This week on Critical Arcade, Dave and Nick bundle up, strike a match, and step into the frozen wilderness of The Long Dark. After a mysterious plane crash leaves them stranded in the Canadian wilds, survival becomes the only goal—and nature isn’t playing fair.

With no zombies, no monsters, and no one coming to help, it’s just man versus the cold. Managing hunger, fatigue, and freezing temperatures, every decision matters as they scavenge, hunt, and try not to become wolf food. What starts as a simple search for answers quickly turns into a tense, methodical fight to stay alive.

But here’s the twist—despite scoring it a C+, this game completely hooked them. Is The Long Dark proof that immersion matters more than individual parts? Or are Dave and Nick just one bad blizzard away from losing their minds?

Light the fire… if you still can.

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This week on Critical Arcade, Dave and Nick grab their Rider gear, polish their Kinship Stones, and venture into the vibrant monster-filled world of Monster Hunter Stories 3. Unlike the traditional monster-slaying chaos of the main series, this time they’re building bonds instead of crafting boots out of everything that moves. Stepping into the role of a young Rider, they hatch monster eggs, raise powerful companions known as Monsties, and explore a sprawling world where something strange is causing normally peaceful creatures to turn aggressive.

As the mystery unfolds, Dave and Nick team up with fellow Riders and researchers to investigate the growing disturbances affecting monsters across the land. From sneaking into dangerous monster dens to stealing eggs while the parents are definitely still nearby, the adventure quickly turns into a mix of exploration, strategy, and questionable decision-making. Along the way they’ll encounter familiar monsters from across the franchise, build powerful Kinship attacks with their Monsties, and dive into the series’ unique rock-paper-scissors battle system.

But while the world is bright and charming, the stakes are anything but small. Strange environmental changes, rogue monsters, and a looming threat tied to ancient Rider legends begin to surface, forcing our heroes to uncover the truth before the fragile bond between humans and monsters collapses completely.

Will Dave become emotionally attached to every monster he hatches? Will Nick spend more time optimizing battle strategies or laughing at the ridiculous names Dave gives his Monsties? And how many eggs can two Riders steal before an angry Rathalos finally catches them in the act? Saddle up and find out.

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This week on Critical Arcade, Nick and Dave suit up, check their ammo, and step into the brutal corporate battleground of Marathon. Set on the mysterious colony world of Tau Ceti IV, they take on the role of cybernetic mercenaries known as Runners—scavengers sent into dangerous zones to recover lost tech, alien artifacts, and anything valuable enough to make their corporate masters rich.

The catch? They’re not the only ones hunting. Rival Runners, hostile security systems, and whatever strange remnants were left behind after the colony’s disappearance all stand between them and extraction. Every mission is a high-risk dash for survival where teamwork, quick thinking, and a little bit of luck can mean the difference between walking away with a fortune… or losing everything you brought in.

Will Nick actually manage to extract with some decent loot for once? Can Dave resist the urge to pick up absolutely everything that isn’t nailed down? And how long will it take before one of them realizes they’ve been loudly sprinting toward a squad of heavily armed Runners? Tune in as they dive headfirst into the chaotic, high-stakes world of Marathon.

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