If you ever needed proof that more isn’t better when it comes to video games, consider the chatty protagonist. Back in the day, player characters used to keep their mouths shut and let their fists do the talking. Link, Gordon Freeman, Doomguy, and Samus Aran are some of the most iconic video game heroes of all time, and none of them ever felt the need to monologue to themselves through the entire goddamn game....

I’ve not been silent about mydistaste for Bloober Team’sremake ofSilent Hill 2. The Polish studio has produced half-decent horror games with Layers of Fear and Blair Witch, but these successes pale in comparison to how badly games likeThe Mediummishandle actively damaging subject matter, and how it tackled its own internal definition of trauma. It all fell apart with a prevailing message that told players that if you’re mentally ill then it’s better to kill yourself because the world isn’t willing to help fix you....

The latest updates forSkullgirls 2nd Encoreand Skullgirls Mobile have reworked or removed older content that devs say doesn’t “reflect [their] values”. This mostly encompasses some of the more sexual material, removing images that sexualise minors or Nazi iconography. Animations have been left intact, with the patch notes making it clear that the game will still depict characters that “confidently express their sexuality”. However, Filia and Parasoul have been hit with palette changes, making panty shots less obvious in Filia’s case, and getting rid of Parasoul’s red armband....

Though some people would say it’s a basic, boring choice,the warrior classinSkyrimis nothing to sneeze at. There’s a surprising amount of personalization that can go into the class and plenty of opportunities to show off your talents. Even if you want to join a group likethe Dark Brotherhoodorthe College of Winterhold, you can find a way to make your mastery of weapons and heavy armor work to your advantage. RELATED:Skyrim: Things Players Completely Missed About The College Of Winterhold To truly get the most out of your warrior playthrough, though, we recommend checking out some mods....

Now that we know Eddie Brock isn’t Venom inSpider-Man 2, fans are convinced that Kraven is going to end up bonding with the symbiote and becoming Venom in theInsomniac Gamesuniverse.One of the biggest surprises at Summer Game Fest was when Spider-Man 2 was featured on stage, revealing to us the game’s release date, cover art, and some new pieces of concept art. While talking about Venom onstage,it was confirmed that Eddie Brock isn’t going to be Venom in the Insomniac universe, while Peter was shown fighting him alongside Miles, debunking the theory that hemight be the big bad this time around....

Star Wars Jedi: Survivorhas had a bit of a rough launch. We had a hint of what was to come whenEA promised “weeks” of patchesthe day before Survivor’s release, but then the game arrived tomostly negative reviews on Steamwhen people found out just how poorly optimized Jedi Survivor truly was. While EA and Respawn scramble to get those promised performance patches out the door, one humble modder has taken it upon themselves to release a mod that improves Jedi: Survivor’s framerates on lower-end PCs and removes that awful stuttering that many fans have complained about....

After (properly) debuting inFallout 4,Bethesdais having another go at companion romances. It already seems that the devs have learned a lesson from last time too, as there are significantly fewer options than we got in the wasteland. Speaking with Kinda Funny Games, Bethesda’s Todd Howard was asked about what we can get up to with our new companion. Here, he confirms that just four of them will be romanceable - which hopefully means the romance arcs will be a little more substantial this time....

Street Fighter 6players love how Juri interacts with and roasts the player if they become her student in World Tour, including telling them that they “suck” and have too much free time. From making Ryu text like a boomertoChun-Li acknowledging her “thick” thighs, one of the highlights of Street Fighter 6’s World Tour mode is how many funny interactions the main cast has with the player character and how hard Capcom leans into each fighter’s personality....

It’s time to party!Magic: The Gathering’s new Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth commander release has brought us the Food and Fellowship deck, and it’s all about having a good time. There are plenty of food tokens to keep guests happy and to keep the party going well past the break of dawn. Related:MTG – The Best Commanders From Lord Of The Rings: Tales Of Middle-earth Food and Fellowship plays great on its own, but there are quite a few cards that might make the jump from the Shire all the way to another Commander deck....

Going on a night out with the same friends could get a bit boring when there’s nothing new to talk about. Similarly, having drinks with newer friends could also get a bit awkward because you don’t know them well enough yet. In both cases, you may liven up the night and loosen up your collars with a drinking card game. Not only will they get everyone tipsy, but you’ll have a blast as well....

In many survival games base-building is your best bet for a long life, andDon’t Starve Togetheris no different. Later in the game, big builds will require a lot of loot, and mass production of basic materials means super efficient farms are necessary. Related:Best Ways To Keep Your Base Safe In Don’t Starve Together But with all the complicated mechanics, survivor boons, and creature interactions it can get overwhelming figuring out how best to streamline your mega-farms, and what the best layouts are....

The Audiopocalypse mini-set is an extra addition toHearthstone’s music-themedFestival of Legendsexpansion. Thanks to their small card pool, mini-sets can be somewhat hit-or-miss when it comes to their impact on the meta. If the cards are too weak, a mini-set can come and go without anyone really even noticing. Related:Every New Naga From Battlegrounds Season 4, Ranked However, Audiopocalypse came with several minions that made an immediate impact. It helps that many of the new minions are dual-class cards, giving them more opportunities to see play....

TheSteam Deckis single-handedly bringing back handheld gaming. What is a better way to enjoy portability than getting a jumpscare while in bed? The best thing about the Steam Deck is being able to continue your game from your PC onto a handheld device. It can be hard to find games to play on the Steam Deck because not every game on the Steam storefront is one hundred percent compatible. We have compiled a list of some of the best horror games that are completely verified and compatible with the Steam Deck....