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10 best games on PlayStation Now

Check out these 10 amazing games available on PlayStation Now!

Imagine Netflix, but for video games. Seems too good to be true, right? Actually, this fantasy is a reality. PlayStation Now offers instant access to more than 700 PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4 titles, all available to stream instantly to your PS4 or computer.

With such a massive library of games, it can be tough to decide where to jump in. Fear not, because we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best games on PlayStation Now:

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10 best games on PlayStation Now

10. Mortal Kombat X

It's all about Raiden, but you can have wrong choices too. — Who’s your character?

If you’re a Mortal Kombat fan – and even if you’re not – you’re guaranteed to have a white-knuckle, knockdown, drag-em-out punch-fest featuring classic MK characters like Sub-Zero, Jax, Kitana, Ermac, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, Liu Kang, Reptile, Scorpion, and a bunch more.

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With a surprisingly compelling (though quite cheesy) plot and a crazy long challenge ladder mode, you’ll have plenty to do in the game’s single-player. But that’s why you buy MKX – this is one of the best 2-player games out there, whether you’re online or in the basement couch, doing a tag ladder or bashing each other in the face with brutal X-Ray attacks and fatalities.

Everything we know about Mortal Kombat 11

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9. WWE 2K16

Still waiting on Andre the Giant! — Become the undisputed wrestling champ in WWE 2K16

If you haven’t had enough fighting games with MK9, then step into the ring with one of the best wrestling video games of all time. Developed in a collaboration between Yuke’s and Visual Concepts, WWE 2K16 has more than 120 unique playable characters, five game modes, and much-improved gameplay from its predecessors. Advanced holds, tornado tag-team, smoother animations, and all-around superior visuals and audio, this is definitely one every fighting game fan needs in their library!

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8. Bioshock: Infinite

Don't forget there's some great DLC in this game too. — Take Bioshock to the skies as you and Elizabeth uncover the secrets of Columbia.

Bioshock’s third entry puts you in the boots of Booker DeWitt, a detective hired to retrieve a girl, Elizabeth, from the flying city of Columbia. This game perfects the gameplay of the first two entries in the series, but Infinite’s story is what really sets it apart. The shocking twist ending inspired endless discussion, speculation, and philosophical musings across the internet and beyond are phenomenal. If you haven’t had it spoiled yet, we highly recommend experiencing it for yourself. If you’re looking for the classic Bioshock experience, however, fear not: the first two entries in the Bioshock series are also available on PlayStation Now.

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7. Sniper Elite 4

Even though it came out over two years ago, Sniper Elite 4 is one of the most tactical shooters on the market. The game will put you in 1943 Italy as an expert marksman behind enemy lines. You’ll be setting up traps, lining up shots, gunning for high-ranking officers, and – if things get dicey – running for your life. The game has smarter AI than the previous games, a grittier plot involving a new Nazi weapon, and night missions during which the player can eliminate light sources to mask their presence. A lot of things happen at once in SE4, and like the trailer says “timing is everything.”

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6. Uncharted 3

Get ready for high-adrenaline fun in Uncharted 3 — Explore deep chasms, high mountains, vast deserts. Adapt to survive.

When you strap in for an action-adventure game by Naughty Dog, odds are you already know what you’re in for. One of the best-reviewed games of 2011, in Uncharted 3 you play as explorer Nathan Drake as he searches the Rub’al Khali desert for the lost city Iram of the Pillars. Leap, run, scale, swim, and navigate narrow ledges, sheer drops, and vast terrains as you search high and low. New fight mechanics include hand-to-hand combat against multiple opponents, contextual melee attacks, and a potpourri of new stealth options.

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5. Shadow of the Colossus

See those mountains over there? You have to fight those later. — Every boss encounter is unique, every fight memorable.

An instant classic first introduced on the PlayStation 2, Shadow of the Colossus is a truly gorgeous game. As the player character, you travel to a mysterious land and fight a series of massive Colossus creatures in order to bring your true love back from the dead. The game is essentially an endless series of boss battles, with each Colossus bringing its own unique twist that makes every encounter as much of a puzzle as it is a fight. The graphics are gorgeous, and the breathtaking vistas are a huge part of what makes this game such an incredible experience.

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4. Bloodborne

It's Dark Souls, but not Dark Souls. — Set in a brutal nightmarish world, your gaming skills will be tested to their limits.

Bloodborne is a world created by your fears. Your goal is to meet those fears head-on and conquer them in a world rife with danger and risk, where death and insanity lurk around every corner. The title is reminiscent of Dark Souls, with its death and save mechanics seamlessly intertwined with gameplay, making for a harrowing experience for even the most well-versed gamers. Combat is quick and demands a strong offensive, while you need to equally keep up your defenses against hordes of nightmarish enemies and merciless bosses.

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3. Fallout 4

When being shot in the head and left for dead in a ditch somewhere in the wasteland only makes you angry, you know you’re in for a fun ride. Fallout: 4 does everything that a Fallout game can do right: Massive world, strong RPG elements, factions to join or fight, a good crafting system, and a post-nuclear apocalyptic world swarming with mutated creatures. The game also improves upon several core features of previous Fallout titles, including combat, kill animations, easier character customization, and a modified perk system. Oh, and Dogmeat is still such a good boy.

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2. The Last of Us

Finally we get a zombie game with character elements — Immerse yourself in a gripping narrative of two people struggling through a post-apocalyptic world.

A true masterpiece from Naughty Dog. The Last of Us is set in the near future after a fungal plague wipes out nearly all of humanity. Grizzled smuggler Joel agrees to escort a young girl, Ellie, on a dangerous cross-country journey in the hopes of finding a cure for the infection.

The story and performances of this game are what make it stand out. The emotional plot pairs well with stealth heavy survival gameplay, making each encounter into a uniquely satisfying challenge. The game’s Left Behind DLC is also available on PlayStation Now, and though short, is just as emotional and powerful as the main game. With the Last of Us 2 on the horizon, now is the perfect time to get caught up.

Here’s everything we know about The Last of Us 2

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1. Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead is the most popular game on PlayStation Now for good reason, and with Red Dead Redemption 2 now available, there’s no better time to play the original. The Rockstar title puts players in the shoes of outlaw John Marston in the waning days of the Old West.

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Players can explore a sprawling map featuring seemingly endless side quests and locations, customize their character, try their luck at gambling, enter horse races, and more. Think of it as a sort of Wild West version of Grand Theft Auto… except instead of cars, you’ll be hijacking horses.

Complete Guide to Red Dead Redemption 2

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Do I “keep” PlayStation Now games?

There is a bit of a concern over whether or not you truly “own” your PlayStation Now games. However, there is a simple answer.

If you buy a game on PlayStation Now, the game is yours for as long as you keep your subscription. However, if you stop paying for your subscription, you cannot play any of your games or any of its DLC. If you renew your subscription, you will be able to play all of your games and DLC once again.

Wrapping up

New users can get a free 7-day trial before signing up. From that point, you can decide between a one-month subscription ($19.99), a three-month ($44.99) or a full year for $99.99. Get one today and we’ll see you online!

10 free-to-play MMORPGs you should be playing right now

There’s a whole array of MMORPGs beyond the World of Warcraft! Check them out!

With the new World of Warcraft expansion coming out soon, you may find yourself looking to get into the MMORPG genre. While many popular MMOs are subscription-based or buy-to-play, there are plenty of free-to-play games available as well. These video games are fun and worth your time!. Here is a list of some of the best out there:

10 free-to-play MMORPGs you should be playing right now

10. DC Universe Online

Similar to World of Warcraft, DC Universe features a faction system. The player chooses between the Heroes and the Villains. Fans of DC Comics will enjoy seeing many of their favorite characters, while also getting to play within their universe. Characters are built around a specific power, which essentially works like a class in other MMOs. The powers, characters, and art style all draw heavily from the DC Comics universe.

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9. Star Wars: The Old Republic

Another faction-based MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic has the player choose between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. Despite this choice, the player is allowed to decide their own morality through their interactions with NPCs. For example, a Sith player doesn’t have to be evil necessarily. The game is known for having some pretty long loading screens, but be patient because the game is worth it. This game is worth checking out for even non-Star Wars fans, as the storyline of each class is incredible and immersive.

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8. Tera

Unlike many of the games on this list, Tera has recently come to PS4 and Xbox One, as well as being available for PC. The game uses a real-time third-person combat system that is sure to keep you on your toes. Most MMOs allow the player to lock on to the enemies, instead of directly pointing at them, while Tera forces the player to land their abilities as skill shots. This makes the combat incredibly engaging.

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7. RuneScape

One of the oldest MMORPGs, Runescape utilizes a skill-level system that is not commonly found in modern MMOs. Instead of grinding your character’s overall level, you instead level each skill individually by using them repeatedly. Along with this, Runescape has received continued updates for years, and is still a refreshing take on a classic game. The game is available for both PC and Mac. Either way, you’re sure to have a good time with this classic.

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6. Path of Exile

Fans of the Diablo series will be excited to see the similarities between these games. The game features the same style of combat, equipment, and dark artistic flair as the Diablo games. While not a traditional MMO, the game is played in small instances and is more focused on building your individual characters and parties, rather than massive communication that other MMOs feature.

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5. Trove

If you’ve ever wondered what Minecraft would be like as an MMO, then you’ll be excited to check out Trove. The game features combat and classes similar to other MMOs while retaining many of the sandbox features that Minecraft has to offer. There are plenty of customization features to keep your interest. Trove contains customizable homes called “Cornerstones.” These homes allow for a similar experience to Minecraft in their ability to be used as crafting stations and their customizability. It’s definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of either style of game.

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4. Rift

You may have heard of Rift as being a free-to-play World of Warcraft game. While it does have many similarities to World of Warcraft, such as its factions and lore, Rift has just as many differences. One of the best parts about Rift is its soul system that allows for some incredibly diverse gameplay. The system allows for customization of your abilities and skills to a level not featured in other MMOs of its type. If you value diverse gameplay and customization, then this is a great game for you.

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3. Neverwinter

Many Dungeons and Dragons fans are probably somewhat familiar with Neverwinter, and for good reason! Like many tabletop RPGs, Neverwinter contains an expansive and powerful storyline to follow that sets it apart from other free-to-play MMOs. Players can even create their own quests and stories to expand the world for themselves. The game is based on the fourth edition of Dungeons and Dragons and is perfect for anyone into the role-playing genre.

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Why you should be playing Neverwinter

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2. Blade and Soul

Similar to Tera, Blade and Soul features a real-time third-person combat system. The game is inspired by martial arts, and has many references to martial arts and their origins. The combat utilizes combos, similar to the fighting game genre. This creates a unique experience that’s sure to impress fans of both fighters and MMOs. Along with this, the game also features one of the best character customizations of any MMO available.

Blade and Soul

1. Guild Wars 2

The music and visuals of Guild Wars 2 are some of the most captivating of any free-to-play game. Guild Wars 2 features some of the best elements of other MMOs and combines them to create a unique gameplay experience. The story is player-driven and decided by the character’s actions and choices, while the combat is fluid and diverse. Longtime fans of MMOs will find Guild Wars 2 as a refreshing take on the genre, as every playable class features a variety of playstyles.

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People can’t believe how good the new World of Tanks app is

Wargaming has been showing off demos of World of Tanks AR Spectate, which turns any tabletop into a 3D battleground

Wargaming has been at the forefront of warfare simulation games for quite some time. World of Warships is heralded as being the most realistic naval battle simulator around. And the land-based World of Tanks is held in even higher regard. Incredibly, both games are free-to-play, although they offer in-app purchases offering a slew of customization options for your vehicles.

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World of Warships

From: War Gaming

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World of Tanks is so realistic that it isn’t just fun to play, it is also fun to watch. As esports begin to grip audiences around the world, Wargaming has been demonstrating a new World of Tanks app at Twitchcon that is set to blow global audiences away. It really needs to be seen to be believed.

Wargaming has been showing off demos of World of Tanks AR Spectate, which turns any tabletop into a 3D battleground

World of Tanks AR Spectate is still at the prototype phase, but according to reports coming out of Twitchcon, Wargaming has put out an impressive demonstration.

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World of Tanks

From: Wargaming

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How it works is the PC handles all of the graphics renderings of the battle. Then, an iPad, using Apple’s ARKit, takes the image from the iPad camera as well as the iPad’s location information and displays the PC rendered battle scene onto the tabletop via the iPad screen. For now, the prototype version only works for replays of battles but Wargaming has said that it is working on a way to use the system to display live battles.

As you can see in the demo above, the system is very impressive. You can watch the battle unfold on the iPad screen, but you can also see the real world behind the virtual images.

For now, Wargaming is trying to build buzz around their new AR spectating system. At Twitchcon, the war simulation specialists were asking industry influencers to take AR selfies with the virtual battlefields in front of them. By the looks of things, people were lining up to do so with some spectacular results coming out of the Wargaming booth.

The bad news is that for now, Wargaming has no plans for a general release of World of Tanks AR Spectate. The prototype demonstration is just a proof of concept at the moment.

World of Tanks AR Spectate has thrown down the gauntlet for other developers to try and match. Wargaming is confident that nobody has come close to the level of graphical realism they’ve achieved with an AR app. But consider, there’s no reason this type of AR viewing app couldn’t work with other hugely popular games too. Think League of Legends, DOTA 2 and other tabletop arena games, even sports games like FIFA would work perfectly on this kind of system.

We might not know when we can expect to see World of Tanks AR Spectate in app stores, but one thing is clear. With Wargaming able to put out such a stable and impressive demonstration now, the future of esports is looking very exciting indeed.

Top 10 naval battle games for PC

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5 reasons we prefer Star Wars Battlefront 2005

The 2017 release of EA Star Wars Battlefront 2 was met with infamously mixed responses. The main outcry was centered on the loot crate debacle and pay-to-win progression, but there was more to it than just that. Hopeful fans are still looking wistfully back at Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005), a game released years ago by the now-defunct Pandemic. Starry-eyed and wishful, it’s easy to wonder what might have been had they kept some of the key features that made that title so successful.

But exactly what were these features?

Despite the many adjustments, tweaks, and updates that EA Star Wars Battlefront 2 has undergone over the past six months, there are a good many design choices that set the game on a very different trajectory from the start. While there are numerous small elements, we’ve put together a list of what we think are the five biggest selling points from Battlefront 2005, elements that we never got to experience in EA’s.

If you’re interested in seeing for yourself and trying Battlefront 2005 firsthand, you can grab it here:

Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2005) Download

5. Players can’t change classes unless they die

Our first gripe is a small one, but one that we feel nonetheless deserves attention. The main game mode in the 2005 Battlefront was Conquest; a variant that focused on capture-and-hold tactics where the posts controlled allowed for unit spawn. There were two ways to win: Eliminating all the enemy reinforcements, or capturing all the command posts so that they couldn’t spawn any more units in to contest you.

These command posts served a second purpose, however: Players could use them to switch their selected class on the fly, alternating as needed between the engineer, sniper, infantry, or heavy trooper classes. This feature was not present in the very first Star Wars Battlefront (released in 2004), and its inclusion was such a radical improvement that they zeroed in on it multiple times throughout the tutorial mission – a level where the objectives could only be completed by switching classes. Pandemic really wanted to instill that mechanic in its players right off the bat.

We were surprised this feature was never implemented in EA’s Battlefront 2 since it so proudly highlighted the introduction of four playable classes available to the player. After the initial decision on a class the player is stuck with it until their death. Only then can they quickly decide whether they want to try a different approach. The reason for this choice is probably to allow players to more often choose whether they want to spend battle points on power-up classes or vehicles like the jet trooper or an AT-ST, but having to die just to get that choice? It seems counter-intuitive.

It’s especially frustrating when the game encourages you to stay alive to “earn 2x battle points.” Die and you have to start from scratch. We acknowledge that this isn’t a “design flaw” per se, but the choice is odd. We can’t help but feel its inclusion would have been a nice improvement.

4. Players can ride vehicles together

This isn’t the last time we’ll be bringing up EA’s Battlefront 2’s lack of co-op features. This point is more an example of where its missed. The 2005 Battlefront featured and implemented vehicles very differently than EA chose to. In the original, players could see a vehicle on the map, run to it, and ride it. It made sense, it was fun, it was an option for every player. Even the worst players in the match could beeline towards the nearest AT-AT walker or AAT for a chance to even the playing field. But that’s not even the biggest reason this design choice was so cool.

http://www.gamersdecide.com/pc-game-news/10-awesome-star-wars-games-play-2016/page/0/1

While vehicles in EA Battlefront 2 were power-ups unlocked by spending battle points, they were much more useful in Pandemic’s Battlefront 2.

The main difference? They could hold multiple players.

That AAT you saw on the streets of Theed? In Battlefront 2 2005 that could house both a driver and another player to operate the cannon up top. The clone AT-TE could have three players at once. The clone gunship? Four.

There was something special and exciting about you and three friends piling into a clone gunship during a space battle and manning the different positions. Your pilot navigated through enemy fire on the way to the opposing flagship, gingerly landing in their docking bay. The enemy AI pour out into the hangar area as the ship goes on full alert. The gunship you landed is getting shot by rockets, so you and your buddies are forced to pile out, dodging lasers and diving for cover while returning fire.

It grew to white-knuckle insanity trying to escape the flaming ruins of the flagship you and your friends sabotaged together. Then to be greeted by a victory screen as you boost away from enemy fighters?

Glorious.

Playing with your friends was such an integral element of the 2005 Battlefront, and the lack of it in EA Battlefront 2 brings us to our next big point:

3. Playing with friends was accessible and encouraged, local or online

Playing local splitscreen was a huge part the FPS genre in its early days. Series like Unreal Tournament, Ghost Recon, Call of Duty, Halo, and James Bond all found massive success from it, and splitscreen gaming evolved into a huge part of the FPS culture. Pandemic’s Battlefront 2 was a cornerstone of this evolution, and it took the formula to the next level with its class-based roleplaying, multi-person vehicles, and its (albeit limited) mechanics for commanding the game’s AI infantry.

EA Battlefront 2 does have local play, but it’s pretty restricting. By “restricting,” we mean that there’s no online co-op to speak of. There is splitscreen in arcade mode, but the game’s arcade mode really feels like an introduction to new players more than an actual real fleshed-out gametype. Even then, that local play is only available on console. PC players don’t get any co-op at all (and yet the game is still priced the same for both). Comparing this to Pandemic’s Battlefront 2, the lack of local play goes beyond co-op.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxYOgWmTS8w

Splitscreen in Battlefront 2 2005 could also get competitive. At the start of the match, players can pick which faction they wanted to play as … and it didn’t have to be the same as the other players. Walking through the bot-congested halls of Polis Massa only to suddenly come across another player was a tense moment, and the firefights between the two of you would often decide the fate of the match.

Working together or fighting each other, local play created an extremely engaging atmosphere in Battlefront 2 2005 and it added a whole other dimension of strategy and excitement to the game. EA missed the mark here.

2. Galactic Conquest

Next up we had to mention EA’s exclusion of one of the original Battlefront’s defining game modes: Galactic Conquest. A Risk-style strategy mode that starts the player off owning only one planet on a simulated galaxy map. The way to win here was to conquer all the galaxy, which is at the beginning owned by the enemy faction. Each planet conquered earned you galactic credits to build, buff, and expand your army. It was a strategic chain of singular missions with a broad tug-of-war in the background. The enemy side always starts with the advantage, but over the course of the game, it shifts to your favor.

https://www.moddb.com/mods/star-wars-battlefront-conversion-pack/images/kotor-galactic-conquest5

Galactic Conquest had been a core game mode in both Pandemic’s Battlefront games, and was a key component to its replayability and longevity. It added depth to every match and challenged players to think on a more tactical level before jumping into a firefight. It’s an angle that’s lacking in EA’s Battlefront 2, and we really miss it.

1. AI bots

Of all the differences we’re covering here, we think this one’s the biggest. Battlefront 2 2005 had AI bots on every match and it completely changed the way the game felt. The huge waves of enemies, the constantly respawning units on both sides, the Jedi cutting through swathes of infantry to get to the next command post – it all felt like we were dropped into a pivotal moment in the titular “war.” Here’s a video of the rare EA Battlefront 2 player who hadn’t first played Battlefront 2005, and his thoughts on what AI add to the mix:

The only game modes that feature AI in EA’s Battlefront 2 are the campaign, arcade mode, and Starfighter Assault. The latter of which was one of our favorites largely due to its inclusion of bots. We’re not alone in thinking this either. Disclaimer: Angry Joe is angry. May contain NSFW language.

Putting “battlefront” in the title of your game implies just that – a peek at the surrounding war zone through the eyes of an infantry soldier, scout, or pilot. Compare, for instance, Kashyyyk from Pandemic’s battlefront 2 to EA’s:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZnJfL6DYSQ

Pandemic’s map is less vibrant, far smaller, equally linear, and largely open. EA’s is massive, colorful, breathing, and lush. But play it and you’ll see where the problem lies – the amount of time you spend in an actual firefight in EA’s Battlefront is absolutely dwarfed by the amount of time walking from fight to fight.

STAR WARS™ Battlefront™ II_20180224131957

Larger maps aren’t always a great thing, especially when the only enemies to fight are the enemy players. Sure they’re way tougher than the laughably incompetent AI from Battlefront 2 2005, and sure it’s more rewarding when you gun down enemy players rather than nameless bots, but a healthy mix is what made EA’s Starfighter Assault so enjoyable. If they could incorporate ground AI into the online game modes, it would make a dramatic difference, and one that we think is for the better.

If EA makes a Battlefront 3, we hope to see some of these aspects included in its design. Would that be enough to renew fans’ dreams of one day having a game to match the awesome fun of the original Battlefront 2?

Hmm. Clouded the future is.

The 5 best MOBA games to play right now

While the MOBA genre has some pretty diverse games in it, none is more prevalent than the traditional Dota-based ones. Dota was a defining game for the genre, and many have tried to recreate its style with their own unique flair. While some have failed at this, a few have succeeded above and beyond the original Dota’s glory. Below is a list of some of the best traditional MOBAs still active today.

5. Vainglory

Despite being a mobile game, Vainglory is a very well developed MOBA with a very active player-base. If you want to play a mobile MOBA, then Vainglory is by far the best one out there. The role system is great, and the games are fast-paced but still just as fun as PC MOBAs.

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4. Smite

Even though Smite follows the traditional format of MOBAs (5v5 with three lanes and a jungle), it’s probably the most unique of them. The big difference between Smite and other MOBAs is that Smite’s point of view is third-person, and all basic attacks are skillshots instead of automatic. Also, Smite characters are all based on gods and goddesses instead of unique characters, which is a nice touch.

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3. Dota 2

The successor to the game that defined the MOBA genre. While not as popular as it was a few years ago, Dota 2 still has a strong following. In fact, Dota 2 recently received a big client update, so now is the perfect time to get back into the game if you’re an old fan.

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How to start playing Dota 2

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2. Heroes of the Storm

If you’ve ever played a Blizzard game, then you probably know what Heroes of the Storm is. Like Smite, HotS’ characters are not original to its game. But instead of gods and goddesses, HotS features Blizzard characters from their other popular games like World of Warcraft, Starcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. Blizzard often has giveaways and does events for all of its games, so if you play any of their other games, then you may get some benefits from playing HotS.

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1. League of Legends

With over 100 characters to choose from, and a massive fanbase, League of Legends is still the largest MOBA around. While League itself was inspired by Dota, most new MOBAs are inspired by League of Legends instead. The game is constantly seeing updates, and the developers are very interactive with their audience. Definitely worth trying out if you haven’t.

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15 best beginner champions in League of Legends

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Blizzard shares surprising results of Overwatch’s endorsement system

According to Overwatch lead designer Jeff Kaplan, Overwatch’s new endorsement system has had a significant impact in reducing toxicity. The post where Kaplan explains this can be viewed below:

As the post demonstrates, in the Americas alone, the number of players engaging in daily abusive behavior has gone down nearly 29 percent. While it remains to be seen if the numbers will remain at this level, this is undoubtedly already an impressive impact. While some players have complained that this system has led to people being “fake nice” in order to score XP and loot, a game environment of fake nice people beats out a toxic hellhole every time.

Overwatch had a noted toxicity problem in the past, with many players (especially women) feeling like the harassment and stressful environment turned them off of the game. Blizzard implemented smaller measures to curb this in the past. One example of a much less serious measure they took was automatically replacing the phrase “gg ez”, which mockingly means “good game easy”, with humorous phrases like “I feel very, very small… please hold me…” and “It’s past my bedtime. Please don’t tell my mommy.” The endorsement system seems to say that Blizzard is now taking in-game toxicity much more seriously than it has in the past.

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Blizzard isn’t the only developer working hard to make their game communities less toxic. Ubisoft recently added an automatic chat filter to their popular online shooter Rainbow Six: Siege which boots players from games automatically for using racist or sexist slurs, among other words. While trash talk has been a staple of competition ever since man first picked up a ball, there comes a point where harmless trash talk becomes harassment. While this has been present in online gaming since its inception, saying “that’s just how the internet works” doesn’t cut it anymore.

Top 5 greatest multiplayer shooter maps in video game history

Every great shooter lives and dies by its maps, and every amazing shooter has THAT map. Over the years these maps have caused countless amounts of eyestrain and trash talk due to their inventive and fun designs. Seasoned veterans of these maps often know their layout better than they know their own neighborhoods, and for good reason: navigating these maps is a lot more fun.

5. Goldeneye 007 – Facility

This Nintendo 64 classic is the OG of couch multiplayer shooters. Goldeneye 007 changed the gaming landscape with its variety of weapons, modes, and maps, with none being more iconic than Facility. Players had to master its many levels, scrambling via stairs or air vents to get the Golden Gun. Despite being a huge map, the hallways were thin and the rooms were small, leading to tense close quarters combat. The cramped hallways were also infamous for being constantly littered with proximity mines, leading to instant death for any player unfortunate to pass by. Finally catching up to the player who blew you up and taking him down with slappers is a cathartic feeling unmatched by any modern game.

4. Call of Duty – Nuketown

One of the most iconic maps of the Call of Duty series, Nuketown packs a lot of chaos into a tiny map. Nuketown features a stereotypical 1950’s model neighborhood, complete with bright pastel colors and creepy mannequins, that gets destroyed by a nuclear blast at the end of the round. The layout of the map is simple, with two houses opposite each other, backyards behind them, and vehicles in the middle. This simple premise strips the COD experience down to its basics, favoring map knowledge and skill. Nuketown is so popular that it has appeared in every Black Ops game to date, including as a terrifying zombie map.

3. Halo – Blood Gulch

The Halo series has had no shortage of amazing maps, but Bungie arguably created their best one in the original game with Blood Gulch. The premise of the map was team deathmatch at its finest: two teams, one red and one blue, each started in a base. From there, they would use vehicles like the fast and powerful Warthog or the brutal semi-invincible Scorpion to assault the base of the enemy team, blowing them away and taking their flag. The simple team vs team dynamic of the map was the catalyst for countless LAN parties. It even spawned one of the most popular and long-lasting machinima series ever in Red vs Blue.

2. Modern Warfare 2 – Rust

There is perhaps no better saying that exemplifies the Xbox Live generation than “1v1 me rust”. Younger players may not realize that at the time of its release, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was everywhere, achieving a level of ubiquity that almost matches Fortnite today. The game was a perfect mess of imbalanced weapons and perks, and was a breeding ground for salty players screaming into their headsets. When emotions came to a head and pride was on the line, every player knew that the only map where beef could be settled was a 1v1 on Rust. Often played with snipers only, 1v1’s on Rust were a tense affair. The tiny map didn’t leave many places to hide, and any player that was able to scramble to the top of the structure in the middle found themselves at an immediate advantage. So many scores were settled here back in the day, and hopefully, the rumored Modern Warfare 2 remaster actually sees the light of day so that newer players can experience the intensity of putting your whole gaming career at stake in a single match.

1. Counter-Strike – Dust2

What else could it be? Counter-Strike’s dust2 is not only a masterful example of map design, but it’s one of the most well-designed levels in video game history. As the round starts, both terrorists and counter-terrorists must make a decision on which bombsite to rush. Do they split up their team between A and B? Gamble on one site and send the whole team? Cover is minimal except at the most important sites, and there are no out-of-place nooks or camping spots that feel like they’re unfair. The middle lanes of the map are high-risk, high-reward areas that lead to the best defensive spots but require a fight to push through. Feeling perfectly balanced for both teams, the map can be played thousands of times without feeling old, due to its combination of straightforwardness and mind games.

How to find your best Overwatch character

The Overwatch roster currently features 28 playable heroes, with players able to take control of everything from a talking gorilla to a robotic monk. With such a huge list of characters to choose from, trying to find the hero that best suits your play style might seem like an impossible task. Whether you’re a new player or just trying to switch things up, here are a few tips to help you quickly find your best hero.

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Play What You Know

With 28 playable characters, your first goal should be narrowing down that list to a handful of characters that you think might be right for you. The best way to start your search is to think of the games you already play. Though there are a few more unique options, most Overwatch characters fit into some familiar play styles. If you’re a fan of classic first-person shooters like Call of Duty or Battlefield, starting with Soldier: 76 can be a great way to get the hang of the game. Doomfist has a lot in common with characters from fighting games like Mortal Kombat, and Widowmaker is just one of the sniper heroes that should appeal to all the marksmen out there. Team Fortress 2 veterans will also find some familiar classes: turret-building Torbjorn is reminiscent of the Engineer and Mercy will feel familiar to fans of the Medic. Take a look through the classes and see if anything sounds familiar to you. You might be surprised at what you find.

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Role First, Character Second

Rather than trying to settle on an individual character from the list, it can help to think of what role you want to fill. The hero roster is subdivided into Damage, Support, and Tank roles.

Damage heroes focus on dealing damage to the enemy team, as the name implies. This role would be most suited to a player with quick reflexes who prefers fast-paced, frontline combat.

Support characters are the healers of the game, and play an important role keeping the team at full health while at the same time enhancing their abilities with damage boosts and other buffs. This class may be tricky to get the hang of for more casual multiplayer gamers, but it can also be extremely fun and gratifying.

Finally, Tanks have huge amounts of health and armor, and generally come equipped with some kind of shielding or defensive ability. Tanks soak up damage from the enemy team while leading the charge to the enemy objective, and keep other players on their team safe from harm.

If one of these roles appeals to you more than the others, start testing out the characters in that role. Selecting your character by finding the role you want to fill is a much easier way to narrow down the list than sifting through each hero one by one.

Don’t Get Stuck

This is maybe the most important thing to remember when choosing your hero. We all have our favorites, whether it be Tracer, Reaper, or Reinhardt. It’s a tough thing to realize, but your favorite character might not be the character you’re best at playing. Focusing on playing a single character or a character that you like may be preventing you from finding the character you actually excel at. So instead of trying to play a character that just isn’t working for you, experiment and test out some new heroes.

Don’t Play Just One

Overwatch is much more fun once you start playing characters based on what your team needs. After you’ve found and mastered your first hero, try to master at least one hero in each role. Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone. There’s actually quite a bit of overlap between the roles. There are Support characters that play like Damage characters, Tanks that play like Support, and everything in between. There’s a bit of a learning curve to each hero, but the only way to learn them is to pick one and start playing!

One final tip to keep in mind: have fun. Overwatch is one of the most accessible multiplayer games out there, and such a huge roster means there’s a hero for everyone. Using the tips on this list will make finding your best hero easier, and the faster you do that, the faster you’ll start winning.

How to use endorsements in Overwatch

Overwatch has long made it a point to combat toxic behavior in their community. One of Blizzard’s key goals is to make Overwatch an enjoyable experience for everyone, and that means more than just tweaking maps and adding new characters. With the new endorsements mechanic, Overwatch offers a new point of focus. Now, rather than just calling out toxic players, you can also give shoutouts to players that shine.

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So, what actually are endorsements? Blizzard has them split up into three categories: Shot Caller, Sportsmanship, and Good Teammate.

Shot Callers are players that take charge and coordinate the team. Usually, this means a player who is on mic, communicating and strategizing to make sure that the team is working as one unit.

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Sportsmanship is an endorsement for players who contribute to making the game an all-around positive experience. This is a pretty ambiguous award, so feel free to hand this one out to anyone who you feel made the match better in whatever way that might be. This one can also be handed out to opposing players, like a nod of respect to the Reinhardt that kept you off the point or an enemy Mercy that you noticed working overtime to keep her team at full health.

Good Teammate goes to the shining stars that excel as team players. These are the people that play the objective, switch roles to make sure the team has a strong composition, and work to help the team win, rather than looking out only for themselves.

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If you feel like you’ve encountered a player you want to endorse, you’ll be given the option to do so at the end of the game, during the Play of the Game screen. You can select the type of endorsement you want to give out and the player you want to give it to. You can endorse up to three players per match. As a nice added bonus, you’ll receive 50 XP for giving an endorsement. This means a potential extra 150 XP on top of what you earned in a match. Though this may not seem like much, it can add up quickly, especially for someone who loves giving out compliments.

There are some catches, though: endorsements aren’t available in Arcade modes and can’t be given out to the same player twice in a 24 hour period. You also can’t give out endorsements to players you’re in a group with, so anybody thinking that they could game the system by grouping up with their friends and endorsing each other back and forth is out of luck. Blizzard wants to make sure endorsements are used in as genuine a manner as possible.

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Also part of this new mechanic is an endorsement level. Every player has one, and it’s determined by the number of endorsements you receive. Blizzard hasn’t indicated how many endorsements it takes to level up, but we know that the maximum endorsement level is 5. Careful though; even if you make it to the max level, it’ll start to degrade over time and harsh penalties can be incurred if you’re reported for bad behavior. So, if you want to get to a high level and keep it that way, you need to make sure you’re playing in a consistently positive way.

Having a high endorsement level can net some neat little perks. It adds an additional layer of customization when finding a match by allowing players to specify what kind of endorsement roles they want to play with, and can also improve their standing in queues. Blizzard has also hinted at other, more tangible rewards, but is mum on the details. Unique skins, perhaps? Or perhaps other cosmetic items, like sprays or emotes for players with high endorsement levels?

As the old saying goes, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” It seems that Blizzard has taken this old adage one step further. If you have something nice to say about the people you’re playing Overwatch with, they want you to say it, and say it loud.

3 ways to get better at Overwatch

Once you get the hang of it, Overwatch is a tremendous amount of fun. Here are three easy tips to help you improve your game and start racking up wins.

Overwatch is arguably the biggest thing to happen to first person multiplayer gaming in years. With distinctive characters and unique gameplay, it’s not hard to see why it’s taken the gaming world by storm. If you’re unfamiliar with class-based multiplayer or objective-based gameplay, Overwatch can be a tough game to jump into. Once you get the hang of it, though, Overwatch is a tremendous amount of fun. Here are three easy tips to help you improve your game and start racking up wins.

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1. Play To Your Strengths

Overwatch has 28 playable characters, all with their own unique play styles and characteristics. Finding the characters that are right for you will take some trial and error. Before you even think about jumping into your first match, head to the practice range and take a few characters for a spin. This map is populated with AI controlled bots and allows you to switch characters at any point, making it easy to figure out which playstyles suit you best. Used to first-person shooters like Call of Duty? Take Soldier 76 for a spin. Fan of fighting games? Try Doomfist. It may take a bit, but such a huge cast of characters means there’s someone for everyone.

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2. Play What The Team Needs

Once you’ve found a character that suits your style, it may be tempting to stick with that one character. This is a common mistake. Winning matches in Overwatch depends on a solid team composition, meaning a good balance of Damage, Support, and Tank classes. Having too many players in any one class is an easy way to lose, and if you main a single character, you won’t have the versatility that’s necessary for team play. Though specializing in one of these classes is a great way to get into the game, learning at least one character in each class is what separates good players from great players. Whether it be slicing and dicing as Genji, lobbing grenades with Junkrat, holding down the point as Orisa, or rallying your team as Brigitte, you’ll always be prepared to fill whatever role your team needs to win.

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3. Play The Objective

Above all else, Overwatch is an objective-based game. Though it may be tempting to simply rack up the kills, unless you’re playing a Deathmatch game type, you won’t actually be helping your team win. Pay attention to your objective, whether that be capturing a point or escorting a payload. Your first priority should be the objective, and although getting kills might help with that, it shouldn’t be at the forefront of how you play. You’re not in this alone; work with your team. If you work well as a unit and keep playing the objective, you’ll find yourself playing better overall and achieving far more wins than lone-wolf players.

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Now that you have these tips under your belt, you should be well on your way to becoming an Overwatch MVP. To quote the chipper British-accented words of Tracer, “The world could always use more heroes!”