Horror games are so iconic. Few games immerse the player in an evocative and memorable world as well as horror titles. Famous, classic Japanese horror series like Resident Evil and Silent Hill keep putting out games. In fact, the recent release of Silent Hill 2 shows there is plenty of room for more horror remakes. This are our picks for the classic horror games that need a sequel or remake next.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Horror Games That Need a Remake or Sequel

I'm kind of loathe to think of Siren: Blood Curse as a remake of the original game since it's SO different in terms of…well, everything. It's more a reimagination, really. While a much more faithful remake of Siren would be nice, I'm one of those people who believe that if you're going to play it, you should play the original, horrible, janky version and get that true frustrating experience. It's part of the charm. -- Stephanie (1/2)

Siren 2, on the other hand, seemed to have genuinely wanted to provide some quality-of-life upgrades. As such, it would be nice to see a proper remake of that one. Heck, a Siren 3 that's similar to the first two in terms of gameplay and writing would be great too. It might be difficult though, since the main creative team for Siren seem to be at Bokeh Game Studio now and I don't know who even has the rights to the IP anymore. -- Stephanie (2/2)

I have to agree with Stephanie. Siren should come back. It's such a memorable story, and the gameplay was so unusual and different. It genuinely felt desperate and horrifying when you knew the Shibito were everywhere, you were outnumbered, and it would be so easy to panic and slip up. -- Jenni

I’m a wimp when it comes to horror games so I mostly stick to visual novels. Though not outright horror games, I keep hoping and praying for new games in the Zero Escape and Danganronpa series. They both have light spooky elements, especially 999 with the “knocking” part that actually made me jump when I first played it. Both series made me fall in love with the visual novel genre and I just need more of both. This is particularly painful for Zero Escape since I will stand by that Zero Time Dilemma’s most horrifying part was its terribly unfinished ending that needs a sequel someday. -- Cody

The post Which Classic Horror Games Need a Remake or Sequel Next? appeared first on Siliconera.

It is bizarre for 2024 to have not one, but two major, Japanese role-playing games with the same exact theme involving a contest to determine the next king. Despite not being the most common story premise around, both Metaphor: ReFantazio and FFXIV Dawntrail feature the same idea and launched within months of each other. So, when it comes to Metaphor: ReFantazio vs FFXIV Dawntrail, which ultimately does the concept of a contest for the throne better?

Pros and Cons of Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Throne Contest

To determine a winner, if there is any, it is worth diving deeper into the good and bad sides of both games in terms of just the throne contest. For Metaphor: ReFantazio, specifically, the key positives I took away from this monumental new Atlus JRPG regarding the contest is the grand scope of it all and the actual characters.

The Kingdom of Euchronia feels massive and like an actual kingdom that the player explores across. I will say there is some awkwardness to the game, such as feeling like the exploration loses a bit of its wonder in the second half, but it makes up for that with the unbelievable number of contestants.

You start out with a popularity ranking of more than 8,000 and there is a substantial number of candidates with dedicated portraits. I will say I wish there was more focus on some of the characters because they ended up feeling useless. Characters like Milo and Loveless are just there and had little influence on the actual contest, at least in my playthrough.

By far my biggest issue with this contest is the direction it goes in. I won’t go into spoilers here but it has more of a whimper of an ending in my opinion than it deserved. Furthermore, the actual activities that make up the contest, such as the core tests, are pretty underbaked. Outside of the first test where players visit Martira, I had no interest in the pretty basic and unsurprising, highly repetitive activities.

Pros and Cons of FFXIV Dawntrail’s Throne Contest

Then there is the contest for FFXIV Dawntrail. Despite also taking place across an entire continent, it feels far more personal. It lacks the grandeur of its competitor but it makes up for that in other ways. For one, while I am not a huge fan of the smaller cast of candidates, I do feel like proper attention was given to all of them in equal enough measure.

In addition, the actual activities are far more intriguing and numerous as well. You spend time cooking a dish for one tribe, taking down a legendary beast in another, or learning about the lore of the society in still more. Despite the focus Metaphor has on its tribes and racism, I honestly think Dawntrail did a finer job of getting to know each group in Tural. In addition, the areas are just generally more beautiful and fun to visit, such as the gorgeous jungles in Kozama’uka and the stunning glowing forest of Yak T’el.

That said, the characters aren’t arguably as intriguing as the ones in Metaphor. Though they get more attention, they don’t have as much of an impact or interesting writing. At least, that is until the second half of the expansion, but that has nothing to do with the actual succession contest in question. As such, the contest left a bitter taste in my mouth. It felt a little too plain, simple, and predictable, especially in its conclusion.

Metaphor: ReFantazio vs. FFXIV Dawntrail: Which Is Better?

In the end, it is quite difficult to say which of Metaphor: ReFantazio vs. FFXIV Dawntrail has the overall better throne succession storyline. Both are solid games and they both have their positives that are, quite frankly, the opposite of one another but they also have their flaws almost equally so.

If you want the grand spectacle of it all, Metaphor is the way to go. If you prefer a true adventure that feels more personal and emotional at times, Dawntrail is likely the place to be. However, if I had to pick one overall winner, I would go with Metaphor. I think I prefer Dawntrail’s contest conclusion but Metaphor makes the contest a grander focus.

Dawntrail’s throne storyline is essentially half or around 60% of the actual plot and the best part of this expansion is what comes afterwards. On the other hand, Metaphor is at its strongest in the earlier parts of the throne contest and it focuses more on this aspect a bit better in my opinion. Plus, the neat features like being able to check your popularity ranking at any point makes it feel like a more legitimate tournament. As such, I would say Metaphor takes the crown in this strangely coincidental situation.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is now available for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. FFXIV Dawntrail is available for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post Metaphor: ReFantazio vs FFXIV Dawntrail: Which Has a Better Throne Contest? appeared first on Siliconera.

The talented team over at 07th Expansion knows how to make a masterful, complicated, and engrossing story. The folks did it with Higurashi first, and then soon after again with Umineko. More importantly, everyone involved is a master of Japanese horror, which not enough visual novels and anime do well. As such, it is high time for Umineko, one of the best horror anime of all time, to make a long-awaited return.

Umineko has a pretty straightforward initial premise with an execution that is anything but simple. It tells the story of a family that gathers on an island, only to become stranded there. Thus ensues some wild and horrifying murders that can’t be easily explained. Is it supernatural? A human serial killer? Therein lies the true mystery of this anime.

I would argue the premise of this series and the spooky vibes are, at times, more compelling and intriguing than even Higurashi, which I also adore. It has a structure quite similar to its predecessor in the original visual novel, too, splitting between its four question arcs and four answer ones. Unfortunately, the original anime focused solely on the question side.

As such, fans are left with some of the worst lingering questions with no answers and it has been like this since the anime’s release in 2009. That is quite a long time to wait without any resolution whatsoever. Of course, you can play the original visual novels, read the manga, or even the novelization series for the answers if you’d like.

But I think it is a shame to make fans go that route, especially since Higurashi is complete in anime form. In fact, it is so complete that it got a full-on two-season sequel, despite being seemingly finished, from 2020-2021. This makes the situation all the more worse for Umineko that has nothing but a single 26 episode season.

At this point, it feels necessary to do a full-on Umineko remake. And this would be great since it would have much better animation and usher in a new audience. This remake season could be a precursor to a second season finally diving into the answers. I hate to get my hopes up, but it actually feels like the right time to do this as well.

After all, we got Higurashi’s surprise return fairly recently. Then there is the almost renaissance of whodunnits in recent years. The likes of Among Us, the Knives Out series, and Hercule Poirot’s recent trilogy all help to popularize this genre. And given how unique Umineko‘s take on murder mysteries is, it can stand out even further.

The one possible hitch in this plan is who would make the Umineko anime. Passione created the recent Higurashi sequels, so it seems like a likely candidate. However, it is quite busy right now with a lot of upcoming and current series like Chained Soldier Season 2, Nukitashi the Animation, and Loner Life in Another World.

Fans would likely either have to wait even longer for this legendary horror anime series to return or another studio would have to handle it. Regardless, I do hope it returns and gets the justice it deserves. The intense murders, locked room mysteries, and surprises would fit so well in today’s landscape. And this is before the epic and memorable characters like protagonist Battler and the evil witch Beatrice, who might even more be iconic than the Higurashi cast. Hopefully, we finally see one of the best horror anime series of all time, Umineko, return soon.

Umineko: When They Cry is not currently available to stream on any legal service in North America.

The post The Incredible Umineko Horror Anime Needs to Return appeared first on Siliconera.

Having only spent time with the Mario Party games on Nintendo 64, it was high time to change that with Super Mario Party Jamboree. This latest entry on the Switch is packed full of an impressive level of content. While not all minigames and modes are worth a look, this is generally the most fun I’ve had with a party game in a long time.

After a short introduction, you get to explore the hub island. It is here in Super Mario Party Jamboree where players can shop, take in the vistas, and find the different modes. Each island in this title hosts a different game mode. There are quite a few to check out from the minigame island to Bowser’s Challenges to the normal Mario Party island.

It is on Mario Party island where most of the action happens. Players pick between one of 20 (plus two unlockable) characters from across the pantheon. This is a pretty solid cast, with the usual suspects of Mario, Peach, and Bowser. But also some more intriguing additions like Ninji and Shy Guy, who I like to play.

There are also seven different game boards — four at the start — to pick from. Each game board has a completely different feel when compared to the others. In addition, there are mechanics with each board that help them stand out. For instance, there is the Mega Wiggler board. Here, players go around a simple forest with only a handful of red bad spaces to land on.

The main crux of this board is the Mega Wiggler in the middle of the forest. Players can hop on the back of it but he could move at any point. This would result in the player ending up in a different part of the board than they might want to. It is a neat risk-and-reward system. Do you hop on the Mega Wiggler’s back for a possible shortcut? Or do you play it safe?

The other boards you get, including two returning ones from N64 titles, also come with their own exciting gimmicks. Rainbow Galleria (my personal favorite) is a huge colorful mall with escalators to zip from floor to floor and unique stamps to collect. Roll ‘Em Raceway is an odd map with everyone racing around in cars that doesn’t get too out of hand, thankfully.

The general goal of each Super Mario Party Jamboree board game is to have the most stars at the end. Every player takes turns rolling the dice. You could land on a spot with an exclamation point that will grant a random item. But you could also land a red space and have negative effects, like losing coins.

Along the way throughout the board, there are also random stops like shops. Here, you can buy extra dice, custom dice, or even items to hinder your opponents. After all four players take a turn, it is then time for a minigame. There are more than 110 minigames so it took a few matches before I even saw a repeat minigame.

Minigames have a lot of variation to them, such as free-for-all or even 3-vs-1 modes. For instance, a free-for-all game mode might be Light-Wave Battle. Here, every player is essentially battling against the others. You can jump to hop over the waves your opponents send out to avoid defeat. But you can also double jump to ground pound classic Mario-style and send waves. The last person standing wins coins.

Even a simple minigame like this one has a neat level of depth to it. Do you focus on defense purely by just jumping? Or do you risk a ground pound, which has an animation that leaves you vulnerable to waves for a moment? Then there are the fascinating minigames like the three on one modes. Here, you might have a player control a Bomber Bill and try to eliminate the other three players before five rounds are up.

There are still more minigames, such as ice skating to collect coins or a hide-and-seek take on whack-a-mole. The variety is pretty impressive and each minigame pretty fun. I often looked forward to the minigame at the end of each round as one of the highlights of the games I did.

However, I will say the more you play, the more you realize there is a bit of repetition in the minigames. Sure, there are more than 110, but there are a lot of similar modes. One of the oddest parts is there are a lot of run away modes where you have to escape something. And each of these minigames does little to differentiate from the other besides a simple palette or map swap.

Outside of the core board game island, there are other modes to extend your time with in Super Mario Party Jamboree. This is where the game largely loses its quality and my interest. There are different islands for special game modes like flying around in the Paratroopa Flight School or the Overcooked-like Rhythm Kitchen. The former is horrid, where the player uses motion controls to act like they're flying around. It is ridiculous and frustrating to control.

Rhythm Kitchen is a cooking battle mode where you engage in different food-related minigames to score the highest. But it is a bit too hard to understand how the scoring system works that it feels a little off. Then there are the other forgettable modes like Toad’s Item Factory where you maneuver balls to their destination and the motion control-only minigame location.

The Koopathlon even sounds great a glance, being the showstopping 20-player online mode. Unfortunately, it gets a bit too messy quite fast. 20 players in minigames is a bit too much and overwhelming at times, and the minigames here repeat way too often. Minigame Island with only minigames to play over and over fares a bit better but even it loses its shine after a bit.

The only extra mode that truly captured my attention beyond the normal board games is the new Bowser mode. Here, seven players work together to take down the Impostor Bowser through minigames. The creativity of these unique minigames really shine through, such as stopping bombs from Impostor Bowser. Having everyone work together in a sort of PvE mode feels unique, but it does have its limitations due to only offering 10 minigames in total.

That said, the extra modes are just that: additional content to enjoy. The quality of them matter little when the actual board games at the center of Super Mario Party Jamboree are exceptional. I enjoyed all seven of the board games and would gladly go back to them. Playing this game offline in person with others is the most fun I’ve had in a party game ever. The sheer level of variety and chaos ensured that every match I did was completely different from the last. Even playing alone against bots, which I usually don’t enjoy in a party game, was fun against the CPUs.

Super Mario Party Jamboree is up there for the best in the series. It boasts the most amount of content from high-quality boards to characters to minigames. The variety is enough to carry this game on its own, but the quality of the core experience is exceptional as well with how each board works and the many different types of minigames. Though the additional modes, with the exception of Bowser Kaboom Squad, are all pretty much misses, they do nothing to take away from the top-tier solo and multiplayer party experience Super Mario Party Jamboree has.

Super Mario Party Jamboree releases exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 17, 2024.

The post Review: Super Mario Party Jamboree Offers an Impressive Amount of Content appeared first on Siliconera.

The Silent Hill 2 remake is finally out from Bloober Team and Konami. With its arrival, it is now time to figure out what the best Silent Hill game of all time is. The Siliconera staff has spoken and these are our picks for the our favorite Silent Hill game ever, in terms of world, lore, exploration, story, characters, gameplay, and more.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Best Silent Hill Game Ever

I really loved Silent Hill 3, but it was more because of the communal experience. I went through that entry with three close friends in college. So when we'd play, we'd all do so together. It meant we really got to savor the experience, enjoy the lore and deal with the scares together as a whole. -- Jenni

I'm going to expose myself as a casual Silent Hill fan. I’ll say that the only Silent Hill game I ever played to completion was Silent Hill 2. My only other one was, yes, Silent Hill: Origins, but I don't remember anything outside of the protagonist's hammerspace pockets. To be honest, I don't find the Silent Hill games that scary. The combat is available as an action, but I really like the overarching lore of the franchise. The self-contained narrative of Silent Hill 2, as well as its focus on the personal and psychological issues of its characters, are very interesting to me from a story standpoint. As a game, yeah, it can be frustrating. But as an experience, well, there's a reason that a lot of people consider Silent Hill 2 to be one of the finest examples of video games as art. -- Stephanie

Silent Hill 2 and 3 are undoubtedly up there as likely the best in the series. However, I have a soft spot for Silent Hill: Origins. I’ve always been a scaredy cat so this is probably the first horror game I played to completion. The graphics, at the time, impressed me for a handheld title. In addition, the gameplay felt nearly on the level of a home console experience. Being able to play on a smaller screen helped me to not be too afraid and I have fond memories of sneaking off to the school library to play it. Not to mention the soundtrack from Akira Yamaoka is stellar. It kickstarted my love for this series, which is a rarity in the genre. -- Cody

Silent Hill 2 is now available for PS5 and PC.

The post What’s the Best Silent Hill Game of All Time? appeared first on Siliconera.

Tsuma Shougakusei ni Naru (My Wife Becomes an Elementary Student), or simply known as TsumaSho, is one of the most controversial anime series in a while. I mean, just look at the name and you’ll see why. But for the most part, the premise of this series is just there to garner attention and controversy when, in fact, it actually features pretty great storytelling so far.

The idea of the series revolves around a husband and wife, Keisuke and Takae, who fall in love, get married, and have a daughter together. Tragically, though, Takae passes away. 10 years pass, during which both Keisuke and their daughter, Mai, just go through the motions. That is, until Takae shows up alive and well on their doorstep, but now as a reincarnated elementary school student.

It is a quite bizarre premise, to say the least, but an emotional and surprisingly well-done one. The first episode, in particular, immediately grips the viewer with its cold open. It reads almost like a light anime version of Up’s masterpiece opening, showcasing the central couple’s journey through life together.

I immediately felt similarities to Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again, also released in 2024. The only difference is, that series had such a lighthearted and comedic tone that shied away too much from the serious aspects. However, that isn’t the case here at all with TsumaSho. Sure, it has some goofy (and weird) moments throughout, but it dives headfirst into the seriousness of this matter.

We get to see the heartbreak Keisuke goes through, with some solid voice acting accompanying it. This contrasts nicely with the complete 180 his personality has once he realizes his wife is alive again. The elements of grief are explored nicely, even over the course of the first episode and its brief runtime.

But TsumaSho isn’t perfect, and no greater example of that is there in its premise. There is no doubt in my mind Takae comes back as an elementary school student solely for attention. After all, she could just as easily show up on his doorstep as an adult and the story would be fine. The only problem with that is “My Wife Reincarnated as a College Student” certainly doesn't feel nearly as rage-inducing as if she is in elementary school.

It is a shame, since this one element will likely hold back many people from watching. And, quite frankly, I don’t blame them. I will say the series, thus far, skirts around the creepiness of this idea. Keisuke is mostly respectful of Takae’s (now known as Marika) current stature and age. However, it doesn’t fully get rid of the general ickiness of the matter. There is always a constant underlying feeling of grossness while watching. This is even if nothing inappropriate is actually happening in the series.

If someone doesn’t want to watch this show, even knowing it is pretty good, I completely understand. In fact, I wouldn’t even encourage them to try it anyways. It is just a shame that the mangaka Yayu Murata didn’t have enough confidence in their own talent to let that shine through on its own. Instead, they opted for a controversial angle to capture the community’s attention.

My hope as someone who hasn’t dived into the manga yet is that this is a way for Keisuke to get over his grief and find a way to move on. After all, even the first episode hints at a possible new love interest for him that is, fortunately, an adult this time. I would be happy to see him find a new friendship with his wife while moving on and finding new love with someone else. This would be the best way to continue the story and avoid some possible pitfalls. For now, though, only time will tell.

I sure hope TsumaSho finds its footing soon. This way, it can move away from its controversial premise and focus on what it really has going for it: excellent storytelling and characters.

TsumaSho is available to stream right now on Crunchyroll.

The post TsumaSho Has Great Storytelling, Despite Its Ragebait Premise appeared first on Siliconera.

For the most part, the My Hero Academia movies have been solid enough for spin-off anime feature films, but they've been nothing too special. (The sole exception of Heroes Rising, due to its phenomenal ending.) Fortunately, My Hero Academia: You’re Next does enough to challenge, but not quite overtake, that particular movie with great pacing and action. It is a worthy watch.

You may have already seen the trailers, but the general idea of this movie is it revolves around Dark Might. He is the essentially opposite version of All Might. Dark Might is a completely separate character, and I actually really like how he comes about. He is a twisted, seemingly rich man who takes All Might’s signature point at the conclusion of his battle with All for One a little too seriously.

As such, Dark Might takes it upon himself to be the next All Might, except really evil for some odd reason. This premise is an intriguing one, and it is nice to explore someone who is essentially the other side of the coin from the series protagonist Deku. Fortunately, it doesn’t take long to see this since the movie has swift pacing and gets off to an action-packed start.

This fourth My Hero Academia movie wastes no time whatsoever and gets straight to the action. Set between Seasons 6 and 7 of the anime, it immediately jumps from the Class 1-A students saving civilians to fighting the next big bad and his entourage of fellow villains. This movie has such a large cast with many intriguing quirks shown off throughout the constant fighting sequences.

It helps that the animation is similar to Season 7, but certainly more detailed for the silver screen. This extra layer of visual effects and boldness helps the movie to be the best-looking version of MHA thus far. This also shows off in the surprisingly colorful and vibrant areas the cast visits on board Dark Might’s ship.

At its core, though, this movie is all about the action. It feels like this has the most action sequences of the movies thus far and certainly the most bombastic. There is little quiet time, except for a notable point about halfway through the movie. This might be off-putting to some, but My Hero Academia: You’re Next understands how to do a spin-off well.

Almost every battle has some level of twist or emotional resonance that gives it that extra oomph. This could be a surprising quirk power or Deku’s charming tactics. This is helped along by the new cast of characters. Once again, Deku has a new companion who accompanies him for most of the movie. This guy is slightly similar to World Heroes’ Mission’s Rody, but much more brooding and morally gray. Because of this, I liked him a bit more, too.

In addition to Deku’s new pal, there is a young woman who is at the center of Dark Might’s schemes. I won’t say too much about her, but her part in the story is one of the better parts. And then there is Dark Might himself. He has a ton of underlings, but they are almost all forgettable. Dark Might, though, is the most stylish and memorable villain of the four memories so far.

My only issue with Dark Might is I don’t think the movie, ironically, has enough of him. He starts out the film strong with his intro and it, of course, ends well with him in the final act. However, he is mostly taunting and too much in the background for everything else in between. It is a shame since he is one of the best parts of the movie with his weird personality and motives.

Even stranger than that is a significant sequence that happens in the middle. I won’t spoil it, but if you watched a certain other popular action anime series’ feature film, it will feel way too familiar and nearly copy-paste. And, honestly, it’s not as impactful or emotional as that other movie’s version of this storytelling device.

This movie also puts very little focus on the other members of Class 1-A. Sure, characters like Todoroki, Ochaco, and Bakugo all appear here. But this is pretty much about Deku and the new characters. Despite this, I genuinely enjoyed My Hero Academia: You’re Next. It has arguably the best action in the four movies thus far, the best villain, and certainly the strongest animation. The pacing is on point, never wasting a moment, either. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Heroes Rising, it is certainly my second-favorite My Hero movie.

My Hero Academia: You’re Next will release in theaters in the United States on October 11, 2024.

The post My Hero Academia: You’re Next Puts a Fascinating Twist on All Might appeared first on Siliconera.

Stardew Valley is a pretty cozy, relaxing, and peaceful farming sim game. Even with the dungeon-crawling aspect and light combat, it is still much calmer than most games. However, perhaps you don’t want that for the Halloween season. If you want the best Stardew Valley Halloween mods to spice up and terrify this otherwise cozy game, you’re in the right place.

Best Stardew Valley Halloween Mods: Haunted Woods Farm

One of the signature parts of Stardew Valley is picking the farm type you want to start out with. Since this is a huge decision, it can affect how you feel about your farm. This mod adds the Haunted Woods Farm option. As you might expect, your farm is in the middle of some spooky woods that will be unnerving no matter the season.

It also has some quality-of-life features like boundaries for NPCs like animals so you don’t lose them, which is a nice touch. My favorite part, though, is how the Haunted Woods Farm changes in appearance throughout the four seasons.

Monster Invasion

Some might say that this farming sim is a bit too peaceful at times, especially since most of the combat happens in the mines. If that is you, this is the mod for you. It makes this game much more like Minecraft and other survival games in which nighttime is far deadlier. Monsters will invade all across the world once night falls. This can lead to some intense moments as you fend off slimes, ghosts, and more as you try to make it back home in time.

Ghost Town

The villagers in this game are some of the best parts of the entire experience. So, what if they were all dead? Yes, this mod turns everyone into a ghost, except they don’t know they are one. If you explore enough, you will even find their corpses, which will clue you in to how they met their demise.

This is by far the most sinister and genuinely scariest mod I’ve experienced for the game, and it adds such a neat lore layer to the experience. Just beware there is some heavy content handled in this mod, which may be triggering.

Stardew Valley is available for Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The post Best Stardew Valley Halloween Mods appeared first on Siliconera.

Amazon Prime Day is back yet again for its October 2024 sale day. As always, fans only have 48 hours from October 8-9, 2024 to take advantage of some of the best deals. For my fellow gamers out there, these are the best October 2024 Amazon Prime Day video game sales worth taking a look at.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 (53% off)

This is by far the best deal I have found in general for Amazon Prime Day 2024 in terms of PS5 games. You get the Master Collection, which includes remasters of the first three Metal Gear Solid games, plus a slew of extras like older titles and digital books. The best part is it is on sale for $19.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage (54% off)

Assassin's Creed Mirage has a much smaller scale and higher focus on assassination, which makes it more like the first few games. So if you were a fan of the Ezio Trilogy, this might be up your alley. And if you’ve been wanting to take a look at this one ahead of Assassin's Creed Shadows, it is on sale during Prime Day with a 54% discount.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (61% off)

Where this game based on the Avatar movies lacks in content, it makes up for in some of the most immersive and beautiful first-person open-world gameplay. It might be worth a look for some players at only $26.99, despite being less than a year old at the time of Amazon Prime Day 2024.

Banishers: Ghosts of Eden (33% off)

If you like intense, high-quality storytelling with solid enough action, this is a game worth checking out. It may not be the cheapest game on this list but it has a worthy enough 33% discount. This is solid given that the game just came out this same year.

More Best October 2024 Amazon Prime Day Video Game Sales

If you are looking for more of the best Amazon Prime Day October 2024 video game sales and deals, here are some additional ones worth a look:

• Madden NFL 25: 39% off
• EA Sports College Football 25: 39% off
• Bluey: The Videogame - 38% off
• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown - 60% off
• Cat Quest III: 33% off

Amazon Prime Day 2024 is only happening from October 8 to October 9, 2024. If you want to take advantage of these deals, you'll need to act fast.

The post Best October 2024 Amazon Prime Day Video Game Sales appeared first on Siliconera.

The Fall 2024 anime season is here, offering anime fans dozens of new series to watch for the next few months. There is a little bit of something for everyone from action to sports to romance and so much more. For the best Fall 2024 anime series to watch on Crunchyroll, these are my picks for the must-watch shows.

Best Crunchyroll Fall 2024 Anime Series: Blue Lock Season 2

Blue Lock is officially the series that turned me from a sports anime hater to a lover. The soccer drama and action is impeccable, led by some of the finest animation in the medium. Plus, its almost battle royale-like last-man-standing format works so well. The heights are even greater in Season 2, as the scale grows to a global level.

Dragon Ball Daima

The return of Dragon Ball is here but in quite the bizarre fashion. Instead of continuing Super, Dragon Ball Daima features the return of young Goku and the rest of the cast, as they are shrunk down amidst a new conspiracy. As the final entry in the series to be worked on by the late, great Akira Toriyama, this is a must-watch for fans of the long-running franchise.

Dan Da Dan

This is the new action series everyone is going to be talking about in the very near future. If you want to be up-to-date with the latest anime trends, this is the new series to watch. It features two leads, Momo and Okarun, who believe in ghosts and aliens, respectively. It details the powers they gain as they investigate and fight against various supernatural and extraterrestrial threats.

Re:Zero Season 3

It is no secret that the return of Re:Zero is a rough one. The opening feature-length premiere episode is a bit too long but it sets up a fascinating new location and story arc for Subaru and the gang. The twists, fantasy action, and countless deaths and revives of Subaru is worth a look for existing fans.

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II

The original Gun Gale Online might be a spin-off, but it is arguably the second-best season of Sword Art Online after Season 3. It takes the most engaging video game from the series, GGO, and makes it less about the stakes and more about the characters. It has a fantastic cast, too, with the likes of lead character Llenn. GGO almost feels like the anime version of Fortnite and the second season is also well worth a look.

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The Puella Magi Madoka Magica series is one of the most beloved pieces of magical girl media in existence. Its dark and often surprisingly twisted concept is the ultimate deconstruction of the genre. As such, if you want more out of this series, here are the best Puella Magi Madoka Magica spin-offs that you should check from anime to games.

Best Madoka Magica Spin-offs: Magia Record Game

There were Madoka Magica video games before Magia Record (more on one of them below), but this is the first one officially available in English. The free-to-play smartphone game has typical mobile turn-based gameplay, with auto battles, different magical girls to collect, and the like. It stands out, though, because of its worthy story and great 2D graphics reminiscent of Shaft’s incredible work on the original series.

Magia Record Anime

While I am double-dipping a little bit, it is also worth mentioning the anime adaptation of Magia Record. It streamlines the story of the mobile game into an anime form with visuals similar to the first series. If you don’t like mobile games, this is the way to do it. The story of Iroha in a neighboring town looking for her sister is just as dark, surprising, and reflective as the original.

Kazumi Magica

The first spin-off of Madoka Magica came in the form of a manga. It follows the magical girl Kazumi in her own side story. There are some goofy and weird elements to this series, but it lands decently enough as a whole. It is pretty short, too, with only a few volumes to read. It tells a succinct and fascinating enough tale about magical girls and witches.

Oriko Magica

If you want the best manga side story of this series, Oriko is the one to pick up. Once again, it centers on a new magical girl the series hasn’t seen before. At the same time, though, it brings back some fan-favorite characters like Mami, who tragically didn’t get as much screen time as they deserved in the original series.

Madoka Magica Portable

If you don’t mind playing in Japanese (or using a fan translation), there is a video game adaptation of Madoka Magica for the PSP. It interestingly enough plays as a dungeon crawler RPG-meets-visual novel. This is a must-play for fans of the series, as it has routes for all of the main magical girls, including ones like Homura, Mami, and Sayaka. You can even change the fates of some of them and see extra story content.

The Madoka Magica anime is available to stream right now on Crunchyroll.

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The Kingdom Hearts series started out as essentially Disney meets Final Fantasy. This is seen even in the fact that several Final Fantasy characters from different iterations of the franchise appear in the various games. Here are the most notable and best Final Fantasy characters to appear in the Kingdom Hearts games.

Best Kingdom Hearts Final Fantasy Characters: Cloud (Final Fantasy VII)

The brooding Cloud Strife is one of the first Final Fantasy characters players meet in Kingdom Hearts. He is also perhaps the most prolific, featuring in four of the titles in some direct way. This leads to an entire story arc revolving around Cloud, his training in the Colosseum, and his journey to defeat his nemesis Sephiroth.

Tidus (Final Fantasy X)

Tidus is one of the childhood friends of Sora and Riku. Despite being from Final Fantasy X, he somehow appears on the Destiny Islands in this series in a younger version of himself. There is a lot to love about the goofy and awkward protagonist, especially as he acts as a fun tutorial for Sora.

Selphie (Final Fantasy VIII)

Selphie is one of the other members of the crossover trio that grows up on the Destiny Islands alongside Sora and Riku. She is perhaps even more notable, though, since she comes from a different game entirely — Final Fantasy VIII — and her lovable outgoing personality shines through. She even gets a significant enough story arc later in the series as a classmate of Kairi’s.

Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)

The infamous villain of Final Fantasy VII, Sephiroth, is even a boss for Sora to fight in this series. Sephiroth is one of the most challenging foes in both the original Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2. He will truly challenge your knowledge of the game and every mechanic. Plus, prior to Final Fantasy VII Remake, this was one of his best graphical appearances.

Moogles

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the lovable mascots of the Final Fantasy series: the Moogles. Sure, they aren’t as flashy as the other characters on this list. However, they make up for this with being in every single game. In fact, they have the notable role of being the shopkeepers in most titles. This means they are actively involved in the player’s story in every game, being far more essential than most crossover characters.

Let us know what your favorite Final Fantasy cameo in Kingdom Hearts is below!

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Atlus is one of the leading publishers and developers when it comes to Japanese role-playing games. From 2020 forward, Atlus is putting its best foot forward when it comes to releasing JRPGs in the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series and beyond. When it comes to the best recent Atlus JRPGs from 2020 and beyond, these are the games that excel when it comes to visuals, gameplay, and content.

Best Recent Atlus JRPGs: Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 Royal is the pinnacle of not just an Atlus game but JRPGs in general. The story of the Phantom Thieves is rife with some of the most stylish and satisfying turn-based gameplay of all time. It also has an excellent cast of characters that rewards the player for taking the time to get to know them. Plus, it has unbelievable value with well over 100 hours of content.

Persona 3 Reload

This remake of the original Persona 3 isn’t perfect, but it at least makes the game worthwhile for newer players. The beautiful visuals give previous Atlus games a run for their money, while the story is still simply the best in the franchise. It does have some pacing and repetition issues with the main Tartarus dungeon, but this is one of the best ways to play it.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

The original SMT V is one of my personal least favorite Atlus JRPGs, but this complete version sold me on it. The updated visuals and performance with newer platforms takes the frustration of this open-world-like experience. It is much smoother and it includes a new storyline that is more character-driven and much better than the also included original.

Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection

I’m not entirely sure why this game is so darn expensive, but you get the first three Etrian Odyssey adventures in one package. These games are some of the strongest first-person dungeon-crawlers in existence. The level of polish is great, plus the party customization provides so much depth. It is missing some features from some of the 3DS remakes but still worth a pick up.

Unicorn Overlord

This bizarrely great Vanillaware title is like an active tactical RPG. The pace and style of the battles in Unicorn Overlord takes some getting used to, but it works well when it clicks. The art style is classic sublime Vanillaware, while the story is actually pretty darn good. If you want something a bit different from the usual turn-based games on this best recent Atlus JRPGs list, this is the one to pick up.

Let us know what your favorite ATLUS JRPG is below!

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Atlus is one of the best Japanese publishers and developers today. From Persona to Shin Megami Tensei to even the new Metaphor Re:Fantazio, this is a team that knows how to make and release some of the best JRPGs and Japanese games. But what is the most underrated Atlus game of all time? Here is our staff members’ picks for the games you need to play.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Most Underrated Atlus Game

I mean, of course Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker should be brought up here. This spin-off, tactical series is fantastic. But I'm really going to cite Princess Crown. This is a VanillaWare game that is a precursor to games like Odin Sphere and Muramasa: The Demon Blade, and it's just so much fun. There are multiple viewpoints. You see how it influenced more recent releases. It's wonderful. -- Jenni

One of my favorite Atlus games and most underrated series in their catalogue is the Trauma Center games, especially the sequel to the original Nintendo DS game. I fondly remember the mix of hospital drama visual novel elements with the frantic gameplay and outlandish bioterrorism plots that seemed appropriate for a Resident Evil game. Unfortunately, as an European, I never got to play Trauma Team, which means that Atlus personally owes me for not bringing the game to PAL regions and it now has to develop a new one to make up for it. That's how this works, right? -- Daniel B

In terms of games that aren’t the obvious choices in the mainline Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, I have to say that Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology is the most underrated game from Atlus. This JRPG holds a special place in my heart as the first 10/10 I gave a game, of which there aren’t many. The time travel storyline leads to so many unexpected twists and heartbreaking moments. You spend so much time with the cast and come to care for them in a signature Atlus way. What I truly love, though, is how this game feels like Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward — one of my favorite games of all time — in its branching paths structure and a classic Atlus JRPG mashed together into a masterpiece creation. -- Cody

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Sega is a publisher usually known for series like Sonic that focus on platforming and other genres. But Sega surprisingly has some excellent Japanese role-playing games worth checking out. Here are the best recent Sega JRPGs across PS3, PS4, and PS5 alike. Note that I am excluding Atlus JRPGs, even though the company is owned by Sega, since they deserve their own dedicated list.

Best Recent Sega JRPGs on the PS3

The PlayStation 3 didn’t receive a ton of JRPG support from Sega since most of it went to handhelds at the time like the DS, PSP, and 3DS. However, there are some standouts like Resonance of Fate. This game has one of the sleekest combat systems I’ve ever seen with a pretty intriguing story, too.

There are also games like Shining Resonance for a flawed but still solid enough, more traditional 3D action RPG feel. That said, the best PS3 Sega JRPG comes from the original Valkyria Chronicles. This alternative World War II-set game features a flexible tactical RPG movement system that is fun to use and an emotional storyline.

Best Recent Sega JRPGs on the PS4

The return of Phantasy Star Online happened with Phantasy Star Online 2. It is a free-to-play MMORPG on PS4 that is worth checking out for a bit. There is so much content to this game that you will not find anywhere else on this list. And there is always more on the way, especially when it comes to great cosmetics and crossover events.

Sakura Wars also made a grand return in the West on PS4 with the 2019 version. The mix of mech combat and visual novel dating sim-like storyline is quite unique. If you want a bit of romance amidst the dramatic story about women fighting for their lives in a war, this is one to check out.

Then there is my personal favorite on this console: Valkyria Chronicles 4. Not only is this the best in the series but it is up there as one of my favorite Sega JRPGs of all time. The combat is strategic, deep, and full of challenging missions and decisions. Plus, the story is one of the most underrated on the PS4 with its colorful cast of soldiers and gut-wrenching twists.

Best Recent Sega JRPGs on the PS5

Even though the PS5 is well into its lifecycle, there aren’t too many Sega JRPGs not from Atlus on it. The core games come from the Like a Dragon series, including the one that started a massive shift for the franchise in Yakuza: Like a Dragon. This game switched out the brawler gameplay from previous titles for Dragon Quest-inspired turn-based combat with jobs and more.

It also has one of my favorite stories in gaming, focusing on the outcasts of outcasts as they rise up to get revenge. Then there is also its sequel in Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. It continues the story of new protagonist Ichiban while bringing back Kiryu for a fascinating trip in Hawaii. The story is a bit rougher around the edges at times, but the turn-based gameplay is refined and the content is exceptionally varied.

Let us know what your favorite SEGA RPG is below!

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