Both Portal games are always a joy to rediscover, even if you’ve already played them countless times. Portal 2’s co-op campaign, Cooperative Testing Initiative, is no different. It’s a fantastic series of puzzles along five official testing courses, each with its own number of testing chambers, that lose none of the mainline Portal puzzles’ charms. Instead, the sequel’s co-op campaign deftly weaves in two-player gameplay mechanics in increasingly complex ways. Each course focuses on a specific testing mechanic, all seen in Portal 2, but reimagined with co-op play in mind.

Portal is also an excellent choice because it’s so approachable. It doesn’t take too long to get the hang of the movement and physics, so even if your partner (or you!) isn’t a “Gamer,” they can still have a ton of fun with this pickup.

You can play local or online co-op, as well. It’s available on PC and Nintendo Switch (and PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, if you’ve still got those plugged in).

The new Destiny 2 Guardian Ranks system introduced alongside Lightfall is set to give new and veteran Guardians alike more structure in their progression in the Bungie space game. Guardian Ranks are designed to help players work out what they should do next, and range from guidance to help ease newcomers into Destiny 2 through to hardcore endgame challenges for expert players.

“One of the problems if you’re starting or returning to Destiny is that, aside from New Light, there’s no ‘evergreen story’ for you to follow, so a lot of people feel aimless unless something catches their attention,” Destiny 2’s creative director Tyson Green tells us, “or they wind up confused because things get introduced out of order, and we want to fix that.” It’s certainly a common complaint, and Destiny 2 Guardian Ranks is the solution Bungie has come up with to help rectify this.

Accessed under the ‘Journey’ tab in your menu, you’ll now see a curve of numbers indicating your Destiny 2 Guardian Rank ranging from one to eleven. Green calls each rank “a phase in your journey as a Guardian.” The first six of these ranks are pitched primarily towards newer players, and focus on improving your general knowledge and power – these will involve things like visiting each planet, completing patrols and Lost Sectors, and meeting key NPCs.

Once you hit rank 7 and beyond, you’ll start to get into the current content – these levels start out by tasking you with completing the Lightfall campaign, improving your vendor reputation with NPCs on Neomuna, and taking on weekly Lightfall missions, and they will progress through to increasingly challenging content as you climb the ranks. These advanced ranks will reset when new events and seasons arrive, meaning they’ll be more of a live update to your progress in the latest activities.

As for what attaining the highest Destiny 2 Guardian Ranks will entail, Green is understandably reserved about giving too much away. However, he does say that reaching Rank 11 will involve “some of the hardest activities that you can play in Destiny,” and mentions the likes of master raids and GM nightfalls. But being at the highest echelon of Destiny 2 is about more than just how well you can shoot.

Those highest ranks should also indicate “the respect that other Guardians possess for you,” Green adds, mentioning the new commendation system that encourages players to seek “the respect and approval of other Guardians that you’re playing with.” He holds back from elaborating further, but says, “When you see a Rank 11 player in the tower, you know that’s a person who is both accomplished as a player and as a leader.”

Veteran Guardians who’ve already played a lot pre-Lightfall will be skipped ahead in the ranks slightly, Green notes: “We’re going to err on the side of assuming that our veteran players are improving themselves, so don’t worry about anything being re-locked.” In addition to this, he explains that certain ‘evergreen challenges’ in the advanced ranks will stay unlocked when they reset, so it should be faster to re-earn the ranks in subsequent seasons.

Overall, the system sounds like a welcome addition to help Improve progression – as someone who returned to Destiny 2 last year, it certainly took me a while to wrap my head around what I should be doing. Green says, “If you’re ever unsure about what you should do next, you should be able to look at your next Guardian Rank to give you an idea of what is a good thing to focus on.” Your current rank will also be visible to other players, so it should give them a rough indication of just how far into your Destiny 2 journey you are.

Increasing your Destiny 2 Guardian Rank is about more than just prestige, however – you’ll unlock additional slots for your Destiny 2 loadouts as well as other bonuses such as extra mods to craft. This decision was made to avoid “dumping the whole game on [new players] at once,” Green says. He also mentions that “there will be features in the future that look at your rank as a measure of how versed you are.”

Make sure you climb the ranks when the Destiny 2 Lightfall release date hits with our pick of the best Destiny 2 builds and all the Destiny 2 Lightfall exotics you’ll want to get your hands on. That way, you’ll be ready to go for the Destiny 2 Lightfall raid release date – which will no doubt be a key component for reaching those higher tiers.

© Provided by TheGamer

With roots in games like Super Metroid and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, the Metroidvania genre continues to prove popular with fans of 2D action-adventure games. This is especially true in the indie scene where there seems to be a new one released every other month, to varying levels of fanfare.

RELATED: The Best Metroidvania Games For Beginners

But when discussing the genre's very best, a few games are bound to come up. And despite the genre's console origins, the good news for PC players is that a lot of these are currently available on the various digital distribution platforms. What follows are the best Metroidvania games available on Steam.

Updated February 15, 2023 by Ryan Bamsey: The Metroidvania genre is ever-expanding, just like the borders of exploration within the games themselves. While they often trend toward the dark and serious, many fantastic Metroidvanias are a bit lighter in tone. We've added some to this list, along with some more of the grimdark we all love so much.

Monster Sanctuary

Rather untypically for a Metroidvania, Monster Sanctuary also doubles up as a monster-catching game in the style of Pokemon. Instead of catching monsters in small balls, though, you defeat them and procure monster eggs as loot, hatching them into a colorful yet dangerous army of your very own.

The Metroidvania aspects come in when you realize that you need to collect a wide range of monsters to be able to explore the entire map, with each monster having its own uses. Activating elemental switches, flying for a few seconds, speeding over traps, and smashing rocks to bits - all of these classic Metroidvania tasks are handled by different critters.

Islets

Islets is a very charming Metroidvania with very tight platforming and fun combat encounters with memorable bosses. While you don't end up collecting a plethora of unique skills and there are no incredibly deep systems to master, the game will test your skills and reflexes incredibly well.

It looks like a simple experience, and to some extent, it is, but there are some very rewarding challenges to be found in Islets, and the presentation alone is worth giving the game a closer look.

Salt And Sanctuary

While at first glance Salt and Sanctuary seems to veer more towards being a Soulslike than anything else, there are plenty of strong Metroidvania mechanics pumping through this game's arteries.

RELATED: Best 2D Soulslike Games

The challenging combat and incremental upgrade systems may be the stars of the show, but you'll need to acquire unique abilities to unlock new areas and traverse them safely, just like in any classic Metroidvania. The unique art style and intense feelings of accomplishment make this game very memorable, and all of these themes are continued in its sequel, Salt and Sacrifice.

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch

In F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch, you play as an anthropomorphic rabbit named Rayton. The game takes place in Torch City, a steampunk-inspired dystopia where the tyrannical Machine Legion is oppressing its animal denizens.

Armed with an upgradeable power armor that includes a large robot fist, Rayton must band together with a group of resistance fighters in order to secure their freedom. Good thing he just so happens to be a former soldier as he'll have to make use of that experience if he hopes to lead the rebellion to victory.

Blasphemous

With a title like Blasphemous, you can pretty much tell what to expect from this bloody 2D Metroidvania from Team 17. Its religious connotations aside, though, the game serves as a distillation of the genre's core elements.

RELATED: Blasphemous: The Best Bosses In The Game

These include its focus on progressive exploration through its ever-expanding world and combat similar to the difficulty of Dark Souls as well as earlier games in the genre, all of which are presented in an almost painterly pixel art style that effectively brings its dark fantasy setting to life. A free update that introduced new areas, items, and bosses was also released for the game, dubbed Wounds of Eventide.

Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night

Speaking of games that pay homage to the classics of the Metroidvania genre, many could argue that none does it better than Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. The game was in fact developed by Koji Igarashi, who had worked on several Castlevania games.

As such, it is considered a spiritual successor by many, retaining all of its gameplay trappings while telling a completely new story that is as dark as it is captivating. This would propel it to sales of more than a million copies as well as a nomination for Most Promising New Intellectual Property at the SXSW Gaming Awards. A companion title dubbed Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon was also released.

Dead Cells

Developed and published by Motion Twin, Dead Cells is a Metroidvania game with roguelike elements. What that means is that each time you restart the game, the layout of its levels and enemy placements would be different. You also lose all of your weapons and upgrades.

RELATED: Dead Cells: Things Beginners Should Do First

But before you go thinking this would contradict the fundamental principles of a Metroidvania, the game still maintains its sense of progression through certain permanent items that carry over between runs. You also unlock more weapons and items by finding blueprints for them, which stay permanently available within the game's shop once unlocked, ensuring that your options open up over time.

SteamWorld Dig 2

The SteamWorld games might have dabbled into a number of different genres over the years, but that doesn't mean they aren't best known as shiny examples in the realm of Metroidvanias. This is primarily due to the influence of SteamWorld Dig, and its even more beloved direct sequel, SteamWorld Dig 2.

The latter has players controlling a robot named Dorothy, as she explores the mines of an old Western town in search of her friend, Rusty. Each expedition into the mines rewards you with gems that can be used to upgrade your abilities, stats, and weapons. This in turn enables you to explore more of the mines in subsequent expeditions, creating a rewarding gameplay loop.

Ori And The Will Of The Wisps

Ori and the Will of the Wisps is the sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest. Released in 2017, the game once again has players guiding a spirit named Ori across a beautiful forest landscape.

RELATED: Ori & The Will Of The Wisps: Pro Tips You Need To Know

The game boasts some of the most impressive visuals seen in a Metroidvania game, with a stunning art style that wouldn't look out of place in a Disney and Pixar production. This is complemented by a fully orchestrated score as well as a heartfelt story, resulting in a game that is every bit as cinematic as its predecessor.

Hollow Knight

There is a reason why the internet continues to clamor for the eagerly-anticipated Hollow Knight: Silksong. Most of that is due to its largely well-received precursor, Hollow Knight, a 2D action-adventure game by Team Cherry.

Not only does its game serve as a love letter to the Metroidvania genre, but it also shows that the genre still has a lot to offer within the context of modern gaming. Its lore-rich story is matched with a beautiful hand-drawn art style that makes its subterranean kingdom and its bug-like denizens feel larger than life.

NEXT: The Best Games To Play On The Steam Deck

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As one of the old-guard TCG titles, Yu-Gi-Oh! is a game that many people have at least tried once upon a time. Whether they were drawn in by the anime back in the day or got sucked in through titles like Duel Links, new players try and break into the core game rather frequently using platforms like EDOPro or Dueling Book. It's no surprise if they then bounce off, because Yu-Gi-Oh has a brick wall for a learning curve.

Despite this, Master Duel quickly became the biggest release for a modern title in the series, and has attracted players new and old back into the game. There aren't too many obvious places to start learning, and the in-game tutorials aren't the most amazing at teaching the intricacies of the game. For those that want to get into Master Duel from scratch, here are some things to consider.

Updated Febuary 12, 2023, by Rain Egan: In the time since Master Duel (and this article) was released, it hasn't become any less complicated. It has, however, remained at the top spot for modern Yu-Gi-Oh! titles, even with the more recent release of Cross Duel. Since this article was published, Master Duel has also received mobile support, making it more accessible than ever.

Master Duel is still receiving updates, and it doesn't look likely that it'll stop being supported any time soon. While it's a different game with a different meta from the original TCG, it's also the most similar, making it the most appealing for new players and old. With so much attention on the game, a lot has been discovered, and more tips have emerged to help beginner players on the road to ranked success.

Set Up Data Transfer

This might seem like a small thing, but it's more important than it seems. With support across so many platforms, players can access Master Duel in just about whatever form they choose - but progress won't save unless data transfer is enabled. To enable it, players should:

• Go to the sub-menu and select data transfer
• Log into (or create) a Konami ID account
• Sync progress with Konami ID

It's also important that players set up data transfer in the event of a hardware malfunction. Regardless of device, as long as data transfer is enabled, progress can be restored from any device that Master Duel is available on. Brave players that use only their phones would have to start fresh if they upgrade their device, which can be a frustrating and tedious experience.

Buy the Duel Pass

New players might find themselves asking if the Duel Pass is worth it, and the answer is an unequivocal yes. The Duel Pass is a feature of Master Duel that provides additional rewards based on event progress and ranked duels. These rewards include gems, Craft Points, exclusive cards, and monster art.

The regular Duel Pass is 600 gems, while the Gold Duel Pass (which provides higher rewards) is 800. Players in it for the long haul will find that it pays off big time to invest in the Gold Duel Pass, but as a beginner, the standard one is also a good investment. As the game progresses, players will naturally collect Duel Pass points without even trying.

Invest Gems Into Bundles

When shopping for cards, beginner players should take advantage of bundle deals. This is one of the best ways to build a solid pool of meta staples, which can be used in most strong meta decks. The important thing about staples is that they're versatile, so they won't limit newer players into choosing a specific deck right away.

RELATED: Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links: Meta Staples and How To Acquire Them

There are currently five bundle deals available, and they're all worth investing free gems into. Buying all five sets guarantees the player five staple URs that will take them far. And it's not too steep of an investment for newer players, as Master Duel provides a lot of free gems at the start of the game.

Take Advantage Of The Solo Mode

While in-game tutorials on their own aren't the most detailed, the solo mode, as a whole, works as a great teaching tool for the game. The mode throws different decks and play styles at the player, allowing them to get used to the modern game in a controlled environment. Unlike the old days, the modern game is loaded with tons of different summoning mechanics and interactions. It's good for players to get acclimated to the experience from the shallow end.

Aside from teaching players, the solo mode also serves as a great sandbox for testing new decks. The AI decks in higher-level duels will contain staple hand traps like Called By The Grave, Infinite Impermanence, and others, but mostly give the player room. Plus, the rewards aren't bad, so it makes the time spent going through worthwhile.

Find a Personal Playstyle

It may seem at first glance that there are an overwhelming number of possibilities for decks. That's technically true, but a constructed deck with a specific game plan and win condition will end up more similar to other decks than one would initially think. The first step in getting started with constructed play is finding a style of play that fits one's individual vibe, and building decks that fit that style.

Yu-Gi-Oh decks tend to fall under the umbrella of the big three: Control, Midrange, and Aggro.

• Control decks choke the opponent out by controlling resources and forcing sub-optimal play.
• Midrange decks require multiple turns to get going, but quickly snowball out of control.
• Aggro decks hit fast and hit hard, but tend to struggle to recover when the tank is empty.

Admittedly, Control decks are the best in the modern meta, but Midrange combo decks can easily compete. New players should use the solo mode to try out different styles, then research one that works for them.

Utilize Online Resources

The game can be an okay teacher in playing through experience, but it can't cover everything. Fortunately, the game's popularity online and booming growth during the pandemic led to a surge in the creation of online resources. Now, even the most obscure decks have guides and videos.

RELATED: Yu-Gi-Oh! Nightmare Troubadour: Things Most Players Missed

When starting fresh, picking a deck and sticking with it is the best option. Building that deck, on the other hand, is going to be tough for a new player. Netdecking is perfectly fine and — despite the complaints of some hardcore players in Twitch chat rooms — actually a great tool for old and new players alike. Resources for various ruling and mechanics can also help to demystify the cryptic laws of this ancient game.

Use The Spectate Feature To The Fullest

Finding a deck and getting the theory behind it is great, but with so many cards in the game, it's a challenge to learn what every single deck is capable of doing. A TCG player needs to be able to pilot their own deck while understanding how to play around their opponents. It can be hard to learn certain chokepoints and timings without a ton of hours invested. Fortunately, the spectator tool is a great way to see more decks at play.

Master Duel allows players to view a random match pulled from its system, typically from higher-ranked players. As this match happened in the past, viewers are free to pause, read cards and duel logs, and watch interactions play out in real time without playing it themselves. It's fun to watch these duels, but they're great for making those mental connections and getting exposed to decks one might not see in solo mode or in casual matches.

Focus Free Gems On Relevant Secret Packs

As a free-to-play game, a divide is created between those willing to whale and those who are looking to play for free. Master Duel is pretty good in this respect, as building one's first deck is feasible for new players. Smart spending is the best way to create a free-to-play deck, and Secret Packs are the key.

Secret Packs are special packs unlocked by obtaining an SR or UR card of an archetype or theme. Pulling Dark Magician, for example, unlocks a whole pack focused on Dark Spellcaster support. While they are hidden at first, crafting an SR or UR card in the archetype also unlocks the pack. From there, dumping free gems into the pack will eventually pull either the cards a build needs, or can be converted into resources to fill in the gaps in a decklist.

Save Craft Points For Staple Cards

Craft points can be obtained through progressing through missions, the battle pass, or through dismantling cards a deck doesn't need. The conversion rate is simple: three cards of a rarity need to be dismantled to craft one card of the same rarity. Craft points are great for filling in those gaps in a deck list that's missing one or cards. However, if those cards can be obtained more easily through other means, consider saving craft points to get staple cards.

RELATED: Yu-Gi-Oh! The Eternal Duelist Soul: Things Most Players Missed

Staple cards in Yu-Gi-Oh are cards that can be slotted into any deck. A classic example is Pot of Greed. Modern staples are incredibly powerful and all only available at the highest rarity. Staple cards tend to revolve around countering the meta decks, so make sure to do some research to figure out which ones are the best. Once the player gets those staples, they can be used in every other deck they build in the future.

Don't Be Afraid To Lose

Competitive games like Yu-Gi-Oh are the most fun in PvP matches. However, there's a distinct lack of a queue for casual players in the game. It's a strange exclusion, especially since a casual queue exists in Duel Links, and one that may make a casual player feel left out. Ranked anxiety, as strange as it might seem to some, is daunting to overcome for many players.

Fortunately, Master Duel is a very low-stakes game. In lower tiers of play, there are many others who are just getting started or are playing with decks found in the bottom of a well. It's very likely new players will get blown out in matches against other constructed decks. Use those blowouts to better learn how other players do their combos or discover what adjustments could be made to a decklist. Losing isn't fun, but nothing is lost in the process — other than maybe fifteen minutes of time.

Take Time To Make Plays

After learning the game and building a deck, jumping into ranked matches can seem daunting. This is further exacerbated by the in-game timer. Traditional Yu-Gi-Oh! matches are timed as well, and it makes sense for the flow of the game to have those timers. Don't let the timer be stressful; it's much more forgiving than it seems.

Each turn, the player is given eight full minutes to make their plays. Even for newer players, it is plenty of time to think through lines of play. Most players who are interested in playing the game competitively understand that games are going to take some time to play out. The second most important thing is to think about plays before making them.

Read The Cards On The Field

Here's the most powerful Yu-Gi-Oh! technique that even the most skilled players often forget about: practicing the cards. On paper, the excuse is that it can be annoying to have to actually physically pick up and read the opponent's cards, but there's no limitation in a digital format. The game is designed in a way that any information a player could need is readily accessible, either on the field or in the duel log.

Through the power of reading, it's easier to understand why certain interactions play out the way they do. If a play comes as a surprise at some point, practicing the card is a great way to make sure to be prepared for it next time. Plus, after getting sacked by an absurd card, it's possible to personally understand the depths of how strange these cards can be.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, iOS, and Android.

MORE: Games Similar to Yu-Gi-Oh!

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