Games

Back in June, I found myself dominating the Steam Deck gaming scene with Balatro as my go-to game. However, it seems that Stardew Valley has managed to outshine it recently. This means that the chill, laid-back gamers like me have taken the lead over our fast-paced, dopamine-driven roguelite counterparts – at least for the moment. Interestingly enough, both games usually retail for $14.99, but this year’s Steam Summer Sale saw a more significant discount on Stardew Valley, which mainly took place in July.

In 2000, the second significant film in the Pokémon series was unveiled, following closely on the heels of the first movie. If you’ve never had a chance to watch it before, now would be an ideal time! The Pokémon Company is providing free streaming of this classic movie on YouTube for fans residing in the U.S. However, this offer won’t last long, as the franchise plans to stream its old movies for fans throughout the summer. So, don’t hesitate and catch it while you can!

Henry Thurlow, a well-known animator who has worked on popular series such as Naruto, One Piece, Pokemon, Castlevania, Attack on Titan, and more, mentioned that another artist received a significant bonus for their work on the shonen anime. He recalled a funny incident where an in-betweener/clean-up artist who drew a particular scene from Naruto Shippuden episode 377 was paid a substantial sum for it and even got a day off and recognition from the studio’s higher-ups. This work was all done by hand, as he humorously added. You can see the stunning image below that earned Douga a large financial reward.

The following characters narrowly failed to make the final cut: Bobby Cahn in Wayne’s World 2, Mr. Smith in Nick of Time, Hickey in Last Man Standing, Colonel Cutter in Antz, King Louie in The Jungle Book, and Emperor Shaddam IV in Dune: Part Two. Reed Thimple in The Country Bears, Master Feng in Balls of Fury, and Sal Maggio in Kangaroo Jack missed the cut by a significant margin.

At San Diego Comic-Con 2025 last month, Invincible, as reported by IGN, left fans eager for more with its tantalizing teasers. During this event, series co-creator Robert Kirkman was questioned about the animation’s direction in upcoming seasons. Reflecting on the noticeable changes shown during Mark and Conquest’s fight at the end of season three, Kirkman hinted that the animation quality would enhance significantly as the series progresses into future seasons.

In the upcoming series “Alien: Earth” airing on FX, we’ll delve into the corporate battles for dominance, specifically against Weyland-Yutani, years prior to the original “Alien” movie. Among the competing companies are Lynch, Dynamic, and Threshold, but Prodigy, led by its quirky CEO Boy Kavalier, stands out. Although we’re not quite at Kavalier’s grand entrance on August 12 yet, ComicBook has an exclusive sneak peek into Kavalier’s thoughts regarding Weyland-Yutani.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve got to admit that not every console released has been a winner. Every brand, big or small, has had its flops, with some being downright disasters like the Nintendo Wii U. However, for the most part, they’ve managed to deliver quality gaming experiences. Here are my top five favorite consoles:

1. [Console Name 1] – This console revolutionized gaming with its innovative features and incredible library of games.
2. [Console Name 2] – With its powerful hardware and immersive gameplay, this console took gaming to a whole new level.
3. [Console Name 3] – This little powerhouse offered a fantastic library of exclusive titles and was a joy to play for years.
4. [Console Name 4] – Known for its unique controller design and groundbreaking games, this console left a lasting impact on the gaming industry.
5. [Console Name 5] – With its sleek design and impressive lineup of games, this console quickly became a favorite among gamers worldwide.

In Pokemon Go, not every update introduces a brand-new character, but there are usually a few fresh Pokemon to catch per season. For instance, Toedscool from Pokemon Scarlet & Violet was recently added, and Snom will be introduced during the Cozy Companions event on August 6th. However, with the current season approaching its end, many enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for news about what’s next. Unfortunately, we don’t have an official announcement regarding the theme of the upcoming Pokemon Go season, which is expected to start around September 2nd when Delightful Days concludes. However, a recent leak may provide some insights into possible events that might occur.

Undeniably, the most captivating game this month is Lies of P – an acclaimed Soulslike role-playing game initially launched on PS5 in 2023. Sporting a clear homage to Bloodborne, it’s a fantastic choice if you’re yearning for challenging boss battles and eerie environment design.

Among the recently free games on Steam, Kitchen Wars stands out as it’s a brand new PC game from this year, launched in April, making it one of the freshest offerings. Developed by Silent Owl, Perfect Gen, and GrabTheGames, this game is a lively party title designed for 2 to 8 players. Typically retailing at $4.99, it currently boasts an impressive 86% positive rating on Steam.