Gaming

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 feels fresh but familiar

Definitely nailed the landing

Published

August 11, 2025

Some games punish you for every mistake, but Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 makes failure oddly fun. Even after bailing for the hundredth time, I still found myself hitting “retry” again and again.

It’s a perfect blend of nostalgia and high-energy skateboarding adrenaline — the kind of mix that hooks you in whether you’re a seasoned pro or, like me, just really bad at the game.

Beefy tutorial

I missed the franchise’s first big refresh a few years back, so I made sure to run through the full tutorial this time. Totally worth it.

It covers everything — from ollies, kickflips, and grinds to wall rides, transfers, and advanced tricks whose names I’ve already forgotten.

The tutorial shows you every move, but it’s up to you to chain them into combos for big points. You’ll need those skills for the other game modes.

Steady progression

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 has a nice throwback feel to it in that you can totally conquer the game with skill alone. That’s something that feels fresh in today’s era of microstransactions.

Career Mode requires you to complete a set number of objectives per map to unlock the next one. For someone like me (read: not exactly a skateboarding prodigy), that meant plenty of retries — but each run felt different.

For someone not very skilled like yours truly, it took plenty of tries before I was able to unlock different maps. But those different tries all felt unique. Each run, you’re free to do whatever you want.

There were runs where I was gunning for one objective the first minute. But when it felt unachievable in that run, I quickly pivoted to a different objective making the run feel worth the try. That’s why every run feels fresh.

Objectives range from racking up points from combos, completing collectibles, or map-specific objectives that involve NPCs or completing transfers and tricks unique to that stage.

New skaters, create your skater

The game didn’t just bring back the skaters from the original release. They also added a healthy number of new and notable skaters from all around the world.

The new skaters in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 include Chloe Covell, Yuto Horigome, Jamie Foy, Zion Wright, Letícia Bufoni, Margie Didal, Rayssa Leal, Aurélien Giraud, Nora Vasconcellos, Riley Hawk, Nyjah Huston, Tyshawn Jones, Shane O’Neill, Leo Baker, and Lizzie Armanto.

Most of my runs were done with Philippine pride Margie Didal. Fun fact: this writer actually met Margie Didal before her rise to global prominence when she represented the Philippines in the Olympics. There’s just something inherently cool about meeting someone in person and them being a character in a video game later on.

Sticking with one or two skaters can be to your advantage as you try to unlock more maps. You gain stat boosts and more familiarity with the skater’s capabilities as you go along.

As you progress, you also unlock more customization options. These range from cosmetics to adding tricks to your arsenal.

As you rack up more tricks, you’ll become more ready to create your own skater or unlock more skaters. My first target was to unlock Michael Angelo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Mickey + Skateboarding just feels right. Definitely a cowabunga moment.

There are more skaters available making it a prime candidate for massive replayability.

Is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 your Game Match?

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 qualifies as both a quick pickup-and-play or a game that you can really sink your teeth into. There are plenty of maps and characters to unlock and each run feels fresh. Upping your skills also feels challenging but not unattainable. That makes this game an easy Swipe Right.

It’s the perfect in-between game when you want to take a break from RPGs or those really big story-driven AAA games. And there’s plenty to do in the game that you’ll likely be able to squeeze plenty of playtime from it for the next few years.

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.