Gyroids were one series staple missing from Animal Crossing: New Horizons at release, but as of the new 2.0 update, they have finally found their way to your island — and beyond.

You can't just dig Gyroids up from anywhere in New Horizons. You'll have to get lucky with what items are found in the ground on your island, or on one of Kapp'n's boat tours can take you on a tour of.

How to Find Gyroid Fragments in Animal Crossing New Horizons

Gyroid Fragments are found underground in the exact same way you find fossils. There's a chance you may find one instead of a fossil anytime you take your shovel to a crack in the ground, provided you're not on a Mystery Island.

You can find Gyroid Fragments on player islands, including your own, as well as on Kapp'n tours. But you cannot find them on the Mystery Islands you can use Nook Tickets to visit through the airport.

Kapp'n can be found at your island's pier, and will offer a ride for 1,000 Nook Miles.

How to Grow Gyroids

You're prepped for this job if you've planted flowers, bags of Bells, or anything else. Well, mostly. You'll need a Watering Can, too.

All you have to do after you've gotten a Gyroid Fragment is to dig a hole, plant it, then water it.

After a day, it will sprout into a cute beat-playing Gyroid! What you get each time is random, and it will take some time to get them all.

Let us know how you like the new Gyroids in New Horizons in the comment section below, and if you found this guide useful, check out our other Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides.

The Donation Box is one of many new additions to Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2.0 patch, and it may be a boon to islands that receive a lot of visitors. Though it may not be too useful to some.

How to Get the Donation Box in Animal Crossing New Horizons

The DIY recipe for the Donation Box has to be purchased with Nook Miles. Head over to the Resident Services building, interact with the Nook Stop, and choose to Redeem Nook Miles. You'll notice it the Nook Stop has changed a bit from before the update!

Navigate to the DIY Recipes tab and choose to redeem the Donation Box for a mere 800 Nook Miles. You'll instantly receive the DIY recipe and can go to your workbench of choice and craft one for yourself using four Wood and four Softwood.

How to Use the Donation Box

Aside from being cute, the Donation Box does have a use: You can place it anywhere on your island for visitors to donate Bells when they visit.

How useful the Donation Box will be to you depends on how often you get visitors and whether they have deep pockets, but it's good to have set up either way. Gifts from friends, of course, are always plenty welcome.

Be sure to set your Donation Box up somewhere it's hard for visitors to miss to tempt them into donating. How are you enjoying the new Animal Crossing: New Horizons update? Check out our other New Horizons guides here on GameSkinny.

May Day is here in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and just like last year, there's a May Day maze to figure out.

The 2021 May Day maze is entirely different from the 2020 maze, and the rewards are a little different too. Should you complete the maze in its entirety, you will receive nine Bell Vouchers (27,000 Bells), as well as what may be a photo of Rover, if the dataminers are to be believed.

The Bell Vouchers you receive in the maze will be sent to you in the mail, but no one has confirmed the exact reward Rover sends you. Though he does promise to mail you something.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons — How to Enter the May Day Maze

When you first launch the game for the day, Isabelle will tell you about the May Day maze. You only need to go to the Airport and talk to Orville, then select "I wanna fly!" and use the May Day Ticket to get to the maze island.

Now it's time to use that noggin!

Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2021 May Day Maze Solution

Once you hop out of the plane and get the pleasantries done with, head directly north and pick up the shovel lying on the ground.

Use the shovel to dig up the shrub just to the right and grab the fruit.

Grab the two Wood just ahead of you then head to the right, hopping over the single water tile to pick up two more pieces of fruit. (Fruit not pictured, grabbed them before I took the screenshot. Whoops!)

Turn back around and go all the way West until you reach a shrub. Dig up the shrub and jump over the water tile to pick up the Softwood. The recipe here is to make a Ladder, in case you don't have it.

Eat a fruit and use the shovel to break the rock above you. Continue along the path (making a mental note of the Workbench to the north) to pick up two more Softwood, then eat an apple and dig up the adjacent tree.

From here, go down and pick up two more fruit. Then loop all the way back around to make your way to the eastern side of the island again and hop over that first water tile.

Now eat a fruit, break the rock, then eat another fruit to dig up the tree and pick up the Hardwood, then hop north over the water tile, eat a fruit, and dig up the tree standing in your way.

In this area, pick up both Wood (you can see how they're hidden in the below image) as well as the fruit.

Loop back to the start of this part and hop over the water tile separating the square-shaped section to pick up the Softwood.

Now go back the way you came and head to the western side of the maze, hopping water when necessary, to go back to the Workbench you made a mental note of earlier.

Eat a fruit and break the rock to the north to pick up the two Hardwood waiting to be taken, then use the Workbench to craft a Ladder.

Go just south and use the Ladder to climb up the raised bit of land and pick up the Worn Axe. Do NOT use the Worn Axe to hit anything yet.

It's time to head all the way east again, back to that area with three different pathways and that square section.

Go through the middle pathway and hop across. Use the Worn Axe to whack the tree three times to cut it down, then use the Shovel to dig it up.

Use the Ladder to climb up the small elevated spot and pick up both fruits, then dig up the shrub and climb down the other side.

You're back on the western side of the island like this. Hop over the water tile to head north. Eat two fruit and chop down both trees.

Go south from the tree pictured above and use the Ladder to scale the elevated bit of land and grab all three fruit. Then climb down the other side and dig up the shrub to continue east.

It's time to take out that tree to the north that you see in the image below.

Approach the square section as pictured, circle the bush in the middle, and head upward to hop over all three water titles one by one. Then eat a fruit and dig it up.

Use your trusty Ladder once more to climb up the plateau to speak with Rover, finally completing the main portion of the maze.

Now climb down the left part of the plateau and dig up the shrub ahead of you to pick up four Bell Vouchers.

Go north then west outside of the main maze area until you reach a rock. Eat a fruit and break the rock to pick up two more fruit.

Go up to leave this little section, then go outside the edge of the maze and head south until you run into three rocks blocking your pathway to five more Bell Vouchers.

Eat three fruit and break each rock, and you'll have completed the 2021 May Day maze in its entirety! Just dig up the shrubs right there under this spot to get back to the airplane and head home.

That wasn't so bad now, was it? And you've got some Bell Vouchers and maybe even a photo of Rover on the way in the mail, just be patient.

If you found this guide helpful, consider taking a look at some of our other Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides here on GameSkinny.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons 2.0 might still be on the, well... horizon, but there's a new Animal Crossing update coming for May anyway. Some are returning events, though Nintendo is promising a new twist on these, in keeping with an earlier promise from 2020.

May Day (April 29 - May 7)

May Day is back again, giving you a May Day ticket for travel to an event-exclusive Nook Miles Island. There's a maze, some prizes, and a furry familiar face. There's also our May Day guide if you don't feel like puzzling your way through on your own.

International Museum Day (May 18 - May 31)

International Museum Day is also back, with Blathers' museum rally and stamp collecting in tact.

Wedding Season (June 1 - June 30)

Wedding Season survives in tact as well with special furniture and fashion available to decorate your ideal wedding scene in Photopia or anywhere on the island.

New Seasonal Items

One new addition in the Animal Crossing update is cheese. Not for eating, mind you, but to celebrate Cheese Rolling. Mother's Day and Father's Day items will also be available at the relevant times.

[Source: Nintendo of America]

The first Animal Crossing: New Horizons update of 2021 releases January 28, paving the way for Pavé and the ultra-stylish Festivale on February 15.

As always, since Pavé's introduction in Animal Crossing: City Folk, the dancer extraordinaire tasks players with finding and retrieving colored feathers. The reward is usually Festivale-themed furniture, and while the New Horizons Festivale trailer Nintendo posted doesn't mention furniture directly, there are some hints of what's to come.

The trailer shows an ostentation of peacock-themed furniture, bedecked with feathers, dotting the island as residents make their way to a dance platform to show off their moves. Aside from the furniture, it seems certain the New Horizons update will introduce at least one Festivale reaction.

Nintendo is still making good on its promise of regular New Horizons updates in 2021. The Festivale trailer teases another free update scheduled for sometime in March.

What that might bring is anyone's guess. We've seen shady art dealers, fireworks, deep sea diving and more so far, though there's still a distinct lack of pigeon baristas and enigmatic fortune tellers on the island Nintendo will hopefully addresses soon.

It's January, and that means new bugs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons depending on where you live. New Horizons is quiet on the January bug front in the northern hemisphere, with no new arrivals to speak of, yet it's the height of bug catching season in the southern hemisphere. Our New Horizons January bug list has them all, plus some highlights to keep folks in the northern hemisphere busy.

Here are what the locations mean in the tables below so you have some more context:

• On trees — These insects will be hanging out on tree trunks.
• On coconut trees — These bugs only appear on coconut trees. If you don't have any on your island, grab a Nook Miles ticket, shake some coconuts off a tree on the island you visit, and plant them on your beaches.
• On the ground — Likely self-explanatory, but these bugs roam about on the ground.

January Bugs Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Northern Hemisphere)

As mentioned, there's a whole lot of nothing when it comes to new bugs for northern hemisphere players. Staples such as the Rajah Brooke's Birdwing are still around, though, and November saw the return of tarantulas. Those brave enough to risk catching the hairy-legged terrors for cash would do well to check our scorpion guide for tarantula catching tips since the same workarounds apply to the tarantula.

January Bugs Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Southern Hemisphere)

January has no shortage of bugs for the southern hemisphere, introducing more than 20 to your island ecosystem.

That's it for January bugs in AC:NH. Be sure to check out our other Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides for more tips on living your best island life, including our January fish list.

It's the start of a new year in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and a new month brings new fish and deep sea creatures — for some of us, at least. Quietness characterizes winter's critter scene in Animal Crossing, but for players in the northern hemisphere, it's downright sparse: January has a heaping helping of nothing new. But our southern hemisphere friends are getting into the busy season, with valuable fish just a cast away.

Here's every new January fish and sea creature in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

January Fish Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Northern Hemisphere)

There's nothing new this month for the northern hemisphere, as mentioned. However, the usual culprits still lurk around in the rivers and sea, including the red snapper and black bass, and December brought a few new fish you can still find this month. 

January Fish Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Southern Hemisphere)

The sea is somewhat bountiful in the southern hemisphere in the new year. January brings only a handful of new fish in New Horizons, but some come with a lovely big price tag.

January Sea Creatures Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Northern Hemisphere)

Just like with the fish, there's nothing new or noteworthy in January's New Horizons sea creatures for the northern hemisphere. Fortunately, many of the underwater surprises are available all year, including the scallop and pearl oyster.

January Sea Creatures Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Southern Hemisphere)

January brings three new sea creatures to stick in those southern hemisphere museums.

That's it for January fish in AC:NH. Be sure to check out our other Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides for more tips on living your best island life, including our January bug list.

New fish for December are here in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Winter is typically a quiet season in Animal Crossing, but December sees some two valuable fish show up in northern hemisphere waters, while the southern hemisphere gets sharks for the first time. This list covers them all. 

Here are all the new fish for December in Animal Crossing, plus where and when to find them.

December Fish Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Northern Hemisphere)

December Fish Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Southern Hemisphere)

December in the southern hemisphere brings with it the bounty of the sea: sharks, and plenty of them. Sharks are easy to spot thanks to their telltale dorsal fin sticking out of the ocean, and you'll find them in the ocean around Nook Miles Islands too.

For the Gar, if you don't have a pond on your island, you can make one using the Island Designer app.

December Sea Creatures Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Northern Hemisphere)

There's just one December sea creature in Animal Crossing, the lobster. As always, you'll need a wetsuit to go swimming.

December Sea Creatures Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Southern  Hemisphere)

If you haven't already, shuffle over to the Nooklings' store or the Nook Stop in Resident Services and get yourself a wetsuit so you can catch these critters.

That's it for December fish in AC:NH. Be sure to check out our other Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides for more tips on living your best island life, including our December bug list.

December is here, and that means new bugs for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Winter is typically a quiet season in Animal Crossing, but December sees some iconic bugs show up on northern hemisphere islands and some valuable ones in the southern hemisphere, as well.

Here are all the new bugs for December in Animal Crossing, plus where and when to find them.

Here are what the locations mean in the tables below so you have some more context:

• Flying — These insects will be flying freely about the island.
• Flying near flowers — These bugs prefer flowers, so make sure you've got a few planted to attract them.
• On trees — These insects will be hanging out on tree trunks.
• Rolling snowballs — Pretty self-explanatory. Once the ground is covered with snow, you'll sometimes find a snowball moving of its own accord, or so it seems. Smack it with your bug net, and you'll catch a prize.

December Bugs Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Northern Hemisphere)

Not much happens with the bug life in December, though the dung beetle makes its first appearance in the northern hemisphere.

December Bugs Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Southern Hemisphere)

December kicks off the summer months in the southern hemisphere, introducing all manner of bugs. Some are worth a fair few Bells, and you can expect to find them on Nook Miles Islands as well.

That's it for December bugs in AC:NH. Be sure to check out our other Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides for more tips on living your best island life, including our December fish list.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is finally getting save transfer support thanks to its big November 19 update. However, the New Horizons save transfer process isn't as simple as just sending everything over. Since the process is different from other Switch games, our quick guide will show you how it's done. 

How to Transfer Saves in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The first step in transferring your New Horizons save is downloading the newest Winter update. 

You'll need to connect your Switch to the Internet, and if it doesn't update automatically:

• Highlight the game icon
• Press "+"
• Choose "Software Update, Via the Internet"

Once that's done, head to the Switch eShop.

You'll need to download the free Animal Crossing: New Horizons Island Transfer Tool from there, and the Transfer Tool is what you'll use to manage the actual transfer.

You get two save transfer options to choose from, and you need the original (source) system and the new (target) system handy for both options.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Entire Island Transfer

The first option is "Entire Island Transfer." As the name suggests, this option sends over everything from your island — island representative (whoever was first to settle on the island), all animals and additional human residents, plus all progress and customization.

Nintendo said this method is mainly intended for those wanting to play on a new Switch system.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Resident Move (Single Player Transfer)

The second option is "Resident Move (Single Player Transfer)," and it's meant for non-island representatives who want to carry their game to a new island.

That resident, their house, and "most" items in storage and their pockets will be transferred. Nintendo didn't say which items aren't carried over but promised more information once the transfer feature goes live November 19.

If the target system has no existing New Horizons save data, then residentsd will automatically start a new island. However, if the target system already has save data, then the transferred resident will join that island.

The "Resident Move" option can move more than one resident. However, it cannot be used to transfer the island representative, and the animals stay on the source system.

We'll update with any additional New Horizons save transfer information once the game's winter update goes live. Meanwhile, be sure to check out our other Animal Crossing: New Horizons guides for more tips.

The Animal Crossing: New Horizons winter update goes live on November 19, bringing back Turkey Day and Toy Day celebrations alongside several additional enhancements. As ever, the new New Horizons update is free, though some events do require the Resident Services building.

Turkey Day falls on November 26 in 2020 and sees Franklin the master chef turkey return. He'll set up shop in the plaza and ask for help finding ingredients for a reward.

The following holiday is Toy Day, celebrated on December 24. Jingle the Black-Nosed Reindeer makes his holly-jolly way to islands everywhere and asks for help distributing presents.

Festive-minded islanders can get in the winter spirit even earlier. The Animal Crossing winter update adds new winter-themed DIY recipes crafted with special ornaments dropped from shaking lighted trees.

From December 1 through December 25, the Nooklings' store and the Able Sisters add holiday-themed items to their inventory rotation, and from December 26 through December 31, players can find New Year's items at the Nooklings' shop.

Players can exchange Nook Miles for a new set of reactions, including sitting down and showing excitement, and a new set of hairstyles, such as an Afro and a shaved style.

Island save transfer is finally a thing, and it lets individual residents transfer their data to a new system as well.

Finally, the Animal Crossing winter update adds more storage for those who already expanded their home all the way — up to 2,400 item slots.

While it's a shame other winter holidays are once again not represented in the latest iteration of Animal Crossing, perhaps Nintendo may add them in one of the game's promised new event updates.

To look back on the year that was in video games, we've collected our highest-reviewed games of 2020 into a "best of" list. We're a small staff at GameSkinny, so going the traditional "staff voting route" doesn't really make a whole lot of sense for us. The most democratic way to make a list like this is to include any game with a score of "8" or higher. So that's what we've done. 

This list will not include DLCs (such as The Foundation or AWE for Control), expansions (such as Destiny 2 Beyond Light), or hardware reviews. It will contain ports and remakes of games. 

Here are our best games of 2020, starting with a real good one and getting better from there. 

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Vanillaware
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 10/10

What we said: 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim mixes smart design with superb storytelling, then slathers the whole package in gorgeous style. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim spins a web of mystery around you, then chuckles smugly as you think you've found your way out only to realize you're in the middle of a maze.

Read the review. 

A Fold Apart

Publisher: Lightning Rod Games
Developer: Lightning Rod Games
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS
Rating: 9/10

What we said: A Fold Apart is about hope and how love can get us through even the toughest of times. In that way, it's timeless. 

The game is so incredibly charming and so accurately depicts the rigors and pleasures of being in love that I can't help but adore it. The first title from Lightning Rod Games isn't perfect by definition, but even with a few tiny blemishes, it's only a fold apart. 

Read the review. 

Amnesia: Rebirth

Publisher: Frictional Games
Developer: Frictional Games
Platforms: PC, PS4
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Though its scares don't reach the heights of the original, Amnesia: Rebirth remains a must-play horror game for delivering a story more akin to a brilliant novel.

Read the review. 

Among Us

Publisher: Innersloth
Developer: Innersloth
Platforms: PC, Switch, Mobile
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Flaws aside, Among Us is a clever game that deserves its time in the spotlight. It works a surprisingly complex concept into a simple and accessible package where matches are quick, fun, usually hilarious, and sometimes even intense.

Read the review. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 10/10

What we said: The latest Animal Crossing is also the best, full of life, charm, and near-endless ways to make your very own island paradise.

New Horizons is bursting with personality and charm, with opportunities to create something new and completely you. It's compelling and also one of the most chilled out games you'll ever play. In short, there's nothing quite like Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Read the review. 

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Stadia
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Assassin's Creed Valhalla builds its world around a familiar formula, but with a compelling story and plenty of things to do, it's a game series fans will find inviting.

Read the review. 

Astro's Playroom

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Team ASOBII
Platforms: PS5
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Astro's Playroom proves that the DualSense's haptics and adaptive triggers are for real — and that Astro Bot could have a very bright future on PlayStation 5. Though it's short and may lack enemy variety, Astro's Playroom makes up for it in character and heart. 

Read the review. 

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX

Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Developer: Gust Co. Ltd
Platforms: PS4, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Atelier Ayesha DX is a solid entry starting off the Dusk trilogy, with compelling crafting and gameplay loops, as well as plenty of loveable characters. Overall, Atelier Ayesha DX is a great entry in the series whether you're new to it or just finding it now. 

Read the review. 

Atelier Escha and Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky DX

Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Developer: Gust Co. Ltd
Platforms: PS4, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Atelier Escha & Logy DX refines the formula Ayesha laid out and other new features that make it not just the best in the Dusk trilogy, but one of the best Atelier games in general. All in all, Atelier Escha & Logy DX is easily the best entry in the Dusk trilogy  With refined mechanics, better combat, and seriously compelling crafting systems, it even stands among the top entries in the Atelier series on the whole.

Read the review. 

Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea

Publisher: Koei Tecmo
Developer: Gust Co. Ltd
Platforms: PS4, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Though Atelier Shallie falls short in some ways, it's still a solid package with compelling crafting and combat systems. Atelier Shallie is the weakest part of the Dusk trilogy. It's ambitious in doing away with the time system and trying for a more flexible approach. But there's just not enough worthwhile content to make the freedom and flexibility a satisfying trade-off for the systems it does away with, and it doesn't make good use of its own strengths.

Read the review. 

AO Tennis 2

Publisher: Big Ant Studios
Developer: Big Ant Studios
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: AO Tennis 2 feels like a sports sim built first and foremost to correct its predecessor's mistakes, and that's a directive that pays off for tennis fans. Not without issues, AO Tennis 2 is my pick for the best tennis game on the market today. There's obvious room to grow, but this has quickly become Big Ant's best series in their ever-expanding catalog of sports titles.

Read the review.

Before We Leave

Publisher: Balancing Monkey Games
Developer: Balancing Monkey Games
Platforms: PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Before We Leave is a relaxing take on the post-apocalypse and city building, with enough benefits to overcome its hiccups.

Read the review. 

Bloodroots

Publisher: Paper Cult
Developer: Paper Cult
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Bloodroots is a high-speed slash-and-bash extravaganza that always makes you want to beat "just one more level." A good game can be really fun when things are going well and you feel skilled and empowered. A great game remains fun when you feel like a useless idiot who can't do anything right. Bloodroots is a great game. 

Read the review.

Blood Rage

Publisher: Asmodee
Developer: Exozet Games
Platforms: PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Blood Rage: Digital Edition is a strong port of the popular tabletop game that's challenging for both newcomers and veterans alike. Blood Rage: Digital Edition is a really strong port of a popular tabletop game. 

Read the review. 

Battletoads

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Developer: Rare
Platforms: PC, Xbox One
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Battletoads returns after 26 years, and it's a love letter to gaming past and present. The urgency at which it propels you through its runtime is both a blessing and a curse, as it’s hard to put down but ultimately a short affair. 

Read the review. 

BPM: Bullets Per Minute

Publisher: Awe Interactive
Developer: Awe Interactive
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 9/10

What we said: BPM: Bullets Per Minute is a challenging rhythm shooter that’s difficult to master but highly satisfying. It's not a forgiving experience, and though it's difficult to master, BPM proves surprisingly easy to pick up and play. 

Read the review.

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends

Publisher: ININ Games
Developer: Taito
Platforms: PS4, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is, for the most part, exactly what fans would have hoped for. It’s a modern classic that keeps all the charm we loved about the original 80s game. There’s a significant graphics improvement of course, but the gameplay itself is largely identical.

Read the review. 

Cake Bash

Publisher: High Tea Frog
Developer: Coatsink
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia
Rating: 8/10

What we said: There’s a lot to love about Cake Bash, and High Tea Frog has made an excellent party game for their debut title. With a variety of entertaining games, some lively stages, and good replayability, it’s a fun experience, especially with friends. We only wish there was more of it on offer. Though some minigames feel a little finicky, it’s otherwise a sweet treat all around.

Read the review. 

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is full of content that series fans will enjoy and offers a few unexpected surprises along the way. The vast amount of content at launch is enough to draw players in, while the promise of more will keep players around. 

Read the review.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Beenox
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered is a mostly commanding return of the game's classic single-player, though not without a few hiccups. It is a functionally updated retelling of a story millions know and played in their formative years. The characters and politics are somehow as relevant today as they were back when the game first released, and it still sounds, plays, and looks better than most shooters on the market.

Read the review. 

Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Tamsoft
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions is legitimately the best arcade sports title to come out since Rocket League. The simple, easy truth here is that if you're craving an arcade soccer game, you really should buy Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions. 

Read the review. 

Carrion

Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: Phobia Game Studio
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Carrion is a beautifully orchestrated symphony of blood, guts, and dismembered limbs. While Carrion won't win any awards, it plays out much like a late Friday night feature, full of gruesome horror and satisfying effects. More importantly, it doesn't outstay its welcome.

Read the review. 

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Toys for Bob
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Ultimately, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time had a lot riding on it. Being the sequel to a 22-year-old game likely presented Toys for Bob with some developmental challenges, but the development team nailed nearly everything about this sequel. The Crash series has seen its fair share of mediocre (or even bad) entries, but Crash 4 is a big step in the right direction, and the future of the series couldn't be more exciting. 

Read the review. 

Crusader Kings 3

Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Paradox Development Studio
Platforms: PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Crusader Kings 3 is the best looking and most accessible the series has ever been. If you've always been intrigued by the idea of Crusader Kings but bounced off of it, Crusader Kings 3 is the best way to get started. 

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Deliver Us the Moon

Publisher: Wired Productions
Developer: KeokeN Interactive
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 8/10

What we said: A narrative journey through space so intriguing and full of compelling puzzles that it easily papers over some minor cracks in execution and major leaps it asks the player to make.

Just as the interesting minutiae of the plot are enough to overcome some of the issues I had with the macro-level concept, the overall experience was more than enough to make up for having one or two bouts of irritation.

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Demon's Souls

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Bluepoint Games
Platforms: PS5
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Demon's Souls is an instant classic, one of those rare retellings that stands triumphantly alongside the original as an essential experience. This remaster stands as a shining example of how transformative reimaginings can be, and how, with loving dedication, a remaster can be just as revolutionary and memorable as its source material.

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Desperados 3

Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Mimimi Games
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Desperados 3 is a much-belated sequel that strikes the right balance between classic gameplay mechanics and modern sensibilities. It's a welcome return for the series. Mimimi Games has proven once again that they know the genre, as both Desperados 3 and Shadow Tactics demonstrate.

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Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition makes a great game even better with a new character, new modes, and overhauled visuals for next-gen consoles. Devil May Cry 5 may not have a whole lot that's truly new to offer, but what it does add and change manages to elevate an already excellent action game into the upper echelon of the entire genre.

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Dirt 5

Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: Codemasters
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Stadia
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Dirt 5 continues Codemaster's tradition of creating some of the finest racing games around that have neither the words "Gran," "Forza," or "Speed" in the title.

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Disgaea 4 Complete+

Publisher: NIS America
Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
Platforms: PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Disgaea 4 Complete+ is the definitive version of the game, with upgrades galore, tons of content to get lost in, and one of the strongest casts in the series. Disgaea 4 Complete+ is one of the stronger entries in the series, with its outlandish cast and relevant, if loose, story.

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Doom Eternal

Publisher: Bethesda 
Developer: id Software
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Doom Eternal absolutely delivers on all-fronts by blasting us with one of the most intense and satisfying single-player shooter campaigns in years. From the moment you kill your first enemy with the starting shotgun to when you revel in the explosion of blood from your final enemy, Doom Eternal is a nearly non-stop thrill ride that exceeds almost every expectation.

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Dragon's Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Dragon Quest XI Definitive Edition makes one of the most joyous and downright wonderful gaming experiences of all time even better. The Definitive Edition of Dragon Quest XI is the perfect salve. It's a game unashamed to be a video game, and it's one that embraces its roots in a charming, beautiful way. It's unashamedly jolly and light, but most importantly, it's comforting.

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Dreams

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Media Molecule
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 9/10

What we said: On one hand, Dreams is a bottomless bag filled with toys, vignettes, and indie games. On the other, Dreams is a must-own for anyone who's ever been curious about game design. Dreams is the best platform for anybody who loves playing tons of indie games, or who would like to make one themselves, or even just those who'd like to network into a game development community.

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Fall Guys

Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: Mediatonic
Platforms: PC, PS4
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Despite unbalanced team-match dynamics and pesky server issues (which the developers are ironing out) sometimes interfering with the fun, the simple approach of Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout makes these negatives seem meaningless in the long run. This is not only the game we want in 2020 — but it's the game we need. Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is a comfort blanket that provides some warm, friendly fun with friends.

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Final Fantasy 7 Remake 

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Final Fantasy 7 Remake faithfully updates Midgar and the original’s enigmatic cast of antiheroes for a new generation, masterfully weaving its own grand tale in the process. In fact, it could be the best Final Fantasy game I've ever played — period.

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Fort Triumph

Publisher: All In! Games
Developer: CookieByte Entertainment
Platforms: PC
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Fort Triumph expertly blends genres into a strategy experience that's infinitely fun and endlessly charming. Fort Triumph is just a lot of fun, and the charm oozes from every arrow wound, spell singe, and sword strike, making it a very easy recommendation indeed. 

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Fuser

Publisher: NCSOFT
Developer: Harmonix
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: FUSER would be an incredibly special game if it came out last year. But now, in late 2020, it almost seems necessary. This game is already something very, very special, and it's only going to get better as the community grows. After all, it's always better to make music with friends.

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Gears Tactics

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Developer: The Coalition
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Gears Tactics takes the intense third-person action of the console game into the realm of PC-centric turn-based tactical strategy. Thanks to intuitive controls, Gears Tactics is easy to get into even for players who have never played a turn-based tactical squad game before. It’s just a shame there’s not more here.

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Get Packed

Publisher: Coatsink
Developer: Moonshine Studios
Platforms: Stadia
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Get Packed is strangely not the only indie co-op arcade game about moving furniture to launch recently, but it ends up standing out with its own kind of hilarious chaos. Get Packed is playable for up to four players in local or online play and across several modes, including a campaign, versus, and destruction. Whichever you choose, the colorful and bubbly characters and levels you've come to expect from games like this are back once more.

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Ghost of Tsushima

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Sucker Punch
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Ghost of Tsushima offers an amazing open-world experience and satisfying combat, only mildly held back by its writing and characters. Ghost of Tsushima does a lot of things right. Its got fun combat, a wonderfully designed world, and top-notch sound design. Neither the story nor the characters moved me in any real way, even though I could tell both were trying.

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Ghostrunner

Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: One More Level
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: In Ghostrunner, a single slash divides life and death. It's fast, frenetic, and, even in the face of its weaker moments, endlessly satisfying. Ghostrunner offers satisfying combat in a well-constructed, beautiful cyberpunk world. You will feel more and more powerful as the game moves on, and moving through the world is always a wonderful experience.

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Hades

Publisher: Supergiant Games
Developer: Supergiant Games
Platforms: PC, Switch
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Hades is everything great about the roguelite genre all but perfected. Few games aim as high, and fewer still reach their goals. Hades does, exceeding even the loftiest expectations.

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Half-Life: Alyx

Publisher: Valve
Developer: Valve
Platforms: PC
Rating: 10/10

What we said: While the "VR-only" part may alienate many current PC gamers, it's a triumph that a VR title as excellent as Alyx exists at all.

The release of a VR game like Half-Life: Alyx is a momentous occasion. Not only is this one of the very first AAA VR games to break the bubble, but it's also a revival of one of the most beloved game franchises on the planet, following up on a nearly 13-year hiatus that left us all on a very inconvenient cliffhanger.

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Huntdown

Publisher: Coffee Stain Studios
Developer: Easy Trigger Games
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Huntdown is a throwback run and gun shooter that cares about style and rewards precision. Huntdown understands the genre and its influences, and it carves its own path. It's short enough that you can play through it in a single sitting, taking four to six hours, depending on the difficulty you choose. 

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Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Omega Force
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a heck of a Warriors game and a fantastic love letter to Breath of the Wild and Zelda in general. Maybe Age of Calamity is a stop-gap to tide fans over until Breath of the Wild 2, but no effort was spared in making it a quality game.

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Iron Harvest

Publisher: Deep Silver
Developer: King Art Games
Platforms: PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Iron Harvest leverages its unique setting and strong design into an impressive and memorable RTS. If you're looking for a strong, single-player RTS with a unique world to explore, Iron Harvest is a perfect option. 

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Immortals Fenyx Rising

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer:  Ubisoft Quebec
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Stadia, Amazon Luna
Rating: 8/10

What we said: It may look like a Breath of the Wild clone, but Immortals Fenyx Rising has a lot of unique charm that makes it a must-play for fans of the genre. Immortals Fenyx Rising has undeniable charm. Your mileage may vary, but don't sleep on this one. It's worth the adventure.

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Journey to the Savage Planet

Publisher: 505 Games
Developer: Typhoon Studios
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Journey to the Savage Planet is a satirical and colorful Metroidvania that survives its corny jokes thanks to fun traversal and worthwhile exploration. With an intriguing world and creature design, the right amount of retro principles, and a surprisingly long post-credits tail worth chasing, Journey to the Savage Planet is a light-hearted, charming debut from a promising new studio.

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Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Melody of Memory is a nostalgic, rhythmic celebration of Kingdom Hearts that fans of the series and the genre will adore. Drawing upon a rich soundtrack that ranges from original songs to Disney hits, there’s a lot to love in this new spin-off, but don’t expect any major story developments.

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Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning

Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Kaiko
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning changes little from its original release because it doesn't need to. This is immediately one of the best RPGs you can play this entire generation.

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Kunai

Publisher: The Arcade Crew
Developer: TurtleBlaze
Platforms: PC, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Classic components come together to form a stellar slashing platformer, with the titular kunai providing a particularly high note.

Metroidvania games remain a popular niche in the gaming community with good reason, and KUNAI is a worthwhile addition to the genre. It's easy to pick up and get going, but it provides enough escalation as you progress to keep you interested as you move from sector to sector, picking up new toys and perks along the way.

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Maneater

Publisher: Tripwire Interactive
Developer: Tripwire Interactive
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Maneater's deep combat and deeper oceans provide just the type of blissful escapism we need right now. Even if it wasn’t on your radar at all, Maneater is a title that will gobble you up for a few hours of blissful escapism. 

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Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer:  Insomniac Games
Platforms: PS4, PS5
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Insomniac wanted to please Miles Morales fans with their latest Spider-Man adventure. The result is a damn near perfect action-adventure game. It’s also close to being perfect when it comes to representation. Black and brown people fill out most of the roles and do so with gusto. Their performances, at times, eclipsing what came before. I’m thoroughly pleased with what Insomniac has accomplished.

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Magic: ManaStrike

Publisher: Netmarble
Developer: Netmarble
Platforms: Android
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Magic: ManaStrike is a very familiar strategy game that includes some classic characters to make for an all-around fun time. There is a constant stream of rewards for those who don't want to spend money, too, so you never feel hamstrung for not wanting to buy in-game items. It's fun and has enough depth to make for some interesting strategies, the more you play. 

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Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom 
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is an excellent little package that is sure to please fans both old and new.

Overall, you'd be hard-pressed to beat the Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection. All of the games are enjoyable, the new features make them far easier to consume for modern players, and the love to the series spills out of every frame. It's just a very good collection of very good games, even if the title is utterly absurd. 

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Metro Redux 

Publisher: Koch Media
Developer:  4A Games
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Metro Redux arrives on the Nintendo Switch with a bombastic statement: absolutely nobody's safe from Switch-ification. 

Metro Redux on Switch feels like one of those rare Switch games that shouldn't exist. I mean that in a very, very good way. I also mean it in the sense that, thematically and technically, it doesn't seem like it would be a great natural fit for Nintendo's portable gaming console.

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MLB The Show 20

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: SIE San Diego
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 8/10

What we said: MLB The Show 20 doesn't rewrite the script, but its numerous tweaks to gameplay, modes, and options makes it the best baseball game around. MLB The Show 20 still feels like the most complete baseball title available — comfortably so, in fact. But it doesn't feel like a significant evolution over last year's entry in the series. 

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Mortal Shell

Publisher: Playstack
Developer: Cold Symmetry 
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Far from being a pretender, Mortal Shell is a sometimes exceptional entry to the genre. Its stumbles are noticeable only because there is so much to enjoy.

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Moving Out

Publisher: Team17
Developer:  SMG Studio
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Moving Out's familiar brand of local-multiplayer party-game fun lets everyone join in on the fun, laughter, and cursing. Whatever your preference is, Moving Out certainly provides the same flavor of co-operative tension and burst-out-loud laughter as Overcooked. 

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Murder by Numbers

Publisher: The Irregular Corporation
Developer: Mediatonic
Platforms: PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Murder by Numbers is an exquisite detective puzzler with wonderful writing, gorgeous graphics, and masterful music. The comparisons to the Phoenix Wright series are instantly evident. Not only do the visuals share the same motif of hand-drawn 2D sprites, speech boxes, and thick lines, but the gameplay is very similar, too. 

The soundtrack is lively, bouncy, and upbeat. It's inspirational and uplifting when the moment is happy, it's imposing and harsh when the pressure is on, and it's cold and gloomy when the protagonist doubts themselves. 

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My Hero One's Justice 2

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Byking 
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: My Hero One's Justice 2 is a lot like the original, with a few minor adjustments that might entice you to enter the arena once again. Make no mistake, My Hero One's Justice 2 is a good, fun arena brawler on its own merits. Taken on its own, the game really does provide an amazing adaptation of the My Hero Academia franchise.

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NHL 21

Publisher: EA
Developer: EA Vancouver
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 8/10

What we said: NHL 21 provides more of the same, and with the uncertainty of the real world season, even less of what few changes fans come to expect of yearly releases.

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Nioh 2

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Team Ninja
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Nioh 2 takes everything great about the first game and dials it up. Despite a few returning gremlins, this is an instant hit for fans of the series. Nioh 2 is essentially more Nioh, but better. Fans of the series will find plenty to enjoy here, and newcomers won't feel like they had to play the first game to appreciate what it has to offer.

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Not for Broadcast

Publisher: TinyBuild Games
Developer: NotGames
Platforms: PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Who knew that overseeing a bunch of media personalities who say so little by saying so much could be so fun? Not For Broadcast is excellently paced. As soon as you pull up behind the switchboard, you're presented with a smorgasbord of screens, buttons, and switches. While it would be easy to overwhelm new players with options, the game takes it slow.

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One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4

Publisher: Bandai Namco
Developer: Koei Tecmo
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is not only one of the best One Piece games but possibly one of the best Musou games around. When you throw in the ability to grind out your skill trees and chase ever more impressive kill counts, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is a game with an incredible level of replayability.

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One Step From Eden

Publisher: Humble Bundle
Developer: Thomas Moon Kang
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: One Step From Eden is a fantastic rogue-like deck-building game that is a few small tweaks away from perfection. Like most roguelites, One Step From Eden is brimming with replay value but can easily be played in short stints, too; each run takes 30-60 minutes to complete — or, more often, 5-10 minutes to lose.

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Ori and the Will of the Wisps 

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Developer: Moon Studios
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Ori and the Will of the Wisps is another triumph return for the series — a beautiful game with only the smallest blemishes to its luster. If you want to play a beautiful, often difficult Metroidvania with some of the most satisfying combat and traversal mechanics the genre has to offer, Ori and the Will of the Wisps will give you plenty to be excited about.

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Othercide

Publisher: 
Developer: 
Initial Release Date: 
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Othercide is a modern gothic take on turn-based tactics. It's stylish, difficult, and a solid addition to the genre. If you want a tough take on turn-based tactics, Othercide is a great pick-up. If you've tried the genre before and bounced off because of the gameplay, it isn't going to change your mind.

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Orcs Must Die 3

Publisher: Google
Developer: Robot Entertainment
Platforms: Stadia
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Though its name offers no way around it, the creative ways you dispatch foes makes Orcs Must Die 3 perhaps the most addictive Stadia exclusive to date.

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Orwell's Animal Farm

Publisher: The Dairymen
Developer: Nerial 
Platforms: PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Orwell's Animal Farm faithfully recreates and even reinvents the classic allegory at a time when it's never been more relevant for some players. There's absolutely an audience for this game, and if you find yourself in it, Orwell's Animal Farm is a timely, effective reimagining of one of the last century's most notable allegories.

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Paper Mario: The Origami King

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Despite a combat system that gets old quickly, Paper Mario: The Origami King's writing, puzzles, and worldbuilding make it the best entry since The Thousand-Year Door.

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Persona 5 Royal

Publisher: Atlus USA
Developer:  P-Studio
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Persona 5 Royal improves on the original in almost countless ways, big and small, to deliver a top-notch RPG for new and old fans alike. If you haven't played Persona 5 countless times, you're in for a real treat. Persona 5 Royal is easily the best Persona game yet and one of the best RPGs available right now.

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Pikmin 3

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Eighting 
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Pikmin 3 Deluxe is the best the series has to offer, a showcase of creative design and smart strategy. It's one of the most enjoyable experiences on the Switch.

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Pumpkin Jack

Publisher: Headup
Developer: Nicolas Meyssonnier
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: With levels reminiscent of beloved 3D platformers and an irresistible audiovisual experience, playing Pumpkin Jack this Halloween is exciting and youthful like trick-or-treaters finding the house giving out full-size candy bars.

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Rune Factory 4 Special

Publisher: XSEED
Developer: Neverland
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Rune Factory 4 is an abundant RPG, full of fun characters, things to do, and a compelling network of interlocking systems. While Rune Factory 4 might not reach the epic heights of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 or Dragon Quest 11 S, and as a simulator, it might get overlooked for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, Rune Factory 4 manages to be something else entirely and manages it very well.

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Resident Evil 3 Remake

Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Resident Evil 3 is a decent horror-action game that falls short of the Resident Evil 2 standard. To be fair, though, RE3 is trying some new things. It's much more of a straightforward action game than RE2, keeping a lot of the trappings of survival horror while emphasizing RE4-style shoot-'em-up gameplay. 

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Robotics;Notes ELITE & DaSH

Publisher: Spike Chunsoft
Developer: Mages Inc.
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Robotics;Notes ELITE & DaSH give fans lighthearted adventures with the Robot Research Club in the Science Adventure universe. Fans of the Science Adventure series, and visual novels in general, will enjoy Robotics;Notes ELITE. While it doesn’t quite reach the incredibly soaring highs of Steins;Gate, it is more enjoyable than the underwhelming Chaos;Head.

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Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Sumo Digital
Platforms: PS4, PS5
Rating: 9/10

What we said: After a six-year absence, PlayStation’s knitted icon returns in stunning form in one of the year's best platformers. With an A-list cast, superb visuals, and some strong co-op gameplay, Sackboy: A Big Adventure successfully proves that Sackboy can thrive without LittleBigPlanet’s creation mechanics, all while still paying homage to his roots.

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Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin

Publisher: XSEED
Developer: Edelweiss
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a bold genre fusion that pays off with superb farming and combat systems plus a cast of characters you'll remember for a long time to come. It might ask you to take it on its own terms from time to time, but that's a small price to pay when the experience is this rewarding and unique.

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Sakura Wars

Publisher: SEGA
Developer: SEGA 
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Sakura Wars' unique LIPS system, thoroughly charming cast of characters, and great writing more than make up for its less than stellar combat. It's a strong reboot, and one I truly hope heralds an encore for the series. There's nothing else quite like Sakura Wars, and that's a compliment.

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Samurai Shodown

Publisher: SNK
Developer: SNK
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: 2019's Samurai Shodown is finally available for the Switch, bringing one of the foundational Japanese fighting games to a brand-new audience. Samurai Shodown has managed to make the trip to the Switch without sacrificing more than a little bit of graphical fidelity. 

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Sayonara Wild Hearts

Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Developer: Simogo 
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 10/10

What we said: In its one-hour runtime, Sayonara Wild Hearts transcends video games and becomes not just a playable pop album, but a hypnotic self-help soundtrack. It's an endorphin factory. Sayonara Wild Hearts is more than a game for me. It's a catharsis vessel. It's a story of self-love. It's a reminder that some things break but that doesn't make us broken. It was once a dream and now forever a memory. It's transcendent and undying, but, of course, it is. Wild Hearts Never Die. 

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Serious Sam 4

Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: Croteam 
Platforms: PC, Stadia
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Serious Sam 4 is a delightfully old-school first-person shooter that doesn't bring a ton of new stuff to the table but still hits all the right notes. Serious Sam 4 is a strong, polished, old-school shooter. The massive, open-air firefights are a fairly unique element to first-person shooters, and panicked kiting of hundreds of enemies is the name of the game.

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Shantae and the Seven Sirens

Publisher: WayForward
Developer: WayForward
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Shantae and the Seven Sirens is a welcome return of a now-classic platforming series. Shantae has been weaving her magic for nearly 20 years and still feels distinctive amidst the sea of other platformers. Her latest romp might not feel quite as fresh as Half-Genie Hero, but it’s still a worthwhile, highly entertaining adventure.

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Spiritfarer

Publisher: Thunder Lotus Games
Developer: Thunder Lotus Games
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Spiritfarer is a finely crafted piece of artistic commentary on what it means to let go, and it's far and away one of the best games to come out of 2020.

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Star Wars Squadrons

Publisher: Motive Studios
Developer: EA
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Star Wars Squadrons is an instant classic and an ode to the space combat sims that came before it. Squadrons does a lot of things right. And it's the closest thing to a new X-Wing or Tie Fighter we're going to get. Though it's a stand-alone game, it's also a fantastic complement to Battlefront 2's starfighter assault mode, giving aces new and old two very good options to choose from. 

Read the review. 

Stories Untold

Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: No Code
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Stories Untold is a boundlessly smart and stylish adventure game that both celebrates the past while changing the future. Stories Untold is a unique adventure game smothered in atmosphere. Switch players will have to contend with the port's less-than-ideal UI, but provided they can get over that relatively small hump, the rest of the game is an unsettling, intelligent, fourth-wall-breaking success.

Read the review.

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town

Publisher: Natsume
Developer: Marvelous Interactive
Platforms: PC, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town might not re-invent the wheel, but it's an excellent reminder why the formula the original helped create is so beloved and long-lasting.

Read the review. 

Streets of Rage 4

Publisher: Dotemu
Developer: Dotemu
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Streets of Rage 4 is a surprisingly decent return to form for a franchise that's been collecting dust for over 25 years. It plays a bit of a trick on you if you’re a fan of this sort of game, where you fall into your old patterns almost immediately, but the game is built to smack you down if you do. Instead, it’s got a simple combat system with some real depth to it, and which only gets more fun as you add players in co-op.

Read the review. 

Surgeon Simulator 2

Publisher: Bossa Studios
Developer: Bossa Studios
Platforms: PC
Rating: 8/10

What we said: While some sequels fail to build upon the entries that came before them, turning into bloated, convoluted messes, Surgeon Simulator 2 reshapes the original idea into something entirely new. 

Read the review. 

Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Little effort was put into modernizing Super Mario 3D All-Stars, and somehow, that's still more than enough. Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a satisfying gift for the series' 35th anniversary.

Read the review. 

Super Mega Baseball 3

Publisher: Metalhead Software
Developer: Metalhead Software
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Super Mega Baseball has never been given the accolades it's deserved, but this is the year baseball fans will finally notice this all-star. Don't let a lack of MLB licensing turn you away. This is a serious baseball sim in every way except for the silly naming conventions of its athletes.

Read the review. 

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4

Publisher: NIS America
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Platforms: PC, PS4, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Trails of Cold Steel 4 brings the Cold Steel series to a spectacular conclusion with some of the best storytelling in the genre and improvements to every gameplay system.

Read the review. 

The Last of Us 2

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Developer: Naughty Dog 
Platforms: PS4
Rating: 8/10

What we said: The Last of Us 2 is an emotional rollercoaster that doesn't always hit the mark with what it tries to pull off. It does, however, provide enough amazing highs to outweigh its unfortunate lows.

Read the review. 

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

Publisher: Skydance Interactive
Developer: Skydance Interactive 
Platforms: PC, PS4
Rating: 8/10

What we said: The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners would be a great game even if it wasn't in VR. Suffice it to say Saints & Sinners definitely suffers from some modern-day VR problems, but it's still a great sign of the immersive and exciting things to come.

Read the review. 

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2

Publisher: Activision
Developer: Vicarious Visions
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 makes good on its promise of revitalizing a legendary franchise, but it's modern twists aren't all clean landed.

Read the review. 

Vitamin Connection

Publisher: WayForward
Developer: WayForward
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Vitamin Connection is one of the best games on Switch. It's extremely fun, creative, and great with a friend. An easy pill to swallow. To bring this love-letter in disguise to a close: Vitamin Connection is a game that everybody should play. 

Read the review. 

Void Terrarium

Publisher: NIS America
Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
Platforms: PS4, Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: There's a lot to love about Void Terrarium, with its touching story and unique approach to the mystery dungeon genre, even if does occasionally frustrate. Void Terrarium is special for how it balances challenge and accessibility to create its own unique identity, a balancing act many other games struggle with. If you're new to the genre, it's a great place to start.

Read the review. 

Wasteland 3

Publisher: Deep Silver
Developer: InXile Entertainment
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Wasteland 3 invokes feelings of classic RPGs such as Fallout and manages to nail the feel and tone perfectly in a modernized setting. While the game often falls into some of the genre's more vexing traps, such as percentage damage idiosyncrasies and lackluster character models, it’s hard to deny its engaging power. 

Read the review. 

Watch Dogs: Legion

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft Toronto
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Stadia
Rating: 8/10

What we said: Watch Dogs: Legion throws out a decade of Ubisoft's cluttered-map open worlds in favor of exciting systems that deliver unique emergent moments consistently. Watch Dogs: Legion drastically revises the Ubisoft open-world blueprint it has leaned on for over a decade. 

Read the Review.

Wintermoor Tactics Club

Publisher: Versus Evil
Developer: EVC
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Rating: 8/10

What we said: The indie strategy game Wintermoor Tactics Club is one of the better children's books I've ever played. Kids will love it, but adults may find it too simple. Really, the highest recommendation I can make for Wintermoor Tactics Club is that it’s a funny, weirdly true-feeling interactive children’s book, with just enough tactical action to keep you interested throughout.

Read the review. 

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Monolith Soft 
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition makes one of the best RPGs even better, despite not spreading its improvements evenly over the whole package.

Read the review. 

Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Publisher: SEGA
Developer: Ryo Ga Gotoku Studio
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S 
Rating: 10/10

What we said: Yakuza: Like A Dragon isn't just a great Yakuza title — it's legitimately one of the best modern role-playing games there is. Yakuza: Like A Dragon is an uplifting and hopeful story told with heart, supported by satisfying RPG gameplay and a host of entertaining side-missions and minigames. 

Read the review. 

Ys Origin

Publisher: Dotemu
Developer: Dotemu 
Platforms: Switch
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Ys Origin on Switch is one of the most focused, fluid, and exhilarating action RPGs around. Read our review to see why it absolutely should be on your radar.

Read the review. 

Zombie Army 4: Dead War

Publisher: Rebellion 
Developer: Rebellion
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Rating: 9/10

What we said: Ever wanted to dodge zombie sharks while on a quest to destroy the undead animated by evil wizard-Hitler? Well, it doesn't get much better than Zombie Army 4. The game's shooting mechanics, its level design, and its ranking system come together in a much more satisfying way [than the core Sniper Elite series]. 

Read the review.

That's it for our list of the best games of 2020. What were your favorite games? Let us know in the comments below! 

It's been a busy year so far for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. After getting established on our islands back in March, we've been attacked by fleets of Bunny Day eggs, shaken down by jolly fraudsters, and recruited for spooky deeds by a mysterious pumpkin-headed figure.

In the normal course of affairs, Toy Day, New Years, and Festivals round off the event calendar before it starts again. Nintendo doesn't plan on New Horizons running the normal course of affairs, though.

During Nintendo's recent earnings call, company President Shuntaro Furukawa said the goal is keeping New Horizons fresh. He said:

Going forward, we will continue to implement in-game events and would like to create a situation where consumers will keep enjoying the game for a long time.

This will be the first year-end sales season for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and we hope even more people will take that opportunity to purchase the game.

Thus far, New Horizons updates have added more than just holidays. They included things such as diving and fireworks shows, alongside more important updates like backup save support.

There's no telling what Nintendo might have in store for the future. Even aside from brand-new content, there's still a fair bit New Horizons doesn't have yet, including Brewster's Café and Katrina the Fortune Teller, not to mention former town mayor Tortimer.

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more Animal Crossing: New Horizons updates and news.

[Source: Nintendo Japan via Nintendo Everything]

It's spooky season in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which means it's time to deck your island out with spooky items and all manner of Halloween furniture. In true New Horizons fashion, you can craft most of them with DIY recipes and pumpkins.

You can snag spooky items in a couple of ways; some can be obtained through the store, while others are only available on Halloween night. We've compiled a complete list of what you'll be able to get in Animal Crossing: New Horizons throughout October. 

How to Get Spooky Items

Shoot down recipe balloons

Some players have reported that recipe balloons for spooky items can be shot out of the sky like the Bunny Day recipe balloons were, though others say this isn't the case.

It could be that Nintendo altered the rate of balloons so islands aren't being invaded by fleets of them like they were during Bunny Day, so it's worth shooting them down when you see them.

Get them from island residents

You can also obtain spooky items from island residents. Every day, one resident crafts something during the day's three main time segments:

• Morning (5 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
• Afternoon (12 p.m. - 6 p.m.)
• Evening/overnight (6 p.m. - 5 a.m. )
  • There's usually at least one or two residents awake after 11 p.m. so it's a good idea to still check if you forgot earlier.

Speak to the residents, and they'll offer to teach you what they're making. It's not a given you'll get a recipe for spooky items, though.

In addition to selling pumpkins, the Nookling brothers sell one piece of spooky furniture every day in the featured item spot, just to the left of the entrance.

Other ways to get spooky items

Not every item or piece of spooky furniture is for sale or available through DIY recipes. Some you'll get by shelling out Candy on Halloween, and a few can only be obtained from Jack.

Complete List of Items

Spooky Standing Lamp

• 3 orange pumpkin
• 5 hardwood
• 1 clay

Spooky Arch

• 10 orange pumpkin
• 10 hardwood
• 3 clay

Spooky Fence

• 3 orange pumpkin
• 5 iron nugget

Spooky Scarecrow

• 3 orange pumpkin
• 4 wood

Spooky Lantern

• 4 orange pumpkin

Spooky Lantern Set

• 4 orange pumpkin
• 4 weed clumps

Spooky Table

• 14 orange pumpkin
• 10 softwood

Spooky Chair

• 3 orange pumpkin
• 3 softwood

Spooky Tower

• 7 orange pumpkin

Spooky Candy Set

• 1 orange pumpkin
• 3 candy

The next few Spooky item recipes are only obtainable on Halloween (October 31).

Spooky Table Setting

• Obtain by handing out Candy on Halloween
• 1 orange pumpkin
• 1 iron nugget
• 1 clay

Spooky Garland

• Obtain by handing out Candy on Halloween
• 1 orange pumpkin
• 1 iron nugget
• 1 clay

Spooky Carriage

• Obtain from Jack on Halloween
• 30 orange pumpkins
• 20 hardwood
• 20 wood
• 20 softwood
• 10 iron nuggets

Spooky Rug, Flooring, Wall

There's no DIY recipe for these, and you can only get them by giving out candy on Halloween.

That's it for our Animal Crossing: New Horizons spooky items list. If you found this helpful, consider checking out our other New Horizons guides for more island life tips.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons' October Halloween update brings with it pumpkins galore, among other things. Whether you want the squash to craft Spooky furniture or just to get into the spirit of Halloween, the first step is figuring out how to grow pumpkins on your island.

Before you grow pumpkins in New Horizons, though, you'll need to actually get them. There are two ways to do so, and one is easier than the other. But they will both cost you Bells, so it's worth saving up. 

How to Get Pumpkin Starters 

Visit the Nooklings' store

The sure-fire way to get pumpkins in Animal Crossing is just going to the Nooklings' store every day. The brothers stock Pumpkin Starters in the cabinet where tools and flower seeds are.

Unlike Candy, there's no limit on how many Pumpkin Starter you can buy each day, and you can buy them in singles or packs of five.

How much do Starters cost?

The Nook brothers' Pumpkin Starters cost 280 Bells a piece. It probably won't break your bank, but there is a cheaper way this Halloween squash in New Horizons.

If you're lucky enough to have Leif stop by your island plaza in New Horizons, he'll be hawking Pumpkin Starters for half the price — 140 Bells. Stock up while you can.

How to Grow Pumpkins 

It doesn't matter where you plant your seeds, but you'll plant them like you do shrubs and flowers. Unlike shrubs, pumpkins won't impede your path.

Increase pumpkin yield by watering them

Make sure to water your starters every day. Watering them increases the number of pumpkins you'll get from each, which is handy if you want to craft the Spooky DIY set or put some aside for later.

There are four different kinds of pumpkins

• Orange
• Green
• White
• Yellow

You'll only use orange pumpkins for Spooky DIY. The others act like customization kits and let you change the color of a Spooky item.

Unfortunately, there's no guarantee what kind of pumpkin you'll end up with, though some players are saying orange is the most common.

That's all you need to know about how to get and grow pumpkins in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Now you're well on your way to crafting those Spooky DIY items. If you found these tips helpful, consider checking out our other New Horizons guides for more help!

Torchlight 3 Halloween — Gears 'N' Goblins Update

The Torchlight 3 Halloween update brings the pets along for the ride. Players can rescue three new Halloween-themed pets from bosses and dungeons: the Midnight Cat, Spooky Retriever, and Dragonling Spirt. Each with a special skill that summons skeletons in battle, but the pets are only available until December.

Aside from battle-pups, the update introduces the Ancient Ember gear set and two new skills along with it, plus new fort decorations and two new weapons: Sword of the Lost and Lightning Baller mace.

And that's it for now! Feel free to bookmark this page for more Halloween event updates throughout October! If you found this list frightfully delightful, please consider sharing it! 

Hardspace: Shipbreaker Halloween: Haunted Frontier

Hardspace: Shipbreaker's Halloween event is Haunted Frontier, full of spooky haunted ships that put your bravery — and desire for salvage — to the test.

The update, which is live now on Steam, turns any ship into a potential ghost ship. Things start deteriorating as you gather materials and fend off rogue AI nodes. Lights flicker on and off. Air gets sucked out of the room. And somewhere deep in the ship, unsettling sounds can be heard...

Should you make it out alive, you can show off your hard-earned rewards with new stickers and badges.

Hunt: Showdown Halloween Event

Hunt: Showdown has its first-ever Halloween event on now until November 4, with a gourd-full of ghoulish events and treats to earn.

Players earn Event Points for special equipment and other items by doing the following:

\n
• Destroying pumpkins scattered through the world 
\n
• Destroying the Butcher's pumpkin head 
\n
• Investigating a Halloween-themed Clue or Rift 
\n
• Destroying pumpkins mounted on scarecrows 
\n

There's only so many Event Points you can earn each day, but using the special Halloween item Wormseed Shot increases the points earned by 25%.

1,000 Event Points are needed for all the event's special gear. Any points earned over that will be converted into Blood Bonds once the event ends.

Minecraft Halloween in the Minecraft Marketplace

Minecraft Halloween celebrations run through November 2, with frights aplenty in the Minecraft Marketplace. Mojang's got Halloween-themed maps and items in store there, plus Halloween Collections to choose from in the Character Creator and Marketplace.

Until November 2, you can grab a free Halloween skin pack and Halloween character creation item for free. These will still be available to get after November 2, but they won't be free then.

[Source: Mojang]

Fire Emblem Heroes Halloween — Special Heroes (Dragons Harvest)

Fire Emblem Heroes' Halloween event runs through November 7 at 7:59 p.m. EST and offers a chance to summon four new Halloween-themed units:

\n
• Fall Vessel Robin (Awakening)
\n
• Autumn Trickster Xane (Mystery of the Emblem)
\n
• Harvest Goldoan Dheginsea (Radiant Dawn)
\n
• Harmonic Hope Ninian and Tiki duo unit (Binding Blade and Shadow Dragon)
\n

As always, the seasonal Fire Emblem Heroes' units come with a new Paralogue event, Dragons Harvest.

No Man's Sky Halloween Update

Head back to the outer reaches of the galaxy to find some new loot in the No Man's Sky Halloween update. Brave explorers can scour Desolation's wrecked vessels again to find a new item, Tainted Metal, and have a chance to snag some Quicksilver. But it comes at a cost. The freighters are full of new treats and a security system gone haywire.

Trade Tainted Metal with the Scrap Dealer to get new base decorations and additional customization options, or you can stockpile it to exchange for the Horrific Flesh-Helmet.

Scrap Dealers also have Orange Pustules and Detoxified Slimes for infesting and purifying bases.

[Source: Hello Games]

PixARK Halloween

PixARK Halloween brings a spooky makeover to the survival game from now until November 2, with costumes and treats galore.

Things kick off at the main menu, which is getting a Halloween re-skin. The main attraction is the Pumpkin Soul Reaper though.

When you defeat the Pumpkin Soul Reaper, it might drop:

\n
• Pumpkin Seed
\n
• Magic Broom
\n
• Flying Firework
\n
• Clown Costume
\n

The Firework and Broomstick only last seven days, but you have a slight chance of getting a permanent one from defeating Ancient Wyvern King, Beach Bully, and Aurora Butterfly King enemies.

Then there's candy grenades, Halloween decorations, a creepy scarecrow costume, and plenty of events to make the most out of the season.

[Source: Steam Community]

Apex Legends Halloween: Fight or Fright 2020

Apex Legends' Halloween Fight or Fright event is back with Shadow Royale and more from now until November 3.

Shadow Royale sees night fall on Kings Canyon and its trio matches. When a Legend falls, they're reborn in Shadow form with a thirst for vengeance.

This year's event sees several all-new skins plus re-imagined versions of last year's, including Sweet Dreams Caustic and Wicked Harvest Bloodhound. Skins from last year are available on rotation in the in-game store as part of bundle offers or special offers.

There's a set of exclusive rewards in the event's Prize Track too with skins, charms, and more.

[Source: EA]

War of The Visions Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Halloween Special

War of the Visions is celebrating Halloween with two featured UR summons and a bucketful of rewards. Players can summon UR Little Leela and UR Rairyuu from now until November 10, both in Halloween attire with appropriate skills to match.

The Halloween Special also includes a Rewards From the Producer reward period from now until November 10. It features:

\n
• 2,000 Visiore
\n
• 20,000,000 Gil
\n
• 1 Rainbow Fragment of Thought
\n
• 3 Rainbow Vision Sphere
\n
• 50 Adamantite (Large)
\n
• 50 Burst Pot
\n
• 50 Armor Pot
\n

In a separate update, new players who start the game get a 7-day free summon period where a UR summon is guaranteed.

From October 28 through Halloween, players can take advantage of 6-UR Guaranteed Step Up 10x Summon, which guarantees:

\n
• one UR unit or vision card on step 1
\n
• two UR units/vision cards on step 2
\n
• three UR units/vision cards on step 3
\n

There's also a  5-step 10x Summon which guarantees a MR+ unit or vision card on steps 1-4 and UR “Exorcists” on step 5.

And there's even more, from daily login bonuses and Halloween Challenge Missions to a spoopy new Halloween-themed game icon.

GTA Online Halloween Bunker Series

GTA Online has a bunker full of frightful delights this Halloween. Halloween Bunker Series features triple RP and GTA$ plus three Slasher maps: the depths of the bunker, the silo, and The Diamond.

Taking part in the Halloween Adversary modes such as Beast Vs. Slasher and Come Out To Play doubles your RP and GTA$.

The peyote plants are back, in keeping with the spooky season, though Rockstar isn't saying what they'll transform you into yet. Nightclub income rates are going up as part of the event, and there'll be an influx of Freemode Events with triple payouts through October 28.

[Source: Rockstar Games]

Mortal Shell Halloween: Rotten Autumn

Mortal Shell's first content update just so happens to be a Halloween update called Rotten Autumn.

After downloading the update, speak with Gorf to unlock a new mini-quest. Completing it earns you new shades to deck out your Shell with. And you can show the world just how you spruced up your Shell with Mortal Shell's brand-new photo mode.

There's also a separate download alongside Rotten Autumn that adds a new soundtrack for boss fights, courtesy of Rotting Christ.

Those who haven't jumped into Mortal Shell yet can do so with a limited-time 20% discount for the digital version on PS4 and PC. That same discount isn't live for Xbox players yet, but it will be come October 27. 

Mortal Shell's physical version releases November 3 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in the U.S., then on October 23 for PlayStation 4 and PC (case containing a key) in Europe and October 30 for Xbox One in Europe.

Fortnite Halloween — Fortnitemares 2020

King Midas is back from the great beyond in Fortnite's Fortnitemares 2020 event from now until November 3, and he's giving you the chance to wreak havoc on friend and foe alike.

When you're eliminated in a Solo, Duos or Squads match, you get the chance to return as a Shadow in Nitemare Royal. Attack surviving players from the shadows and even possess vehicles to bring their game to an end.

That's the trick side of things, but the island has plenty of treats in store too. You can get your hands on the Pumpkin Rocket Launcher, Fiend Hunter Crossbow, a special Midas invention, and of course, candy.

There's a suite of Fortnitemares challenges where you can unlock costumes and weapon skins such as the Smash-O'-Lantern Pickaxe and Midas' Shadow Wrap.

Finally, on Halloween night (October 31) at 9 p.m. EST, award-winning reggae singer J Balvin kicks off the Afterlife Party at the Party Royale Main Stage.

[Source: Epic Games]

PUBG Mobile Infection Mode

PUBG Mobile's Infection Mode is back from the dead from now until November 9, with new content, themes, costumes, and plenty of zombies.

Infection Mode's classic combat returns, pitting a team of Defenders against a team of Zombies in an all-or-nothing fight. Zombies — sporting Halloween masks, if you so choose —  can only use melee attacks, but fallen Defenders transform into Zombies with chances for form shifts and stat buffs.

If it all gets too much for the Defenders, they transform into Vanquishers when their team is down to three members. Foes they vanquish can't be resurrected.

These hellish fights unfold across maps decked out with pumpkins, gravestones, and other seasonal paraphernalia. More costumes and decorations are planned before the end of the event.

World of Tanks Halloween — Burning Games

Free-to-play war game World of Tanks is hosting the Burning Games Halloween event until October in partnership with Korn and their new video for "Finally Free." It's a chance for Tier V and higher vehicles to complete challenges and earn special items and take part in the new Wasteland map.

In World of Tanks Wasteland, tanks start with 1 HP and have to attack others to replenish it. Players can attack allies to restore teammates' health, and respawning increases the tank's overall power.

From October 16 through October 31, players can join The Way of the Raider 60-stage event to earn XP, camo, and the two new tanks featured in Korn's music video.

Finally, from October 24 through October 31, World of Tanks brings back Mad Games, a limited-time chance to outfit your tanks with the wildest abilities possible.

Red Dead Online: The Halloween Pass

It's spooky time at the Red Dead Online corral, with the game's first-ever Halloween Pass. Now through November 16, players can get their hands on wagon-loads of Red Dead Online Halloween rewards, ranging from weapons and costumes to decorations for the tavern. Everything acquired during the event lasts after it ends.

The Halloween Pass is available in the progress menu or the Wheeler, Rawson & Co selection.

Pokemon GO Halloween 2020

Pokemon GO Halloween 2020 runs from October 23 at 9 p.m. EST through November 3 at the same time and offers the first chance to get your hands on Galarian Yamask among other things.

Completing the Halloween Special Research "A Spooky Message Unmasked" gets you one step closer to finding both Galarian Yamask and Spiritomb. Other Field Research tasks will also center around Halloween themes during the event.

Ghost-type Pokemon will be more common in the wild, in Raids, and in Eggs. You might even find a costumed Gengar in Raids or hatch a Sableye in costume if you're lucky.

Talking of Raids, Darkrai takes center stage for five-star Raids, but there's more Halloween Raid goodness in store.

On October 31 from 11 a.m. local time through 5 p.m. local time, there's a higher chance Alolan Marowak will show up in Raids.

There's a special Halloween Cup from October 26 at 4 p.m. EST through the end of the event where only Poison, Dark, Bug, Ghost, and Fairy Pokemon can compete, and they have to have less than 1,500 CP.

It just wouldn't be Halloween without costumes. Pokemon GO Halloween 2020 amps up the costume game with a Gengar onesie, Sableye goggles, Pikachu mask, and more, along with bundles in the in-game shop.

Finally, there's an all-new event on October 26, the Catch Mastery event, which we cover in more detail elsewhere.

Harry Potter Wizards Unite: Darkness Rising 2020

Harry Potter Wizards Unite is back for 2020 and, like its Pokemon counterpart, you can play it safely from home.

This year, Darkness Rising revolves around weekly events where completing tasks — brewing potions, collecting notes, and the like — earns you rewards such as extra XP, Portkeys, and books.

The ultimate goal is finding the Dark Witch, masquerading as a Brilliant Oddity. Other oddities abound, too, including Brilliant Witch, Brilliant Dark Wizard, and Brilliant Giant Stone Hand.

Dreams Halloween

If you're looking for a more atmospheric experience, Dreams' Halloween event, All Hallows' Dreams, may be for you. The whole thing is user-generated, like the rest of Dreams, and All Hallows' Dreams pops up at the top of the world list when you boot the game up.

Choosing it takes you to a dream world with different scary mansions to explore.

Some are reportedly very scary indeed, though they have their biggest frights confined to the upper floors. Others are just fun, creepy haunted houses to explore, complete with pumpkins carved by other Dreams players and a costume zone.

Call of Duty Halloween 2020 — Haunting of Verdansk

Call of Duty Warzone and Modern Warfare share a Halloween event in 2020: Haunting of Verdansk. The event runs from October 20 through November 3. It's a multi-pronged event featuring crossovers with SAW and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but some of it does come at a cost.

If you want the film crossover treats, you'll have to shell out for the SAW and Chainsaw Massacre bundles, both of which include skins, items, and weapons inspired by their respective franchises.

Activision promised more Halloween-themed bundles for the in-game store, including the new Dr. Karlov bundle focused on regional Verdansk folklore and a Grim Reaper bundle.

In addition to Trick or Treat crates with Halloween items galore, Haunting of Verdansk adds night modes to event maps, zombie battle royale, scavenger hunts, and much, much more.

[Source: Call of Duty]

Minecraft Dungeons Spooky Fall Halloween Event

Spooky Fall is coming to Minecraft Dungeons from October 26 until November 3 with challenges and rewards galore.

Seasonal Trials are summoning up ghoulish mobs for players to take on. If that weren't spoopy enough, the event turns down the lights with Night Mode — but only until the event ends.

Completing the Season Trials earns exclusive seasonal weapons and gear, whether Night Mode is enabled or not.

Elder Scrolls Online Halloween — Witches Festival 2021

Elder Scrolls Online's annual Halloween Witches Festival is back once more with double XP and plenty of treats to go around. ESO's 2020 Witches Festival runs from October 22 at 10 a.m. EST through November 3 at the same time.

If this is your first time taking part, you'll need to complete "The Witchmother's Bargain" quest from the Crown Store and earn the Witchmother's Whistle item. If you already have it, just select it from your collections to get started.

Using the Whistle kicks off a two-hour period of bonus XP, but there's a lot more.

Players can earn new mementos, furnishings, and Dremora and Hollowjack-themed items through Plunder Skulls earned in battle.

Bosses drop Dremora Plunder Skulls with extra goods, including treasure maps and pages for the Grave Digger weapon style.

There's the final evolution of the Indrik, a costume gala, grab bags, deals, and more. Check out the full details on the ESO event site.

Overwatch Junkenstein 2020

Overwatch's Halloween Terror 2020 event, aka Junkenstein 2020, is live now through November 3, bringing the Junkenstein's Revenge Brawl back alongside new skins and more.

Baptiste and Ashe are added to the brawl mix as playable characters this year, and there are weekly challenges to take on to earn new skins.

These are the new Legendary skins for the Halloween Terror 2020 event:

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• Karasu-Tengu (Genji)
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• Dai-Tengu (Hanzo)
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• Werewolf (Winsto)
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• Flying Dutchman (Sigma)
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• Shin-Ryeong (D.Va)
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That's in addition to three new Epic skins:

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• Fantasma (Sombra)
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• Stone (Brigitte)
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• Ragdoll (Echo)
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Here' the schedule of events.

October 13-20

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• Vengeful Ghost — get chased by ghosts
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• Frenzied Stampede — chase down fast-moving zomnics
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October 20-27

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• Volatile Zomnics — zomnics explode when you get close
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• Three They Were — take on missions with just three characters
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October 27-November 3

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• Mystery Swap — heroes get randomly changed
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• Shocking Surprise — shock tires spawn from defeated enemies
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Overcooked! 2 — Moon Harvest Festival

Overcooked! 2's Halloween celebration isn't technically Halloween-themed. It's in honor of harvest and autumn celebrations throughout eastern Asia, but it's fall-ish, so it works.

Better yet, it's a free update with no end time, and the content will appear in Overcooked! All You Can Eat for next-gen consoles.

Overcooked! 2's Moon Harvest Festival introduces new kitchens themed around water and lily pad obstacles. There are five new levels total, plus three succulent-looking mooncakes to add to the menu.

Doom Eternal Halloween 2020

Doom Eternal's Halloween 2020 event is pretty straightforward. Until October 29, log in every day, complete campaign missions to earn XP, play Battlemode, and complete weekly challenges to unlock skins. Challenges refresh every Thursday.

These Doom Eternal skins include:

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• Halloween Slayer
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• Black Widow Mancubus
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• Webenant Revenant
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• Cultist Marauder
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[Source: Bethesda]

Dragalia Lost — Postmortem Panic

Dragalia Lost's Halloween event for 2020 is Postmortem Panic, a series of increasingly difficult challenges with a slew of rewards. It's live from October 12 at 2 a.m. through October 19 at the same time, but the event rewards can be claimed until October 26 at 1:59 a.m.

Postmortem Panic divides its missions by difficulty. Completing all the challenges at one tier earns battle charts and stratagems for unlocking the next level of quest.

Some of these are special dragon battle challenges, pitting adventurers against the toughest of foes like Astral High Mercury.

Victory earns wind and water tomes to unlock new skills for certain characters, while completing quests earns primal crystals used for treasure trading.

[Source: Nintendo of America]

Splatoon 2 Halloween Splatfest — Splatoween

Splatoon 2 is hosting a Halloween Splatfest called Splatoween, where the Tricks face off against the Treats. The special Splatfest kicks off on October 30 at 6 p.m. EST/3 p.m. PST and runs through November 1 at 5 p.m. EST/2 p.m. PST.

During the event, players can get their tentacles on some Halloween Splatoon 2 gear, including:

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• Kyonshi Hat
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• Li'l Devil Horns
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• Hockey Mask
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• Anglerfish Mask
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These will be available via a Switch News article, so make sure you're signed up to get Splatoon 2 news on your Switch system. 

Star Citizen: Alpha 3.11 High Impact and Halloween

Star Citizen's Alpha 3.11 update includes a bounty of additions, and among them is Star Citizen's first-ever Halloween event. It kicked off earlier this month and runs through Halloween on October 31.

During the event, players can earn Halloween helmets and a special Day of the Vara Cutlass skin. There's a cosplay competition and even a pumpkin carving contest with plenty of "sweet prizes" in store for those who take part.

Borderlands 3 Halloween — Bloody Harvest Returns

Borderlands 3's Bloody Harvest Halloween event is back for October 2020. The ghoulish festivities run through November 5, and it's easier than ever to get your hands on some sweet, ghastly gear.

To kick things off, head to Sanctuary III, and speak with Maurice. Maurice tasks you with collecting Hecktoplasm from haunted enemies, easily spotted by their ghostly green glow.

Defeating haunted enemies spawns specters you'll need to defeat as well, and that's when you finally get ahold of Hecktoplasm.

After collecting enough of Hecktoplasm, Maurice opens the gate to Heck, where you can chat with Captain Haunt to access a number of quests, through which you'll earn Bloody Harvest items and cosmetics.

This year, the Bloody Harvest quests are less demanding than before, making it easier to get loot.

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• 4 challenges completed — “A Shrinking Feeling" weapon trinket
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• 8 challenges completed — "Message from Beyond" ECHO Device skin
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• 12 challenges completed — "Haunted Look" shared Vault Hunter skin
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• 15 challenges completed — "Porphyrophobia" weapon skin
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Destiny 2: Festival of the Lost 2020

Destiny 2 brings back the Festival of the Lost and the Haunted Forest for 2020, with new weapons, triumphs, armor sets, and cosmetics for Exotics to celebrate the spookiest season of the year. Festival of the Lost 2020 is free for all Destiny 2 players and runs from October 6 through November 3. 

Festival of the Lost 2020 adds new perk rolls for the Braytech Werewolf and Horror Story, plus new sets for a few classes:

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• Hunter — Lycanthrope Set
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• Warlock — Daywalker (vampire) Set
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• Titan — Promethean Set
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On the official Festival of the Lost blog post, Bungie provided more information on the Halloween event. The Spider is a new NPC that gives players Cipher Decoders that unlock special chests at the end of The Haunted Forest. The chests are worth pursuing because they contain Legendary items specific to the Festival of the Lost. 

Rounding things out, there are new Sparrow skins available, as well as festival masks and vanity items for various armor sets, including broomsticks and witch hats. 

Resident Evil Resistance October Update

Resident Evil Resistance has a big October update in store, which is basically a Halloween update without actually being called a Halloween update.

Jill Valentine joins the ranks of the Survivors, with powerful weapons and her characteristic dodge mechanic from Resident Evil 3: Nemesis remake. And as is only fitting, Nemesis itself is a playable Mastermind for the first time. Players control Nemesis through playing as Nicholai, another new Mastermind.

The Prison is a new map added in RE Resistance's October update, and the Uptown Raccoon City and Bemusement Park maps get a remix with new layouts.

Finally is a slew of new costumes and weapon skins, Survivors' perks and customizable abilities, and Mastermind traps.

[Source: Capcom]

Grounded October Update

Grounded’s October update adds ziplines and more to the survival game, including some Halloween-themed items. The initial announcement is relatively light on details, but players can expect decorations, recreational items, and doodads to use with friends. These include harvestable Candy Corn and a new landmark in the Frankenline, which is described as "a creepy discarded Etch-a-Sketch you can actually draw on."

Aside from washing The Backyard in a spooky glow, the October update for Grounded does a lot on the backend as well, including fixing a handful of bugs, fine-tuning combat, and unlocking new perks. You can see the full patch notes here. 

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath — All Hallows' Eve

Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath is getting some Halloween goodness with the All Hallows’ Eve character skin pack. It’s available now and is free for Aftermath owners. Those who haven’t upgraded to Aftermath yet would need to purchase the expansion, which also unlocks the Summer Heat and Femme Fatale packs from earlier in 2020. 

Mortal Kombat 11’s All Hallows’ Eve skin pack trailer highlighted three of the included skins. One is the “Blizzard King” outfit for Sub-Zero, and then there’s the part-werewolf part-school spirit “Beast Within” skin for Johnny Cage. Then there’ “Bad Medicine” for D’Vorah, turning the Kytinn fighter into a spidery nurse from hell. 

It’s not certain if Warner Bros. is adding anything else to Mortal Kombat 11’s Halloween event, but we’ll update if something new turns up.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Halloween

The Halloween fun isn’t limited to New Horizons, as Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp celebrates spooky season in its own way. The 2020 Pocket Camp Halloween event features a number of special activities with ghoulish treats on offer for those who complete certain goals.

Jack comes around and demands sweet treats. Hand over bat-themed lollipops to get bat furniture as a reward, and plant pumpkins during the month’s Garden Event to nab hatbats. Jack offers exclusive items such as mystical pumpkins in return.

Taking part in the October Fishing Tourney nets some goodies as well, with potion-themed furniture on offer every time players reach a size goal with the fish they catch.

Then there’s a fright night gyroidite scavenger hunt, new Happy Home classes and challenges, wall and carpet sets, special cookie items and more. The Pocket Camp Halloween and October events are live now.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Halloween

Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Halloween update is available to download for free now, and it’s bringing more than just the Czar of Halloween to the island. 

Animal Crossing patch 1.5 paves the way for Halloween by adding Candy as an item players can purchase from the Nooklings’ store and pumpkins as growable DIY fodder.

The patch 1.5 trailer shows players planting, watering, and harvesting at least four different pumpkin varieties and then using them in various Halloween-themed DIY recipes.

On Halloween night (October 31), Jack himself visits the island. It’s not clear yet what he requires of the player, but all the residents will be lurking about, asking for Candy and showing off their costumes.

The patch adds new skin tone options for players to look their creepy best as well. We’ll update with more information about what New Horizons Halloween brings to the table as it becomes available.

Monster Hunter: World Iceborne — Fun Fright Fest

Capcom’s brewing up a special Monster Hunter: World Iceborne Halloween event called the Fun Fright Fest, part of the hefty Title Update 5. It runs from October 15 at 8 p.m. EST through November 5 at the same time and is exclusive to the expansion.

The Autumn Harvest Fest is returning to the base Monster Hunter: World game, but Capcom hasn’t said much about it yet.

Fun Fright Fest (starting at 7:06 in the above trailer) sees the Seliana Gathering Hub decked out with spooky furnishings, and the handler dons a Cute Demoness outfit to celebrate the occasion. There are two special ticket types to collect during the event and trade in for loot: the Fun Fright Ticket and the VIP Fun Fright Ticket. 

The former get doled out as daily login bonuses for the MHW Halloween event and can be used to craft armor with Decoration slots. Players can exchange the latter for in-game decorations and Layered Armor, but these are only available as random item drops. Both ticket types can be exchanged for Melding Tickets too.

There’s at least one new set of armor coming to the Fun Fright Fest, Demon Lord Alpha+. Wearing pieces of this armor set increases the chance of getting VIP Fun Fright Tickets.

Capcom may reveal more about Monster Hunter: World Iceborne’s Fun Fright Fest as the start date approaches, and we’ll update if that happens.

Killing Floor 2: Infernal Insurrection

It wouldn’t be Halloween without Killing Floor 2’s annual Halloween celebrations, and 2020 is no different. This year’s Halloween event is Killing Floor 2: Infernal Insurrection, and it brings treats galore, including new weapons, maps, and cosmetics.

Infernal Insurrection’s new map is Hallmark Station, a twisted take on London’s famous King’s Cross Station. Hallmark Station has been overrun by zeds, of course, and players must team up with fellow mercenaries to take down the demonic threat. Hellmark Station includes Survival, Endless, and Weekly modes.

Two new HRG weapons make their debut in Killing Floor 2’s Halloween event.

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• HRG Scorcher (Firebug class bonus) — a flare gun that marks targets by setting them on fire
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• HRG Arc Generator (Survivalist class bonus) — fires EMP blasts in short bursts or powerful charges
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From now until November 10, Killing Floor 2 is also introducing a number of Halloween events, objectives, bonuses, and cosmetics.

October 2020 is upon us, which means it's time for scary movies, The Simpsons Tree House of Horror, and Halloween events in all our favorite video games! While we're still on announcements from Overwatch and Apex Legends, games like Killing Floor 2, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and MHW already have their in-game-event plans laid out for the spooky season.

From new weapons and outfits to new DIY recipes and Palico Halloween costumes, there are plenty of tricks, and even more treats, in store for the witching month. 

Games that haven't announced Halloween plans yet likely will in the coming weeks, and we'll update this list of Halloween events when that happens. Be sure to bookmark this and check back throughout October!

Valkyrie

DA-0580-6743-9782

What a clever idea for a Dream Suite. Valkyrie is described as a "floating fantasy island," giving you the illusion of an island in the sky. The creator was able to put together one of the most detailed designs we've come across, giving off a spacey feel.

The stars are a nice touch, but the moon and spaceship are the icing on top. Bravo to the creator for this one.

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Those are just some of the incredible Dream Suites you'll be able to explore in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There are thousands upon thousands of hard-working and talented individuals that have poured hours into their islands, so make sure you jump in and give some of them a visit!

Nowhere

DA-1790-5385-6731

We love the Japanese-themed Dream Suites, okay? Here's one that will likely make you jealous, if nothing else but for its effective use of water. Seriously, the person who made this had to have spent a lot of time just designing the layout of this Suite.

Everything feels like it belongs in its space without feeling cluttered. And don't even get us started on the flower placement. It's excellent!

New Hyrule

DA-9114-1462-2579

People are very skilled. That point is proven by some of the Zelda-inspired Dream Suites found in New Horizons, particularly New Hyrule. Everything from the iconic treasure chests to Triforce imagery and Hyrule Castle itself makes an appearance.

Oh, and we hope you're ready — as soon as you spawn, you're hit with a song that feels like it's ripped right out of your favorite Zelda game. Seriously, check this one out if you like Zelda.

Bangtan

DA-2648-1594-6341

Most of the Dream Suites on this list have a theme, but Bangtan doesn't, and that's okay. It's got pretty much a bit of everything, from a soccer field to an outside cafe and one of the best campsites we've seen.

This is a great Dream Suite to check out if you're looking for inspiration since it's got so much variety. And shout out to the creator for the flower patch on the east side of the island!

こんぺい島 (Konpeito)

DA-4128-6963-6357

This is yet another one that looks like it's taken a page right out of Japan — only instead of focusing on the loud and vibrant feeling of downtown Tokyo, it leans into the more residential side of things.

You'll find a hot spring, fancy bridges, and tons of statues that give this one a relaxing vibe. It's the perfect counterpart to the aggressiveness of downtown. 

Aika Island (Horror-Themed)

DA-1182-7179-4326

Alright, this one is downright spooky. Be warned!

At first glance, it might not seem that way, but just visit the attic of the nearby house, and you'll see what we mean. There's nothing but dolls, children's drawings, and creepy wallpaper.

Or if more traditional things scare you, the long-spined dinosaur skeleton right in front of Resident Services is absolutely horrifying. It's perfect!

Fairy Island

DA-0317-6026-5727

Have you ever dreamed of visiting a fairy forest full of wonder? Well, even if you haven't, you should still visit this Dream Suite, because it's awesome.

You'll probably be floored (ahem) by the designs on the ground, and when you stumble upon the whimsical music section, it'll put a smile on your face. The color palette on this island alone is worth your time. There are lots of pastel colors that make it pop!

ブラッドピッ Downtown Japan Theme

DA-1627-5603-6916

Fans of rural Japan will be in for a treat with this one. It's jam-packed with detail, from little shops to fitting music and tons of personality.

The amazing thing is that many of the items used to create this town aren't necessarily Japanese-looking, but when placed in such a way, they truly make you feel like you're in downtown Tokyo!

If you're an Animal Crossing: New Horizons fan, you probably already know just how talented people are, as demonstrated by some of their insanely detailed islands.

Now that you can visit anyone's island via Dream Suites, people have been sharing their creations like crazy. In this list, we'll go through some of the absolute best Dream Suites in New Horizons. 

To visit them, you'll need to lie down in your bed in your house and select the "Yeah, I want to sleep…" option. Once the game transitions into the dream world, pick the "I want to dream" option and input the Dream Address of your choice.

For more on how they work, you can visit our Dream Suites guide here.

Dream Suites have been added to Animal Crossing: New Horizons as part of the game's latest summer update. But what exactly is a Dream Suite, and how does it work? 

In this guide, we'll run through what a Dream Suite is, how to upload your own, how to visit others, and a handful of tips and tricks to get you started with them. 

What is a Dream Suite?

Dream Suites are New Horizons' bizarre solution to sharing your island with other players without having to be there in real-time. Visitors cannot alter the island they're visiting, making this a safe option when playing multiplayer. There's no need to worry about someone stealing your items, running over your flowers, or making a mess.

You visit the islands of other players via a dream, hence the name "Dream Suite." You can upload your Dream Suite and share it with a code (which we'll get into a little later).

There are a few things to know about Dream Suites. For starters, you can only share, visit, upload, and use Dream Suites if you're connected to the internet. This also means you must have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.

In addition, you must have the most recent version of New Horizons, as part of update 1.4.0, which is available as a free download right now.

How to Upload Your Dream Suite

Assuming you're connected to the internet, subscribed to Nintendo Switch Online, and have the game's most recent update, head inside your house and lie down in the bed. 

Select the option "Yeah, I want to sleep…" and you'll be transported to a new, dreamy sequence where you'll meet Luna the anteater (we think she's an anteater, anyway).

Here, she'll give you the basics of how Dream Suites work. It's relatively simple, but make sure you read everything she says. Eventually, you'll come to a list of the following options:

• I want to dream.
• I'd like to share a dream.
• Where am I?
• I want to wake up.

Select "I'd like to share a dream," and you'll be able to upload your island. Once you do, you'll be given your Dream Address. This is what other players will use to find your Dream Suite. Feel free to visit ours: DA-4169-1828-8354!

You can find your Dream Address on your passport, so make sure you share it with others so they can find the Dream Suite.

The "I want to dream" option will be covered more below, but the rest of the options should be self-explanatory. Choosing "Where am I?" will give you an explanation as to how Dream Suites work, while "I want to wake up" will send you back home.

Making Changes to Your Island 

Keep in mind that you can only upload a new Dream Suite once per day. When you make changes to your island, they won't reflect in the Dream Suite until you re-upload, so keep that in mind. 

After you've uploaded your first Dream Suite, the list of four options will slightly change. The second option will now read "About the dream I shared..." which will let you make changes.  

How to Visit Other Dream Suites

Now that you've uploaded your own Dream Suite, others can visit it by using the Dream Address (found on your passport). 

When you're ready to visit another player's Dream Suite, head back to your bed, lie down, and select "Yeah, I want to sleep…" This will take you back into the dream, where Luna will give you some options.

Pick "I want to dream," and you can input a Dream Address. Just remember, when visiting someone's Dream Suite, all of your items will be given to Luna, so you aren't able to cause any damage. 

Once you add the Dream Address and confirm it, you'll connect to the internet before being transported to the Dream Suite. You'll spawn in a bed right in front of the other island's Resident Services. At this point, you're free to explore and enjoy what the island has to offer. Just remember: you can't make changes to it!

Here, you'll actually see a version of the player who you can talk to and interact with (but this version is actually being controlled by the game and not the real player).

When you're ready to leave, head back to the bed, and you'll have the option returning back home. 

You'll notice a small kiosk to the right of the bed, which you should definitely check out. We'll go into more detail on that below.

Gathering Designs From a User's Custom Design Portal

One of the great features of Dream Suites is the ability to acquire a user's designs from their Custom Design Kiosk. Normally, you'd have to type in the creator's Design ID, but with this, you can grab all their designs in one easy and convenient place.

To do so, interact with the Custom Design Kiosk to the right of your bed while inside someone's Dream Suite. From here, you'll be able to browse all of that user's designs. Select the design you want to save, and you'll have to option to download it to your town for use. 

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Now you should have everything you'll need to get started with Dream Suites in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. For more tips on AC: NH, be sure to check out our guides hub here! 

The Animal Crossing New Horizons summer update just keeps on giving. We knew a New Horizons summer update 2 was coming, and Nintendo recently revealed what it includes and when it launches.

The Animal Crossing New Horizons summer update for August introduces a weekly fireworks show, the dream suite, and more importantly, backup save support.

The Animal Crossing New Horizons summer update part two will be available for free starting July 30. The annual August fireworks show makes a comeback every Sunday during August and brings back Redd's raffle stand from the original Animal Crossing. You can watch regular fireworks, sure — or you can make your own using your custom designs.

The other big and long-awaited addition is New Horizons backup saves. The option to save your New Horizons island to the cloud was a notable absence when the game first launched, but it's being rectified with the summer update. 

As always with Nintendo's cloud saves, you'll need to be an active Nintendo Switch Online subscriber top take advantage of them. Later in the year, Nintendo is also adding the option to transfer your island to another Switch console.

Finally for the New Horizons summer update is the Dream Suite's return. First introduced in Animal Crossing: New Leaf, the Dream Suite lets players visit other towns, now islands, without any fear of permanent repercussions. For example, someone could visit your island to see how amazing it looks, and whatever they do while there won't actually happen since it's a dream.

It's not too different from inviting people over without giving them friends' privileges, though, so we don't quite know what the New Horizons Dream Suite will offer that's different if anything.

On top of all that, there's another New Horizons update planned for the fall. Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more Animal Crossing: New Horizons news as it develops.

Thanks to Animal Crossing: New Horizon's summer update, you can grab a wet suit, take a dip in the ocean, and dive for sea creatures, collecting them to your heart's content. The update also introduced Pascal, a friendly, red sea otter. However, much like Redd or Gulliver, Pascal isn't always available.

In this guide, we'll show you how to find Pascal in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, what Pascal does, and tips for using his services. Hint: it has to do with scallops. 

How to Find Pascal in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

After you've gotten your wet suit and learned how to swim and dive, you'll likely find yourself on a quest to collect sea creatures under the waves.

To find Pascal, you'll need to collect a scallop, which can be collected just like other underwater items. Scallops aren't as common as the sea creatures and ocean items, but they are relatively easy to find. 

Look for the bubbles and dive below to grab the object making the bubbels. If you do find a scallop, Pascal has a chance of spawning, and he'll appear close to you in the water.

He won't spawn every time you find a scallop, but he does spawn once a day. If you collect a scallop and Pascal doesn't appear, you'll need to keep finding them until he spawns.

Be on the lookout for a bright red otter floating on his back. 

The nice thing is that scallops can be found year-round, which means you'll always be able to locate Pascal, even during the winter. 

What Should You Find Pascal? 

After you get Pascal to spawn, approach him, and he'll request the scallop. Giving the scallop to him, and he will reward you with either a pearl or a Mermaid DIY recipe. It's random whether you get a pearl or a recipe. Keep in mind that you can only trade a scallop with Pascal once per day. If you don't give him the scallop, you'll still be able to later on. 

Pearls are used in the Mermaid recipes, so you'll need them to get some of the game's fancy items. They can also be sold for 10,000 Bells at Nook's Cranny. 

That covers everything you'll need to know about finding Pascal in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, giving them scallops, and getting pearls in return! If you're looking for more ACNH content, consider checking out our guides hub here!