The Daily Grind: Have you ever played a 2-D MMO?



Activision Blizzard has announced that Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, a spin off from the hugely popular battle royale, will be shutting down on 17th April.
Nintendo has released its maintenance schedule for the week of January 11, 2026: A few more sessions have been added to the lineup. Over the next few days, there’s a lot happening with Nintendo Switch in particular. Below is the full Nintendo maintenance schedule for the week of January 11, 2026: Switch Parental Controls – 5:30 PM PT (January 12)...
The post Nintendo maintenance schedule – January 11, 2026 – several sessions planned for Switch appeared first on Nintendo Everything.

Today, December 28, the Epic Games Store is giving away SKALD: Against the Black Priory for the next 24 hours. It is a 2024 retro-style RPG that looks like a lost Commodore 64 game but plays with modern mechanical polish. If you miss the giveaway window, you can still find it for 50% off on the Steam Store until January 5. For those looking for the absolute lowest price, G2A (affiliate link) currently has keys for approximately $4.20, which is a 72% discount from the standard retail price.

SKALD is a party-based RPG that leans heavily into Lovecraftian themes and gritty fantasy. You lead a group of mercenaries through a world filled with body horror and ancient, awakening gods. The combat is turn-based and tactical, but the story is the real draw here, featuring branching dialogue and dice rolls that actually matter for your survival.4 It avoids the hand-holding common in modern RPGs, forcing you to manage your party’s resources and sanity in a world that feels genuinely dangerous. It is a dense, high-quality experience for anyone who values strong writing and a specific, lo-fi aesthetic.

Beyond the PC giveaway, you should also head to the mobile Epic Games Store to claim Monument Valley 1 and Monument Valley 2 for free until January 1. These are iconic perspective-based puzzle games inspired by M.C. Escher’s impossible architecture. They are short, polished, and rely on visual storytelling rather than dialogue. To get them, open the Epic Store on your phone and add them to your library. They usually cost around $4 each, so grabbing the pair for free is an excellent deal for your mobile library.

You have until December 29 at 11:00 AM ET to secure SKALD for your PC. The Monument Valley games will remain free for a few more days, giving you time to set them up on your Android or iOS device. This lineup is particularly resourceful because it offers a mix of high-stakes RPG mechanics and relaxing puzzle logic. Whether you are rolling dice to survive a pixelated cult or shifting golden towers on your phone, these titles offer more creative value than most of the big-budget releases that filled the rumor lists earlier this month.

The post Retro Horror and Mobile Classics: Today’s Epic Store Picks appeared first on Game Reviews, News, Videos & More for Every Gamer – PC, PlayStation, Xbox in 2026.
Christmas is just around the corner, and, as the title suggests, this is a last-minute holiday video game gift guide for anyone still looking for something to give their gamer friends or family this season.
This list mixes digital and physical options, with a focus on what’s actually easy to buy in the Philippines right now, whether online or through local retailers.
If you don’t want to overthink it, digital gift cards are the safest option. Nintendo eShop, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and Steam all offer gift cards that let recipients choose exactly what they want. No shipping delays, no guesswork.
In case you want to physically give it, these are also widely available locally through Shopee, Lazada, Datablitz, GameXtreme, and even some convenience stores
For someone who enjoys variety, a 3-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass is an easy win. The service covers multiple genres and regularly adds new releases, making it great value, especially if they haven’t tried it yet as there’s a 14-day trial for just PHP 59.
If you’re planning to gift a specific PC game, it’s best to wait. The Steam Holiday Sale is live and runs from December 18 to January 12, 2026, and it’s consistently the best time of the year to grab games at deep discounts.
Rather than buying now at full price, consider holding off for a few days and stretching your budget further.
Titles to consider.
These are titles released in 2025 that are already seeing solid discounts.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (50% off)
Doom: The Dark Ages (50% off)
Monster Hunter Wilds (45% off)
Hades 2 (25% off)
Battlefield 6 (30% off)
The Outer Worlds 2 (30% off)
Elden Ring Nightreign (25% off)
Older titles that are heavily discounted, offering excellent value for money.
Fallout 76 (90% off)
Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (90% off)
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (92% off)
Cyberpunk 2077 (65% off)
Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition (80% off)
The Outlast Trials (70% off)
Hogwarts Legacy (90% off)
Silent Hill 2 Remake (50% off)
Remnant 2 (70% off)
Dead Island 2 (90% off)
For PlayStation players, Sony is currently running a Holiday Sale in the Philippines, and local retailers are matching it with solid physical discounts.
PS5 consoles are down by around PHP 5,600, and select games and peripherals are also discounted across Datablitz, iTech, GameOne, and other local stores.
Some standout deals include first-party titles and recent releases, many priced far lower than usual:
Astrobot – PHP 1,990 (PHP 1,000 off)
Gran Turismo 7 – PHP 1,490 (PHP 2,000 off)
God of War Ragnarök – PHP 990 (PHP 2,500 off)
Marvel’s Spider-Man – PHP 1,490 (PHP 2,000 off)
Rise of the Ronin – PHP 1,490 (PHP 2,000 off)
The Last of Us Part II Remastered – PHP 1,490 (PHP 1,000 off)
The Last of Us Part I – PHP 1,490 (PHP 2,000 off)
Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut – PHP 1,490 (PHP 2,000 off)
Until Dawn – PHP 1,490 (PHP 1,500 off)
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered – PHP 990 (PHP 1,500 off)
LEGO Horizon Adventures – PHP 990 (PHP 1,000 off)
Stellar Blade – PHP 1,990 (PHP 1,500 off)
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach – PHP 2,490 (PHP 1,000 off)
Lost Soul Aside – PHP 1,990 (PHP 1,000 off)
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – PHP 1,490 (PHP 2,000 off)
These are safe picks for last-minute shoppers since most local stores still have stock and offer same-day or next-day delivery.
Both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 are hot this season, and if you’re looking for a game to pick up as a gift, here are a few suggestions on the latest titles.
Pokemon Z-A
Hades 2
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Octopath Traveler 0
These are not on sale, but their full price has been slashed to below PHP 1,500.
8BITDO Lite 2 Bluetooth Gamepad - PHP 1,095
Dobe 8 in 1 Protective Pack for Switch - PHP 750
Hori Reversible Travel Pouch for Switch 2 - PHP 1,495
Skull & Co. JoyGrip for Switch 2 - PHP 795
Mario Kart World
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Final Fantasy Tactics
Octopath Traveler 0
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Hades 2
If you’re looking for discounts on Switch games, that’s hard to come by as Switch and Switch 2 games are rarely on sale, especially during the holidays. Your best bet would be picking up a second-hand copy through Facebook groups or heading to Greenhills and browsing through stores selling second-hand titles.
Since this is a last-minute guide, there’s always a risk that same-day delivery won’t actually happen, especially with Lazada and other online stores. If retailers like Datablitz or iTech can guarantee same-day delivery between December 22 and 24, that’s fine. Otherwise, going in person is the safest option.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider - PHP 990
Persona 5 - PHP 895
Far Cry 6 - PHP 1,095
Assassin’s Creed Mirage - PHP 1,295
Grand Theft Auto V Premium Edition - PHP 1,095
NieR Automata - PHP 1,095
Resident Evil 2 Remake - PHP 1,395
Metro Exodus Complete Edition - PHP 1,495
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart - PHP 1,490
Lego Horizon Adventures - PHP 990 (limited time)
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered - PHP 990 (limited time)
God of War Ragnarok - PHP 990 (limited time)
The Witcher 3 Complete Edition - PHP 1,195
Dying Light 2 - PHP 1,095
Tales of Arise - PHP 1,495
Like a Dragon Ishin! - PHP 1,450
If you’re planning to gift someone who actively plays games on their mobile phone, the easiest option is giving gift cards through Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Better yet, in-game currency for titles like Genshin Impact, Call of Duty Mobile, or Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is always appreciated by active players. Since not all games support direct gifting, gift cards remain the safest option.
Lazada and Shopee offer digital gift cards, but it’s still best to check seller reviews before purchasing.
If you’re new to buying video game gifts locally, these are the key retailers to look for:
These retailers sell original products and also offer online shopping and delivery. For consoles, peripherals, and physical games, they remain the safest and most reliable options.
Prices and availability may vary by retailer.
The Christmas rush will be intense, and it will intensify as we approach December 25. Hopefully, this guide will knock out a couple of items off your Christmas list.
Carlos Hernandez is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Too Much Gaming, where he writes about video games, reviews, and industry news. A lifelong gamer, he would do anything to experience Final Fantasy Tactics for the first time again and has a love/hate relationship with games that require hunting for new gear to improve your character.

Nintendo has released its maintenance schedule for the week of January 11, 2026: A few more sessions have been added to the lineup. Over the next few days, there’s a lot happening with Nintendo Switch in particular. Below is the full Nintendo maintenance schedule for the week of January 11, 2026: Switch Parental Controls – 5:30 PM PT (January 12)...
The post Nintendo maintenance schedule – January 11, 2026 – several sessions planned for Switch appeared first on Nintendo Everything.
