The Journey of Jay Prackett Sanji: From Classic Games to Streaming Stardom

Introduction:

Meet Jay Prackett Sanji, a passionate streamer with a love for classic games and a dream to share his gaming experiences with the world. In this blog post, we'll delve into Jay's journey, from his early days playing Super Mario 3 on the Super NES to his current streaming adventures.

Early Beginnings:

Jay's love for gaming started at the tender age of 5, thanks to his dad's Super NES console. Despite his dad's initial reluctance to play games with him, Jay persisted, and eventually, his dad set up the NES in his bedroom, where he spent countless hours playing alone. His dad would occasionally join in, beating him in Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, fueling Jay's determination to improve.

Gaming Evolution:

As Jay grew older, his gaming preferences evolved, and he discovered new games like Injustice 2 and Super Smash Bros. He spent hours playing with his friends, honing his skills, and eventually becoming the undefeated champ in Super Smash Ultimate.

The Streaming Dream:

Jay's streaming journey began in January this year, inspired by a $60 PS5 cam. He started streaming and collaborating with other streamers, including a well-known COD streamer. His passion for streaming grew, and he now aims to connect with like-minded individuals and build a community around his channel.

Influences and Favorites:

Jay's favorite games include Injustice 2, Super Smash Ultimate, and Call of Duty Ghost, which he played extensively with his friends. He also enjoys classic games, which remind him of his childhood memories.

Challenges and Triumphs:

Despite his mom's initial disapproval of gaming, Jay found ways to pursue his passion, gaming at his friends' houses and eventually building his own streaming setup. He overcame online gaming challenges, climbing the ranks and becoming a formidable opponent in Super Smash.

Future Goals:

In five years, Jay hopes to have enough influence that his dad will recognize his streaming success without him having to say a word. He wants to continue connecting with his audience, sharing his gaming experiences, and inspiring others to pursue their passions.

Conclusion:

 Yoboisanji journey is a testament to the power of passion and perseverance. From his early days playing classic games to his current streaming adventures, Jay has remained true to his love for gaming. Join him on his streaming channel, where he shares his gaming experiences, connects with his audience, and inspires others to chase their dreams.

Join us in celebrating Yoboisanji  as our STREAMER OF THE WEEK and immerse yourself in the captivating world of ONCE HUMAN through her engaging streams. Follow Yoboisanji on his journey and prepare for an adventure like no other! Click on the link, follow, and subscribe to get notified anytime Yoboisanji goes Live:https://www.twitch.tv/yoboisanji

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The Journey of a Gamer: Exploring Passions, Memories, and the Power of Streaming: TheRyu133

 The Journey of a Gamer TheRyu133: Exploring Passions, Memories, and the Power of Streaming: 

Introduction:

In the vast world of gaming, each player has a unique story to tell. From childhood memories to favorite games and the motivation behind streaming, the journey of a gamer is filled with passion, excitement, and personal growth. In this blog post, we will delve into the experiences and motivations of a dedicated gamer, exploring the reasons behind their gamer tag, their favorite games, and their decision to embark on the world of streaming.

The Birth of a Gamer Tag:

Every gamer tag holds a special meaning, and for our protagonist, it is inspired by the main character from one of their favorite RPGs, Breath of Fire. The fascination with dragons and the character's ability to transform into various forms resonated deeply, leading to the creation of a gamer tag that reflects their love for the game and its mythical creatures.

Nostalgic Beginnings:

Like many gamers, the journey started with a humble Nintendo console and the iconic game, Mario Bros. Thirty years may have passed, but the memories of those early gaming experiences remain cherished. It was during those early days that a passion for gaming was ignited, setting the stage for countless adventures to come.

The Unforgettable Experience:

Among the vast array of games, there are always those that leave a lasting impression. For our gamer, "The Legend of Mana" on the original PlayStation stands out as a masterpiece. The captivating story, immersive mechanics, and breathtaking artistry combined to create an experience that touched their heart. The recent release of a remastered version and an accompanying anime only reignited their excitement for this beloved game.

 Tales of Fantasy and Strategy:

While it is difficult to pick just one favorite game, Final Fantasy 9 holds a special place. Its captivating story and intricate mechanics captivated our gamer, offering a world filled with wonder and emotion. Additionally, the turn-based, monster-summoning strategy game, Master of Monsters, secured a spot among their top choices, showcasing their appreciation for diverse gaming genres.

 A Library of Memories:

With years of gaming under their belt, it's no surprise that our gamer has accumulated an extensive collection. From the PC to various consoles, their gaming library boasts hundreds of titles. Whether it's through Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo systems, they have explored countless virtual worlds, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

 Open World RPGs: A Personal Favorite:

As a true connoisseur of gaming, our gamer's favorite genre is open-world RPGs. The combination of rich storytelling and diverse mechanics offers an immersive experience that never fails to captivate. From epic quests to character development, the allure of open-world RPGs continues to ignite their gaming passion.

A Lifelong Love:

Gaming has been an integral part of our gamer's life since childhood. Growing up in a household of avid gamers, they naturally gravitated towards this digital world. From the early days of playing to the emotional challenges presented by games like Dark Souls, gaming has become a source of both frustration and fulfillment. The ability to jump into various games and hold their own has become a point of pride, showcasing their adaptability and skill.

Streaming: A New Chapter:

Motivated by a desire for financial stability and the chance to share their passion, our gamer made the decision to start streaming. With the goal of earning a modest income to cover monthly expenses and support their gaming endeavors, streaming became an extension of their online services. The decision to pursue this path was driven by a need for change from a stressful traditional job and the desire to spend more time with loved ones. So far, the journey has been rewarding, offering a sense of fulfillment and support from their spouse.

MY GAME STORY AND JOURNEY:

 I started gaming when I was around 5 or 6 years old. Both my parents were gamers, so I had the early consoles available to me, so I just kind of naturally picked it up and have never put it back down. Dark Souls was the first game I ever played where I actually felt "Defeated" mentally and emotionally, the gritty dark fantasy with being able to actually lose progress permanently by dying as a natural part of the game. It was a very frustrating and humbling experience back then. I do enjoy those types of games now, especially Elden Ring. There are no games in particular that I am among the best at, I usually am pretty decent at most games. That Jack of All Trades of Games, Good at many but master of none. I do pride myself at being able to jump into most games and be able to hold my own most of the time though.

Tune in to TheRyu133  Channel

Join TheRyu133  on their streaming journey, where self-love, spirituality, and gaming come together in perfect harmony. With their infectious energy and enthusiasm, you'll feel like part of the royal family in no time!

Follow TheRyu133 Channel

https://www.twitch.tv/theryu133

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 Best Games Like Outpost: Infinity Siege

The best games like Outpost: Infinity Siege should let you live out all your FPS, tower defence, and base-building dreams but there’s one small problem, Outpost: Infinity Siege is a game that’s fairly unique in its approach to things. That’s because it spans several genres in a very unique way and so you have to work pretty hard to find games that match it. 

We’ve got that covered though, and while not every single one of these games matches every part of the Outpost: Infinity Siege, we think they all do a good job of replicating the general vibe. So, without any further ado, let’s get stuck into our list of the best games like Outpost: Infinity Siege.

Best Games Like Outpost: Infinity Siege

We’ve gone for games here that aren’t free-to-play, because the chances are that if you are interested in Outpost: Infinity Siege, but don’t want to spend a lot of money, then the best answer is likely a game which isn’t built on microtransactions. So, now that we’re all clear about the plan of action, let’s go.

Sanctum 2

Sanctum 2 is nearly 11 years old, which means it’s pretty ancient for a video game. However, it is a tower defence game mixed with a first-person shooter, making it one of the few games around that hits the exact same niche as Outpost: Infinity Siege.

Sanctum 2 has four character classes to choose from, and you can mix and match them as you choose if you decide to play online with some friends. The aim of the game is to try and stop oxygen-producing cores from being destroyed by aliens. You get to not only pick the kinds of weapons you give your character but also sort out what towers and perks you’ll be using as well. It’s just an incredibly cool game; one of the first games made that fused these two genres, and it thus remains one of the best.

Orcs Must Die 3

Orcs Must Die 3 is, unsurprisingly, the third entry in the popular series. Much like Sanctum 2, it combines shooting and tower defence, but instead with a third-person perspective and more of a focus on placing traps. It’s also another game with co-op, which is always a win in our books because social games like this are far more enjoyable. 

Whilst we don’t think that Orcs Must Die 3 is quite as in-depth as Sanctum 2, it is still a lot of fun, tells a full-blown story, and puts you through the wringer constantly with an ever-evolving threat of yet more orcs. It also excels when it comes to sheer spectacle as you move into the later stages of the game.

Titanfall 2

Onto game number three and we are sort of already out of the tower defence hybrids. So, let’s focus on the FPS aspect of Outpost: Infinity Siege instead. Titanfall 2 is a first-person shooter with incredible graphics, a big old mech suit as a friend, an amazing multiplayer scene, and one of the best stories in FPS history. It also has incredible movement options and remains one of the best FPS games going. 

It’s just a truly exquisite game, and it still feels smoother than most current-gen FPS games despite being nearly eight years old. If you like mechs, running on walls, and amazing gunplay, then go play Titanfall 2 right now, or wait til it’s on sale. We’re not the boss of you, and we’re not trying to be.

M.A.S.S. Builder

This is the big old mech-building game on the list – M.A.S.S Builder. While still in Early Access, M.A.S.S. Builder is already one of the coolest mech games on the market and just edges out the amazing Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon for this list. The reason for that is simple, M.A.S.S. Builder lets you feel more like a badass.

It has an awesome array of customizations not just to the aesthetic style of your mech, but also to the weapons they use. The latter lets you twiddle and tweak your way to massive damage output, and the game has an almost Devil May Cry action quality to it, meaning you get to constantly style your way to victory in a big old suit of mechanical armour.

Meet Your Maker

Finally, we have Meet Your Maker, which is a game, not a threat, just so we’re all clear. Meet Your Maker is a fascinating game because it’s unique yet still manages to feel like Outpost: Infinity Siege, in no small part due to how intricate its building mechanics are, which is a massive accomplishment no matter how you look at it. 

Meet Your Maker has you building labyrinthine and deadly bases for other players to explore. You can set up traps, put down enemies, and all sorts of other things, all to protect your resources. Then, once you’ve done that, you can go out and raid other people’s bases to try and collect their resources. It’s an intensely cool concept, and it’s a huge amount of fun to play.

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 What Millennia Brings To The 4X Strategy Genre

A cursory look at the landscape of the 4X strategy genre on PC will inform you that tactically-minded gamers have never had it better. The latest entry in what appears to be a genre in danger of overcrowding, Millennia from publisher Paradox Interactive and developer C Prompt Games nonetheless looks set to carve its niche with a variety of fresh mechanics and features that will entertain even the most stalwart of armchair generals.

On the face of it, Millennia would appear to be a loving ode to the sort of sophisticated and long-form strategy beats that Sid Meier’s massively popular Civilisation games have long pioneered. Scrape the surface, however, and it’s clear that the title is also quite able to provide something unique to help elevate beyond it just a skilful take on what we’ve seen already. With that in mind, here is what Millenia brings to the 4X strategy genre.

Much More Nuanced Combat

One of the more noticeable aspects of Millennia’s design that feels a touch fresher than some of its genre stablemates is how combat is handled. Chiefly, Millennia allows wannabe generals to combine multiple unit types on a single hex, creating some neat offensive and defensive synergies as a result. A good example of this would be meshing together long-range units, such as musket units or archers, with a sturdier defensive unit to ensure that in the event those long-range units are rushed, they can soak up the abuse and retreat. Brilliantly, after each skirmish, Millennia also provides a real-time action report which not only provides a broader view of the scrap but also provides a deeper and more granular level of insight into the effectiveness of your tactics thanks to a precise readout of damage, casualties and more.

The National Spirits System Provides Additional Replayability

Beyond the innovations that Millennia brings to the fold in terms of combat, developer C Prompt Games has also implemented a neat little mechanic known as National Spirits which adds yet further value and replayability to the overall package. Though each civilisation that you can choose comes with the sort of preset attributes, strengths, weaknesses and quirks that you might expect, National Spirits provides you with sufficient creative latitude to introduce new inventions, unit types, diplomatic behaviours and more. In essence, this means that by leveraging the National Spirits in varying ways, you can play the same civilisation multiple times and yet have a different experience on subsequent playthroughs. Neat stuff indeed.

The Undo Button Lets You Correct Mistakes

For anybody who has played the likes of Civilisation VI or Humankind, saving every two minutes to protect yourself from a potentially catastrophic blunder in tactical decision-making is pretty much par for the course. Millennia, however, takes a slightly different approach to this situation. If you happen to have made a diplomatic tie where you shouldn’t have or sent an expeditionary force somewhere only for them to find themselves extremely dead, a handy undo button lets you rewind time and correct your mistake. Though the system could potentially be abused by the less scrupulous, the undo button earns its keep for allowing honest players to correct legitimate mistakes due to accidental button presses or other such unintentional blunders.

Alternate Ages Are Millennia’s Ace In The Hole

By far one of the most distinctive features that Millennia brings to the 4X strategy genre is its Ages system and how it affects how each playthrough unfolds. Like any genre effort worth its salt, Millennia has you moving from one Age to the next owing to the amount of research that you undertake within your current Age – a mechanic that will prove familiar to anybody who has played similar games. Where Millennia changes things up however, is that as soon as a civilisation breaks into a new Age, so too does every other civilisation at the same time, regardless of their circumstances. This also feeds into the superb alternate ages mechanic that C Prompt Games has brought to bear here.

Though Millennia’s Ages are themed according to history – with the Iron Age, Renaissance Age and others all featuring prominently, you can also go somewhat off-piste in terms of history, causing the timeline to splinter and one of these alternate Ages to trigger. They are a hypothetical take on what would happen if, at certain key points, an outcome other than that established by history occurs. For example, if the internal combustion engine was not created you could find yourself being thrust into the Age of Aether where steam technology is revivified and becomes the de-facto technology of the era.

Whether you’re in the Age of Aether, Age of Blood (where the world is consumed entirely by war) or the Age of Plague (you can guess what this one involves), these alternate Ages provide unique challenges as they all include their own unit types, buildings, bonuses, penalties and bespoke hazards that you wouldn’t encounter normally.

City Building That Doesn’t Use Worker Units

One particularly deft idea that Millennia brings to the genre is the notion that city building can be achieved without the need for separate worker units. Representing a significant shift from other genre efforts, where the creation of buildings and structures is exclusively facilitated by separate worker units, Millennia instead simply asks you to build new structures and improve them by allocating construction points to whatever it is that you want to do. And that’s it. The upshot of this is that the only visible units you have are your military units so the map becomes a lot less cluttered and thus much clearer to parse.

Millennia’s city-building nuance also extends past just its jettisoning of traditional worker units, too. Though you can build resource-giving structures on single tiles, such as bakeries, farms and so on, you can exponentially increase the productive output of those structures by linking them up with similar structures on other tiles. An example of this would be to build a mill and bakery, with the former to output grain which is then turned into flour so that the latter can bake bread that provides a greater food resource output than either of those two structures could achieve separately.

Now you know just how Millennia differentiates itself from the 4X masses, why not pick it up with a discount over at the Green Man Gaming store. If you do so, you might just find yourself in the Age of Savings.

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Battle Talent Lets You Yeet Enemies Into The Sky And Float As You Beat Them Up 

In case you hadn’t noticed, there are a lot of good first-person sword-fighting games in VR. The medium just fits swordplay really well, because never have swords felt cooler than when you’re the person swinging them. If you don’t believe us, go ahead and try out fencing, then come back and tell us you didn’t feel at least five times cooler. Anyway, Battle Talent makes you feel like a badass.

Battle Talent is a roguelike game where you work through dungeons and arenas, sometimes by parkouring, but primarily by fighting through hordes of enemies. With a heavy focus on physics, paired with some rather gruesome actions and inspired weaponry, this leads to a pretty visceral gaming experience for VR fans. 

For example, one of the first skills you unlock allows you to strike an enemy upwards with your melee weapons. Once up there, you can jump up to meet them, and then, as long as you’re hitting them with a melee attack frequently, you’ll hover above the ground just laying into them. If you’ve ever wanted to be Dante from Devil May Cry, Battle Talent is the closest to that you can get in virtual reality. 

You can build on that feeling too, as you get new skills and weapons as you progress with weapons eventually unlocking amazing special abilities – oh, and you can unlock magic to obliterate foes with as well. Plus, the physics allows you to load anything into your crossbow, or nearly anything. This means you can load a sword an enemy dropped into your crossbow and fire it at something or someone – return to sender, anyone?

Battle Talent nails the rule-of-cool feeling that VR thrives on, and along with feeling good to play, is a nice little workout too. It’s just a very good game, and if you’re looking for something new, it won’t disappoint.

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 Manor Lords: An Incredible Game With Plenty Of Room To Grow

Given its incredibly well-received Steam Early Access release, Manor Lords is likely a game you’ve heard of by now. It’s a city-builder and strategy game hybrid where you play your role as the lord of a small domain and guide your people through their impending struggles. That means you’ve got to keep everyone fed and housed, but also keep them safe from any battles that might head their way.

It’s filled with an unending rain of decisions for you to make to keep everything in balance, and there’s a joy to be found in the way it simplifies some of the more intricate building choices you can make that are often more complex in other games in the genre. It’s a lot of information and things to juggle if you’re new to the genre, and it can feel a little bit overwhelming at first, but if you stick to it you’ll find an incredibly unique game, and one that’s an awful lot of fun.

Since its hugely successful Steam Next Fest demo there have been a range of comparisons cropping up, from the likes of Medieval Dynasty to Banish and Total War (the developer has tried to calm comparison to the latter). Now we have had our hands on it, we would say it feels akin to Frostpunk, where you’re jumping between different mindsets to keep everything working smoothly, but you’re never quite as in peril as you are in that game’s brutal post-apocalyptic world. Oh, and it’s got a pretty cool first-person mode that enables you to wander around your little fiefdom.

Manor Lords has been developed by a single person over the last seven years, and because it’s in Early Access, it’s going to continue to evolve and grow over the coming months and years as well. As it stands, it’s not a perfect representation of the genre, but it is a huge amount of fun to play. The battles are currently a little simpler than many people will like, but the city-building side of things feels fairly well-realized already.

If you’re someone who loves a bit of medieval strategy, then Manor Lords is a must-play, but whether you decide to do that now and grow alongside it, or just wait for the full release, is up to you.

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 The Fallout Timeline In Chronological Order

Given the success of the recent Fallout TV series on Amazon Prime – it’s very good by the way – there has never been a better time to dive into the world of Fallout. Whether you are a newbie to the series or a veteran returning to the franchise, however, it can be hard to follow exactly where in time and space the events of the game and show take place. That is where this handy little refresher will come in…

When does the Fallout series start?

NOTE: Naturally, there are major spoilers for the entire Fallout franchise ahead, but you can just look at the sub-heads if you are simply looking for the best chronological order to approach things. It’s worth noting, however, that some parts are interwoven, so keep that in mind. 

The 1950’s. Alright, so the Fallout series technically starts later than this, and we’ll get to that, but, because it’s essentially set in an alternate version of our world, we should explain that those differences start taking place in the 1950s, with the main split between our realities taking place in 1969. Ironically, that’s when the USA of Fallout also splits, and it becomes 13 commonwealths instead of 50 states. 

From here, the technological worlds of robotics and weaponry advance at a pace that far outstrips our own, although, for some reason, no new music ever pops up – weird. This arms race is in preparation for the perceived nuclear war that’s on the horizon – mirroring the Cold War fears in our reality – except in the world of Fallout, it’s more than just a distant fear. Instead, it becomes something that everyone comes to accept as inevitable, leading to the creation of the Vault-Tec Corporation. It’s on their shoulders that the future of humanity rests as they begin their work to build 122 of their nuclear fallout vaults across America to shield citizens from the effects of nuclear war (oh, and to conduct outlandish and highly illegal experiments – which is a running narrative through the games and TV series).

Unsurprisingly, the inevitable eventually does happen with the bombs dropping in 2077 and kicking off the world of Fallout as we know it.

Fallout 4 Prologue – 2077

Despite being the second-most recent Fallout game, Fallout 4 kicks off with the bombs dropping and is the only time in the game you get to experience it directly. The opening has the traditional process of creating your character before you are rushed off to a nearby vault as the sirens blare. You get to experience the bombs falling as you’re going underground, and then you’re put into a cryogenic sleep. Goodnight, Vault Dweller.

This is also a period we flash back to regularly in the Fallout TV show – but we won’t spoil any of that.

Fallout 76 – 2102

The very first vault to open in the world of Fallout, Vault 76 – the setting of Fallout 76 – unleashes its vault dwellers onto the world in 2102 – 25 years after the bombs dropped. As you’ll likely know from the advertising, the game is set in West Virginia, and you’re tasked with helping to start America back on its path to healing following the nuclear apocalypse. 

The only MMO in the series, Fallout 76’s main narrative sees everyone – including your character – tasked with the annihilation of the Scorched, a special ‘breed’ of mutant causing havoc in the wasteland and upsetting the planned settling of America. You can approach this however you see fit – as with any good Fallout game – but to do this properly, you’re meant to nuke them into non-existence because, as we have established, nobody in the world of Fallout respects how dangerous these weapons are. Being the most recent entry in the series – and somewhat of a ‘live service – the game is still evolving, but it’s a great way to see the beginnings of classic Fallout factions that we will grow to love/hate, like the Brotherhood of Steel.

Fallout – 2161

Fallout, or Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game, is technically the first entry in the series (released back in 1997) and is set 84 years after the bombs dropped. Emerging from Vault 13, you are tasked with finding a new water chip for your vault (a callback and potential plot point referencing this in the TV show) but because video games are rarely simple, you end up facing off against a being called The Master. Unsurprisingly, for a post-apocalyptic world, he wants to mutate humanity using a special virus that turns them into Super Mutants, because of reasons.

Naturally you, as the Vault Dweller, put a stop to this via whatever means suits you and try and return to Vault 13 with the new chip and, if you have done things “right”, a truckload of amazing achievements. In true Fallout style, however, you are refused entry because you are now considered too inspirational – typical.

Fallout Tactics – 2197

Fallout Tactics – or to give it its full name, Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel – is the first spin-off game in the Fallout series and is dedicated solely to the Brotherhood of Steel. Set in 2197, it tells the story of the creation, development, and rise of the iconic faction. Importantly, however, not all of the game’s plot is considered canon, despite some parts being referenced in later games, so if you’re just going for dedicated lore, you can sort of skip it (although it is a very good game).

Fallout 2 – 2241

Fallout 2 is set in 2241, which you’ll note is a fair bit after the original game and even longer since the bombs dropped (164 years, in fact). Interestingly, this game not only tells you what happened to the Vault Dweller from the first game, but you’ll actually get to play as one of their grandkids. You once again have to save your community – there is a theme developing – but rather than a water chip, this time you are seeking out a Garden of Eden Creation Kit (G.E.C.K) – a handy little Vault-Tec creation that allows for terraforming in the wasteland. 

Throughout your travels, you’ll come across the New California Republic for the first time, another of Fallout’s iconic main factions, and then upon returning home encounter the Enclave, yet another of the series factions. They are trying to wipe out humanity – well, everyone but them – so you must save your home and the people in it by killing the President of the United States, who is the head of the Enclave. The game ends with you creating a brand-new community made up of Arroyo, the encampment area you grew up in, and Vault 13, where your grandaddy was from.

Fallout 3 – 2258-2277

Fallout 3 kicks off 181 years after the bombs dropped and allows you to experience life in Vault 101 during the prologue. You get to play through the beginning of your character’s life as you go through the first few years of your life, being fathered by Liam Neeson (well, a character voiced by him at least). Things start to go awry when you turn 19, however, and you wake up to find that your father has left Vault 101 and you must head out into the wasteland to find him.

In expected Fallout style, you find out a huge amount on your journey outside the vault, including plenty of secrets – for example, that your parents were actually part of a weird science experiment (who would have thought). You also end up in the middle of a war between the Enclave (them again) and the Brotherhood of Steel (again). Finally, you will have to find another G.E.C.K terraforming unit and defeat the Enclave (again) alongside an enormous robot called Liberty Prime. Look, we didn’t say Fallout wasn’t silly.

Fallout: New Vegas – 2281

Fallout: New Vegas (another spin-off entry in this series, but a full canon one this time) is set 204 years after the bombs dropped and sees you play as a courier who has to try and deliver a package to New Vegas (an area that survived the armageddon relative unscathed). As should be expected in a Fallout game by now, your journey doesn’t exactly go to plan, and you end up stuck between the New California Rebuplic and a new faction called Caesar’s Legion. This just keeps happening, doesn’t it? 

Roundly regarded as one of the best games in the series, in New Vegas everything has an impact on the area in which the game is set, and its six add-ons each show off a new area and add a new adventure for your courier. Importantly, there are actually four potential endings in Fallout: New Vegas based on who you decide to side with, so technically this could be considered another fracture to the timeline, but it’s localized for now. 

Fallout 4 – 2287

We are post-prologue in the world of Fallout 4 now and a massive 210 years after the bombs dropped (and the setting of the game’s prologue). Whilst in cryosleep you accidentally see your wife murdered and your child stolen – something you look to avenge immediately upon waking up in Vault 111. Discovering you are the Sole Survivor of the vault, and seeking out your missing son, you head out once more into the wasteland where you will once again encounter many of the iconic factions as well as something new, Synths.

The long and short of all of this is that you’re not fully aware of how long it’s been since you witnessed your son’s abduction – a common issue with cryosleep – and it turns out that your son is now an old man who’s in the last few years of his life. In what is probably the weirdest nepotism hire, he wants you to continue the work he has started. The only problem is that the organization he created, the Institute, is all kinds of evil, so, unless you choose to join him, the ending actually has you destroying it by blowing up a nuclear reactor. Once again, when will they learn?

Fallout TV Show – 2296

And finally, we reach the Fallout TV Show itself – the furthest point in Fallout lore so far and an impressive 219 years after the bombs dropped. We’re not going to go into spoilers for what happens here but as mentioned at the top of this article, it’s worth noting that some elements of the series are set before all of the games. Go and watch it on Amazon Prime to find out more about Vault 33 and the main protagonist of the show, Lucy MacLean.

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The Best Games Like Men of War II 

The best games like Men of War II will let you flex your strategic, RTS and WW2 military-themed muscles whilst you wait for all of them to be flexed with one handy Men of War branded package when it finally arrives on May 15th. As you would expect, Men of War II, like its previous entries, is a real-time strategy game set in World War 2, which is an already fairly well-populated gaming niche – making it ideal for list-making purposes.

Best Games Like Men of War II

Men of War II is filled with not only the big decisions you’d expect but also thousands of tiny ones as you make your way through the intense narrative offered by the game’s story-driven campaigns. Or, if you are more action-inclined, you can just flex your wrinkly brain in the skirmish modes against AI opponents, or real-world ones via multiplayer. Thanks to all of this, there are some really good options to include in this list of the best games like Men of War 2 – so let’s get into them.

Company of Heroes 2

First up we’ve got Company of Heroes 2. Although getting on a bit now, having released in 2013, Company of Heroes 2 is still substantially better than the more recent Company of Heroes 3, so it’s the best of the bunch when it comes to the Company of Heroes series. It not only sits in the RTS genre but even takes place in World War 2 as well. That means you’ll get a very similar experience here, albeit with a slightly different focus in terms of the individual stories, and also the way the game changes and grows as you get further in. It’s a great game, and it holds up very well.

Steel Division 2

Steel Division 2 is another RTS set in World War 2, and it features 1:1 scale army management, and turn-based elements too. It’s a little more granular and evolved than we’re expecting Man of War II to be, but that’s not a slight on either game. Steel Division 2 is also more about vehicles than anything else, and if you’re a tank or plane buff, then you’ll enjoy getting to look at the models in the game, along with actually getting to play as the vehicles too.

Manor Lords

Yes, we are well aware that Manor Lords isn’t set in World War 2. It is, however, really good, and if you’re looking forward to the strategic planning of something like Men of War II, then it’ll hit a very similar part of your brain. Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game with a few additional layers such as city building and economic management. You take control of a medieval lord and have to guide your people through good and bad times, big old fights, and even the seasons themselves. It’s exquisite, so don’t miss it.

Age of Empires 4

Another one that’s not technically World War 2, but it is sort of all of time forever, so we’re counting it. Age of Empires 4 is an absolute masterclass of the real-time strategy genre and lets you take your chosen leader from the dawn of humankind all the way into the future, with you getting to guide them through every great advancement and more. It’s truly incredible, and if you want to be able to enjoy not only the guns of different World Wars but also things like bows and arrows and even the space race, then no game does it better than Age of Empires 4.

Hell Let Loose

Finally, we come to Hell Let Loose. Hell Let Loose isn’t a strategy game at all, instead, it’s an intensely punishing WW2 set first-person shooter. The fast-paced battles have you facing off in firefights with up to 100 players who can not only run around on foot but also jump into different vehicles or even hop into some artillery. Whilst primarily an intense shooter, it does have a cool RTS meta-game mode that’ll still let you flex your more strategic muscles, as well as the core FPS gameplay that’ll let you play with your reactions. It’s a great game, and if you want a slight curveball option to Men of War II, this could just be it.

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The Best Games Like Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

 The Best Games Like Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

The best games like Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will let you enjoy the wonders of anime-haired protagonists, teenage angst, an abundance of characters, even more abilities, and possibly a god battle or two. There are just an uncountable number of games out there nowadays, but thankfully one of the things that Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes seems to be aiming for is a hit of nostalgia. 

With that in mind, we’ve made a list of the best games like Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes to kill some time with until you can pick it up. As a nice little bonus, a lot of games on this list are also a little older, which means they tend to be a little cheaper, so it’s a win-win. Anyway, who likes lists?

Best Games Like Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes 

It’s worth noting that the best games like Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes are all in the Suikoden series. However, we have omitted them because it’s tough to play those games on modern-day hardware (even though Konami has announced they’re doing a remaster). With that in mind, here’s our list.

OCTOPATH TRAVELER II

Both OCTOPATH TRAVELER II and the original game are, like Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, incredible RPGs that put you into a stunning world filled with fascinating characters, fantastical abilities, and some seriously frenetic battles. You get to choose which character you start as and then play through their story as you meet the other heroes and befriend them. It’s all about truly discovering new viewpoints and understandings of the world the game is set in. Plus, managing all of the heroes is a blast, and allows for some amazingly cool synergies too.

Chained Echoes

Chained Echoes was huge in 2023, primarily because it came out at the end of 2022 and everyone always sleeps on game releases that month. Chained Echoes is a nostalgia-filled 16-bit style RPG that’s filled with magic and mechs. Like Eiyuden Chronicle: A Hundred Heroes, you have to guide your party through a huge beautifully animated and orchestrated story. Just go and play it.

Alright, technically speaking Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising isn’t all that much like Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, but it is quite literally set in the same world, so we think it fits. Where Hundred Heroes is a turn-based affair, Rising is a far more action-focused outing. You’ll be wielding might and magic to take apart monsters and enemies while meeting a lot of the great characters the world has to offer. It’s smooth as butter, the art is great, and we like it a lot.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

The Legend of Heroes series is big. You might know a few other series that have numerous entries, but few come close to this behemoth. We’ve chosen The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie for this list because it’s a good representation of this immense RPG series, where, like in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, you follow along with amazing heroes as they become people worthy of legends, oh and also because it’s one of the newest entries in the series. The good news is that if you end up loving it – or any of the series – you’ve got roughly the rest of your life planned out when it comes to what to play next.

CHRONO TRIGGER

CHRONO TRIGGER is one of the greatest RPGs of all time, and despite being very nearly 30 years old, remains a testament to how good the genre can be. It not only tells an incredible time-twisting tale via some of the coolest characters you’re ever likely to meet but also features artwork from Akira Toriyama, making it innately cooler than most games can ever hope to be. The PC port is also very good, which always helps, but you can play this game in a myriad of ways given how long it’s been out.

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FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail – The Story So Far

 FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail – The Story So Far

With more than a decade on the books, FINAL FANTASY XIV certainly has a substantial amount of lore behind it. Though an impressive feat, having such a weighty chunk of lore embedded into FINAL FANTASY XIV can make acclimating to the latest expansions quite tricky for those who aren’t intimately familiar with the story. So with FINAL FANTASY XIV: Dawntrail now upon us, we’ve crafted this handy, albeit somewhat abridged primer to bring you up to date with the main narrative beats ahead of your adventures in the new lands of Tural.

FINAL FANTASY XIV – Pre-Realms Reborn Story Overview

Before the Realms Reborn story, which kicked off the current era of FINAL FANTASY XIV as we know it, the curtain rises on the fantasy realm of Eorzea, a land that was once ruled by the technologically advanced civilization of Allagan, whose powerful creations include an enigmatic celestial body by the name of Dalamud. Craving all that power for their own ends, the ruthless Garlean Empire invades Eorzea and manages to take over Ala Mhigo, a key city state in far eastern Eorzea which it then uses as a temporary seat of power within the realm. Soon, however, the surrounding townships, enclaves, and city-states join forces to begin to fight back in a bid to restore peace to Eorzea once more.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Realms Reborn Story Overview

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Realms Reborn ushered in a whole new era for the world of Eoreza and takes place some five years after the Galean invasion, casting players as the Warrior of Light, a holy champion of sorts that has been blessed by Hydaelyn, one of Eoreza’s most benevolent gods. After being awoken by a mysterious masked cultist and having carved a path through Eorzea with a group of companions, the Warrior of Light soon joins the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, a mysterious conclave of fighters whose sole goal is to vanquish the Primals, a horde of monsters that have found themselves manifested into existence by those with a heart of darkness.

After laying waste to a fair share of Primals and uncovering a range of Garlean plans to take over the continent, it is discovered that the masked cultist who woke up our protagonist, in the beginning, goes by the name of Lahabrea and is an Ascian, the remnant of an ancient race. Worse still, it appears that not only has Lahabrea been pulling the strings behind the Garlean Empire to invade Eoreza, but he’s been doing so to weaken the realm so that Dalamud – which isn’t actually a moon but a massive suspended prison for the dragon deity Bahamut – can be broken open, allowing Bahamut to purge the entire world. As Realms Reborn heads into its endgame, the player and their group eventually defeat Lahabrea and the Ultima Weapon that he had at his disposal. Meanwhile, the Dalamud tumbles from the heavens, resulting in Bahamut freeing himself and preparing to unleash a devastating attack upon the realm. Luckily, the Scions of the Seventh Dawn intervene and together with the divine power of Hydaelyn, the group manages to protect Eoreza from most of the blast – though not quite all of it – resulting in an event known as the ‘Calamity’ and a realm that is now irrevocably changed.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward Story Overview

With the Calamity now in the history books, the people of Eorzea start to rebuild the land in earnest, though there is seemingly no part of the realm that does not tell the tale of the events chronicled in Realms Reborn. Amidst this, the player comes across the Holy See of Ishgard, a city-state that serves as the primary setting for FINAL FANTASY XIV’s Heavensward expansion. Soon enough, the player not only discovers that Ishgard has been locked in an ongoing conflict with a race of dragons, but within Ishgard itself a conspiracy has been forming to ensure that the war continues to endure indefinitely. After uncovering the conspiracy and ensuring the beginnings of a peaceful co-existence between Ishgard and the dragons, it becomes known that the Warriors of Darkness have entered Eoreza and mirror the skills, abilities and powers of the player character and their group.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood Story Overview

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood opens with the player and their group traveling to Doma, a nation composed of Ninja and Samurai that was invaded by the Garlean Empire twenty-five years prior. Forming the crux of the Stormblood expansion, the Warriors of Light side with resistance forces in Doma to overthrow their imperial oppressors, uncovering not just remarkable acts of cruelty by the brutal Garlean forces, but also many struggles within Doma itself which threaten the rebellion at large. Soon after the Doman rebellion casts out the Garlean regime, the Warriors of Light come into contact with the Warriors of Darkness, with the latter revealing that they come from a world that is threatened by an all-consuming evil and implores the player and their group to aid them in fighting back, thus taking us into the Shadowbringers era of FINAL FANTASY XIV.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers Story Overview 

In FINAL FANTASY XIV’s third expansion, the Warriors of Light embark on a journey to the First, a mirror-realm of Eoreza that is not only eternally shrouded in darkness, but is also a world where Light is an evil force that destroys everything in its path. On the First, the player and their group acquaint themselves with Ardbert, a former Warrior of Darkness who failed in his bid to prevent the Flood of Light and the devastation that followed in the First. Ardbert reveals that the reason for the light’s encroaching dominance in the First is due to the presence of the Lightwardens, once noble heroes who were manipulated by the Ascians. Forced to fight back, the player and their group ally with the Cystarium, a conclave constructed by rebellious elements on the First that do everything in their power to fight the Light. Chief among their responsibilities is to banish the Sin-Eaters, grotesque monsters that have come into existence as the result of individuals who suffer overexposure to the Light.

After battling through and reaching Vauthry, the leader of the Lightwardens, the player and their group defeat him, but realize that in doing so the additional Light from the conflict could transform the player into a supreme Lightwarden in the process. Struggling to fight the transformation, Graha Tia – a longtime ally of the group that is revealed to be the Crystal Exarch – sacrifices himself to stave off the Light’s influence, allowing the player and their group to devise a plan to nullify the Flood of Light and bring stability to the First. Though this results in the defeat of the final Lightwarden, it also leaves the realm’s fate unclear as the Light’s influence still remains.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: Endwalker Story Overview

After the events chronicled in the Shadowbringers expansion, the Scions return from the First to continue their war against the Garlean Empire and reveal that the Final Days – an apocalyptic event that occurred in the past – is now set to repeat once more on Eoreza. Through the story of the Endwalker expansion it is revealed that the Ascians aren’t villains at all, but rather tragic beings that have been forced into a never-ending cycle of death and rebirth and look to the player and their group to finally break that cycle and end the Final Days once and for all.

Seeking to maintain this cycle is Zodiark, a physical manifestation of the Final Days whose sole cause is to ensure that the world is ended and once more born anew. As the player and the Scions fight Zodiark and grapple with the notion of defying destiny, Zodiark is eventually defeated, though many heroes fall in battle in the process. With both Eoreza and the First seemingly saved for now, the story which began with Realms Reborn is essentially concluded, though the scars of all the wars that have been fought upon the world remain and provide a haunting reminder of the sacrifices that were made.

Now you are all up to date on the decades' worth of story underpinning FINAL FANTASY XIV, why not prepare for your adventure into the lands of Tural when you purchase FINAL FANTASY XIV:

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