There was a time when PlayStation sales were few and far between. But that's certainly not been the case over the past several months. And the latest post-Christmas sale discounts a plethora of PlayStation 4 titles and DLC packs. 

Since 185 items are currently on sale on PSN, we won't cover them all below. However, we will highlight some of the better and more popular deals available. 

The "Games Under $20 Sale" is live until February 5 at 11:00 a.m. EDT. If you happened to miss out on Sony's Holiday Sale, then now is the perfect time to burn that Christmas cash on new PS4 games for your library. 

Games such as Grand Theft Auto 5 aren't as cheap as we've ever seen them, but if you've somehow still not taken the plunge, 50% off is a pretty good deal if you have the dosh. 

From Resident Evil 7 to Rayman: Legends, The Outer Wilds and XCOM 2, head over to the PlayStation Store to see the entire list in alphabetical order. Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more sales info as we come across it. 

Game industry analysts Newzoo have released their Global Games Market Report for the first half of 2016, and with it comes good news for investors.

According to the firm, game revenues are up 22% from last year, mostly thanks to mobile games. In fact, mobile games dominated the market, accounting for almost half of the top 10 companies' revenue. 

Chinese gaming giant Tencent placed squarely at the front of the pack, thanks to its majority stake in League of Legends developer Riot Games, as well as various minority stakes in studios like Epic Games and Robot Entertainment, plus investments in mobile games overseas. 

That lead is only expected to solidify after Tencent's $8.6 billion acquisition of Clash of Clans developer Supercell earlier this year. The company is expected to make that investment back -- and then some -- by the end of the year, with over $13 billion in revenue from games alone. 

To give a sense of just how dominating Tencent has been, Newzoo pointed out that the company's profits from the first half of this year alone dwarf the profits that both Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard have ever made in a full year. 

Mobile games didn't completely run the show, however. Sony came in as runner-up thanks to strong sales on the PlayStation Network and a growing base of PlayStation Plus subscribers. The console manufacturer also placed in the list of fastest growing revenue, increasing its profits almost 50% from last year.

A surprisingly high earner for the year was Metal Gear Solid publisher Konami. Konami made an abrupt and controversial exit from AAA development earlier this year, following their choice to fire long-time game director Hideo Kojima.

The company's bet seems to have paid off however, netting them the number one spot on the fastest growing companies list -- thanks to a renewed focus on mobile and casino gaming. 

Another surprising addition to the list was Ubisoft, which cracked the Top 25 earners for the first time ever this year. This was mostly thanks to the huge success of its loot-based third-person shooter Tom Clancy's The Division, which drove the company's revenues up almost 200% this year. 

Warner Bros., on the other hand, dropped from the Top 10 due to a lack of AAA releases this year compared to heavy-hitters like Mortal Kombat X and Batman: Arkham Knight in 2015.

The full ranking of the Top 25 public companies can be found on Newzoo's website.

Sony has just announced a new Tournaments feature for the PS4. Partnering with ESL, the feature will deliver numerous ESL organised tournaments to a wide variety of games. You'll be able to sign up to these tourneys directly from the PlayStation 4's Events menu, and the system will automatically prompt you when it's time to play your matches.

The feature is set to go live immediately with an NBA 2K17 tournament slated to run from October 27 to November 26, with major cup rounds taking place every Saturday. Signups for this event open today. More events will follow in the near future, with titles such as Mortal Kombat X and Project CARS already stated to be joining the ranks.

Global integration is confirmed, with 15 languages already supported. At present, the feature only supports 1 on 1 matches, but updates and enhancements will be sure to follow. Be sure to check out your Events menu on the PS4 to see it in action.

The official PlayStation statement has been posted on the official PlayStation blog.

What kind of games would you like to see receive this tournament support? Let us know in the comments.

What makes horror games enjoyable? Whether it’s the adrenaline that rushes through you, or the deep feeling of paranoia that keeps you on your toes as you enter the next room, almost everyone has played a horror game or two in their life, and everyone has a reason for why they do, or don't play horror games.

There are several types of horror games, from psychological horror like Silent Hill, or those infested with jump scares like the Five Nights At Freddy's Series, from old (Alone In The Dark (1992)) to new (RESIDENT EVIL (2017)), there are still games out there that managed to scare the crap out of us, even if it wasn't a horror game.

10. Call Of Duty: Black Ops III (2015)

Back in my Xbox 360 days, I was a huge fan of the Call Of Duty Series, starting with Call Of Duty: World At War. The love of the series (As much as I hate to admit) has stayed with me over the years. But after playing the campaign of Black Ops III, I felt as if the series was trying too hard to differ from the previous games.

But that doesn't mean it wasn't a good game on its own. The game actually had a decent story, but felt too rushed. The moment I absolutely enjoyed, on the other hand, was during the mission Hypocenter. Just imagine, having to investigate a distress call that came from your old team, only to discover that the place is overrun by robots who love to pop out at random, whether it's in the flooded basement, or in narrow corridors.

The feeling of claustrophobia is pushed further when you're cornered as horde after horde of robots try to make their way to you. And throughout the continuation of the mission is intense beyond words, along with a fantastic boss to finish the mission.

9. Bioshock Infinite (2013)

The debate of whether or not the Bioshock Series is a horror game still goes on till this day. And even though I do agree that the first two games do feel like Horror games, due to their dark, gritty feel and claustrophobic surroundings, Bioshock Infinite differed away from dark and creepy, and turned itself into a bright, beautiful, yet still creepy game.

But the real horrors come later on in the game, after your companion, Elizabeth, goes missing. Your character, DeWitt, travels to the Comstock House, only to be encountered by the most disturbing enemies in Infinite. The Boys of Silence.

The Boys of Silence are young children who wear a type of lantern helmet, emitting an ear shattering screech, alerting your presence to those around you. Though, they do not attack you, they still are a huge threat to you, and are quite annoying while also looking terrifying at the same time. Especially the jump scare you encounter after viewing a monitor.

8. Mortal Kombat 9 and X (2011 & 2015)

The Mortal Kombat Series is one of the most gruesome fighter games of all time. It was even one of the causes of the PEGI rating system you see on video game covers and trailers, and stirred quite a controversy at the time. Now, not only gamers, but almost everyone knows what Mortal Kombat is, and has probably played it before with friends.

One thing that really got gamers the most, though, was the Krypt Demon/Monster found in the Krypt, a place where you could purchase unlockable content with the points you earned in the matches. The Krypt Demon/Monster had appeared in both Mortal Kombat 9 and Mortal Kombat X, though, no one really expected the one from 2011, but still scared players with its first jump scare.

In 2015’s Mortal Kombat X, the Krypt introduced not just one jump scare, but multiple ones, such as the Krypt Spider, still scaring players with different creatures and scares. It's best to avoid the Krypt, in my opinion.

7. Half-Life 2 (2004)

Half-Life 2 is a well known game to PC gamers, along with being known as one of the best first-person games to date. With a silent protagonist, a crowbar in one hand, and determination, the story expands past cliché, and creates a very unique experience to all players. (Along with a long wait for a third installment… Still waiting, Gabe Newell…)

Though, the game does have both action packed and creepy moments, the most haunting moment in the game, is the encounter with Ravenholm, a town infested with Headcrabs, Zombies, and a strange priest with a shotgun.

Though, not really titled as “horror”, the town and its environments do give off a feeling of being unwelcome, and manages to pop in some slight jump scares. Plus, the burning zombies still give me nightmares. Extra points for playing the audio backwards for more frights!

6. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)

To not include Metal Gear Solid in this list is almost impossible. The series has its creepy moments, such as ghosts appearing in photos from Metal Gear Solid 2, or the creepy yet oddly amusing "Psycho-Mantis", who read your memory card and shook your controller.

But nothing had ever compared to the enemy of Snake Eater, “The Sorrow”. From turning into a ghost, to having you “die” while screaming in agony while flashing a traumatizing image of Snake, everything about this guy just makes you want to pull the disk out and drown it in holy water.

What makes it worse, is that “The Sorrow” can bring the dead back to kill you. Why is this disturbing? He brings back the enemies you had killed before, making it very difficult if you had taken the “shoot everything first” path.

5. The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

The Legend of Zelda has really been a big part of my childhood, from learning puzzles to fighting foes, it evolved the way that gamers thought, even without having to look at Walkthroughs or hints at the game, especially at the time the original games were released.

And though, the series itself had really dark moments, nothing ever compared to the first boss encounter inside the Duku Tree. After solving puzzle after puzzle, going deeper inside of the tree, you finally come across a large arena. But no enemies in sight.

As a child, the moment I looked up to see Gohma on the ceiling staring down at me, I turned off the console and refused to play it for almost a year. All the while my Arachnophobia began to increase by each day, waiting to wake up and see Gohma about to pounce me in my bed.

4. Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)

Batman is possibly the most well-known superhero, along with being known as the most badass character to ever face Superman, it was no surprise that Mr. Wayne would get his very own game series (Looking at you Superman… Have you no shame?).

But throughout the dark and brooding games, they have always had a few jump scares or two. From Arkham City having Scarecrows boat and a hidden surprise inside, to Killer Croc’s boss battle, nothing ever compared to the most recent edition, Arkham Knight, and the Man-Bat.

The Man-Bat was originally a scientist, who had transformed himself into a large scale humanoid bat, who loves waiting for Bruce Wayne at the edge of buildings, waiting to pop out, scream in your face, and fly off.

The whole mission (Creature of the Night) is just full of creepy moments, from spotting the Man-Bat through your detective vision, or exploring the ruins of his lab, you'll never want to grapple on rooftops again once you meet him.

3. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007)

With the downfall of previous Lara Croft games (before the reboot), it seemed like we would never get a good exploratory game again. Then, out from the heavens of Naughty Dog, we were given Uncharted, a game where you place as the sly, yet charming Nathan Drake, as he searches for El Dorado, in hopes of discovering more of his ancestors true past.

The game itself had amazing moments, along with unbelievably fast paced action moments, a handful of classic puzzles, and something totally unexpected in the ruins. Towards the end of the game, Nathan Drake discovers creatures known as the Descendants, zombie-like creatures who are just dying to tear you apart.

The moment had scared players, yet caused them to fight to save the rest of their team, rushing adrenaline through the veins of those who want to fight their way to victory.

2. Super Mario 64 (1997)

Before I continue, let me explain why this moment scared me. I was five when I was given my first Nintendo 64, which was passed down from my older brother. The first game he had given me, was Super Mario 64.

I was raised on Super Mario, and Super Mario World was actually among the very first games I had ever played. So, being as psyched as I was, I did not hesitate as I rushed off to play my new game. And I spent days on it. But when I had encountered the Piano Room, I never thought much of it.

Then suddenly, piano comes alive and chases me around as I scream and cry, completely terrified. I have never trusted a Mario game after that.

1. Halo: Combat Evolved (2001)

Halo was a game that changed First-Person Shooters completely. Whether it's the design, characters, weaponry or story, the game made itself the most unique shooter of its time, and still manages to release ground breaking games.

But there were moments that did creep out players, and one moment that kept players on their feet. The Flood. After seeing a strange and disturbing clip of the team before being killed by strange beings, The Flood begin. Keeping you on your feet as you fight wave after wave of parasites and infected, and much like a previous entry on our list, they keep coming, trying their best to get to you.

While counting down the top 10 most unexpected horror moments, we have encountered killer robots, screaming children, zombies, humanoid bats, and the Flood. If you enjoyed this list, then check out GameSkinny for more hit news, lists, and reviews of everything gaming!

Oh yeah, more sweet discounts headed your way. Today, we have three great games that you can buy for more than 60% off for the Xbox One. Whether you're buying it for yourself or as a gift, take joy in saving money.

Mortal Kombat X: Kollector's Edition

The price tag on this bad boy usually rings in at $104.78, so get giddy over the fact that you can snag this at a 70% discount. The Kollector's Edition includes the game, a figurine of Scorpion, a certificate of authenticity, a gold Scorpion skin and Kombat Pack DLC. 

Tales from the Borderlands 

If you haven't played a Telltale Game yet, this is a great one. Enter the Borderlands universe and follow a story where your decisions shape the outcome. This interactive adventure is a ton of fun-- even more so because it's 71% off. 

Assassin's Creed Chronicles 

I'll always be an Ezio/Renaissance Italy fan, but you can explore China, India and Russia as a legendary assassin in Assassin's Creed Chronicles. The price has been cut by 68%.

So go ahead and get your game on. We'll keep you posted with more great deals! 

* * *

I’m always looking for new awesome products, so please send me your favorites at commerce@LaunchMediaNetwork.com.

NetherRealm's upcoming fighter game, Injustice 2, may be getting a crossover character from their latest fighting game, Mortal Kombat X.

Suicide Squad members Deadshot and Harley Quinn are the latest characters to be added to the roster, but there is still plenty of room for more characters. On top of that, NetherRealm is known for adding crossover characters from movies and other games. Scorpion, for example, was included in the Injustice: Gods Among Us roster as a crossover character, so it's highly probable that the sequel will include another crossover character as well. It could be any character from the Mortal Kombat series, but fans can count on an appearance from at least one of the characters.

Other exciting news is that Ed Boon has hinted that Injustice 2 may be getting a PC port. Keep in mind that this is only a hint, and the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions are the only ones to be confirmed. However, it's still possible that the game will stream on PC, so PC players shouldn't lose hope just yet. 

An exact release date for Injustice 2 has yet to be confirmed, but it will be released next year for sure. 

This weekend, EVO 2016 will be taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Once again, the stage for one of eSports' biggest fighting game tournaments will be set. This year may be the most anticipated, as it'll be the first year Street Fighter V makes its appearance. The tournament has been the marquee event for all major competitive fighting games.

So you maybe wondering what is the Evolution Championship Series(EVO) and what makes it so special?

The What

The Evolution Championship Series represents the largest and longest-running fighting game tournament in the world. Tournaments started as a partnership between the VGO Network and various leaders worldwide within the fighting game community. The series evolved from the experience, collaboration, and expertise of major sites including Shoryuken.com, TekkenZaibatsu.com, GuardImpact.com and so forth.

It all began in 1995. Top players grew quite tired of arguing via message boards who was the best. Then it was decided that they would settle the matter at an arcade on Broadway in New York. The turnout resulted in 40 players showing up to prove their mettle, and the game to play at the time was Super Street Fighter II Turbo. After the first showdown, it didn't really settle the ongoing conversation of whom is the best.

It then became an annual tradition of skill and prowess against the best of the best. The competitions proliferated and took place in Boston, California, and other areas until a decision was reached that Las Vegas should remain the best battleground. Las Vegas featured the best venue overall for players and their side bets.

As the events drew in more numbers of the years, the event became more professionally run. One of EVO's strengths is that it's a purely community run events. Tournament organizers, judges, commentators are all active players within their respective scenes, or were at some point.

The Who

At the core of the event are the very individuals who helped create it. The founding members include:

• Joey Cuellar (founder of Shoryuken.com and former manager of famous Southern Hills Golfland arcade)
• Vik Steyaert (founder of Tekken-zaibatsu.com)
• Tom and Tony Cannon ("the Cannon twins," shoryuken cofounders, and Tony created the amazing GGPO.net)
• Seth Killian (former Capcom Manager now lead designer at Riot Games) 

Their hard work paved the way into what is arguably one of the best run fighting game tournaments. In an interview with Kotaku years ago, Killian shared some insight as to how he and the co-founders made EVO into what it is.

"It was all completely organic. The structure was born out of "S*** we have way too many people showing up to these things."

So they started introducing more traditional tournament rules, finally settling on double elimination, to help determine who the best Street Fighter was. The annual gathering also grew in reputation, soon attracting gamers from around the world looking to cut their teeth on a tournament known for it's skilled players.

The event had to grow along with the changing video game landscape as well. This did call forth one concern they had to face -- the choice to play on console format from arcade cabinets. The reality was that with the decline of arcade systems in America, it was only logical to start using consoles moving forward. The other issue was whether or not console ports performed as well as the arcade version. But the community was able to meet that challenge like any other and continue to improve.

You would be hard pressed to find that an EVO judge isn't an expert in rules. All the nuances that arise from possible errors are well covered -- i.e. a player accidentally pauses the game, someone forgets to desync a control, and matters of collusion. The rules and how they are followed are iron and built from years of experience. EVO is many things, but a place that allows cheating or a pass isn't one of them.

This also goes a step further with player pools. These elimination rounds are meant to favor no one and are created to be random. A top ranked player must prove herself/himself and whittle down their competition until they reach the top 8.

The Why

EVO's popularity has always been parallel to its main game; Street Fighter. Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike was the game of show since its release in 1999. The attendance was still there, but numbers were waning by 2008. The tournament's influence exploded after the release of Street Fighter IV in 2009.

After a decade, a new game on new consoles with online capability had summoned a new wave of popularity. EVO 2009 was a resurgence for everyone -- the fans, the fighting game community, and the world. This was thanks in part to emerging streaming services helping an unreachable audience discover the event. And more importantly, upcoming competitors discovered a new goal to reach for.

From 2009 onwards, the event continued to grow in attendance and the games grew in competition. In fact, EVO's influence also helped solidify fighting games as part of eSports. Prior to fighting games being normally seen alongside titles like League of Legends, it was quite the uphill battle to get the same recognition. The problem was the preconceived notion that the fighting game community couldn't provide entertainment on the same level.

Some other misguided thoughts were included the ideas that fighting game events didn't have the same grand spectacle and professionalism. Many false assumptions were made, unfortunately. But when the opportunity presented itself, the community supported eSports events with performances and professionalism that were undeniable -- and dispelled those myths. 

The When

When these problems presented themselves, what did the tournament series do? EVO lead the way by example -- they asked for nothing but the best from all interested parties. The audience numbers, player performances, and viewership numbers were hard to ignore. Players then began to be sponsored by companies that recognized their efforts and the entertainment value of what they were doing. Finally, more and more game companies over time grew to support the yearly tournament (and others) regularly.

Companies realized that it was a means of goodwill public relations and to show players that they fully supported their efforts. So you could say in a sense, its cultural relevancy that forced the hand of game companies. 

The road to this recognition and support wasn't without its occasional speed bump. In 2013, Super Smash Bros. Melee once again became a game of the show for EVO13. Nintendo actually tried to stop its activities after fans helped its return. The company not only wanted to stop its streams but everything it had in place for EVO. Tournament organizers' hands were tied and they had to comply.

Thanks to Twitter and Reddit, fans gained brought a lot of attention to Nintendo's misguided actions. Recognizing the potential PR nightmare on their hands, Nintendo dropped the issue altogether. What happened the following year? Nintendo became an official sponsor of EVO in support of the Super Smash Bros. community.

Of all the recognition and sponsorships, Capcom's was arguably the longest to come to the table. Despite their games often being the most popular and being the show's number 1 draw, that support fell upon deaf ears at the studio. When fighters began to solidify themselves as an eSport, many began to wonder if Capcom would support them as well.

Eventually, they did provide support, which was in large part due to the ongoing support of Street Fighter IV and its updates. In 2013, they went on to announce the first Capcom Cup. EVO 2013 was used as one of the qualifiers to invite the best players to compete. Capcom Cup then became the now annual Capcom Pro Tour. It has grown to become a series of year long competitions ending in December -- and it wouldn't be wrong to say that EVO hadn't inspired its inception.

EVO, in its relatively short of amount of time, went on to inspire many. If you're a fan or active participant with fighters, you're essentially booked year round. Final Round, CEO, Apex and etc. These events all have the same in common -- competition, attendance, and recognition of all things positive with gaming. All these events continue to build upon the goodwill of the community. 

The Where

@AlphaFerg @Ultradavid If you want to talk about diversity issues in the Fighting Game Community, it ... oh, wait... pic.twitter.com/44YlDlJ08w

— Erkicman (@Erkicman) September 11, 2015

The next reason as to why EVO is so special is its representation. EVO (and other fighting events) is a place where you'll regularly see players, commentators, and etc of diverse backgrounds. [Side note: yes, there's an obvious lack of female representation in the tweet above. The community at large is aware and is doing better. There are female professional players and commentators that are in regular participation.]

It's refreshing nonetheless to see experts in these games look like everyone you'd normally see in a day. This has been standard for the event and the fighting game community scene for years. Players choose to compete and travel the many miles for inclusion that may not normally be an option. It's both encouraging and comforting to see you're not in the minority for any event -- video game related or otherwise.

The show is also one where entrants and fans can expect new things to look forward to for the following year. Developers now regularly announce DLC, characters, reveal games, and etc. at EVO. Most recently, last year was the reveal of Street Fighter V and a showcase of its gameplay.

Game companies recognize that it's a place for their target audiences. It would be a series of missed opportunities to not recognize the beacon that is EVO. Certainly there is no better stage to excite the fighting game community than its own meeca.

Let's fight Like gentlemen

Now, an undeniable argument as to why EVO can't be duplicated or imitated? I would say the level of competition. EVO, moreso than any other event, is host to players that have spent the better part of their year to get ready. Why? because thousands of others have done the same. You can watch past performances of any year and can tell players are bringing their A game in spades. This make for an enjoyable show of expertise.

To expand further on the subject of competition, the event encourages players worldwide to visit. The world's top ranked competitors for every game call all sorts of places -- America, South America, Europe, Asia, Japan, South Korea and etc. -- home. From a spectator standpoint it's always interesting to see how regional/national/international play styles do against one another.

Year in and year out, it's some of the best in watching competitive gaming. Even with the large number of high ranked and professional players, the results are never a given. The other aspect of EVO that continues to be encouraging for fans at the show, stream viewers, and players alike is that anyone can win. There's been years of top 8 results with seemingly unknowns from the least likely part of the world.

Are you not entertained?

The final piece of the equation is the presentation of the event. As a 3 day event, EVO operates very much like a show. The organizers are fully aware that millions will be tuning in to watch players show off their best. Last year the entire event, as reported by Twitch, had nearly 19 million views. That's certainly a lot of pressure to produce a well-oiled machine.

Despite this pressure, the staff and the community has continued to deliver the best and provide hours of entertainment. They manage to do this in many ways. Knowledgeable commentators are used to explain a game's most minute nuances to first time watchers. Energetic and experienced streamers are chosen to broadcast the event and handle any technical hiccups that may arise. Last but not least the event's overall production is made possible by passionate individuals.

A lot of this is often taken for granted, but it's very apparent a high degree of work is applied to everything. EVO is many things to many people -- but with its production values, boring is certainly not one of them.

In Closing

The event isn't just merely dedicated to the competition. It has grown into an event that's both entertaining and welcoming for gamers to enjoy. EVO is a celebration of the community and all things positive. Rivalries are cemented, legends are born and ultimately friendships are created. Again, it's not about the competition, it's about the competition on the grandest stage built by the community.

We certainly look forward to EVO16 this weekend. 

Do you ever feel... stuck? Bored with your current relationship? Has the spark gone away? Are you getting frustrated with things that you once found charming and unique? Maybe the game you once saw as the best fighting game ever just... isn't anymore. If so, it's time to move on.

Fret not. Breaking up is hard to do, but you'll be happier for it. If you've answered yes to any of the above questions, it might be time to find a new fighting game to call your own.

In that spirit, we've compiled this brief overview of most of the major fighting game franchises with active competitive scenes, rated for game speed, friendliness to new players, and how active the game's competitive scene currently is.

Welcome, folks, to Video Game Speed Dating.

Super Smash Bros.

New-player-friendliness: 5/5
Game speed: 2/5
Activity: 4/5

Ah, yes. Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U. Even though the last bit of DLC has already dropped for the game, the scene continues to grow, thanks in no small part to the fact that the game is fairly easy to pick up and play at a relatively competitive level. Of all the titles on this list, Smash 4 is probably the best fighting game for newcomers to the genre.

Unlike Super Smash Bros. Melee, this version of the game is slower and more methodical. While there are advanced techniques like dash-dancing, pivoting, and foxtrots to learn, mastering fundamental play is more about mindset than twitch reaction times.

Success in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U comes from being able to read opponents and predict, based on their tendencies, what they'll do next. Oh, and by the way, if you want a guide on how to level up your Smash 4 game, we have one right here.

A great match for:

Methodical gamers who can appreciate a zero-to-death combo as much as a good prediction, and who don't mind memorizing strategies for a, frankly, insanely expansive character list.

Skip it if:

You get frustrated by campers, or have trouble dealing with projectile characters in fighting games. 

Super Smash Bros. Melee

New-player-friendliness: 1/5
Game speed: 5/5
Activity: 3.5/5

Perhaps more than any other fighting game on the market today, Super Smash Bros. Melee simply looks different when professionals play it. It's frenetic blink-and-you'll-miss-it action.

Being at all competitive in the insanely-fast-paced world of Super Smash Bros. Melee requires mastery of advanced techniques like wavedashing, as well as split-second reactions to what your opponent is doing.

All that is to say, the barrier of entry here is high, but if you're able to clear it, you'll be rewarded by entering a scene that has played host to some of the best moments in fighting game history.

A great match for:

Gamers who don't mind devoting months to mastering techniques, knowing that they are necessary to even compete at a basic level, and who then won't mind spending more time mastering character specific combos and honing reaction time.

Skip it if:

You thrive on instant gratification. 

King of Fighters

New-player-friendliness: 3/5
Game speed: 3.5/5
Activity: 2/5

The King of Fighters series has always been one of the more niche fighting game franchises currently running, especially when compared with the bigger franchises like Super Smash Bros. and Street Fighter. 

Despite this, the modern King of Fighters games are about as close as gamers can get to an older school 2D fighter like Street Fighter Alpha, or to a lesser extent, Marvel vs. Capcom. This is probably the best fighting game series out there for gamers that grew up mastering cancels and long combos, and who are a bit alienated by the slower, meatier direction the Street Fighter games are taking.

Time will tell what King of Fighters XIV brings to the table when it is released this August, but with Street Fighter V disappointing many fans of the series, there's no time like the present to explore other options.

A great match for:

Gamers who miss sprite-based 2D fighters of the late 1990's and early 2000's, but who are alienated by the additions made by 2D fighters like Guilty Gear.

Skip it if:

You don't like having 75% of your health bar destroyed by one combo. 

Mortal Kombat

New-player-friendliness: 3/5
Game speed: 2.5/5
Activity: 3.5/5

Chicago's Netherrealm Studios, the brains behind Mortal Kombat, have been hard at work these past few years. After partnering with Warner Brothers, the Mortal Kombat series of games (and, by extension, the Injustice games) have become huge, cinematic affairs with expansive character lists. 

The great thing about the growth of these games, however, is that the mechanics of the game have largely stayed the same throughout its existence (well, the weird 3D games excepted). Mortal Kombat's combo system has always been juggle based, rewarding players who are patient with their button presses with long combos that easily eat through opponents' health bars.

Yes, the developers have added advanced techniques and gameplay elements to the title throughout the years, but the meaty, bloody combat of Mortal Kombat X will be familiar to gamers, even if they have not played a game in the series since Mortal Kombat 2.

A great match for:

Gamers willing to workshop their own juggle combos and resets in an effort to find a zero-to-death combo.

Skip it if:

You don't like having 100% of your health bar destroyed by one combo. 

Guilty Gear

New-player-friendliness: 2/5
Game speed: 4/5
Activity: 3/5

With the recent release of Guilty Gear Xrd: Revelator, the Guilty Gear scene has been infused with some much needed life. Unlike King of Fighters, Guilty Gear prides itself on complicated gameplay that requires careful meter management and in-depth knowledge of a burst system to string together combos. 

That said, for players that loved the more complex elements present in the later Marvel vs. Capcom games, Guilty Gear scratches that itch very nicely. Players will need to completely immerse themselves in the game's mechanics to succeed, mastering burst types, dust attacks and aerial rave linkups, all the while attempting to avoid one-hit-kill special attacks.

There's a lot to think about here, and the action gets very intense and hard-to-follow at the highest levels of play, but for connoisseurs of the 2D fighter genre, it's hard to find a game with a higher skill ceiling, even if you count Guilty Gear's similar-but-more-combo-focused cousin, BlazBlue. The best players out therewill find a lot to love in this fighting game franchise.

A great match for:

Gamers who don't mind learning and mastering unfamiliar mechanics.

Skip it if:

You don't want to have to practice in lab for, like, a year to be competitive. 

Street Fighter

New-player-friendliness: 2/5
Game speed: 3.5/5
Activity: 4/5

Despite Street Fighter V's rocky launch, and all the issues that came from Capcom releasing what was, in effect, an incomplete game, Street Fighter V is a mechanically sound fighter that follows in the footsteps of Street Fighter IV as another fighter where you really have to pick your moment to attack.

Though the removal of focus attacks in favor of character-specific V-skills and V-triggers has sped the game up considerably, combos in Street Fighter games are (generally) not as long as they are in other 2D fighters. This means that matches are more of a push-pull affair, where one mistake doesn't necessarily mean the end.

Because of this, it's generally easier for new players to pick up Street Fighter V and learn it, since they have more time to identify and try to learn from their mistakes. While the skill ceiling is high, the barrier for entry is low.

A great match for:

Fans of Street Fighter IV, gamers who prefer to learn by playing instead of by spending time in the lab.

Skip it if:

You don't want to fight hundreds of people online who main Ken. 

We hope that this has been helpful! Again, we know that it is sometimes scary to try something new, but it can also be exciting and fun. So next time date night comes around, light a few candles, dim the lights, put on some music, and pop the fighting game that is best for you. Really, you can't go wrong with any of them. They're all knockouts.

We've previously looked at some pretty amazing gaming themed drinks to help you get your buzz on, but we really didn't focus specifically on beers before.

There's a million and one cocktails based around everything from Super Mario Kart to L.A. Noire, but you typically have to look a little harder for a beer to match your video game mania.

Every now and again some forward-thinking company realizes that gamers chug more than just Mountain Dew and give us something interesting, as recently happened with Sound Brewery and Mortal Kombat.

Get Over Here (And Bring The Bottle Opener)!

A new triple threat of brews inspired by Mortal Kombat X has arrived in a collaboration between Warner Bros., Sound Brewery and Global Beverage Traders. They are all 8% or above to boot, which is exactly where I like my beer.

That level of ABV is high enough you can get nice and toasty after just three or four standard cans, but you aren't going to get absolutely wasted if you put it on hold and resist the urge to finish off the entire pack.

These new Mortal Kombat brews come in an IPA, a saison, and a stout based around classic characters Sub-Zero, Raiden, and Scorpion, respectively.

Personally I'm interested in the Sub-Zero IPA, and hope it makes you really work for the buzz. I dig an IPA that hurts you and really makes you crawl your way through the journey to intoxication, and at 8.5%, its a good bet this one is hopped to the max.

 New Mortal Kombat Triple Threat Of Brewtality! 

You can actually order these online for $7.47 (plus shipping) for a 22 oz. bottle. Obviously its more expensive than a six pack of anything else with the same alcohol content, but that's what you get with branded products.

Gaming Themed Brews, Past And Present

Surprisingly, there are more game-centric brews than you might imagine, and the new Mortal Kombat X beers are just the tip of the foamy iceberg.

Sadly, finding them is a bit of an issue, as most breweries either aren't equipped to or aren't allowed to ship their product in the mail due to various state laws.

You either have to hope your local beer and wine shop stocks them or actually be near the brewery in question to get it on tap. Should you be lucky enough to fit that description, there's some tasty gaming ale with your name on it.

8-Bit Pale Ale

ABV: 5.2%

Pop that top and press start if you love retro gaming! Released in larger 16 oz. four packs, this brew is consistently highly rated across the web and is frequently praised for being excellent beer, rather than OK beer that just happens to have a Pacman on the label.

Although I'm not a huge fan of anything under 6%, I'd be more than willing to make an exception here, especially on a hot summer day while grilling in the back yard before some serious gaming goes down.

If you are on the east or west coast (or live in parts of the midwest) you are pretty well out of luck, but anybody in the center of the country can actually find this at various retailers.

 8-Bit Pale Ale

Thunderbrew Anniversary Ale

ABV: 7.5%

Blizzard decided to celebrate World Of Warcraft's 10^th anniversary in true dwarven style with the Thunderbrew Anniversary Ale from Bottle Logic Brewing back in 2014.

Sadly it didn't catch on and hasn't been made available widespread. Maybe we can cross our fingers it will come back if the Warcraft movie does well?

 Thunderbrew Anniversary Ale

Dogslicer Ale

ABV: 5.6%

Capitalizing on the adorable (and frequently homicidal) rhymes of the Pathfinder goblins, Paizo teamed up with Scotty's Brewhouse to make a limited edition brew for GenCon 2013.

While the beer isn't available anymore, the wicked awesome t-shirt still is. Come on Paizo – tabletop gamers down beer at a rate that significantly rivals that of football fans, so help us out and bring it back!

 Dogslicer Ale

Innsmouth Olde Ale

ABV: 7%

Sadly there hasn't been a legitimate full Lovecraft mythos game in some time to actually play while enjoying something with that Innsmouth flavor (although plenty of titles do work in little nuggets of cosmic horror here and there).

We are getting a new Call Of Cthulhu next year though (maybe – this exact game was actually already nixed and passed off to another developer once in the past).

Personally, I'm way more stoked for the upcoming Stygian: Reign Of The Old Ones, which goes massively old school and looks like a sanity-blasting combination of Baldur's Gate, Wasteland, Sanitarium, and early Heroes Of Might And Magic.

When the ichthian horrors of those two games finally arrive, I'm very much hoping to have a bottle of Innsmouth Olde Ale in hand to celebrate. I am a bit worried about growing webbing between my feet though...

 Innsmouth Old Ale

Good Pairings Without The Game Labels

Of course, beers don't have to actual have a game character on the label to enhance a session of your weekend playing either.

I mean, what could be more perfect for long Fallout sessions than a pack of Bombshell Blonde or a nice cold Brooklyn Black Ops when running through Treyarch's Call Of Duty titles?

Interestingly, both Fallout 4 and Black Ops III actually did get limited edition beers of their own, though you'd be exceedingly hard pressed to find any now, and they were only released in Australia and the U.K.

 Brooklyn Black Ops / Bombshell Blonde

What's the best game-themed brew you've come across that we should try out, and have you managed to down any of these beers we listed yet?

With EVO 2016 just a little over a month away, I should take this time to talk about one of the most highly anticipated games to be at the event: Tekken 7: Fated Retribution.

 In the fighting game genre, there are three major games: Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat. While other franchises, such as Virtua Fighter, Dead or Alive, and Super Smash Bros. have certainly made names for themselves, those three franchises are guaranteed spots in the Mount Rushmore of fighting games.

In 2015, NetherRealm Studios released Mortal Kombat X. This past February, Capcom released Street Fighter V. Following this trend, Tekken 7: Fated Retribution should be released by 2017. There are many reasons to be hype about the new Tekken game: the improved graphics and character models, the introduction of Mishima family matriarch Kazumi Mishima and Street Fighter mainstay Akuma playing a role in what is probably the genre’s most consistent, albeit confusing, storyline.

Unfortunately, for many people, including myself, Bandai Namco has not done a spectacular job at getting people hype for this game. The last bit of major news was in January, when series mainstay Nina Williams was finally added to the roster, with a new outfit that produced fan speculation. And while producer Katsuhiro Harada’s assertion that the game will 30 - 40 character roster has led to fan speculation over who exactly will fill out those spots, it still isn’t enough to get people ready for the next battle. This is where Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat come in. For me, the poor business practices of these two major games.

The downside to DLC

Now, it started with Mortal Kombat X and the Kombat pack. $30 for four new characters and some skins is absolutely ridiculous and there’s no possible way to defend something like that. This was in addition to other downloadable content that the game had offered. There was also the Rain, Sindel, and Baraka fiasco, where you can face these characters in story mode, but none of them are playable. Obviously, stuff like this leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

Here comes Street Fighter, with the earn as you play DLC. Instead of paying extra money for a character, or a new version of the game, you earn in-game fight money. That money can then be used to purchase content such as new costumes, characters, and places. This seemed like a radically different approach than the one taken in the Street Fighter IV series, as well as Street Fighter x Tekken. With there being a lack of an Arcade Mode, the entire Story Mode being completed within an hour, and what would say is an over reliance on a decent internet connection to earn fight money, Street Fighter V has yet to prove that it has learned from the mistakes of its predecessors. 

Enter Tekken. Based on what Bandai Namco has shown, it’s safe to say that Tekken 7: Fated Retribution is about as complete as Street Fighter V was on February 16^th. Unlike NetherRealm Studios and Capcom, Bandai Namco (in its Tekken series) does not have a history of paid character DLC. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 had DLC characters, but these characters were free. So far, Katsuhiro Harada and Tekken team have given no indication that they plan to do away with the business model from Tekken Tag 2 in favor of the one preferred by NetherRealm and Capcom.

Mortal Kombat X and Street Fighter V are both great games that I enjoyed playing a lot. Unfortunately, both those games were soured by the practices of the companies that made them. And it’s also made me more hype for the eventual release of Tekken 7: Fated Retribution. Because it’s not like Bandai Namco is going to do it themselves.

Yesterday was Mortal Kombat X's first anniversary on mobile devices, and Warner Bros. Interactive has announced that they're celebrating one year of success with the game's largest content update since it launched.

The game was released on iOS and Android in April of 2015 as a free to play card battle/fighter hybrid. By playing the mobile game, players could obtain content in the console version, and vice versa.

The mobile update includes:

• New Faction Store and Currency: a new type of currency known as Blood Rubies has been implemented, and can be used in the new Faction Store. Leaderboards have been improved and Faction War Seasons have become more frequent, thus giving players more opportunities to win.
• Two new Gold characters and more equipment: Kobu Jetsu Tanya and Dark Emperor Liu Kang are joining the fray, and new equipment like the Bloody Shokan Armor and Bloody Tomahawk are up for grabs
• Five new challenge characters will be added as time passes, including challenges to unlock new skins
• Performance Improvements
• Improved matchmaking system and balances to various characters

As an extra present for fans, all players of the mobile version will also receive the exclusive Fujin's support card as well as a pack of Souls just by playing the game.

Let's be real. The reason you're playing Mortal Kombat instead of another fighting game is because of the game's gratuitous gore. It's okay. We get it. Fatalities are one of the main aspects that set the series apart from other fighters.

So in lieu of that, here's the full list of every Fatality and Stage Fatality you can pull off in Mortal Kombat X, including Mortal Kombat XL DLC characters. 

Fatalities are listed with PS4 controls/Xbox One controls. Characters are listed in alphabetical order. 

Be warned: Everything is gory. Everything.

Looking for Mortal Kombat 11 fatalities? Head over to the full list for a complete rundown for every character.  

Alien 

• Killer Queen: Down, Down, Back, Forward+X / A [CLOSE]
• Deadly Hybrid: Back, Forward, Down, Forward+Square / X [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Down, Down+X / A [CLOSE]

Bo' Rai Cho 

• Booze You Lose: Down, Down, Back, Forward+Square / X [CLOSE]
• Bottoms Up: Back, Forward, Down+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Back, Forward, Back, Forward+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]

Cassie Cage

• Bubble Head: Forward, Down, Back, Forward+Square / X [MID]
• Selfie: Down, Forward, Down, Back+Circle / B [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Down, Back, Forward+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]

D'vorah

• Bug Me: Back, Forward, Back+X / A [MID]
• Heart Broken: Forward, Back, Forward+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Forward, Forward+BLOCK [CLOSE]

Ermac

• Inner Workings: Down, Up, Back [MID]
• Head Out: Forward, Down, Down, Up [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Up, Down, Down+X / A [CLOSE]

Erron Black

• Sand Storm: Down, Back, Forward, Down+Square / X [MID]
• Six-Shooter: Back, Forward, Back, Forward+Triangle / Y [FAR]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Down, Down+Circle / B [CLOSE]

Ferra/Torr

• Better Than One: Forward, Back, Forward, Back+X / A [CLOSE]
• Play Time: Down, Back, Forward, Back, Back [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Back, Forward, Back+Circle / B [CLOSE]

Goro

• Peek-A-Boo: Back, Forward, Down+Circle / B [CLOSE]
• Shokan Amputation: Back, Down, Down, Up [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Down, Down, Down+Square / X [CLOSE]

Jacqui Briggs

• Blown Out: Back, Forward, Back, Forward+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]
• Fist Pump: Forward, Down, Back+Circle / B [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Forward, Down+Circle / B [CLOSE]

Jason

• Kill For Mother: Down, Forward, Down, Forward+Triangle / Y [MID]
• Sleeping Bag Killer: Down, Back, Forward, Circle / B+BLOCK [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Back, Forward, Forward [CLOSE]

Jax

• T-Wrecks: Forward, Back, Down+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]
• Jax The Ribber: Down, Back, Forward, Forward [CLOSE]
• Arm Rip: Forward, Down, Forward, Back+Square / X [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Forward, Down+Square / X [CLOSE]

Johnny Cage

• Here's Johnny: Back, Forward, Back, Forward+Square / X [CLOSE]
• Little Improv: Forward, Back, Forward, Forward [MID]
• Decap: Forward, Forward, Down, Up [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Back, Forward+BLOCK [CLOSE]

Kano

• Head Case: Down, Forward, Down, Back+X / A [CLOSE]
• Knife To Meet You: Down, Down, Forward+Square / X [FAR]
• Stage Fatality: Up, Up, Back+X / A [CLOSE]

Kenshi

• Tele-Copter: Back, Forward, Back, Back [FAR]
• My Puppet: Forward, Down, Back, Up [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Forward, Down+X / A [CLOSE]

Kitana

• Dark Fan-Tasy: Down, Forward, Back, Forward+Triangle / Y [MID]
• Splitting Hairs: Back, Forward, Down, Down [MID]
• Decapitation: Down, Up, Circle / B+BLOCK [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Forward, Down, Down+X / A [CLOSE]

Kotal Kahn

• Be Mine!: Down, Back, Forward+Square / X [CLOSE]
• Tight Squeeze: Forward, Back, Forward, Back+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Forward, Down, Back+Square / X [CLOSE]

Kung Jin

• Target Practice: Down, Forward, Down, Back+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]
• Pinned Down: Forward, Back, Down, Down+Square / X [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Up, Down, Forward+Circle / B [CLOSE]

Kung Lao

• Face Grind: Down, Back, Down, Forward+Circle / B [CLOSE]
• Flower Pot: Down, Forward, Down, Back+Square / X [CLOSE]
• Hat Split: Forward, Back, Forward+X / A [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Forward, Down+X / A [CLOSE]

Leatherface

• Seeing Double: Forward, Back, Down+Square / X [CLOSE]
• Hook And Sinker: Back, Forward, Down, Forward+X / A [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Forward, Back, Down, Up [CLOSE]

Liu-Kang

• Sore Throat: Down, Down, Back, Forward, Forward [CLOSE]
• Splitter: Back, Forward, Down, Up [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Forward, Back+X / A [CLOSE] 

Mileena

• Face Feast: Down, Back, Down, Back+X / A [CLOSE]
• Tasty Treat: Forward, Back, Forward, Back+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]
• Man-Eater: Down, Down, Down, Down+Circle / B [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Down, Down+Square / X [CLOSE]

Predator

• Ghostin' Us: Down, Down, Back, Forward+Square / X [CLOSE]
• Certain Death: Down, Forward, Back, Up [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Forward, Down, Back, Up [CLOSE]

Quan Chi

• Mind Game: Forward, Back, Forward, Back+Circle / B [FAR]
• Both Ends: Down, Forward, Back, Forward+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Back, Forward, Down+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]

Raiden

• Bug Eyes: Forward, Back, Forward+Square / X [CLOSE]
• Conducting Rod: Down, Forward, Back, Forward+Circle / B [FAR]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Down, Down+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]

Reptile

• Bad Breath: Down, Forward, Down, Forward+Circle / B [CLOSE]
• Acid Bath: Down, Down, Back, Forward+Square / X [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Forward, Down, Down+BLOCK [CLOSE]

Scorpion

• Stop Ahead: Down, Back, Forward+Triangle / Y [MID]
• Who's Next!: Down, Back, Forward, Up [MID]
• Toasty: Up, Up, Triangle / Y [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Down+Square / X [CLOSE]

Shinnok

• The Grinder: Down, Back, Forward, Down, Up [MID]
• Flick Trick: Down, Up, Down, Up, BLOCK [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Back, Forward, Forward [CLOSE]

Sonya Blade

• Target Marked: Down, Down, Back, Forward+BLOCK [CLOSE]
• Head Hunter: Forward, Back, Down, Back+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]
• Kiss Of Death: Up, Up, Back, Down [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Back, Forward, Down+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]

Sub-Zero

• Chest Kold: Back, Forward, Down, Back+Circle / B [CLOSE]
• Bed Of Ice: Down, Back, Down, Forward+Circle / B [CLOSE]
• Head Rip: Forward, Down, Forward+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Forward, Down, Back+Triangle / Y [CLOSE]

Takeda

• Whip It Good: Down, Forward, Down, Back+Triangle / Y [MID]
• Head Cage: Forward, Back, Down, Down+Square / X [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Up, Up, Up, Down [CLOSE]

Tanya

• Bloody Boots: Forward, Down, Down, Back, Down [CLOSE]
• Edenian Drill: Back, Back, Forward, Forward+Circle / B [CLOSE]
• Stage Fatality: Up, Down, Up, Down+Circle / B [CLOSE]

Tremor

• Stone Tomb: Down, Back, Forward, Back+X / A [MID]
• Stalag-Might: Down, Forward, Back, Forward+Square / X [MID]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Down, Down, Circle / B [CLOSE]

Triborg

• Team Work: Forward, Back, Forward, Forward [MID]
• Death Machine: Forward, Down, Down, Up [FAR]
• Stage Fatality: Down, Up, BLOCK [CLOSE] 

---

And there you have it: your complete list to all of the fatalities in Mortal Kombat X and Mortal Kombat XL. If you're looking for other strategies for the MK series, check out our other MKX guides here. 

It's the highest time of the year again! With 4/20 upon us, there's no better time to call in sick for work, order a couple of 20 bags, and wind down with some epic games to go with the mood. And while you're waiting for the buzz to kick in, you get the chance to pick the games you're going to play. So, knowing our audience, we've done the work for you. Here are 5 epic games to play while you're stoned!

And of course, Gameskinny doesn't condone the use of heavy machinery while under the influence of marijuana.

Slither.Io

There is no better description for Slither.io other than Classic Snake on Steroids. This Agar.IO spin-off makes for hours of fun, when you're completely sober. Now add some pot to the mix and you have an instant success story! The best part? You only need one hand to play, for when the munchies inevitably hit you.

And if you get too high to figure it out, we've got some Slither.io guides to help you out.

GTA V

If you're already high while reading this, we're talking about Grand Theft Auto 5 -- you know, the game where you can basically run around shooting people, run over prostitutes, and beat people with a bat? If you're in the mood for a crazy time, there's no better place to take your high than a game of GTA 5. Just keep the people bashing contained in the safety of your TV.

Mortal Kombat X

If you happen to be getting baked with a friend, then there are very few games that match the soul-wrenching agony that is Mortal Kombat! You'll never get tired of playing this game, and even when you can barely feel your fingers, you'll want to keep smashing those keys and trying to get a meaningful combo going before your friend smashes your face in. 

Soul Calibur V

Another amazing fighting game, with one of the craziest and most bizarre story lines I've ever seen! You know, the kind of game that only makes sense when you're as high as a kite (or balloon, however you may roll).

The game features some herculean gameplay mechanics, epic weapons, and great Assassin's Creed references that you know you'll love. And the dodge system in the game, makes for hours of amazing battle fun with a friend (unfortunately, the friend is not provided with the game).

Never ending nightmare

If you're looking for a more morbid kind of high, then Neverending Nightmare is the game to play. This game is surprisingly scary even without the weed --so add some Maryjane to the mix, and you'll be lucky not to have a heart attack (seriously though, don't play this game if you have pre-existing heart conditions). With a peculiarly enthralling storyline, you'll definitely get a real kick out of this game.

So, with our list being done and dusted, its time to roll that joint and get some serious gaming going. Before you get too high to type though, let us know what you think of these games, and if you'd recommend any other games to play while stoned. Happy 4/20 everyone!

If you've tried to climb the Ranked ladder in most modern eSports from League of Legends to CS:GO, you know the question. When your Loki is off doing blue buff while your second phoenix dies fifteen minutes in, your Bard is trying to solo Baron, or your AWP-er is literally spinning in circles shooting at the sky, there's one question we find ourselves asking over, and over, and over:

"What are they doing?" 

I mean, they know there's a minimap, right? They can see it? It's like...right there. Just look...just look at it! Look at the minimap! One time! LOOK AT I-nevermind, we're dead. Ok. Thanks, bud. Fantastic. Great job. 

You wonder if you'd just be better off playing a game by yourself.

Luckily, we know all too well the feels of the SoloQ blues, and we're here with a solution. These are the top 5 eSports where you can go it alone, and leave the "Wood 5" randoms at home. 

Hearthstone

Starting us off is Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, a CCG that came out of nowhere as the dominating name in virtual card games. Sporting a fairly robust third party tournament scene as well as its own circuit run by creator Blizzard, Hearthstone has a ton of competitive support for up and coming lone gunslingers like ourselves - clocking in at just over $725,000 in prizes across 31 tournaments so far this year. 

While not quite cracking the massive payouts of more traditional eSports like Dota 2, Hearthstone maintains a reasonable prize pool on the official circuit. With local tournaments firing regularly and a $100,000 payout for the World Champion crowned yearly at Blizzcon, Hearthstone has more than enough opportunities to make a name (and a living).

So break out your Legendaries and fire up your card theory, because it's all 1v1, all the time here -- whether you make it or break it is all on you, Hero. 

Starcraft II

If you're noticing a trend so far, don't worry - you're not imagining things. Starcraft II, Blizzard's RTS offering, is also one of the top scoring eSports games for single players this year. While it's a little less supported than its younger Blizzard siblings, it still managed to rake in a respectable $490,000 on the eSports scene in 2016 -- but did so across an astounding 173 tournaments so far, coming in second just behind CS:GO for tournaments held. 

Simply put, there's a lot of opportunities for glory and conquest in the competitive StarCraft II scene.  

So get jacked up and good to go, because the fast-paced, Actions Per Minute-driven RTS scene is more than willing to welcome it's new rising star - if you've got the guns to handle the brutal space duels it provides, anyway. 

Smash Bros

Dust off those Nintendo systems and get your #Hype ready - it's time to Smash everyone in your way. Driven by one of the most energetic and enthusiastic gaming communities in existence, Smash Bros Melee is keeping near the top of the charts with 75 tournaments already this year, and over $97,500 in paid prizes -- more than enough to keep your happy feet moving. 

While the deep tech and intricacies of smashing faces with a Falcon Punch was already more than enough to keep new players busy, Nintendo's eSports presence is following the smash success of Melee with Super Smash Bros for Wii U -- otherwise known as Smash 4. Giving out over $50,000 in prizes this year across 44 tournaments for Smash 4, the Smash Bros duo is a fierce wombo combo for those good enough to brawl -- and we both know you are. 

So where you at? Where you at?!

Street Figher V

One of the most iconic names in gaming history, Street Figher V is the latest in a long line of competitive games literally built for the 1v1. It existed back before eSports was even a term, in the dark dungeons of something called an "arcade". It didn't have flashing lights, or large trophies, or cheering fans - just you, and the face you were going to punch. 

It also has enough payout on its large tournaments to get anyone Yoga Fired up, shelling out over $46,000 across only two major tournaments in 2016 - and it's only picking up steam on the Fighter circuit. With stiff competition from even old hands that have been at the series for years, it's sure to be a steep, hard climb to the top of those brackets.

Every round, every match rests solely on your skill and understanding against some of the best in the fighting game business. No teammates to fumble it, no minimap to blink at you -- just you and them, Mano a mano, until one of you is OK and the other is KO. 

Think you can handle it? 

Shor yu ken. 

Mortal Kombat X

Where there's smoke there's fire -- and where there's Street Fighter -- there's Mortal Kombat. It's life imitating art, as these two games have been locked in mortal combat ever since they both vied for the hearts (and quarters) of the competitive 1v1 fandom years ago. Even today this rivalry continues, and Mortal Kombat wasn't about to let Street Fighter take the title in single player eSports without a fight. 

Putting up an impressive $74,700 total across only 5 major tournaments so far, Mortal Kombat X offers substantial rewards. They make up for a slight hit in quality with over twice as much quantity as Street Fighter when it comes to tournaments.

Sporting some of the most gruesome combat on the market and competition as hardcore as its Fatalities, Mortal Kombat X is a great place to carve out a name for yourself as a solo competitor - though the bloodsoaked bodies of your enemies are also good. 

So what are you waiting for? Get over here. 

With these five single player eSports for the loner in all of us, there's a pretty wide space on the competitive field for all of us that aren't exactly team players. 

No teammates that AFK 5 minutes in, no obnoxiously incompetent pug-players that make you wish you had a bot instead. No "food just got here", no language barriers. 

Just you, your opponent, and your fight for glory. Whether you're the best of the best, or your Final Destination is the bottom of the barrel -- in these 5 single player eSports, it's all on you. So come on, hotshot, and show me your moves. 

1v1 me. 

If you're yet to get your hands on the goriest fighting game ever, then now is the time; with the release of Mortal Kombat XL for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 (sorry PC users).

The XL version of the 'Best Fighting Game of 2015' (The Game Awards) will include all available downloadable content, which means you'll get access to the previously released Kombat Pack 1 and the newly launched Kombat Pack 2.

Kombat Pack 1 features:

• Playable characters: Predator, Jason Voorhees, Tremor and Tanya; each accompanied by three themed skins
• Samurai Skin Pack

Kombat Pack 2 features:

• Brand new playable characters: the Xenomorph from Alien, Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre horror film series, Triborg and Bo’Rai Cho
• A never released Apocalypse Skin Pack
• Previously released content including; Goro, the Brazil Skin Pack, the Kold War Skin Pack, and the Kold War Scorpion Skin

Mortal Kombat XL is available at a price of $59.99. For those who already own the game, the brand new Kombat Pack 2 is priced at $19.99 as a standalone download. A package containing both Kombat Packs is also available for $24.99.

Mortal Kombat XL hits store shelves tomorrow March 1 - both digitally and physically for those in North America. European fans will have to wait until March 4 to pick up the definitive edition for the classic fighting franchise.

The original game was released early last year to positive reviews. The combat is as polished as it has ever been, and it boasts one of the best storylines among fighting games. Not to mention that it is as gory and brutal as always. It currently sits at a favorable 83 on Metacritic. 

Players who haven't yet picked up Mortal Kombat X can look forward to getting a hold of all DLC released so far. Included among the DLC will be a host of new characters such as Predator, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, and the Xenomorph from Alien. 

The following is everything that will come with the game:

• Playable characters from Kombat Pack 1: Xenomorph from Alien, Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Triborg and Bo’Rai Cho
• Apocalypse Skin Pack
• Previously released content: Goro, Brazil Skin Pack, Kold War Skin Pack and Kold War Scorpion Skin
• Playable characters from Kombat Pack 2: Predator, Jason Voorhees, Tremor and Tanya, each accompanied by three skins
• Samurai Skin Pack

Also revealed a few days ago, Creative Director Ed Boon announced that XL will launch with improved online gameplay from day one. 

The game will be available for $59.99 on the PS4 and Xbox One.

Jason Voorhees and Leatherface from Mortal Kombat X

The couple that slays together, stays together. What's wrong with a bromance on the horror scale? These guys are misunderstood and perhaps, this union can make them complete. They have so much in common:

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• love of hand tools
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• love of masks
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• love of torturing the love-sick teens at inopportune moments
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• love being close to home
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Isn't that what romance is all about?

What did you think of these suggestions? What other couples would you like to see? Let us know in the comments.

Yennefer, Geralt and Triss from The Witcher series

As a huge fan of The Witcher series, Geralt is known to be torn between the great sorceresses Yennefer and Triss. But what if you didn't have to decide? What if you could have the ultimate, romantic relationship with them both? There are multi-partnered couples in the world that experience this level of commitment. Perhaps it may seem over-the-top, but is it?

As long as "cycles" alternate, it can be beneficial for all.

What they have in common:

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• combat skills
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• unicorns
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• helping others
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• "personal time"
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• love of the outdoors and paranormal
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Batman and Harley Quinn from Batman Arkham Asylum

These are two people who have had their minds twisted and have known pain on various levels. Yes, Harley is no longer the therapist, but a patient. Batman is dark and alone, like his cave on Mother's Day and Father's Day. What if they could heal together? Their love of costumes speaks to their inner cosplayer. Maybe it'll lead up to something new and brightly colored.

Their common interests:

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• both love dressing up
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• jokes that kill
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• both are fond of horticulture
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Master Chief and Cortana from the Halo series

In the world of science-fiction, almost anything is possible. Why can't Master Chief and Cortana somehow be reunited? This "unconventional" love, this bond that is shared, is as timeless as the universe itself. Doesn't Master Chief deserve his happily ever after? This time she saves him.

Things in common:

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• "mommy" issues
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• both are obsessed with who "came" before
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• love rings
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• both have fallen prey to their "Guilty Spark"
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Max and Chloe from Life Is Strange

The ultimate relationship that is sparking fan-fiction all over the internet is Max and Chloe. Playing the deeply emotional game myself, it's no wonder why! Max and Chloe have such a bond that even 5 years of separation didn't put a dent. Both are vulnerable but also strong. They support one another with ferocity.

Spoilers!!!!

Depending on your choices in Life Is Strange, a relationship may become impossible due to necessary sacrifices. I know it broke my heart. Max and Chloe have a connection that every couple strives to achieve.

What they have in common:

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• cherish friendships
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• love pirates
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• love mysteries
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Eris Morn and Cayde-6 from Destiny

If you've played Destiny as much as I have you'll know that Cayde-6 has a field day picking on Eris. Do you think that the old "if a boy picks on you, it means he likes you" adage is true?

What they have in common:

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• helping others
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• mutual enemies
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• sense of humor
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• dealing with Crota and his dad
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The photo featured here is made by did-you-reboot on DeviantArt.

GLaDos and Wheatley from Portal 2

When it comes to power couples, how can we avoid the tale of GLaDos and Wheatley? GLaDos, the sarcastic "sadomasochist" and Wheatley, the wannabe totalitarian. This is a plausible couple that knows how to push one another to the brink of "drunken" madness or cause the demise of every soul they encounter.

What they have in common:

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• love being in "control"
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• wonderful humor
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• love of science
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• neither eat cake
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Doesn't this sound like fun, you monster?

Alien and Predator from Alien vs. Predator

Alien and Predator have been enemies for quite a long time. They are adversaries of skill and wit. But, underneath the hostility there may be something more. Perhaps, a yearning to be understood for companionship rather than merely sport. Yet, I can't be the only one who's imagined: what if they didn't have to kill one another?

I know Robot Chicken has.

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• Alien Predator First Date
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• Alien Predator Dinner
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What they have in common:

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• love of sacrifices
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• love of sneaking up on "participants"
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• love playing "tag"
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With Valentine's Day drawing near, how about we think of couples we'd love to see in video games. Many of us have characters we love that haven't been able to develop the type of relationships we imagine.

Here I have compiled relationships that I would love to see become plausible, even if they seem impossible. Some characters never had the time and for others, it wasn't a possibility. So let's see where our hearts can take us.

This week in Gamers' Log: Alec tells us what he thinks of The Division Beta, we discuss more content being taken out of Fire Emblem Fates & more!

Last week, Ubisoft launched a closed beta for The Division that went from January 29th to February 2nd. Luckily, we had Alec playing the beta during the week, and he gave us his thoughts on how the game plays, and what problems have presented themselves.

Fire Emblem Fates' "skinship" mechanic being removed from the western release

Last week, Nintendo announced that they will be taking out the skinship mechanic from the Western release of Fire Emblem Fates. This mechanic allows players to use the touchscreen to physically interact with their companions, which allows the protagonist to form stronger bonds with their companions. 

All this and more

As always, there is a lot going on in the gaming industry, so make sure to listen to the podcast to see what else has happened during the week. 

Remember, if you want us some questions send them to gamerslogquestions@gmail,com

Subscribe: Those Irish Gamers

A new Skins pack for Mortal Kombat X will be giving some familiar characters a new look. The DLC will re-imagine Cassie Cage in Sub-Zero attire while Jacqui Briggs will don the outfit of Scorpion. The Cosplay pack was announced as a preorder bonus for the upcoming Mortal Kombat XL and Kombat Pack 2.

Mortal Kombat X has been getting skin packs since release, along with Kombat pack 1 which includes 4 new fighters. Kombat pack 2 can be bought separately from Mortal Kombat XL but in order to get the skins, you will have to pre-order XL.

Mortal Kombat XL will be a re-launch of Mortal Kombat X and it will hit stores in March. Along with the original game, XL will include all DLC. This includes the newest character pack along with every costume and skin that has been released as part of the season pass. The extra large version of the fighting game is now available to pre-order for PS4, Xbox One and PC, and will cost $60.

Computer games are the thing that many kids around the world cannot imagine their lives without. There are cool developing games for children that teach strategy, math, and tactics and there are just fun games that bring joy and satisfaction. All of you have probably heard of the opinion that many games are too cruel and violent and they should be forbidden, especially for kids. Many parents around the world share this opinion and don't allow their kids play certain games.

Here are the games that most often get forbidden.

Dead Space 3

An 18+ game; however, much kids who are much younger get to play it. The main character here fights terrible monsters using improvised weapons based on engineering tools. The game is scary and violent -- that is why parents say it shouldn't be played by kids.

Naughty Bear

This seemingly cute name hides another 18+ game that is definitely not about the adventures of a sweet teddy bear. The Bear here has qualities of a sociopath who kills others by all the possible means. This game was named one of the cruelest ones of the year. It is about the creative approaches to murder; that makes parents say categorical no to it.

Mortal Kombat X

Some parents remember playing this game themselves; although in that time, the graphics weren't so realistic and the cruelty level was much lower. The last version of this game (which is also 18+, by the way) looked much more realistic, with more blood, deadly weapons, and violent murders.

Call of Duty 3

This is a very popular game around the world, and many children play it as well. It is considered one of the most realistic games today. It is a shooting game with lots of blood and body parts which can be ripped off and scattered by explosions. Some psychologists claim that this game can cause addiction in children; this is one of the reasons parents don't like and don't allow it.

Fallout 4

Another popular game that parents don't like much. The fights are very graphic with heads exploding, arms falling off and many other gratuitous deaths. Along with that, the conversations are rude and the scenes are intense.

Dead Rising 3

This zombie game is also on the list of most forbidden titles. Many parents don't appreciate the scenes of zombies eating people and the main character killing them. Besides, there is some very sexual content, as well as violence and other inappropriate content for the younger player.

Grand Theft Auto V

The GTA series certainly doesn't lack controversy. Although it is rated “M” for “mature,” the genre of open-world game is very compelling to children... so they keep insisting they should play. However, the gameplay is full of sexual, violent, and discriminatory content, not to mention the foul language, and drug abuse -- all of which are found everywhere in any GTA game. Before deciding whether or not you are going to allow your kid to play any game in the series, I advise you to try it out for yourselves -- or at least watch some content of it which doesn't just show the more negative aspects out of content.

Why and how do parents do it?

Well, the reasons parents forbid playing violent computer games are quite obvious -- they think they will make their kids violent, too (although many psychiatrists argue that it is not true). Another reason is that kids spend too much time playing games instead of doing homework or playing outside.

The methods parents use to stop their kids playing these games differs. Some parents just ask children not to play, some take the games away, some block the games on their devices with programs like McAfee, Pumpic, Screen Time, etc. Many parents believe that such prohibitions have positive effects on their kids. Whether it is true or not, kids tend to be very upset about it. Some accept this limitation in what they can play, while some children find ways to play without their parents knowing. Some very vocal youngsters even try to convince their parents there is nothing wrong with the games. In any of these cases, finding a compromise is always the best way to sort out disagreements around video games.