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Tactical shojo RPG, Illusion Connect, launches globally on iOS and Android

Superprism Games celebrates the global launch of its tactical shojo RPG, Illusion Connect, as it debuts on iOS and Android. Over 600,000 users pre-registered to play Illusion Connect, an impressive feat for any mobile game. Those of you that sign in over its launch period can expect to receive a number of free-to-claim rewards, including skins, resources, and even characters.

In a battle to save humanity, you must team up with Saya to fight the mysterious enemies who have invaded the space between the real world and the dream world. These enemies, also known as Nightmares, are incredibly powerful and will require you to bolster your squad. Fortunately, there are plenty of Lenses available to team up with to make fights easier.

To uncover the hidden conspiracy, you’ll need to defeat all the Nightmares who stand in your way. Your path should be different from most players thanks to the faction system, giving each team their own unique purposes and faiths. Illusion Connect isn’t all about fighting, however, as you can learn all about your partners with the social features built into the game.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inSsuW067LU?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

Here’s a list of everything you can gain during Illusion Connect’s launch window:

  • Login for eight days in total to gain massive Diamonds, Nina’s skin ‘Redhood’, and SSR partner Miyuki
  • Anna’s Gift: clear stages to gain massive resources including diamonds, coins, partner EXP, and SSR gears
  • SEED’s Recruitment: collect a certain number of SR and SSR partners to gain Summon Ticket x30 and a bikini skin for Kasumi
  • Dreamweaver (third day after character creation): collect stage stars to gain massive Diamonds
  • Newbie Bonus Gacha: ‘Summon x10’ guarantees an SSR partner (Frantiva, Hotaru or Nicola)
  • The Journey of Growth: complete all seven-day objectives to upgrade Saya from R to SSR, and gain Saya’s skin ‘Nightingale’

You can download Illusion Connect from the App Store and Google Play right now. Interested in other gacha games like this? Check out our list of the best gacha games available on mobile devices.

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The pre-registration period for Marvel Realm of Champions has begun

Kabam is opening the pre-registration for Marvel Realm of Champions, the 3v3 multiplayer action-RPG brawler, for players across the world. Realm of Champions was in a geo-locked beta for the past few months, but Kabam is now launching the game worldwide.

Realm of Champions is a reimagining of the Marvel Universe. Set on Battleworld, the forbidden planet forged from several realities, the Marvel heroes must fight against each other in a secret war to prevent an open war. Featuring Iron Legionnaire, Web Warrior, Black Panther, Hulk, Storm, and Sorcerer Supreme, you can pick from any of these playable champions and pledge their allegiance to their respective houses.

Every battlefield featured in Realm of Champions has been inspired by areas from Marvel’s deep history, from the Wakandan city of Necropolis, to Tony Stark’s Palladium Mines. You’ll also be able to customise your chosen superheroes with a variety of gear and weapons, a first for a Marvel game like this. The armour and weapons also stem from the comic books. For example, Spider-Man has access to multiple suits that you can mix and match to form something completely unique.

Pre-registering for Marvel Realm of Champions will net you with exclusive rewards such as Iron Legionaire and Hulk gear, plus 100 Units and 300 Gold to get started. You can register your interest for the game over at the Realm of Champions website and on the Google Play store.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4WpixlkHcQ?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

If you love MOBAs like this, you may want to check out our best mobile MOBAs guide. We’ve painstakingly assembled this list to ensure you spend your time with only the heavy-hitters of the genre.

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Win yourself a free copy of shape-shifting puzzler, Girabox!

It’s often hard to find the balance between puzzle games that are too complicated, and puzzle games that aren’t complicated enough. But in our experience, the best mobile puzzle games, and the best puzzle games in general, are actually very simple. Look at Portal, for example, and you see a game which centres around one fairly simple mechanic: creating Portals. But what makes the game incredible is how it gradually builds complexity around that.

Girabox is a puzzle game that plays with a similar idea. The central mechanic of the game sees you solve puzzles by spinning shapes, trying to use gravity to move your icon to the goal. Sounds simple, right? Well, just like those previously mentioned puzzle games, Girabox builds complexity as the game goes on, presenting players with a challenge while also retaining that accessible simplicity.

And never one to turn down a good puzzle game, we’ve partnered with Girabox for this week’s giveaway. We’ve got both iOS and Android copies of the game, so if we’ve peaked your interest, be sure to enter down below.

In order to throw your hat into the ring, all you have to do is fill out one of the entry boxes. Please make sure you fill out the correct one for your device, though, as that will affect what code you get if you win. Also please have a glance at our terms and conditions.

ios

PT – Girabox iOS giveaway

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PT – Girabox Android giveaway

We’ll let you know in a week whether you’ve won the giveaway! If you can’t wait to play Girabox, you can also find it on Google Play, the App Store, and even Steam.

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You literally can’t miss out on the legendaries in the Pokémon Sword and Shield expansion

Pokémon Sword and Shield’s second expansion, The Crown Tundra, introduces every legendary Pokémon that’s ever appeared in a mainline Pokemon title to the Switch game. Unlike in previous Pokémon games, where each legendary encounter can result in the Pokémon running away, Nintendo has confirmed that encounters with legendary Pokémon have a guaranteed 100% capture rate.

This information was confirmed in the most recent episode of the Japanese variety show, Pokénchi. Pokénchi also confirmed that players will only capture one of each legendary Pokémon. Some members of the community are disappointed by this news as they fear these legendary Pokémon will be shiny locked. This means these Pokémon cannot be shiny unless the developers decide to give them away at future events. Be sure to keep an eye out on any events after the expansion launches.

Depending on which copy of Pokémon Sword or Shield you own will determine which legendary Pokémon appear in your game. Unfortunately, this means if you want every Pokémon in your PokéDex, you may need to own both copies of the game.

There is the possibility that Game Freak will allow players to catch the version-exclusive legendaries through raids, though this hasn’t been confirmed as of yet. By guaranteeing players can capture the legendary Pokémon without fail, this opens up the possibility of using any Pokéball you want. Be sure to choose wisely, as you won’t have the option ever again.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMbuCjjs3gw?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

Want more RPG goodness on your Nintendo Switch? Say no more. Our best Switch RPGs guide will leave you with hundreds of hours worth of content to explore.

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Claim free in-game rewards in Summoners Glory: Eternal Fire this weekend

Summoners Glory: Eternal Fire, BHG team’s first ever game, launches this Sunday on October 18. Blending together the turn-based, hero collector, PVP, and MMORPG genres, Summoners Glory: Eternal Fire aims to immerse players in the world of Kairasia as they battle against Morganter, the Demon Lord.

Morganter’s reign of terror on the people of Ertos looked like it would be the end of civilisation as they knew it, but the Goddess of the Initial Fire stepped up just in time. Shining her light of hope on humanity, the heroes of Ertos felt the power of the Initial Fire. With the leadership of the Gods, the heroes of Ertos face Morganter for the final time. As a Phantom Master, it’s up to you to bring peace to Ertos once and for all.

In this dungeon crawler, you assemble a squad capable of toppling Morganter. There are hundreds of unique heroes scattered around the world called Phantoms. Defeating these powerful Phantoms may lead them to pledge their allegiance to you, so it’s worth battling these strong opponents once you have prepared for battle.

If you start playing Summoners Glory: Eternal Fire, be sure to enter code PocketTactics at the character creation screen to get some powerful in-game rewards. The items include experience buffs, summoning books, an SS Rank Phantom, and even gold. Don’t worry, this code doesn’t expire so feel free to use it at any point.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meNAwL9FfSc?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

Summoners Glory: Eternal Fire will be arriving on Android and iOS devices at the end of the week. Players can pre-register their interest to play on the Google Play Store and App Store right now.

Want to play a different MMORPG while you wait for Summers Glory: Eternal Fire to launch? Check out our best mobile MMORPGs guide which highlights some of the best games available on Android and iOS.

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The Project Cars Go closed beta is live for the next two weeks

Project Cars Go, the one-touch racing game from Slightly Mad Studios, is now in closed beta for iOS and Android users. The closed beta period started on October 14 and will end on October 27, giving players plenty of time to test their racing skills against the toughest opponents the road has to offer.

Unlike Slightly Mad Studios’ console games Project Cars 1 & 2, which focused on being a fully fledged driving simulator, Project Cars Go aims to simplify the complex mechanics of racing while maintaining an aspect of realism. Project Cars Go allows players to take a spin in 50 licensed cars on 12 unique tracks, three of which are based on real-world races.

The one-touch racing mechanic in Project Cars Go allows players to drive with ease no matter where they are. Here’s what Ian Bell, CEO at Slightly Mad Studios has to say about this feature: “Condensing the key moments of what a driver does out on the track—brakes, entry-points, exit points—into a ‘One Touch’ mechanic was an interesting project for us at the studio, as we wanted to retain the authenticity of the Project CARS franchise but cater for what our fans want on a racer they can play on the go.”

Unfortunately, if you didn’t sign up to the closed beta then it looks like you won’t be playing Project Cars Go any time soon. Currently, there is no release date for the full game. In the meantime, check out this trailer, which debuts new gameplay.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwZIkswIr1w?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

If you weren’t one of the selected players to join Project Cars Go closed beta, definitely check out our best mobile multiplayer games list, which features a number of racing games. There should be something you fancy on that list no matter what device you happen to own.

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Apple announces iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, and iPhone 12 Pro

The iPhone 12 rumour mill has finally ground to a halt, as Apple has finally announced the hotly-anticipated new model. Unsurprising to no one, 5G is the big ticket feature this time around. Also making a return is the angular, block-y style of the iPhone 5, albeit with the lovely curved edges made popular with the iPhone 6.

The result is arguably the most attractive iPhone yet. It’s also a slightly smaller device than last year’s iPhone 11, thanks to slightly smaller bezels. It’s still not quite as bezel-less as the latest Samsung devices though, and that massive camera and speaker placement at the top is still present. There’s always next year though, right?

Other new features include a stronger screen, which Apple refers to as a “ceramic shield”, that’s more resistant to scratches and breaking, and the Super Retina XDR display first seen in the iPhone 11 Pro back in 2019 makes an appearance in the base models this year. Apple is still banging on about the 5G support as we write this.

Apple also unveiled the new A14 Bionic chip, which, as is no surprise, is the fastest mobile processor yet. Apple riffed off a bunch of tech-speak about why it was so fast, but we didn’t really understand much of it. All you really need to know is that it’s around 50% faster than the nearest competitors, and supports 50% better graphics performance.

Also announced is the iPhone 12 Mini, which, as the name suggests, shrinks the iPhone down into a just over 5″ format, down from the 6″ iPhone 12. Aside from that, it’s an identical phone to the base model.

And, finally, in a move that surprises absolutely no one, Apple has announced the iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. Much like last year’s models, these focus primarily on providing a powerful series of cameras. The Pro model also includes a new telephoto lens, which is a bit of a beast.

You can watch the livestream below:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR0g-1hnQPA?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

If you’re as interested in iOS games as we are, be sure to see our list of all the Apple Arcade games that are currently available. We also reviewed Apple Arcade’s newest addition, The Survivalists.

Though, if you’re a little more service agnostic, we also have a list of the best iOS games for you to peruse. We hope you enjoy the event!

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Markiplier ditches YouTube to become a fantasy barkeeper

YouTube superstar Markiplier is set to enter the world of AFK Arena alongside his lovely dog, Chica. He’s taken up residence as the new barkeeper in the Noble Tavern, a sort of home away from home where you can summon heroes and have a break between adventures.

His likeness has been recreated in AFK Arena’s vibrant style, meaning he doesn’t look out of place among the other NPCs. He’s also lent his voice to the role, so you can expect to hear both words of wisdom and encouragement from the man himself. Plus, whenever you visit the Noble Tavern, he’ll be right there waiting to help you summon powerful allies to your team.

This is only the latest in a series of AFK Arena collaborations with major stars. Earlier this week, we covered the game’s ‘Cheat on your RPG’ ad campaign featuring Elijah Wood. The first of those TV spots sets up Wood’s secret love for AFK Arena and his rocky relationship with orc Uzgahk the Horrid. Yes, it’s all a bit wild.

Here you can see Markiplier and Chica in AFK Arena:

New characters arrive regularly in AFK Arena, but the Markiplier collab is something a little different. Recently, new recruitable heroes Zaphreal and Lucretia joined the fray, and there was even an AFK Arena Assassin’s Creed crossover not too long ago.

If you’re willing to risk losing dozens of hours of your time, you can grab AFK Arena now from over on the App Store or Google Play. Oh, and be sure to use code “BestRPG4BusyU” to net yourself 500K Gold and 500 Diamonds. We also keep an AFK Arena tier list and a regularly updated list of AFK Arena codes.

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Trick or Treat with Splatoon 2’s Splatoween event

The official Nintendo of America Twitter account has just revealed Splatoween 2020! A Splatfest tournament will take place in Splatoon 2 and pit Team Trick against Team Treat in an epic battle. Some super spooky outfits are also shown off in the Tweet letting players into the Halloween spirit before the event starts. More information on the costumes will be available via a news article on your Nintendo Switch later this month.

Team Treat won the original Splatoween Splatfest back in 2018 by a tiny margin, so loyal members of Team Trick are hoping to take their revenge this year. Nintendo also announced a Super Mario-themed Splatfest is happening in January, so Splatoween is a welcome challenge in the interim.

Whether you are new to Splatoween or a returning player, there will be plenty to enjoy. The event begins on October 30, 15:00 PT / 23:00 BST and ends November 1, 14:00 PT / 22:00 BST. Make sure you keep up with everything Nintendo by checking out our Nintendo Direct Mini updates!

Check out the reveal tweet below!

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Game of the Girl online event round up

International Day of the Girl was created to fight for gender equality around the world, and raise awareness of the issues faced by girls everywhere. Women across the globe are continually striving for protection from discrimination on the streets, in the workplace, and within the gaming industry. The Game of the Girl online panel featured women who work in gaming telling their stories and discussing their experiences in the workplace.

Game of the Girl was hosted by comedian and games journalist, Ellie Gibson, Anita Wong from Indigo Pearl, Izzy Jagan from Square Enix, Jade King from Trusted Reviews, and Imogen Mellor from GamingBible. They discussed their treatment in the workplace, celebrated women in gaming, and gave some very useful tips for those of you looking to get into the industry.

A Game of the Girl 2020 Steam sale commenced today and includes discounted titles celebrating strong female protagonists. A percentage of the proceeds will go towards War Child UK, so be sure to check Steam for discounts of up to 80% on titles such as Gone Home, Heaven’s Vault, and Bury Me, My Love.

The Game of the Girl stream supported the War Child UK charity. War Child UK helps children in territories of war and takes action for girls being mistreated. They use many forms of media, including video games, to help girls learn to read and write after being in dangerous situations.

Aside from helping a fantastic cause, the presenters gave many tips for those of you looking to get into the game industry. The advice provided ranged from keeping up to date with video games by watching YouTube let’s play videos and having the confidence to apply for every job or internship you see! None of the members of the panel had a video game relevant university degree, but find having a degree is a valuable commodity to your portfolio.

Women have come a long way in the industry, and their representation in games has come leaps and bounds. From being shown as nothing more than love interests, to now taking the lead role in games and truly showing their worth. It’s amazing to see women supporting other women, “I’ll get the doorstop!” Izzy Jagan commented when asked how she has been holding the door open for other women during her time in the industry.

If you want to learn more, be sure to check out #RaiseTheGame. Raise the Game are fighting you equality within the video game industry, and have lots of tips to let you know how you can get involved.