When you think “mobile game,” you probably think of games that just involve lazily tapping the screen. And for the most part, you’d be right—most mobile games are like that. But there are plenty of mobile games that involve more types of interaction from players. Just because your phone has a touchscreen doesn’t mean that’s the best way to play. One way to open up the possibilities is to start using a game controller with your mobile device....
There’s nothing quite like a good Korean variety show. They’re more than just reality TV—they have an invisible ingredient that makes them feel more authentic and more addictive than Western reality TV. For me, the main difference between Korean variety shows and Western reality shows is that the Korean cast members tend to be more vulnerable. They can make fun of themselves, they’re willing to be the butts of jokes, and their personalities are on full display....
The TV sitcom has been one of the most popular genres in all of TV history, and even so, it’s more popular now than it’s ever been. There’s really no way to improve on the tried-and-true TV sitcom formula: establish a solid cast of funny characters, put them in mundane/awkward/unusual situations, and let things play themselves out. At the end of the day, we’re here for the characters. Yet while the fundamental core of the TV sitcom formula has never changed, the format of the TV sitcom has definitely evolved....
In cinema, few things get the adrenaline going better than a well-choreographed fight sequence. Back in the days of Golden Age Hollywood, fights usually consisted of the hero punching the villain harder than he was punched. These days, fight scenes are more sophisticated, intricate, and complex. And it’s all thanks to improved fight designs! Here are our picks for the best movie fight scenes with excellent choreography that really stand out....
Leading out from the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, the 1940s started deep in the trenches of World War II. As such, most movies set in the 1940s are World War II movies—but we aren’t going to touch on those in this article. We already have a separate article all about the best WW2 movies of all time ! Truth is, not everybody was fighting, plotting, or nursing through the 1940s....
The world of Pixar has given us some of the best animated characters in cinema history, including those who rock a pair of glasses. These characters of the bespectacled community are mostly parents or parental figures, but they also include individuals on journeys of self-discovery and idols with matchless reputations. While glasses are often stereotypically associated with intelligence, age, and nerdiness, Pixar has done a relatively good job of avoiding such clichés, resulting in characters who really stand out....
In case you hadn’t noticed, the humble roguelike has almost entirely taken over video games. Regardless of what type of game genre you find yourself playing, there’s a good chance someone has made a roguelike variant of it. And there’s a good reason for this: the endless replayability that comes with roguelike features can make for games that last. You won’t find many true roguelikes on Xbox Game Pass ( what’s a true roguelike?...
Creating a top-tier television show is not an easy task. The budget, the crew, and the production have to be spread across all episodes to ensure the season pans out. Hence, the importance of bottle episodes. A bottle episode takes place entirely in a single location or set, often with simple storylines and limited cast and crew. By confining an episode to one location, there can be major cost savings and faster production times, allowing chunks of the season’s budget to be reserved for other, more gradiose episodes....
It’s always fun when you recognize a real-life location in a movie, and that’s even more true when movies feature actual museums and art galleries—ones you can visit whenever you want! From the Louvre to the Russian State Hermitage Museum, how many of these famous settings are you able to recognize? Here are our picks for the best movies that feature museums and art galleries, from behind-the-scenes documentaries to fantastical tales about museum exhibits coming to life....
Scientific exploration represents the intellectual pursuit of the unknown. It’s a quest for knowledge that has driven many to obsession or even madness, especially when failure looms increasingly overhead. All kinds of films have been made about enigmatic characters who dedicate their lives to science and experiments. Such films tend to be sci-fi thrillers, but there are also compelling dramas and hilarious comedies that bring fresh energy to the premise....
One-man movies tend to fall into two buckets: either they’re utter genius in concept and execution, or the dullest experience in cinema. Ever since the very first movie was made, filmmakers have been trying to find innovative ways to make great movies on tight budgets, which often means skimping on high-profile actors. In some cases, it’s taken even further by only featuring a single actor for the whole film. Whether for budgetary reasons or creative reasons, these films—when done well—offer uniquely great experiences....
Manga series are certainly great, but for me, anime series and movies are more interesting because they bring frames to life with animation. All of this is only possible thanks to the talents of animation studios and the creative teams behind said anime series and movies. For me, whenever I spot an incredible anime production, I’m always looking up the animation studio and checking for other stuff they’ve made. I’ve found many worthwhile animes this way....
The Nintendo Switch has more third-party games than previous Nintendo consoles, and some of the best games on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC have made their way onto Nintendo’s hybrid console system. Despite being home to some of the best exclusive video games of all time—including Animal Crossing: New Horizons and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild —you’d be missing out on a lot great games if you only stuck to Nintendo exclusives....
What the heck is a “MacGuffin”? If you’re a novelist or scriptwriter, it’s a term you’ll hear time and time again—but even if you aren’t, you might still encounter the word in movie reviews. Coined by the English screenwriter Angus MacPhail and popularized by Alfred Hitchcock, the term “MacGuffin” refers to a prop, object, or person that primarily exists to push the narrative forward . The movie MacGuffin is the central trigger for conflict and character motives....
Spatial and space-time abilities in anime are some of the rarer ones you’ll see, and depending on the actual ability, you might even find that these are the most likely to be one-of-a-kind. These abilities are the ones that allow users to influence, alter, or manipulate the so-called space-time continuum. You can see how that might be a huge game changer in any fight scene! While fireballs and healing spells are a dime a dozen in anime, spatial and space-time abilities don’t show up often—and that’s what makes them stand out when they do appear....
Many badass anime scenes involve sword fights or clashes between elemental spells and/or incredible abilities. But what about guns? In anime, a gunslinger duel can add a unique touch of classic Western. Guns have a uniqueness that makes them cool in ways that even swords and magic lack. Whether they’re crafted to the personality of their wielders or simply non-lethal works of art, guns can be awesome. Here are our picks for the coolest and most iconic guns in anime and what makes each one uniquely memorable!...
The best movie theme songs are able to capture the essence of their story in musical form. They might be used to represent a character, a feeling, or an exciting new world. When they’re done well, movie theme songs ingrain themselves into the public consciousness and take on their own identities. It’s not unusual for a legendary movie theme to be recognizable even by those who have never seen the film!...
Making a political documentary comes with an implicit risk: you’re only appealing to half (or so) of the people who are even interested in watching political documentaries, thanks to the political divide of the public. It’s exceedingly rare for a documentary to make the swamp of politics entertaining to watch while maintaining a clear perspective, staying committed to the truth, and appealing to more than just “one side.” But, rare as they are, such political documentaries do exist!...
The Marvel Cinematic Universe isn’t exactly a haven for standout acting performances. Sure, Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark has a dedicated following, but can we say that his MCU performances deserve to be hailed as transformative for cinema? Probably not. However, there have been a few characters in the long twisted saga who managed to capture the spark of an inspired performance, enthralling the public far and wide with utterly mesmerizing scenes....
Fighting games are sort of like racing games. While “fighting game” is a genre, it contains many different types of sub-genres, some of which may appeal to you while others don’t. That makes it somewhat tougher to find the right fighting game for you. Fortunately, like most other genres, there are tons of different types of fighting games on the Nintendo Switch! I’ve tried to focus on a rounded list of games that should appeal to all kinds of tastes....
