There are so many reasons to enjoySpeedrunning. Whether you want to experience a game you could never imagine completing on your own, or you’ve completed dozens of runs, a speedrun gives you a fresh perspective on how to beat a game. Some runs focus on completely breaking the boundaries, whereas others stay mostly within the normal rules but exploit certain mechanics. Some of the best speedruns are standalone experiences that willshowcase a side of your favorite game you never thought possible....

Summary It’s hard to dispute the influence theMarioseries has had on video games as a whole. From the original game’s simple yet satisfying platforming to the more intricate later entries, you’ll still find new titles paying homage to any number of Mario games to this day. But while many will take their gameplay cues from Mario in one way or another, you’ll also find plenty that are content to offer tribute via some clever Easter eggs instead....

I’m probably TheGamer’s biggest superhero movie hater, but the two superhero movies that came out this month have reminded me that the genre itself isn’t the problem, but the execution. Neither of July’s offerings were perfect, butSuperman was a sincere and hopeful watch, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps surprised me with its character building and gorgeous aesthetics despite being part of a larger, all-encompassing universe. Both films, fittingly, have done fairly well so far both with critics and at the global box office – First Steps garnered the best opening weekend of aMarvelmovie since Deadpool & Wolverine, and Superman has been just as successful and seems like a solid start for James Gunn’s DCU....

They said it couldn’t be done, at least not this early, but it appears that the first-everNintendo Switch 2emulator is out, being worked on and showing progress. News of a potential emulator comes as the console hasn’t even spent two months on the market,having just released last month on June 5. Titled the Hassaku Emulator,the developers allege that not only are they the “world’s first Switch 2 emulator,“but that their work has gotten them far enough to be able to partially boot up Switch 2 games, includingthe recently released Donkey Kong Bananza, before crashing....

Summary Let’s face it, every once in a while, you need a vacation, even if you’re an adventurer in the world ofDungeons & Dragons. Adventuring parties must take time off every once in a while. But regardless, the world of the Forgotten Realms and beyond is full of fun locales to vacation. But which spots are the best for an intrepid band of heroes to go to, or just for regular people like us to visit?...

IfDeath Stranding 2: On The Beachhas proved one thing, it’s that everything is better with monorails. Sure, you could accredit the improvement made in the sequel to plenty of smaller details, but for brevity’s sake, let’s just chalk it all up to the monorails. Choosing to use Sam’s limited resources to rebuild monorail lines, roads, both, or neither is all part of the unique gameplay loop of Death Stranding 2. It’s got us wondering what other games would’ve been immeasurably improved with the presence of an air-bound rail system....

The Sims 4has been simulating life for over 20 years, so it stands to reason that the game has perfected it by now, right? A huge team of developers has spent over two decades making Sims more realistic and making sure they can do all the things we do, from answering the phone to catching some Zzz’s. Recently, my life has begun to feel overwhelming. So, I decided to take some lessons from The Sims 4....

At the end of 2022, Crystal Dynamics—now owned by Embracer—announced that it had begun development on a newTomb Raidergame in partnership with Amazon. Fans have long speculated that the new game is in trouble, since we haven’t heard anything about the project other than rumours, like Croft heading up a new generation of tomb raiderstasked with protecting the historical integrity of artefacts. Crystal Dynamics did reveal a new Lara Croft design, butit turned out to be a “unified vision” of the character, not a tease for the series' future....

Summary Thunderbolts hits theaters today, and while some of you might have seen it already, most of you reading this, like me, have not. However, a key plot point was seemingly spoiled by its trailers, and the movie’s accompanyingFunko Popsmay have further solidified that one member of the newMCUgroup doesn’t get much screen time in the new movie. Five Funko Pops modeled after five characters from the movie (four heroes and one villain) arenow available at Funko and on Amazonto mark Thunderbolts' release day....

Over the last year, I’ve had a rollercoaster of a relationship withTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate. I had no idea theTMNTHades-like even existed when it first launched onAppleArcade in 2023, but I was obsessed from the moment that Nintendo revealed it was coming toSwitchas a timed console exclusive towards the start of 2024. ActuallyplayingSplintered Fate on the Switch was a bit less exciting, though.As much as I loved the roguelike gameplay and unique adaptation of the Turtles, I found that the handheld struggled to keep up with the fast-paced action....

Edge of Eternities is the first time aMagic: The Gatheringbonus sheet has exclusively lands. A bonus sheet is a series of cards printed in a booster pack containing cards that are not in the main set. They are usually themed, such as The Brothers' War containing only artifacts, or Wilds of Eldraine’s bonus sheet only having enchantments. Edge of Eternities Stellar Sights bonus sheet contains lands from all throughout Magic’s history....

Despite being a remaster,Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4has a decent chunk of new content to discover. The remaster’s developer, Iron Galaxy, was empowered to create three original levels, including the now-beloved Waterpark level that is crammed full of references,including a controversial nod to Guitar Hero. There’s also Doom Guy, a returning skater from the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. He’s available with the digital deluxe edition of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 as Doom Slayer....

The hits just keep on coming forWWE 2K25. A day after it was revealed that the recently releasedNintendo Switch 2version of the annualized wrestling video gamewould be missing the “Image Uploader,” a key feature of the games, it’s now been revealed that rapper Travis Scott, who was reportedly slated to be DLC for the game, will no longer be coming. As first spotted by Insider Gaming, Scott and the larger WWE had a “falling out,” according to the Wrestling Observer, a prominent publication that covers all facets of the professional wrestling industry....