The new Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerun Dungeon Master Expansion finally sends D&D 5th Edition's (5e) map beyond the Sword Coast. For too long, too many adventures clung too tightly to the thousand-mile coastline between Baldur's Gate in the south, and Icewind Dale in the north. 

But no more. As only one example, the surprisingly large archipelago called the Moonshae Isles is finally part of the Forgotten Realms' growth. At least as far as D&D 5e is concerned. According to a recent blog on D&D Beyond:

The Moonshae Isles are where wild magic, ancient tradition, and the Feywild all collide into a mix of unpredictable adventure.

I'd even throw swashbuckling high fantasy into the mix, giving the fairytale land a distinctly Peter Pan and the Lost Boys flair. Not to mention the writers at Wizards of the Coast have decided the place needs a catalyst for adventure in the Moonshae—just so it's not all rainbows and pixies when you arrive. What they've added is a curse called the Rusting.

Heck yeah.

At less than a week's distance by boat, you're one easy travel montage away from the tired old Sword Coast to a land of fresh, new adventure. 

According to the full-page spread of artwork kicking off the Moonshae Isles in the Adventures in Faerun book, the place looks like Moana windsurfing on the edge of a waterfall, with Jack and the Beanstalk tree growths carrying Disney castles up into the sky. It's lovely.

Until you see the Rusting take over a Basking Shark and you're all like, Siiiick, and then you spot Rusting Pirate ships sitting low in the water like crocodiles flaking away. So, now your Dungeon Master has got a reason to take you there—a purpose for adventure. The Moonshae is no longer just, Oh look, a faerie dragon with butterfly wings, that's cute. 

You now have a bona fide eco-adventure on your hands, leading the peoples of Fern Gully against Captain Hook on his rust bucket. Or something like that. The Moonshae Isles section in the Adventures in Faerun book comes with several of those adventure outlines that give you a page or half-a-page of adventure ideas.

By the way, those short adventure ideas aren't bad. I can flip through D&D books' usual random tables all day and not really narrow things down to something useful. But these little half-pagers cobble together a hook, some encounters, some monsters, and an attainable goal. 

The Moonshae Isles section alone has half-page adventures for DMs that go something like:

• The Rushdown Well (a location-based level 3 adventure) where you save a Moonwell from the Rusting.
• Message in a Bottle (level 4 adventure) where you win a castle from a fey queen.
• Wreck of the Silverhand (level 6 adventure) where you recover a famous treasure from a sunken ship.
• The Treaty of Ostoria (level 8 adventure) where you win the friendship of a fire giant king.

These half-page adventures are a full-court-press away from 5e's previous campaign-length adventure books. Those things can take a year or two. Or three. It all depends on how long, hard, and consistent your group is when meting out D&D "sessions." 

But what are those one-, two-, and three-year campaigns but a series of (basically) half-page adventure prompts with a hook, some encounters, some monsters, and a series of attainable goals? D&D 2024 has simply deconstructed the singular, on-rails, campaign-length adventure and given Dungeon Masters the ability to drag and drop whatever they need into their campaign. 

I like it. Though I haven't been able to try this modular approach yet because I've been running Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen for two years now. When the light finally appears at the end of the tunnel, it might be a time to visit Myth Drannor, a megadungeon in the opposite direction of Moonshae.

The Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerun (and Heroes in Faerun player expansion) launched November 11.

Great news for Nicktoons and the Dice of Destiny fans, such as myself, because the game officially launched on Switch2 last week.

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny features increased resolution to 1240p and 60 FPS, as well as improved lighting, particle effects, anti-aliasing and more. Already own the original Switch version of the game? No worries, those enhancements will be automatically updated when playing on Nintendo Switch 2 with a free performance update for the game - coming soon.

New to the game and want to learn more? You can read my review here. 

Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is available now on Nintendo Switch 2, as well as Nintendo Switch, PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and the Epic Games Store. The "Wardrobe of Wonder" DLC, which includes in-game costumes for each character, is also available on Nintendo Switch 2 as part of the game's Deluxe Edition, or purchased seperately.

Developer 1047 Games announced that Splitgate 2 is set to re-emerge and re-launch as SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded on December 17^th. It will be available free-to-play on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. After a lackluster launch back in June, Splitgate 2 “unlaunched” into a beta phase, and appears it is now ready to reappear with some major changes led by community feedback, according to 1047 Games:

“Splitgate has always been a love letter to the arena shooters we grew up playing,” said 1047 Games Design Director Josh Watson. “We’ve been hard at work rebuilding the game from the ground up, taking the best of Splitgate 1 and Splitgate 2, removing what didn’t work, and refining what did.”

Most notably, SPLITGATE: Arena Reloaded removes factions and character abilities, getting back to the basics that made the first game so enjoyable. 1047 has worked on refining everything from core combat to the user interface as well. You can check out the big ticket changes and a new trailer below.

• Removed Factions, Abilities, and select equipment to refocus on classic arena combat
• Rebuilt progression from the ground up and overhauled the Ranked system
• Introduced 5 new, and 6 fully-reworked maps, 3 new Primary Weapons and 1 new Power Weapon: the Railgun
• New Arena modes, playlist selection, and a true Classic Arena mode with even starts and powerups
• Reduced store prices, simplified the Battle Pass, and improved overall cosmetic quality

Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) announced yesterday that it has entered a publishing partnership with Bad Robot Games, a division of Bad Robot, which is the film and television production company founded by JJ Abrams. PlayStation will publish Bad Robot Games’ first video game, a four-player cooperative shooter directed by Mike Booth, the lead designer on Left 4 Dead. The untitled game will launch on PlayStation 5 and PC, though no release window was announced.

My curiosity is certainly piqued, and it sounds like if the game is a success, it may spawn other entertainment ventures, according to Anna Sweet, CEO of Bad Robot Games:

“Partnering with Sony Interactive Entertainment allows us to bring our new IP to life, with an expansive vision for this new universe,” said Anna Sweet, CEO of Bad Robot Games. “With the support of PlayStation, we hope to deliver a bold, innovative experience that is truly special for players. I could not be more excited that Mike Booth is at the creative helm, crafting a cooperative adventure that will lead to unforgettable moments with friends.”

That’s all we have to go on for now – no name, no logo, no trailer, no release date – but I did discover a playtest sign-up link at the Bad Robot Games website, if you’re interested.

Survival rock climbing game Cairn has announced a new release date of January 29^th for PlayStation 5 and PC. It will set you back $29.99 and also enjoy a 10% launch discount for you early birds.

In Cairn, you’ll play as Aava, a mountain climber who has trained her whole life for the ultimate climb, pushing herself beyond her physical and mental limits in the process. Over its approximately 15-hour playtime, you’ll do more than just climb rocks, as there are fellow mountaineers to meet along your journey to the summit.

Cairn is being made by The Game Bakers, the independent studio behind titles like Furi and Haven, and it looks like a free demo is still available on both Steam and the PlayStation Store if you’d like to check it out.

It's that time of year again. The Game Awards are a week from tonight and the teases and leaks and reveals have already begun and the developers of Invincible Vs. have teased that they will have a reveal at the show. 

There will be a brand new character revealed at the Game Awards and we may even get a release date as well. The cool thing about this reveal is that it's not a new character just for the game, this is a completely brand new character that wasn't in the comics or the television show so far. The character was also written with the help of writers from the television show. 

I have no idea what they could announce here but I do have a feeling some cross promotion could happen here. We know that this game is scheduled to be released in 2026 and Season 4 of the show is coming in 2026 as well. If I were a betting man I would say that this new character may also show up as a character in the show which would be a great way to hype the next season of the show. If we indeed do get a release date, I imagine the game and the new season may release around the same time. 

Invincible Vs. is scheduled to be release in 2026. 

Well, I didn’t see this one coming. Pathea Games, the studio behind cozy life sim games My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock has revealed its next game – a steampunk fantasy action RPG called The God Slayer, and it looks rad as hell.

Inspired by the Assassin’s Creed series and Avatar: The Last Airbender, The God Slayer is set in an Eastern-inspired steampunk metropolis where gods called Celestials rule the world. You play as Cheng, an Elemancer, which are humans that have learned to harness “Qi” into elemental powers, allowing you to wield fire, water, earth, metal, and wood in combination with martial arts. Celestials want to eradicate Elemancers, and the result is must-see gameplay, which you can check out in a rather lengthy announcement trailer below.

The God Slayer has been incubated as part of PlayStation’s China Hero Project, which means it is coming to PlayStation 5, in addition to Xbox and PC, although no release date was announced. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this one from here on out.

IO Interactive started a new developer diary series for 007 First Light today called “Beyond the Light”, with the first episode taking us behind the curtain of development team’s gameplay design philosophy for its upcoming James Bond spy romp.

There are four core pillars of 007 First Light’s gameplay: spycraft, instinct, gadgets, and combat. Players will be free to choose how they approach various situations, with the ability to fluidly blend each of these pillars. Spycraft lets players focus on observation, infiltration, and exploiting opportunities for stealth (sounds very Hitman-like, no?). Instinct tries to embody James Bond’s cunning abilities to bluff, charm, and deceive under pressure. Gadgets are, well, gadgets from Q branch that provide tactical flexibility, and a bit of cheekiness to turn the tables on your enemies. And finally, combat features tight gunplay and close quarters combat with a lot of environmental interactivity.

See it in action for yourself in the first dev diary below. 007 First Light launches March 27^th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

An obvious point to all VR users - that folks never trying the format might not be fully aware of - is the fact that in VR, everything is in 3D. This is normally a pretty cool feature (and yes,you can watch 3D films in VR and it rocks), but it does eventually become something that you just take for granted. Of course everything is in 3D - how else would the pinball tables in Pinball FX VR feel tactile when you plop them into the real world in mixed reality? 

But every now and then, some little added bonus feature jumps out at you when you are playing a VR game that makes you think "Oh, that's pretty cool". And that's the moment I had when first trying out the new Creature From the Black Lagoon table in Pinball FX VR. 

Creature From the Black Lagoon was released today as part of the Williams Pinball Universal Monsters Pack, which continues expanding Pinball FX VR's sprawling arcade basement (A Charlie Brown Christmas Pinball and the Godzilla vs. Kong Pinball Pack are also new additions to the setting, which is now big enough that you can get kinda lost). If you haven't played it, the Creature table is a fantastic tribute to not just the legendary 3D movie, but also 1950s drive-in culture, with features representing the snack bar, the playground, the projection booth, etc. Bouncy synthesized versions of 50s hits play in the background. The whole experience is just a vibe.

But the coolest thing about the original Creature table is the 3D center plate, which is inlaid down into the table's surface as an homage to the original 3D nature of the film. From Wikipedia:

The centerpiece of the table's playfield is a holographic depiction of the titular Creature, illuminated and in motion during multiball play within its "Black Lagoon habitat" (the space beneath the playfield visible through a customized window). The green hologram was produced by Polaroid and is affixed to a metal plate that is divided into three sections which are designed so that the hologram appears to float. A cam behind one section presses against the back of the plate, gently bending the hologram's surface, so that the Creature appears to "ripple" as if underwater and to swipe at the player with its claw. A second motor mounted in the bottom of the cabinet oscillates the light-reflecting mirror, changing the direction of the light source and causing the image of the creature to slowly turn from side to side.

It's a really great effect when you see it in real life, and it is recreated and enhanced to stunning effect when you play the table in VR. The default effect has a bubble field with some very cool depth to it. The Creature actively swims around under the surface of the table, occasionally snagging the ball when the player experiences a ball out and paddling away into the depths with it. In between balls, the Creature swims to the surface and pops his head up onto the table and peers around. It's a stellar effect that really commits to the 3D of the film, the table, the game, and VR in general. 

The trailer for the flat version, which shows off the creature effects a bit.

Zen Studios continues to innovate in ways to both recreate and enhance Williams/Bally tables, but in a basement arcade full of super cool effects, this is one the very best I've seen. If you have a Meta Quest 3 and you don't have Pinball FX VR, you are absolutely missing out on one of the very best experiences available for the platform. 

Since engaging with my relatively newfound love for Walkabout Mini Golf, I've been intrigued with the prospect of trying out every new course developer Mighty Coconut creates for the game. The courses are deeply elaborate, feeling like entire slices of fantastic worlds that just happen to have minigolf courses laid into them. It is amazing how well Mighty Coconut can convey a sense of time and place with it's stylized graphical approach, and the use of some very deliberate sound cues.

The latest (37th!) course for Walkabout Mini Golf releases today, December 4. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland takes the player on a tour of some of the more notable moments from Lewis Carroll's classic - and sometimes creepy - literary work. 

As players become more deeply familiar with Walkabout Mini Golf's courses, they start to notice that many of the courses have a "hook". For example, the Laser Lair uses various laser traps that can fry your ball if you mistime your shot. Upside Town plays with the player's perspective and gravity to deliver a funhouse effect. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland seizes on the book's shrinking and growing dynamic to deliver a unique and sometimes puzzling experience. 

I've had a chance to play through all 36 holes in the new course (18 easy holes and 18 hard), and I'm pleased to report that Mighty Coconut's trademark creativity is on full display here. Players will quickly recognize the characters from the book and the settings, but the golf dynamics at play are a bit more elusive until you figure out what is going on. How, for example, do you handle a situation when your ball is far to large to fit into the tiny hole?

I don't want to spoil any of the puzzles, but I will say that I recommend playing through the course the first few times just for fun, not worrying about your score until you get a handle on how to best navigate the sometimes surprising effects at play. If you find yourself wondering how the heck you are going to manage a certain shot, take a step back and reexamine the possibilities. As usual, there is likely a solution that will present itself if you mess around a little bit. 

In addition to the new course, Walkabout Mini Golf is also receiving an overall update, adding a friends list that will make it easier to connect with your buddies in-game. New course filters are also available, which will help players that don't want to continuously scroll through the entire list to get to what they are looking for - 37 courses are becoming a bit unwieldy to get through, I suppose. All of this in addition to the other recent additions and changes (you can now play Chess in-game, which Mighty Coconut seems to have added just for the fun of it). 

It's great fun to continue exploring the way Mighty Coconut fills these courses with creativity and life. I love the mini golf, but I also have a great time just exploring the worlds, poking at the corners to see what I can find. I can't want to jump into this course with the Gaming Nexus gang to watch them gasp with surprise the same way I did at certain points. We all know Alice's story, but Wonderland still has a few tricks up its sleeve.