Optimized Gaming Hub For Enthusiasts
Super Mario Bros. Wonder, the latest 2D platformer from the masters of the form at Nintendo, is due out this week, on October 20. So it’s unfortunate news for both the Japanese gaming giant, and everyone who wants to avoid spoilers, that it’s already leaked online.
AFK Journey is a free-to-play fantasy RPG that released in March for PC and mobile, and it quickly became one of the top-rated games on iOS and Android. It gives you command of a party of heroes with a diverse array of classes and abilities, and with nearly 50 heroes currently available, your options are always growing and evolving.Your party consists of five members, but AFK Journey has several systems that allow you to easily and conveniently build your team how you want. For example, let’s say you’ve built your party to level 20 but get a new character you want to try out. When you swap them into your party, they immediately jump to level 20. Basically, it’s as if the level belongs to the slot in your party rather than a specific character. So no more feeling like you wasted time and resources leveling up a character only to stop using them.Then there’s class upgrades, which allow you to change the equipment of all characters in a given class simultaneously. There are six classes in AFK Journey: Warrior, Tank, Mage, Marksman, Rogue and Support. When you upgrade your Tank equipment, every Tank gets upgraded at the same time. That means you don’t have to micromanage every piece of equipment on all of your characters or equip and unequip as you move characters in and out of your party. It’s all accomplished in a couple taps or clicks on your screen.AFK Journey is developed by Farlight Games and Lilith Games, studios responsible for several popular PC and mobile titles — including Call of Dragons, Rise of Kingdoms, Dislyte, and AFK Arena, the predecessor of AFK Journey. AFK Journey uses a beautiful canvas art style that makes for vibrant environments and a diverse cast of colorful characters.A new content update, called Song of Strife, is out now and brings a load of additions with it. Here’s a rundown of the five biggest things the new update added:1. A Brand-New Map AreaThe world of AFK Journey is made up of multiple fully traversable maps, and the update added a new one: a vast desert area called the Ashen Wastes. As with the other areas of the game, a trail of golden light can guide you where you need to go to complete your current quests. But also like the other areas, players will be rewarded for exploring off the beaten path. There are all kinds of puzzles, treasures, and secrets waiting to be found. In order to access the Ashen Wastes, you’ll need to reach a Resonance Level of 240 and your server must have been active for at least 42 days from launch.2. Focus on the Mauler FactionThe harsh Ashen Wastes are home to the Maulers, the most courageous of the six Factions in the AFK Journey world. Living in such an unforgiving environment has made them uniquely hardened, and “survival of the fittest” is deeply ingrained in their culture as a result. Since the environment has very little vegetation, they rely on hunting for survival. Hunters have to be strong and active, making it difficult for those who are weak, old, or sickly to contribute. And with limited resources, the Maulers prioritize the tribespeople who give them a fighting chance at survival. It all feeds into them valuing strength and bravery above all else.3. Additions to the Main StoryIn AFK Journey, you play the role of Magister Merlin, the most famous mage in the world. However, your past is shrouded in mystery. Something has happened to you — most of your powers are gone and your memories are fractured. You give yourself a new form (allowing you to customize your gender and appearance) and set out to gather allies, solve the mystery of what happened to you, and figure out how it’s connected to the growing spread of evil in the world. So far, the tale has mainly focused on the Lightbearer Empire, but with the addition of the new Ashen Wastes area, the story is about to expand. You enter this new area in search of someone pretending to be Merlin. What have they been up to? Why are they using your name to do it? No spoilers here — you’ll need to play the Song of Strife update to find out.4. New Characters and EventThe update also added two new characters: Alsa and Soren. They’re both trying to become the champion of the Warsong Festival, the most important event in the Maulers’ history, and their story is woven together with the main quest that drew you to the area. And this certainly won’t be the last time AFK Journey gets updated with new characters and events. The developers are committed to supporting the game long-term, with seasonal content planned to release every four months or so and consistent updates to continually give players new things to do and see.5. Magic CharmsThe new Magic Charms system will also tie into seasonal updates and content. Charms enhance heroes’ power progression and are only effective during the current season. Each hero is able to equip three Charms, which provide stat bonuses and come in five qualities: Rare, Elite, Epic, Legendary, and Mythic. Charms with higher quality provide bigger stat bonuses, with Mythic Charms providing multiple exclusive bonuses. If a hero is equipped with a collection of charms of equal or higher quality, that activates their Seasonal Prowess. The higher the quality of the Charms, the stronger the hero’s Seasonal Prowess.AFK Journey is available for download now on PC, iOS, and Android. It has cross-save, so you can play at home, then take that same playthrough on the go. It’s free-to-play and offers hundreds of hours of content, whether or not you choose to purchase anything from the Trolley, the shop where you can get cosmetics, in-game currency, or special offers that consistently update over time. Give it a go and enjoy the Song of Strife update, which is out now.
Player First Games has clued players into how upcoming patches will flesh out its Warner Bros.-themed platform fighter, MultiVersus, with more enhancements, options, and the impending return of the Iron Giant.
If you’ve got plans this Memorial Day weekend, you might miss out on some of the great deals that are set to go live. Luckily, the savings have started early for some products, with many deals already available! Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals you can find for Thursday, May 23. These include Elden Ring, the 48″ UltraGear OLED Monitor, the ASUS ROG Charger Dock, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Super Mario RPG, Persona 5 Royal, and more.Elden Ring for $28Elden Ring is one the greatest RPGs of the past decade, with many praising it as FromSoftware’s greatest title. Right now is the perfect time to pick this one up, as Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, a major expansion, is due out next month on June 21. This PS4 copy has a free upgrade to PS5, so rest assured you can play either version on your console.48” UltraGear UHD OLED Monitor for $699.99This massive 48″ LG 4K OLED gaming monitor is the ultimate display for any gaming setup. Equipped with a 4K OLED anti-glare display, your games will look sharper and more vibrant than ever. There’s no compromise on features either, with a 120Hz panel, HDMI 2.1 support, and G-Sync/FreeSync compatibility. While this monitor is certainly expensive, you’ll be challenged to find a better deal on a gaming OLED monitor. This one normally sits at $1,499.99, which makes this an $800 discount. ASUS ROG 65W Charger Dock for $29.99Best Buy currently has the ROG 65W Charger Dock available for $29.99. This device is the perfect accessory if you’re looking to play with your handheld PC on the big screen. With its minimal size, you can easily pack it in a bag with no issues. This device works with both the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck, as it just requires a USB-C port to pass through both power and display.Dell 27″ Gaming Monitor for $179.99This Dell Gaming Monitor is perfect if you’re looking for a new monitor or an upgrade. At QHD, you’ll be able to play titles in 1440p, which looks significantly better than 1080p. Additionally, this monitor supports 165Hz, leaving a smooth and quality visual experience. The G2724D is also FreeSync and G-Sync compatible. At $179.99, it’s hard to find many better deals than this one.Save 40% Off Prince of Persia: The Lost CrownPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a release that went under many people’s radars earlier this year. At $29.99, this 2D platformer is absolutely worth your time and money. We gave the game an 8/10 in our review, stating, “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown captures not only what made games such as The Sands of Time so good, but it irons out a lot of the little issues that plagued the 3D games.”Super Mario RPG for $42.93The remake of Super Mario RPG is $42.93 at Amazon right now, which is a great price for this classic title. If you’ve yet to either play the original or check out the remake, this is the perfect time to do so. Composer Yoko Shimimura returned to compose the remake’s original soundtrack, and each boss and environment has been expertly recrafted for the Nintendo Switch. It’s the perfect Mario title to check out if you’re looking for a fun title after completing Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door!Corsair K70 Pro for $109.99The Corsair K70 Pro is an excellent choice if you’re on the hunt for a new keyboard for your setup. This includes a numpad, function keys, and everything you’d expect from a full-size keyboard. With OPX mechanical switches, you can count on lightning fast input across any application. Plus, you can customize your keyboard in any way you’d like with up to 20 layers of RGB lighting processing.Tekken 8 for $49.99Tekken 8 is still on sale for $49.99. With Summer approaching, the next DLC fighter is likely not too far away. This title runs on Unreal Engine 5, delivering a massive improvement in visual clarity over Tekken 7. 33 characters are playable as of now, which is the largest roster of any current fighting game. In our 9/10 review, we stated Tekken 8 is “an amazing new entry in the long-running series.”Super Mario Odyssey for $44.95Super Mario Odyssey is still one of the best games available on Nintendo Switch. From the stunning Kingdoms to the numerous new gameplay elements, this is a title any Switch owner should have in their collection. Odyssey is best known for its Capture mechanic, which allows Mario to use Cappy and take over different enemies and objects in the environment. This title doesn’t go on sale too often, so pick up a physical copy at a discount this week!WD_BLACK 2TB SSD for $139.99Currently, Amazon has the WD_Black 2TB SN850X SSD available for just $139.99. Normally priced at $189.99, this 2TB SSD features speeds up to 7,300MB/s to ensure your games load as fast as possible. This model will work with PlayStation 5, but you will need to purchase an SSD heatsink separately. God of War Ragnarok for $39.99God of War Ragnarok is still one of the best PS5 games you can pick up. This action game acts as the sequel to 2018’s God of War, following Kratos and Atreus as Fimbulwinter looms. This price matches the previous low we’ve seen Ragnarok at, so you know you’re getting a great deal. If you’ve yet to play this game, this is a great time to pick up Ragnarok at a discount and see why so many players love this series.Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $19.99If you’ve been holding off on the first Metal Gear Solid collection, now is the time to pick it up. Target has the Nintendo Switch version of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for just $19.99 with Target Circle. You can score this deal for a limited time, so be sure to pick it up before it’s gone.Save on Sony WH-1000MX Series HeadphonesBoth the Sony WH-1000MX4 and WH-1000MX5 headphones are available on sale. These are two of the best over-ear headphones on the market, especially in the noise-canceling area. Eight microphones are utilized to ensure you have the best listening experience possible. You can instantly silence all of your surroundings with the press of a button, or choose to listen to close sounds like voices, horns honking, etc. Overall, you can’t go wrong with either of these headphones.Unicorn Overlord for $39.99Unicorn Overlord is available at Amazon for only $39.99. This title was developed by Vanillaware, most recently known for 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Over 60 unique characters are available to choose from within Unicorn Overlord, where you command armies in tactical battle. We gave the game a 9/10 in our review, stating, “Unicorn Overlord is a visual delight that’s brimming with creativity, and an absolute must-play for any fan of strategy RPGs.”JBL Flip 6 Bluetooth Speaker for $99.99Target has the JBL Flip 6 on sale this week for only $99. If you’re looking for a fantastic speaker to use throughout the Summer, this is the one for you. The JBL Flip 6 is completely waterproof, which means it is perfect for the beach or pool. With exceptional sound quality and a heavy focus on bass, the Flip 6 will deliver a quality listening experience no matter where you are.Eternights for $9.99If you haven’t had the chance to check out Eternights yet, this is a great opportunity to pick the game up at a discount! A blend between a visual novel and an action game, Eternights released last Fall to plenty of love from fans and critics alike. The gameplay progression is often compared to Persona. PS4 copies are just $9.99, while PS5 copies are on sale for $12.99.Persona 5 Royal on Switch for $24.99Persona 5 is one of the most important RPGs of the last ten years for a variety of reasons. It brought millions of new fans into the scene with its exciting combat, gripping story, and interesting characters. Persona 5 Royal is the ultimate version of P5, and it’s now playable portably with Nintendo Switch! This deal was also available at Target but has since sold out. With Persona 6 still a ways out, now is the time to experience this installment. Be sure to pick this one up before it is sold out.