Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is famed Castlevania director Koji Igarashi's return to the Metroidvania genre after his departure from Konami. The game was first announced through a Kickstarter campaign in 2015 that met its $500,000 goal within four hours and raised over $1 million in its first day.

“I have been gone for too long, and it’s time for a resurrection!” Igarashi said in the video introducing the Kickstarter. “Publishers of the world told me that gamers no longer care for this style of game, but I know they’re wrong!”

By the end of the campaign, Bloodstained had raised over $5.5 million, proving that fans were still hungry for this type of experience. Two years later, Bloodstained is still in development but is inching closer to a 2018 release.

The game tells the story of Miriam, an orphan who has been cursed by an alchemist and is slowly turning into crystal. The young woman must fight her way through a castle full of demons and other creatures of the night to find a cure. The plot and setting are as Gothic as it gets, and the presentation and gameplay—the side-scrolling combat, creepy monsters, and role-playing elements—all harken back to the golden age of Metroidvania.

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Release Date

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has been delayed again to 2019. It was originally set for a 2017 release before it was delayed to 2018. The game is currently scheduled to appear on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC. Both the Wii U and PS Vita versions of the game have been canceled.

You can watch the announcement from Koji Igarashi here:

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Trailer

This gameplay trailer emphasizes the game's art style and combat techniques by showing off large portions of a cathedral stage and even offering us a glimpse of one of the game's boss fights:

Here's gameplay footage from the E3 2016 demo:

In the pitch video below - which is quite quaint, with its low-fi special effects - Igarashi talks enthusiastically about his project. On the Kickstarter page, you'll find more of the project's plans, including its addition of crafting to the platforming mix, and the now-confirmed presence of David Hayter as one of the main voice actors.

That Bloodstained has already enjoyed a storming amount of support pretty much guarantees that we'll be hearing more about it soon.

John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Gears 5 is coming to Xbox One with its most intense story yet. The game centers on Kait Diaz, a supporting character in the last installment. She takes center stage as she embarks on a new adventure deep into Swarm territory. At her side is Del as well as series mainstay Marcus Fenix. 

The last game ended on a cliffhanger, leaving plenty of room for a sequel to continue to explore the adventures of J.D., Kait, Del, and Marcus. Interestingly enough, J.D. is doesn't seem to have much of a role in the debut trailer. Perhaps he'll have a side story with his dad? 

If you're wondering why we're not calling the game Gears of War 5, it's because the "of War" has been officially dropped by The Coalition for this installment. It was confirmed by The Coalition head Rob Fergusson in a tweet, explaining that it made sense to shorten the title now that the Gears of War franchise has multiple products on the way, including the Gears Pop mobile game and Gears Tactics for PC. 

Here's everything else we know about the game:

Gears 5 Trailer

The first trailer for Gears 5 has arrived. Check out the trailer below:

Gears 5 Release Date

Gears of War 5 is coming in 2019. It's coming to Xbox One and PC.

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Insomniac's take on Spider-Man isn't just one of the PS4's biggest upcoming exclusive, it's one of the biggest titles in Marvel's new approach to game releases. Spider-Man will not be directly associated with the MCU or a particular film, but will instead tell a unique story of the studio's design. 

Spider-Man will focus on young Peter Parker's battles against a still unconfirmed roster of classic comic book villains. As this game seems to take place relatively early into his superhero career, Parker will need to learn how to balance being the hero that NYC needs with the daily pressures of young adult life. 

From what we've seen of Spider-Man thus far, we're expecting a high-octane superhero experience that doesn't skimp on the cinematic but also gives us the freedom we need to truly feel like we are Spider-Man. Call it a fantasy, but Insomniac looks to deliver on the seemingly impossible by gifting the world with a Spider-Man game that captures every aspect of this incredible character. 

Here's everything we know about Spider-Man:

Spider-Man DLC

Insomniac has revealed their plans for Spider-Man's DLC, The City That Never Sleeps. For more information on that DLC, be sure to check out our full breakdown of Spider-Man's post-release content. 

Spider-Man PS4 News

Marvel's Spider-Man has had a great run of trailers thus far. The latest one is narrated by J. Jonah Jameson, who gets a pretty suspicious "anonymous caller" into his radio show:

Spider-Man PS4 Release Date

Spider-Man will be out on September 7, 2018. The game is coming exclusively to the PlayStation 4.

Read the Den of Geek SDCC 2018 Special Edition Magazine Here!

Spider-Man PS4 Trailer

Here's another trailer narrated by Jameson:

And here's another trailer:

This story trailer from SDCC 2018 gives us a much better idea of what Spider-Man's arching narrative will cover. While it stops short of spoiling the adventure, it does confirm that Spider-Man is dealing with a city under siege by supervillains and citizens of the city who believe he is doing more harm than good. 

Spider-Man's E3 2018 gameplay trailer sheds a little light on the game's full roster of villains. It ends with a tease of one Spider-Man foe that Insomniac isn't ready to show yet. 

Here are all the other trailers released thus far:

Hideo Kojima, the famed creator of the Metal Gear series, returns after a brief hiatus after his highly publicized exit from Konami with his strangest concept yet: Death Stranding, a game that's all about connections, according to the developer. Kojima's goal is to create a game where players interact with each other beyond just trying to kill each other. 

The game stars Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen. It also features some collaboration with beloved director Guillermo del Toro, who previously worked with Kojima on the ill-fated Silent Hills project.

Here's everything else we know:

Death Stranding Release Date

Death Stranding doesn't have a release date at the moment. The game will arrive exclusively to PS4.

“It will be out before the Olympics,” said Kojima at TGS 2016, referring to the Tokyo 2020 Games. He then went on, “To go a little further, there is a movie called Akira, and it will be out before the year in which Akira is set.” (Akira was set in 2019.)

Death Stranding Trailer

E3 2018 featured the debut of Death Stranding's gameplay a few more details about its story. It's a long look at the game, but you've got to see it. 

Another Death Stranding trailer premiered at The Game Awards 2017 and it's our best look at this haunting game yet! Check out the trailer below:

The second trailer for Hideo Kojima's next game was revealed at the 2016 Game Awards. The big story here is the appearance of everyone's (at least second) favorite Hannibal Lecter, Mads Mikkelsen. Check it out:

Here's the very first trailer for the game:

Death Stranding Cast

Norman Reedus will star in the game and he will be joined by Mads Mikkelsen, who appears to play one of the antagonists. Guillermo del Toro will also appear in the game as revealed by the game's second trailer. 

Emily O'Brien posted a picture on her Instagram account that confirmed that she and Troy Baker have joined the Death Stranding cast.

Death Stranding Gameplay

Hideo Kojima continues to leak out Death Stranding information a trickle at a time. The game auteur took the stage at a Tokyo game conference today and provided the briefest of glimpses regarding Death Stranding's design intent.

Death Stranding will be an action game with open world elements, but, according to Kojima, it will be a different kind of action game that emphasizes player interactions beyond just trying to kill each other. While players will fight both computer and human-controlled enemies via the game's single-player and online modes, Kojima is also working on ways in which they can experience the game together that emphasizes non-action based cooperation. 

Kojima didn't go into further details regarding how, exactly, this will work, but there were trace elements of the Dark Souls' school of multiplayer design in his speech. 

Speaking at the Develop: Brighton conference, Hideo Kojima expressed his belief that Death Stranding represents his greatest work. 

"I'm very confident that we're working towards something completely new and that no-one has seen so far,” said Kojima. “This will be my best work so far, I'm very confident about that." 

At this same event, Kojima also spoke of how excited he is about the ability of virtual reality to convey a new range of human emotions in video games. At this time, however, there is no word on whether or not Death Stranding will have VR features. Kojima also noted that he could never stop making video games because, as technology progresses, he comes closer to being able to make the type of games he dreams of. 

In a YouTube upload by Hideo Kojima, the legendary developer also shared some information regarding the secrecy that surrounded Death Stranding's unveiling. According to Kojima, only about five people knew that the game was going to be revealed at E3 2016. In order to avoid any potential leaks, Kojima himself also avoided social media, refrained from taking photos and even stayed at an out of the way hotel during E3 just to avoid being spotted. 

Death Stranding Story

Mads Mikkelsen recently caught up with Birth.Movies.Death. to talk about Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding and what exactly the actor is doing in the game's second trailer. It seems that Mikkelsen, who plays the game's villain, is as confused as the rest of us are, even though he's sat down to talk about the enigmatic game with the auteur. 

While he can't talk about the plot of Death Stranding, Mikkelsen did say that "it's very intricate. I mean, you know [Kojima]. He's a very brilliant man. I mean, the stuff he told me? I only understood some of it. There was a lot of, 'What?' I have to see it before I understand. Because with Death Stranding, he's creating something completely new." 

As Kojima described to Red Bull, Death Stranding's story "is all about connections, that are called 'strands' in psychology." That's not much to go on at all, but then again, Kojima likes to keep story details very close to the chest. Kojima continued, "It's too early to talk about the broader details of the story or to reveal the female lead, but we have a core structure already."

With the likes of director Guillermo del Toro and actors Mikkelsen and Norman Reedus joining Kojima on this project, we're sure to be in for something very special - if only slightly confusing as well.

Death Stranding Details

In a new interview with Glixel, video game auteur Hideo Kojima confirmed that his latest helping of interactive weird, Death Stranding, "is not a horror game." Despite the dark tone of the first two trailers and his recent work on P.T., Death Stranding will not be the creator's first full foray into horror after all. 

"I don’t have a dark mindset in particular," Kojima told Glixel. "Death Stranding is not a horror game. I just wanted to make something that looks very unique, something you haven’t seen before, something with a more artistic slant to it. I’m not pursuing a dark aspect to the game."

It definitely looks unique, especially in the "using creepy babies to promote your game" department. Kojima also reassured fans that the game will still have a sense of humor - a staple of his past games, which have included running gags and breaking the fourth wall.

"Humor is a very important aspect for games. You play a game for a very long time – Death Stranding is a big game, too – and you put stress on the player and you lead them through peaks and valleys. Humor is an important aspect to make sure the player can enjoy playing across these peaks and valleys. So we’ll have humor in this game too, but to a degree that it doesn't ruin the world setting. It will be at an appropriate level."

Kojima also caught up with the BBC to talk about Death Stranding and how it's unlike anything he's created before. 

"We want this game to be something that people can get into easily but after an hour or two they'll start to notice something a little different," Kojima said. "It's not like anything they've played before."

Kojima, who's never been shy about introducing very weird new elements to his games, says he's not too worried about how the risks he's taking with Death Stranding might drive some players away.

"Bands that everyone remembers take risks," he said. "They constantly change their music from previous albums, adapting and evolving through the ages. ... They might lose some fans along the way, but they bring in new ones. That's the kind of approach I want to take with my new game."

Kojima fans are undoubtedly expecting something new and strange from Death Stranding. So far, the trailers indicate that Kojima will indeed deliver the goods.

In other news, director Guillermo del Toro, who appeared in the second trailer for the game, has confirmed that he's not involved with Death Stranding in a creative role. He's simply an actor in the game, according to an interview with IGN.

"I’m involved as a character. Kojima-san called me and said, 'I want you to be a character in the game,' and I said, 'Gladly.' He’s discussed his ideas so I could understand the character, but other than that I’m not involved, creatively, at all."

Del Toro continued, "This is entirely Kojima-san’s game. I think it’s gonna be a fantastic game, 100%. But this is him and his ideas. I’m just a puppet in his hands. My contribution is limited to being a cheerleader for his ideas and being scanned for long hours at a time. That’s about it."

Death Stranding Poster

Kojima tweeted this promotional image for Death Stranding around the time of E3 2017. The image's use of the word "Bridges" is particularly interesting because, as IGN points out, that word was also seen in the game's second trailer.

John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Revealed by Microsoft during its E3 2018 media briefing, Halo 6 is actually called Halo Infinite. The game was announced with a cryptic two-minute trailer that doesn't really tell us what the game is. In fact, all we really know based on the first trailer is that the story could feature a Haloring. Master Chief turns up at the end of the video with what looks like a new helmet. 

We're hoping for more details soon. Of course, it's only been three years since Halo 5 was released and the game still supports a respectably large community of players on the multiplayer side. That being the case, 343 may very well choose to wait until E3 2019 to fully unveil the game.

Here's everything else we know about Halo Infinite:

Halo Infinite Release Date

Halo Infinite doesn't have a release date as of yet. It will arrive for Xbox One and PC.

Read the Den of Geek SDCC 2018 Special Edition Magazine Here!

Halo Infinite Trailer

Here's the first trailer for Halo Infinite:

Halo Infinite Story

Kiki Wolfkill, head of 343 Industries, and longtime Halo director Frank O'Connor recently gave an interview to GameTM magazine in which the two acknowledged the disappointment some fans felt when they realized that Master Chief wasn't the focus of Halo 5.

"We very much realized that people wanted Master Chief's story of Halo 5," said O'Connor. "We definitely marketed in a way that we hoped was going to bring surprise, but for some fans and certainly fans of Master Chief, it was a huge disappointment because they wanted more Chief."

O'Conner goes on to say that he wasn't so much surprised by the reaction of fans who wanted to see more of Master Chief, but that he perhaps didn't quite fully appreciate just how much stock fans put into wanting to play as Master Chief at the outset of a new Halo adventure. He acknowledges that Chief is "slightly more important now than he has ever been, certainly to our franchise."

Understandably, O'Connor and Wolfkill are remaining coy as it pertains to any plans they may have in place to address this issue in Halo Infinite, but they did note that they plan on dialing back on introducing more characters to this universe in favor of "making the world a little bit more realistic and compelling."

There are few ways to interpret this information. It sounds highly unlikely that Halo Infinite will echo Halo 5's format by primarily focusing on a new character who must live in the shadow of Master Chief. However, it may be a bit of a stretch to say that the next Halo game will focus solely on Master Chief. That's certainly a path that 343 can go down, but there's also the likely possibility that the developer will choose to focus on existing characters - including Chief - instead of expanding the universe's mythology even more. 

Halo Infinite Multiplayer

During a recent live stream, developer 343 revealed that Halo Infinite will not feature a battle royale mode. 

“I’ll tell you right now, the only BR we’re interested in is Battle Rifle," said Jeff Easterling, a writer for 343. "The original BR. So, calm yourself.”

That kills one popular theory about what Halo Infinite might be about. The fact that the developers definitively declared that Infinite will not feature a battle royale mode removes any possibility that it will. 

Additional details regarding Halo Infinite suggests that the game will not be a next-gen title. This information comes courtesy of a seemingly minor update to the Halo Infinite website that confirms the game will support full 4K resolution on Xbox One X and compatible Windows machines. While that is nice to hear in and of itself, the real takeaway from that announcement is that Halo Infinite is intended to be a current-gen experience. That should ease some of the concerns of gamers who thought that the next Halo game might make its first appearance on a next-gen Xbox system. 

Halo Infinite Game Details

During her speech at D.I.C.E., 343 Industries' general manager Bonnie Ross stated that the studio realizes it was a mistake to not develop split-screen functionality for Halo 5.

"When we didn't put split screen in Halo 5, it was incredibly painful for the community and for us," said Ross. "I think it erodes trust with the community, as the community is a part of our world building."

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer had previously stated that the reason 343 dropped split-screen is that studies showed most gamers preferred to play cooperatively over Xbox Live. Given the size of the discrepancy, it was decided that it was no longer worth the development resources to continue to create similar modes. However, following the release of Halo 5, it soon became clear that those who still utilized the mode felt a sense of attachment to it that simple usage metrics could not quite account for. 

Recognizing how passionate fans are about split-screen Halo gaming, Ross stated that "For any FPS, we will always have split screen support going forward." In other words, it sounds like 343 won't be releasing another Halo game that doesn't include some kind of split-screen multiplayer option. 

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors.

Insomniac has revealed more details about Spider-Man PS4's DLC. 

All of the game's post-launch content will be part of a larger story that Insomniac is referring to as The City That Never Sleeps. That story will be expanded on via three DLC installments titled The Heist, Turf Wars, and Silver Linings. The studio also noted that Black Cat will be featured heavily in the game's first DLC release, The Heist, and that she will play a role in the main game, but that her full reveal will occur in the DLC.  That DLC will also feature three new suits, more missions, a new enemy faction, and a partridge in a pear tree. 

The Heistis set to release on October 23. There is no confirmed release date for the other DLC releases, but they are expected to arrive sometime in November and December. There's also no word on how much these DLC releases will cost if you choose to purchase them separately. 

Earlier this year, during an SDCC live stream, Insomniac shared some additional hints about Spider-Man's release and post-release content.  

According to the studio, it took a hard look at how Miles Morales is portrayed in the comics when trying to determine what his role is in the game. Insomniac sees Morales as the ultimate Spider-Man fanboy and a vital part of Peter Parker/Spider-Man's growth. Yuri Lowenthal, who voices Spider-Man in the game, mentioned that some of the scenes featuring Morales are among his favorites, but Insomniac stated that you'll "find out on September 7th" whether or not you actually get to play Morales in the game. 

While Insomniac is looking to the comics for inspiration when it comes to characters like Morales, that doesn't mean that the studio isn't willing to bend the mythology a bit. For instance, the team mentioned that its portrayal of Mary Jane will be a bit different than the one that we are used to. Players can expect Mary Jane to be a much more independent character who has her own motivations in this world. 

Even without DLC, you can expect Spider-Man to be a huge game. The team went so far as to say that the game features a "metric ton of stuff that nobody knows about." One little detail the team mentioned that we haven't heard before is that Spider-Man will address people differently whether he knows them, is wearing a mask, not wearing a mask, or some combination of those situations. 

Finally, Insomniac mentioned that it intends on releasing the best game in the studio's history, the best Spider-Man game ever, the best Marvel game ever, and what they hope will be remembered as one of the best games ever. 

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Considering how the fighting game genre has been able to make a comeback these last few years, one question that’s been brought up quite a bit is, “Where’s SoulCalibur?” Bandai Namco’s second fighting game cash cow used to be a huge deal, but it’s been years since the last installment kind of crapped the bed. Luckily, The 2017 Game Awards announced the return of the franchise!

The Soul series began back in 1995 with the exceptional Soul Edge, renamed Soul Blade on consoles. The game’s story takes place in 1584 and centers around armed warriors from around the world fighting over the rights to a cursed sword known as Soul Edge, then wielded by a possessed pirate. This would lead to the sequel SoulCalibur, which would hold onto the branding for all the later installments. The series has continued to focus on the quest for the evil sword ever since.

The last real installment was SoulCalibur V in 2012, which didn’t exactly set the world on fire due to how little the game had to offer, especially compared to its predecessors. Hopefully, SoulCalibur VI will return to the glory days of the Dreamcast era.

Get your blind gimp cosplay ready because SoulCalibur VI is a go. Here's everything we know about the game:

SoulCalibur 6 Release Date

SoulCalibur VI will arrive on October 19, 2018 for PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One. Coincidentally, the series will celebrate its 20th-anniversary next year.

SoulCalibur 6 Trailers

Evo 2018 gave us two big trailers, showing off both Astaroth and Seung Mina. Quite a contrast there.

OH SHIT! It's the kinky mashup of Goldust, Gollum, and a Tool music video as Voldo makes his awaited return!

The tonfa-wielding Talim is back and she continues to not shut up about the wind!

This trailer shows Maxi, the nunchaku master and kind of Bruce Lee/Elvis hybrid. Two great tastes that go great together.

We have a good look at Yoshimitsu, the leader of the Manji Clan and the predecessor to the cyborg ninja weirdo from the Tekkenseries.

The new game will also feature Taki, the demon-hunting ninja lady with the overly-tight outfit who has been in every Soul game except SoulCalibur V.

SoulCalibur VI will feature a guest appearance from the Witcher himself, Geralt of Rivia.

Other familiar fighters have joined the SoulCalibur VI roster. There's Zasalamel, the undying magician who debuted in SoulCalibur 3. Fans of the fighter will be happy to know that her scythe and spells look as brutal as ever. 

Next up is series staple combatant, Ivy. She's still wearing questionably effective armor - it's certainly distracting - but looks to remain a fan favorite 

Here's the extended trailer that played at PSX 2017:

SoulCalibur IV ended with Sophitia dying and SoulCalibur V jumped ahead about 15 years to focus on her children. Not only is Sophitia alive and well here, but amidst all the random visions shown, the narrator mentions how “history hides away more than one truth.” In other words, there might be an in-story retcon of SoulCalibur V in the works, setting up VI as the beginning of a new timeline.

Hey, it worked like gangbusters for Mortal Kombat.

The big gameplay addition is Reversal Edge, which is a counterpart to the Combo Breaker from Killer Instinct. Though that trailer shows Sophitia and Mitsurugi doing some kind of glowing buff thing as they attack one last time, so maybe that's something too.

Then this trailer hit on January 26, revealing even more characters.

With this, we get more classic characters. Kilik and Xianghua are the main heroes of the original SoulCalibur, while Nightmare is the game's badass villain. Seriously, look at how badass that horse of evil energy super is. The big twist, as shown at the end of the trailer, is that pure-hearted Kilik is now being corrupted by Soul Edge's demonic influences.

Hey, it worked like gangbusters for Street Fighter... Okay, I'm done with that now.

Also interesting is our first new character, Groh, who is some kind of medieval secret agent? He definitely seems fun and kind of has a low-tech Darth Maul quality to his swordplay. Can't wait to see more from him.

Gavin Jasper wants Olcadan back, damn it. Follow Gavin on Twitter!

Now that the Dark Souls series is officially done, Bandai Namco has a hole in their lineup that was previously occupied by a hardcore RPG series with a moody atmosphere and strong action elements. 

While it's going to be hard for any game to ever completely fill that void, we must say that Bandai Namco's upcoming action RPG Code Vein looks like it has a chance to fulfill the desires of Dark Souls fans everywhere. 

Here's everything we know about Code Vein:

Code Vein Release Date

Code Vein has been delayed to 2019 from its original Sept. 28, 2018 release date. The game is coming to PS4, XBO, and PC. 

Code Vein Trailer

Here's a new, six-minute trailer:

Code Vein's third trailer finally gives us a little better look at the game's world and the characters who call it home. What it really does, though, is double-down on the game's anime style. Vampires battling each other with blood-based superpowers while rock music blares in the background? Yeah, we're kind of ready to play this one. 

This next teaser does a nice job of emphasizing the game's anime inspirations and generally cool vibe. It certainly offers more than enough reasons to keep your eyes on this game in the future. 

Code Vein's E3 2017 trailer showcases that blend of familiar Dark Souls gameplay and anime visuals that previous previews had hinted at. We look forward to seeing more from this promising adventure title. 

While the teaser for Code Vein suggested that it might be a hand-drawn, Dark Souls-esque action RPG starring vampires, the official reveal trailer for Code Veinshows off a slightly different experience. Code Vein still borrows aspects of Dark Souls' combat system and RPG elements, but the game's art style borrows more from the God Hand series with its anime flourishes. 

Code Vein Story

Here's the official synopsis for the game:

"In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought collapse to the world as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost, fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity."

Code Vein follows the adventures of vampiric entities collectively referred to as The Revenant who have formed an underground post-apocalyptic society. These creatures rely on blood in order to avoid becoming absolute monsters.  

Code Vein Details

According to an interview in the Japanese magazine Famitsu (translated here by Gematsu), Code Vein is being developed by the same team behind the cult classic God Eater series. Despite the game's pedigree, producer Keita Iizuka claims that Code Vein is not related to the God Eater series in any direct fashion. 

Instead, Code Vein is described as a "dramatic exploration action RPG." What that means is that it's a dungeon crawler action RPG that will emphasize the exploration of connected environments. 

If that sounds like Dark Souls to you, then you'll be happy to know you're not being paranoid. The game's trailer even playfully uses "Prepare to Dine" as a tagline and seemingly respectful nod to that legendary franchise. 

However, Code Vein does distinguish itself in several interesting ways. Namely, Code Veinwill emphasize a "Buddy" system that allows you to take a companion into new areas and develop them alongside your main hero. It also sounds like the game will primarily focus on melee combat, though we will be surprised if there isn't some magic and ranged combat to be found.

There's still much we don't know about Code Vein- including whether it will resemble the style shown in that teaser trailer and which systems it will be released on - but everything revealed thus far suggests it could Bandai Namco's next great hardcore RPG.

One of the most beloved entries in the Final Fantasy series is being remade from the ground up for a new generation of consoles and fans. Final Fantasy VII boasts all new visuals while delivering the same memorable story. 

Here's everything we know about this highly anticipated remake:

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Release Date

Final Fantasy VII Remake doesn't have a release date as of yet. It is coming to the PlayStation 4.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Trailer

Final Fantasy VII Remake is perhaps the most highly-anticipated video game remake of all-time, built from the ground up for the PlayStation 4. This JRPG classic gets new life with all-new graphics. Basically, it's the same game you love, but it looks better than it ever has before. 

Here's a new trailer:

We'd even stopped begging at this point. The fact that we even had to keep asking Square Enix to release an HD remake in this day and age is pretty ridiculous. But all our prayers were answered at E3 2015 when Final Fantasy VII Remake was officially confirmed.

Here's the announcement trailer:

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Screenshots

Final Fantasy VII Remake's director, Tetsuya Nomura, revealed two new screenshots from the long-gestating project at Magic Monaco 2017. The screenshots are from an early boss fight and show the game's hud. It's also a new glimpse at Cloud and Barret in the remake. Check the pictures out below:

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Details

Square Enix has decided to transfer development of the Final Fantasy VII remake from developer CyberConnect2 to an in-house development team. 

This report comes from a Square Enix livestream (translated here by Kotaku) during which Square Enix project leader Naoki Hamaguchi referred to the decision as a "sensitive subject."

However, Hamaguchi did confirm that he has taken over development of the Final Fantasy VII remake in order to keep "production and quality in mind."

"This company decision was made wanting to control quality as well as keeping the schedule stable," said Hamaguchi.

At this time, it's not clear if this decision represents some kind of falling out with developer CyberConnect2 or if Square Enix simply decided to take the reigns on this major project in order to ensure it meets all production expectations. 

An issue Famitsu Weekly (as reported here by Gematsu) featured some quotes from Tetsuya Nomura who elaborated on how Final Fantasy VII Remake's combat system will work.

“Battles are not command-based, they’re action-based," said Nomura. "Regarding cover actions, there are places where they can be done on the map, but they are not required. Because it’s seamless, I showed that there can be actions in response to various scenes."

Nomura goes on to specifically cite the Guard Scorpion battle as a boss encounter that has been noticeably altered from its original version. He says that particular fight will have "map destruction and a great number of attacks that weren’t in the original" which will result in a "significantly flashy battle."

While it will be nice to see the combat system in action, this latest update does seem to place the remake's battle system closer to Final Fantasy XV's than Final Fantasy VII's.

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

While it's a little late to the party, there is a new game based on World War Z in the works. From what we can tell, this game seems to be based on the book or the general property rather than the World War Z film. That's probably for the best given that the film made some pretty serious departures from the original content. It also wasn't very good.

This adaptation of World War Z will be helmed by Saber Interactive, the team behind Quake Champions and TimeShift. It's described as a four-player co-op action game (no word on whether four players will be required) that requires players to navigate a series of major locations across the globe and escape the zombie hordes. 

Escape seems to be the word of the day here. As it stands, it seems like this game will emphasize survival and evasion through things like traps and utilizing environmental elements to your advantage. This doesn't seem to be exactly like a Left 4 Dead type experience where you just blast through hordes with your other survivors. Instead, there appears to be more of an emphasis on pure horror and strategy. 

Of course, that's all a bit speculative at this early point considering that we really haven't seen actual footage from the game. However, Saber Interactive did state that the missions themselves will heavily emphasize the "unique survivor stories" of your companions and that there will be action set-pieces here and there. So while it walks like Left 4 Dead, and talks like Left 4 Dead, we're going to guess that this game will find ways to distinguish itself from that legendary franchise. 

Here's everything else we know about the game:

World War Z Trailers

A new trailer has arrived for World War Z! It is a terrifying look at the zombie horde that awaits to feast on the survivors of the outbreak. Here it is:

This next trailer is titled "Stories in Moscow" and showcases some of the game's battles against massive hordes of zombies. Take a look:

Here's the first trailer:

World War Z Release Date

World War Z is coming in 2019. It will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Star Citizen could very well be the space simulator to end all space simulators - if it ever actually comes out. The game has been in development at Cloud Imperium Games, founded by Wing Commander creator Chris Roberts, since it was successfully crowdfunded in 2012. Boasting an enormous massive multiplayer universe, elements of space trading, first-person shooter combat, Star Citizen is one of the most ambitious video games ever put into development. 

Several delays and an engine change later, the game is still in early Alpha state with no solid release date. Still, we've seen plenty of the game through trailers and gameplay videos.

There is still hope, though. Star Citizen continues to be developed by a large staff of talented creators who seem determined to produce the game that was promised at some point in the future. When, exactly, that future may come is just a matter of debate. 

Here's the latest from Star Citizen:

Star Citizen Release Date

While Star Citizen's roughly playable builds regularly receive some kind of update, there's no word on when the game will be released. It's quite possible that Star Citizen's development team will release an Early Access model for the game that will continuously be updated for the foreseeable future. In any case, we'll be sure to update you as information regarding the game's fully-playable builds becomes available.

Star Citizen Trailer

The latest trailer for Star Citizen is designed to show off the game's upcoming Alpha 3.2 release. That doesn't bring the game any closer to its full release, but it does mean you get to watch yet another trailer for the timeshare of video games. 

Slowly but surely, Cloud Imperium is revealing more about Star Citizen's single-player campaign. This new look at Squadron 42 takes us to a dangerous gas cloud called "The Coil." Check out the video below:

And here are two more Squadron 42 trailers. This first one features a new look at Mark Hamill in the game:

And here's over an hour of gameplay:

During the CitizenCon 2947 livestream broadcast, Star Citizen designer Chris Roberts took the stage to present a video that shows off the massive size of the game's worlds. 

The footage specifically focuses on the ArcCorp planet which has been shown before, but never quite like this. Roberts described the planet's vast cityscape as "Blade Runner esque," which certainly does help capture the spirit suggested by the city's spewing flame towers and jam-packed structures. Impressively, Roberts also suggests that everything in the city can be interacted with by the player in some way. There aren't any instances of painted features designed to make the cities look larger than they are. 

Roberts described that particular planet as being similar to Star Wars' Coruscant, but also showcased another planet that seems to have been decimated at one point or at least hasn't been fully terraformed as of yet. 

The team certainly seems to be aiming for a shocking amount of variety in regards to the design of every major planet. That isn't to say that there won't be largely barren planets, but rather that they hope to make each new planet feel like a discovery. 

Thanks to this gameplay video update on Star Citizen's development, we do know that the game's first-person combat is coming along nicely. 

The purpose of this video, besides showing off the kind of stunning visuals millions and millions of crowdfunded dollars will buy you, is to showcase the progress that Star Citizen's Vision Stabilization engine has made. In short, this improved engine allows for developer Cloud Imperium Games to implement tighter and less visually jarring first-person combat. Previously, some of the game's early users had reported that the character motions dictated by these mechanics were far too loose and had a tendency to generate a floaty sensation. 

Currently on version 3.0, the most recent build of Star Citizen arguably stole the show at Gamescom with this nearly 52-minute long gameplay video that takes on the daunting task of trying to explain the almost incomprehensible scale of the game. 

Not to beat the No Man's Sky horse to death, but one of the most impressive things about this demo in comparison to other titles in this genre is how substantial the universe feels. While certain elements of the experience don't feel nearly as important as the presenter hopes they might come across as ("The elevators in this game really move! *clap, clap, clap*), Star Citizen's developers seems to understand that pretty environments and theoretically infinite content will not get you far if there is not a solid core of gameplay at the center of it all. Watching the demo players navigate a character to a new planet, accept a mission, and carry it out isn't mind-blowing on paper. But, in the context of the full scope of this creation, it does show that there's a promising traditional game at the heart of the title. 

We still eagerly await the day that all questions about Star Citizen will be answered by the retail release of the game itself, but, until then, it's nice to know that it's still capable of wowing people. 

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Those fans hoping that Bethesda Game Studios would one day go to space are finally getting their wish. The developer announced at E3 2018 that it's working on a next-gen space RPG called Starfield. The game explores a whole new setting for Bethesda, which is best known for its postapocalyptic and fantasy settings. 

Starfield is the first new IP from Bethesda in 25 years. The game has been the talk of the internet for the last few years. Ever since banners for the RPG leaked on the internet, Bethesda fans have speculated about the game's existence. It's no secret that Bethesda Game Studios hasn't explored an RPG outside of its comfort zone for quite some time. To bring its classic RPG gameplay to space is for Bethesda to explore where it hasn't gone before. 

Here's what else we know so far:

Starfield Release Date

No release date has been set for Starfield. 

Starfield Trailer

Here's the debut trailer:

We'll keep you updated as we learn more about Starfield!

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Nintendo's legendary game developer Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that Pikmin 4 was in development back in 2015, but we've not yet seen much of the game or know when it's coming out.

"I've been told not to share anything about this from PR," Miyamoto told Eurogamer at E3 2017 regarding the status of Pikmin 4, "but I can tell you it is progressing."

Miyamoto appeased the PR gods by limiting the specifics of the game's development to his assurance that the game is "actually very close to completion" and that "Pikmin teams are always working on the next one." 

Nintendo confirmed Miyamoto's assertions in a separate statement by claiming that "Pikmin 4 is in development but that is all we can confirm at present." 

It's been a few years since Pikmin 3 released for Wii U in 2013. The game received overwhelmingly positive reviews for its innovative use of the Wii U tablet and general advancement of the Pikmin mechanics. By all accounts, Pikmin 3 also sold extremely well with some reports suggesting that it sold over 200,000 units before the end of 2013. 

The lack of a Pikmin sequel in all that time seems to speak more to Nintendo's unique release strategy than it does their faith in the franchise as a whole. Now that the Nintendo Switch is selling extremely well, it seems that Nintendo is a touch more eager to bring back some of their most popular series as well as re-introduce some of the Wii U's best games to the switch audience.  

Here's everything else we know:

Pikmin 4 Release Date

Pikmin 4 doesn't have a release date as of yet. The game is coming to the Nintendo Switch.

Pikmin 4 Details

Some suspected that Shigeru Miyamoto had finally lost his mind when he announced that he was working on a strategy game based on his gardening experiences, but it wasn't long before the quirky little title known as Pikmin became a beloved Nintendo franchise. As popular as the franchise is, though, it has remained suspiciously off the radar since Pikmin 3 released to wide acclaim in 2013. Aside from Miyamoto mentioning that Pikmin 4was nearing completion in 2015, fans have been left to speculate when, exactly, they will be able to get their hands on this anticipated sequel. 

Sadly, Miyamoto's latest update doesn't offer much hope that they can expect that day to come anytime soon. In an interview with Game Rant, Miyamoto had this to say on the subject of Pikmin 4:

"We're working on (Pikmin 4). So, you know, when we’re in development we have to create a list of priorities and it has been hard to kind of fit that into that list, but we’re hopefully starting to see that on the list now.”

While Miyamoto does not explicitly say so during the course of the interview, given that he had previously suggested that the game was nearing completion around this time last year, it certainly does sound like Pikmin 4 has been delayed. Though this may be due to the usual complications that can arise during the development process, the popular theory at the moment is that Pikmin 4 has been shuffled to the side while Nintendo focuses on the release of the Switch as well as their ever-expanding list of new ventures. 

Given that Breath of the Wild is shaping up to be the last major Wii U release, it certainly does appear that Pikmin 4 may end up becoming a Switch title. It would be a bit of a shame if that came to pass considering how well the Pikmin games translate to the Wii U controller, but it's looking like Pikmin fans may be waiting until 2017 to experience more of this franchise's bizarre adventures.

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Dying Light 2, the sequel to the beloved zombie parkour open-world RPG, has been announced by Techland. During E3 2018, it was also revealed that RPG legend Chris Avellone, who previously worked on Fallout: New Vegas and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, is working on Dying Light 2. Unsurprisingly, this sequel will have a bigger emphasis on decision-making, as you embark on missions for different factions. How you decide to handle certain situations will have huge consequences as you progress. 

"The bold sequel to the open-world phenomenon, Dying Light 2 brings to life a unique post-apocalyptic vision of the Modern Dark Ages - a brutal, bleak and unforgiving reality where you are as likely to perish at the hand of a human as you are by the infected," said Techland in a press release. "In this exhausted world, your quick thinking, exceptional parkour abilities and brutal combat skills are the only things that let you dive into darkness and emerge alive. Make morally grey decisions and witness how they impact the world at multiple levels, shape the transformation of the City, and ultimately decide its fate." 

The game is powered by the C-Engine, a new generation of Techland’s in-house technology dedicated to open-world action-adventure and action-RPG games.

"Dying Light 2 will be a truly bold sequel, combining the much loved Dying Light DNA with completely new ways to play," said Pawel Marchewka, Techland CEO. "For the first time in the franchise, players will have the power to decide the fate of a decaying metropolis with their own choices and actions. Across the story, the melee combat, the parkour movement, and other aspects of the game, we’re giving players a completely new level of freedom."

Here's everything else you need to know about the game:

Dying Light 2 Trailer

Here's the announcement trailer:

Check out some gameplay as well:

Dying Light 2 Release Date

No release date has been set for Dying Light 2. The game is coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. 

John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

In an interview with IGN, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii recalled his early work on the Dragon Quest franchise and the challenges of bringing the series to a global audience. 

"I wanted to figure out a way to bring this kind of fun RPG to that platform [Famicom/NES], and that’s what we worked hard to achieve," said Horii. We believe we were able to bring a relatively easily understandable and simple experience to the Famicom and NES devices. We were able to bring the RPG experience to the device.”

Like many developers at that time, Horri's ambition exceeded the power of Nintendo's console. As such, he and his team had to decide what could be cut from their plans and what would ultimately separate their game from everything else. 

"We had to limit the number of written kanji we included in the game, and to make it a focus on the main character as well," said Horri. "We really focused on ensuring people would really be able to experience the fun of the story, but also how the players would really be able to feel they were becoming stronger through racking up experience points."

When it came time to bring the ambitious Dragon Quest to the West, the team faced a new series of issues. Not only did they have to change the name from Dragon Quest to Dragon Warrior due to copyright conflicts, but Horri had to make a difficult decision regarding the game's artwork. 

"There was an instance where people wanted to change the package art, and so I raised the question of whether it would really be appropriate not to have Toriyama’s art for our overseas packaging," said Horii. "My initial reaction was ‘I wonder why they would do that?’ But I was informed it would be better that way, so I kind of had to go along with it.”

However, the creative struggles of adapting and evolving the series haven't diminished Horii's love for what he does. 

"Making games is joyful," says Horii. "It’s really fun to think of games and developing games."

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Marvel announced in January 2017 that it has signed a multi-year, multi-game deal with publisher Square Enix to develop titles based on the popular superhero universe. The first title in the works is an Avengers game. 

According to Marvel, the game will feature a completely new and original story, and will introduce a universe gamers can play in for years to come. The project will be jam-packed with characters, environments, and iconic moments that will thrill Marvelites.

Check out the trailer below:

We can gather a few story details from the trailer. The game seems to take place at a time when superheroes are persecuted by the public and the Avengers are all but broken. The setting looks very bleak, indeed. From the looks of it, Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, and Thor will appear in the game in some form. It's unclear who is narrating, though. 

It also looks like Marvel will continue the trend of hiring top-notch talent for games based on their most popular characters. "The Avengers project," as it's being referred to at the moment by Marvel, is being developed by Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider), with help from Eidos Montreal (Deus Ex). Shaun Escayg, former Naughty Dog creative director, and Stephen Barry, a 27-year games vet from EA and Visceral Games, have also joined the project in leadership roles at Crystal Dynamics.

That's one hell of a team-up. It's too early to call, but based on the teams working on this game, this could be an action-adventure superhero game with a nice helping of RPG elements.

More details on the Avengers project and other games will be announced in 2018. No release date has been set.

John Saavedra is an associate editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

This article comes from Den of Geek UK.

Good old video games. They’re portals to other worlds, capable of instantly transporting us away from our humdrum lives and into grand adventures set across lands of astonishing beauty and technological wonders. Sadly, when it comes to day-to-day existence, idyllic scenery and immortality elixirs can’t always make up for a lack of good old-fashioned home comforts.

More specifically, it’s shocking how many characters have to deal with atrocious amenities when the time comes for a quiet sit down with a Sudoku in the smallest room of the house – or castle, or mobile attack fortress, or wherever they happen to live. Are humanity’s saviors doomed to make-do with second-rate showers and broken bidets, or can we locate a luxury bathroom fit for a true video game hero? Let’s find out…

The Cinema (Duke Nukem 3D)

Given the famously ribald humor that led to Duke Nukem 3D’s well-deserved M rating, it’s not surprising there are quite a few bathrooms dotted throughout his alien-thwarting adventure. Whether Duke’s escaping from Death Row or blasting into outer space, there’s always a convenience close at hand.

What is surprising is that the first bathroom you’ll encounter is remarkably pleasant, considering it’s tucked away in a seedy adult movie theatre somewhere in downtown Los Angeles. It’s spacious and well-lit, with a plush red carpet – a bold move in a public restroom – and there’s even a sofa on which patrons can gather their thoughts before returning to their seats or heading upstairs to check out the arcade.

Unfortunately, what really lets this entry down is the reckless and anti-social behavior of the cinema’s clientele. The pair of Alien Stormtroopers who’ve taken up residence here will make your life a misery from the minute you enter, taking pot-shots at you with their lasers as you go about your business. If you’re planning a visit, make sure to pick the multiplayer mode instead – just remember to keep one eye on the mirror in case your opponent’s sneaking up behind you...

Score: 6/10

The Lucky 38 (Fallout: New Vegas)

Looming over the post-apocalyptic remains of the Las Vegas strip, the Lucky 38 casino has remained largely untouched by the passage of time. This is thanks to its scheming and mysterious owner, Robert House, a man whose name meant he was destined to become either a gambling mogul or a real estate agent. In Fallout: New Vegas, he acts as both, granting your character access to the Lucky 38’s Presidential Suite if you agree to do his bidding.

By Falloutstandards, this suite is the pinnacle of luxury, with soft beds, all the mod-cons, and – of course – a suitably decadent bathroom. It’s got chandeliers, it’s got a radio to keep you entertained while you’re scrubbing Deathclaw blood off your hands, and the uncontaminated water supply means you can quench your thirst without fear of the radiation that stains the rest of the Mojave. Yes, drinking out of one of your new toilets is actually healthier than cracking open an icy Nuka-Cola.

If you value your peace and privacy, however, the Lucky 38 may not be for you. Firstly, you’ll have to put up with the omnipresent Mr. House and his robots observing your every move, unless you decide to bump off your benefactor and take over the operation. Secondly, any companions you meet while wandering the desert will make their way up to your suite and have no qualms about bursting in on you whenever the fancy takes them. That said, if you think you can put up with an eight-foot Super Mutant watching you hunt for the loofah, this is a very desirable property indeed.

Score: 8/10

Willy’s Bathroom (Jet Set Willy)

Now, this simply won’t do. Willy may be a millionaire after the events of his smash-hit ZX Spectrum debut Manic Miner, but the mansion that serves as the basis for this 1984 sequel has some serious aesthetic shortcomings, many of which are immediately evident in the bathroom where you begin the game.

Let’s start with the color scheme, which is garish even by '80s standards. Blue and yellow wall tiles are obnoxious enough, but when you pair them with the grotesque two-tone carpet you have to wonder if Willy’s life in the mines hasn’t permanently damaged his eyesight. Combined with the dour black background that seems to pervade every room of the house, this is not a bathroom you want to be waking up in after a night on the town.

Also, we should probably mention the latrine, which is apparently possessed and keeps flapping its lid threateningly at all who dare invade its domain. This abomination proves it’s true what they say – money can’t buy you happiness. Nor, apparently, can it buy a toilet that doesn’t actively try to devour you.

Score: 2/10

Chemical Weapons Facility (GoldenEye 007)

Might these be the most famous toilets in gaming? They can certainly boast plenty of cameo appearances, first debuting in Nintendo 64 shooter GoldenEye 007 before returning in its spiritual successor Perfect Dark and once more in Perfect Dark Zero as part of a multiplayer combat arena. It’s the James Bond original we’re evaluating here, though, not least because the refurbished versions forgot to put the doors back on the cubicles. (There’s a secret club in Perfect Dark that’s also missing its stall doors, suggesting that there might be a particularly unsavory architect on the loose.)

It should be noted that the Arkhangelsk Facility is a military installation, so its creature comforts are few and far between. Staff members are expected to carry their KF7 Soviet rifles at all times, so you’ll need to be extremely cautious while washing your hands, not to mention put up with the office prankster shooting your hat off while you’re scrambling for the last of the paper towels.

The greatest threat, of course, is that an affable but ruthless secret agent might slither in through an overhead air vent and put an abrupt end to your personal time with a pithy one-liner and a silenced Walther PP7. Still, it’s not all bad news: there’s only one entrance, so if you’re really determined to find some peace and quiet, you can always stick a proximity mine to the door. Just don’t expect to have any friends left afterward.

Score: 4/10

Blue Creek Apartments (Silent Hill 2)

No. Just no. Good taste and common decency prevent us from even describing the bathrooms of Silent Hill, let alone providing a screenshot of the horror poor James Sunderland has to go through while recovering someone’s wallet. Small wonder that rebellious teenager Heather Mason flat-out refuses a similar task in Silent Hill 3. Moving swiftly on…

Score: 0/10

The Stock Pot Inn (The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask)

While there are undeniable advantages to the antiseptic charm of the public restrooms we’ve looked at so far, The Stock Pot Inn of Clock Town offers a far more intimate and welcoming environment for its guests. Once a restaurant famous across the land of Termina, recent years have seen its failing fortunes reverse after Anju, the owner, began taking in lodgers for the yearly Carnival of Time.

The inn’s rustic charms extend to the privy, a solid, no-frills affair tucked underneath the staircase. Unfortunately, insomniacs choosing to spend a penny once the midnight hour has arrived will discover that they’re not quite as alone as they thought. Alas, this demonic toilet is also the home of a spectral hand who seems unwilling or unable to vacate the premises. If you happen to have any paper about your person, the grasping ghost will take it and gratefully sink back into the depths, but there’s no way to exorcise the unwanted occupant for good. You’ll just have to wait until morning…

Score: 3/10

Mad Monster Mansion (Banjo-Kazooie)

Deep within the lair of wicked witch Gruntilda lies the entrance to Mad Monster Mansion, an archetypical haunted house stuffed with ghosts, skeletons, and things that go bump in the night. There’s treasure to be found in the form of golden jigsaw pieces, but there’s also a bathroom nestled away within the mansion’s ominous upper storeys.

Unfortunately, it’s not a particularly nice bathroom, even after you’ve dispatched the roaming undead that lurk inside of it. Plaster is crumbling away from the walls and the ancient bathtub is stained with something unspeakable. Worse still, there isn’t actually a door – if you do fancy a quick soak, you’ll need to break in via the window first. The only reason we’re even considering recommending this weirdest of washrooms is because of its most unusual feature: Loggo, the googly-eyed talking toilet.

While it’s true that he could use a good scrub and a squirt of toilet bowl cleaner, Loggo’s an affable sort who’s always up for a good chat. Even better, he’s safeguarding a giant green mystery egg. If you’re the sort of person who likes a casual conversation in the morning before work, or are just looking to 100% your save file, you could do worse than pay Mad Monster Mansion a visit. Whether you’ll make it out again is another matter…

Score: 4/10

The Egg Carrier (Sonic Adventure)

Seemingly unwilling to allow the Nintendo 64 unchallenged mastery of bathrooms-in-3D-platformers courtesy of Banjo-Kazooie, Sega was quick to respond with Sonic Adventurewhen the Dreamcast debuted that same year.

This gleaming, spacious contender for the toilet crown couldn’t be further removed from the last entry, although we must confess we’re not entirely sure who’s meant to use it. Doctor Eggman infamously prefers the company of his own robotic minions to that of other human beings, so why he’s bothered to go to all this trouble is something of a mystery. Perhaps even supervillains feel the need to respect Health & Safety regulations when constructing their evil lairs?

Regardless, this clean and well-appointed commode would be a top candidate for gaming’s greatest bathroom were it not for one small quirk of its design – there’s a bomb-hurling robot monkey in one of the stalls. As annoying as that is, though, at least it’s not been programmed to aggressively sell you aftershave as you’re trying to leave. Not even Eggman’s that twisted.

Score: 7/10

Dunwall Tower (Dishonored 2)

Located at the heart of a thriving empire, Dunwall Tower is the residence of the region’s ruler, Emily Kaldwin, and her father Corvo. As the home of an Empress, one might expect the palace’s bathroom to be nothing short of opulent and, indeed, at first glance this does appear to be the case. The suite is lavishly decorated, there are plenty of fluffy towels and exotic fragrances on hand – there’s even a platter of Serkonan grapes and Tyvian pears to snack on while you’re bathing.

Look closer, though, and a glaring oversight presents itself: the lack of a pull-handle. For all the wealth on display here, the Empress and her staff are still making use of the chamber pot system.

This is baffling, as the world of Dishonoredis often described as “whalepunk” – an alternate universe where tanks of oil salvaged from the blubbery behemoths are used to power huge energy fields, complicated alarm systems, and autonomous clockwork soldiers. Given the creative might of such local luminaries as the eccentric genius Anton Sokolov, you’d have thought that someone would have invented indoor plumbing by now. There’s still plenty of splendor to be found here, but not an awful lot of sanitation.

Score: 6/10

Sarif Industries (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)

Our final stop takes us from an alternate past to a possible future as we arrive in the cyberpunk Deus Ex universe. Detroit, to be precise, where Sarif Industries creates biomechanical augmentations to sell around the globe. Its founder, the irritable billionaire David Sarif, has wisely invested his vast earnings into a state-of-the-art headquarters for his top personnel.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the immaculate employee facilities. Everything’s in perfect condition, from the fixtures themselves to the large smart-glass mirrors that keep you up to speed with company news. Whether you’re cleaning yourself up after sneaking your way through some filthy air vents or just taking a moment to read someone else’s e-mails – all those data pads lying around can be so tempting – you can rest assured you’ll be able to relax.

If you’re going to choose to visit one gaming bathroom, it has to be this one. True, you’ll need to navigate a sci-fi dystopia in the grip of a global conspiracy and on the brink of a global pandemic, but some might say that’s a small price to pay for reliable bathroom Wi-Fi. Thank you, Sarif Industries, for your commitment to lavatorial excellence. We asked for this.

Score: 10/10

The Xbox 360 wasn’t the most powerful console of its generation or the best-selling, but it was easily the most innovative. It was the first fully HD-capable console to hit the market, established what an online service should look like on a console, and its controller was so perfect that pretty much everyone has spent the last decade or so releasing only slight variations.

With one more game (Just Dance 2019) still hitting the system this fall, a full 13 years after it launched, the Xbox 360 has an especially vast library, and there are a lot of great games for it that don’t have Halo or Gears of War in the title. These are the 25 most underrated games for the console:

25. Gun

2005 | Neversoft

Red Dead Redemption may now be remembered as one of greatest video games of all time, but it actually wasn’t the first open-world western for the Xbox 360. That distinction goes to Gun, another tales of revenge set in late 1800s America. Like Red Dead Redemption, Gun features a large map full of bandits and wild animals, and tons of side activities like poker and bounty hunting.

Admittedly, the story isn’t quite as good as Red Dead Redemption, and as a launch title, it doesn’t look nearly as good either. Since it was released at the very beginning of the console cycle, Gun also showed up on the PS2, GameCube, and the original Xbox, but the Xbox 360 version is the only one in glorious HD.

24. Eternal Sonata

2007 | tri-Crescendo

A game set on the deathbed of Polish composer Frederic Chopin doesn’t sound like a must-play, but somehow it works. With only occasional interludes set in the “real world,” Eternal Sonata weaves a whimsical tale about saving the world and facing one’s own mortality.

Clocking in at only about 20 hours, this is also one of the shorter JRPGs around, but the excellent soundtrack (of course filled with Chopin pieces) and beautiful graphics more than make up for the game’s slight shortcomings.

23. Earth Defense Force 2017

2007 | Sandlot

There’s nothing fancy about Earth Defense Force 2017: it’s just you, a bunch of guns, and thousands of giant bugs across sprawling, fully-destructible cityscapes. It’s far from the best looking game on the Xbox 360, and the voice acting never won any awards either, but damn is it fun.

While the more recent sequels have added more depth to the series, EDF 2017 is still the perfect go-to game for a lazy Saturday afternoon of mindless action gaming. Even better, a friend can drop in for couch co-op and double the bug-blasting.

22. Blue Dragon

2007 | Mistwalker

Blue Dragon is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. The storyline isn’t particularly memorable, the characters can be downright annoying, and some gamers have just moved on from traditional turn-based JRPGs.

But for those looking for a JRPG that feels more like the first few Final Fantasy games (and that was even written by the series’ creator), but with a few modern twists, they’ll be hard pressed to find a game better than Blue Dragon.

21. Project Gotham Racing 4

2007 | Bizarre Creations

The only racing series that Microsoft backs anymore is Forza, but it was actually the Project Gotham series that helped put the Xbox on the map, and the fourth game is easily the best, featuring dynamic weather, motorcycles, and a killer soundtrack of licensed songs. Forza Horizon may have incorporated some ideas from Project Gotham, like gaining bonus points for skilled driving, but it still doesn’t have the same handling and style that Project Gotham Racing 4had. Or motorcycles.

Every now and then, a rumor surfaces online that Microsoft is looking to reboot the series or release a fifth entry, but unfortunately, that just doesn’t seem to be in the cards right now.

20. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

2011 | Relic Entertainment

Warhammer has never been the most accessible property, and even the video games based on the franchise have tended to lean toward more strategic and time-consuming gameplay. That’s why it was so refreshing to see a game that focused on a single space marine hacking and slashing through hordes of enemies. Admittedly, it wasn’t the most original concept or gameplay, but Warhammer just looked cooler, even if I didn’t really understand the wider universe.

Unfortunately, the game sold pretty poorly, and its publisher, THQ, went bankrupt soon after, so the chances of seeing a Space Marine sequel or even a remaster look extremely low right now. The closest you'll get to dystopian science fiction Warhammer these days is 2016's Space Hulk: Deathwing on PC.

19. Prey

2006 | Human Head Studios

Don’t confuse this Prey with the reboot from Bethesda, the two titles have almost nothing in common aside from a name. This Prey plays a lot more like Quake 4, but with the addition of portals that transport you all over a vast alien ship and Native American spirit walking to aid you when solving puzzles. Add in regular clips of a faux alien conspiracy radio show hosted by the late Art Bell and you have an innovative title that no one has matched more than ten years later.

While the 2017 reboot is a great game in its own right, a direct sequel featuring an open world and bounty hunting missions was canceled in 2014, so it doesn’t look like we’ll be revisiting the original Prey any time soon.

18. Nier

2010 | Cavia

Nierwas widely panned when it was first released, but other than the slightly lacking graphics, it’s not really clear why. Nier has one of the better, more mysterious stories of any Xbox 360 games, and the world nails a sorrowful tone that few others match as the titular main character searches for the cure to the Black Scrawl that’s ravaging his daughter.
If nothing else, it’s worth checking out Nier to see the genesis of some of the systems that were greatly improved in the excellent Nier: Automata.

17. Too Human

2008 | Silicon Knights

The gaming press loves to rag on titles with exceptionally long development cycles, and few games have taken longer to develop than Too Human. The title was originally announced for the first PlayStation back in 1999 as a cyberpunk game. Development then moved to the GameCube and Silicon Knights didn’t really talk about the game for five years until it resurfaced as an action RPG with a futuristic Norse setting.

Most of the criticism upon its 2008 released revolved around Too Human’s use of the right analog stick for combat, which is not nearly as bad as most reviewers made it out to be. The planned sequels could have even been really special, but Silicon Knights infamously made unauthorized use of Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 in developing the final version of the game and was ultimately sued out of existence.

16. Alpha Protocol

2010 | Obsidian Entertainment

Picture a secret agent thriller mixed with the RPG mechanics of Mass Effect. Then give it a shoestring budget to see what happens. Alpha Protocol has its problems. It’s a janky game and the gunplay is severely lacking, but it’s also one of the greatest spy stories ever told in gaming.

If you can look past its flaws, Alpha Protocol will hook you. It's just too bad that Sega didn’t put more money in the game. Obsidian has expressed interest in a sequel (and has made some amazing games in the last few years), so the timing could be right to resurrect the title.

15. Deathsmiles

2010 | Cave

Microsoft has always had trouble attracting exclusives from Japanese developers, but somehow it became home to a sizable number of shoot ‘em ups. The best of the bunch is Deathsmiles, a horizontal horror shooter that lets you choose from four different anime girls, each playing very differently. While it doesn’t win any points for originality, the enemy design is unique, and the game is a blast in co-op.

Deathsmiles received a physical release in North America, and even shipped with an Xbox faceplate. Its sequel, Deathsmiles II, is only downloadable from Xbox Live, but it’s also worth checking out if you dig the first game.

14. Dante’s Inferno

2010 | Visceral Games

Dante’s Inferno is what would happen if a remedial high school student wrote a book report based only on the cover of The Divine Comedy and late night Cinemax. It’s far from faithful to the source material: fighting unbaptized babies as they shoot out of Cleopatra’s nipples is either a high point or low point for video games, depending on how you look at it.

So while it may not have won any accolades from English professors, its God of War-inspired gameplay won over a lot of gamers who followed Dante into the depths of hell. I’d argue that some of the levels and enemies are even more creative than anything Kratos has faced.

The game’s ending heavily hinted at a sequel, and there are still two more parts of The Divine Comedy that EA could defile, but despite solid reviews and sales, it looks like this was effectively the end of Dante’s adventure.

13. Divinity II

2010 | Larian Studios

The Divinity series has been experimenting with the turn-based roots of the RPG genre to great acclaim these past few years, leaving this last-gen gem buried in the dust. Divinity II was Skyrim before Skyrim knew what it was. Featuring a vast world and wide open gameplay, the real hook of Divinity II was the ability to transform into a dragon. Even Skyrim didn’t add the ability to ride a dragon until its final DLC.

Add in crafting, tons of loot, and a deep conversation system that even includes the ability to read minds, and you have a forgotten RPG that’s still worth checking out today. It’s even backwards compatible on the Xbox One.

12. Split/Second

2010 | Black Rock Studios

The last console generation produced some fantastic arcade racers… and then they just stopped all of a sudden. While Burnout Paradise is still lauded as the peak of the genre, Split/Second was arguably an even better game. It’s certainly bigger and crazier. The object of each race isn’t just to win but to perform stunts to build up a “power play” meter. Triggering the meter could mean dropping explosives on an opponent, opening up a shortcut, or completely changing the track.

It was awesome, it was creative, and even though it sounds complex, it worked remarkably well. And for creating such a great game, Black Rock Studios was promptly rewarded with closure notice from publisher Disney Interactive. Oh well. Maybe one day we’ll get a sequel or spiritual successor.

11. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

2012 | 38 Studios

So much of Kingdoms of Amalur felt so right. The backstory of the world was crafted by respected fantasy novelist R.A. Salvatore. Legendary comic book creator Todd McFarlane was responsible for the art direction. And even though the developer, founded by MLB pitcher Curt Schilling, was new, it managed to create an RPG with smooth action gameplay rarely seen in the genre. It seemed like Amalurhad all the pieces to be the next big thing.

Unfortunately, it came out just a few weeks after release that 38 Studios was not the best-run company, and it promptly defaulted on a loan from the state of Rhode Island, spurring a scandal there and even an SEC investigation. Bankruptcy wiped out 38 Studios, and no publishers have shown interest in resurrecting the once-promising Amalur property.

10. Singularity

2010 | Raven Software

The Xbox 360 was a crowded platform for first-person shooters, and with juggernauts like Halo and Call of Duty around, it was hard for any other titles to get much attention. Singularity didn’t add any revolutionary features. It’s just an extremely solid FPS with an awesome time traveling story involving Soviet technology and mutants, and as the S.T.A.L.K.E.R.and Metro series have proved, mutants and Soviets are an amazing premise for a game.

Raven Software hasn’t followed up Singularity with a sequel or even developed another game on its own since 2010. Instead, the developer has been assisting with Call of Duty titles for years now, so someone at Activision clearly recognized the talent behind this game.

9. Beautiful Katamari

2007 | Bandai Namco

The fourth entry in the Katamariseries received a slightly less enthusiastic reception due to the departure of series creator Keita Takahashi. The thing is, unless you read about that beforehand, you’d hardly notice his lack of influence. You’re still rolling up everything into a giant ball. The King of All Cosmos is still super weird and flamboyant. It’s still the bright, awesome, creative Katamari that we all know and love, but this time it’s in HD and even adds online multiplayer.

Originally developed for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the PS3 version was canceled before release, but most of Beautiful Katamari’s levels eventually made their way to the PS3-exclusive Katamari Forever.

8. The Saboteur

2009 | Pandemic Studios

World War II and open-world games were a dime a dozen on the Xbox 360. But somehow Pandemic took two of the most saturated genres and crafted something original with The Saboteur. Rather than focusing on the war itself, you play as an Irish racecar mechanic aiding the resistance in Nazi-occupied France. And while the gameplay isn’t revolutionary, the game has style for days. Nazi-controlled areas are mostly black and white, but completing missions and aiding the resistance slowly brings color back to the world.

While not a AAA title, The Saboteuris a really solid B+ game worth checking out. It was the type of game that Pandemic excelled at, but unfortunately, that wasn’t quite good enough for EA, and the studio was shuttered after releasing this game.

7. Shadows of the Damned

2011 | Grasshopper Manufacture

If you haven’t yet experienced the wonderful madness of a Suda 51 game, you need to stop whatever you’re doing right now and track down one of his titles. While Suda isn’t afraid to experiment, Shadows of the Damned is arguably his best and most accessible work thanks to input from Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami.

Shadows of the Damned plays a lot like Resident Evil 4. You shoot a bunch of demons and eventually face the lord of Hell himself, but with Suda’s trademark weirdness (your sidekick is a talking skull), and a bunch of penis jokes.

6. DJ Hero

2009 | FreeStyleGames

In the late 2000s, Activision could release anything with plastic instruments included in the package and it would sell a million copies. Then, the company got greedy and started releasing way too many spin-offs that no one wanted and the whole genre died a slow, undignified death. It’s the reason why virtually no gaming stores will take old guitar controllers for trade anymore.

Anyway, in the midst of flooding the market with some truly lackluster game, FreeStyleGames created an innovative music game that used a turntable for a controller and featured a ridiculously rocking soundtrack of more than 90 original mixes of well-known songs. In another era, this could have been the start of a long-running franchise, but since the bottom fell out of the rhythm game market around this time, we’ll have to settle for just DJ Hero and its equally groovy sequel.

5. Spider-Man: Web of Shadows

2008 | Treyarch

The gaming press is currently swooning over Insomniac’s upcoming comic-inspired open-world Spider-Man game, but it’s still not clear if it will live up to this underrated open-world gem from a decade ago. Web of Shadows features fully upgradable combat, the ability to switch between the classic Spider-Man suit and the black suit at will, different paths depending on player choice, and an awesome original story focusing on the symbiotes that draws in characters from every corner of the Marvel Universe.

Somehow, many reviewers hated this game, which pushed Activision to refocus the series on more linear titles like Shattered Dimensions and Edge of Time, with mixed results. Few comic fans who have played Web of Shadowsdislike it though, so it’s worth checking out while waiting for Insomniac’s game.

4. Tales of Vesperia

2008 | Bandai Namco

While the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series continue to get most of the hype, Bandai Namco has been quietly building one of the best JRPG series ever with its Tales franchise. Almost all of the Tales games are worth playing, but Vesperia is arguably the best. The main storyline is typical JRPG fare. A quest to save a neighborhood quickly turns into a quest to save the world. The cast is extremely charming, and the action-oriented battle system, which plays more like a fighting game than a traditional RPG, puts everything else in the genre to shame.

An enhanced port of Tales of Vesperia with two new playable characters and full voice acting was released on the PS3 only in Japan, but Bandai Namco announced at E3 that it will finally be coming to the Xbox One, PS4, and Switch worldwide later this year.

3. Spec Ops: The Line

2012 | Yager Development

Shooters have become so routine that most gamers barely even think about what they’re doing when they play them. Point the weapon at the bad guy. Shoot. Move on to the next bad guy. Continue until the credits roll. While the core gameplay of Spec Ops: The Linedoesn’t stray from that formula, the story, full of symbolism and influenced by works like Heart of Darkness and Apocalypse Now, is unlike anything else in the shooter genre.

Spec Ops is a game that explores the real effects of war, and the impact that playing these types of games has on us. It’s not something that many gamers want to think about, which is exactly what makes it so important to experience.

2. Lost Odyssey

2008 | Mistwalker

In terms of gameplay, Lost Odyssey is a pretty traditional JRPG. The combat is turn-based, but the Aim Ring System, which uses equipable rings to change various combat effects is kind of unique. Of course, combat always takes a backseat to story in these types of games, and luckily Lost Odyssey has one of the best stories of the genre.

Playing as an immortal who has already lived 1,000 years is an unforgettable experience, and while the main story’s exploration of immortality is interesting enough, what really sets the game apart is the visual novel interludes that flesh out Kaim’s life over the previous millennium.

1. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

2010 | Ninja Theory

There is just so much to like about Enslaved, from the post-apocalyptic future ruled by angry mechs to Andy Serkis’s amazing performance as main character Monkey. While the storyline is influenced by the 16th-century Chinese novel, Journey to the West, it’s not afraid to explore its own ideas, including one of the most memorable and bittersweet endings in gaming.

While sales for the title were strong, they weren’t quite good enough to justify a potential sequel. Ninja Theory has delivered some strikingly innovative games since then, including Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, but few gamers would complain if its first project since being acquired by Microsoft was an Enslaved sequel, or even a remaster.

Chris Freiberg is a freelance contributor. Read all of his work here. 

China's government is claiming that they are restricting video game releases in order to save people's eyesight. 

Bear with us here, because we're trying to make just as much sense of this as you are. It seems that Chinese president Xi Jinping believes that video game regulation is necessary in order to care for "the children's eyes" and that he wants them to have a "bright future." In and of itself, that's not outlandish. After all, caring about children's eyesight is about as broad and popular as political platforms get. 

Here's where things get strange. Based on some very limited information coming from the Chinese government, China is planning on regulating the number of video game releases. At this point, you're probably wondering how regulations will possibly save children's eyesight. After all, even if there's only one game out there, couldn't children just ruin their eyesight staring at that one game? 

Well, it seems that this latest move has very little to do with children's eyesight (try to be shocked) and much more to do with the Chinese government's ongoing attempts to censor and regulate their country's video game industry. Recent reports even suggest that China is freezing all video game approvals and is prepared to approve significantly fewer video games in the coming months and years. This move is believed to be part of the reason why Monster Hunter: World's PC version was removed from a Chinese distribution service. 

This is potentially bad news for anyone who wants to distribute games in China, but it's really bad news for Tencent. Chinese tech company Tencent owns League of Legends as well as a large chunk of Fortnite (and Epic), which means that they suffered a significant stock drop one it was revealed that the Chinese government is considering implementing regulations that would potentially limit the distribution and growth of such games. 

However, the truth of the matter is that there is very little official information available regarding what China intends to accomplish with these regulations. As such, nobody is entirely sure what their immediate and long-term effects will be.  

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014. 

Doom Eternal is the newest installment in the hit first-person shooter series. The sequel to the 2016 reboot is everything you loved about its predecessor with a few added tweaks, including a few new demons to turn into gruesome meaty chunks! Here's everything we know about the game thus far:

Doom Eternal Trailer

Bethesda revealed the first look at Doom Eternal's INSANE gameplay at QuakeCon 2018. Check out the trailer below:

And here's the announcement trailer:

Doom Eternal Release Date

No release date has been set for Doom Eternal. The game is expected to arrive for XBO, PS4, and PC. 

Doom Eternal Gameplay Details

The first gameplay footage of Doom Eternal reveals that it is very much a follow-up to 2016's Doom. 

While many of the game's features remain the same as they were in that modern classic, there are a few things featured in Eternal which should help keep the overall experience feeling fresh. The biggest of said features is the ability to invade other player's games and have your game invaded by other players. The details of this system haven't been fully revealed at this time, but the team did reveal you will be able to assemble a party of demons to try and take down a player controlling the Doom Guy (a.k.a. the slayer). You are also able to disable this feature if you wish to do so. 

It also seems that the Doom Guy will be much agiler this time around. Along with the ability to hop between certain surfaces in order to scale walls, our hero also has access to a chain that functions as a grappling hook as well as some kind of booster that lets him dodge attacks and reach new vertical heights. It's not clear at this time whether or not you'll have access to these abilities from the start or whether you will have to unlock them as the game progresses. 

The gameplay footage also showed the Doom Guy picking up an extra life, which is something that the team did not expand on during the presentation but is worth keeping an eye on. 

John Saavedra is Games Editor at Den of Geek. Read more of his work here. Follow him on Twitter @johnsjr9. 

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer for Den of Geek. He spends most of his days trying to pitch deep-dive analytical pieces about Killer Klowns From Outer Space to an increasingly perturbed series of editors. You can read more of his work here or find him on Twitter at @SilverTuna014.