The Dreamcast did it first. The original Xbox did it better. But the PlayStation 2 was also a pioneer for online multiplayer on gaming consoles, and it had some of the best games for it. With classics like the SOCOM series, Monster Hunter series, and Twisted Metal Black Online , there was plenty of fun to be had with the PlayStation 2’s Network Adapter. Unfortunately, those days are long gone. What can you do if you still want to play those PS2 games online?...

AMC is more than just a home for TV’s most iconic zombie apocalypse show (that’s The Walking Dead for those of you living under rocks). The flagship TV channel of AMC Networks originally stood for “American Movie Classics,” but shed that name in 2002 and is now simply “AMC” in conjunction with a shift in its programming. With AMC’s gradual move away from edited-for-home versions of theatrically released movies, we ended up getting some of TV’s most hardcore shows....

Black hair might feel like the default standard among anime characters, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of reasons to celebrate it. Some of the greatest characters in anime history have had simple designs. In a genre that often contains stylish hair and vibrant colors, these black-haired anime characters still manage to stand out. From galactic heroes to humble school kids just trying to find their way, here are my picks for the best anime characters with black hair and what makes each one so special....

There are countless free games out there, but few are very good. Even among those that are serviceable, after a few hours you usually end up running out of things to do or needing to pay for extra content. Fortunately, there are some great free games on the Xbox Series X|S that can provide you with lots of excellent gameplay. We’ve previously covered the best free games for Xbox One , but here we’re focusing on games that have been enhanced to take full advantage of the Xbox Series X|S’s power....

Independent cinema continues to grow in status with every decade, but it’s clear that the 2020s decade is going to be different. When the pandemic shut down theaters worldwide and ruined plans for mainstream blockbusters, indie movies came out ahead thanks to the numerous streaming platforms that have taken over. By the time movie theaters opened back up in 2021, the damage was already done. Today, cinemas are mainly relegated to blockbuster franchises; for everything else, there’s video-on-demand—and a lot of viewers prefer the convenience of that....

No, we aren’t talking Hollywood movies with directors who happen to have Italian heritage! When we say “Italian movies,” we mean authentic Italian films that come from Italy itself. Indeed, Italian cinema is diverse and has given us famous films known all around the world. Yet, many of these movies that deserve our attention have been overlooked or forgotten. Here are my picks for the best Italian films that represent the best of Italian cinema from all kinds of viewpoints....

Empires come, empires go. It’s a tale as old as time and a fact of life: authoritarian leaders, dictators, and tyrants will rise and fall from their thrones, all the way from Ancient Rome to the Holocaust. Here are my picks for the best movies about tyrannical dictators and totalitarian powers—both real and fictional—who rule with an iron fist and cause all sorts of strife because of it. 10. The Interview (2014) Directed by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen...

More so than any other media, anime encompasses a wider and vaster expanse of stories, many of which are wholly experimental compared to what we get in movies and TV shows. But like any media, anime is created for specific age groups, specific demographics, specific tastes. While shonen anime is aimed at younger boys, shojo anime targets younger girls. The stories in shojo anime typically involve a small-town girl falling in love with a boy, getting help from her quirky friends, and ending up in painful situations involving their school and/or families....

Just as not every year is a homerun for cinema, there are certain years that stand out for the sheer quantity of stellar films that came out within those months. It’s rare for a single year to be packed with so much greatness. The first movie with sound, The Jazz Singer , came out in 1927. That means we’ve had 95 years of cinematic history—and we’ve gone through and picked out the best of those years....

The Simpsons has been an absolute goldmine of pop culture immersion ever since its debut in 1989. From celebrity cameos to famous film quote references, Matt Groening’s iconic cartoon loves paying homage to classic movies, modern movies, and everything in between. There have been so many subtle nods over the show’s hundreds of episodes and dozens of seasons. Were you able to spot them all? Here are some of our favorite movie references in The Simpsons , ranked for your convenience....

Female representation and recognition in filmmaking has been contentious throughout history. Just look at today’s award-giving bodies and the depictions of women in film. Despite that, many women filmmakers have made their mark with truly remarkable films that have deeply impacted cinema in many ways. Unfortunately, female filmmakers are often overlooked, and it’s therefore important to recognize the achievements they’ve made in the industry, from the earliest days of cameras to the present day....

Horror has bled into every media format. It’s not just in movies, TV shows, and books—it’s also in board games! For years, Cthulhu was a super hot theme in board gaming with dozens of Cthulhu-themed board games released every year. While that has slowed a bit in recent years, other horror themes remain strong. There’s no chance that any board game is seriously going to scare you like a movie or book might, but horror lends such a strong mood and atmosphere that it’s perfect for setting the scene of a game....

In typical shonen anime storylines, the main characters need to train up and enhance their abilities in order to defeat increasingly stronger opponents who present new challenges. But not every anime is like that! Some of our favorite anime series feature overpowered main characters—a concept that might at first seem boring since there’d be no room for character development. Sure, some of them do end up clichéd and lackluster, but the best ones incorporate unique spins that make for interesting stories....

Anime friendships are one of the main things that hook us on a series. The undying friendship between two great characters is often the strongest bond in anime—even stronger than blood and romance. And most anime series are really good at developing these friendships as they throw in various twists and complications that help those emotional threads grow tighter and unbreakable. Sometimes, the power of friendship is even an actual power....

When we think of gangster films, we tend to think of the classics—like Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather , Brian De Palma’s Scarface , and Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas . They belong to a whole genre comprised of New York City Mafia flicks. But what about gangsters from across the pond? Britain has its own unique type of gangster cinema that you simply can’t catch anywhere else. We’re talking about things like the Cockney sarcasm of Michael Caine and the dark comedy of Guy Ritchie....

Independent cinema didn’t just flourish during the 2010s; it saw a significant shift that set it apart from previous decades. While major players in the indie scene continued on, other filmmakers came in and made their mark with redefined genres. Most notably, horror got a resurgence from directors like Robert Eggers, Ari Aster, and Mike Flanagan. Plus, filmmakers like Taika Waititi, Gareth Evans, and Jordan Vogt-Roberts rose to blockbuster fame....

Outer space continues to be one of the most fascinating and engaging settings in cinema. There’s still so much potential to explore in the endless expanse of stars and planets. The thing is, while science has only managed to travel a relatively short distance in the grand scheme of the universe, movies have the ability to reach deep into the furthest reaches of the galaxy and even jump to other dimensions through wormholes....

Generally speaking, when you see a horror movie, you’re there because you want to be scared. You want a film that’ll make you feel uncomfortable, one that’ll shake you to your very core. But then there are comedy horror movies that subvert your expectations and actually make you laugh hysterically. These films may or may not be scary, but they play around with horror tropes for comedic effect. Here are my picks for the funniest horror comedy movies that are worth watching when you want your scares mixed with humor....

For many decades, video gaming was a niche hobby. It started in the arcades, then it broke into our homes, then it slipped into our pockets. These days, gaming is more ubiquitous than it’s ever been. But some video game characters are so famous that even non-gamers know who they are. It’s one thing for a gamer to recognize Steve from Minecraft ; it’s something else when mom knows Pikachu....

Long gone are the days being shunned just because you’re a nerd. Nowadays, nerd culture has made its way so deep into mainstream culture that it’s not hard to be a nerd anymore. Many of the things that used to be exclusive to the ultra-nerdy are popular with all sorts of people. Things like video games, board games, anime, and comics are all relatively popular with everyone. And when it comes to nerds in film, there have been some fantastic depictions that remind everyone of just how cool being a nerd can be....