Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Today, our writers share what they’ve been reading over the last month. Feel free to share what you’ve been reading this past month, too, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get things started with what I’ve been reading this past month.
Kyra’s Reads
I have a Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game session planned at a public event this Saturday (May 16, 2026, at the Bellevue, Nebraska, Public Library), and while I could’ve read one or two core books, I fell down a rabbit hole. I’m sure I read something else this past month. I’ll probably remember it while I’m typing this entry, but picking up four 300-page rulebooks for a tabletop role-playing game is a good reading load. Throw in multiple auxiliary role-playing game books, and it becomes a lot of reading.
One feature I like about the Marvel Multiverse RPG books is that their pages are color-coded. At first, I didn’t care for these color-coded pages. They look garish on the shelf. But those colors help with quickly locating chapters. Rules can be found at the beginning. These page colors may be difficult to spot at first because the chapters are really small (the Marvel Multiverse RPG is a rules-light game), but you’d expect rules to exist at the beginning of a TTRPG book. The larger sections are for Powers, Characters, and World Building. I know to look at the red pages for a character and the purple pages for Powers and so forth. Color-coded pages may look weird on your shelf, but I’ll sacrifice aesthetics for functionality.
I picked up the core rulebook, and you don’t even need to do that if you want to get started playing the Marvel Multiverse RPG. The company uploaded a quick-start book on its website. Just click the “Try Free” button, and a laundry list of content loads. I was surprised by how much content Marvel made available for players. Sure, other sites like Fuzzy on the Details offer copious fan-made content for the game, and you can check them out here if you’re interested. But Marvel gives players everything they need to demo the game before buying.
The Quick-Start Book with a Thunderbolts* Adventure is a great place to begin. The Quick-Start Book offers an abridged version of the rules, everything you need to get playing. And the Thunderbolts* Adventure introduces game elements almost like a video game tutorial. My group is choosing a different starting adventure, the Marvel Rivals Timestream Adventure.
I talked about the Marvel Rivals Timestream Adventurein last week’s Whatcha Playing, so I won’t repeat what I said in that post here. But I will say that I like the Adventure’s flexibility. It can be a one-shot or the beginning of a longer campaign if we choose to continue the story. Getting back to the major Expansion books, I picked up Spider-Verse and X-Men. I prefer X-Men to the Spider-Verse because this Expansion adds more powers. More options. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get any new abilities in Spider-Verse. Even so, Spider-Verse is solid.
All Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game’s bigger books have a third to almost half of their pages dedicated to character entries. This could change in the future, but you’ll be seeing a lot of red pages. And that makes the Marvel Multiverse RPG different from many other TTRPGs. With so many choices of pre-constructed characters, why would anyone make their own character? That’s not to say that the Marvel Multiverse RPG doesn’t have a good character creation system. It does. I can easily whip up a compelling character in short order, and I’m in the process of converting the TSR Marvel RPG rolling charts to aid with character creation. After I’m done, I may post those charts here. Let me know if you’d be interested in that. But the Marvel Multiverse RPG lends itself to players assuming the role of established characters.
How you play the Marvel Multiverse RPG will depend on your gaming group. I also picked up The Cataclysm of Kang. This Adventure differs from the others (one-shots) I mentioned earlier. The Cataclysm of Kang requires hundreds of gameplay hours to complete. It’s a massive campaign, and fewer players will have interest or patience for this long a campaign. Note: I picked up The Cataclysm of Kang because it could play out like an alternative MCU Kang storyline. What could’ve happened if the MCU didn’t biff that villain? Just like the other hardbacks in the Marvel Multiverse RPG, The Cataclysm of Kang offers plenty of pre-generated characters. $40-$50 is a lot if you’re only interested in more characters. Fortunately, DriveThruRPG offers $5 deals on just the characters. The site even sells easier-to-print versions of the game’s maps. And while you’re on DriveThruRPG, check out some of the other free content.
You could play the Marvel Multiverse RPG without ever buying the core book or any of the expansions. Or you could drop considerably less money than I have and pick up some essentials and cheaper content on sites like DriveThruRPG and FuzzyOnTheDetails. You also don’t need to be the biggest Marvel buff. No one will quiz you on Marvel lore. You could take a show or movie you liked from anything Marvel, even the stuff that predates the MCU, and ask what if.
I continued with The Game Master’s Book Of series with Random Tables and a handful of other titles. Like I said, I went down a rabbit hole. Send help! Naturally, I’ve been converting some of these random roll tables for the Marvel Multiverse RPG, but if you’re running a high fantasy role-playing game, you shouldn’t need to adapt anything found in this book. I love The Game Master’s Book Of Series. They provide so much for any role-playing game. Sure, they do lean toward Dungeons & Dragons, but most of these books–except for the dragons book, but who doesn’t love dragons?–can be useful for numerous RPGs. I read the Proactive Roleplaying and Collaborative Campaign Design books last month. Those two are paperback, but the hardback books are only $25 or less, and they’re high-quality books. You can’t beat The Game Master’s Book Of series’ value.
I did read something else this month. I started re-reading Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. I read this book so often that I forget to include it in these lists. Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style is a great book to refresh one’s grammar. And I need all the help I can get.
That’s all I have for what I’ve been reading this past month. I’m sure I forgot several other books on my list, but hey, that’ll give me something to talk about next month. And it looks like I’m on my own for this week. We’ll have to check in with Season and Skye next month with their reads. But let us know what you’ve been reading in the comments, Geekly Gang. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another Top 5 villains list. Today’s list is none other than video games. Like many narratives, villains drive a video game’s story, so let’s look at some of the greatest video game villains of all time.
5) Andrew Ryan (BioShock)
Nope. I’m not going to spoil BioShock’s Andrew Ryan plot twist. I don’t care that the original BioShock was released in 2007. BioShock is almost twenty years old. Oh, my! Still, I’ll refrain from spoiling BioShock’s ending for the handful of people who don’t know. Seriously, people mention the original BioShock’s plot twist with Andrew Ryan as readily as the plot twist in Soylent Green. Andrew Ryan is people! JK Throughout BioShock’s runtime, Andrew Ryan’s vision for society challenges the player. His charisma and philosophical ideals are why gamers return to BioShock. And his worldview can lead to thought-provoking discussions. What more could you want from a video game villain?
4) GLaDOS (Portal)
BioShock may raise questions about video game narratives (Why do you blindly follow a video game narrator’s directions?), but Portal adds wry humor. GLaDOS is at the center. This sassy AI’s dry wit and passive-aggressive comments promote unique challenges for players as they navigate deadly puzzles. Portal may be a puzzle game, and GLaDOS an AI, but both are unforgettable. GLaDOS may also be the inspiration behind The Stanley Parable’s antagonistic narrator six years later. And I’ve never heard of a game developer bringing in a voice actor at the beginning of a project. Typically, voice actors are invited well into a video game’s development. With Portal 2, Ellen McLain (GLaDOS’s voice actor) was involved from the beginning. Developer Valve only wanted to hear McLain’s voice. No need for a stand-in.
3) Ganon (Legend of Zelda Series)
Demon King Ganon is the embodiment of evil in the Legend of Zelda series. As Link’s main antagonist, Ganon first appeared in The Legend of Zelda (1986), but he can be a touch confusing. Ganondorf made his first appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998), and Ganondorf is more or less Ganon as a humanoid, specifically a gerudo. No matter if he’s Ganon or Ganondorf, he is a force to be reckoned with, and his relentless pursuit of power keeps Hyrule in constant peril.
2) Kefka (Final Fantasy VI)
I could go with Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII) for this spot, but let’s face it, Kefka is Sephiroth’s blueprint. Over the course of Final Fantasy VI, players watch the characters descend into madness. And while Sephiroth attempted to destroy the planet with Meteor, Kefka succeeded. Or at least half-succeeded. Sephiroth will always hold a special place, but Kefka’s maniacal laughter lives rent-free in my head. Sometimes, you need to send in the clown.
1) Bowser (Super Mario Bros. Franchise)
We had to go with the King of Koopas, Bowser, claiming the top spot. In short, Bowser’s a classic video game villain. He’s been tormenting Mario for decades. With his massive size and fire-breathing, Bowser remains Mario’s biggest threat. No disrespect, Wario and Waluigi. Whether he’s kidnapping Princess Peach, or ah, kidnapping Princess Peach, or even kidnapping Princess Peach, Bowser is a fan favorite. Maybe, change it up once, Bowser. Sheesh! I’m still waiting for a Bowser solo game. Make it happen, Nintendo.
Did we get the list right? Who did we miss? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Friday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another review/reaction to this week’s episode of Daredevil: Born Again, “The Southern Cross.” Simply put, I liked Daredevil: Born Again Season Two’s finale. It works if Daredevil: Born Again wants to continue with a third season–we already know that Daredevil: Born Again has been picked up for at least a third season–or if the show wants to end with this season. That’s the mark of a good ending. I also love the symmetry between this season’s opening episode title (“The Northern Star”) and its closing episode title (“The Southern Cross”). In the comics, Daredevil has always leaned into religious undertones. “The Southern Cross” works.
Yes. I have some gripes, and they’re ones you’ve heard before in previous episode reviews/reactions, so I’ll continue with what I liked about “The Southern Cross,” for now. Matt Murdock and Kingpin’s showdown in court was inevitable. What occurs in court pays off many of Daredevil: Born Again Season Two’s story threads. Great! Honestly, I don’t think the original Netflix Daredevil spent much time in the courthouse beyond its first season. The fact that Daredevil: Born Again Season Two’s final fight occurs at that same courthouse fits. It’s a little hokey, but I like it. Treating this episode as an extended bottle episode was a good idea. Sure, we see the courthouse’s exterior, and a few shots occur around the courthouse, but “The Southern Cross” is the closest a show like Daredevil: Born Again would ever get to a bottle episode.
Narrowing the final episode to predominantly one location allowed Daredevil: Born Again to focus on its characters. You don’t need to establish another locale if the location of the shot seldom changes. Love. Love. Love. Daredevil: Born Again made the right call. The acting was on point. What else would you expect from Charlie Cox (Daredevil) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Kingpin)? I’ve mentioned it before, but Daredevil: Born Again is a passion project for Cox and D’Onofrio, and it shows. Like I said, “The Southern Cross” manages to tie up several loose ends. Daredevil and Kingpin receive satisfying/interesting conclusions to this season. BB working at the same newspaper as her father made me smile. Heather Glenn’s descent into the new Muse could be terrifying, and I’m here for it. I don’t want to spoil it here, but Glenn’s closing scene legitimately gave me chills.
Other storylines were touched on. I got a better sense of McDuffie. White Tiger got a decent close to her story. It was rushed (more on that in a minute), but functionally, it worked. Jessica Jones and Luke Cage’s moment near the end was equal parts fan service and earned. I questioned bringing in Jessica Jones more than halfway through the season, but for the most part, she worked. Sure, I enjoyed Netflix’s Jessica Jones series, and that may have blinded me to her character being rushed into the season’s story. But Kristen Ritter knows this character. Jessica Jones may have aged since we last saw her, but she still takes a swig of Scotch before punching faces. And Jones felt less of a distraction than The Punisher last season. She didn’t hijack the narrative in any way. Conversely, The Punisher became the symbol the AVTF (Anti-Vigilante Task Force) wears.
Jones (and by extension, Luke Cage) justifies Matthew Lillard’s character’s existence. Funny how Bullseye takes Luke Cage’s place at the end of “The Southern Cross.” That served as another great development. But I hope Lillard’s Mr. Charles and Bullseye don’t serve a sole purpose of linking Daredevil: Born Again to the larger MCU. Yes. I know Daredevil: Born Again belongs to the greater MCU, but I like that it’s mostly its own thing. And I don’t want a heap of crossovers in Season Three.
I’m sure I mentioned last year that the Born Again title is one of several where Matt Murdock’s secret identity of Daredevil gets discovered. It should come as no surprise that Murdock’s secret identity was revealed, but in classic MCU fashion, Daredevil: Born Again takes liberties. In the comics, Karen Page sells out Daredevil for drugs. That wasn’t going to fly on a Disney+ show. And I liked that Daredevil: Born Again gave Matt Murdock agency over his identity. Daredevil has been incarcerated in the comics before, which is where we leave him at the end of “The Southern Cross.” This should lead to more nods to the comics, which are always appreciated.
I’ve staved off my critiques, but it’s time to discuss them. Daredevil: Born Again rushes its story. This stems from a combination of a few too many characters and a shorter episode tally than the original Netflix Daredevil. Again, I don’t think Daredevil: Born Again seasons need to run 13 episodes, but a couple more would help establish some of these characters. While I liked Heather Glenn’s transformation, her arc was rushed. We hadn’t seen White Tiger in a couple of episodes (rightfully so, as the show developed other characters, but again, too many characters), and suddenly, White Tiger appears. Okay. I’m unsure of Buck’s fate. I think he lived. And many of Kingpin’s cabinet members and aides got lost in the shuffle. And that gets us back to Kingpin.
Wilson Fisk’s ending was jarring, and I don’t understand how it took place. And I watched this sequence multiple times. The attorney general offers Mayor Fisk a deal to exile himself in return for not pressing charges against him. Okay. I don’t think that’s a thing, but perhaps. We’ll go with it. But before Fisk takes the deal, he goes on a rampage in the courthouse. The offer should’ve been for giving Fisk immunity for the crimes he committed as Mayor before he rejected the attorney general’s offer. How can Fisk escape any punishment after killing at least a few New York citizens and hospitalizing a dozen more? Wouldn’t the deal be voided? That’s a nitpick. We got to see Kingpin fight, and that was cool.
Daredevil: Born Again Season Two was miles better than the first season. I enjoyed this season of the show and eagerly await the next season. Daredevil: Born Again is Marvel’s flagship Disney+ series and for good reason. Clearly, Charlie Cox and Vincent D’Onofrio love playing these characters, and I love watching them. Those are my thoughts. What are yours? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here, and today, our writers share what they’ve been playing over the past month. Feel free to share what you’ve been playing over the past month, because we’re all part of the Geekly Gang. I’ll get things started with what I’ve been playing over the past month.
Kyra’s Video Games
I’m a basketball fan, but NBA2K hasn’t had a decent release in several years. The last version I played of NBA2K had so many game-breaking bugs, I don’t know if I finished playing a single exhibition game. Enter, Hoop Land. I downloaded it on Steam (there was a recent sale), but it’s also available on mobile devices. Yay!
Don’t let Hoop Land’s 8-bit graphics fool you. Hoop Land is everything I wished NBA2K would be. Hoop Land gives players so much control of the game. A lot is going on with this title, and I love it. Manage your team to victory with adorable sprite hoopers. I haven’t had too much time for a full review, but I enjoy simulating games and jumping in to play the occasional match. Player development works the way you’d imagine, at least, so far, and Hoop Land offers plenty of options to customize your league. Do you see the player scouting report above? That gets very specific. I see some team rebuilds in my near future. I may even download the mobile version of Hoop Land, so I can play while I watch the NBA playoffs. Woo hoo!
While Feed the Scorchpot only offers a free demo (on Steam), that demo cooks up a lot of gaming hours. What is it with me downloading addictive video games this past month? Feed the Scorchpot takes graphics akin to Potion Craft–if you know me, you know I love Potion Craft’s graphics (here’s our review of Potion Craft)–and combines them with a roguelike Catan. What? The classic board game Catan could use an update. I wasn’t expecting one like Feed the Scorchpot. The developers market it as Balatro meets Catan, and that’s a good description.
As you can see in the image above, a lot is going on with Feed the Scorchpot. Don’t worry, the demo has a comprehensive tutorial that slowly introduces new game elements. It will all make sense. Players build a village Catan-style and roll dice each turn (season), collecting resources on farms adjacent to tiles whose numbers are rolled. Using those resources, players cook recipes to feed a dragon (the Scorchpot). Meet the required points (hunger), and the dragon allows you to live another year.
Players can purchase recipes (more options), upgrade their dice to specialty dice (all dice begin as vanilla six-sided dice), build more powerful structures on spaces, and even add numbers to tiles, so those tiles are more likely to produce resources. Feed the Scorchpot is one of those games that gets players saying, Just. One. More. Turn. Ah! So good. I can’t wait for Feed the Scorchpot’s full release.
Kyra’s Board Games
DC Breakout: Arkham Asylum is a simple roll-and-move game. Yes. They still make roll-and-move games. And for a roll-and-move game, DC Breakout: Arkham Asylum is a lot of fun. Players take the role of two Arkham inmates racing to break out of the asylum before anyone else. The game is played in two rounds, so you’ll actually have two chances to beat your opponents to the finish line.
DC Breakout: Arkham Asylum doesn’t take itself too seriously. Each game plays out different than all the rest, because the board changes, villain power combinations can break the game in odd ways (you will be placing two villains into the same standee to form your team of two rogues), and gadget cards add another layer of mayhem. After a few plays, we did notice some game-breaking combos. I won’t share them here; you should discover them on your own. But I don’t care that two specific villains teamed together may constitute an unfair advantage. DC Breakout: Arkham Asylum isn’t a long game. There are so many villains included in this game (40) that you may not come across that tandem of characters in numerous plays. And the premise is goofy. Perfect for kids and families.
Cat a Comb caught my eye in two ways. First, the game is shaped like a soda can. Yes, please. The container may be difficult to put on a shelf with the rest of my games, but I like an odd-shaped board game container. Second, the game is about cats. Yay! What you see pictured above is all that comes inside Cat a Comb (minus the extremely short rulebook). Cat a Comb is a great two-player strategy game. Perfect whenever you arrive to a board game night early with one other participant, and you’re waiting for the rest of your group to arrive. That happens a lot to me if you can’t tell. (Wink.)
I could include any number of other board games on this list, but I think I’ll close out this month’s list with the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game. I always liked the TSR Marvel RPG from the 1980s, and the Multiverse Role-Playing Game looks as if it has legs (as in it’s still being published years after its initial release). Outside of the TSR Marvel RPG, Marvel role-playing games have a spotty track record. Most of them don’t last beyond one or two years. The Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game has already surpassed that threshold, so I’m giving it a shot. Just in time for Comic-Con season (I will be attending one or two of those) and Free RPG Day. You may catch me at a local game shop, running a Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game module.
First, I’ll run the Marvel Rivals Timestream Adventure. This one-shot is a great place to begin a Marvel Multiverse RPG campaign. The framework offers enough flexibility to branch out from the module. The adventure is written in a way to promote player agency and choice. I like that. Of course, I’ll add my own twists to the base adventure, because I’m going to do that, but Marvel Rivals Timestream Adventure offers a good introduction to the Marvel Multiverse RPG system and some of its characters. This module even includes Rank X characters, which are otherworldly beings who can’t be damaged. It’ll be fun showing characters of this power level in the Marvel Universe.
I have two complaints about the Marvel Rivals Timestream Adventure. One, the module assumes you have the Core Rulebook and access to the X-Men expansion. It includes power sets found in the X-Men expansion and doesn’t explain them. Two, the Game Modes included at the end of the module don’t offer any story hooks. Both of these gripes are small. You can look up some of the X-Men expansion rules online. It’s a pain, but doable. And you don’t really need story hooks, but it would’ve been nice. The Marvel Rivals Timestream Adventure takes about four hours to complete, so I may craft my own one-shot for Free RPG Day or one of the conventions, since most events of those types last about two hours. I’ll keep you posted if I create an adventure and may share the adventure on Geekly.
As for the Marvel Multiverse RPG’s core rules, they’re easy to learn and require few peripherals. You don’t even need official Marvel dice (like the one pictured above). I have a set of “Marvel Multiverse RPG” dice where I painted an “M” over the “1” on a standard red d6. Every player just needs three 3d6s, with one a different color, and you’re set to play. That’s it. The rules are simple but flexible to accommodate multiple powers, a good thing for an RPG that includes countless super-powered people. And several websites offer free Marvel Multiverse RPG resources. I like what I’ve read so far and should run the Marvel Rivals Timestream Adventure next week. I can’t wait.
That’s all I have for this month. Let’s check in with Season.
Season’s Video Games
Hi, Geekly Gang! Are you fans of remasters? I know I am. I’ve never finished the original Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles since it was difficult to do in single player. Players get to choose a character from one of four races. The biggest differences between these races (other than appearance) are the gear they can equip and their fighting style. You set out on a caravan in a miasma-filled world to collect drops of myyrh from myyrh trees in different monster-infested stages. Each level has a mini-boss with varying levels of difficulty in each stage. You have to collect three drops of myyrh each year in order to progress and unlock new stages.
I’m closing in on the final few stages of Final Fantasy: Crystal ChroniclesRemastered Edition, and I’m excited to see the ending after all these years. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition offers online multiplayer. You can play with friends or join random lobbies. I’ve been playing with one of my friends, and we’ve been having a blast. The downside to multiplayer is that the game only progresses for the player who hosts the lobby. If you collect myyrh in one of the stages, the host is the only player who gets the myyrh. You have to dissolve the party and switch hosts so a different player can collect myyrh. You end up replaying the same stages multiple times, but you get to learn each stage map really well.
What have you been playing, Skye?
Skye’s Video Games
I received God of War as a Christmas gift last year and made a pledge to finish it before the end of the year. By now, y’all are probably familiar with my tendency to play each of my games at the hardest difficulty just ‘cause I can. So far, God of War has proven to be the most difficult gaming experience I’ve put myself through. Having a heavy emphasis on skill and timing-based combat, God of War demands quick learning and careful decision-making from its players. As a result, God of War is very unforgiving to noobs like me for poorly executing combos or being slow to dodge incoming attacks. The only reason I’ve been able to make any progress so far is that I tend to do every side quest before the main quest. Wish me luck, ‘cause I know I’m gonna need it.
Battle for Bikini Bottom’s Remaster was a game my sister acquired for free through her PlayStation Plus subscription, and I only recently noticed it in her library. Since I played the original on the GameCube, I felt the need to relive my childhood. It’s safe to say, Rehydrated didn’t disappoint. After all, SpongeBob SquarePants Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated strictly updated the graphics, so I was able to relive my favorite levels without worrying about content alterations. In case you’re curious, my favorite level is The Flying Dutchman’s Shipyard primarily because of the level’s design and music that constantly gets stuck in my head. Battle for Bikini Bottom is a fun romp of a game for any SpongeBob fan since it allows you to roam through some of SpongeBob’s most iconic locations and is loaded with references.
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. Those are all the games our writers played over the past month. What did you play this past month? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy May the Fourth, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. We’re celebrating with a Star Wars Top 5. A great hero needs an intriguing villain. Yes! We’re continuing our Top 5 Villains Series with a Top 5 Star Wars Villains.
5: Jabba the Hutt
Jabba the Hutt is a massive space slug who oozes out a living, making shady deals throughout the galaxy. He reminds me of Beelzebub, the devil associated with gluttony. Jabba is the pinnacle of excess. He moves as little as he can, forcing his servants to do most things for him. He stuffs his face all day long, smokes his hookah, and admires the woman he has on a leash. Heck. Whenever he gets bored, he’ll feed his enslaved women to the space monster in his basement. Yikes!
Jabba has an iconic design. His giant puppet–Lucasfilm pulled off this giant space slug with a puppet–impresses audiences decades after Return of the Jedi’s original release. Growing up, I had an original Jabba the Hutt figure from Jenner. Looking back, there were so many red flags with that figure. And we can’t forget Spaceballs’s Pizza the Hutt, who ate himself while trapped in his car. I can’t wait for Spaceballs 2.
4: Grand Admiral Thrawn
Grand Admiral Thrawn differs from every other villain on this list in almost every way. Thrawn originates from a Star Wars novel–The Heir to the Empire trilogy, to be exact–before making his debut in the Star Wars Rebels animated series. His story went from being canon to not being canon and then back again. And Thrawn’s approach separates him from most Star Wars villains. He’s as cold and calculating as his skin tone. He seldom uses overwhelming force. No. He’ll understand a community or culture first, before dismantling it from the inside. Thrawn’s tactics may be the most diabolical in Star Wars lore.
3: Darth Maul
Even in his debut, Darth Maul looked cool. Double lightsabers will do that. Heck. Fighting Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jin at the same time adds to his mystique. But Maul’s story doesn’t truly begin until after the events of The Phantom Menace. Of course, Darth Maul survives being bisected by Obi-Wan Kenobi. He gains a set of robotic spider legs and eventually a set of humanoid robotic legs. Maul would become a threat to the Republic, then the Empire, and finally the Sith themselves. Some villains want to watch the world burn, and we’re here for it.
2: Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious)
Emperor Palpatine has appeared in every Star Wars trilogy of films, so far. He’s the Lord of the Imperial Galaxy and internet memes. Palpatine began his political career in the service of the Galactic Republic but soon obtained power and destroyed Galactic democracy. And the people cheered. I refuse to make parallels between Palpatine and real life. Anyway, the Emperor’s crimes are countless. Nope. This doesn’t resemble real life. Back to fantasy, Palpatine nearly wiped out the Jedi with Order 66. He killed Mace Windu, and nobody gets away with murdering a Samuel L. Jackson character. And the Emperor plunged the Galaxy into an era of darkness and tyranny.
Not bad for a meme lord.
1: Darth Vader
Could it be anyone else? Darth Vader is the height of a cool villain. Admit it. “The Imperial March” plays when you catch a glimpse of him. Darth Vader is one of cinema’s most iconic villains. Period. What’s not to like? His imposing stature, black space samurai armor, creepy breathing, or James Earl Jones’s rich voice. Darth Vader is the epitome of evil. Like many classic villains, he started as a force of good and became corrupted. And let’s face it, the Star Wars prequels primarily exist to show Darth Vader’s descent. And boy, did we enjoy the ride.
Did we get the list right? Who would you put on this list? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We have some board game and video game new releases to geek out about, but first, let’s discuss the headlines from the prior week. It looks as if Sony has made news yet again. We waited to discuss Sony and its PlayStation DRM scandal until we received clarification. Well, we got that clarification, maybe. Let’s discuss Sony’s One-Time DRM Check.
Sony Confirms One-Time DRM Check After Fan Backlash
A little over a week ago, Sony said they would require an internet connection every 30 days for any digitally downloaded game to remain valid on a PlayStation 5. What was the reach of this policy? Would the server one purchased a game from matter? If the DRM (Digital Rights Management) check was built with a specific server in mind, a server may not exist the next time a gamer would want to access a game. You could lose access to the game. Sony dragged their feet answering gamers’ questions. And when they did answer questions, they let AI do the talking. If you’ve been reading these Geekly News posts for any time now, you know where I stand with AI. That was not the right move, Sony. Finally, after over a week of needling, Sony has clarified their One-Time DRM Check.
This check doesn’t affect games purchased before March 2026. If you purchased a game digitally from the PlayStation store before March 2026 and haven’t yet purchased one since, you’re safe…for now. The update applied to purchases made after March 2026 requires a one-time online license check, not recurring monthly validations. According to Sony, these measures are to combat a digital refund exploit. Evidently, some hackers can simulate a product key, never open the game with the key, and demand a digital refund, bilking Sony out of money. The percentage of people who do this must be small, but the number doesn’t need to be large. You just need a handful of crooks exploiting this policy.
While this makes sense from an anti-theft standpoint, Sony’s one-time DRM check still raises alarms. This check is a reminder that any game purchased digitally is not an owned game. A company can revoke your license at any time. And Sony hasn’t been subtle with its pushing of “digital-only” game purchases. The company’s announcement of a PlayStation 6 Lite, a less powerful version of the company’s next console, will most likely be a digital-only console. With the full version PlayStation 6 costing over $1000 and the Lite costing significantly less than that, Sony may intend to make game ownership a thing of the past or charge gamers extra for the privilege of owning a game. Sony will also make sure they get a bigger chunk of the pie up front, too.
Ironically, Sony won this generation of the console war because it refused to use any invasive DRM checks. We’re not like Xbox. We won’t ever include DRM checks. Well, they lied. And this could be a slippery slope. Sure, this policy is a one-time DRM check, but the next one could require a monthly check-in. It doesn’t help that Sony took more than a week to have a human respond to fan backlash. AI. Really?
Again, I may switch back to retro gaming. When you had a game cartridge or disc, you owned the game. And there might be something to the video game pirates abusing this refund exploit. I’m not condoning what they’ve been doing. They’ve illegally acquired someone else’s intellectual property. They should be prosecuted. Heck, these video game pirates may have set gamers on a path of getting screwed with oppressive DRM checks. But is it stealing when no one who purchased the game in that manner (digital download) ever owned the game in the first place?
We think this issue has been addressed. We’ll let you know if Sony changes their mind or if the AI starts its uprising.
River Valley Jewelcraft Launches on KickStarter
Return to the cozy town of River Valley! But this time, dig a little deeper. Glass is so last year.
Now, it’s all about the rare, radiant gemstones under our idyllic little town of River Valley. Miners, craftspeople, and artisans of all kinds have converged to make and sell the most beautiful jewelry in the land.
On your turn, roll dice to gather gems. Use your unique movement rules and player powers to explore the mine. Carefully lay tiles to improve your potential spoils. Finally, use your gems to craft exquisite jewelry to build a powerful scoring engine!
While River Valley Jewelcraft is a return to the setting and soul of River Valley Glassworks, it’s a completely brand-new game with completely unique gameplay and components.
Thank you to the publisher, All Play, for River Valley Jewelcraft’s description. I love River Valley Glassworks; it’s been in the Geekly rotation of games for a handful of weeks now. Needless to say, I’m interested in the follow-up River Valley Jewelcraft. The new game gives me shades of King Domino and potentially Machi Koro in the best ways. Players acquire rock tiles, which function like dominoes, from the market and place them on unique player boards. Then, the dice determine which numbers activate and produce resources. Interesting. Like I said, River Valley Jewelcraft borrows ideas from popular games, but it looks to make them its own. And I’m always happy to return to the town of River Valley. If you’re interested in River Valley Jewelcraft, check out its KickStarter page.
The Quest Kids: Giant Adventure Launches on GameFound
The Quest Kids: Giant Adventure is a LIFE-SIZED fantasy game experience for kids.
Using 36 giant cardboard tiles players will create a dungeon in their own home and act as the game pieces as they search for treasure, silly bad guys and stars.
Giant Adventure features the same award-winning mechanics as The Quest Kids board game, but in a new, one-of-a-kind immersive experience.
Thank you, Treasure Falls Games, for the description. My kids are far beyond playing a game like The Quest Kids: Giant Adventure, but I wished a game like this existed when they were younger. We would’ve played the heck out of this game. And knowing my kids, they probably would’ve played this game a lot on their own. The large tiles put kids in the game. Literally. Kids use themselves as their pawns. The ruleset is easy enough for children five years old and older to learn. The tiles are sturdy enough to play The Quest Kids: Giant Adventure outdoors. That’s where I imagine my kids playing. LOL If you’re interested in The Quest Kids: Giant Adventure, check out its GameFound page.
Flockers Launches on GameFound
The sharp chill of winter means it is time to fly south. But be vigilant—predators and decoys dot the landscape.
In the tactical card game Flockers, you will build a flock of snow geese that is best suited to swiftly navigate the terrain below.
Playing cards might add to the flight path, advance your flock token, or allow geese to graze so they have the vitality to continue south.
Fly south the furthest and the fastest to win. Let’s fly!
Thank you, Odd Bird Games, for the description. Many recent board games have used a bird theme, but few tackle the idea of migration. Players fly their flock of snow geese southward for the winter. Love the theme. And I love the geese playing pieces. The Flockers‘ name stops just shy of something naughty. Love it. The artwork looks amazing. Look beneath the snow goose playing piece. Are those cards depicting a topographical map? Wow! If you’re interested in Flockers, check out its GameFound.
Invincible VS Releases
Ever want to recreate the brutal fights in Invincible? Invincible VS has you covered in a new 3v3 tag fighting game set in the Invincible universe. Battle to the death as a team of fan-favorite characters in iconic locations. Invincible VS is a solid showing for first-time developer Quarter Up. It has received mixed to positive reviews and does a good job of capturing the vibe of the show.
Invincible VS has just enough blood to warrant its intellectual property. The gameplay follows the Street Fighter/Injustice formula. Sure. The intellectual property does a lot of heavy lifting here, but if you’re interested in fighting games (I stink at fighting games, by the way), and you want to play in the world of Invincible, you may want to give Invincible VS a try. Personally, I’d wait for it to go on sale. Invincible VS is available on PC, Xbox Series S/X, and PlayStation 5.
Saros Releases
Saros features a haunting story of a lost off-world colony on Carcosa under an ominous eclipse. You play as Arjun Devraj, a powerful Sotari Enforcer, who will stop at nothing to find who he is looking for. Thank you, Housemarque, for the description. Saros has received great reviews. It combines bullet hell, a third-person shooter, and roguelite elements into an engaging game. With Saros, Housemarque has built on their success with Returnal.
We may still be in the first half of 2026, but Saros makes an early push for the Game of the Year. Sony’s acquisition of Housemarque made Saros possible. And Saros fits well within Sony’s catalogue of character-driven, single-player adventure games like The Last of Us, God of War, Uncharted, and the Spider-Man video game series. But gamers who own systems other than a PlayStation 5 will have to wait for Saros, or it may not arrive on another system at all. Recently, Sony canceled Ghost of Yotei’s PC release. Ghost of Yotei, too? Sony has been on a roll.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Releases
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is the official prequel, hailing back to the origins of the genre-defining, critically acclaimed series of turn-based strategy games. Raise grand armies and wield devastating spells to overcome your foes in both solo and multiplayer. I have a spotty history with Heroes of Might and Magic. I’ve enjoyed every game I’ve played of this long-running series, and it looks as if Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is another game in this series that I’ll have to check out. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era has countless downloads and has gained near-universal acclaim.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era features plenty of game modes to pique many gamers’ interest. Critics and gamers alike claim this is a good continuation of the series with “deep and complex gameplay” and it contains an “overwhelming sense of nostalgia.” This is a game that pays tribute to the games that came before it in the series, but presents a path forward. Yep. It’s only a matter of time before I play Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era. I have a lot of games on my to-play list. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is available on PC.
Constance Releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and Nintendo Switch
Constance is a 2D hand-drawn action adventure featuring a paintbrush-wielding artist, striving to escape from a colorful but decaying inner-world, created by her declining mental health. Yes! We have a quirky, Metroidvania game releasing this week. Thank you, Constance and btf Games. I’m always down for a quirky video game.
And look at those gorgeous graphics. Constance taps into the soul of those classic side-scrolling games. I love the theme. It works for the month of May, Mental Health Awareness Month. The titular character, Constance, battles mental health issues. The use of a paintbrush to reframe one’s inner-world rings true and presents a healthy way to combat mental health struggles. I know Constance was released on Steam in November of last year, but I love that a wider audience has a chance to play. Constance is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.
That’s all the Geek News we have for you this week. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another review/reaction to this week’s episode of Daredevil: Born Again, “The Hateful Darkness.” First off, amazing episode title. I love that title, “The Hateful Darkness.” Metal! I had some issues with this week’s episodes, but I’m not gonna lie. That ending kills.
Literarily. Oh. Spoilers are in effect. You’ve been warned. We’ll begin with what worked in “The Hateful Darkness.” I’ve said it a few times already, Daniel Blake’s story has been one of Daredevil: Born Again Season Two’s best stories. Michael Gandolfini did a great job. That was in the past tense for a reason. Blake’s story comes to an abrupt end in “The Hateful Darkness’s” closing moments. Blake’s passing at the hands of his buddy Buck’s hands was not in the original plan.
Daredevil: Born Again had intended to bring Blake back for Season Three. But Blake had a full circle moment in “The Hateful Darkness.” What made Blake’s story so great was how he was pulled in two directions. He cared for BB, and he wanted power through Mayor Fisk. Blake had every intention of handing over BB to Buck, but he had a hero moment and let her go. Not all hero moments require tights. Not all hero moments need to include world-wide or even city-wide stakes. Not all hero moments end with the hero prevailing. Blake made the choice to be BB’s hero. He did what was right in the moment. Blake living after making this choice would’ve cheapened his heroic choice. And I loved how Buck looked gutted.
Like I said, Blake’s death scene was not the original plan, but Daredevil: Born Again is a labor of love by producers Charlie Cox (Daredevil) and Vincent D’Onofrio (Kingpin). Along with Gandolfini (Daniel Blake), they felt as if the character was better served if he died in this moment–for all the reasons I mentioned. The showrunners knew Gandolfini’s Blake was a fan favorite. This wasn’t an easy decision. It was the right decision. Kudos! Arty Froushan’s Buck looked as conflicted as he did because the crew returned to shoot Blake’s death. Froushan thought the extra shoots were to clean up a prior day of filming. He didn’t know his character would kill his friend. Those were real emotions. The scene was phenomenal.
“The Hateful Darkness” also sprinkled in some other great moments: Matt Murdock returning to the courtroom, Karen Page and Heather Glenn’s showdown, and the opening scene with Page and Wilson Fisk. All of these were executed well, but they did feel off, and here’s where I talk about Daredevil: Born Again’s shortcomings. Jessica Jones’s presence still feels forced. She shares another rooftop scene with Daredevil. Jones even jokes about it. Marvel is so bad with self-referential jokes. They’ll joke about the thing they often include, while still using the thing they often include. Have the two meet somewhere else. Maybe a bar? Maybe not, because I’m sure Jones is trying to stay sober for her daughter.
We do receive news of Luke Cage’s involvement with the United States government. Jones and Mr. Charles (Matthew Lillard) share a scene in Charles’s hotel room. I mentioned it before but Daredevil: Born Again has too many characters it’s trying to juggle. Charles and New York’s governor disappear for long periods of time until the plot needs them to return. McDuffie (Murock’s partner) has had little to do before this episode, taking place in court. Better to show up for the penultimate episode than not at all, I guess. White Tiger has all but disappeared. I don’t know if I care enough about the character yet for that to bother me, but the fact that she’s vanished is a symptom of too many characters. Heck. I had forgotten about Cherry until this episode.
Daredevil: Born Again feels different than the original Netflix Daredevil series. Sure, I’ve driven home the point of there being too many characters, but Daredevil: Born Again may have overcorrected for the original Daredevil series. Thirteen episodes each season for Netflix’s Daredevil was too many, but eight or nine episodes a season for Daredevil: Born Again is too few. The show feels rushed. When I said that “The Hateful Darkness” had other great moments, I didn’t kid. But while the scene of Matt Murdock’s return to the courtroom was well executed, it took the ticker at the bottom of the screen for me to remember that New York City was looking for Murdock. The show went on so many tangents I had forgotten a major plot point.
Likewise, Karen Page and Heather Glenn’s confrontation felt inevitable, but it also came out of nowhere. There was little to no buildup. Page even cites what Glenn said about her relationship with Matt Murdock, but that exchange happened in season one. I thought Page talking about a stranger lying beside her in bed sounded familiar the first time I heard it. It took a second viewing to remember Page and Glenn’s conversation in Daredevil: Born Again, season one. The show could’ve brought up Glenn and Murdock’s prior relationship sooner. Armed with remembering NYC was looking for Murdock, and Glenn’s former girlfriend status with Murdock made those moments hit harder. They were well done. But they felt rushed.
I would love it if Daredevil: Born Again had a ten to eleven-episode run. It doesn’t need the Netflix Daredevil 13-episode run. Again, that’s too long. But Daredevil is at his best when his show has room to breathe. I loved the episodes of Daredevil: Born Again when the show had time to focus on a select few characters. Venessa’s death was handled with grace. I liked the episode where Matt could finally mourn Foggy’s death. And “The Hateful Darkness” concludes with another banger of an ending. There’s a lot to love, but there’s something missing.
But those are my thoughts about Daredevil: Born Again, “The Hateful Darkness.” What did you think? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Wednesday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here. Today marks April’s fifth Wednesday, so that means our writers will share personal updates over the past three months or so since our last update. Honestly, I don’t know if we’ll hear from Season and Skye this month, but you’ll get an update from me. Here’s what I’ve been doing these past three months.
Kyra’s Personal Update
If you’ve been following my Game Design Brain Dump series lately, you’ll know all about the Great Plains Game Festival (GPGF) and how I submitted three games for its inaugural Playtest to Win Event. My designs weren’t checked out as much as I would’ve liked, but I got some good feedback. Spill the Beans and Whirligig Pets received mostly praise, so those two games are pretty much ready to submit. And I have begun submitting Spill the Beans. That’s one part of my New Year’s Resolution down. I have a submittable board game, and I’m submitting it to various companies.
Whirligig Pets needs a promo video, but that may occur as soon as today. I have a script and a ring light. Let’s do this thing. I’ll share whenever I begin submitting Whirligig Pets and whatever happens with any responses. Fingers crossed that I’ll hear something back from my first wave of Spill the Beans submissions. While I’m sure these companies receive multiple queries daily (I went with some larger board game publishers first), I was hoping I would have heard something back from someone by now. I may wait a week or two and follow up.
I also submitted No Kings to GPGF’s Playtest to Win Event. That one needs more work. I’ll try various things to see if I can jazz up the gameplay. I’ve mentioned in a past Brain Dump that popular art’s sweet spot between familiar and strange could lie in the following Venn Diagram.
Evidently, No Kings leans toward the “Potentially Boring” side of this Venn Diagram. I have some ideas to shake up the design, and multiple people signed up for No Kings’ notifications. No Kings had more followers than the other two games. Most people who responded sounded as if they would give the game another chance. But before I send the game back into the wild, I’ll send it through the meat grinder a time or two.
Moving from the games I’m designing to games I’m playing, I’ve dove into the Marvel Multiverse RPG or MMRPG or the d616 System. That’s a lot of nicknames for one game. Anyway, I will be running a one-shot MMRPG scenario at the Nuke-Con Aftershock Event next month (May 16, 2026) at the Bellevue (Nebraska) Public Library. If that goes well, you could see me at a Free RPG Day Event at the end of June. Regardless, I’ve busied myself by converting some of the TSR Marvel RPG of the 1980s into the d616 System. Roll Charts! Woo hoo! My future holds countless hours of rolling up characters with ridiculous origins and powers.
And since I’m old enough to have played the 1980’s TSR Marvel RPG, I regret to inform you that I’ve had lower back pain for the past several days. I haven’t been able to leave the bed too often. While that helps me read four resource books for the MMRPG and catch up on some other reading, I haven’t been able to sit for prolonged periods. I’m on the mend. I’ll get back to writing and game design real soon.
I’ve been submitting here and there to literary journals, but for the most part, that’s all I have for these past couple of months. Let’s check in with Skye.
Skye’s Personal Update
Long story short: I got a new job.
This has taken up the majority of my time over the past few months. I wasn’t getting enough hours at my movie theater job, which was having a negative effect on my income and prompted me to seek out new employment. Ultimately, I landed a job at Carvana. In all honesty, I didn’t even expect to get an interview for this position (let alone get hired), but I’m very glad that I did. I like going on adventures with Carvana.
So far, things have been going well; the only difficult part has been sorting out my hours between my new job and my theater job. Yes, I ended up keeping the theater job. The good news is that I’m getting the hours I need; the bad news is that my free time is completely unpredictable now. I’ll still try to post and update whenever I can, and I still love being a part of the Geekly Community.
We geeks gotta stick together, right?
Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here again. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Hey, hey, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with another week of Geek News. We missed the past couple of weeks; I’ve been busy getting my board games more polished. How have you been these past few weeks? I’ve been tired. Sheesh! My board games are better, but they can always be improved. Getting back to Geek News, we have a handful of new board games and video games this past week, and we’ll get to them soon enough, but let’s catch up on some headlines.
We’ll begin our headlines with PlayStation 6 news. We had quite a few, and we’ll discuss both major ones (backward compatibility and the number of PlayStation 6s we should expect to see), but we’ve been discussing console news for some time. Let’s talk about Bethesda. Ah, Bethesda, the answer to which AAA video game developer releases games with the most bugs.
Starfield Update 1.000.003 Fixes PS5 Bugs?
Bethesda released Starfield earlier this month. Has it really been less than a month? Yikes! Immediately, PlayStation fans unearthed numerous bugs and crashes. Typical Bethesda Softworks. One would think Bethesda would’ve had enough time between Starfield’s Xbox-exclusive release last year and its PlayStation 5 release this year to iron out any bugs, but that isn’t the case. Sony has always had a more difficult coding language, increasing the time needed to release a game on the console, and since Bethesda released Starfield on the Xbox Series S/X in a broken state, the company sank all of its time fixing the Xbox bugs and developing expansions for the new title that the company dedicated little, if any, time to making sure the same bugs didn’t plague the PlayStation 5 release.
Turns out Starfield found new bugs with the PlayStation 5. Reported crashes abound. Players couldn’t save their games. So, Bethesda released Starfield Update 1.000.003 to fix the reported crash issues, but there’s a catch. The patch only fixes issues on the PS5 Pro. If you have the base console, you’ll need to wait longer. As of writing this post, Bethesda has yet to release a patch that will fix the base console PlayStation 5. Maybe the fix drops within the next twenty-four hours, and this is an old news post. But PlayStation 5 owners will still experience plenty of bugs. Update 1.000.003 only fixes some of the bugs. It makes the game playable, but not enjoyable.
And even if Bethesda releases a patch for the baseline PlayStation 5, Starfield’s PS5 release marks the direction the company appears to have taken. Release a new game on Xbox. Give Xbox a year of exclusivity. Spend the entire year fixing the Xbox version of the game because they didn’t release the game in a playable state. Then, when PlayStation owners finally get their copy of the game a year later, repeat the process on the other system. This doesn’t look good for PlayStation owners for Elder Scrolls VI or Fallout 5. If this trend persists, PlayStation owners will have to wait one and a half to two years for the next game in those series. Exclusivity is one thing, but we’ll need to keep an eye on when Starfield becomes an enjoyable experience on PlayStation 5.
PlayStation 6 News
We’ll begin with the definitely good news if true for the PlayStation 6. According to Tom from Moore’s Law Is Dead (MLID), a leaked Sony document with the codename “Canis” states the new PlayStation 6 will support backward compatibility with PS4 and PS5 games. The rumored handheld variant, more on that in a bit, will also run PS6, PS5, and PS4 games. Sony has not confirmed these PS6 backward compatibility claims, and the leaked document is described as “years old,” meaning Sony’s plans may have changed.
If true, this is great news. But I can’t stress enough that this document is described as “years old.” A lot can change in a handful of months. Just ask Bethesda, star of our last segment. Regardless of whether the PlayStation 6 is compatible or not with PS4 and PS5 games, another document, also leaked by MLID, suggests we won’t need to wait long for the PlayStation 6. At one point, possibly “years ago,” Sony intended to release the PlayStation 6 next year (2027). I don’t know how I feel about the PS6 releasing next year. Late last year or early this year (I forget) Sony closed down the PlayStation 4’s online store. Typically, Sony does this to make way for a new console. So, the release date of 2027 makes sense based on Sony’s actions.
But the pandemic slowed down the manufacturing of the PS5, and developers have yet to dig deep with the current console’s features. The PS6 releasing next year seems too soon. It also doesn’t bode well that the PlayStation 5 is the first console to go up in price toward the end of its run. Sony may need to figure out the memory chip crisis. (Thank you, AI, for gobbling up the memory chips.) Personally, I could wait an additional year or two. But what do you think? Let us know in the comments. Would you be excited if the PS6 were released in 2027?
The PS6 release date wasn’t the only thing divulged in a series of leaked documents. Sony plans to move away from a single-console-at-a-time strategy and intends to release three unique versions of the PS6. And we get suggested prices for these systems. Keep in mind, this leaked document was “years old,” which could mean these prices were based on figures before the memory chip crisis. (Screw you, AI.) The flagship console PlayStation 6 could be as little as $999. Yikes! A PS6 Handheld could range between $499 and $699. And a budget-friendly, watered-down PS6 Series S or Lite could range in price between $349 and $549. There’s a lot to unpack.
I don’t have too many notes for the PS6 Handheld. $499-$699 is in line with high-end handhelds. I’d imagine a PS6 Handheld will be more powerful than the Nintendo Switch 2, which hovers just shy of that range. But again, the prices could increase. Speaking of increasing prices, leaker MLID believes the flagship PS6 could be as much as $1199 with rising prices. Double yikes! And then we get to the odd duck of the bunch, the PS6 Lite. We’ll go with Lite.
The Xbox Series S/X has proven the dangers of producing two consoles with the same name but differing capabilities. It’ll be difficult for a PS6 Handheld to work at the same level as a flagship PS6, but that’s to be expected. That’s forgivable. Two home consoles of differing capabilities cause frustration and confusion.
Do you release a title on the flagship PS6 and not for the PS6 Lite because the game requires too much computing power? That would leave PS6 Lite owners feeling like they don’t own a PS6, so what would be the point of owning a PS6 Lite? Do developers code toward the flagship PS6 and short shrift the PS6 Lite? Bethesda did just that in our other segment, favoring the PS5 Pro over the base PS5. Technically, both consoles received the game, but one gets a playable version of the game and the other doesn’t. Or do developers code for the lowest common denominator and favor the PS6 Lite? This would render an upgrade to the flagship PS6 meaningless. $999 (or $1199) is a lot to drop on a meaningless console upgrade. Each developer will make their own choices. The choices will differ. And the result is bedlam.
Again, this leak comes from a dated (years-old) document. Sony’s plans might have changed, but I’ll also remind readers that Sony shut down the PS4 store, meaning the company intends to release the PS6 sometime soon (with its store only servicing PS5 and PS6 owners). And again, I’ll advocate for Sony and Xbox waiting to release their new consoles until after the memory chip crisis resolves. The only reason Sony intends to release a flagship PS6 and a PS6 Lite is that memory chips are so expensive. $999 as the low-end for a new system could price out countless gamers. I don’t know if I’m ready to drop $1199 on a console. I may return to retro gaming. Yowza!
This is a developing story. We’ll keep you posted if Sony confirms or denies any of these leaks.
Reactor Rescue Launches on KickStarter
In Reactor Rescue, players take on the role of engineers whose spacecraft have malfunctioned while en route to fix a failing reactor in the city of Electra. Each player must repair their own vehicle by building real electronic circuits, before returning to the city. Only one engineer will complete their mission.
To make repairs, players must collect electronic component cards that represent real electronic parts such as a LED, buzzer, switch, motor, sensors etc. These parts are then used to build actual working circuits using modular, magnetic Labbox blocks.
There are three level of circuit cards, that represent specific circuit blueprints, that players need to complete by managing scarce resources.
Gameplay involves strategic card management, circuit-building, and a strategy to fix your vehicle first. Players can lock in components for future use, swap cards from the deck, and physically test whether their circuits function as required. The first player to complete all their vehicle’s circuit repairs wins the game.
Thank you for the description, HaPe International and Labbox (Reactor Rescue’s publishers). Reactor Rescue has massive toy factor. The game also looks great on the table, so phenomenal table presence. Reactor Rescue is one of those games passersby can’t help but pause and watch for a few rounds. While the game length (1-2 hours) gives me pause, the mechanisms and the game’s description above make me think individual turns won’t take too long.
Throw in some STEM elements, and Reactor Rescue is one of those educational games I wouldn’t have mind playing when I was young. That being said, Reactor Rescue skews toward the younger side with its demographics. Still, I would say no to a round or two of Reactor Rescue. It looks engaging. I could find enjoyment connecting the circuits to one another. In short, Reactor Rescue looks cool. Its pledge levels run a little on the high side, ranging from $75-$291, but I don’t know too many people, outside of educators, who would want the nearly three-hundred-dollar version of Reactor Rescue. You’ll find plenty at the $75 level. If you’re interested in Reactor Rescue, check out its KickStarter page.
Button Shy Micro Games: Spring 2026 Arrives on KickStarter
Button Shy releases their first collection (for 2026). That’s right. Button Shy Micro Games has released their Spring 2026 collection. A few reprints (Rove: Results-Oriented Versatile Explorer, Aqua Rove, and a secret reprint) join newcomers Astro Rove, The Rise of a Jarl, Everything Machine, and Shaper. We won’t discuss the reprints too much, they’re previous versions of one of the new games (Astro Rove), anyway, so let’s get to the new stuff. Bring on Astro Rove.
Astro ROVE is a solo spatial puzzler. The player must complete missions by using their movement cards to align ROVE’s modules in the proper pattern. As ROVE travels further, efficient use of movement points and module abilities becomes paramount to success. Thanks for the description, Button Shy.
I’ve never played ROVE, but the concept sounds great for a solo game. Clearly, the game has fans. Astro ROVE may be the twelfth or fifteenth entry in the series. I don’t count as well whenever I have to take off my shoes to count toes. This proves ROVE has plenty of fans, and I may have a new series to explore.
Build up your Viking civilization through resource management, balancing expansion with defense to protect your gains. Devote your efforts to long-term innovations or focus on accumulating wealth and increasing your population. Forge your own path through the Viking Age and leave your mark on the known world.
I’ll say thank you to Button Shy again for the description for The Rise of a Jarl, but that’ll be a blanket thank you. All future descriptions of Button Shy Games will be by the publisher. The Rise of a Jarl intrigues me. I don’t know of too many 4X solo games. It’s also an engine-building game with options. If multiple paths are equally valid for winning, sign me up. And the artwork for the games in this collection are what we’ve come to expect from Button Shy. Top notch.
Each turn, the team of engineers queries a row or column of the grid, and the Machine player provides a clue that fits all of the hidden attributes of the queried cards. As the Engineers guess, cards are revealed or removed from the grid. Final scoring is determined by the total number of turns required as well as incorrect guesses, so move quickly and accurately to earn the best score.
Oh, my! Everything Machine is one of those games I would like to play, but would stink at playing. Speed could make Everything Machine trickier than most games of this ilk. In the example above, “natural” and “bright” are the two clues on the back of the card, so in this example, the clue giver (the Machine) says, “sun,” because the sun is natural and bright. It fits both criteria. I don’t know how I feel about blurting out answers to beat opposing players, but I do like quick and easy word games.
Create unique images to communicate your secret clue in this cooperative picture-making game. Take turns channeling your inner artist to complete all the clues and win.
We go from a word-guessing game in Everything Machine to a picture clue-making game in Shaper. I like the concept of abstract art cards being used to create shapes. Shapers sounds like a more interactive Dixit. I’d definitely give this one a try.
And those are all the new games in Button Shy’s Spring 2026 collection. I do wonder when a wallet game (a game that fits inside a wallet) can still be considered a wallet game with a dozen or more expansions. I’m looking at you, ROVE. Still, I’m always interested in new Button Shy releases. The company has a great track record for fantastic games that take little table space. If only one game strikes your fancy, you may pledge $15. Or you could get all the games for $54. If you’re interested in Button Shy’s Spring 2026 collection, check out its KickStarter page.
Yotei Launches on KickStarter
Set in Niseko, a breathtaking region on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, this board game brings the local scenery, people, and wildlife to life. We’ve paid special attention to environmental sustainability by using Hokkaido-sourced wood for the tokens, while the artwork—created by a talented Japanese illustrator—is based on real people, landscapes, and events from the community.
In this game, you’ll craft the most enchanting Hokkaido town. Your currency? Potatoes. Bid with them, unearth more when you run short, and welcome the delights of the north: savory ramen, melt-in-your-mouth wagyu, delicate sushi; wild trout, mighty Ezo-bears, curious red foxes; and iconic developments from snowy ski resorts to serene hot-spring villages. With evolving tactics each round, the game stays fresh and captivating from start to finish.
Play this game to experience an authentic slice of life in Hokkaido. Despite the adorable “kawaii” illustrations, it’s a highly strategic, heart-pounding contest that will leave you eager for “just one more round.”
Thank you, Kumagera Seisaku G.K., for the description. Yotei looks amazing. I love the bits. Those pawns (pictured above) look adorable. They play well with the 3D wooden pieces. I can’t believe Yotei fits so much game into a small box, or at least a smaller box. Games only last 30-60 minutes. The publisher using the phrase “just one more round” in its description rings true if games of Yotei don’t take too long. The theme screams life in Hokkaido. I know Season would want to get her hands on this title. I don’t blame her. With multiple paths to victory, Yotei is on my radar. If you’re interested in Yotei, check out its KickStarter page.
Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors Releases
From the creators of Vampire Survivors comes a turbo-charged, turn-based roguelite deckbuilder. Deal world-ending combos, blitz through infested dungeons, and master the Turboturn to obliterate hordes of familiar foes with a chaotic hand of cards. Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors is a way too long title for a video game. Let’s shorten it to Vampire Crawlers. Even though Vampire Crawlers is set in the same universe as Vampire Survivors, players don’t need to have played the previous game to play this one. Vampire Crawlers has also received overwhelming praise.
Vampire Crawlers channels its inner Slay the Spire, but it’s so much more than that. I’ve said it before, and I’m saying it again, roguelites are having a moment this past year to year and a half. Vampire Crawlers is just the latest in this trend. And with a suggested MSRP of around $10, Vampire Crawlers has an attractive price point. Why not give the latest, hot roguelite a shot? Vampire Crawlers is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.
Tides of Tomorrow Releases
From the makers of Road 96 comes a groundbreaking narrative adventure. Your choices shape the story for other players. Follow in your friends’ footsteps, face the consequences of their actions, and choose the fate of this plasticpunk world. Thank you for the description, THQ Nordic. Tides of Tomorrow sounds groundbreaking. My actions will impact my friends. What? Tides of Tomorrow’s promotional video also suggests following in the footsteps of your favorite online creators. While that also sounds amazing, I can see parasocial relationships deepen with games like Tides of Tomorrow. Potential consequences aside, Tides of Tomorrow sounds amazing.
Tides of Tomorrow has received great reviews. It hasn’t received as many reviews as I would like in certifying the game as having amazing reviews, but still, the reviews I have seen have touted Tides of Tomorrow. The biggest issues I’ve seen (from critics and gamers alike) echo some of the ones I mentioned above. If you can affect the game for others, griefers can–and will–have a field day. Yowza! I didn’t even think about griefers. But Tides of Tomorrow does give players the option of who to follow. If you want the best game experience, choose wisely. So, I’m thinking I don’t follow Dr. Disrespect’s storyline. LOL Tides of Tomorrow is available on PC and PlayStation 5.
Kiln Releases
Grab your friends to assemble a team of colorful spirits, then sculpt ceramic battle armor on a pottery wheel. The size and shape of your pots determine their play-style and abilities—work together to douse the enemy’s kiln. From Double Fine Productions (the same publishers of PsychoNauts and Brutal Legend) comes Kiln. Don’t look now, but we have three new video game releases that have good to great reviews. And we have another game with innovative mechanisms. In Kiln, players construct their own armor and weapons on a massive pottery wheel and unleash them on the enemy team.
I love Kiln’s graphics. They’re equal parts whimsical, adorable, and impressive. I hope the gameplay matches the frenetic energy of the angry pot, picture above. Kiln knows what it is. It’s a party game and doesn’t try to be anything else. Something tells me that I won’t mind losing in a game like this. Kiln has the vibe of a game that doesn’t take itself seriously, so why should players take the outcome of the game too seriously? I can’t wait to sculpt ceramic battle armor. Rawr! Kiln is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X.
And that’s all the Geek News we have for this week. Which games are you most interested in playing? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
Happy Saturday, Geekly Gang! Kyra Kyle here with this week’s Daredevil: Born Again review/reaction. This week’s episode, “Requiem,” breaks away from the show’s recent trend of focusing on a few specific characters. “Requiem” also showed how too many characters can cause problems with building a compelling story.
Honestly, I forgot just how many characters Daredevil: Born Again attempts to juggle. “Requiem” even added Jessica Jones to the mix. I doubt Jones will show up again until the final, final battle. Yes. Daredevil and Kingpin square off near the end of this episode. I doubt that’s the final, final fight between the two this season. I don’t know where to begin. I started with Jessica Jones, and she does show up at the beginning of “Requiem,” so she may be as good a place to begin as any.
Jessica Jones has a child, presumably with Luke Cage. When she speaks with Daredevil, Jones mentions that her powers have become unstable after giving birth (that shows up later in this episode) and that “some of their kind were willing to comply with Kingpin.” Does that mean Luke Cage surrendered himself to the Anti-Vigilante Task Force (AVTF)? Maybe. Charlie Cox (Daredevil) has expressed interest in Mike Colter returning to his role of Luke Cage. This could open the door for that. I wouldn’t say no to Colter making another run as Cage. But Cage–and Jessica Jones–deserve their own show or shows.
Jessica Jones doesn’t have much to do in “Requiem.” We catch glimpses of her taking out the AVTF at her house, she shares a rooftop conversation with Daredevil, and helps Daredevil crush the AVTF at the Red Hook docks, but not before showing her powers being flaky. It was fun seeing Ritter return as Jessica Jones. It will be fun if Mike Colter reprises his role as Luke Cage. But it’ll be less fun if Jones and Cage play second fiddle to Daredevil in a show. This is Daredevil: Born Again. The show bears Daredevil’s name and has introduced its fair share of new vigilantes. There’s a reason the AVTF exists.
While there are rumors of a Defenders revival, I’d like to see Jones and Cage in their own show together, or at least give the two a special presentation like the one The Punisher will get in the middle of next month. I can’t wait for The Punisher Special. I believe Marvel plans to give Jones/Cage a show or special, but they’ll needto convince Colter to return to the Luke Cage role. Charlie Cox has been on record, saying he wants Colter as Cage. Colter hasn’t yet shared that sentiment.
With Jones out of the way, let’s get back to Daredevil: Born Again’s core characters. Or at least who I think should be Daredevil: Born Again’s core characters. Kingpin doesn’t take his wife’s death well. Gasp! JK. That didn’t surprise me. It also didn’t surprise me when Kingpin murdered the doctor who failed to save his wife, even though the doctor undoubtedly did everything he could to save Venessa. Kingpin attends Venessa’s funeral, and then we don’t see him until his fight with Daredevil. The fight leans into Kingpin’s loss. We even get a moment when Kingpin laments destroying the painting her purchased from Venessa (also signifying the day they first met). It was done well enough, but it felt forced. “Requiem” had too many other characters and story threads to tackle.
Ironically, Daredevil also had little screen time. Sure. He and Jones took down the AVTF (as I mentioned above), he shares a tense moment between Bullseye and Karen Page (but Daredevil served as a sounding board for Karen Page, sharing her motivation to kill Bullseye), and he fights Kingpin, but even this fight gets interrupted by Page spurring the resistance (NYC) to fight back against Kingpin and Kingpin even gets a moment to mourn the loss of his painting (his greatest connection with Venessa). I know I said Jessica Jones had little to do in “Requiem.” The same may be true of Daredevil. And this is his show.
It took the second or third viewing of “Requiem” for me to remember that Daredevil: Born Again had paired Heather Glenn (Daredevil’s ex) and Buck Cashman (Kingpin’s right-hand assassin). Heck, Vanessa set the two together at a formal dinner a few episodes ago. Please forgive me. I tried not to pay attention to the scene Glenn and Cashman shared. Buck asks Heather to choke him like Muse choked her. Yikes! I couldn’t tell if the showrunners wanted this scene to read like someone dealing with trauma (Glenn facing her fears) or Glenn and Cashman getting kinky. Maybe it’s both. If it’s both, yuck. I wanted to skip this scene the second and third time. Was Daredevil: Born Again going for uncomfortable? If so, mission accomplished. I felt uncomfortable.
Moving to another would-be romantic pairing, BB Ulrich celebrates Deputy Mayor Blake’s birthday at his mom’s house. Blake takes Buck’s advice and feeds BB–that’s a lot of “B” names–fake information about Kingpin. BB almost takes the bait, but she melts when she scans Blake’s childhood bedroom. Aw! She genuinely cares for him, and Blake cares for him because he’s been protecting BB from Buck for several episodes by this point. He can no longer protect her from Buck. This could lead to an interesting couple of episodes for Blake. Does he choose Buck, and by extension, Kingpin? Does he choose BB? Does he play both sides? This scene doesn’t take too much of “Requiem,” but it’s strong.
And that brings us back to Page and Daredevil. I don’t know if their relationship will last. We see plenty of cracks when Page threatens to kill Bullseye. Page and Murdock don’t see eye-to-eye with how to continue the rebellion. For now, it looks as if Daredevil’s methods govern the movement, but Page gets abducted in “Requiem’s” closing moments. While Kingpin murdering the doctor was a gimmie, I don’t know how he’ll deal with Page. She wants Bullseye dead. Kingpin definitely wants Bullseye dead. The two may have a shared goal.
“Requiem” tries its best to juggle all of Daredevil: Born Again’s characters, but the show has too many characters. I didn’t even mention White Tiger. She didn’t have much to do either and quickly vanished. There’s only so much screen time for all of these characters. Wait! Doesn’t Matt Murdock have a legal partner? What has McDuffie been up to these past two episodes? Oh. And I didn’t mention the brief moment we had of Matthew Lillard’s Mr. Charles. So…many…characters. But I am interested in what a Page/Kingpin exchange will look like. Next episode’s title, “The Hateful Darkness,” may hold a clue to the next show’s motif.
But what do you think? Let us know in the comments. Thank you for reading, and wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
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