Sea of Stars has had an extremely successful release, with plenty of players praising the game for its simplistic yet cute story revolving around friendship and heroism, gorgeous 2D pixel art graphics, and endearing and lovable main characters. However, while the magical Solstice Warriors Zale and Valere are brilliant key protagonists, there is one character who steals the show from these two, despite having no powers himself.

This, of course, is none other than Valere and Zale’s best friend from childhood, Garl. He may not be gifted with any magical powers, but he’s certainly just as much — and at times even more — of a hero than his two friends. Unfortunately, for the most part, Garl seems to just slip under the radar as the humorous, lovable Cook despite being so much more.

Over the last few years, anime has continued to grow in popularity among a variety of different ages. While many anime shows feature dark themes or complex plots, there is a surprisingly enjoyable selection of shows considered suitable for children. If you’re looking for some offerings to enjoy with younger individuals, or are looking for the perfect introductory series, then we’ve got you covered. Here are the 10 best kid-friendly anime that can be enjoyed by all ages, listed in no particular order.

Pokemon

Watch On: Netflix, Pokemon TV, Prime Video

You can never go wrong with a classic such as Pokemon. This anime revolves around protagonist Ash Ketchum and his beloved partner, Pikachu, as he sets out in the Kanto Region to collect all eight Gym Badges, challenge the Elite Four, and become a Pokemon Master.

The World of Baldur’s Gate 3 is filled with many unique and interesting characters both in the form of comrades that you can recruit and various NPCs that you meet along the way. Among them, you’ll witness a harsh Githyaki fighter, a worshipper of Shar, a vampire fledgling gone Rogue, an escapist of Hell, and a cold-hearted Drow Paladin intertwined with a cult; just to name a few.

If you’re curious which of these intriguing individuals you’re most like, then look no further. We’ve crafted this BG3 quiz to determine which Companion character you’re most similar to in personality. Will you be a nature-loving Druid, or a conflicted Warlock who has made a deal with the Devil? Follow along below to find out!

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.

While I’ve never been heavily invested in TTRPGs, I found myself persuaded into giving DND 5e a go with a group of friends, and have played through a few campaigns and one-shot stories over the last couple of years. Along the way, I’ve found myself favoring stealthy melee classes, the Rogue and Fighter in particular – often multiclassing them together in my favorite melee-magic combination of Arcane Trickster + Eldritch Knight.

Because I’m set in my ways, this is the build I immediately decided to recreate with my Mephistopheles Tiefling girl in Baldur’s Gate 3, kicking off with Rogue levels, and later taking a dip into Fighter. Upon selecting my build, I was excited to reach Level 3 and pick my first Spells and Cantrips, as I tend to have a few favorites from 5e that I was already planning to use and was eager to see how they had been edited to work efficiently in BG3.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to jump into the early access build of Overwatch 2 Season 6 and attend a presentation and interview hosted by the Overwatch devs. Season 6 is titled Invasion, and is the biggest content drop in the history of Overwatch 2, bringing PVE story missions, a brand new Support hero, a new game mode, limited-time game modes, new maps, the Hero Mastery and progression system, and much more to look forward to.

I’ve been a dedicated player of Overwatch for a few years now, and I’ve seen the game through the numerous highs and lows. However, if there’s one thing I’m certain of, it’s that Season 6 will be a lot of fun, and will have something for all players to enjoy.

I’m neither the most talented nor the luckiest shiny hunter when it comes to collecting these in-game rarities, but I’ve always enjoyed the unique color palettes of shiny Pokémon and how badass or horrifying they can make a beloved species look. Because of this, I was naturally excited to see that shiny Pokémon were included within Pokémon Sleep, knowing that there was a slim chance one may someday appear during my slumber.

The shiny odds in Pokémon Sleep are lower than the mainline games, much like Pokémon GO. However, If my Pokémon GO days were any indicator, I knew not to expect anything, and to presume that I wouldn’t come across one of those sparkly critters for a very long time, possibly for as long as I manage to hold interest in the game.

2023 has marked the arrival of some of the most entertaining, emotional, and intense anime seasons. From slashing Demons in grueling, bloody fights or actively avoiding being hunted for a six-million dollar bounty to adapting to living in a world inhabited by the undead, we’ve rounded up the best contenders to create a list of the best must-binge series of the year so far.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – Season 3

Watch on: Crunchyroll

Demon Slayer’s third season takes place during the Swordsmith Village arc, where viewers will get to see Tanjiro and the Hashira duo of Muichiro Tokito and Mitsuri Kanroji step into the limelight and go head-to-head against two of Muzan’s fiercest Upper Moon henchmen.

Recently I’ve been skimming over many of the various game makers and ‘maker’ video games I’ve tried out over the years, looking back into titles from the classic Super Mario Maker games to the more refined RPG Maker and Pixel Game maker studios. However, in doing so, I’ve stumbled across a thought I’m sure many other Pokemaniacs have encountered at some point in time — between all of the Rom Hacks and game maker mods, why doesn’t the Pokemon Company invest in the creation of a ‘Pokemon Maker’ video game, letting us all bring custom Pokemon adventures to life?

First, I’ll start by answering the obvious red flags you’re all undoubtedly waving in my face. Don’t worry; I’m no Tauros. I won’t get mad at this gesture. I’m well aware that the simple answer to this question is that a concept such as this will likely never happen due to the sheer scale of the proposed project and how time-consuming and tedious it would be to complete.

Fortnite and Overwatch 2 are two of the most significant free-to-play multiplayer games across various platforms, with many fans of the titles holding out hopes for a collaboration or crossover event between the two. While the lack of such an event remains a sad tale for the hopeful, there are more similarities between the games than one may anticipate, especially between a handful of characters from each title, with their designs striking an uncanny resemblance.

Undoubtedly, this will happen occasionally in the video games industry – that’s the joys of character design, especially in live service games that release such frequent cosmetics. However, there are a few matchups where these two characters could appear to be related! Without further ado, here are 10 Fortnite skins we spotted with a strong visual similarity to Overwatch 2 characters.

Fans of Fortnite and Overwatch 2 have been hoping for a possible collaboration between the two games for a long time. While there’s yet to be any evidence of this occurring in the near future, Overwatch and Fortnite have always had subtle influences on one another. Examples can be found through a variety of Fortnite skins, which share similarities to familiar Overwatch characters, such as Arache (Widowmaker), Omega (Genji), Ark (Mercy), Calamity (Ashe), and more.

Additionally, the jump from Overwatch 1 to Overwatch 2 included a Battle Pass and shop system, much like Fortnite, and there’s even been an instance of a spray for the latter mimicking one of Overwatch’s beloved Tank heroes. These games are already intertwined with one another, even if it isn’t directly through a crossover event. As two of the most notable free-to-play titles currently available on various platforms, it’s safe to say many fans are eager to see them come together to form a collaboration.

Overwatch 2’s Summer Games event has returned for 2023, alongside the mid-season Hero balance patch update. With the arrival of this event, the return of everything Summer Games has to offer has been implemented back into the game, including cosmetics from previous years of the event, a new Winston’s Beach Volleyball limited-time game mode, and of course, the fan-favorite Lucioball game mode.

However, while many have been eager to jump right into Lucioball’s action on the pitch and start scoring goals, it seems the game mode isn’t playing exactly how it’s supposed to. Players quickly began to notice a bug regarding Lucio’s ‘Boop’ ability, failing to interact with the movement and trajectory of the ball as intended.

Overwatch 2 has a wide variety of different Hero skin cosmetics to collect, with every character having their own set of various themes and outfits to unlock or purchase as you play the game. However, some of these hero skins have only been available for a limited time or have since skyrocketed in value, making them some of the most exclusive items in Overwatch 2 that players would do anything to get their hands on.

In no particular order, we’ve rounded up 10 of the rarest skins in Overwatch 2, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for any hidden gems you may have stored in your Hero Gallery.

There’s been many mainline Pokemon games released over the years, each containing unique aspects or inclusions of new functions and features. Unfortunately, not all of these features have been consistently included in the following titles, leaving them in the dark limbo of old consoles and Pokemon game generations.

While there’s no doubt that not every game mechanic will be a winner, some of them continue to stand out against modern Pokemon titles, leaving a hole in the hearts of Trainers who have been dreaming of their return. Keeping this in mind, we’ve gone ahead and caught 10 of the most deserving Pokemon game mechanics that need to make a comeback.

Visual novel games utilize unique visual approaches and heavy story formats paired with simplistic, minor gameplay elements, meaning they’re perfect for playing on the go or even from the cozy comfort of your couch or bed. Of course, this makes the Nintendo Switch the ideal console to enjoy this genre on, thanks to the easy portability of the handheld mode and the addition of touchscreen controls in many titles. If you’re looking for some more visual novel games to enjoy on your Switch, look no further; we’ve rounded up and listed 10 of the best experiences available on the system.

1. Coffee Talk 1 & 2

Coffee Talk places you in the shoes of a barista, brewing drinks for the intriguing, fantasy-inspired customers that set foot in your shop. As you serve these individuals, you’ll listen to their stories and problems, helping them overcome obstacles in their life with a cup of fresh brew. Coffee Talk utilizes a gorgeous pixel art style which really helps to create a specific type of welcoming and cozy atmosphere for the player.

The world of Pokemon is a fascinating one. Not only are their countless regions, a surprising amount of copycat ‘gangs’ of bad guys trying to take over the world, and nearly a thousand of the cute, tough, creepy and cuddly creatures to catch, it’s also teeming with secrets and mystery. That’s why the community has frequently come up with their own conspiracy theories to answer some of the Pokemon world’s biggest unanswered questions. Sometimes, it’s to do with the all-powerful legendary and mythical Pokemon, other times, it’s just a random thing that doesn’t make sense. Whatever it may be, we’ve compiled 15 of the most interesting Pokemon conspiracy theories in this post, so you can get your sleuth on.

Mews are ‘Un-differentiated’ Pokemon

Ok so this is a pretty nifty theory on everyone’s favourite cute pink cat/mouse hybrid… thing. The theory suggests that Arceus is the God Pokemon and, after he created time and space, with Dialga and Palkia to govern it, he wanted to populate said planet.

The Shinobi world of Naruto is filled with dangerous missions, powerful antagonists, and full-fledged wars, so it’s no surprise that there’s been many tragic losses of character lives along the way. However, among the frequent deaths occurring throughout the ninja lifestyle, there are several instances in Naruto where characters realistically should have lost their lives but somehow managed to escape such a fate. We’ve rounded up the most notable characters that come to mind regarding near-death experiences and defying the odds, so without further ado, here are 10 Naruto characters that should have died.

Orochimaru

The strange mentor-student dynamic between Sasuke and Orochimaru has always seemed to be building up to the moment Sasuke would finally overthrow the latter, killing him off for good. There had been years of training to this build-up, fuelled by Sasuke’s hunger for revenge and desires to hone his abilities, so it only made sense that the time would finally come and Orochimaru’s chapter would be closed for good, leaving Kabuto to carry on his legacy.

With the release of Tears of the Kingdom, I finally decided that it was time to give the Zelda franchise a go. Thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised with the level of care put into this title and impressed with how suitable it was to both longtime franchise fans and newcomers alike.

After spending many hours enjoying everything Tears of the Kingdom offers, I’ve found plenty of little details and mechanics to admire. This has led me to consider how similar features may work in other Nintendo titles.

There’s been a lot of hype recently regarding the Spider-Man video game series, thanks to the reveal of more teaser trailers and details for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PS5. Noticing this progression of the sequel has caused me to give some very uneasy side-eye to my copy of Marvel’s Spider-Man on PS4, which has sadly been sitting in my games cabinet unplayed from the day I first purchased it. Don’t get me wrong, though; this is not something I’m proud of. I’m well aware that this title is one of the most popular games on PS4 and that the entire Marvel’s Spider-Man series has been a success for Sony in general.

I’ve watched my friends and family enjoy the game for themselves, and I definitely see the appeal in gameplay mechanics, graphics, and cinematics. However, although I’ve owned this game for years, I’ve never worked up the willpower to play it. There’s just something about this series that throws me off and makes me feel like playing through it will be a chore.

The Last of Us is one of the best-selling Sony franchises, containing two original video games with various remakes/remasters, a series of comic books, and a live-action TV show. Everything in this incredible franchise leads back to the successful release of the original The Last of Us game on June 14, 2013. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of this phenomenal post-apocalyptic adventure, we’ve listed off some of the most hilarious, heartwarming, and heartbreaking parts of Ellie and Joel’s journey. In no particular order, here are the 10 most unforgettable The Last of Us moments in celebration of its 10th anniversary.

Sarah’s Death

Anyone who has played The Last of Us will forever be heartbroken by the heavily emotional and traumatic scene that was Sarah’s death during the prologue of the story. Despite Sarah being a minor character in the game and having a short time on-screen, her fate was made that much more impactful by having the player take control of her as a playable character at the beginning of the prologue, giving them a chance to witness her personality as the sweet, innocent daughter of Joel.