-
CultureKotaku Game Diary
There’s Something Weirdly Comforting About Playing Games That Are Just ‘Okay’
When I started playing My Time At Portia, I wasn’t expecting much. A few YouTubers I liked were playing it and I just wanted to check it out. It didn’t really wow me, but also wasn’t egregiously bad. It was just… fine. I still played it until midnight. I love perfectly crafted, engaging, smart games…
By Gita Jackson Published January 31, 2019 -
CultureThe Internet Reacts To Piranha Plant’s Smash Debut
Piranha Plant has finally joined the fray in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Players are welcoming their new pot-bound friend. I didn’t get Piranha Plant when it was announced. As a secret final fighter, a potted plant didn’t wow me, even if it did spit poison and spiked balls. Now that it’s actually out in the…
By Gita Jackson Published January 31, 2019 -
CultureKotaku Game DiaryWargroove Is A Very Good Strategy Game
There are two things you should know about the indie game Wargroove, which comes out for PC, Switch, and Xbox One on Friday. The first is that it’s a smart, challenging turn-based strategy game that’s essentially Advance Wars for the modern era. The second is that you get to play as a puppy who wears…
By Jason Schreier Published January 30, 2019 -
Culture
A Very Studio Ghibli Road Trip
Artur Sadlos is an artist based in Japan. He’s worked on stuff like League of Legends, The Witcher 3 and For Honor, but alsothat wonderful Ghibli x Oregon tourism ad from last year We actually featured Sadlos’ work as one of the first ever Fine Art posts, butsince that was eight years ago I figured…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 29, 2019 -
CultureTwitch
For Streamers Dealing With Stalkers, Twitch’s Solutions Fall Short
For the last 41 days, a Twitch user named Mosheddy has been persistently harassing a streamer named Tanya DePass. She quickly banned him from her channel, but now he lurks, follows her to other people’s Twitch chats, sends private messages to everyone he can, and has friends drop into chat with messages “from Mosheddy.” Twitch…
By Nathan Grayson Published January 29, 2019 -
CultureKotaku Game Diary
Chrono Trigger’s Writer Made A Mobile JRPG That’s Not Defined By Its Microtransactions
Can two of the people who helped make Chrono Trigger one of the most amazing games of all time find a balance on mobile between the nostalgic appeal of classic Japanese role-playing games and the economics of free-to-play? Based on a couple hours with Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space, the answer is:…
By Ethan Gach Published January 29, 2019 -
CultureHere’s February 2019’s Xbox Live Games With Gold Lineup
February’s Games with Gold is an interesting mix, from retro stylings to series like Star Wars and Assassin’s Creed. As always, these games are only “free” if you have an active Xbox Live Games with Gold subscription. February’s Games with Gold are: Xbox One Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (February 1-20) Super Bomberman R (February…
By Riley MacLeod Published January 29, 2019 -
Culture
Fake Maps Are The Best Maps
Karl Vesterberg is a freelance artist from Sweden who has a particular thing for fictional hand-drawn maps and city illustrations. This is the kind of work you normally see on a map screen, or board game board, or coffee table guide book, and it is very much my fetish. In addition to the fantasy stuff,…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2019 -
CultureTwitch
After Two Controversies, Twitch Says It Will No Longer Run Ads For Other Twitch Streamers
In the past couple months, Twitch has gotten into the habit of running ads for big streamers’ events on other streamers’ broadcasts—first with the Tyler “Ninja” Blevins New Years Eve extravaganza last month, and, more recently, ahead of a Pro Bowl event hosted over the weekend by Imane “Pokimane” Anys. Streamers don’t love it, and…
By Nathan Grayson Published January 28, 2019 -
CultureKotaku Game Diary
The Difference Between Horror Movies And Horror Games
I hate horror movies. I hate having to sit and watch as helpless people walk headlong into traps or hide fruitlessly from killers. I hate the moments of quiet leading up to the next jump scare. But I love horror games. I review them enthusiastically. So much of the distinction comes down to doors and…
By Heather Alexandra Published January 28, 2019 -
Culture
The Week In Games: Grab Your Keyblades & Get Ready!
Sora, Goofy and Donald Duck team up once more to take down evil in this week’s biggest release: Kingdom Hearts 3. I hear a lot of folks enjoy them some Kingdom Hearts and they now will finally be able to play this long awaited sequel. Which is great! Hope it was worth the wait! As…
By Zack Zwiezen Published January 28, 2019 -
Culture
Sunday Comics: WHEAT!!!
Hello! It’s time for Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon. Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich. Published January 21. Read more of Awkward Zombie Corpse Run by Alex Di Stasi. Published January 26. Read more of Corpse Run Double XP by…
By Zack Zwiezen Published January 27, 2019 -
Culture
What Are You Playing This Weekend?
The weekend is for having been invited to a birthday party involving bowling, a thing I have not done in a concerningly long time. I guess if I throw my back out there’ll be lots of video games to play while I recover. I really want to check out Slay the Spire, which I’ve heard…
By Riley MacLeod Published January 25, 2019 -
CultureKotaku Game Diary
Overwatch Is No Longer My Third Place
Nobody ever asks why anyone stopped playing Halo 2. No response would merit it. The game came out in 2004, and three years later, there was Halo 3. At some point, it got old. Another game came along. Friends moved on. It was just a thing you did, and then you went and did something…
By Cecilia D'Anastasio Published January 25, 2019
