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In Black Mirror, Dating Is Awful But Not Hopeless

Black Mirror’s best episode of season four is, again, a love story. Season three’s standout, “San Junipero,” maybe the series’ first happy episode, was a sweet love story about two women falling for each other in a simulated world. This season’s fourth episode, “Hang The DJ,” has the setup of a good dystopian young adult…

Someone Modded Mario 64 To Play In Nauseating First-Person

We’ve been running and jumping as Mario for decades, but always from a third-person perspective. A recently-released mod tweaks Super Mario 64 to let you see the world from Mario’s eyes and in the process completely transforms the experience. “First Person Mario 64” is a ROM hack by Kaze Emanuar that takes the in-game camera…

In My First Year Of Fatherhood I Somehow Played 106 Video Games

For the 12th straight year I’ve made a list of the video games I’ve played in the past 12 months. I’ve tweaked the way I’ve made this list as my gaming habits have changed, but the biggest impact I expected to see this year was from becoming a father. I was right, but 2017 threw…

YouTuber Apologizes After Uploading Footage Of Apparent Suicide 

Logan Paul, one of YouTube’s biggest stars, recently visited Aokigahara, which is known as the “suicide forest.” There, he appears to have encountered a dead body that he filmed and uploaded. Paul’s vlog featured footage of the body with the face blurred out. “This is not clickbait. This is the most real vlog I’ve ever…

A Peripheral For Switch Owners Who Don’t Embarrass Easily

This is the “Comfortable Hands-Free Stand” for the Nintendo Switch. It is ridiculous. Game developer Jake Kazdal of 17-Bit in Kyoto spotted this third-party Nintendo Switch harness thing. I could see maybe someone using this in the privacy of their own home, but outside? In public? Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture,…

At Senko-ji. Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture. By Robert Rubsam | Tumblr JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line! 

The Splinter Cell: Part 2 is the sequel to a 2014 fan film that was very good. This one is also, whaddya know, very good.

Fans Create Newer Super Mario Bros. DS

Newer Super Mario Bros. DS is a fan-made project that basically gives you a whole new Mario game for the DS (only you actually play it on PC or Mac). Newer DS is not technically a standalone game; instead, it’s a patch for the original ROM that was made using the New Super Mario Bros.…

Here’s A 2016 Pitch Video For A New Star Wars Space Shooter

While there are sadly no new Star Wars space shooters in development (that we know about), that’s not for a lack of trying. In 2016, for example, the studio behind Rebel Galaxy put this video together for a pitch to EA to make exactly what we’re asking for. Double Damage is the team responsible, and…

Welp! That’s all from us, Kotaku readers. Thanks for taking some time out of your busy weekend to ring in the New Year with us. We had a blast, and hope you did too. In the meantime we’ll be lurking in the comments and over at TAY Feel free to keep up with us on…

EarthBound Finally Gets The Bizarre Cookbook It Deserves

Who’s hungry for some Magic Cake or a Mach Pizza? EarthBound, released as Mother 2 in Japan, is a Super Nintendo RPG well-known for its silly enemies and quirky take on American culture. As main character Ness and his crew of unlikely friends make their way through cities, deserts, and dungeons they fend off baddies…

The Deadly Decisions of Persona 3

High school is tough and Persona 3 did a masterful job capturing the complexities of student life. Easily one of the best JRPGs I’ve played, the game gave players an extremely difficult choice near its end that still haunts me. With the New Year here, I thought it’d be interesting to revisit that choice and…

Golf Story Is Delightfully Weird And Hilariously Dramatic

There is the kind of drama that has distressing plot reveals and twists. Then there’s Golf Story’s brand of raw drama—delivered through hysterical dialogue, rap battles, and geese. In 2017, who knew an indie title about an underdog’s rise in a pro golf circuit could be so compelling? Golf Story, the Nintendo eShop sports game…

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Is Mindless, Frustrating, And Kind Of Fun

A month ago, I proclaimed that Nintendo’s Animal Crossing mobile game lacked heart and soul. Repetitive dialogue, rote gameplay, and the sleazy undertone of it all—Pocket Camp dilutes the series’ charm. But it’s confession time: I’m here today to partially eat my words. Since its late November worldwide release in 2017, Pocket Camp, a new…

The Brilliant Use Of Speed In Mega Man 2’s Quick Man Stage

One of the most extraordinary facts about Mega Man 2 is that it almost didn’t happen. Sales of the first Mega Man were low, and it was only with the special permission of Capcom’s vice president that development was allowed to proceed. But there was a catch. The staff had to work on it concurrently…

Nine More Video Games That Left Us Defenseless And Scared

One moment, you’re on top of the world, the next, completely helpless. Weaponless, defenseless, and pretty much helpless. Last time, we talked about nine games that took away all our weapons. This time, we talk about nine more games that stripped us of all resistance. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild One of…

The Heartbreaking Final Fantasy VII Song That Makes Me Smile

One of Final Fantasy’s most iconic songs doesn’t even make my top 10 favorite list. That said, it’s also one of my most cherished. What makes it special is that it’s tied to one of my fondest memories—but not in as sweet a way as you may think. On this the last day of 2017—which…

Purple Coins Are Super Mario Odyssey‘s Best Collectible

By balancing scarcity and value, Mario’s newest platforming hit finally brings second-tier collectibles into the limelight. There are plenty of classic gaming icons associated with everyone’s favorite pudgy plumber. Mushrooms, stars, turtle shells, and more come to mind when picturing Mario and the magical world he inhabits. And though many different Mario items and collectibles…

The Sublime Battles Of The Last Story

I never thought my favorite part of a Hironobu Sakaguchi game would be the battle system, especially since Final Fantasy and Lost Odyssey are renown for their compelling stories and dramatic character arcs. But in The Last Story, the combat was not just the best part of the game. It represented a refreshing evolution of…

Five Video Game Moments That Stressed Me Out In 2017

Video games gave me much comfort in this very trying year. They also stressed me out like you wouldn’t believe. As 2017 is coming to a close, it’s time to let go of all the worries and start anew. Before that, it’s good to reflect and confront those demons as part of a healing process.…