How To Start Off Strong In Dragon Age: The Veilguard And More Of The Week's Gaming Tips

Screenshot: BioWare / Kotaku, Bandai Namco / Kotaku, Image: Nintendo, The Pokémon Company, BioWare, Blizzard / Kotaku, Capcom, Night School Studio, Warner Bros. Games, Arc System Works

This week, heaps of players are returning to the world of Thedas for the first time in many years thanks to the arrival of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. If you’re among them, be sure to look over our tips for helping you get started on the right foot on this epic adventure. We’ll also help you tap into a cool mechanic in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, its special finishers. And we’ll point you to plenty of great bargains in some ongoing Halloween sales, too!

Screenshot: BioWare / Kotaku

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is out tomorrow, October 31. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of developer BioWare’s fantasy RPGs or a newcomer looking to see what all the fuss is about, it’s worth noting that The Veilguard represents a pretty drastic shift from the tactical, open-zone RPG gameplay of its predecessor, Dragon Age: Inquisition. So no matter what your previous experience, there are a few things worth noting before you dive into this long-awaited return to Thedas. I’ve put over 60 hours into the game, so here are a few things I’ve learned for you to keep in mind as you get started. - Kenneth Shepard Read More

Image: Nintendo

We’re getting toward the end of the year, a time for big game releases, catching up on older ones, and treating yourself to indulgent purchases as the holiday frenzy approaches. Here’s one of my favorite ways to save on new Nintendo Switch games, a deal so good I’m surprised the infamously stingy Mario maker is still running it. - Ethan Gach Read More

Image: The Pokémon Company

The Pokémon machine is vicious. Every year they’ve got a new line of merch for every holiday and occasion. It’s a collector’s dream and their wallet’s nightmare. This year is no different, because The Pokémon Company has revealed some adorable plushies for its 2024 holiday line, and these little guys are so cute, it makes me want to decorate for the holidays before Halloween is even here. - Kenneth Shepard Read More

Image: BioWare

Dragon Age: The Veilguard’s character creator is easily the most expansive that developer BioWare has ever put in one of its RPGs, with its most notable additions this time around including options to select your character’s gender and pronouns independent of any aspects of their body, and top surgery scars to signify protagonist Rook’s possible trans identity. However, the game’s handling of trans identity goes beyond just options you can choose in the character creator that may support your own personal headcanon. In The Veilguard, BioWare has given you the option to actively declare in-game that your hero is transgender, in a way that’s reflected in dialogue throughout the game. Historically this has been the kind of thing that players have had to just apply to a game’s hero through their own imaginations, so I was happy to see BioWare went the extra step to codify it for those who want to play a trans Rook. - Kenneth Shepard Read More

Image: Blizzard / Kotaku

In addition to a brand new story, tons of quality-of-life improvements, and new mechanics, Diablo IV: Vessel Of Hatred also adds a new multiplayer endgame activity, the Dark Citadel. - Brian Barnett Read More

Image: Capcom

At this point, with only a day left until Halloween, it feels like almost every game under the sun is on some kind of sale. Storefronts like Steam, GOG, and PlayStation all have big sales running right now that you can take advantage of. Not to be outdone, Capcom has joined the club, offering its own bounty of treats in a Steam sale running until November 12. - Willa Rowe Read More

Image: Night School Studio

Halloween is literally tomorrow, and if you don’t already have your plans sorted, I’m going to help you out right now. If you aren’t going out, chances are you’re staying in and watching a movie or playing a game. With a bunch of sales going right now on every imaginable storefront, it’s a great time to pick up a great horror game or two, and I think the Oxenfree games are a perfect one-two punch for the season. - Moises Taveras Read More

Screenshot: Bandai Namco / Kotaku

Whether it’s through character interactions or their movesets, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero makes sure to throw in small nods to the planet-shaking franchise wherever it can. Some of these fun references are hard to find, with one of the most obscure being Special Finishers. These are unique match-enders that call back to specific franchise moments or character personalities. - Samuel Moreno Read More

Image: Warner Bros. Games

Sandwiched somewhere among the countless Halloween sales available in October, Warner Bros. Games is offering some of its own stellar discounts. That means some big-name franchises like the Arkham games, Mortal Kombat, and everything Lego are currently on sale. The WB Games Publisher Sale is running on Steam until November 4, so you still have plenty of time to capitalize on all the amazing deals. - Willa Rowe Read More

Image: Arc System Works

If the onslaught of amazing Halloween deals that have inundated us throughout all of October are getting old, why not take advantage of a different kind of deal? To coincide with the release of its fourth season’s first DLC character, the 2021 fighting game Guilty Gear Strive is down to 50 percent off on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation. While there are newer and flashier fighting games, Strive remains one of the best offerings in the genre, and it’s only gotten better in its fourth year. - Willa Rowe Read More