know, but Lovecraftian horror themes have shown up in hundreds of games over the years, and the gaming sphere wouldn’t be what it is without H.P. Lovecraft’s influence. So I’m willing to bend my own rules here ever so slightly to include this gem of a cookbook. 

Plus, with a name like “The Necronomnomnom”, it can’t fail to put a smile on your face, before you’ve even got to the food.

The artwork is stunning and you’ll enjoy simply looking at the pages of The Necronomnomnom, but where this cookbook really shines, as it should, is through the food. Everything in this cookbook looks and tastes absolutely incredible, and is amazing if you want to look like a real chef even if you’re simply good at following instructions. 

Final Fantasy XIV: The Official Cookbook

It’s well known by now that I’m an avid FFXIV player, so when this cookbook was announced I immediately bought it even if it was only destined to sit on my collection shelf and look pretty. However, when I opened it, it sent me down a wormhole. It's actually what sparked my love of cooking in the first place. 

There’s something for everyone in the FFXIV cookbook, regardless of dietary requirements (there’s a handy table at the back that details which recipes are suitable for who), and each recipe is either directly out of FFXIV itself, or heavily inspired by events throughout the main scenario story. With everything from Farmer’s Breakfast to The Minstrel’s Ballad: Almond Cream Croissants (which is as difficult to get right as any of the extreme trials, just as the name suggests), these recipes will make a skilled Culinarian out of you in no time. 

The Witcher Official Cookbook

Sure, The Witcher was originally a staggeringly successful book series by Andrzej Sapkowski, but at this point I’d argue that most people think of the games as the heart of the series (at least, us gamers do), so The Witcher official cokbook gets a well-deserved place on this list. 

There are a lot of recipes available to cook in this cookbook, and each of them is easy to follow but somehow results in absolutely divine meals for your efforts. A fan favorite is the Chicken Sandwich, but there’s something for all tastes, all accompanied by glorious shots of the desired end result and little nods to the lore of The Witcher’s universe.

Assassin’s Creed: The Culinary Codex

Whether you’re a fan of the Ezio trilogy, or you prefer more recent additions to the Assassin’s Creed timeline, The Culinary Codex will give you plenty of delicious meals to cook up and devour while you hop in and out of the Animus. 

The cookbook itself is split into sections for each of the series' main characters that existed prior to 2017 (sorry Odyssey and Valhalla enjoyers). Each section features four recipes relevant to the time period and geographical location in which their associated games were set. Ezio has Il Duomo Semifreddo, which is a Strawberry ice cream cake with Amaretti, while Edward Kenway has a recipe for Banana’s Flambéed in Rum and vanilla, aptly named Buccaneer’s Bananas.

Five Nights at Freddy’s Cookbook

Sometimes you don’t want to cook high-brow dishes fit for a family feast. Sometimes you want to make the kind of food that usually comes with slightly sticky floors and stainless steel booth-style tables, and that’s what’s on offer in the Five Nights at Freddy’s cookbook. 

As you’d expect from a cookbook based on a video game that’s set in a dingy pizza joint, there are plenty of pizza recipes on offer in this cookbook, alongside burgers, tacos, and all of the usual dishes such venues might offer. If you’re looking for something more suitable for the entire family, including younger members with less refined palates, then this one is definitely a safe bet.

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook

The Elder Scrolls: The Official Cookbook is 192 pages long, and packed to the brim with recipes directly out of the universe of The Elder Scrolls, including meals you’ll likely recognize from Oblivion, Skyrim, and beyond. This is a hefty book, and every recipe is worth making at least once. 

Split into multiple sections that cover everything from the basics (such as seasonings and condiments) to more complicated and time-consuming dishes like Elsweyr Fondue and Horker Loaf, so whether you’re after something sweet or savory, there’s something in here that will get you wanting to cook. 

Sonic the Hedgehog: The Official Cookbook

In the same vein as the Five Nights at Freddy’s cookbook I mentioned earlier, the official Sonic the Hedgehog cookbook is probably most useful if you’ve got a hoard of children to feed (imagine the torture of self-catered kids' birthday parties), or you simply just want something basic yet delicious to quickly cook and enjoy. 

Of course, Sonic’s favorite Chili Dogs are a prominent feature, and that should let you know what to expect from the rest of the included recipes. There are some surprises along the way, such as the Soleanna Princess Special, which actually results in a really pretty apple salad, but most of the recipes are what I’d immediately consider “comfort food”.

That’s far from a bad thing, I actually reach for this cookbook pretty often, and you will too. 

Magic: The Gathering: Cuisines of the Multiverse

Cuisines of the Multiverse is filled with more than 70 recipes inspired by the many planets and planes that together form the Multiverse of Magic: The Gathering. The book is split into different locations, from Dominaria to Zendicar, and each location comes with many recipes to try and enjoy.

Whether you want a Magic-inspired starter, a main course to wow your collective diners, or a drink to round off the evening, there’s a recipe for every taste or skill level. Each recipe is given a difficulty rating, so you’ll know whether you’re in for an easy time or a challenge before you even start cooking, and the photos of the finished meals are inspiring, to say the least. 

Pokémon Cookbook

If you want a cookbook that will help you drag your kids into the kitchen with you, then this is the perfect one. Even my daughter, a notoriously fussy eater and mess avoider, will very quickly begin throwing flour around the room while we cook recipes from the Pokémon Cookbook together, and what’s more, she actually likes around 50% of the recipes we make. 

That might not sound like a solid endorsement for this book, but she would otherwise gladly live off of cheese and potatoes, so it’s actually a huge compliment. 

From an utterly adorable Pikachu Lemon Tart to a stack of pancakes that somehow end up resembling Furret (albeit usually in a charming, wonky sort of way), recipes in this cookbook are separated into the different regions of past generations. Each section features recipes based on Pokémon originally found in that region, and they are all adorable and delicious. What’s better than that combination?

Catan: The Official Cookbook

Venturing away from screen gaming, we take to the tabletop. The Catan cookbook offers a variety of recipes including everything from game night snacks that can be eaten while playing any board game, to more difficult-to-produce but no less incredible main courses and desserts. 

My favorite thing about the Catan cookbook is that it somehow manages to make me feel nostalgic of the cookbooks my grandma had in her kitchen during the 90s, despite being fresh and new. The photographs showcase the recipes perfectly, and while the recipes themselves might not be directly from Catan itself, the inspiration is definitely clear in the names and ingredients used. 

BONUS: Pac-Man: The Official Cookbook

I’ve saved the best, and possibly most confusing cookbook for last. The Pac-Man cookbook isn’t actually out yet, although it is available to pre-order, with various preview pages already online to peruse. From everything we've shown so far, this cookbook will likely go into the same “more fun and less pretty” pile, alongside Five Nights at Freddy’s and Sonic the Hedgehog. 

The thing that caught my attention about this cookbook, and immediately had me pressing the pre-order button, was the fact that to make it relate to the source material of Pac-Man, the writers have done some very bizarre things. Think taking a pizza, cutting a slice out of it, and then calling it Pac-Man. Or dropping some loosely eye-shaped food items into a bowl of tomato soup and calling it Blinky. That kind of thing. 

Outside of that, there are recipes for burgers and hot dogs that make my stomach rumble just thinking about them, and this cookbook is definitely one to consider adding to your collection once it releases on May 13, 2025.

The post 14 amazing gaming inspired cookbooks for any aspiring home chef appeared first on Destructoid.

Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and the focus on romance is evident in every store you step foot in. If you’re lacking the inspiration to get loved up, reading romance books can be an excellent way to get into the romantic mood. 

There are thousands of excellent romance books out there, and all of them bring something to the table. Whether you’re a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, or you want something more straightforward and simple, there’s something for everyone, even the most cynical of readers. 

Here are 10 of the best romance books I’ve read over the years. Be prepared, there’s a high chance of crying while working your way through these lovable stories, so make sure to have a box of tissues within easy reach before you sit down for a long reading session. 

A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon by Sarah Hawley

If you’re looking for the enemies-to-lovers trope, with a heavy emphasis on a redemption arc, and notes of self-discovery thrown in, then A Witch’s Guide to Fake Dating a Demon will definitely be right up your alley. 

Right from the beginning, this story will make you laugh and weep in equal measure. When a witch accidentally summons a demon who then can’t leave without taking the soul that she refuses to give up, the two reach a stalemate and have no choice but to get used to each other's presence. 

Of course, this ends up developing into something more, but there are a lot of complications to overcome, not least of all their reluctance to admit that there’s more to someone than who they appear to be. Coupled with outside issues and influences, it’s safe to say the course of true love isn’t smooth by a long shot.

P.S. I love You by Cecelia Ahern

The movie adaptation of this absolute tearjerker is an absolute masterpiece and has proven popular among romance lovers since its release in 2007. However, the book is perhaps even sadder than the movie, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less of a heart-wrenching tale of love and grief, and learning to live without someone who was once your entire life. 

After Jerry’s life is cut short by a brain tumor, he leaves behind notes and gifts to help his widow, Holly, learn to live without him. It’s absolutely devastating to imagine losing the love of your life far too soon, but to imagine having parts of them hand delivered to you after they’re gone that help you to rediscover the joys of life without them feels like too much, and you’ll definitely need the tissues to get through P.S. I Love You. 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

There is some controversy surrounding Me Before You, due to the view of some readers who think it is belittling to those who are disabled. However, the moral of this story isn’t that life isn’t worth living if you’re disabled, but allowing people the choice to decide how they live. I stand by that, and I will always believe Me Before You to be a love story that deserves to be told. 

Louisa is hired to be the home help for a recently paralyzed man called Will. He’s miserable after his life is irreversibly changed, taking everything he loved from him in one horrific accident. When they first meet, Will is spiteful and cold, but Louisa’s warm personality and determination start to win him over. Love slowly blooms, but is it enough to make Will want to live in this new reality? 

(Spoiler: It’s not, and that’s what makes this story so utterly devastating to read, but to have loved and lost is better than having never loved at all. Right?)

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

The enemies-to-lovers trope is almost too easy to fall back on when it comes to writing romance stories, and it’s painfully overdone to an extent, but there are some writers who just do it so well. Sally Thorne is one of those writers, and The Hating Game is a joy to read over and over, developing across the spectrum of emotions in an undeniably comforting way. 

Working with someone that you hate is an endlessly draining experience, and both Lucy and Joshua know this all too well. Forced to sit across a desk from each other day in, day out, they display this hatred freely. Then a promotion becomes available, and they both want it. Complications arise, naturally, as emotions throw a spanner in the works that neither of them are ready to face. 

There are multiple bumps in the road along the way, most of which could have been infuriatingly easy to avoid if either of them were thinking with clear heads, but once they figure it out there’s something about The Hating Game that’s easy to fall in love with. 

A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks

Nicholas Sparks is, undoubtedly, a very good romance writer. He’s responsible for The Notebook, which could easily have ended up on this list if not for one thing — A Walk to Remember is just better, and features a more simplistic kind of love story that will have anyone feeling nostalgic, at least to begin with. 

A Walk to Remember is based on two high school students who couldn’t be any more different from each other. The bible-carrying minister’s daughter and the popular jock type come together despite their differences. Of course, there’s drama. No teenage romance would be complete without a hefty amount of that, but there are so many heartfelt moments along the way. 

Just be warned that the ending is incredibly bittersweet, and will likely have you reading through watery eyes, but at its core, A Walk to Remember is a pure and completely lovable romance tale. 

The Princess Bride by William Goldman

I like to think that most people have seen the 1987 movie adaptation of Goldman’s The Princess Bride. You know the one, it’s inconceivable to think that anybody hasn’t at this point. Yes, I had to get that in here somewhere. 

Anyway, The Princess Bride is based on a book of two parts. Beginning with the author talking about his own life, describing how he heard “good parts” of a story about some princess in a historical tale and committed to finding out the rest of the story. But when he does, he figures out that it’s a terribly boring tale and decides that the “good parts” are the only bits worth retelling, so he goes on to do so. 

I’m not suggesting that The Princess Bride is a love story for the ages, but I couldn’t just include tearjerkers on this list. Valentine’s is about celebrating love, and there’s a lot to love about The Princess Bride and all the silliness within. 

Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Book Lovers has, if anything, too many tropes. There’s (almost) enemies-to-lovers, there’s love on vacation, there’s long-distance relationships, and then there’s moving to be with each other. It sounds like a lot, but Henry somehow makes all of these elements come together to form a beautiful romance tale. 

Nora travels to Sunshine Falls with her sister Nora, and bumps into an editor from the city who she isn’t exactly friends with. You know the trope by now, they end up working together while she’s there and manage to overcome their differences to become lovers. But then distance parts them, and long-distance relationships are hard work, so things hang in the balance. 

But, of course, life works in mysterious ways and things change, leading them back together. Book Lovers has an actual, proper happy ending, so you can enjoy this one without warnings. 

Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Philips

There are a lot of books called Match Me If You Can, and some of them follow ridiculously similar plots, but Susan Elizabeth Philips did it best and if you read any of the romance novels that share this name, it should be this one. 

After Annabelle takes over a matchmaking business that once belonged to her grandmother, she finally feels like she’s doing something with her life. If she can land the city’s hottest bachelor as a client, then she can prove that she’s doing a good thing. But then she does land him as a client, and he complicates her life massively. 

There’s a lot of drama in Match Me If You Can, but if you can grit your teeth and get through the maddening parts, then there’s also a lot of love hidden just beneath the surface.

If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane

Break-ups are hard, that’s a fact of life. Being dumped out of the blue after an 18-year relationship with someone who works in the same building as you might be most people’s idea of a nightmare, but it’s Laurie’s reality. To make matters worse, her ex moves on suspiciously quickly and his new girlfriend is suddenly pregnant. If I Never Met You isn't afraid of stepping into a nightmare scenario.

But then Laurie hatches a plan involving the office bachelor, convincing him to pretend to be in a relationship with her to make it seem like she’s moved on. Of course, it’s never that simple, and playing pretend can very easily lead to far more real feelings sneaking up on you, even if neither of them expects or is even open to the prospect of an actual relationship. 

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

Chloe feels trapped by her chronic illness, and she has a list of things she wants to do so that she can truly feel alive – but she can’t do them alone. Red is a handyman who can help her tick off at least three of the items on her list, and she happens to find him very attractive, but that’s beside the point. 

Except it’s not, and Get a Life, Chloe Brown is the story of a woman learning who she is and what she wants, helped along the way by someone her family would never expect her to be with. It’s a story of rebellion and finding your own feet away from your family. And learning to make your own choices, rather than do what is expected of you for your entire life. 

The post 10 romance novels to get you in the Valentines mood appeared first on Destructoid.

It barely feels like the new year has begun, but 2025 is surging ahead and the season of all things love is just around the corner. In Final Fantasy XIV, that means that Valentione’s Day is making a return, and it will all begin on February 3. 

Get ready to grab your beau and head down to Mih Khetto’s Amphitheatre, because the 2025 Valentione’s event, “With Roses from the Heart” is coming to Eorzea in a little over a week (from the time of writing). Beginning on February 3 and running until February 17, players will have the opportunity to complete a whole new love-themed quest to earn a rather special emote. 

Dote has long been the go-to emote for those wanting to express their love to special friends in FFXIV, and more recently in 2024, we got the Love Heart emote to go alongside it. Now, another emote, the Bouquet emote, is up for grabs for anyone who completes the Valentione’s Event in 2025.

As a side note, if you missed out on the Love Heart emote and are itching to get your hands on it, the start of this year’s Valentione’s event will also bring the Heart emote to the FFXIV Online Store, so you’ll have a chance to fork out a small amount of real-life money and add it to your ever-growing collection. 

Valentione’s Day 2025 will begin at 3 a.m. EST on February 3, and the emote isn’t the only new thing that will be available. As always, we'll see another unique housing item to be purchased with Gil. This year, this item is the “Heartfelt Valentione’s Day Advertisement”, which features artwork from last year’s event. 

As is standard by this point, Astrid will be waiting at Mih Khetto’s Amphitheatre after the event goes live, and you’ll be able to pick up the event quest “I Promise You A Rose Garden” by talking to her at coordinates (X:10.2, Y:9.4).

The post Celebrate love with FFXIV Valentione’s Day, coming February 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

There’s nothing better as a fan of any game than being able to display that love in official merch, and there is a lot of Final Fantasy XIV merch out there fit for purpose. On February 3, more merch is set to arrive in the shape of an official collab with Australian clothing company BlackMilk. 

Set your alarms for 4 p.m. EST on February 3. Do it now, before you forget, because you won't want to miss this collab.

BlackMilk is well known for its collab collections with household names. They’ve got collections filled with designs inspired by the likes of Sailor Moon, Pokémon, Hello Kitty, and even Zelda. Now FFXIV is getting its own collection, and it all looks absolutely stunning. 

What I love about this collection is that it actually looks wearable. Don’t get me wrong, everything is wearable if you’ve got the guts and confidence to pull it off, but a lot of FFXIV releases outside of basic t-shirts do lend themselves more to special occasions and cosplay purposes. The BlackMilk collection, on the other hand, is filled with frankly stunning designs that are more socially acceptable for everyday wear. 

Take, for instance, that black lace maxi dress. 

At first glance, it looks like simple lace and you might actually wonder where this fits in with the FFXIV theme. However, if you look closer, that lace design is actually made up of individual Job icons, including the latest additions of Pictomancer and Viper, and even Blue Mage. Whatever job you play, it’s represented in the subtle yet very clever design of this dress. 

The virtual lookbook for the entire collection will go live on the BlackMilk website at 9 a.m. EST on January 29, giving those interested a chance to glimpse the full collection, which includes the following items that have already been shared:

• Velvet Eorzean map mini dress
• Eorzean map leggings
• Unisex oversized Mothercrystal tee
• Knit co-ord set with an adorable Cactuar motif design
• And of course, that gorgeous Job icon maxi dress

Following the release of the lookbook, there will also be a collection preview at 5 p.m. EST on January 30, ahead of the official launch at 4 p.m. EST on February 3. 

The BlackMilk website warns that collections have been known to sell out within hours, so interested buyers are urged to set alarms and make sure they’re there at the drop to make sure they get everything they want. You can also sign up for an account on the BlackMilk website now, and you’ll receive email alerts when the collection is available for purchase.

Although prices haven’t been revealed, a brief exploration of other BlackMilk collab collections offers a good indication of potential costs. For instance, a similar maxi dress available as part of the Lord of the Rings x BlackMilk collab costs $103 USD, so the FFXIV dress may be priced similarly.

The post FFXIV x BlackMilk collab clothing collection announced, launching February 3 appeared first on Destructoid.

There are many seasonal events held throughout the year in Final Fantasy XIV, and it can be hard to keep up with what's coming and going. To help sort your schedule, we've got a rolling list of the usual FFXIV events, timing estimates, and even speculation about what's to come.

Below, we'll outline the FFXIV 2025 calendar's confirmed and tentative event schedule — along with some events that may have wrapped up for the year. Additionally, you can check out the MMO's usual calendar too, along with a little explainer on each of the year's festivities.

The FFXIV 2025 event calendar

With the ever-changing nature of time, it's hard to pinpoint or predict exactly when each regular event will take place outside of the general time of year. However, there are some that are easier to predict than others.

Here's what's going on in FFXIV currently and what you can look forward to in the near future:

Expired events

• Heavensturn [December 31, 2024 - January 16, 2025]

Recurring FFXIV seasonal events

While some years haven't always followed this pattern, FFXIV mostly sticks to the same schedule of seasonal staples while throwing a few new festivities in here and there. The table below outlines the usual schedule from year to year, but if you want a peek at timely announcements on newcomers, maybe pencil in time to watch the next FFXIV Live Letter stream.

FFXIV 2024 event schedule

Although there is inevitably some variation in exact dates from one year to the next, it's a good idea to keep one eye on event dates from previous years if you want to gauge when to expect them to occur moving forward.

As such, here is the event schedule from 2024, including the dates on which they were active:

• Starlight Celebration [December 15 - December 31]
• All Saints' Wake [October 18 - November 4]
• The Rising [August 27 - September 11]
• Gong Cha Collaboration Event [July 17 - August 28]
• Moonfire Faire [August 8 - August 26]
• FFXIV Twitch Drops for the Chocorpokkur Mount [July 2 - July 29]
• Mountain Dew Collaboration Event [May 16 - July 14]
• Yo-kai Watch Collaboration Event [April 24 - June 26]
• Fall Guys Collaboration Event [May 23 - June 10]
• Make It Rain Campaign [May 15 - May 31]
• The Path to Infernal FFXVI collab [April 2 - May 8]
• Little Ladies' Day and Hatching-tide [March 14 - April 1]
• A Nocturne for Heroes [Feb. 28 - March 13]
• Valentione's Day [Feb. 7 - Feb. 21]
• The Maiden's Rhapsody [Jan. 22 - Feb. 5]
• Heavensturn [December 31, 2023 - January 15, 2024]

FFXIV events in 2024, what's coming next?

As one of the regularly scheduled events in FFXIV's packed calendar, the next event we're going to see will be Valentione's Day, which is due to begin at some point in early February and continuing past Valentines Day.

2025's event, dubbed "With Roses from the Heart" will begin on February 3, and be live and available to complete until February 17.

The post Every seasonal FFXIV event, ongoing and scheduled for 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.