There’s a lot to love about Starfield: the space dogfights, the exploration, the neverending list of quests, the excellent main story… Oh, and also the plushies.

Yes, you read that right. While Bethesda has always been lauded for their impeccable attention to detail, it really does feel like they’ve taken things to a whole other level with Starfield. We all remember The Lusty Argonian Maid from Elder Scrolls, and that was funny and all, but never have I been so enthralled by Starfield’s criminally adorable line of space plushies.

Whether you are a newcomer or a Bethesda gaming veteran, it’s crucial to know what you are signing up for, especially if you have a certain expectation or are unsure about a mechanic. You could also factor in basic gameplay mechanics that could result in your character’s demise simply because you weren’t aware of the galaxy’s many harmful features.

That’s where we come in to help you get a better idea of what to anticipate before starting Starfield, with several handy tips and tricks that can maximize your space adventures.

Starfield on PC

There’s the call to adventure, the introduction of supernatural elements, and the congregation of like-minded individuals and mentors who help shape our protagonist into who they need to be to complete their mission. There are the challenges and temptations, an incredible and unbelievable revelation, the gradual realization of what must be done, the redemption arc, before everything comes full circle and our protagonist is right back where they started — just older and wiser.

In many ways, Starfield doesn’t really do anything new. It’s an open-world game with a tried and true story structure that’s been overused across all forms of media. Truly, the hero’s journey might be the most tiresome and overused narrative formula in TV and movies — and make no mistake, Starfield leans into it pretty hard. This should come as no surprise, considering that the hero’s journey serves as the backbone of most other Bethesda open-world games. And yet, despite Starfield’s unapologetic reuse of narrative tropes and open-world trappings, Bethesda has somehow managed to create something genuinely special here.

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that Baldur’s Gate 3 has some truly standout characters for you to interact with.

Almost as soon as you dive into the game, you get the chance to meet a wide variety of characters that run the gamut of fantasy races and creatures. Some are easily befriended and can offer you aid, while others see you as a threat or a nuisance and treat you as such. Each has their own personality, and several can be interacted with in ways that are mind-blowing compared to the more static NPCs found in other games.

As the hotly anticipated release of Starfield peeks over the horizon, the excitement is building from all angles, including that of the music industry.

Via Starfield’s Twitter account and their own, Imagine Dragons released a new song called Children of the Sky, and it’s all about the game both in the vocals and in the visuals.

The renowned Resident Evil franchise boasts a cast of unforgettable characters, from resilient heroes to cunning masterminds bent on world domination. Brace yourself, for I have crafted an intriguing personality quiz tailored to discern which of these illustrious protagonists aligns closest with your own persona.

And fear not, dear reader, as your responses to my thought-provoking questions shall be kept in the utmost confidence. Our impervious data infrastructure, developed by the esteemed Umbrella Corporation, ensures the utmost security of your answers.

Games in 2023 have been nothing if not massive, both in the way there are so many high-profile releases and the sheer size of the releases themselves. Baldur’s Gate 3 is of course no exception to this, with there being enough content in the game to keep you locked in for 90 hours before even reaching the second act. For someone who spends every second of playing games searching for secrets and Easter eggs, this comes as both good and bad news.

My Dreams Are Top-Down & Turn-Based

For starters, Baldur’s Gate 3 hit me like an Eldritch Blast right off the bat. I hadn’t played any of Larian’s previous games, including Divinity: Original Sin. I’ve played plenty of Dungeons & Dragons, but I didn’t know what to expect from the game until about a month prior to its release, where suddenly my imagination went wild with the different chaotic adventures I could go on. To say that I was pleasantly surprised after launch would be an understatement.

If you’re anything like us, starting a new character in a Bethesda Game Studios title can be simultaneously the most exciting thing in the world and the most overwhelming thing, too. While there are plenty of aesthetic elements that are under the player’s control, there’s also a dizzying cavalcade of skills, stats, and backgrounds to choose from as well. As you can imagine, Starfield is no exception.

As a result of this, some clever folks over at Nukes & Dragons (H/T, Reddit) have created a bespoke Starfield build planner to help you plan for your intergalactic journey ahead. All you need to do is pick a background for your character, input the skills you’d like, and choose up to three traits, and… Bob’s your uncle!

The release of Bethesda’s Starfield is set to be one of the biggest dates in gamers’ calendars, promising all the immersion, intergalactic exploration and space battles that fans want. It might not have released yet, but fans are flocking to pre-orders with such speed that it’s outselling Larian Studios’ epic Baldur’s Gate 3 on Steam – before it’s even out.

The Dungeons and Dragons-esque title has proved a resounding success for Larian, surpassing expectations in a remarkable and sustained manner. The developers apparently expected to sit around 100,000 concurrent players but, within days of its PC release, were regularly encountering player counts seven or eight times higher.

Sea of Stars on PC

Set in the same universe as Sabotage Studio’s previous title, The Messenger, Sea of Stars is a modern take on the classic 2D RPG game genre that many grew up with. If this has made you hesitant, then no need to worry, as this new addition to the universe is a prequel to the timeline and stands as its own separate story and game.

The story of Sea of Stars kicks off with an incredibly special tale centered around undying friendship, which sets the tone for Zale and Valere’s entire journey. It’s clear that they hold a special bond right from the beginning, joking about their academy days and the strict rules of their Professor in light jabs of humor towards one another.

Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) has garnered loads of attention for its enthralling narrative, in-depth role-playing mechanics, and detailed character interactions. One of the defining features of the game is the diverse and dynamic companions you can journey with throughout your adventures. Although you can skip any or all of them, you would be wise to recruit them on your journey. Let’s dive into the 10 best companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, each bringing their unique stories, abilities, and personalities to the table.

10. Jaheira, High Half-Elf Druid

Jaheira, a Half High Elf Companion, becomes available for recruitment in Act 2, where she steadfastly guards the Last Light Inn in the Shadow-Cursed Lands. This dedicated guardian assists your journey in unraveling the enigma surrounding the absolute cult. From the outset, she is introduced as a Druid from the Circle of the Moon, displaying her proficiency with spells and the distinctive Wild Shape ability.

If there’s one guarantee when it comes to a new game featuring customizable mechs, it’s that a whole lot of people are going to be rushing to recreate their favourite anime robots. With its incredibly robust design tools Armored Core 6 has proven to be no exception. Players have already taken to the internet to show off their magnificent works of gleaming metal and here are some of the best so far.

10. Eva-01

Lets get this one out of the way first because we all knew it was coming. Neon Genesis Evangelion is widely hailed as one of the greatest anime of all time and players couldn’t wait to recreate the series’ famous purple and green mecha in AC6.

Starfield is shaping up to becoming a modder’s paradise, thanks to its massive customization system that allows you to generate whole planets and immersive storylines. Modders are already having a field day with this innovative mechanic, establishing ideas of their own home worlds and the recreation of famous universes.

Given that Bethesda is behind the game, it’s no surprise to see plans for Skyrim-inspired planets, with a possibility of remaking the entire installment in the modern space age. Some fans have even come up with a few names for this dream project, including Skyfield, Starsky (and Hutch), and Starrim. Though, they may want to add The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion into the mix since Phil Spencer has claimed that Starfield leans more toward this game.

First revealed back in June as part of Microsoft’s showcase at Summer Game Fest 2023, the latest project coming out of Life Is Strange creators DONTNOD is peculiar, to say the least. Rather than being narrative-heavy with impactful choices to make, Jusant is a much more meditative affair as an action-puzzle climber, where the journey is of your own making.

The mysterious nature of the overall narrative of Jusant, with its focus on the secrets of a bygone civilization, depends heavily on environmental storytelling, with the main character functioning as more of a lens for players to view this world through. Scattered letters and notes provide contextual clues about the people that once were and a time before now, but only if you make the effort to find them, oftentimes requiring venturing off the beaten track.

Don Duality on PC

I’ve been really enjoying the duplexity of games lately, including Dave the Diver’s day/night cycle and the various terrains of SteamWorld Build. The same can be said for the Chaos Manager, Don Duality, as players simultaneously tackle the struggles of running a syndicate and a restaurant.

From what I’ve experienced, I believe it has a strong foundation with its unique concept of having a split screen with two distinct lifestyles. At the bottom, you’ll send out minions to make your mark across the districts, while the top showcases the normalcy of a restaurant. The customer service business is essentially a cover for your dirty deeds, and you’ll need to improve it to steer the police away from the gang.

Games these days are getting into the habit of looking absolutely stunning, and so players love to wear some of their love for these games on their sleeves, or more specifically, on their desktops. Starfield is another title that focuses on graphical design and elegance, and so there are plenty of wallpaper options for players who just can’t get enough of the game.

Bethesda sure knows what players want, given the amount of concept art and images in plenty of resolutions. No matter what aspect ratio you’re running, here’s 10 Starfield wallpapers to fit your desktop and get you fully prepared for the game’s release.

In preparation for the highly-anticipated release of Starfield, the game’s director, Todd Howard, geared up for its launch during the 2023 Gamescom event, featuring new and updated gameplay footage. Fans quickly noticed a significant change in the graphics, specifically with an older elevator scene that has been completely revamped.

Reddit user MartinTheTrue was able to show the differences between the official gameplay reveal in 2022 and the newest version at the convention. While the previous snippet depicts a slightly darker ambiance, the Gamescom footage brings more life into the scene through its illuminated lighting and realistic facial expressions.

At long last, The Final Shape DLC showcase has been revealed for Destiny 2. Needless to say, but an abundance of announcements were made throughout the livestream, so we’re going to break down all of it. This is everything announced during Destiny 2’s Final Shape Showcase.

New Location: The Pale Heart

The first major announcement was the reveal of the new location, The Pale Heart, the inside of the Traveler. This will be the final major destination of the Light and Darkness Saga, where we will make our last stand against The Witness. The Raid will also take place here. Bungie has also confirmed the destination will change and evolve when the Raid is completed. On top of that, the location will feature memorable places like the original Destiny 1 Tower, and more.

Immortals of Aveum on PS5

There’s undoubtedly potential for greatness in Immortals of Aveum. It’s a unique combination of cinematic fantasy and FPS fluidity, often rendered beautifully and throwing players headfirst into immersive and rewarding combat. Unfortunately, it’s often the cause of its own mortality, struggling to balance story, lore, humor, and characters. The result is a decidedly mixed bag, a game that captivates and frustrates in equal measure. 

Players are thrown into Aveum, a world that’s wounded and splintered – quite literally. Five kingdoms have collapsed into two warring superpowers, the tyrannical Rasharn and the barely surviving Lucium. Magic is at the center of these worlds, with three different types: Green, Red, and Blue. Most are confined to wielding one type but, in the case of a rare few known as Unforeseen, all can be controlled. 

Marvel Snap variants can get pretty pricey, so whenever the opportunity to get one for free presents itself, you just gotta take it. Second Dinner has just announced that by tuning into Gamescom Opening Night Live 2023 this week, you’ll be able to get the Spider-Man Max Grecke variant for free.

All you have to do is link your Twitch and Marvel Snap accounts, then watch the main stream on the Game Awards Twitch channel or any of the supported co-stream events on Aug. 22, 11 a.m. PT for 30 minutes to unlock the following rewards: