The Harvest Goddess has disappeared again, and she’s taken all the crops in the world with her. For someone who literally has one job, she’s not very good at it. But that’s how Harvest Moon: One World starts, and at least it gives your farmer avatar something to do: restore the land, find all the harvest sprites, and, uh… reinvent turnips?

This new trailer from Natsume is all about the new features that make Harvest Moon games so compelling: the romanceable characters, and the befriendable animals. One World, by the looks of things, is going to include tigers, camels, reindeer, bears, and – is that a blue chicken? Marriage candidates-wise, there are five boys and five girls who are ready to put a ring on your finger, ranging from a dude who looks like a 350-year old vampire to a young lady who’s going through an emo phase.

The “expando-farm” is perhaps the biggest addition to the series, and it looks like it’s a pocket-sized pop-up farm that you can put just about anywhere, letting you farm on the beaches of Halo Halo and the snowy mountains of Salmiakki. Don’t try this at home; your tomatoes will die.

All these new features and new areas to explore make Harvest Moon: One World “the biggest Harvest Moon in history”, according to Natsume. Explore the deserts of Pastilla, the grasslands of Calisson, and the volcano at the heart of Lebkuchen when the game comes to Switch on March 5, 2021.

News | Bungie.net”>

News | Bungie.net”>

Get ready for some pixel pew-pew platforming – the stylish action-adventure-platformer Olija has finally been given a release date! On January 28th, we’ll all be able to figure out the various mysteries that the trailer presents. What’s that shipwreck all about? Where exactly is this strange place filled with monsters? And just who is Olija?

Armed only with a (legendary) harpoon, your swashbuckling avatar, Faraday, must slay foes in order to save him and his washed-up crew from being marooned far from their homes. The platforming in the trailer looks sharp and dynamic, so there’s a chance Olija will join the likes of Flinthook and Celeste in the ranks of jumpy-dashy games that we like very much. Interested players can grab the free demo on Steam right now to check it out for themselves!

Most importantly, though, the game has magic hats. Any game with magic hats is alright by us.

These first look pictures from #Coming2America feel like if only the people we wanted to see showed up to our high school reunion. pic.twitter.com/0QTsQaouwB

— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) December 17, 2020

© The Pokémon Company

It’s Thanksgiving and time for the Macy’s Parade in New York. After float upon float showing various things, in comes a familiar yellow friend. Multiple Pikachu have come and started dancing to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, at the end, something is uncovered… the Pokémon 25th anniversary logo. That’s right, it’s almost Pokémon’s 25th anniversary!

So, as we approach 2021 and this momentous occasion, let’s think about what Pokémon fans the world over might have to look forward to in the coming year.

A Look Back – Pokémon20

Just five years ago was the Pokémon 20th Anniversary celebrations (that’s right, we did the math). It feels like almost yesterday and also a lifetime ago. What exactly did we get during that year?

In the West, the celebrations went full on and we had a “Mythical Year”. Each month during 2016, there was a celebration of a Mythical Pokémon with distributions for Pokémon X & Y/Omega Ruby & Alpha Sapphire, as well as TCG products and merchandise. The main games were building towards the start of the 7th generation with Pokémon Sun & Moon and Pokémon GO hit right in the middle and brought PokéMania back to the forefront in a mainstream manner not seen since the late ’90s. It made Pokémon truly a household name again. It was a great way to celebrate two decades of the series, but the question now is: How can the 25th anniversary possibly match it? Let’s look at some possibilities point-by-point.

Main Series Pokémon Games?

Main series games are always the focus for fans, the driving force of the franchise. They dictate how the next three or four years progress. However, unlike the 20th anniversary, this year we are in the middle of the eighth generation and it’s unlikely we’d be building up to the next one. With Pokémon Sword & Shield being the best selling Pokémon games this side of the year 2000, we should think about how Game Freak and The Pokémon Company can follow it up.

© The Pokémon Company

Enhanced versions are no longer on the table and have been replaced with DLC, so that leaves a remake of a previous game (a new Let’s Go! version of the Gen II Johto games seems like a no-brainer, at least from a business perspective) or something entirely new but still running on the same engine as Sword & Shield.

The fan community thinks Diamond & Pearl remakes are next, and have been thinking it since 2017. Will this year be the time it happens? We must also remember that Game Freak do like to surprise us, so the possibilities are endless!

Spin-off Games

There are four different spin-off titles that we know of in development at the time of writing, and several of them are likely to hit in 2021.

First up is the Nintendo Switch title, New Pokémon Snap. This is the sequel and follow-up to the much beloved 1999 Nintendo 64 classic. While we don’t know much about what it will contain, it’s highly likely we’ll be getting this game during Pokémon’s 25th anniversary year.

Pokémon Sleep is a mobile game that got unveiled in 2018 that is one of the most enigmatic games we can even conceive of. Details are very scarce for this game but the concept of it is to track your sleep utilising the Pokémon GO Plus + and to use it to interact with and catch Pokémon. It’s possible that development of the game has stopped (it was originally supposed to launch this year) which is why we’ve heard nothing since, but it is possible it will come out and could even be — wait for it — a sleeper hit.

© The Pokémon Company

Also revealed in 2018 was Detective Pikachu ‘2’ on the Nintendo Switch. When it was announced, it was clear that it was early in development (it didn’t even have an official name yet), so whether it will be ready in 2021 is a valid question. With the movie based on its 3DS predecessor being a massive success, it’s certainly a game to look forward to.

There’s also a very contentious game that is likely to come out next year. Pokémon UNITE is a mobile and Switch title developed by TiMi Studios & The Pokémon Company and has you play with four other players against another team of five in a huge battle arena game. With Pokémon being the largest media franchise in the world and MOBAs being the biggest video game genre in the world, the game arguably has the potential to hit Pokémon GO heights of engagement and activity, especially in the markets in Asia. However, the game’s reveal in the West did not go down well for a variety of reasons, so whether it will be able to break through in all territories remains to be seen.

Existing games such as Pokémon Masters EX, Pokémon Café Mix and Pokémon GO will also likely have various events to celebrate the 25th anniversary. Pokémon GO just announced one for February, the Pokémon GO Tour: Kanto event where you can catch all Kanto Pokémon in the day and complete research to get a Shiny Mew.

There are definitely going to be things going on in these titles during the celebration year, and — who knows — we could get some surprises there, too.

Anime & Movies

Pokémon Journeys is continuing onwards in Japan and it in itself feels like a full celebration of the franchise with Ash & Goh going to various regions in the Pokémon World in their stories. Whether or not it’ll have any celebratory episodes with old characters remains unclear.

In terms of movies, the events of this past year have potentially changed things up. 2020’s movie, Secrets of the Jungle, is only coming out in Japan on December 25th 2020, and we’ll undoubtedly get it in 2021. The next question is, will the 2021 movie be still on-track? Will Japan get it in Summer 2021 or will it be delayed? Only time will tell.

© The Pokémon Company

Pokémon Trading Card Game

Pokémon itself is not the only thing celebrating the 25th anniversary. 2021 is also the 25th anniversary of Pokémon Trading Card Game. For the 20th anniversary there were two sets that focused on the past: Generations was a set focused on Kanto Pokémon, while Evolutions provided reprints of many of the original cards brought up to the new power levels of the game. We already know that in February, one week before the 25th anniversary, we’ll get Shining Fates, the latest set built around Shiny Pokémon. Besides that, will we see a bespoke 25th anniversary set? Some retailer listings imply that we will but they’re often unreliable so it’s hard to say at this point.

Lovely Pokémon Merchandise

Merch is the area where it’s going to get interesting. Typically, Pokémon merchandise is focused towards the younger audience with plush, toys and so forth, although over the past few years, we’ve been getting more and more adult apparel and recently, a new merchandise line was announced; a premium Poké Ball replica in conjunction with the Wand Company available Pokémon Day (27th February) for $100. This indicates we may get more premium merchandise for the older audience in addition to the products for younger Poké fans.

So with all that in mind, it does seem like there will be a lot for Pokémon fans of all areas of the franchise. Is there anything you’re looking forward to? Anything you want to see? Let’s celebrate Pokémon!

Serial RPG publisher Kemco has announced a brand new sale on Nintendo Switch, Wii U and 3DS which discounts ten role-playing titles (and a bonus rhythm game) for your consideration.

The sale is live across the North American, European and Australian Nintendo eShops, with discounts reaching as high as 50% off for a limited time. Check out all the games included below:

Marenian Tavern Story: Patty and the Hungry God
40% off | Nintendo Switch

Patty’s brother has been possessed by the God of Poverty and the whole family has become poor, with huge debts… This is the beginning of Patty’s struggle! To pay back the debts, let’s open a tavern in Marenia, gather ingredients, and start cooking!

Miden Tower
30% off | Nintendo Switch

After Miden Tower is invaded by the Alroval Empire, the mages who call it home find themselves cornered on its upper floors. This sets in motion a series of tragic events that lead to a counteroffensive being launched to take back the tower and to get revenge for the wrongs committed against them.

Seek Hearts
30% off | Nintendo Switch

With questions swirling in his mind about why he was created and by who, Izen sets out on a journey to discover his origins. However, as he and those with him pursue answers to this mystery, they fail to notice a shadow creeping up upon them with the intent to stop them dead in their tracks…

Yodanji
40% off | Nintendo Switch

Yodanji is a coffee-break roguelike themed after Japanese folklore tales. Get the ability to summon and trap yokai – numerous spirits that have been living hidden among us (until now). Admire them and give them witty nicknames and then put them through the brutal ever-changing dungeon to try and summon even more yōkai! Spooky cute graphics and powders made from various body parts included.

Illusion of L’Phalcia
40% off | Nintendo Switch

Overwhelm your enemies with beautifully animated skill chains and magic in turn-based 3D battles! Acquire Gems throughout the adventure and attach them to a character’s Rune like a puzzle to enable learning magic, as well as gaining status boosts. Explore the unknown through dungeon crawling, subquests and many other challenges!

Bonds of the Skies
40% off | Nintendo Switch

Times are changing, and the existence of the Grimoas has become less relevant in everyday life. The young Eil is in the middle of his Coming-of-Age ceremony when suddenly his town is attacked by a demon and engulfed in flames. In the midst of this confusion, Eil enters into a pact with the Air Grimoa, Nogard, in order to save everyone…

Hide & Dance!
10% off | Nintendo Switch

You can enjoy a comical rhythm & dance game pressing the buttons to the rhythm of the music and making combos. If your mom tries to enter the room from behind, try to avoid her with a hiding action!

Asdivine Hearts
50% off | Wii U

Asdivine Hearts boasts of groundbreaking visual quality, plenty of subquests, a battle arena, treasure to dig for, and an enemy guide to complete. By taking puzzle piece-like jewels and setting them in a box known as a rubix, players are able to customize characters! How far can you level and how many millions of damage can you dish out? All these challenges await you and more!

Revenant Saga
50% off | Wii U

After being turned into an immortal being known as a Revenant and learning of the existence of a demon within him, Albert sets out on a journey to make the person who did this to him pay with their very life. However, as he runs into others dealing with their own figurative demons along the way, will he find the answer?

Alphadia
50% off | Nintendo 3DS

Employing an orthodox turn-based battle system, Alphadia evokes a feeling of nostalgia with its classic RPG style. Its refined game balance and simple to use interface make this game accessible to players of any skill level while at the same time offering 30+ hours of gameplay. Come experience Alphadia and witness its dramatic story unfold!

Crystareino
50% off | Nintendo 3DS

As always, the protagonist is training hard with his teacher, Eppol, in order to become a respectable hero. After a training session, a mysterious light appears in front of them, engulfing the two. Summoned to another world, the two are bewildered by the situation and begin a journey to find a way to get back to their home world.

Are you a sucker for RPGs? Will you be grabbing any of these titles while they’re reduced on the eShop? Let us know in the usual place.

Google has officially launched its game streaming service Google Stadia on iOS devices but, like many of its competitors, had to bypass the App Store to do so.

Players hoping to use an iOS device to play data center-hosted games through Stadia can do so using an iPhone or iPad’s Safari browser, so long as the device is updated to version 14.3 or higher. From there, loading up Stadia’s website will direct them to a web app that’ll then stream games directly to their phones.

Many game streaming services have had to look to web apps in order to launch on iOS like this. Apple itself doesn’t seem to be a huge fan of cloud-based game services setting up shop on its tightly controlled App Store, at least judging by the complicated set of rules it rolled out for streaming apps earlier in the year.

Despite this, Apple has yet to crack down on or really weigh in on the subject of apps launching on iOS through alternative means like this, making it a valuable gateway for services like Stadia, Microsoft’s Project xCloud, or Amazon Luna that want to tap into iOS’s massive user base.