Articles by Rachel Kaser

Android gamers have a whole new world open when playing video games on their mobile devices thanks to cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, formerly known as Project xCloud. Right now, if you look at the full list of every game you can play, you’ll notice that you can choose from over 200, which might feel a bit overwhelming.

Luckily, we have your back, and we’ve picked some of the best ones of the bunch that we think you should check out first. This is by no means an exhaustive list — Microsoft has an impressive cloud gaming library full of excellent games.

You’ll see some games come and go; such is the nature of Game Pass. But we’ll be sure to update this when we can so you always know which games to play on your phone. We also rounded up the best phones for Game Pass. And you’ll need a controller for basically all of the games (save a few) before you can dive in, so be sure to check out our picks for the best controllers for Game Pass on Android, too!

The games

A Pla…

Pick a character and play. You have 21 to choose from.

What you need to know

Bandai Namco recently announced a new entry in the Tales series coming to mobile, called Tales of Luminaria.
This game is now available for pre-registration on the Play Store, though it doesn’t have a solid release date yet.
Luminaria will have 21 protagonists, each with a distinct story that reveals more of the world.

For all you Japanese RPG fans who have been waiting for a good mobile title, you’re in luck: The recently announced Tales of Luminaria is now available for pre-registration on the Google Play Store. This mobile title promises to have just as much gameplay as its console-based cousins, with lots of playable characters and a rich, interesting world to explore.

The game was first revealed at Gamescom earlier this year, with a short trailer previewing the game. Luminaria is the second mobile Tales title, the first being Tales of Crestoria. For those who can’t wait for the mobile version,…

A veteran team and a strange new world.

First revealed during the June 2020 “The Future of Gaming” PS5 showcase, Forspoken is a new IP from Square Enix. Though little of it was shown when it was revealed, its distinctive visuals and gameplay immediately captured the interest of gamers. We’ve since learned more of the game from Square Enix — though what we have learned is even more intriguing.

Forspoken is a third-person fantasy action-adventure title and could possibly end up as one of the best PS5 games available, depending on how it pans out. Here’s everything you need to know about Forspoken on PS5.

Jump to:

What is it?
Check out some trailers
Gameplay and features
Is it coming to Xbox?
When does it release?

What is Forspoken?

Forspoken is a new IP being developed by Luminous Productions, a studio under Square Enix. Luminous Productions is primarily made up of developers who worked on Final Fantasy 15, with the studio itself founded in 2018. Final Fantasy 16 is ins…

Insomniac is doing a lot of hard work padding the PS5’s library.

After having skipped the E3 and Gamescom shows, Sony has finally held its big showcase event. Considering the company’s slate over the next six months was looking bare, we were expecting some decently-sized announcements. The PlayStation Showcase not only had updates on previously announced games like God of War: Ragnarok, but it had some new games to announce, too. Here are all the games it revealed at the event.

Knights of the Old Republic Remake

It’s real after all. The remake of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is coming to PS5. All we saw was a glimpse of Darth Revan in all their glory, as well as a short voice clip of Bastila describing them. But we do know it’ll be a console launch exclusive on the PS5.

Project EVE gets a gameplay trailer

This mysterious Korean action game got a gameplay showcase, showing off its post-apocalyptic setting and the slick moves of its heroine. No release date was g…

Marvel’s new mobile game has some features players should get familiar with.

Marvel Future Revolution is a surprisingly feature-rich open-world RPG that stars the luminaries of the Marvel universe. Players can select from a group of famous superheroes and take on a number of the biggest villains to protect multiple worlds that have converged. It’s got a very forgiving learning curve, so most parts of the game should be easy to understand.

That said, there are a few things you should know if you’re just starting — things I wish I’d known when I began playing the game. So here are some helpful tips to remember when you’re starting the game for the first time.

Dodge, dodge, dodge some more

The dodge button is a relatively small one underneath the attacks, but it’s an essential one, and you should get cozy with it as quickly as you can. Most heroes can tank attacks fairly well in the early stages of the game, so it’s very easy to forget how to dodge. I recommend you should practi…

Experience Final Fantasy IV’s original 2D style with updated graphics and gameplay.

What you need to know

Final Fantasy IV, the latest game in the Pixel Remaster collection, is set to launch on September 8.
The game will feature quality of life updates, but will otherwise show off the gameplay that had a huge influence on the rest of the series.
The remaster is based on the original 2D release, not its 3D remake from 2007.

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is getting its fourth title at the beginning of next month, as Square Enix prepares to launch yet another of its classic JPRG titles on mobile. Final Fantasy IV is launching on Android, iOS, and Steam on September 8, and will be available to buy on the Google Play Store.

Final Fantasy IV is the story of Cecil, a knight who becomes disillusioned with the tyrannical despot he initially serves and goes on a crusade to dethrone him. Along the way, he’ll be assisted by his best friend Kain, his girlfriend Rosa, and a big party of o…

The new update will have the final chapter of the Inazuma storyline.

What you need to know

Genshin Impact’s latest update, Version 2.1, has been revealed and will launch on September 1.
The new update will finish the Inazuma story and introduce three new playable characters and two new islands.
Players will also be able to fish in the latest update, as well as attend Liyue’s Moonchase Festival.

Genshin Impact developers MiHoYo have announced when the latest update to Genshin Impact launches: Version 2.1, called “Floating World Under the Moonlight,” will launch on September 1. It’ll conclude the Inazuma Archon storyline, introduce two new islands, three new playable characters (and one bonus character for console gamers), and will also roll out fishing.

The new update will show the conclusion of the Inazuma storyline that was started with the most recent update. The Traveler will be able to travel to Watatsumi Island, one of the Inazuman Islands and the home of the resistance mo…

You’re owed a free Quest 2 facial cover if the foam is making you itch.

Facebook recently initiated a recall of current Oculus Quest 2 models, citing a skin irritation issue caused by the foam facial liner on the inside of the device. It’s also halted sales of the Quest 2 while a new model without the foam is being produced. Oculus is now producing a silicone facial cover for users to purchase to replace their foam covers.

If you’re already an Oculus Quest 2 owner, you can request a replacement facial cover made of silicone. Oculus has instructions on the product recall page, and it’s a relatively simple process.

Go to the Oculus store page for the silicone cover and click the blue Redeem button.

Log into your Oculus/Facebook account. You’ll be redirected to the My Devices page.
In the Quest 2’s box on the Devices list, you should see a button next to the device that says Request Silicone Cover. Click that.

You have to fill out an order form about your version of the device, …

Play on a single account once the new update rolls out.

Cross-saving, or cross-progression, will be added to Genshin Impact with the 2.0 update, along with the new city of Inazuma and several new characters. This means that, before you had to maintain different characters on different platforms, you can now play as your Traveler on multiple devices.

Developers MiHoYo recently detailed how this works, and while the linking process is a bit tricky, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. Here are the steps, and as a reminder, these options won’t go live until July 21, so do not try and link the accounts until after then.

A note on terms: We’ll refer to a general “iOS/Android/PC” account as a “MiHoYo account.” This is because you must create your own account to play on those devices. The PlayStation, on the other hand, creates its own MiHoYo account when you open Genshin on it for the first time that is separate from that on the aforementioned devices. So for the sake of differenti…

The latest mobile game from Square Enix tells a story set in the Nier universe.

Square Enix revealed during E3 2021 that it was bringing the NieR series to mobile devices. This entry in the series, called NieR Reincarnation, is a mobile spin-off title that follows the adventures of a little girl fighting off a dark monster. It was released in Japan on February 18, and it will launch to the rest of the world on July 28.

Jump to:

What is Nier: Reincarnation?
Gameplay
Connection to other Nier Games
Microtransactions
Where you can play
When you can play

What is Nier: Reincarnation?

Nier: Reincarnation — often stylized as NieR: Re[in]carnation — is a mobile game set in the same universe as the Nier games (which were originally a spin-off of the Drakengard series) and is being developed by Square Enix and Applibot. It’s a free-to-play RPG where the battles take place inside human memories. The connection to the main NieR series, if there is one, is not clear.

The player…