Key Note Gaming

The idea of an anime-style soulslike releases plenty of good chemicals in my brain, but the first Code Vein back in 2019 turned out to be just okay in my book. Like a number of Bandai Namco's original IP, I was intrigued to see that idea get another shot, which made me optimistic for Code Vein 2. However, with a middling execution of its open world and inconsistent gameplay qualities, this sequel doesn't necessarily improve upon its predecessor, and instead struggles to stand out in a somewhat saturated genre. Its story still compelled me through the 50 hours I spent to finish the main quest and all of the side content at least, but that time came with a lot of ups and downs. Coming off of From Software's Elden Ring (which Bandai Namco published) not too long ago, pulling up the map of Code Vein 2 had me intimidated and enticed in equal measure. A few hours past its opening act, I was able to grasp its cadence and scale, which thankfully wasn't as overwhelming as I...

Re-Logic has dropped a new teaser trailer for Terraria 1.4.5 — now dubbed the Bigger and Boulder Update — which is set to launch tomorrow, January 27. The teaser for Bigger and Boulder — I see what you did there, Re-Logic — shows off "over 100 combinations and eight brand new boss tracks," as well as reveals character portraits (including the Goblin Tinkerer), new icons for auto-sorting things like coins, new furniture, and new Palworld and Dead Cells minions. There also seems to be a pre-hard mode Acorn Tosser, Slime Spear, Slime Whip, and Starcrash Whip, lightning strikes in thunderstorms, Boulder tiles, blocks, and chests, and more. Lots, lots more. Trailer in 24 Hours! Name of the Update is Bigger & Boulder! by u/StingingGamer in Terraria And no, Re-Logic doesn't even say that this is the last update anywhere — despite insisting Terraria had received its last update for years — but of course, with the team promising that crossplay will be "made av...

A reliable leaker has revealed Sony's main PlayStation Plus Monthly offering for February, more than a week before it becomes available. Boxing game Undisputed will headline next month's lineup, according to Dealabs ' billbil-kun, who says that the liscensed punchup title will be the month's main game available. So, while other titles are expected, Undisputed will be February's main addition. Undisputed is expected to become available on February 3, for PlayStation Plus subscribers across all tiers from Essential upwards. As ever, it should remain available for a month, until March 3. We'll follow up with February's other PlayStation Plus Monthly games whenever Sony announces them. January's PlayStation Plus Monthly games are of course currently still available to claim, including Disney's Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, Core Keeper and Need for Speed Unbound. Originally launched in October 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, Undisputed i...

With Lorwyn Eclipsed now out, our attention will soon sharply be turning to the next Magic set of 2026, which is also the first "Universes Beyond" release of the year: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles . And, if you’re already sold on meeting up with cardboard versions of the Heroes in a Half Shell, their friends, and their foes, then good news - Amazon is once again discounting booster boxes, which are now down to their lowest ever price , and even lower than a previous best we saw just a couple of weeks ago. Now down to just $124.99, and containing 30 of your finest Play Boosters (each containing 14 cards), this is a certified $84.71 in savings compared to its original $209.70 list price. That's also just over $4 for each booster ($4.17, to be precise), which is more than a couple of bucks off what you’d usually pay when buying them individually. In comparison, the market price for these is still sitting around $139, according to data at the trusted resale marketpla...

We've rounded up the best deals for Sunday, January 25, below. Don't miss your chance to save on these deals! Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree for $20.37 Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree was a surprise hit from Bandai Namco in 2025, featuring a brand new cast of characters and world to discover. Dubbed as Bandai Namco's first roguelite, this game features a unique mechanic where you constantly switch between two swords to replenish their sharpness. You can pick up a Nintendo Switch copy this weekend for only $20.37. Octopath Traveler 0 for $40.61 Octopath Traveler 0 was easily one of the most overlooked RPGs of 2025. This massive game packs in a huge amount of content, with over 100 hours required to 100% the game. In our 9/10 review , we wrote, "Octopath Traveler 0 asks you to stick with a 100-hour journey, and it rewards you with the kinds of moments only lengthy RPGs can pull off with its overarching story, an intricate turn-based comba...

2025 marks 40 years since Akira Toriyama’s ground-breaking Dragon Ball manga first hit shelves in Japan. The Dragon Ball Genkidamatsuri was held in Japan over the weekend to celebrate the global manga, anime and video game phenomenon. Taking up the huge Makuhari Messe event space near Tokyo, the event featured everything from exclusive merch, live game contests, and specially-curated exhibits of original artwork. The main stage was packed with exciting announcements about where the series is headed after the death of series creator Akira Toriyama , including two new anime TV series, a new game and a “massive” new DLC for Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero. Dragon Ball Super: The Galactic Patrol Anime The event kicked off with a brief talk between Son Goku’s Japanese VA Masako Nozawa and Dragon Ball series executive producer Akio Iyoku, followed by the premiere of a special video marking the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball. Featuring music specially composed by Hans Zimmer, the film celebr...

Stella Montis is known for its cold, suffocating halls and cutthroat Raider encounters, but Arc Raiders players can’t get enough of the real-life Stella Montis hotel. Yes, there is a real-world hotel located in Italy that just so happens to share a name with one of the most brutal locations game developer Embark Studios has to offer. Thankfully, the luxurious hotel Stella Montis won’t have guests looking over their shoulders for loot goblins, and instead features spots for hiking, biking, skiing, and relaxation. It’s for these reasons – and maybe more likely just for the bit of it all – that Arc Raiders players are slamming the forest getaway with dozens of five-star reviews . Photo from the Stella Montis hotel in Northern Italy, a new location teased in the latest dev blog. by in ArcRaiders “Great place,” one seemingly earnest review starts. “But I do recommend travel solo for this hotel. Any group bigger than 2 has very high chance of meeting rats in the lobby. Hotel has a ...

If Animal Crossing: New Horizons' 3.0 update earlier this month wasn't enough for you, don't worry, there's a new hype train you can board. IKEA just recently posted a TikTok with some very familiar sights and sounds, and it has us hoping for a furniture collaboration soon. As spotted by Polygon , the official TikTok page for IKEA France posted a video two days ago that very much seems to be teasing something Animal Crossing-related. In the video, a very distinctively Animal Crossing leaf floats down from the ceiling of an empty room, before a hand cursor clicks on it and turns it into furniture, cycling through four different types of IKEA furniture (two bookcases in different styles, a dresser, and a couch). The video description, via TikTok's translation from French, reads, "We still don't accept cash bells. #ikea #animalcrossing" @ikeafrance On n'accepte toujours pas les clochettes en caisse. #ikea #animalcrossing ♬ son original - IKEA...

After watching Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade’s gorgeous opening cutscene on Switch 2, I instinctively reached for the PlayStation 5 controller sitting on my coffee table instead of my Switch 2 Pro Controller. That’s not to say VII Remake looks exactly as good on Switch 2 as it does on the beefier PS5, but this is an impressive port that’s easily up there with the best third-party games we’ve seen so far in the Switch 2’s first year, and I’m still not used to games looking this beautiful on my Nintendo console. That strong first impression held up as I blasted through the familiar first hours of Cloud’s adventure in Midgar – which remains one of my favorite RPGs of the decade – with solid performance both handheld and docked. Digging through the menus also revealed tons of options to streamline progression for newcomers looking to see what all the hype is, or for returning fans who just want to blast through the epic adventure at a quicker pace on the go. No matter your experi...

The Nintendo Switch 2 was the best-selling console of 2025 in the U.S., both in unit sales and dollar sales, selling a total of 4.4 million units in the U.S, and continuing its streak of selling faster than the original Nintendo Switch. This comes from Circana's full-year reporting on the U.S. games market courtesy of analyst Mat Piscatella, and shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. The Switch 2 has been at the top consistently since it launched earlier in the year, amid a period of decline for the steadily aging PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. Battlefield 6 was the best-selling game of last year, and the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller was the best-selling accessory. Overall, the U.S. games market reached $60.7 billion in sales for all of 2025, and $7.8 billion in December alone. That's up 1% and 3% year-over-year, respectively. In hardware, spending was up 9% year-over-year to $5.4 billion for the year, and up 6% year-over-year to $1.2 billion in December. The Ninten...

Text-based games, management RPGs, and visual novels – of whatever kind – rarely make the most exciting previews. It's just not easy to build a rich interest in the world and characters of a story you can only get the slightest taste of. I'm very pleased to say that a few hours with Sovereign Tower broke that trend entirely. Whosoever turns the key in the giant magic lock on the tower becomes king. So, as the mystically-appointed lord of the tower, your poor faceless wanderer becomes a very important person overnight in what developer Wild Wits calls a "story-rich, Round Table management RPG." It's an entertaining concept that draws its characters and dialogue equally from fantastical tradition and modern life. Couple that with a deliciously detailed art style and a sense of what's most entertaining to do in both management games and visual novels. That's enough to sell it, I think, but it also has some nice surprises and a weird little twist on the g...

Forza Horizon 6 is set to release for Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 19 — unless you buy the most expensive edition, which comes out May 15. This latest installment of the reliably excellent Microsoft racing series whisks drivers to Japan to get their speed on. It’s available now to preorder in a number of editions ( see it at Amazon ). Below, you can find out what comes in each one, how much they cost, and more. Let’s put the pedal to the metal and take a look. Standard Edition Xbox Get it at Amazon - $69.99 Get it at Best Buy - $69.99 Get it at GameStop - $69.99 Get it at Walmart - $69.99 Get it at Xbox Store (digital) - $69.99 PC Get it at Steam - $69.99 If all you want is the base game for now, the standard edition is the one to preorder. It comes with the game itself, plus the preorder bonus (see below) Deluxe Edition Xbox Get it at Xbox Store (digital) - $99.99 PC Get it at Steam - $99.99 The deluxe edition includes the game, the preorder bonu...

Are you tired of stressing about keeping up with the latest board games, the hottest new expansions, or being on the outside looking in when wanting to start a new hobby? We’ve all been there. The barrier to entry for many tabletop, card, and board games can sometimes be high, with some games’ starter kits starting well over $100 . It can be intimidating to get into certain board games due to budget, and that’s a shame. Whether you’re getting that special gamer in your life a birthday gift or hosting a casual game night with close friends, plenty of budget options exist that are sure to scratch that itch. And we’ve compiled some of our favorites right here! TL;DR: These Are the Best Cheap Board Games Qwirkle Splendor Duel Boss Monster 10th Anniversary The Chameleon Decrypto Scout The Crew: Mission Deep Sea Codenames Targi Hand Games 21 Coup Couch Skeletons Flip 7 Betrayal: Deck of Lost Souls You’re Getting Old Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Poop Board Games Under ...