I’m so excited that Monster Train 2 and Spray Paint Simulator are now available with Game Pass! They’ve actually been part of PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate since May – Monster Train 2 dropped on the 21st, and Spray Paint Simulator followed on the 29th. The best part is that both games were added to the service on day one, which is awesome!
Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres were the very first Legendary Pokemon introduced in the original Pokemon games. In Pokemon Red and Blue, you can find Articuno in the Seafoam Islands, Zapdos at the Power Plant, and Moltres at the end of Victory Road. All three are level 50 and can be battled and caught, so it’s a good idea to save your game beforehand! However, these Kanto Legendary birds are known for being difficult to catch, and they pack a powerful punch. You’ll likely need a lot of Ultra Balls, patience, and a bit of luck to add them to your Pokedex.
There was a lot of excitement surrounding Mario Kart World when it launched, as Nintendo heavily promoted it as a key game for their new Switch 2 console. The developers aimed to give longtime Mario Kart fans something different by adding an open world to explore. While some appreciated this change to the classic racing formula, others felt the game’s map was too empty and its online multiplayer was limited, leading to mixed reviews. Nintendo has continued to release updates to fix problems and improve the experience for players.
Let’s explore some of the first video games that laid the groundwork for today’s open-world experiences. Even with limited technology, these early titles created a sense of freedom by letting players explore, discover secrets, and navigate environments at their own speed. They used simple graphics – like basic lines, tiles, or scrolling screens – to create a feeling of a large, explorable space.
Premiering on July 19, 2007, Mad Men helped launch AMC’s successful run of original series, joining shows like Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. Its popularity grew even more when it became available on Netflix, allowing viewers to watch multiple episodes at once. Though it may not appeal to everyone, Mad Men is widely considered one of the greatest TV dramas ever made. Over its seven seasons, the show won 16 Emmy Awards and received a total of 116 nominations. Mad Men centers on a group of advertising executives on Madison Avenue who played a key role in shaping modern consumer culture. However, the show also offers compelling characters like Don Draper, Roger Sterling, and Peggy Olson, whose complex personal lives are often explored alongside their professional work.
It’s true that ARC Raiders isn’t the first game to explore a dark, dystopian future where humanity is threatened. Many games, like Horizon Zero Dawn, Fallout, Death Stranding, and Cyberpunk 2077, tackle similar themes, often questioning the impact of technology and the structure of society. I’m a big fan of these “what if” stories in any medium. Movies such as Elysium, Snowpiercer, and Mad Max, along with shows like Station Eleven and Westworld, are all excellent examples. Recently, though, I’ve been particularly captivated by the series Silo, and its focus on underground survival feels very similar to what ARC Raiders is going for.
Completing missions earns you credits to spend at Tharsis Outpost, the central hub in this expansion. Explore the interactive map to find the best weapons and armor at this cantina on a distant planet.
While games like Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon pioneered the charming life-simulation genre, Stardew Valley has undeniably left a significant mark on modern gaming and helped define the now-popular ‘cozy gaming’ experience. Though many similar games have come and gone, and some believe the genre is becoming oversaturated, the anticipation for Starsand Island is fueled by its connection to classics like Stardew Valley, alongside its beautiful graphics and unique cultural inspirations.
This article isn’t about the famous, polished games that defined genres – like Doom or Grand Theft Auto 3. Instead, it focuses on the earlier, often rougher games – some were student projects, others were personal experiments, and still others were created by small teams who didn’t yet know how impactful their work would become. It showcases the games that first demonstrated a genre’s potential, paving the way for future successes.
As a huge Naruto fan, I’m always talking about the Akatsuki! They were seriously one of the most intimidating groups ever assembled in the series. Each member was an incredibly powerful, S-Rank ninja, recruited from all over the ninja world. They weren’t just strong, they were strong enough to go toe-to-toe with the Kage – the leaders of their villages! – and even managed to defeat some of the Tailed Beasts in battle, which is just mind-blowing!