Steam Deck Related News

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Bazzite OS: A worthy Windows replacement, or just a passing fad? For all its ubiquity, Windows OS is a less-than-perfect choice if you're a gamer. It's bloated, overly contrived, and has nothing in the way of a gaming-oriented UI for use in a living room setting. Valve showed us a potential alternative with SteamOS, but would it work? SteamOS is not out yet. Further, it looks like Valve isn't interested in pushing it out for this particular use case anytime soon: instead, the focus as of SteamOS 3.7 is to get it to work on non-Deck handhelds specifically , and even that might take a while. As I've been looking for an off-ramp for Windows for some time now, I decided the right time for experimentation was yesterday, and chose Bazzite OS as my primary consideration. Bazzite OS is, more or less, a third-party attempt at emulating SteamOS, built from the ground up to emulate the experience on a wide array of devices. If you can install Linux on it, you can install Bazzite (which is built on Fedora), and the process is surprisingly foolproof. Picture by Destructoid In a general sense, Windows is fine, and it's what the vast majority of us have gotten used to over the years. It is the de facto go-to option for any modern PC builder. It's big, however. Big, bloated, and expensive if you're actually buying first-party licensing. Sure, it supports virtually everything under the sun, but this quickly turns into a detriment for specific use cases. For an office PC and workstation, then, a Windows PC is the obvious option. If you're building a living room PC to use as a console or a media station, though, you will want to drive the thing using a controller or a remote, and that's not good at all on Windows. Enter SteamOS, which has been designed from the ground up as a media-focused OS. Bazzite functions almost exactly the same, being an unofficial take on SteamOS, and it should support virtually every reasonably modern hardware combo under the sun. My goal for experimentation with Bazzite has been to reduce my reliance on Windows as a whole and turn my old gaming laptop into a Linux-based media powerhouse. For the longest time, the problem was that my laptop used an Nvidia GPU, but modern Bazzite also supports Team Green, which is excellent news across the board. I'm testing Bazzite on an old-gen Lenovo Legion machine. Equipped with 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, a reasonably fast i5-9300H CPU, and the RTX 2060, it serves as a solid baseline for virtually all media reproduction and casual gaming. Most things run fine on this machine, even though the tech running it is getting long in the tooth on top of being laptop hardware to begin with. Picture by Destructoid Installing Bazzite OS is quick, easy, and painless I'm happy to report that there's hardly anything to complain about installing Bazzite. All you need is an appropriately tweaked installation file (drivers, etc.), which is available via the official website , and Rufus to prepare bootable media. Using the default settings worked for me, and it took about 20 minutes for Bazzite OS to install on the laptop. I'm writing this out specifically to assuage any concerns you might have about installing a Linux distro: setting up Bazzite was the first time I've ever installed Linux on my own, and if I didn't mess anything up, I reckon you won't either. Post-installation, one issue I encountered was that the Steam Game Mode UI was laggy, but this was resolved simply by allowing the GPU to render Web View interfaces in Desktop Mode. Easy-peasy. The whole thing functions exactly the same as SteamOS does on the Deck if you set it up that way. Bazzite lets you choose whether your PC boots into Game Mode or Desktop Mode during the installation process, and I've set up my laptop to emulate the Deck in this sense. Crucially, SteamOS's Quick Settings menu also works, allowing you to quickly tune your upscaling options, refresh rate, and a bevy of other things while playing. In my testing (playing Witchfire, 2K Drive, and Sulfur for the most part), there have been no problems, and the performance seems about on-par with what I saw on Windows. I've not conducted truly hardcore benchmarking on this system, however. For that information, I'd recommend checking out Larkin Cunningham's testing from early March 2025, which suggests Nvidia systems may lose some performance on Linux versus Windows 11. In my case, any potential performance dips I might've experienced have been minuscule enough not to notice them, and I do usually notice these things . The one thing that is missing is the TDP limiter, which could be an issue depending on what you want to do with your device. In my case, the laptop's battery is particularly crummy to begin with, and though Bazzite did help me eke out 20-odd minutes of extra battery life (3:10 at full charge versus 2:50ish on Windows 11 at full charge), it's plugged in when in use, anyway. Picture by Destructoid What do I get for my troubles, then? A capable semi-mobile media driver with reasonable workstation capabilities. Since Bazzite OS has a full-fledged Desktop Mode, I can do some light work on it. Everything web-based works by default, and for everything else, there's OpenOffice. A particularly handy app I've grown to love on Linux is CoolerControl , which allows me to control all attached LEDs and fans in a single interface. It, too, worked flawlessly out of the box, and I'm frankly astonished with how easy setting it all up has been. This applies to Bazzite OS in general. I've yet to find something that's outright broken on the OS or doesn't work. Sure, all the usual caveats of SteamOS apply here as well: if a game doesn't support Linux, you won't be able to play it natively on the device you've got Bazzite on. To be perfectly fair, you could get Bazzite OS's biggest boon by simply setting up your PC to boot directly into Steam Game Mode UI on Windows. That is an option, and it will be the preferred way of doing things for those who wish to stick with Windows no matter what. If you're like me, though, and wish to see if things could be done outside of Microsoft's purview, I can happily recommend Bazzite OS. I've had Bazzite installed on my laptop, using it as a media PC hooked up to a TV, for about two weeks now. One bug I've had a few times is that the leftmost Game Mode feature menu will glitch out. Thankfully, it's rare enough that I don't feel too pressed about it. Everything else has been trucking along just fine to the point that I have to go out of my way to look for reasons to use Desktop Mode. In summary, Bazzite OS is, in my experience, good enough for most casual users and those interested in building media PCs. If you'd like to avoid the usual Windows bloat, insistence on constant updates, and the god-awful new AI Copilot feature, this may well be the ticket. You could also dual-boot if you're into that sort of thing! The post Bazzite OS: A worthy Windows replacement, or just a passing fad? appeared first on Destructoid .

Steam Archives – DestructoidApr 2

Is Schedule 1 Steam Deck compatible? No doubt by now you'll at least have heard of Schedule 1 , the indie crime simulator that has you building a drug empire. Well, it seems to be doing well for itself, evidence of how the indie scene can still make a splash in the cut-throat world of modern gaming. In fact, despite it coming almost out of nowhere, it's been making headlines, with it sitting on the number one spot on Steam's Top Sellers list at the time of writing. It keeps smashing its concurrent player count, according to the latest figures from SteamDB , so it's clearly doing alright, despite it only releasing recently (hype is a powerful thing, it seems). https://twitter.com/ScheduleOneGame/status/1904292142035743200 Currently, the game is exclusive to PC, but for those who like their gaming on the go, you may be wondering whether you can run it on your Steam Deck. Well, there may be some good news ahead. Can you play Schedule 1 on Steam Deck? Yes, Schedule 1 is playable on Steam Deck . Schedule 1 is not a demanding PC game by any means, so it runs completely fine on Steam Deck and other PC handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally. Because of this, you can get the game to run on Steam Deck, although it does not have official controller support just yet, and there are some issues with on-screen text, which is a common error with games that are Deck playable. Schedule 1 is definitely not the most optimized Steam Deck experience, to say the least, but you should at least be able to get around 30 FPS if you lock the frame rate to this number. Beyond that, it will take further optimization to make the game run better. Is Schedule 1 Steam Deck verified? Image via Steam Schedule 1's Steam Deck compatibility is still officially listed as "Unknown." This basically means that Valve, as the developer of the device, is "still learning" about the game, so no official information can be said about its compatibility. But just because its status is not known doesn't mean it won't work. According to recent posts on the community forums , Schedule 1 is still playable on the Steam Deck, and I've had a similar experience. The game can be played, but since it does not have official controller support yet, it's not recommended. Because of this, it's better to use a keyboard and mouse while the game's developer works on further support for both controllers and the Steam Deck. For now, yes, Schedule 1 is technically playable on Steam Deck, but it has not yet been verified by Valve, and it's a much better experience on PC or with a mouse and keyboard attached to the Steam Deck handheld. At the time being, it's suggested to either wait for the game to become verified or at least considered "Deck Playable" by Valve's standards, or hook the handheld up to mouse and keyboard peripherals, otherwise you may be in for a bad time trying to enjoy yourself and play the game the way it's meant to be played. Keep an eye out for updates on this game's Steam Deck playability in the future, especially if it continues to be a popular game in the early months of 2025, as players learn how to make and sell drugs in the cartoonish open-world title. The post Is Schedule 1 Steam Deck compatible? appeared first on Destructoid .

Steam Archives – DestructoidApr 1

Persona 5: The Phantom X to Appear on SteamPersona 5: The Phantom X will come out on Steam in China. It's unknown whether it iwll be compatible with the Steam Deck.

SiliconeraMar 31

Review: Warriors: Abyss Offers Simple Thrills, but Little More It's not difficult to see the thought process behind Warriors: Abyss . It feels like there's never been a better time for a game about a solo character taking on mobs of hundreds of enemies thanks to the smash success of Vampire Survivors . Take the classic Warriors brand of action, remove the strategic aspects, add some roguelite elements, crank up the spectacle, skew the camera just so, and you end up with Warriors: Abyss . It's a solid concept for a spin-off. Sure, it's pretty plainly biting off of Hades , but there are worse sources of inspiration. Unfortunately, one area where it could have taken more notes from Hades was in its story and writing. The ruler of the underworld, Enma, has been stripped of most of his powers and monsters are running rampant. He summons some great heroes from the world of the living to help him out, and that's about the size of it. You'll get some short, vapid conversations here and there to progress the story, usually after defeating a boss for the first time. Sometimes you'll be prompted to respond by making a choice, but it doesn't really matter. But it's a dull story, and the writing is perfunctory at best. The rest of Warriors: Abyss fares better. The ultimate roster of playable characters is massive, with a whopping 100 characters drawn from Dynasty Warriors , Samurai Warriors , and Warriors Orochi available. Only a small handful are initially available, with the rest unlockable as you play. Generally speaking, they play similarly to their counterparts from the mainline games. There are familiar combos and Musou moves to use, and each has their own attributes and stats to consider. You'll want to be cautious about picking anyone too slow or flashy, as you're going to have to be on the move constantly. Truthfully, there is considerable overlap in how some of the characters play. Sometimes it feels like the only thing separating certain characters is in what kind of fireworks their attacks give off. It's good in the sense that if you have a favorite you can stick with them and not worry too much that you're missing out. There are enough archetypes to deliver the needed variety, but don't expect 100 fully distinct mechanical builds. Still, unless you have an affection for particular names and faces, you might find the characters you're unlocking bleeding together more than would be ideal. Naturally, that also applies to the narrative. No one really has any personality to speak of here, so hopefully you've brought some head-canon in with you. Anyway, after you pick your character it's time to get to business. You've got four levels of the underworld to deal with, each of which is made up of eight rooms. The last room will always be the boss battle, but otherwise you've got the usual roguelite choice of randomly-rolled situations. Sometimes you'll be given an extra mission on top of surviving the encounter. You might also have to face a particularly dangerous wave. There are also the usual breather rooms to partake of should you need it. Once in a while, as a treat, a little narrative situation will appear. You can make a choice that will give you some kind of upgrade or bonus, albeit sometimes at a cost. When you're engaged in the regular battles, Warriors: Abyss is a lot of fun. The gameplay flows nicely, if more than a little chaotically. You've got the usual two Warriors attack buttons, an evasive dash with a cooldown, and a button you can use to trigger your Musou move when you've got a charge. Using this simple set of moves, you can activate a satisfying number of combos and devastating attacks. It feels good! I think that's the saving grace of Warriors: Abyss . The moment-to-moment gameplay evokes the joy of the mainline Warriors games, making you feel like a superhero as you thwack dozens of foes with each swipe. Beyond that, you have a couple of other moves at your disposal. All those other characters you didn't choose are available as helpers that you can summon once you've formed a bond with them. Each room can potentially offer up another summoned character to join your team, and you can have six on the squad at once. These characters can synergize in different ways, and taking advantage of those synergies and bonds is the key to maximizing your survival. These characters manifest during battles in two ways. First, you can summon one on a cooldown at the end of a combo chain. Second, once you've filled up a special gauge you can pull the proverbial trigger and bring out everyone for a short-lived mass assault. If you use a Musou move during these team-up attacks, things really get wild. Sure, avoiding all of the AoE spam can be obnoxious at times, but the hacking and the slashing is definitely on point here. In that sense, Warriors: Abyss is a good gateway into the roguelite genre for Warriors fans. It's not all good, sadly. The boss battles are often the highlights of games like these, really showing off the nuances of a well-thought out combat system. It's the opposite case here. Despite taking on very different forms, all of the bosses here play out in a very similar fashion. The bosses have guard meters that you'll have to wear down and break before you can deal any real damage. Your window for whittling down their life bars is annoyingly short, and as soon as it closes you're back to dealing with the guard meter. The bosses also love to spam AoE attacks, and the cooldown on your evasive action works against you badly here. It's not so much challenging as it is exhausting. Even players who can't get into the basic tactics required to beat the bosses will eventually overcome them. Like many other roguelites, you'll make some permanent progress with each run. You'll unlock new characters, gain permanent upgrades on existing ones, and sooner or later you'll hit the usual tipping point that is part of every game like this. When you hit it in Warriors: Abyss , the game practically melts in front of you. Sure, the bosses are still a slog, but you'll be whipping through the game without too much trouble. And don't worry. There are more difficult challenges to tackle beyond that. One thing that very much belongs to Warriors: Abyss is in how it presents its many systems to the player. The bond system has a lot of complex aspects to it, with various formations and interactions. Your level-ups will give you the usual choice between a few different things to upgrade. You can learn how all of that works if you want, and it might even benefit you to do so. But as King Enma makes clear in the tutorial, you really don't have to. You'll see your power number whenever you have a choice to make, and will make clear which option makes that number bigger. Making that number bigger is almost always the best option. On top of that, you can even get Enma to recommend a load-out between each room. Again, you probably should. I'm mixed on this. It certainly makes the game easier to just jump into and play, but it almost makes it feel too streamlined. Like all of this apparent complexity is sheer illusion, and perhaps it is. You at least have the choice to go against the grain and ignore Enma's help, but you're only making things harder on yourself if you do. I suppose it's all in service of getting to the action quicker. That's the game's strongest aspect, so I can understand leaning on it. For me, it came off a bit hollow, but I could easily see someone liking that the game offers options to cut through all of that. In terms of presentation, Warriors: Abyss isn't exactly dressed to impress. The character models aren't especially impressive, and the enemies lack any real personality. The backdrops the battles take place in are repetitive and don't do what they could to evoke what could have been a very promising setting. Depending on the platform you're playing on you might also see some performance issues. Our review is based on the PC version running on a Steam Deck, and the experience wasn't too bad there for the most part. Switch owners in particular might want to do some extra research as the game is surprisingly demanding for what it's showing on the screen. Warriors: Abyss at least sets down a solid foundation to work from, should Koei Tecmo have interest in doing so. It could have taken a lot more lessons from the better games in the roguelite space, but it's an enjoyable enough game by and large. With a better story, sharper writing, and more interesting bosses, I could easily recommend this even to those who aren't fans of the Warriors franchise. In its current form, Warriors: Abyss is not likely to impress those looking for another Hades -style time sink, but it should at least satisfy those who enjoy a good hack-and-slash. Warriors: Abyss is currently available on Nintendo Switch , Sony PlayStation 4/5 , Xbox Series S/X , and PC via Steam . The post Review: Warriors: Abyss Offers Simple Thrills, but Little More appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraMar 25

Whatever Schedule 1 is, it’s currently the top game on Steam While it's not always easy to keep up-to-date, the fact that there are so many games being released all the time means we're living in a golden age of the industry. Even indie titles can make it in this cut-throat gaming world, but some seem to come out of nowhere. Take Schedule 1 (stylized as "Schedule I"), for example. Having recently taken a quick look at Steam's Top Sellers list , I was anticipating seeing something like R.E.P.O. retain its position, or Atomfall to have seized the top spot. So I was surprised to see this new release has immediately shot to number two (which makes it the top release, just behind the Steam Deck). https://twitter.com/ScheduleOneGame/status/1904292142035743200 Don't worry if you don't know what Schedule 1 is. I must admit, I wasn't aware of it until a couple of hours ago. It only released yesterday, but it's already getting some pretty good reviews on Steam . So what actually is Schedule 1 ? With its low-polygonal assets and cartoony visuals, you could be mistaken for thinking it was a somewhat cutesy indie game at first glance. However, I'll let the description on the Steam page fill you in: You're a small-time drug dealer rolling into a fresh town with no cash, no product and no connections. Build your drug empire from the ground up in the grungy west-coast city of Hyland Point. Contend against intensifying law enforcement and deadly cartel competitors to expand your empire and reach the peak of the underworld. It's essentially a sim game, but possibly for fans of Breaking Bad . It's clearly gained enough hype for it to hit the number two spot on Steam. In fact, when I checked earlier on, Schedule 1 had actually knocked the Steam Deck from the top position it so vehemently holds onto. Here's proof: Screenshot via Destrcutoid According to SteamDB , the game reached a concurrent player peak count of 68,662 within the last 24 hours. To put that into perspective, Avowed was showing just over 2,000 players in the same time frame. Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean Schedule 1 is the next big thing. We've seen trends like this in the past, but it is interesting to see that small games from new studios can seemingly knock down some of the industry's biggest releases. For a brief period, at least. The post Whatever Schedule 1 is, it’s currently the top game on Steam appeared first on Destructoid .

Steam Archives – DestructoidMar 25

New anime souls-like game breaks into Steam’s top 5 while still in advanced access Souls-like games are always popular if done correctly, and a new one with an anime theme is already a top seller a few days before coming out. Steam's global top sellers list organizes games by total revenue over a given week. Sous-like hits like Elden Ring and Black Myth: Wukong are often in the top 100, sometimes due to sales propelling them up and other times simply because fans people keep coming back to them. They rank highly in revenue despite fighting big free-to-play games filled with microtransactions, like Apex Legends and Counter-Strike 2. Now, this new game is already joining the ranks of these classic souls-likes. The First Berserker: Khazan is one of the most sold games on Steam today As of March 24, The First Berserker: Khazan is ranked fifth on Steam's Global Top Sellers list, just below the Steam Deck and ahead of the co-op hit Split Fiction . It's also beating every other souls-like game in the platform. The game is part of the Dungeon & Fighter universe (also known as DNF) and takes place 800 years prior to the events in the first release of the game series, Dungeon Fighter Online . It's a 3D-action RPG with anime art and the usual dark style of souls-like games. Screenshot by Destructoid. The game releases in Steam's Advanced Access—not to be confused with early access—on March 24, with its complete release coming on March 27. Advanced access simply means people who paid more for the game, usually a deluxe edition of some sorts, get to play it a few days before anyone else. It's not a development method like early access, and games in advanced access are ready to play and fully developed, but paywalled for players who paid more than the rest. The game released to a score of 80 on Metacritic, with positive early reviews from players on Steam. While these are great numbers, they aren't even close to the 97-percent positive reviews that Sledders had on launch . The post New anime souls-like game breaks into Steam’s top 5 while still in advanced access appeared first on Destructoid .

Steam Archives – DestructoidMar 24

Review: Knights in Tight Spaces Is Off to a Good Start Ground Shatter’s Fights in Tight Spaces is one of those games you cite as a a roguelike that feels like it does something new and unique while building upon the deckbuilder concept so popular in recent releases. It’s a tight, fast, fun game that’s easy to enjoy over repeated runs. Knights in Tight Spaces attempts to follow up on that, with the developer’s sequel adding a new theme and extra gameplay elements. There’s promise and potential here, but I feel like those new additions also gum up the works. While Fights in Tight Spaces featured a James Bond style theme with a single agent against multiple foes, the sequel Knights in Tight Spaces goes medieval with fantasy elements and a whole party of characters with different ranges and specialties. I almost like to think of runs as being more similar to Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, with a party of random folk being drawn together toward a common cause. You pick where you’ll go as you travel the world, picking certain spots on the map to determine if you head into fights on small maps, each with their own objectives and foes of varying difficulty, or head to other stopgap spots where you can recover or build your deck up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kGiZQrj8aE&ab_channel=RawFury Of course, that whole party element ends up feeling like Knights in Tight Spaces ’ greatest selling point and weakness. When thinking tactically, it’s a super cool idea! New types of attacks for handling foes. Different methods for clearing out stages. New approaches to keep runs fresh! I especially liked the magic users like the Sorcerer and Warlock, since you need to keep their unique traits and spells in mind when attacking and parties with them feel so different from Fights in Tight Spaces. However, the general melee and ranged units can also be quite fun. I regularly happened upon situations when I needed to think about how to best use what I had ahead of me. And in general, these units can work really well and look good doing so. While Fights in Tight Spaces featured a stark, futuristic, minimalist approach, Knights in Tight Spaces features characters and locations that look hand-drawn. The cards in your deck look dated and aged, lending more authenticity. Yet everything is still quite detailed and well telegraphed. You can see the grid, know how your card-based movement will work, and can even immediately pick out opportunities to perhaps “push” opponents off the stage. Images via Ground Shatter Said deck is critical to success. Cards you acquire allow you to move about the aforementioned tight spaces. They let you attack. Some possess additional attributes that allow you to reposition enemies or yourself while performing skills or assaults. Many of these cards are tied to specific classes, though some movement or attack ones can be used by multiple kinds of characters. It’s there that the issue with Knights in Tight Spaces arises. This isn’t a game in which potentially any party combination, deck, or equipment setup could result in success if you’re smart. From my experiences, it is 100% advantageous to try and stick to parties that don’t diversify, so you can guarantee the most efficient deck with enough movement, attack, and skill-based cards to get you through every stage and its goals. Too many classes, and by extension the cards you’d need to make them really great, and your deck is too bloated to be useful when plopped into certain spots. Which can lead to you losing even if you picked up the best equipment for your needs along the way, as you won’t draw the cards that would let your party shine. Images via Ground Shatter However, I do think there’s hope. Knights in Tight Spaces is still very early on in its lifespan. A patch already appeared that fixed a softlock situation that kept me from writing my review earlier. (I encountered “The Past Catches Up” problem before.) The things getting in my way from really getting the most out of it, such as balancing issues, could be addressed. I enjoy Knights in Tight Spaces , but also feel like the game could use a few balancing patches and updates before it hits that roguelike sweet spot. With a few adjustments, this could be a sequel that is the equal of the original Fights in Tight Spaces . For now, it’s just an entertaining game that might put you in a situation where you can’t excel or, in some situations, really win. Knights in Tight Spaces is available for PCs . The post Review: Knights in Tight Spaces Is Off to a Good Start appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraMar 23

Pokemon TCG Journey Together Expansion Brings Partners to Battle Trainer’s Pokemon have long been a feature of the Pokemon Trading Card Game , tracing back to the first generation’s Gym Heroes expansion. Still, it’s been a while since we’ve seen them in quite this number! Journey Together is built around four trainers from recent generations: N, Iono, Lillie and Hop. Iono, the Paldea gym leader, has previously been the reason for a jump in demand for Pokemon TCG releases, so her inclusion here makes sense. Her iconic partner, Bellibolt, gets a starring role as her ex with a big 230-damage attack. That said, it’s maybe better as a supporting creature. Its ability lets you play as many energy to Iono’s Pokemon as you want, which is amazing, and its attack can only be used every second turn. But maybe it’s a finisher. Weirdly, we think Iono’s Voltorb might be better unevolved? The Electrode has some normal moves and an explosion that takes it out and is a coin flip whether it takes the opponent with it. Voltorb, conversely, has an attack that increases in damage by 20 for every electric energy on your Iono’s Pokemon. Also, the art is just way cooler. It’s joined by a Kilowattrel that can discard an energy to draw up to six cards every turn, and a Stadium card, Levincia, that lets you retrieve those energy to your hand. Photo by Siliconera Hop, the companion character from Sword & Shield , may seem like a sort of boring choice given his cadre of creatures. But in practice, that’s sort of fun? The whole group is helped by support effects and Trainer cards to make some otherwise-middling attacks a bit better. Hop’s Snorlax is key to the whole group, with an Extra Helpings ability that increases attack damage by 30. The Postwick stadium does the same thing, and though you can’t use multiple Extra Helpings effects at the same time, it can stack with Postwick. And his own Tool card, Hop’s Choice Band, once again increases damage by 30 while also decreasing energy cost by one. Hop’s Zacian ex is his sweeper, with a one-energy attack that can do 30 to the active opponent and a bench target at the same time and a four-energy attack that again only works every two turns. His Corviknight can also deal damage to the active and bench simultaneously. And his Dubwool can move something to the active spot when it’s played. Lillie’s Journey Together Pokemon largely seem built to bring back the idea of Fairy Pokemon to the TCG without, you know, actually bringing them back. Lillie’s Clefairy gives all Dragons a Psychic weakness, restoring the role of Fairy type as the foil to that dominant opposition. Well, it was dominant in the video games? With its double energy type requirements, dragons haven’t exactly been in charge of the card game recently, especially without Double Dragon Energy. She also gets the benefit of Lillie’s Pearl, a Tool card that makes her Pokemon pay out one fewer Prize card. Lillie’s Ribombee lets you lure out basics from the opponent’s hand, which combos well with Clefairy’s attack: Full Moon Rondo, which does 20 extra damage for each creature on both benches. But truly, that attack is basically the only usable one in the bunch! So it’d be hard to build a deck around just it. Photo by Siliconera The star of the Journey Together collection clearly is N, though. The Black & White character ties Hop for the most representation in the set with 13 distinct cards, and they’re all across the energy and power spectrum. His iconic partner, Zoroark, is here, though it really could use some help. Its Ability lets you discard a card to draw two every turn, and its two-energy Night Joker attack lets you use a benched N’s Pokemon’s attack. That attack could be Virtuous Flame, a 170-damage move from Reshiram that otherwise requires four energy of two additional types. Or Powerful Rage, its other move, that attacks for double its current damage. It could also be an attack from N’s Darmanitan, which can use Back Draft and deal 30 damage for each energy in the opponent’s discard pile. That could be effective later in the game? And since that attack in particular is colorless, it solves a bit of N’s energy problem: you need to build around Zoroark and feed it darkness energy, but that likely means not running the types for Reshiram to attack on its own, so there are going to need to be times when someone else can attack in a pinch. In terms of Trainers, N has two helpful ones. N’s Castle is a Stadium that negates his retreat costs, and Item card N’s PP Up lets you play an extra energy from the discard pile. He also has a smattering of other Pokemon that don’t synergize particularly well, like Joltik and Purrloin and Klinklang. While more Trainer’s Pokemon are on the horizon in upcoming sets, these are likely the only ones for these specific trainers anytime soon, so it’s highly doable to judge whether they’ll be strong enough to play as a group. In our estimation, that’s… basically everyone but Lillie. Sorry, Lillie? There’s not a lot of room for deck-building creativity, as the other three sort of have one viable configuration and strategy, but still. The latest Pokemon Trading Card Game expansion, Scarlet & Violet: Journey Together , launches March 28, 2025. Stay tuned to Siliconera for a breakdown of the set’s best cards, or check out our Pokemon TCG archive for more about the game. The post Pokemon TCG Journey Together Expansion Brings Partners to Battle appeared first on Siliconera .

SiliconeraMar 22

Assassin’s Creed Shadows goes portable, will be playable on Steam DeckUbisoft has doubled back on its previous statement about Assassin’s Creed Shadows‘ compatibility with the Steam Deck. Go ninja go The somewhat rocky road that Assassin’s Creed Shadows has had to get to launch is almost over. The latest release in the long running series, Shadows is about to roll into a full retail release … The post Assassin’s Creed Shadows goes portable, will be playable on Steam Deck appeared first on BrutalGamer .

BrutalGamerMar 17

Move over Lethal Company, R.E.P.O. is the new king of multiplayer horror Team-based horror games have really come into their own over the last few years. The likes of Phasmophobia and Lethal Company have set new standards for multiplayer survival tactics. But now R.E.P.O. is set to become the new darling of the genre (if it isn't already). At the time of writing, the game has claimed the number two spot on Steam's Top Sellers list. Given that the Steam Deck at number one is pretty much always number one – and is a piece of hardware anyway – that basically means R.E.P.O. is the top-selling game on the platform, ahead of Counter-Strike 2 , Split Fiction , and Baldur's Gate 3 . https://twitter.com/ZeekerssRBLX/status/1900698647391776993 On top of that, the third-party website SteamDB has recorded a peak concurrent player record of 230,645, achieved within the last 24 hours. To put that into perspective, Content Warning – a similar game with a focus on team survival horror – had an all-time peak of 204,439 players. So what is R.E.P.O. ? If you haven't played it yet, now might be a good time to give it a go. In a nutshell, R.E.P.O. is an online multiplayer game that tasks players with working together in horror environments to achieve goals; in this case, retrieving valuables. Visually, it looks kind of goofy, with oodles of humor thrown into the mix as players collaborate using the game's physics, all while avoiding the spooks that await. To that end, it's kind of similar to Lethal Company , which was also the talk of the indie horror community for a while. In fact, the developer of Lethal Company has recently played R.E.P.O. , referring to it as fun. Their experience of working in a group of other players to "move a grand piano through a cramped old mansion without scraping it" is the "most funny objective for a horror game," apparently. It will be interesting to see how much longevity R.E.P.O. has. Typically, these types of games often enjoy brief but lucrative stints in the limelight before fading out, which is unfortunate. Developer semiwork is said to be working on an update. It's also worth noting that the game is in early access, so it's pretty cheap at the moment. The post Move over Lethal Company, R.E.P.O. is the new king of multiplayer horror appeared first on Destructoid .

Steam Archives – DestructoidMar 17