Gaming

Digimon Story Time Stranger: Back to the digital past

A (personally) nostalgic Digimon return

Published

October 2, 2025

I came into Digimon Story Time Stranger already excited. Trailers and previews gave me flashes of a Digimon game I once played during a summer at my relatives’ house. I spent every waking moment of those two weeks trying to beat it — though I never did.

I don’t even remember which Digimon World title it was, but I was hooked. My aunt used to call me out for playing before I’d even had breakfast. That memory stayed with me, and this new entry in the franchise instantly felt like a chance to relive it.

I’ve had less time than I’d like with the game since getting the review code, so think of this more as a review-in-progress. But I’ve played enough to know it’s worth talking about.

Time travel and the inferno

The story sends your protagonist eight years into the past. Your role is to unravel the events that led to the “Shinjuku Inferno,” a catastrophe that left the world in ruins.

Not rolling credits yet actually helps here since it keeps things spoiler-free. What I can say is that there’s enough happening in the early hours to keep you intrigued. Things ramp up gradually. The mystery of what caused the Inferno pushes you along, and the more you progress, the more you want to connect the dots.

The characters I’ve encountered so far didn’t immediately latch on to me. I couldn’t fully identify with or feel invested in them. That does dampen how eager I am to move forward with their arcs, but it doesn’t take away from the pull of the central mystery. The looming Inferno itself is strong enough to keep you curious.

The joy of collecting

The monster-collecting gameplay loop is the real hook here — it’s addicting and built for completionists.

You begin by picking your first Digimon partner. From there, the system opens up. Every time you battle a Digimon, you add to your scan percentage of that species. At 100% you can convert it into a new companion, but waiting until you’ve scanned 200% guarantees you’ll get the Digimon at its max possible stats.

Digivolution is the next big mechanic. Each Digimon has multiple evolution paths that depend on its stats and level. For example, a Koromon can evolve into Agumon, Guilmon, Dracomon, and more. This branching evolution system encourages experimentation. You can also go backward through de-Digivolution, which not only helps with strategic flexibility but also lets you work toward completing your full Digimon compendium.

If your roster starts to get crowded, you can fuse duplicates to enhance another Digimon or break them down into digital currency. It’s another loop that feeds back into progression.

With over 450 Digimon available, there’s more than enough here for players who love collecting, refining, and tweaking their party until it’s perfect. The loop is layered and rewarding — not just about “catching them all,” but about shaping the collection into something uniquely yours.

Strategy meets nostalgia

Combat in Digimon Story Time Stranger doesn’t try to be revolutionary, but it’s polished and layered enough to feel engaging. If you’ve played JRPGs from the late ‘90s and early 2000s, this will feel instantly familiar.

Dungeons are where you’ll encounter hostile Digimon. By pressing R2 (on PS5), you can attack first to gain the upper hand. If your party completely overpowers the enemy, you’ll defeat them instantly. Otherwise, you’ll be pulled into the turn-based battle arena.

The backbone of combat is the type triangle: Data beats Vaccine, Vaccine beats Virus, Virus beats Data. On top of that, elemental affinities add another wrinkle to keep you on your toes.

Your bond level with your Digimon plays a big role too. The closer you are to them, the more likely they are to perform quick follow-up attacks. These little assists can swing momentum in your favor and give combat a more dynamic flow.

There are also quality-of-life touches that stand out. You can swap party members mid-battle without losing a turn, which makes tactical adjustments painless. And with a flick of the right analog stick, you can speed up combat animations — a small feature that makes grinding far more bearable.

The system feels like a culmination of mechanics you might have seen in Persona 5 and Shin Megami Tensei. It’s not redefining the genre, but it knows what works and sharpens it in smart ways.

A Saturday morning cartoon come to life

What struck me most about Time Stranger is that it feels like playing a Saturday morning cartoon. From the colors to the tone to the music, the whole package captures that vibe.

The anime-inspired visuals are sharp and bright, with Digimon designs that pop. I also had a personal chuckle at the protagonist customization options — the red-haired male and short-haired female were exactly how I might’ve designed them myself.

The soundtrack deserves mention too. It changes with each location, sometimes even from room to room in the same house. Every track is thoughtfully matched to the scene and the mood.

There’s also optional DLC music. The pricing feels a little steep, but seeing Butter-fly from Digimon Adventure included was almost enough to convince me. It’s one of my all-time favorite anime songs, and hearing it in the game would push the nostalgia factor even higher.

Is Digimon Story Time Stranger your GameMatch?

Playing Digimon Story Time Stranger has felt like reliving that summer memory — the excitement of discovery, the satisfaction of raising Digimon, and the pull of wanting to see what comes next.

It isn’t trying to reinvent anything, and that’s part of its charm. Instead, it offers a polished, nostalgia-driven JRPG that rewards the time you sink into it. The story pulls you in even without a standout cast. The monster-collecting systems are rich and addictive. The combat strikes a balance between old-school comfort and modern convenience.

For me, it became a welcome contrast. I had just come from another game’s bloody revenge quest, yet I felt just as thrilled hopping into this time-traveling, monster-collecting adventure. One scratched my itch for grit. The other gave me wonder and comfort.

If you ever spent a summer glued to a Digimon game, this will take you back instantly. And if you’re new to the franchise, there’s more than enough depth here to keep you invested.

Verdict: It’s a Swipe Right.

Gaming

Here are all the big trailers from The Game Awards 2025

We got the return of Leon Kennedy and a new Control game.

Published

December 12, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

As expected by everyone, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 took center stage during The Game Awards 2025, bagging a staggering number of awards. But, of course, the annual show isn’t just about recognition; it’s also about trailers previewing the future of the games industry.

In case you missed the greatest gaming show of the year, here are the biggest trailers from The Game Awards 2025:

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic

The Game Awards 2025 started off with a blockbuster announcement for Star Wars fans. Developed by Arcanaut Studios, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is a successor to the widely renowned Knights of the Old Republic.

Divinity

The next major trailer pulled no stops. In arguably one of the most gruesome cinematics to ever grace The Game Awards, Larian Studios previewed its next game, simply titled Divinity. It’s a continuation of their iconic series before they released the award-winning Baldur’s Gate 3.

4:LOOP

When PlayStation produces a game, you know it’s going to be good. When you also have J.J. Abrams working on it, you’d better stand up and take notice. 4:LOOP presents a roguelike shooter where you save the world by dying over and over.

ONTOS

ONTOS is the spiritual successor to SOMA. And yes, that’s the voice of Stellan Skarsgård. The game will have players discover the truth behind their father, only to find things much stranger than expected.

Resident Evil Requiem

Capcom announced Resident Evil Requiem a while back now, albeit shrouded in mystery. Now, we know why they didn’t showcase much about the game. In its second trailer, Requiem has revealed that… Leon Kennedy is back! And he’ll be a playable character along with Grace Ashcroft.

CONTROL Resonant

Alan Wake 2 was a bright spot during its respective Game Awards. Now, it’s time for Remedy Entertainment to return to its second series, CONTROL. This time, the main character is Dylan Faden, Jesse’s brother. And this time, the inhabitants looks like they’ve gone out of the Federal Bureau of Control.

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis

Lara Croft is back! This time, the tomb-raiding hero is going back in time, all the way back to her 1996 debut. Legacy of Atlantis completely remakes her debut game in Unreal Engine 5. It’s an amazing reimagining with modern visuals.

Oh, and the hype doesn’t stop there. Tomb Raider: Catalyst has also been announced for 2027, which includes a brand-new story.

Orbitals

Exclusive to Switch 2, Orbitals presents a co-op adventure set in a sci-fi world and lovingly animated with retro anime visuals. It also has a retro-themed soundtrack.

Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred

For the first time ever, a Diablo entry gets a second expansion. This time, the ongoing Diablo IV will get an update that brings back the ferocious Mephisto. It will also feature the return of the Crusader as a playable class.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Fate of the Old Republic isn’t the only Star Wars title announced during The Game Awards. Star Wards: Galactic Racer brings the excitement of podracing to modern gamers.

Phantom Blade Zero

Chinese ARPGs are so in right now. Still riding the hype of Black Myth: Wukong, Phantom Blade Zero imagines the world of Xia, a paragon of Chinese heroism. It features a sweeping cast of characters, weapons, abilities, and enemies.

Gaming

Expedition 33 cleans house at The Game Awards: full list of winners

Clair Obscur bagged a total of 9 awards.

Published

December 12, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

We’re finally in a gamer’s favorite season. Besides all the sales, discounts, and newly bought consoles, December always plays host to the highly awaited Game Awards. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the event gives recognition to the gaming world’s most prolific titles of the year.

As expected this year, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 cleaned house, bagging 9 wins out of a record-breaking 12 nominations. This includes the coveted Game of the Year award.

But Expedition 33‘s haul of awards isn’t the whole story. Other titles were recognized as well. And though it’s easy to say “lol E33 got everything,” it’s time to give those other games some recognition. Here is the full list of winners for The Game Awards 2025.

GAME OF THE YEAR

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
Hades II (Supergiant Games)
Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver)

BEST GAME DIRECTION

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Hades II (Supergiant Games)
Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA)

BEST NARRATIVE

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep Silver)
Silent Hill f (NeoBards Entertainment/KONAMI)

BEST ART DIRECTION

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Hades II (Supergiant Games)
Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)

BEST SCORE AND MUSIC

Christopher Larkin, Hollow Knight: Silksong
Darren Korb, Hades II
Lorien Testard, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Toma Otowa, Ghost of Yōtei
Woodkid and Ludvig Forssell, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

BEST AUDIO DESIGN

Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios/EA)
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Silent Hill f (NeoBards Entertainment/KONAMI)

BEST PERFORMANCE

Ben Starr, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Charlie Cox, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Erika Ishii, Ghost of Yōtei
Jennifer English, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Konatsu Kato, Silent Hill f
Troy Baker, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

INNOVATION IN ACCESSIBILITY

Assassin’s Creed Shadows (Ubisoft)
Atomfall (Rebellion)
Doom: The Dark Ages (id Software/Bethesda Softworks)
EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada/EA Romania/EA)
South of Midnight (Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios)

GAMES FOR IMPACT

Consume Me (Jenny Jiao Hsia/AP Thomson/Hexacutable)
Despelote (Julián Cordero/Sebastián Valbuena/Panic)
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Don’t Nod Montreal/Don’t Nod)
South of Midnight (Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios)
Wanderstop (Ivy Road/Annapurna Interactive)

BEST ONGOING

Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
Fortnite (Epic Games)
Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Marvel Rivals (NetEase Games)
No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)

BEST COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)
Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix)
Fortnite (Epic Games)
Helldivers 2 (Arrowhead Game Studios/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
No Man’s Sky (Hello Games)

BEST INDEPENDENT GAME

Absolum (Guard Crush Games/Supamonks/Dotemu)
Ball x Pit (Kenny Sun/Devolver Digital)
Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury)
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
Hades II (Supergiant Games)
Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)

BEST DEBUT INDIE GAME

Blue Prince (Dogubomb/Raw Fury)
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
Despelote (Julián Cordero/Sebastián Valbuena/Panic)
Dispatch (AdHoc Studio)
Megabonk (Vedinad)

BEST MOBILE GAME

Destiny: Rising (NetEase Games)
Persona 5: The Phantom X (Black Wings Game Studio/Sega)
Sonic Rumble (Rovio Entertainment/Sega)
Umamusume: Pretty Derby (Cygames Inc.)
Wuthering Waves (Kuro Games)

BEST VR/AR

Alien: Rogue Incursion (Survios)
Arken Age (VitruviusVR)
Ghost Town (Fireproof Games)
Marvel’s Deadpool VR (Twisted Pixel Games/Oculus Studios)
The Midnight Walk (MoonHood/Fast Travel Games)

BEST ACTION

Battlefield 6 (Battlefield Studios/EA)
Doom: The Dark Ages (id Software/Bethesda Softworks)
Hades II (Supergiant Games)
Ninja Gaiden 4 (Platinum Games/Team Ninja/Xbox Game Studios)
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (Lizardcube/Sega)

BEST ACTION/ADVENTURE

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (Kojima Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Ghost of Yōtei (Sucker Punch Productions/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (MachineGames/Bethesda Softworks)
Hollow Knight: Silksong (Team Cherry)
Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA)

BEST RPG

Avowed (Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios)
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive)
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II (Warhorse Studios/Deep SIlver)
The Outer Worlds 2 (Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game Studios)
Monster Hunter Wilds (Capcom)

BEST FIGHTING

2XKO (Riot Games)
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (Capcom)
Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (SNK Corporation)
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection (Digital Eclipse/Atari)
Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio/Sega)

BEST FAMILY

Donkey Kong Bananza (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
LEGO Party! (SMG Studio/Fictions)
LEGO Voyagers (Light Brick Studios/Annapurna Interactive)
Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Sonic Team/Sega)
Split Fiction (Hazelight Studios/EA)

BEST SIM/STRATEGY

The Alters (11 Bit Studios)
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles (Square Enix)
Jurassic World Evolution 3 (Frontier Developments)
Sid Meier’s Civilization VII (Firaxis Games/2K)
Tempest Rising (Slipgate Ironworks/3D Realms)
Two Point Museum (Two Point Studios/Sega)

BEST SPORTS/RACING

EA Sports FC 26 (EA Canada/EA Romania/EA)
F1 25 (Codemasters/EA)
Mario Kart World (Nintendo EPD/Nintendo)
Rematch (Sloclap/Kepler Interactive)
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (Sonic Team/Sega)

BEST MULTIPLAYER

Arc Raiders (Embark Studios)
Battlefield 6 (Electronic Arts)
Elden Ring Nightreign (FromSoftware/Bandai Namco Entertainment)
Peak (Aggro Crab/Landfall)
Split Fiction (Hazelight/EA)

BEST ADAPTATION

A Minecraft Movie (Legendary Pictures/Mojang/Warner Bros)
Devil May Cry (Studio Mir/Capcom/Netflix)
The Last of Us: Season 2 (HBO/PlayStation Productions)
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch (FOST Studio/Ubisoft/Netflix)
Until Dawn (Screen Gems/PlayStation Productions)

MOST ANTICIPATED GAME

007 First Light (IO Interactive)
Grand Theft Auto VI (Rockstar Games)
Marvel’s Wolverine (Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Resident Evil Requiem (Capcom)
The Witcher IV (CD Projekt Red)

CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR

Caedrel
Kai Cenat
MoistCr1TiKaL
Sakura Miko
The Burnt Peanut

BEST ESPORTS GAME

Counter-Strike 2 (Valve)
DOTA 2 (Valve)
League of Legends (Riot)
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Moonton)
Valorant (Riot)

BEST ESPORTS ATHLETE

brawk – Brock Somerhalder (Valorant)
Chovy – Jeong Ji-hoon (League of Legends)
f0rsakeN – Jason Susanto (Valorant)
Kakeru – Kakeru Watanabe (Street Fighter)
MenaRD – Saul Leonardo (Street Fighter)
Zyw0o – Mathieu Herbaut (Counter-Strike 2)

BEST ESPORTS TEAM

Gen.G – League of Legends
NRG – Valorant
Team Falcons – DOTA 2
Team Liquid PH – Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Team Vitality – Counter-Strike 2

Gaming

Genshin Impact, Duolingo partner for limited-time quest

Win various rewards by going on a 3-day streak

Published

December 9, 2025

GadgetMatch

Genshin Impact has partnered with Duolingo for a limited-time 3-Day Streak Quest in the Duolingo app.

The collaboration between the popular open-world RPG and the educational app features Teyvat’s travel companion Paimon.

Genshin Impact characters Tighnari and Cyno also make an appearance, as well as Duolingo’s beloved green owl Duo.

From December 8 to 27, players and learners from select regions can unlock the “Genshin Impact Quest” in any course on the Duolingo app.

Users who complete learning exercises for three straight days with receive the following in-game rewards:

Custom avatar “Diligent Study”
Themed namecard “Celebration: Dream Reader”
Unique Sumeru-style dish “Spiced Fried Chicken” and recipe
Collectible in-app statue of Paimon and Duo
Primogems

The reward redemption code can be claimed from the “Shop” page in the Duolingo app before December 30 and redeemed on the title before January 31.

To make the challenges more exciting, all four characters will show up on each quest to cheer on learners.

The collaboration follows the recently released Genshin Impact Version Luna III, which introduced Durin, a new 5-Star Pyro character with dual battle forms. There is also a new story chapter set in Nod-Krai.