The Shimada brothers went from family to bitter enemies after the death of their father and clan leader. Both popular Overwatch characters have tragic, intertwined backstories involving Hanzo killing Genji, who survives thanks to the cyberisation of his body. While Genji dealt with the betrayal of his family and his new life, Hanzo abandoned the clan and became a ghost, anguished by the death of his brot

I wish I could put this higher, I really do. Overwatch 2 Competitive Tips 2 is the most fun I’ve had in an already fantastic team-based shooter in years. The new characters, 5v5, the fine-tuning - it’s all perfect. But I cannot justify praising the game any more than this when its terrible monetization actively ruins your experience with the gameplay. As it stands, it is mechanically some of the most fun I’ve had this year, it could have just been so much m

Make the queerness of specific heroes and parts of the world unavoidable, an element of the future narrative in ways that provide them with new relationships or developments which act as more than diverse window dressing. Progress like this could well be in the works, and the twisted methods in which Activision seeks to salvage its own image shouldn’t tarnish a piece of media that for years has played a part in LGBTQ+ people feeling seen, heard, and confident that things can get better.

While it probably flew under most radars in favour of Sonic Frontiers , Sonic Origins unexpectedly came along and showed the older games the most love they’ve seen since the release of Mania. While this compilation title should have gone a lot further, it still packages the best versions of four classic Sonic games, tying them together with adorable animated shorts. It may be a bit too simple, and it had some ridiculous, inexcusable DLC, but it’s the new best way to play older Sonic games. Hopefully, the rest of the series will be given the same attention s

Don’t let the visuals fool you, Gerda: A Flame in Winter is one of the most brutal games of the year. There is no winning, only survival. There is no strategizing, only hope and luck. Taking place in a German-occupied village in Denmark, you play as the titular heroine, Gerda, tasked with surviving and protecting your loved ones. There’s no combat because this is not a game about empowering you to live out a hero fantasy. The gameplay actively disempowers you, in fact. If you want Gerda to use a stat in conversation, you lose a point. She is an ordinary human being and will exert herself. She’s not made for this. Gerda might survive the trials she’s put through, but it’s up to you to see if her conscience will. Or if your values will make it through unscathed, for that mat

New heroes were a major event, and I can still remember the bitter looks of jealousy on their faces as I attended BlizzCon and got to try out all the new things before anyone else. Before the live-service rot began to take effect and a needless sequel reared its head, Overwatch meant something to me. This investment also factored into its queer community at a time when no representation was confirmed in the game itself. It was all fanart, fanfics, and pairings birthed from our own imaginations. But we wouldn’t care so much if the game itself wasn’t brimming with potential.

Sonic, my sweet, misunderstood, bullied blue baby. You did it. You did a video game. And by God, Frontiers is the most video game-y video game in existence. You run around an invisible walled map to collect items, then collect more items to unlock minigames that help you collect the items you actually need. There are also some other items that can make getting the main item a bit easier. There’s no arrogance in Sonic Frontiers, just an understanding that Sonic running fast should be fun. It’s a bold first step into something new for the series, while still feeling uniquely ‘Sonic’ in a way other open worlds can’t man

Overwatch 2 is enjoyable enough that you won't feel like you've wasted a download, but it offers many of the same elements you can now get from better games out there. Although it tries to build on Overwatch by implementing various changes, it never manages to feel like an actual improvement. If you were a fan of the first game, you really have no choice. If you're new to the series, it's worth a shot if you're not bothered about many heroes being practically locked behind a payw

Regardless, the cape with a skull symbol on the back and the wonderful mix of his mask with a biker's helmet really shines here, and the overall outfit is beautifully designed. A must-have for Reaper ma

Besides, it also comes with a bit of lore, since not many people know that Gabriel also participated in the same soldier enhancement program Soldier 76 did. If only this skin gave Gabriel his regular voice, like in the Archives eve

Scorn is a frustrating, agonizingly slow endurance test of a game, and I am so glad it exists. It’s not fun, it’s not marketable, and it will probably be a huge flop. But goddamn, do I feel better for playing it. The entire world feels alive, vile, but strangely inviting. The invisible direction of the game almost effortlessly guides you around the world without the need for a map or any obvious directions, barring its incredibly weak opening. When Scorn finds its footing though, you’re treated to some of the most interesting and refreshingly unique game design choices out there, and I’d take that over formulaic franchise hits any