The premiere of The Witcher season two on Netflix this past winter spiked viewer anticipation for the series' direction and what it could bring to the franchise. For some of us, that means following the production of season three much more closely as it commenced, while for others it calls for yet another replay of The Witcher

That doesn't mean Legends: Arceus will be like that, of course. Just this year, New Pokemon Snap has proved that Pokemon can still experiment with fantastic ways of constructing narratives through clever worldbuilding, but given the relative lack of innovation the Pokemon formula has had over the past 15 years or so, a full open world could have gone very wrong. The Wild Area was one of Gen 8’s biggest attempts at innovation, and it came with mixed results. A Monster Hunter-style game feels like open-world training wheels - but it also seems as if Pokemon can't be trusted to ride on its own just

Those who enjoy relying on Geralt's sword skills in combat will likely appreciate the hack n' slash fervor of the Viking melee style, and the open-world heralds many similarities to that of The Witc

It's hard to think of Pokemon in the style of Breath of the Wild in practicality. Sure, anyone can edit a screenshot to have Gyarados in a BOTW lake or Rapidash racing across the field, but isn't that just what the Wild Area is? The illusion of an open world, the type that would look good in screenshots, but without meaning or purpose. Without any heart or direction, BOTW would not be the same game. It gives you freedom to go wherever you want, but it also provides contours across the map to steer you towards towns, it makes sure each location is thematically linked, and you often need to hit multiple landmarks to secure the tools and ingredients to reach the next one. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of it, I have to admire the level of design on show here. It's not a level I think Pokemon can match, and that's before you introduce the much more complicated issue of where you put the Pokemon and how you offer freedom while ensuring players don't meet their doom at the feathers of an overpowered Hawlucha 40 minutes into the g

Yet another world where the witcher would find himself surprisingly at home, Geralt has already made a trip to the alternate Monster Hunter Wilds Tips|https://monsterwildlands.com/ Hunting universe via an event collaboration with Monster Hunter: World . Since then, Monster Hunter Rise also got a Steam release so PC gamers can get in on the larger-than-life monster-hunting act

Even though the whole of Stardew Valley looks sweet enough to eat, this Magic Rock Candy takes pole position for fine dining . Although consuming one is probably as detrimental to dental health as chewing actual rocks, the benefits that accompany the sugar rush are well worth the effort it takes to find

Covered in chocolate shards and topped with perfectly rounded cherries, the recipe can be found on various computer screens following Chell’s near-death experience. But they aren’t typical cake ingredients and call for more unusual things like fish-shaped candy-coated peanut butter pie

Of course, when you're missing dusty dimly lit taverns, war-torn landscapes, and ale that nobody actually enjoys but drinks anyway, there's nowhere quite like the Continent, and we said we would be the last to discourage a replay - no matter what number it is. In fact, we encourage revisiting The Witcher 3 as many times as you'd like in order to experience every last dialogue option, rare cutscene, missed side quests, and dozens of optional endings Geralt may nimbly or not so gracefully navigate his way thro

After speaking to Gotter and receiving the side-quest ‘A Royal Recipe,’ players will need to research the Castle Library Books to find the ingredient list to recreate these marvelous monstrosities. Alongside this recipe is one for a fruitcake, but when placed next to a Monster Cake, it’s effortless to decide which would be more delici

The reveal trailer for Wild Hearts shows off a breathtaking world steeped in Japanese architecture and mythology. The game's first video introduces players to the world of Azuma, a lush landscape filled with a variety of unusual creatures. Wild Hearts looks to follow in a similar hunting gameplay style to Monster Hunter , showing off some of the massive beasts players will fight throughout their adventure. Some highlights of the initially revealed "Kemono" include a colossal boar covered in moss and algae, a giant squirrel that causes trees to grow, and a wolf in a frozen tun

Instead of hunting monsters, players befriend and fight alongside them in battle. Monsters could be bred from eggs and players could customize their appearance and abilities. Though very different from the standard Monster Hunter adventure, Stories was a refreshing take on the franchise, and the game sold well on rele

On release, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate was hailed as the best game in the series so far. It offered more fluid battle mechanics and a smoother exploration of the environment for players. The game featured a new "Guild Quest" system and also focused more on the story than previous tit