I like it when a game has a beginning, middle, and end—I'm old fashioned like that—so I tend to avoid a roguelike unless it looks really, truly special. Upcoming stealth-immersive-platform-brawler-prank sim DreadBound fits the bill.
From its first trailer, DreadBound looks to be taking a page from the likes of Dark Messiah of Might & Magic or 2025's best immersive sim, Skin Deep, by embracing the slapstick and improvisational side of the genre, rather than cerebral exploration.
In DreadBound's first trailer, I clocked instantly deploying spike traps, oil slicks to trip enemies (or set them on fire), Ravenholm-style circular saw projectiles that you can embed in walls and use as platforms to reach high places, and an homage to my favorite quick melee in all of gaming, the Dark Messiah kick.
Rather than the handcrafted levels typical of immersive sims, DreadBound will feature "a cursed city that changes every time you die." That gave this Roguelikephobic gamer some pause, but roguelike and immsim, when attempted in the past, have often proven to be a chocolate and peanut butter genre combo.
Amnesia: The Bunker boasts randomized codes and item placements after your first playthrough, which helps the horror sim keep its bite on repeat outings, while I've heard good things about Prey's roguelike Mooncrash DLC. More than anything, I like the potential for forced improvisation to override complacent gaming: Even all-time greats like Dishonored can let you get into a groove that keeps you from exploring all of its gameplay possibilities—teleporting and nonlethal takedowns, in my case.
The full delivery of DreadBound's promise could result in a game where you're always off-balance, always having to adapt your playstyle—a full ghost sneaky run here, a loud and proud trapmaster there—based on what opportunities the randomized map affords you. That's what I'm hoping for, anyway. DreadBound currently has no definite release window, but you can wishlist it on Steam and there's a demo coming "soon."
Apparently Martin Short didn’t think this was the only cake in the building during Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s wedding.
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Just the other night Joachim Trier was talking all about Elle, as in Elle Fanning, listed as a first-time Academy Award nominee Thursday for her performance in Trier’s Sentimental Value, a Norwegian family drama of the kind Henrik Ibsen, and even Arthur Miller, would’ve approved. The Neon film garnered nine Oscar nominations overall Thursday including for […]
Fable is about to bring us into an open-world version of Albion that's home to a living population of over 1000 NPCs, and I'm happy to confirm that you can romance almost all of them.
With the Xbox Developer Direct revealing that we can get to know the NPCs, go on dates, get married, and even have kids, I took the opportunity to ask Playground Games' general manager Ralph Fulton if we could feasibly woo and wed any one of NPCs we encounter in the world.
"With a very few exceptions, the answer is yes," Fulton says. "We went into this with some non-negotiables that we felt were just really important in this area of the game. So we said from the start, I want to be able to talk to any NPC. Now, obviously in the original games, you did that through gestures. We wanted to do that in fully voiced conversations in this game. So you kind of throw that challenge at the narrative team and the audio team, and they go away, and they kind of figure out how they're going to do that."
I have so many fond memories of trying to romance and eventually marry noble townsfolk in Bowerstone, or win the heart of a travelling NPC in an encampment in Fable 2. Of course, in those days, I'd have to flex my muscles at them, dance a jig, or give them a present. But it sounds like the Fable reboot is really stepping things up not only when it comes to NPCs, but in the love department, too. And of course, not every match will work out, because yes, you'll be able to divorce them… or they can divorce you.
"You can talk to them, you can romance them, you can marry them. You can divorce them or be divorced by them," Fulton says. "You can have children with them. You can hire them. You can fire them. They are [the NPCs] kind of a game within a game, but they are such a unique, fundamental part of Fable."
As Fulton explains, in Fable, there's an "abundance of things" that will give you different reputations with the many NPCs across settlements. With a kind of witnessing system at play that will see them judge the actions they've seen or known you've done in the world, every NPC will feel differently about what you do based on their own worldviews, personalities, and traits.
"We kind of saw a little bit of it in the footage from the piece [Xbox Developer Direct], when those little words are sort of popping up on screen," Fulton says, "that's somebody seeing you being generous, or dishonest or dishonorable, or a bigamist, or whatever. So there's an abundance of things for them to react to."
As you might have noticed there, Fulton mentions that yes, you can be a bigamist and marry more than one person. But you better believe the people you meet will have opinions about that if they find out. With so many NPCs to get to know, potentially marry, and more, I can't wait to find love in Albion – and maybe stir some drama while I'm at it.
Nothing irritates me quite like getting my heart set on an in-game cosmetic only to learn it's from some marketing campaign I missed ages ago, but fortunately, that's not the case withEnshrouded Twitch Drops.
While the survival crafting RPG offers incentives for tuning into livestreams of Embervale, you aren't totally screwed out of that adorable Fluffy Hood or fancy Flame Pact Vest if you miss any limited broadcast windows. Instead of tuning into streams, you can just complete quests that reward Enshrouded Twitch Drops.
How to get the latest Enshrouded Twitch Drops
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(Image credit: Keen Games)
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(Image credit: Keen Games)
The Blood Rose set and Heart Pillow
Blood Rose Boots and Pants - 1 hour
Blood Rose Gloves - 1 hour and 30 minutes
Blood Rose Chestplate - 2 hours
Blood Rose Heart Pillow - 3 hours
Blood Rose Mail Coif - 4 hours
The Blood Rose set (and super cute heart-shaped cushion) are available for two weeks via Twitch Drops, starting Thursday, January 22, and ending on February 5, 2026.
Not tuning in? You can get the Blood Rose set in-game
I'm chipping away at collecting Enshrouded's Blood Rose set in-game, but don't have it all pieced together just yet. For now, I can at least tell you the quest begins with the Huntress, and if you need something to keep you busy during the wait, keep scrolling for more cosmetics you may have missed.
How to enable Enshrouded Twitch Drops
Visit the official site for linking Enshrouded drops
Select the "Connect to Steam" and "Connect to Twitch" icons
Log in to both services and authorize Enshrouded for drops
After completing a milestone, claim your drop from the Twitch Inventory page
From your Enshrouded world, hit the ESC key and select Twitch Drops
Now you should be able to add the cosmetic items to your inventory as many times as you like and whenever your heart desires. Just remember, you can't share these with friends, and finding the in-game versions will not permanently unlock the drops from this menu.
The Blood Rose cosmetic set and Heart Pillow are the most recent Twitch Drops, so if you're looking for other stream-exclusive giveaways you'll have to rely on a bit of Enshrouded questing to obtain the gear.
Find the Siren Seeker cosmetic gear
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(Image credit: Keen Games)
Siren Seeker set
Siren Seeker Sandals - Dragondream Lake
Siren Seeker Pants - Cromville Hot Springs
Siren Seeker Gloves - Starfish Shores
Siren Seeker Chest - Lake Heartblood
Siren Seeker Headband - Little Lagoon
You'll need the Mining Sieve to reach Siren Seeker set pieces, available from the Blacksmith's A Tool For Underwater Mining quest.
Missed it? Here's how to get the Siren Seeker set
Issuing NPC: None; quest begins after picking up a Siren Seeker set piece Quest: The Cosmetic Siren Seeker Outfit Location: Underwater ruins throughout Veilwater Basin
The Siren Seeker Headband is in Little Lagoon, south of the Ancient Obelisk. Start by facing Drak'Dal Temple from the land to the south. Dive into the lake near an Aquamarine deposit, then look along the southern wall for a boulder with an underwater cave entrance to the left. The headband chest is buried underneath a rubble pile in the back of the cave.
Obtain the Siren Seeker Chest by gliding east in Lake Heartblood from the Veilwater Basin Ancient Spire. Once you're on the opposite side of the large rock formation, dive down until you reach a small shipwreck and open the golden chest for your chest piece.
You'll find the Siren Seeker Gloves between the Drak'Dal Temple and Fish Farm at Starfish Shores. It's underwater in another shipwreck, along the wall near one of the bigger rock formations in the lake.
The Siren Seeker Pants are in northern Cromville Hot Springs, where the series of waterfalls begin. Enter the cave just behind the waterfall and take a brief dive. The pants are inside another chest concealed by a shipwreck.
The Siren Seeker Sandals are in Dragondream Lake, west of Tavern Ol' Salt 'N Pepper. Dive into the lake and look for another shipwreck's cross-shaped sail. The boots are buried just underneath the gold coin piles.
Find the Scholar of the Empyrean cosmetic gear
(Image credit: Keen Games)
Scholar of the Empyrean set
Scholar of the Empyrean Boots - Slightly northeast of the Nomad spire
Scholar of the Empyrean Pants - Northeast of Rat Infested Outpost
Scholar of the Empyrean Cloak - Northwest of Rattlebleak
Scholar of the Empyrean Helmet - East of Vukah Cave Page, near a gem forge
Scholar of the Empyrean Gloves - Northwest of Ternion Mine
Scholar of the Empyrean Cloak - Northwest of Rattlebleak
Missed it? Here's how to get the Empyrean set
Issuing NPC: None; quest begins after picking up an Empyrean set piece Quest: The Cosmetic Scholar of the Empyrean Location: Night Sanctums in the Nomad Highlands
It's not hard, but obtaining all five items from the Empyrean set may take a while since each piece requires completing a Nomad Highlands Night Sanctum. They're rather straightforward dungeons, but I suggest crafting a stack of lockpicks and collecting five Sparks from Flames for the journey. Perhaps it's a bit obvious by the name, but Night Sanctums are only open at night, and you'll need two sparks to enter.
I recommend teleporting to the Nomand Highlands Ancient Spire after completing each dungeon and using it as a central point to glide to your next destination. I've included a map in the gallery above to outline every sanctum you'll need to visit to complete the Scholar of the Empyrean set—hopefully that keeps you from my mistake of visiting every Night Sanctum I didn't need to complete.
Find the Flame Pact cosmetic gear
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(Image credit: Keen Games)
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The Temple Ruin location. (Image credit: Keen Games)
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This door is tucked away just underneath the stairs. (Image credit: Keen Games)
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After hitting the button below this nook, jump back up to open the coffin (Image credit: Keen Games)
Flame Pact set
Flame Pact Hat
Flame Pact Gloves
Flame Pact Vest
Flame Pact Pants
Flame Pact Boots
Unlike the Fluffy, Empyrean, and Siren Seeker sets, the Flame Pact cosmetic unlocks all at once from opening a single chest in-game.
Missed it? Here's how to get the Flame Pact set
Issuing NPC: The Flame Quest: Celebrate the Pact of the Flame Location: Temple Ruin (Springlands spire)
Keep growing your village until you've recruited the Blacksmith, Hunter, Alchemist, and Farmer, then speak to The Flame. Once you've satisfied its demands for expanding your base and flame strength, you'll receive the quest Celebrate the Pact of the Flame.
Your destination is Temple Ruin, a crumbling, easy-to-miss building northeast of the Springlands spire. Follow the path under the stairs and destroy the barrel (and spiders) blocking Temple Ruin's secret entrance. Once inside the ruins, grapple across the gap, hit the button to unlock the door above, then defeat the freshly risen skellies. All five pieces of the Flame Pact set are waiting for you in the glowing coffin.
Find the Fluffy set and Gnome Twitch Drops
(Image credit: Keen Games)
The Fluffy set
Fluffy Hood - Fairfield Goat Farm
Fluffy Mittens - Grassy Pasture Goat Farm
Fluffy Tunic - Enshrouded Goat Farm
Fluffy Pants - Wickmouth Goat Farm
Fluffy Boots - Little Rock Goat Farm
Missed it? Here's how to get the Fluffy set
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Fairfield Goat Farm (Hood) east of the Ancient Spire; Wickmouth Goat Farm (Pants) southwest of the spire. (Image credit: Keen Games)
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Little Rock Goat Farm (Boots) south of the Lance Point stronghold. Grassy Pasture Goat Farm (Mittens) is furthest north, with Enshrouded Goat Farm (Tunic) nearby in the shroud. (Image credit: Keen Games)
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Fairfield Goat Farm - Mine away the rubble inside the small shed for your Fluffy Hood. (Image credit: Keen Games)
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Grassy Pasture Goat Farm - The Fluffy Mittens are inside this little building. (Image credit: Keen Games)
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Wickmouth Goat Farm - You'll find the pants just beyond those double doors. (Image credit: Keen Games)
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Little Rock Goat Farm - The Fluffy Boots are in a chest inside the top-center room. (Image credit: Keen Games)
Issuing NPC: None; quest begins after picking up a Fluffy set piece Quest: Finding the Cosmetic Fluffy Set Location: Goat farms across the Albaneve Summits
The Fluffy Hood is easy to find if you glide into the valley just west of the Albaneve Summits Ancient Spire. Look for the small shed on the east side of the farm; it's buried underground in a chest.
Matching Fluffy Boots are northeast of the spire at Little Rock Goat Farm. Grab a lockpick and head into the small room at the top of the main building to find the chest.
Look for the Fluffy Mittens far in the northeast corner of the summits at Grassy Pasture Goat Farm; they're inside the only nearby building in another locked chest.
The Fluffy Pants are at Wickmouth Goat Farm to the southeast of the spire. Look for the house with locked double doors, then head inside and use the grappling hook to reach the loft above the door. You'll find the trousers there, inside yet another chest needing a lockpick.
The Fluffy Tunic is likely your last piece since it requires you fully upgrade the Flame. Head to the Enshrouded Goat Farm northeast of the Albaneve Summits Ancient Spire and look behind the back of the building. You'll spot it tucked away inside a small cave along the ground, not inside the actual building.
After you recruit Fenrig from the Wolf Cave, place him around your base to start the quest Finding a Garden Gnome. Head to the Low Meadows Ancient Spire and glide north until you reach Wistful FIelds, there's a series of lore snippets you can pick up around the village here to find out where the gnome is hidden, but you don't have to find them to continue.
Either way, when you're ready, look north from the southernmost building in Wistful Fields and walk toward the garden on the left side of the path. The gnome is buried here, so you'll need a pickaxe to dig it out. If you're struggling, just wait until night—quest items glow red, and they're easier to spot in the dark.
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Apparently Martin Short didn’t think this was the only cake in the building during Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco’s wedding.
The Only Murders in the Building star detailed attending his costar’s...
