Apple : 10 things to do at home this weekend in self-isolation

10 things to do at home this weekend in self-isolation
Best mesh Wi-Fi routers 2020: the best wireless mesh routers for large homes
Amazing Stories is Apple TV's bland rival to Black Mirror
Best gaming laptops 2020: the 10 top gaming laptops we've reviewed
11 best open world games on PC today
Best PC games 2020: the must-play titles you don’t want to miss
Best wireless routers 2020: the best Wi-Fi for your home network
Best indie games on PC and consoles 2020: the greatest hidden gems
Best laptop for DJs 2020: the best laptops for music production
The best student laptops 2020: all the best options for school
Best computer 2020: the best PCs we've tested
New OnePlus 8 leaks reveal more specs and another color
How to watch Homeland: stream season 8 online from anywhere
How to watch Onward: stream the new Pixar movie online anywhere
Where to buy a Nintendo Switch: when will stock return?
Why telcos in UAE don’t favour opening of WhatsApp and FaceTime amid Covid-19
Intel Core i9-10900K leak hints that the CPU is ready to lead the charge against Ryzen 3000
Supplier worries might mean a delay to the iPhone 12 launch
Intel and AMD face an Arm’ed onslaught from this 96-core CPU monster

10 things to do at home this weekend in self-isolation

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 12:42 PM PDT

Our list of 10 fun things to do at home is going to power you through the weekend, as we've added a bunch of new ideas to keep you entertained through coronavirus self-isolation and the world's seemingly indefinite confinement.

We're here to serve as a distraction from today's surreal situation, or at least point you in the right direction of entertaining or productive things to do this weekend. It'll keep you from being completely bored and while safely staying at home.

You can do anything you want – so long as it's indoors and you're still self-distancing, which, sure, kind of limits your options, come to think of it. But our things to do ideas include the best new games, movies, ebooks and podcasts you may have missed. It may be enough to keep you happily quarantined.

1. Apple Arcade's latest is built for the whole family

Our best Apple Arcade games list now includes Crossy Road Castle, a platform title that thrives on its four-player local multiplayer gameplay (fear not, single-player is a choice, just in case confined at home alone). The frantic action reminds us of all the New Super Mario Bros. games and the old Castle Crashers game that never made its way to iOS somehow. Developer Hipster Whale provides the next best thing.

What's great about a game like Crossy Road Castle is that it's easy to get the entire family in on the multiplayer action thanks to Apple's family share feature. You're able to share this game with anyone in your iCloud family, and we just re-upped out Apple Arcade subscription (it's $4.99 / £4.99 / AU$7.99 a month) to do just that.

2. 'Tiger King' rules Netflix this weekend

Everyone is watching the new Netflix series Tiger King, and even if your video quality has been downgraded, it's worth streaming all seven episodes. It's our new favorite true crime documentary, surpassing The Staircase (also a winner if you haven't seen it).

Right away, Tiger King and its color characters border on being so ridiculous, you'd swear they're not true. PSA: we've known some big cat lovers who couldn't stand watching it for more the five minutes, so, for them, we suggest last month's rave documentary miniseries instead, HBO's McMillions.

Final Cut Pro X

3. Make a movie with free Final Cut Pro X

Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X are free for 90 days, meaning you have three months to make a movie or produce a song about your life in confinement courtesy of Apple. That's enough time to learn advanced techniques like color-grading without having to pay $299 / £299 / AU$499.99 for FCPX or $199 / £199 / AU$319.99 for Logic Pro X. While Adobe Premier Pro CC has become popular on Windows machines, Final Cut Pro is still king of Mac computers when it comes to making videos.

4. Take a trip... to a virtual museum or national park

The Lourve virtual tour

You can't go outside to do small things like go to a movie theater, never mind make much bigger plans like embarking on an expedition to another country. Trust us, it's a much better idea to stay at home during this coronavirus outbreak.

Good news: our 10 virtual tours: see museums and the world without leaving home list allows you to visit world's most popular museums and US national parks virtually. You can use a VR headset, but these tours also work with a smartphone or tablet.

Highlights include Machu Picchu in Peru (without the walking), The Louvre Museum in Paris (Mona Lisa told us to says "Hi"), and the Georgia Aquarium in the US (without all of the school students somehow completely blocking the giant Beluga whales).

5. Become a master chef with a meal kits service

The best thing to do at home mirrors what we liked doing when going out: eating. It's a harder now, with grocery store delivery time slots backed up globally. To the best of our ability, we're highlighting the best grocery delivery services in the US and grocery delivery services in the UK.

Better yet, now is your chance to become a master chef with the best meal prep kits delivering step-by-step recipes to you along with the necessary ingredients. Blue Apron is our favorite in the US, while HelloFresh is available in both the US and UK.

If you're not ready to flex your culinary skills, there are food delivery services in the US and similar takeaway apps in the UK that will get you ready-made foods from the restaurants you'd normally visit. You order get breakfast, lunch and dinner, and you'll be supporting many of the distressed restaurants in your area.

Blue Apron? Hello Fresh? These are the best meal prep services

6. Play either Doom Eternal or Animal Crossing

Doom Eternal

Last weekend, two new video games came out that couldn't be more different, and we're thankful for the variety provided by Bethesda Softworks and Nintendo.

This ride through Hell is one of the best experiences you'll have in 2020.

Doom Eternal is a beautiful, but brutal reinvention of the first-person shooter series that actually makes life at the moment look... not so bad. This ride through Hell is one of the best experiences you'll have in 2020. Our full Doom Eternal review agrees, with a five-star rating and an Editor's Choice award. It's fast-paced at 60fps and has surpassed our expectations even when it played it in 8K with a $2,500 graphics card.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is on the other end of the spectrum – it's a ready to lull you into a sense that nothing is wrong whatsoever like a good ASMR. This is fine. Everything is fine, says main character Tim Nook. Nintendo's cute social life sim is ideal for today's self-isolation situation. Read our Animal Crossing: New Horizons review and think happy thoughts.

One thing to note: while the new Animal Crossing is a must-have Nintendo Switch-exclusive, Doom Eternal is available on a wider set of platforms: PCs, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and even Google Stadia.

Don't have a Switch? These are the best Nintendo Switch deals we've found

7. Watch movie series in order

Nothing eats up more time than a good, long TV series, but because movies typically have bigger budgets and higher production value (outside a select few TV shows), we're switching it up (and also we ran out of TV shows to watch this weekend). Now is the perfect time to go through an entire movie franchise – in order.

There are a couple different ways to watch the Marvel movies in order, and we have the links to where you can watch most of the 23 Marvel movies (Disney Plus being the easiest way to watch a majority of them). If you're looking for things to do during the coronavirus self-isolation, this will take you a total of 60 hours.

We also have lists for how to watch Star Wars movies in order, Batman movies in order, James Bond movies in order (sadly 'No Time to Die' is on hold), Star Trek in order (including the new-ish Picard series), Harry Potter movies in order, and, if you're in the mood for some mindless Vin Diesel-helmed entertainment, Fast and Furious movies in order.

Here's everything you need to know about Disney Plus

8. Read one of 100 top ebooks

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite — Do this... but indoors or away from people, please.

It's easy to put off reading books when life gets busy and you have a commute. But you're probably free from your commute if you're working from home. So basically you have no excuse to flip through a few pages of an ebook.

Where do you start? That's sometimes the hardest part, but we've been impressed with Amazon's 100 books to read in a lifetime list. Not all will be your cup of tea, but there's something here for everyone and most ebooks are conveniently discounted.

Not a fan of reading? Hate the sound of your own voice in your head? Audible is the best remedy for that. The Amazon-owned audiobook company still offers a free 30-day membership. The best parts? Both ebooks and audiobooks are delivered instantly and Amazon won't run out of inventory on either.

Best Kindle: which Amazon ereader should you buy?

9. Discover a new podcast

Noise Cancelling podcast

Podcasts are by-and-large free and often strike the right balancing between being entertaining and informative. Notable podcasts including This American Life, Serial, and Stuff You Should Know – they're consistently in the top 50 on podcast platforms.

If we can be a bit biased for a second, you should really check out Noise Cancelling, the best new tech podcast around. This is our new weekly podcast that talks about what's happening in tech, expanding on the daily written coverage of TechRadar.

10. Clean your gadgets – physically and digitally

We launched a series of how to clean articles, which is timely given you've probably put this off for a long time in the lead up to the coronavirus outbreak. It's among the top things to do if you haven't wiped-down your filthy, germ-collecting gadgets.

The biggest offender is your smartphone, so we launched a how to clean your phone guide, which mirrors our advice on how to clean your iPad or tablet and how to clean your laptop screen. It's very easy to forget about cleaning your AirPods, but they too could use a good rubdown, whether or not you see visible wax. Don't forget about your Nintendo Switch and cleaning all of your gaming peripherals. You'll hug those tightly during gaming marathons and they become germ magnets.

Already done that? Now is also the best time to dive into your digital files with our how to backup your PC and how to format your Mac guides. Backing up your pictures with Google Photos is one of the best uses of your free time.

We'll keep this list of things to do updated as the weeks of confinement continue and so long as we feel we're offering helpful advice. We're not in a global call to arms, but a worldwide call to couch – and we understand that can be difficult if you run out of fun ideas during the beginning of week two. We often give people buying advice, but we're just as happy to deliver enjoying advice.

How to work from home: the mouse, monitor, keyboard and router you need

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Best mesh Wi-Fi routers 2020: the best wireless mesh routers for large homes

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:58 AM PDT

The best mesh WiFi routers on the market can really improve your network situation, whether it’s because you have spotty connections or are trying to cover a large office. While the typical wireless routers are usually one device providing coverage, mesh WiFi routers have several components, or nodes. When they’re placed strategically around the area you want covered, they can provide a reliable and robust signal to every corner of your space.

Basically, by using the best mesh WiFi routers, you’re able to cover a large space without compromising the connection or requiring multiple networks. On top of that, setting up the best mest WiFi routers is usually easy enough that you can do it without expert IT help.

Here is a collection of the best mesh WiFi routers available right now. Whether its best value, easiest setup, or even the most aesthetically pleasing, we’ve gathered our top picks here to make it easy for you to find the best one for your needs.

We found the best Wi-Fi 6 routers on the market right now

Best mesh Wi-Fi routers at a glance

Google Nest Wifi
Google Wifi
Netgear Orbi
Netgear Orbi WiFi 6
Netgear Orbi AC1200
TP-Link Deco M5
Ubiquiti Amplifi HD
Linksys Velop

What’s better than the best mesh router? Well, a mesh router with a smart speaker, that’s what. Especially if you’re a smart home fiend, you will appreciate the pure genius of this upgrade in Google’s Wifi line. The Google Nest Wifi kicks things up a notch, taking Google Wifi’s incredible yet simple design and performance then merges it with the convenience of a smart speaker so you’ve got a two-in-one device in an even sleeker and more attractive package. And, if you’re tired of the color white, this one also comes in Mist and Sand colors. As far as the best mesh Wi-Fi routers go, the original Google Wifi is still the one to beat. This one just gives it that extra oomph.

Read the full review: Google Nest Wifi

The Google Wifi tops, possibly, the best wireless mesh routers we’ve ever used, and we’re not saying that casually. In fact, we’d even go so far as to say that it may be the best wireless mesh router, at least to date. Not only does it have the power to push fast Wi-Fi throughout your house – an even more impressive feat considering its diminutive size, but it’s also fairly cheap and not that hard to set up. Setting up is so simple that all you have to do to configure Google Wifi is to download an app to your smartphone, scan some QR codes and just place the nodes where you want around your house. With Google WiFi, the company has taken dominion over the mesh WiFi world.

Read the full review: Google Wifi

If you have deep pockets, then check out the Netgear Orbi, which may be one of the best wireless mesh routers money can buy this year. Instead of something like the Google WiFi, which uses three identical nodes to create the network, you’ll get one main router and several satellite nodes to plug into power outlets around your home. In addition, the Orbi touts more than enough Ethernet ports, making it an exceptional option for anyone with a number of devices that need a hardwired connection. This mesh router is the best choice for consumers who use their network mostly for gaming, particularly across multiple devices.

Read the full review: Netgear Orbi

If you’re ready to jump on the Wi-Fi 6 bandwagon, the Orbi WiFi 6 is your best bet when it comes to getting the best mesh Wi-Fi routers. It’s not by any means a casual purchase, with its steep price tag, but if you’re looking to upgrade to a faster and more reliable router to cover a massive space – like your countryside mansion, perhaps, or your crowded smart home – then this one’s absolutely worth the money. Plus, it’s easy and straightforward to setup, making it great for people who don’t have too much experience with Wi-Fi networks.

Read the full review: Netgear Orbi WiFi 6

Netgear Orbi Whole Home Mesh WiFi System — The tri-band Orbi Whole Home AC1200 offers solid performance at a reasonable price.

The tri-band Orbi Whole Home AC1200 offers solid performance at a reasonable price, and will be a good choice for most small and medium-size homes that need to improve their Wi-Fi coverage. It’s simple to set-up and use for newcomers, although Netgear’s decision to use Disney’s subscription-based Circle service for parental controls is discouraging, considering that rival routers and mesh systems have often provided better parental controls for free. The lack of Ethernet ports for wired connections as well as more advanced features in the Orbi app might turn off experienced users as well.

If you’re looking for a way to spread Wi-Fi throughout your home without having to spend a lot of dough, then look into the TP-Link Deco M5. It’s not as speedy as some of the other best mesh Wi-Fi routers on this list, but if you’re not too concerned about getting the maximum theoretical throughput, which you probably won’t be able to take full advantage of anyway, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Setup, similar to the other devices here, is a breeze, even if you’re not tech-savvy. The TP-Link Deco M5 is among the best wireless mesh routers for those who don’t want to get too technical.

Read the full review: TP-Link Deco M5

If you love Apple’s design philosophy, enjoy having attractive gadgets set up around your home and have more than enough extra money sitting around, then the Ubiquiti Amplifi HD is the perfect mesh router for you. You’ll find a lot to love with this device, especially if you live in a large house and can take advantage of the full power that this mesh Wi-Fi setup provides, as it’s capable of a very large amount of throughput. You might find that the value diminishes quite a bit when you live in a smaller space however, since there are more affordable alternatives on hand for small to medium homes. The Ubiquiti Amplifi HD may be pricey, but you’re paying for a piece of tech that both exudes style and a ton of substance. That’s more than enough to justify the price tag, making this a great addition to the best wireless mesh routers list.

Read the full review: Ubiquiti Amplifi HD

While it’s expensive and not quite as powerful as the other Wi-Fi mesh routers on this list, there’s something to be said about the simplicity that the Linksys Velop offers. It might come with a heftier price than the competition, but the Velop will appeal to people who need to create a Wi-Fi network and want to avoid setting it up. More tech-savvy users will most likely look elsewhere – why spend money when you can do the work yourself for free? However, for most users, the Linksys Velop is among the best wireless mesh routers because of the convenience it offers from the start. It’s also completely modular, so you only have to pick up as many nodes as you actually need – one node will cover up to 2,000 square feet.

Read the full review: Linksys Velop

These are the best routers of 2020

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Amazing Stories is Apple TV's bland rival to Black Mirror

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:52 AM PDT

I wish I liked Amazing Stories, Apple’s reboot of an NBC anthology series of the same name that was produced in the mid-1980s. It’s one of Apple TV Plus’ tentpole shows and had the opportunity to lift the streaming service out of the rut it’s been stuck in. But it doesn’t.

And Apple TV Plus might never get its comeuppance if shows like Amazing Stories continue to fail to stand up to their Netflix counterparts - in this case, the incredibly thought-provoking, cerebral masterpiece that is Black Mirror.

Anthologies present a unique opportunity to explore pressing societal issues or existential deliberations in a way that traditional serialized dramas can’t. Often they can do it in such a way that makes you feel something deeply profound in just 30 minutes’ time, and stick with you long after the credits roll.

Amazing Stories, in its own bland way, tries to venture down this road and immediately gets off at the first exit without imparting any particular emotion - and that’s really just the start of its problems.

So, what’s wrong with it?

For starters, Amazing Stores kicks off with probably its weakest episode, called The Cellar, that opens in 2019 with two brothers played by Dylan O'Brien and Micah Stock as they renovate an old house.

O’Brien’s character Jake, who hasn’t had much luck with women in this century, finds a time-traveling barometer (yes, you read that right) in the basement of the house and is shuttled back to 1919 once the town is hit by a once-in-a-lifetime* low-pressure weather system. (*It happens at least four times in the episode.)

The setup takes a bit longer than you’d expect, and when all’s said and done it’s standard time traveling stuff basically.

Once Sam hits the past and the story gets moving, it briefly pauses on the historical inequality between men and women, and the lack of agency women had (and in some ways still have) but - and here’s the show’s biggest issue - it then avoids confronting these problems in any real way. What should be the crux of the story becomes the b-plot to a sub-par main thread.

Instead, Amazing Stories lures you in with a time traveler’s love tale, and then, for whatever reason, flippantly deviates at the last minute just to stop you from getting any sort of catharsis for the time you invested. And it does that for every episode.

Worse, character development is done in such a contrived, mechanical and painstakingly long way, that you almost begin to dislike the characters. One particularly egregious example of this is when the show's second episode feels compelled to introduce you to family members of one of the characters only to show that character once more in the background.

Now all of this would be tolerable if the show’s payoff - the genre’s twist that has been a staple since the ’60s - was more memorable, or at least tolerable. But, of all four episodes I’ve seen so far, it’s not.

Is Amazing Stories a relic of a bygone era?

I know this isn’t exactly a fair criticism, but one of the show’s issues is that it purposely decides to keep things family friendly and almost sickeningly sweet at times to bolster Apple's family-friendly image.

In that way, Amazing Stories is the polar opposite of Black Mirror that’s prepared to show you something twisted - something you didn’t want to see, but something that’s hard to look away from. Amazing Stories wants to show you something softer, sweeter and, ultimately, less cerebral.

Now look, forcing a politician to have intercourse with a farm animal isn’t exactly a prerequisite to create a good anthology series, but you have to admit it’s a premise that sticks with you.

Amazing Stories never treads into these dangerous waters. Not in terms of its premise, nor in terms of its ability to present something compelling. It adheres to Apple’s policy of always putting its products in the hands of the good guys, keeping cursing to a minimum and never asking audiences to think too hard about its characters, their motivations or their situations.

It's a huge disappointment as far as anthology series go.

But maybe one of the reasons the show doesn’t work is because Black Mirror moved the pylons. Maybe it’s because public discourse has grown so much deeper in the age of think-pieces and Twitter threads. Maybe it’s because Black Mirror was dark, foreboding and at times difficult to watch where Amazing Stories is dead-set to keep things under PG-13 at all times.

Whatever the reasoning is - and it’s likely more than just any one thing - its 6.4 rating on IMDB shows the world has moved way past Amazing Stories’ tepid storytelling.

The brighter side of Apple’s anthology series

If it’s not apparent by now, the name ‘Amazing Stories’ is a bit of an overstatement - but the series does have one redeeming feature: because it strays so far away from telling darker stories, inside every tale of Apple’s anthology series is a really sweet gesture of kindness, a story within a story that shows a better side of humanity.

These gestures take a number of forms - in the first episode it’s a sacrificial act in a cellar, in the third episode it’s a cantankerous grandpa’s consoling of his grandson. In another, it's an alien's literal sacrifice to save a character's life. Each episode has an act of selflessness that belies anything… well, actually ‘amazing’ about the stories.

Unfortunately these moments last approximately 10 seconds in a one-hour episode and don’t stick with you the same way, say, watching someone’s leg get broken does. (Spoilers: this might be the most memorable part of the whole series so far.)

I’m not advocating that Amazing Stories needs to be one hour of torment and torture - I’d hate that show, too - but when the stakes are this low, it’s hard to care about the characters and plot of Apple’s lackluster anthology series.

Long story short, as much as I admire Apple's decision to keep things warm and fuzzy, Amazing Stories ultimately plays it too safe and Apple TV Plus is all the worse for that decision.

Not sure what to watch? Here are the best TV shows of 2020

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Best gaming laptops 2020: the 10 top gaming laptops we've reviewed

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:41 AM PDT

The best gaming laptops aren’t only for having an incredibly immersive gaming experience while also being portable. Now that they’re closing the performance gap between them and the best gaming PCs with the latest mobile versions of cutting-edge internals, they’re also capable of giving you an edge over your rival players and even help you get to the top of the scoreboards.

In fact, the best gaming laptops are the only way to go if you want to stay competitive in gaming while also staying portable at the same time. There’s no PC game that the best gaming laptops can’t handle. And it’s all thanks to the Intel Coffee Lake Refresh processors to Nvidia Turing and AMD Navi graphics cards, as well as the speediest SSDs for maximum performance, they’re hiding under the hood.

We gathered the best gaming laptops we’ve tested and reviewed here at TechRadar and put them on this list for you. Whatever your budget and needs are, whether you’re a casual gamer who plays in your spare time or a competitive pro who needs the most powerful internals, there’s no better investment.

Best gaming laptops 2020 at a glance

Alienware Area-51m
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701
MSI GS65 Stealth
Razer Blade
Lenovo Legion Y740
Alienware m17 (2019)
MSI GT75 Titan
Asus ROG Strix GL502
Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX531GX
Origin Evo16-S

Best gaming laptops 2020

If you fell head over heels upon seeing the Alienware Area-51m’s stunning yet quirky white chassis, you’re not alone. And, if you happen to shell out that couple of thousand dollars based on looks alone, we’d be the last people to judge. Anyway, you’ll be happy to know that it wasn’t all for naught, as this gaming laptop – or rather, the best among the best gaming laptops of 2020 – packs a hefty punch, gaming-wise. This is so far the most powerful gaming laptop on the market currently, and you won’t be able to help but be impressed. Its comfy keyboard and VR readiness are just cherries on top.

Read the full review: Alienware Area-51m

These days, the best gaming laptop manufacturers are scrambling to craft the thinnest gaming laptop packing raw power. Right now, the one that might be leading the charge is the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX701. At just 0.7 inches thick, this beast of a laptop boasts an Intel Coffee Lake Core i7 chip, Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics and 16GB of RAM. That means you can play any PC game under the sun on Ultra, and also take it with you wherever you go – ideal for travelers with a penchant for gaming. Plus, it’s packed with RGB lighting that’ll dazzle just about anyone.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701

Play some of the best PC games on the move and very discreetly with the MSI GS65 Stealth, which might just be the gaming laptop of your dreams if you’re a traveler. Coming in at just 0.69 inches thick and packing impressive internals like Intel Coffee Lake processors and Nvidia GeForce GTX 10-series – refreshed with RTX 20-series graphics at CES – the MSI GS65 Stealth packs a punch in its very thing package. There’s nothing you won’t be able to throw at this thing that’ll slow it down. And, thanks to the smart aesthetic, you’ll be able to lug this beefy rig everywhere you go, making it among the best gaming laptops to hit the streets.

Read the full review: MSI GS65 Stealth

For several years now, the Razer Blade has constantly been named one of the best gaming laptops on the market. For good reason, since it rocks some powerful components and boasts a stunning display in its elegant chassis. That’s true for the 2019 model as well, which now rocks up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080. That is, frankly, a ton of power for a laptop with this thin. If that’s not enough graphics power for you, you can use the Razer Core for future expansion. Make no mistake: it is pricey; but it might be worth it if style and power are equally important to you.

Read the full review: Razer Blade

The Lenovo Legion Y740 packs a lot of muscles inside its stylish yet accessible chassis, combining a very high refresh rate, Nvidia Turing graphics and a powerful processor with a gloriously effective thermal cooling, a nifty cable management system and a number of applications to make it truly yours. It’s as close to a complete package as you can get, wrapped in a beautiful chassis that you’d be proud to show off to friends and strangers. It still has the remnants of that gaming aesthetic, but it’s made classy so that you could be gaming in public without anyone knowing. Despite its shortcomings – unfortunate keyboard and webcam placement, as well as its subpar battery life – it’s still one of the best gaming laptops to date.

Read the full review: Lenovo Legion Y740

Dell has reinvented its flagship gaming brand. The Alienware m17 (2019) touts more powerful internals and a bold new design you won’t see on any other gaming laptop of its caliber. This Alienware gaming laptop looks good inside and out, so you can have the most immersive gaming experience of your life and look good while gaming, whether you’re at home on your couch or at a cafe. That’s not all; it’s impressively portable as well, with a thin and light chassis that’s ideal for gaming on the go. This is a well-rounded gaming laptop that is worth every penny you spend on it, though you will be spending a hefty amount.

Read the full review: Alienware m17 (2019)

Some gaming laptops just don’t pull any punches, allowing you to run any game you can think of on Ultra without breaking a sweat – and the MSI GT75 Titan is an excellent example. It’s the king of desktop replacements, fitted with 6-core Intel Coffee Lake processors, plenty of RAM and powerful Nvidia Pascal graphics. Aptly named, this is indeed a titan, and is neither portable nor cafe-friendly. However, if raw power is what you’re after, this is the best gaming laptop for you. Just be prepared to shell out the silver.

Read the full review: MSI GT75 Titan

It may not have the most original or innovative design, trading in the usual black and red aesthetic for one that makes you feel like its Halloween all year round (no complaints here, but some might find it particularly unattractive). Yet, Asus ROG Strix GL502 is still one of the best laptops when it comes to gaming in 1080p. In fact, during our tests, we were able to crank the settings all the way up in Overwatch without ever dipping below 60fps. It doesn’t offer the longest battery life, but there’s an easy fix – just have your charger on hand at all times. Rounding it all out are the display, power and onboard sound system, all of which more than make up for that middling battery life.

Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GL502

This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Alienware 17 R5

Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX531GX should take you a long way in gaming.

Thin like an Ultrabook, yet powerful like a gaming laptop should, and with a very effective cooling system to boot, the Asus Zephyrus S GX531GX is one of the best gaming laptops we’ve gotten our hands on in 2020. It packs an 8th-generation Intel Core i7 backed by Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q graphics and up to 24GB RAM, which means that this beast should take you a long way in gaming, whether you’re a casual gamer or a pro. We’re massive fans, though probably not of that price tag. This pricey powerhouse is not for the shallow-pocketed, but with premium components come a premium price. Only invest if you’ve got the tenders.

Read the full review: Asus Zephyrus S GX531GX

There’s definitely a lot to love about the Origin Evo16-S. This gaming laptop doesn’t just swagger with more than enough power to handle most AAA games without frame drops or stuttering, which is already a reason on its own to buy it. It also keeps all that power in a chassis that’s particularly thin and light for a gaming laptop. And, it boasts better than average battery life to boot, which is always a nice welcome when you’ve got a gaming laptop. It’s got its share of shortcomings, sure: we’d like to see a more vibrant display and better sounding speakers. Plus, it isn’t exactly the most affordable gaming laptop out there. However, if you’ve got a bit of money to spare, you’ll have an amazing gaming experience on the go with the Origin Evo16-S.

Read the full review: Origin Evo16-S

Choosing the best gaming laptop

When choosing the best gaming laptop for you, there are a few things you must take into account.

First and foremost, the most crucial thing to consider in the best gaming laptops is how well they play the latest games. When creating this list, not only do we delve deep into the specifications of each gaming laptop to see if they are up to snuff, but we also run benchmarks on each one to check out the raw performance.

Benchmarks only tell part of the story however. So, we also make sure we play a number of the latest games on each laptop to see just how well they perform. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

Display, sound quality, keyboard, trackpad and the overall design of the laptop matter as well, so these are definitely things you’d want to check out before hitting that buy button.

In fact, if the device scores highly in all these areas, it has a good chance of making it to our best gaming laptops 2020 list. That means you can buy any of the best gaming laptops in this list in full confidence that you're getting a killer gaming device that will last you for years to come.

Gabe Carey, Bill Thomas and Michelle Rae Uy have also contributed to this article

Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop 2020

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

11 best open world games on PC today

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:39 AM PDT

The best open world games of 2020 showcase beautiful, intricately-detailed worlds that are waiting to be explored. But they’re more than just stunning games; they’re also proof of just how far the best PC games and gaming PCs have come in the last decade. In fact, they’re so incredibly immersive, you’ll feel like you’ve just been physically transported to a different planet.

In fact, the best open world games are now among the most popular titles in gaming, from the immensely popular Red Dead Redemption 2, The Witcher 3 and Grand Theft Auto V to co-op titles like Ghost Recon Wildlands. Even the best indie games have followed suit, proving that you don’t have to be a huge studio to take advantage of the open world design.

You’ll only need to take a spin around one of our top picks to understand why the open-world concept has infected every corner of the gaming world. And, the extra side quests only make your gaming experience all the more interesting. Dig into our list of the best open-world games 2020 has to offer, and start exploring.

The first two Witcher games were compelling, complex and challenging, even though it only relished minor success. All the word of mouth about the first two games led to the Witcher 3 getting big when it was released. It was a huge step up in quality as well, which makes it undoubtedly one of the best RPGs of all time.

You step in the shoes of Geralt, a mutated monster hunter or witcher, and you’re tasked to scour the world for your adopted daughter in a medieval period ravaged by war. Geralt can walk, ride or sail across the war-ravaged lands (and seas) of Novigrad, Velen and Skellige. You can even forage for herbs, explore under the seas or the city back alleys, and encounter all kinds of folk and creatures. The other elements of the game are spectacularly polished as well - limber, agile combat, a deep levelling system and a storyline with some unusually-smart storylines. Plus, with the Blood and Wine expansion, you’ll be able to take on a clan of Vampires in the colorful land of Toussaint, too.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now four years old, but it definitely stands the test of time and is still one of the best open world games on the market right now. This well-realized world blows the likes of Skyrim out of the water.

One of the reasons open-world games are so popular is because of how immersive they can be, and Red Dead Redemption 2 draws you in like almost no other. Explore a fictionalized Wild West where you can spend hours just hunting, robbing trains or coaches, or just riding and bonding with your favorite horse. Or just spend hours just gambling, if you want.

It’s not just the world-building that makes RDR2 such a fantastic game, however. The tale of Arthur Morgan and his gang, and their exploits as they try to stay a step ahead of the law is about as epic and operatic a story as they come. On top of that, this game is gorgeous. Let’s just say there’s a reason this game features a cinematic mode camera view.

2017’s Assassin’s Creed: Origins felt like a revelation of what an Assassin’s Creed game could become. It traded many of the gameplay mechanics with what those that are more immersive, organic and even fun. However, Ubisoft went even farther with Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. It has polished everything that made Assassin’s Creed: Origins so great, weaving it into the best game in the series so far.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey puts you in the shoes of Alexios or Kassandra in the middle of ancient Greece, as you take on the role of a mercenary trying to find his or her family. Everything else you do is completely up to you – you choose your alliances, you choose your missions and the world is your oyster.

The incredible RPG mechanics from Origins make a return in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, along with some much-needed enhancements. In many ways, this game perfects the legendary series’ formula, making for one of the best open world games of all time.

Plus, if the massive world wasn’t already enough content for you, there’s more good news: Ubisoft is constantly updating it with new content, new mercenaries to hunt down and even some fresh expansions. If you pick up the season pass, you get access to Assassin's Creed III Remastered, which includes Assassin’s Creed: Liberation.

Grand Theft Auto V has been out for quite a while now, but because we’re still waiting for Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC, it remains to be the best open world game on PC from Rockstar. It’s a massive pastiche of L.A. through which you can fly, run or drive across. It’s an incredible achievement, and the fact that it works in multiplayer is amazing.

What makes it such a success, however, is the freedom it gives you. When you’re not running around and robbing banks during the campaign, GTA V basically lets you do whatever you want – even if it breaks the game. You can go anywhere, do anything and commit however many brutalities as your wicked heart desires.

There are also a number of activities on hand for you on the side. This means that when you’re not busy initiating all sorts of mayhem, you can alternately take up tennis, do yoga or even kick your feet up and watch some TV. There’s a reason this game is so beloved.

The plot may not have made much sense, but Hideo Kojima’s last addition to the Metal Gear franchise was a legend of layered open world mechanics, which is why we’re so psyched about Death Stranding.

In the twin deserts of Afghanistan and Angola, Big Boss – or Venom Snake – has a range of objectives to tick off. As him, you wander the areas on foot, horseback or in an assortment of ground vehicles. You can arm yourself with either lethal or non-lethal weapons, as well as take a variety of AI companions.

The world of Metal Gear Solid V is extremely bleak, weather-torn and heavily guarded. Uniquely, it learns from your behavior – abuse of a particular tactic, and your enemies will adapt. For instance, rely too much on headshots, and they’ll start wearing metal helmets.

Away from the frontline, you can develop Mother Base by building new facilities and airlifting enemy soldiers, prisoners, resources, vehicles, animals and anything else you want to from the battlefield to beef up your armory.

Bethesda has made a name for itself over the last couple of decades by producing some of the best open world games, and Fallout 4 is an excellent example of why. You’ll be dropped in post-apocalyptic Boston, where you’ll explore the ruins of the city in all its retro-futuristic glory.

While the plot ultimately revolves around saving your kid from their kidnappers, you might momentarily forget all about that with all those side missions, as well as pillage loot from super mutants and bandits.

Once you get everything done (if you ever do), Bethesda’s games have a tendency to be immensely re-playable because of the way different character builds can interact with the world around you.

Get even closer to the action by playing through Fallout 4 in VR, with the HTC Vive.

When Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor was released almost five years ago, it was acclaimed for its portrayal of Tolkien’s Mordor as well as its distinctive nemesis system. The sequel, Middle Earth: Shadow of War, takes this concept and turns it up to 11, allowing you to roam in the last human stronghold in Mordor.

This is one of the best open world games you can immerse yourself in during 2020. Especially after the removal of the microtransactions that plagued the game at launch, the Nemesis system still feels fresh. In addition, the combat is just as good as ever, with a wealth of new skills you can unlock during its extensive campaign.

Later in the game, it will start introducing some RTS elements as you command an army of dominated orcs to retake different strongholds. The Middle Earth series has shown some real innovation, and we can’t wait to see what else Monolith Studios has in store in the near future.

Last year, Ubisoft took one of the most highly acclaimed squad-based shooter series in its lineup, Ghost Recon, and honed it into an open-world paradise. You’re set loose in Bolivia, tasked with taking down a drug cartel that has taken power over the region – by set loose, we mean you’re free to pursue this goal however you feel like.

Ghost Recon Wildlands may be one of the best open world games when you’re playing by yourself, but where it really excels is when you’re playing with friends. This is because Ghost Recon, at its very core, has always been a tactical shooter that’s built around working with a team of AI companions. Inherently, when you team up with your friends, this gameplay is elevated to a whole new level completely.

Just keep in mind that this game is an absolute stunner, which means it requires a pretty beefy setup to run properly, so make sure to pay close attention to those system requirements before you start.

When the first Crackdown was released in 2007, it kind of changed the game, with you taking the role of a superpowered cop out to catch a cast of zany criminals. While Crackdown 3 hasn’t changed much in the 12 years since, it still boasts its own identity.

Crackdown 3 takes the super-powered hijinks of the original and scales it to modern graphics without changing too much of what made the original game so great. This might make it feel a little antiquated to some folks. However, if you were into the first one, there’s much love here.

What really stands out here, however, is the new Wrecking Zone multiplayer game mode. It uses the power of Microsoft Azure cloud computing to make the whole city destructible.

Far Cry 5 might just be the archetype of what the best open world games on PC should be in 2020. This game is distinctive in the fact that it lets you to truly go anywhere on the map – not to mention, do anything. As it doesn’t water this freedom down by limiting the amount of space you have open to you, it’s also perhaps one of the biggest game maps we’ve ever roamed in.

Far Cry 5 takes place in the middle of the Montana wilderness, and while it does boast a plot that involves cultists or something, that all falls into the background as you wander around and get lost in the massive world. We haven’t finished Far Cry 5, and we don’t think ‘finished’ exists in this game.

We’re not the only ones that love Far Cry 5, either. At the Game Awards 2018, Ubisoft announced Far Cry: New Dawn, a direct follow-up – a first for the classic shooter series.

For years, the Yakuza franchise has been somewhat of a best kept secret. Lately, however, these incredible games have gotten some well-deserved mainstream success. And, thanks to this success, these classic titles are finally, albeit slowly, making their way to PC with Yakuza Kiwami leading the charge.

It’s a remake of the first Yakuza title, which was rolled out nearly 13 years ago in the US. With it, PC gamers can finally see how the franchise got its start, putting players in the shoes of Kazuma Kiryu as he battles his way through the Yakuza’s ranks. More than that, it’s a gripping mix of serious storytelling and silly moments – something that the Yakuza series would become famous for over the years.

When Rage came out back in 2010, it was critically lambasted for being a technical mess on PC. Now, almost ten years later, Rage 2 is here, it has perfected dramatically on almost every aspect of the original. So much so that it’s made our best open world games of 2020 list.

id Software teamed up with Avalanche Studios to bring the perfect blend of brilliant gunplay and open-world shenanigans. You’re let loose in the middle of an unexpectedly colorful post-apocalyptic wasteland, where you’re free to destroy everything that gets in your way.

Not only are there a ton of big guns, but you also get a bunch of deadly Ark powers that you can use to exterminate your enemies. The mark of a true Rage 2 pro will be the ability to combine all of these abilities together into visceral chains of carnage.

The gameplay feels excellent. In fact, you’ll have so much fun blowing everything up that you’ll hardly notice how empty the open world is. And, really, that’s exactly what we wanted out of an open world shooter from id Software, especially after the excellent Doom 2016.

You might not quite get why Forza Horizon 4 is even on a list of the best open world games. After all, Forza is a racing series, not an open world game. However, you’d only be half right. Yes, it’s indeed a racing game, but the Forza Horizon series has always sat among the best open world games to date. And, Forza Horizon 4 takes that winning formula even further.

Not only are all of the systems that were in place in 2016’s Forza Horizon 3 present here, but they’ve also been polished to craft one of the smoothest open world racing games we’ve ever had the pleasure of playing.

The map is slightly smaller than the previous offering, but Forza Horizon 4’s world changes seasons every week, which changes how each track plays every time you play it (or, at least until you’ve played it on 4 separate weeks). Simply put, Forza Horizon 4 is one of the most fun racing games on the market. With all the added open world content – like collectible cars and randomly placed ramps – it’s also one of the best open world games on the market.

In addition, there are new expansions getting added, like Forza Horizon 4: Fortune Island, for even more content.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best PC games 2020: the must-play titles you don’t want to miss

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:35 AM PDT

The best PC games are more exciting to dive into than ever before. Thanks to Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 2080 Ti and Super RTX graphics cards and AMD’s Navi line, you can fill out your days for hours and hours of fun with stunning and immersive games that are designed to challenge as well as entertain you.

There’s a wide selection of the best PC games out there. There are retro classics for a bit of nostalgia and the latest games that boast ray-tracing. There are platformers and dungeon crawlers, as well as strategy and open-world games. There are even co-op PC games so you can take on your friends.

Whatever your taste is, you’ll find quite a few options out there to enjoy with such a wealth of games. It’s just a matter of narrowing your choices. Luckily, we’ve thoroughly tested quite a few games including the best Steam games 2020, and handpicked the best PC games of 2020 for you.

The best new PC game: Doom Eternal

The more than two-decade-old first-person series has proven once again that it’ll never fade into irrelevance, not with its latest installment already getting the best opening week sales in the series ever. Simply put, Doom Eternal is the best new PC game to hit the streets in Q1 2020, and you only need to preview the game to understand why.

Doom Eternal takes everything that was incredible about the 2016 reboot and takes it all to a faster, meaner and nastier level with scarier demons from hell, more intense combats, newer moves and a better multiplayer/battle mode. Among the key additions here are the ability to do mid-air dashes, the 2-on-1 demon versus slayer battles, and the faster and more furious combats.

If you’re a fan of first-person shooter games (or even if you’re not), this is one of the best FPS campaigns right now, and you’d be missing out if you don’t play it now.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is aging like fine wine. Even several years after it hit the streets, it’s still one of the most impressive open world games that’s ever existed – mixing Skyrim’s unapologetic scale with Grand Theft Auto V’s incredible depth. It’s such a jam-packed game, which is why it claims the top spot on our list of the best PC games in 2020. Staggering, beautiful and an absolute time sink – in a good way – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt isn’t just the best PC game of 2020 or among the best open world games on PC. It might just be one of the best video games of all time.

Check out our list of the best single player PC games

2. Dark Souls 3

While it's arguably not as hard as earlier titles in the series, From Software's Dark Souls 3 takes everything you like about the Souls series and improves on it by blending it with elements found in Bloodborne, the developer's more recent title for PS4.

We won’t sugar coat it: you’re going to die in Dark Souls 3, perhaps more than once. It takes patience to master its complex combat system, but it also plays fair, which makes it more approachable for casual players so they too can take part in its bleak, fantastical world. And, on the bright side, it’s much more optimized for PC than the first two games. Now that you can pick up Dark Souls: Remastered, and see where the apocalyptic series began, there’s never been a better time to link the first flame.

3. Control

It’s not hard to see why Control has taken the gaming world by storm. The creative team at Remedy Entertainment made sure to pack this title with plenty to love, paying very close attention to the intricate details. A deeply cinematic game, this action-adventure offers its players staggering visuals, inspired environment design and brilliant performances – not to mention, a deeply satisfying combat experience.

Control places you in the capable shoes of fiery-haired Jesse Faden. You’re tasked to seek out The Oldest House, a building in New York City that’s in a constant state of architectural flux and only appears to those who desire to find it, and locate your missing brother, all while heading the Federal Bureau of Control as its director and overseeing the containment of paranatural entities.

There’s nothing quite like Control on the market, and it makes it one of the best PC games to play right now.

4. Monster Hunter World

Monster Hunter is one of the biggest gaming franchises you’ve probably never heard of for years now. With Monster Hunter: World, the series broke into the mainstream and came to the PC (much to many gamers’ relief), and now, it’s one of the best PC games you can play to date.

Monster Hunter: World puts you in the shoes of a monster hunter, and you’ll hunt increasingly bigger and meaner monsters, strip them for parts, and craft bigger, badder armor. It’s a deviously simple gameplay loop that ends up being one of the most compelling and rewarding PC games you can play right now.

There’s an incessant onslaught of content in this game, and Capcom, the developers of this monster hunting hit, are committed to bringing a wealth of free DLC to the game – as well as a new frosty expansion in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne. If you’re looking for an addictive, immersive and most importantly, fun game to play on your own or with all your closest friends cooperatively, Monster Hunter: World is the PC game of your dreams. There’s no doubt it’s one of the best PC games you can buy today.

These are the best co-op PC games of 2019

5. Red Dead Redemption 2

The newest release from Rockstar Games was an instant hit upon release. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an engrossing western following Arthur Morgan and his gang as they try to survive a fictionalized Wild West as outlaws on the run. However, the game is much more than just that.

Whether it’s getting lost in the story, following through on every side quest to its conclusion, or just bonding with your horse, RDR2 is one of those games where you can easily sink 50+ hours into and still have something to do. The gameplay is stellar, and the graphics are gorgeous. You can even run the game in 8K, if you have the hardware. Definitely give this a look if you haven’t already.

6. Sid Meier's Civilization VI

Sid Meier's Civilization VI is the most recent installment in the iconic turn-based strategy game, and it's without a doubt among the best PC games you can play to date. One of the things that make the PC the best platform for gaming on is the sheer breadth of different game genres on offer. And, what Civilization VI has to offer is its massive scope, despite the fact that it might seem slower paced next to the likes of Fortnite.

Spread your empire across the map and crush your enemies. You build up your empire from a simple settlement to a world power, and you can decide to do this through military might, technological supremacy or cultural influence. Since its launch in 2016, it has had two expansion packs that really cement this game as an epic entry in our best PC games list. Civilization VI: Rise and Fall released in February 2018, with Civilization VI: Gathering Storm following in February 2019.

7. Alien: Isolation

Set 15 years after the events of the first Alien film from 1979, Alien: Isolation is the suspense-filled game that fans of the franchise have long been waiting for. Playing the role of Amanda Ripley, daughter of Alien protagonist Ellen Ripley, your mission is to track down and retrieve the flight recorder of the Nostromo spacecraft from the first Alien film, which has been traced aboard the Sevastopol space station.

First and foremost a stealth game, Isolation intensifies the tension by giving you minimal weaponry. Its superb graphics shine on high-end PCs and brilliant AI helps ramp up the dread, leaving you shuddering at every corner. This and more make Alien: Isolation one of the best PC games 2020 has to offer.

Read: How the tech of Alien Isolation will scare you back into the 1970s

8. Overwatch

Overwatch, if nothing else, has considerably changed the landscape, moving it away from the norm of gray-ish cover shooters to the domain of competitive gaming. Its bright, vibrant colors are only made better by its endearing characters, each coming with their own compelling backstories, which, though non-existent in game, make for a collection of amazing webcomics and cinematics.

Overwatch is also one of the best PC games, owing to the fact that it runs beautifully on all kinds of different hardware. Sure, it’s a little older now. However, even in 2020, it’s the best PC game for anyone with a competitive streak. If you missed out on this game before, do yourself a favor – sign in to your Battle.net account and take Overwatch – not to mention, its colorful cast of characters – for a spin today.

9. Forza Horizon 4

Microsoft's racing series is only getting better with each release, and in many ways this spin-off has exceeded the main Forza Motorsport line as the best racing games on PC at present. They're definitely more fun, adding a dash of arcade fun to the strikingly recreated cars and race tracks we've come to expect from Forza.

Forza Horizon 4 is easily one of the best PC games you can buy today, and this entry brings the racing to the UK after having explored America, France, Italy and Australia in the previous three instalments of the franchise. Now, you can rip through charming villages, seaside towns and the city of Edinburgh by way of many miles of country roads and dirt tracks in between. It's fast, frantic and a lot of fun.

You can purchase Forza Horizon 4 through the Microsoft Store. It's also available as part of the Xbox Game Pass for PC, or you can buy the Xbox One version and get a download code for PC using the Xbox Anywhere feature.

10. Thimbleweed Park

Fans of classic point and click games such as Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle, which are some of the best PC games ever made, should add Thimbleweed Park to their must play list. Made by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, two of the people behind PC classics Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion, Thimbleweed Park plays like a love letter to classic point-and-click adventure games.

From the splendid retro artwork, entertaining dialogue and perplexing puzzles, Thimbleweed Park deserves its place on our list of the best PC games, merging the best of old school PC game design with modern technology.

11. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

From Software is a household name when it comes to designing the best PC games. The minds behind the critically praised Dark Souls series have transported PC gamers to some of the most forsaken landscapes and through some of the most challenging yet rewarding gameplay. From Software is back at it once more, with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.

Sekiro places you in the shoes of the Young Wolf, a shinobi tasked with rescuing his young master. The game will take you through 16th-century Japan, but things will get eerie and supernatural: this is From Software we’re talking about.

Don’t expect an easy time of it, however. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an awfully difficult game to master, and you’ll need quick reflexes to deflect enemy attacks, as well as to master stealth. You won’t be able to hide behind a shield all day, like you were able to in Dark Souls III.

Read: Is the MMORPG on the verge of extinction?

12. Minecraft

The phrase "build it, and they will come" rings truer than ever with Minecraft, the survival-based sandbox RPG that has now been bought more than 100 million times since its release in 2009. In it, you can construct your own worlds using resources you find in the wild, or discover existing ones created by other players online.

In Minecraft, you can either limit yourself to the numerous tools and blocks offered by the developer, Mojang, or you can install mods to truly capitalize on your investment. Moreover, sometime in 2020, you’ll be able to take part in the Super Duper Graphics Pack, an optional piece of DLC that offers more realistic lighting effects and textures to an already amazing game.

13. Doom

A crudely rendered first-person shooter series, Doom was as controversial as it was adored when it first took PC gaming by storm in the 90s. That’s due in large part to its cutting-edge depictions of gore and violence that only a computer could deliver. But just because Id Software's brainchild was a phenomenon for PC gamers in the ‘90s, that doesn’t mean that its premise and gore-fille gameplay doesn’t hold up.

Parents be damned, the franchise underwent a revival in 2016 with a fresh reset, aptly titled Doom, and it’s still proving to be among the best PC games years later. Although the multiplayer might not appeal to shooter fans regardless of age, the single player campaign will pit you against demons in Hell for a lengthy mission that is bloody satisfying, pun intended.

14. Fortnite Battle Royale

It’s possibly the biggest game in the world right now, so Fortnite Battle Royale is a natural shoo-in for this list. After all, it is a global phenomenon and among the best PC games to play right now if you like super-competitive online games. This is a game people keep coming back to, and that's mostly due to its addictive gameplay and regular updates from Epic.

Fortnite Battle Royale is actually a game mode for the Fortnite game, but this mode has become so popular, many people consider it a separate game in its own right. As with other Battle Royale games, the aim of Fortnite Battle Royale is to fight your way through an ever-shrinking map until you're the last player standing. While that might sound simple enough, there's a whole lot of depth to this game once you start playing.

15. Cuphead

Cuphead's 1930's animation aesthetics certainly makes this one of the most beautiful looking – and sounding – PC games on our list. Incorporating run-and-gun platforming with boss rush battles, it's also an extremely challenging game. But, that only means that it's even more rewarding to play.

With hand-drawn cell animation, watercolor backgrounds and original jazz soundtrack, Cuphead is unlike anything you'll play on PC. Just keep in mind that the steep difficulty curve may put people off. However, if you're willing to put in the work and hone your gaming skills, you'll be rewarded with one of the best PC games you’ll ever experience.

Going mobile? These are the best games you can play on your laptop

Gabe Carey and Bill Thomas have also contributed to this article

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best wireless routers 2020: the best Wi-Fi for your home network

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:25 AM PDT

Stop renting a router, and finally purchase the best wireless router 2020 has to offer. By doing so, you’re not just spending money on a device you need. Think of it as investing in a high-quality connection, which is vital these days whether you have a home office or you’re simply keeping your teens and tweens at home happy.

The best wireless routers will make a big difference when you need a solid game bandwidth, to connect several devices at once or even to fill a large coverage area with a consistent signal. While any old router might only give you an intermittent or weak signal, the best wireless routers will deliver a strong connection as well as come with some impressive bells and whistles to ensure there aren’t any interruptions while you’re playing the best PC games, streaming Netflix in HD or 4K, or working on the cloud.

To help you get the best internet connection you’ll ever have, we put together a list of the best wireless routers on the market, each of which has been tested and reviewed here at TechRadar.

Best wireless routers 2020 at a glance

Google Nest Wifi
Google Wifi
Asus RT-AC86U
Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500
TP-Link Archer C5400 v2
Netgear Orbi Pro
Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23
TP-Link Deco M9
D-Link Covr-C1203
Eero Home Wi-Fi System

Google kicks things up a notch in its Google Wifi line with its latest installment. Don’t get us wrong; the original Google Wifi is still among the best wireless routers today. However, if you’re all about the smart home life, then you’ll appreciate the pure genius of Google Nest Wifi. This wireless router takes the Google Wifi, gives it the capabilities of Google Home and wraps it all up in an even sleeker and more appealing package. It’s a mesh router and a smart speaker in one, all with the simplicity that Google Wifi is known for.

Read the full review: Google Nest Wifi

The days of traditional wireless routers are coming to an end; the age of the wireless mesh routers is here. Google Wi-Fi, alone, is proof that the mesh revolution is upon us, which means that you might be saying goodbye to the days when the only way to have wireless bliss was to install a number of wireless extenders. The idea of Google Wi-Fi is simple: purchase a set of points, put them in strategic places around the house and then scan a QR code. And, just like that, you’re connected anywhere you are in your home. It’s no surprise that this wireless mesh router claims the loftiest spot on our best wireless routers list of 2019, as it’s also the one that’s most effortless to set up and get going.

Read the full review: Google Wifi

If you’re well-acquainted with Asus, especially its gaming computers, then you likely have a general idea of what the Asus RT-AC86U brings to the table. This wireless router may look like the lovechild of Doritos and Mountain Dew, if they spent a night together in a router making machine. But, inside that kitschy gaming aesthetic is a wireless router that, for its price, effortlessly outclasses almost all of its rivals on the market. Even better, you’re also not paying a premium for a gaming device, so if you’re looking for a high-speed connection with an affordable price tag, the Asus RT-AC86U should be at the top of your list.

Read the full review: Asus RT-AC86U

The Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 might be pricey and lacks a broadband modem. However, this is still a router that delivers, especially on getting those pings down. Designed for homes with gamers in-house, it’s supercharged for your online gaming needs, keeping those high “ping” and latency rates down to deliver an excellent connection whether you’re playing Call of Duty or PUBG. If you’re willing to pay a pretty penny – and if you’re a serious gamer, you should be – this is one of the best wireless routers to consider.

Read the full review: Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500

This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Google Wifi.

Are you in the market for one of the best wireless routers of 2019 and don’t mind a quirky design. If a ‘90s-inspired sci-fi design sounds like it will fit right in your home, then the TP-Link Archer C5400 v2 might be the best wireless router for you. It’s not exactly the most modern-looking mesh router out there, but it’s unique in that it can bridge consumer and enterprise users by offering high-end functionality at a reasonable price point and with a relaxed setup. It’s peculiar looking, yes; however, if you’re scouring the market for a wireless router that can cover a mid-sized home, you can’t go wrong with this.

Read the full review: TP-Link Archer C5400 v2

If you need to bring your office’s networking into the modern age with one of the best routers of 2019, then you must seriously consider getting the Netgear Orbi Pro. It’s a modular Wi-Fi mesh router that takes some design and performance inspiration from its business-grade competitors. It’s on the more expensive side. However, if you’re running a business where you cannot afford any lags due to poor Wi-Fi, then it’s absolutely worth every penny.

Read the full review: Netgear Orbi Pro

When the Netgear Orbi hit the streets, it changed the wireless router scene. Then, in 2019, Netgear released the Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23, an economical alternative for casual users who don’t have a grand manor to cover. This makes it a worthy contender for the best wireless routers. Sure, it comes with fewer antennae and ethernet ports than its higher end counterpart. However, it does deliver more than enough to provide very solid network coverage. Plus, the small form factor means that it will have no issues blending in – not that you will feel the need to hide it.

Read the full review: Netgear Orbi AC2200 RBK23

The market is now flooded with wireless mesh routers, but it’s hard to complain when the level of coverage these wireless routers brings tops anything we’ve seen before. With devices like the TP-Link Deco M9, one of the best routers of 2020, we can see how they’re only getting better and better. By incorporating IoT smart home support, alongside industry standard speeds and coverage, the TP-Link Deco M9 is, without question, an excellent choice for a smart home supporter. Fair warning though, this router is a tad expensive. However, you’re also getting all these features and an outstanding performance in exchange.

Read the full review: TP-Link Deco M9

Ready to jump on the mesh wireless router bandwagon, but without breaking open that piggy bank? You’re in luck with the affordable D-Link Covr C1203. It’s one of the best wireless routers, if you want to upgrade and save at the same time. It offers comparable coverage to that of the Google Wi-Fi while also being affordable, and it also looks futuristic in a great way. It’s somewhat slower than Google’s legendary router, but it will still be fast enough for the typical user. It’s no surprise that the D-Link Covr C1203 gets our vote as one of the best wireless routers of 2020.

Read the full review: D-Link Covr-C1203

If you’re in the market for a wireless mesh router that gives you a lot of control over your network, then the Eero Home Wi-Fi system might just be the answer. It has a price more premium than that of your standard router, but it also gives users total control over their network while touting a secure connection through AI. Even better, the Eero Home Wi-Fi System comes with subscriptions to 1Password, MalwareBytes and Encrypt.me VPN, which should keep everyone linked to your network safe and secure.

Read the full review: Eero Home Wi-Fi System

Joe Osborne, Bill Thomas, Gabe Carey and Michelle Uy have also contributed to this article

Images Credit: TechRadar

We’ve also picked out the best best wifi extenders of 2020

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best indie games on PC and consoles 2020: the greatest hidden gems

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:21 AM PDT

Unlike their AAA counterparts, the best indie games give gamers the pure artistic vision of game developers. Since they don’t have to rely on tired tropes just to sell millions of copies, like AAA titles, they’re basically artistic masterpieces and offer a more unique experience.

Still, the best indie games can easily rival mainstream games in both quality and scope. Just because the best indie games don’t have the corporate weight behind them doesn’t mean they can’t keep up with the latest AAA hits in scope and ambition. We've found that the opposite is often true. In fact, most ideally experienced on one of the best gaming PCs, many of them are among the best Steam games you can download in 2020.

If you’re looking for the next great indie hits, keep reading. We’ve put together a list of all the best indie games on the PC and console market today, from in vogue indies like Return of the Obra Dinn and Outward, to classic titles like Braid and Dwarf Fortress.

Coming Soon: Ooblets

It’s not out yet, with Double Fine promising it’ll be out ‘soonish,’ but Ooblets is already on our radar. Being developed by first-time studio Glumberland, and backed by Double Fine, the game is described as some kind of combo between Pokemon, Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing, capturing our attention – and probably yours, too. The game combines an art style oddly reminiscent of post-apocalyptic sensation, Adventure Time, with gameplay that revolves around gathering creatures called ooblets in the town of, uh, Oob.

In the game, you’ll be able to train and battle your ooblets against other ooblet trainers. At the same time, you’ll have to balance your ooblet training with the real-world responsibilities of being a farmer. That’s right; drawing influence from the likes of Stardew Valley, you can cultivate, produce and decorate your house with various trimmings as well. You’ll also be able to join an Ooblet Club comprised of friends (NPCs) you’ll meet along the way.

If you don’t know what to do just yet, you can just walk around aimlessly to discover new shops and buildings that suit your interest. Better yet, you can open up your own shop to sell produce that you’ve grown yourself on the farm, as well as items that you’ve scavenged throughout the world. And, you can feed the leftover crops to your ooblets to watch them level up and learn new techniques to be used in the turn-based, RPG-style battles.

Expected: ‘Soonish’

Untitled Goose Game

Who knew an untitled game about a goose could be so fun? A bit of surprise hit, Untitled Goose Game quickly went viral after its brand of avian nuisance-making was unveiled to the world.

Set in a dopey village in the English countryside, you play as a goose tasked with terrorizing your human neighbours: stealing their crops, locking them in closets, and honking all the way through. Inspired by the stealth action series Hitman, but with its own charm, Untitled Goose Game became a huge hit in 2019. You'll zip through the game in a handful of hours, but it's very much work the journey.

Braid

At first, Jonathan Blow's masterpiece appears to be a simple pastiche of Super Mario Bros, with a middle-aged curmudgeon replacing the titular plumber, but still seeking to rescue a princess. But, the longer you spend in the game, the more that’s revealed to you, progressing from a series of time-bending puzzles to quiet reflective texts. That doesn’t stop it from being the smartest puzzle game since SpaceChem, however. Blow himself has subtly hinted that the ultimate story may revolve around the atomic bomb.

Cave Story

First released as PC freeware by Japanese designer Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya in 2004 after five years of 100% solo development, Cave Story predates this recent indie renaissance by a few years. Because of that, it's often been omitted in indie gaming discussions.

However, this classic more than deserves to be on every best-of list, and not only for its loving homage to the classic action platforming games of the Super Nintendo era. It also boasts awesome music and a breathlessly vibrant world, not to mention, the hugely intuitive controls as well as gobs of secrets and weapons that are simply too fun to use. If you've yet to enjoy this one, you need to put it at the top of your list already.

Cuphead

From family-owned and operated Studio MDHR, Cuphead has resonated with millions of people around the world, many of whom normally wouldn’t touch a run-and-gun platformer with a ten-foot pole.

While its gameplay was inspired by classic games such as Mega Man and Contra, most gamers will likely compare it to a Fleischer Studios cartoon like Betty Boop. Because Cuphead uses a hand-drawn art style similar to a 1930s animation, it’s been universally praised for its gorgeous visuals.

Cuphead is more than just its stunning visuals, however. It’s a series of 19 challenging and engaging bosses, with platforming bits interspersed between them. It already made our list of the best indie games, but then Studio MDHR has announced that the Cuphead: the Delicious Last Course DLC, slated for 2019, will include a new isle to explore, new bosses to conquer and, most importantly, a new character to master.

A Plague Tale: Innocence

This dark and moody action-adventure stealth game by Asobo Studio is hauntingly beautiful.

Set in the 1340s during the Black Death pandemic in the French countryside, you’re Amicia, a young noble girl whose parents were killed by the Inquisition. You must now traverse battlefields and villages with her brother Hugo to find a cure for his mysterious ailment. Along the way, you must scare away ravenous rats as well as stun (or kill) guards and hostile villagers with your sling and special ammunition supplies.

Despite the ghastliness and rawness of the Middle Ages and the Plague, A Plague Tale: Innocence is a complete stunner and a game who almost never want to end.

Spelunky

Among the hardcore gamers we know, Spelunky is the go-to drug. Even today, several years after its release, some of them still play it consistently, despite having completed it many times over. That's because this ostensibly rogue-like platformer with a definite end is tough, varied and highly randomized.

It also has more dark secrets than a presidential candidate, which means that there are a number of ways to finish it, and its daily challenges are a sure-fire way to public humiliation.

The Stanley Parable

Does humor belong in video games? Well, if the Stanley Parable has its way, it’s a resounding ‘yes’. This game is hilarious without being dumbed down. Players follow (or don’t) a very British narrator who changes the world around you, based on your choices.

No choice is punished, and every playthrough will be fresh with new humor and weird goings-on. In fact, being trapped in the closet in The Stanley Parable is more moving and funny than the majority of other games, indie and otherwise.

If you missed out on this ironic gem back when it first launched, you’ll be happy to know that the developer announced the Stanley Parable Ultra Deluxe edition for 2019, touting fresh content, more endings and a console release. This Ultra Deluxe edition actually sounds pretty tempting, even for us – and we played it a whole lot when it first came out.

Owlboy

It took more than nine years to make, but Owlboy is certainly worth the wait. Originally designed for PCs and released in late 2016, this clever indie game masterpiece is now available to experience on Mac and Linux as well – and there’s even a Nintendo Switch version! Owlboy revolves around a race of owl-human hybrid characters called, aptly enough, Owls. Of them, you control Otis, an Owl who is censured by his mentor for his inept flying skills.

The story sees Otis’ village destroyed by pirates who have conflict with the Owls. As a result, Otis has to work with an assortment of villagers in-game to take out enemies. Of course, before the boss battles arise, you’ll need to manage allies accordingly, as each character comes with their own set of unique skill sets to use in conjunction with one another. If you’ve ever played and enjoyed a Kid Icarus game, this is one’s for you. If not, well… play it anyway.

Gone Home

Similar to The Stanley Parable, Gone Home falls into the unofficially christened ‘walking simulator’ genre. Where it diverts from the clever and philosophical Stanley Parable, however, is its focus on life’s difficult realities, as opposed to light humor.

After coming home to your childhood house following an overseas visit, you play as 21-year-old Kaitlin Greenbriar who is greeted by an empty house. While gameplay is limited to scavenging through notes to find out where your family is, the compelling story is extremely emotional and gripping, as long as you keep an open mind. After all this time, Gone Home still stands out as one of the best indie games out there.

Kerbal Space Program

Only SpaceChem has mixed learning with entertainment as successfully as The Kerbal Space Program. The game is simple - design and build a spacecraft to take the cutesy Kerbals to the Mun and beyond.

Its intelligent use of real physics, however, means that you'll find yourself following NASA as you’re building multi-stage rockets and space stations as well as exploring the Kerbal's strange universe on EVAs, before bringing your discoveries back for research on the Kerbal planet - that's if you can get off the ground at all. It's a huge, complex, challenging and fun game that manages to be super smart without being preachy.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is the exact opposite of something like Kerbal Space Program – it’s an action roguelike par excellence. You play as a young boy forced to kill his damned siblings, mother and possibly the Devil, using only tears that he shoots from his eyes, naturally. This indie games is matched only by the equally visceral Nuclear Throne. With dozens of weird items to collect, endless procedurally-generated levels and many secrets, the Binding of Isaac is a very dark take on the exploratory model established by Spelunky.

Undertale

Don’t let its pixel art graphics put you off – Undertale isn’t a game that would have fit on the Super Nintendo. That’s because, in Undertale, the decisions you make have a huge impact on how the game ends and, more importantly, how it continues in New Game Plus.

While playing Undertale, you’ll realize just how much freedom the game gives you. Despite its highly inspired and very intense boss matches, you’ll make it through the entire nine or so hours of Undertale as a total pacifist, if you choose to. Plus, when you go through the game a second time, you’ll bear the weight of the consequences from your previous run. What’s even better is that Undertale is out now on the Nintendo Switch, so you can take this masterpiece of game design wherever you go.

Inside

From developer Playdead, Inside is very much like its predecessor, Limbo, in some ways, only with an added layer of depth that often inspires wonder. This is mostly a result of the unspoken narrative, which revolves around yet another nameless boy. In Inside, the boy is running away from a group of men who – if you fail to stay out of their sights – will try to mercilessly kill you.

It isn't quite clear why the boy is running from these men or why you should even care since you don't know who he is, so Inside will leave you begging for answers. The bleak, lifeless setting of Inside is more than worth the price of admission. Its minimalist art style alone is avant-garde enough to feel right at home in a museum. Factor in the fact that this game is both fun to play and dripping with curiosity, and you won’t doubt that Inside is one of the best indie games money can buy.

Stardew Valley

Developed single-handedly by Eric Barone, Stardew Valley is a technical feat for that little fact alone. If you’ve ever played a Harvest Moon game, you’re already familiar with its premise – you may just not know it yet. Stardew Valley is an addictive farming simulator, which lets you interact with townees to the point where you can literally marry them.

Stardew Valley isn’t just farming, however – it’s a whole bunch of other things at the same time. You can go fishing, you can cook, you can craft stuff. You can even go explore procedurally-generated caves to mine for items and even fight slime-monster-things. You should keep in mind that your health and energy are finite however, so you'll want to keep your character rested and fed to avoid suffering from exhaustion. Pass out, and you’ll lose a considerable amount of money and items you’ve worked hard to attain. Stardew Valley will have you playing for hours on end, for better or worse. (Definitely better.)

Night in the Woods

From Canadian game developer Alec Holowka, creator of the award-winning Aquaria (also featured on this list), and independent artist/animator Scott Benson, Night in the Woods is an unconventional side-scrolling adventure game that revolves around a 20-year-old protagonist named Mae who drops out of college and moves back in with her parents.

Featuring a story largely based around dialog choices and mini games that put a spin on mundane tasks, like carrying boxes up the stairs and eating perogies, Night in the Woods is a timeless coming-of-age tale. Not only will you experience middle class America through the eyes of a personified cat, but virtually every interaction in-game will have you laughing aloud. And now that it’s available on the Nintendo Switch, you can now take it wherever you go.

Hollow Knight

If you’re a fan of the recent wave of games inspired by Dark Souls, you’ll absolutely love Hollow Knight. You take control of the Hollow Knight, and lead them through the deceptively adorable landscape to take on bosses and other difficult challenges. Much like Dark Souls, it’s not immediately clear what you’re actually supposed to be doing as the narrative is intentionally obtuse.

The Dark Souls inspirations don’t end there, either. It also embraces Dark Souls’s ‘tough but fair’ philosophy, and the game is only as hard as you make it. In fact, you can overcome anything as long as you have patience and learn from your mistakes. Hollow Knight takes these lessons from Dark Souls and injects them into a MetroidVania, with all the side-scrolling and upgrades you could possibly want. You can even play it on the Nintendo Switch now.

Dead Cells

If you’re looking for a game that’s as unforgiving as it is fun, look no further than Dead Cells. It takes gameplay inspiration from so many places – from roguelikes to MetroidVania. There’s even a hint of Dark Souls in there, creating a unique action game that will test your limits and skills.

Each time you play this game, it will feel new. And, while you’ll lose some progress each time you die – and you will die a lot – the game will become even more rewarding as the complex and fluid combat becomes second nature. In the final release of the game, you get access to over 90 weapons, skills and abilities that will let you tailor your gameplay however you want.

Whatever you do, don’t get discouraged if you fail. Get up and try again, as Dead Cells will only reward you in the end, which is why it has our vote for one of the best indie games in 2019.

Deliver Us the Moon

If you often have fantasies about preventing a catastrophic world-ending event from happening, Deliver Us the Moon might be the best indie game for you. Released in late 2018, this apocalyptic sci-fi game will let you play the hero who saves humanity from extinction. In the game, you play a lone astronaut, and you’re sent on a critical rescue mission to the moon and find out what happened to Earth’s Helium 3 mining facility, Reinhold mining facility, there after it went dark.

This game by KeokeN Interactive is an adventure game, as opposed to an action one, which means you’re mostly finding clues, navigating your way around abandoned facilities and solving puzzles to figure out what exactly happened. If navigating your way around empty facilities and the whole of the moon all by your lonesome might make you feel autophobic, don’t worry. You’ll have your trusty robot, ASE, beside you as you do so.

Best yet, Deliver Us the Moon has gotten a new update ray tracing support. It now boasts ray tracing effects like shadows, translucent reflections and opaque reflections.

Dwarf Fortress

Dwarf Fortress is its own genre and its own industry. This is a game that has to generate the entire geography, mythology and history of its massive world before you set foot in it. It then tracks every single one of the dwarfs you're managing down to the hairs on their legs, and the particular horrible elephant murder that they’ve witnessed and are now carving on an ornamental chair.

Your task is simple: to keep the dwarves alive as they carve out their subterranean kingdom. Though given that insanity, monsters and starvation plague them at every stage, it isn’t easy. Plus, dwarves, always, always mine too deep.

Super Meat Boy

Run. Jump. Die. Repeat. That’s basically the gameplay loop of Super Meat Boy, a fiendishly addictive 2D platformer that’s also bloody hard, with an emphasis on bloody. Gallons of blood is spilled as the game’s eponymous meaty hero leaps over deadly drops, spinning saws and walking chainsaws in a bid to rescue his girlfriend, Bandage Girl, from the evil Dr Foetus. Obviously.

With solid controls, lots of humor and vibrant graphics, Super Meat Boy leapt onto the PS4, Vita, and Nintendo Switch in style.

Limbo

It might not be Playdead’s most recent game, but Limbo is eternal. Five years after its release, and the game’s haunting storyline still has an effect on us. You play the Boy, a child with glowing eyes who is cast into Limbo to find his sister. Making your way through a bleak and dangerous world full of hostile silhouettes, giant spiders and deadly gravitational fields, you’ll need to think on your feet and perfectly time your movements, if you were to survive.

Limbo is much more than a simple platformer: it's an experience, and one that will have you pondering the very essence of life by the time you finish. Deep, profound and absorbing, it's among the best indie games that everybody should take time out to play.

Towerfall: Ascension

If you're looking for a retro-inspired multiplayer archery combat game (aren't we all?), TowerFall: Ascension is the pick of the lot. Fast, frenetic and teeth-gnashingly hard in hardcore mode, the game's mechanics are simple: fire arrows at your enemies or jump on their heads to stay alive until the round ends.

Arrows that don't hit are embedded in walls, making for tense scenarios when you have to traverse the map while dodging enemies to retrieve them. As such, practicing until you achieve Robin Hood-esque levels of accuracy is key. Ascension is best experienced with friends in local multiplayer mode, which is reminiscent of Super Smash Bros' most manic moments.

Celeste

It’s not often that a platformer is able to balance challenging and engaging gameplay with an emotional and thought-provoking narrative. Celeste, however, pulls it off, making it one of our best indie games picks. From the developers of Towerfall, Celeste follows the story of Madeline, a young girl who decides to face her mental health issues by climbing to the top of the mysterious Celeste Mountain. In doing so, she learns more not only about the mountain, but about herself as well throughout the process.

An inevitable classic, Celeste integrates the obvious jump, air-dash and climb controls into a brutal series of platforming challenges in upwards of 700 unique screens. If that’s too easy, you’ll unlock B-side chapters along the way, designed for only the most intrepid of hardcore players. You don’t even have to worry about waiting an eternity between each respawn, as Celeste brings you back from the grave in an instant, a welcome departure from the typically extensive load screens.

Satisfactory

Have you ever wanted to land on an alien planet, and build a factory? Yes, it’s an unusual premise, but we promise that it works in Satisfactory. You’ll land on one of three planets of varying difficulty, where you’ll be tasked with building and automating a factory to exploit the world around you.

The premise sounds bland, but being able to roam these beautiful worlds in first person while scavenging materials and fighting off hostile wildlife makes it all that more exciting. Plus, is there anything better than sitting back and admiring something you worked hard on?

Satisfactory is in early access right now, and exclusive to the Epic Games Store, but if you can get past all that, you’re sure to get hours of wholesome simulation out of it.

Nidhogg 2

After the raging success that was the original Nidhogg, it’s a shame to see the superior sequel get thrown under the bus. Nevertheless, despite its controversial art style, Nidhogg 2 packs a refined, stunning look that the first version, a cult-classic, wouldn’t dare compete with, which is one of the reasons why it’s on our best indie games list.

In still frames, we can see how this could get misconstrued, but fortunately, it’s the fun and addictive local multiplayer gameplay that makes Nidhogg, well, Nidhogg. And it’s all there in Nidhogg 2. Additionally, every time you respawn, you get one of four unique weapons that only bolster the challenge.

The Witness

Esteemed indie designer Jon Blow's follow up to Braid may look like a wholly different adventure, being 3D and all. However, the two are more thematically alike than you might think. The Witness, at its core, is another puzzle game that tells an absorbing story through said puzzles.

This puzzler takes place in an almost equally impressionist – albeit heavily Myst-inspired – world, but it's story is far more nuanced and mysterious than Blow's earlier work. At almost every corner of this island that you've simply woken up on (or beneath), there is a clue as to how you got onto this island and why you're here.

Transistor

Don’t get us wrong, we liked Bastion. Still, we can’t deny that Transistor was SuperGiant Games’ best work to date – not to mention, one of the best indie games to hit the streets today. Much of that has to do with the combination of action-based and turn-based RPG elements contained within its cyberpunk futurescape. Likewise, in classic SuperGiant fashion, those mechanics are complemented with a stunning art style and a music score so stunning it’ll make you want to buy the soundtrack.

Leaving key gameplay beats up to the player, the story isn’t so variable. Transistor’s main character, Red, is a renowned singer in the city of Cloudbank. However, she’s been attacked by a group of vicious robots who call themselves the Process, operated by another group called the Camerata. In her journey, she finds the Transistor, a mysterious sword with the voice of a man. Soon enough, she’ll learn more about him and how he will shake up her world.

Oxenfree

It’s weird to think that Oxenfree came out before the first season of Stranger Things, and yet, the two coincidentally have a lot in common. The 80s-inspired heavy synth music composed by scntfc, for one, highlights some truly gripping sci-fi horror revolving around – you guessed it – a group of teenagers stuck on an island.

The story involves a handful of uniquely written characters, namely the main character Alex, along with her stoner friend Ren, her newfound stepbrother Jonas, her dead brother Michael’s ex-girlfriend Clarissa and her best friend Nona, with whom Ren happens to be in love with.

The plot is explained through branching speech dialogues, kind of like Life is Strange or modern-day Telltale games, and it offers five different endings depending on your choices.

Firewatch

Exploring a surreal wilderness seems to be the trend these days – and not just in real life. Developer Campo Santo's debut, Firewatch, only serves to keep it going in gaming. Set in the wilderness of 1989 Wyoming, you're playing Henry, a fire lookout that's all alone in the woods after exploring something strange in the distance.

That is, except for your partner on the other line of a walkie-talkie: Delilah. She's your only point of contact as you explore the wilderness. Will you make it back alive? Will the decisions you make help or harm the relationship with your only lifeline to the outside world, your boss? But don't worry about those questions just yet – as with any adventure in the Great Outdoors, take some time to appreciate those forestscapes first!

Rust

Rust is one of the more successful indie titles – not to mention, one of the best indie games – of recent times. By the end of 2015, it had sold more than 3 million copies. That’s not too shabby considering it wasn’t even finished — the game has been on Steam's Early Access scheme since being released in December 2013.

It seems people can't get enough of the Day Z-inspired survival sim. It sees you use your wits and bearings to survive its harsh open world, with nothing but a rock… at least, in the beginning. After gathering the resources you need to build a house and weapons to fend off attackers (other online players, in other words), Rust progressively becomes more intense as you defend your growing base — or attempt to breach others'.

Overcooked 2

Fans of the original Overcooked will not be disappointed by its second installment in the chaotic couch co-op series from British indie game developer Team17.

This time around, your mission is to defeat the 'Un-Bread' (zombie baked goods) that have taken over the Onion Kingdom, by battling through brand new recipes including sushi, pizza and burgers in increasingly chaotic kitchens with up to three other people.

To add to the frenetic fun, you must deal with obstacles including random fires, collapsing floors and interfering passers by, all while getting your orders out to the pass in time.

Things get complicated incredibly quickly. Relationships, friendships and family bonds will be tested as you work together to complete your recipes on time. Overcooked 2 is a fun and challenging couch co-op game that will make you truly understand the meaning of "too many cooks spoil the broth” and is well-deserving of its spot in our best indie games list.

SCUM

The natural progression of survival games, SCUM takes what predecessors like Rust and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds both succeeded at, only better by iterating in impressive ways. It offers a unique twist, combining the frenetic gameplay of battle royale games with the slow, thoughtful tactical of a survival sim.

SCUM, unlike other similar games, is very heavy on the simulation side of things, however. You shouldn’t expect to run in guns blazing, as you’re going to get tired quickly (just as you would if you tried running outside in person with a ton of stuff in your backpack). But, if heavy statistic systems is something your into, this might be one of the best indie games for you. It’s like spreadsheets with a physics engine.

Just don’t go in expecting a polished experience, not for now. However, developer Croteam promises to add more features over time, and as they’re backed by Devolver, you can trust that the game is going to shape up into something great.

Return of the Obra Dinn

Every so often, there’s a game that perfectly balances aesthetic, gameplay and narrative – where everything feels like it just fits like puzzle pieces. The best indie games always excel at this, and Return of the Obra Dinn is the epitome of that. A mystery taking place on a derelict ship, your mission is to figure out how the crew of this lost ship died, disappeared or worse.

The entire game has this old-school visual styling that, combining it with the simple controls and gameplay technique that make it feel like a nostalgic sort of adventure. Right from the settings menu, you’ll get to choose what kind of monitor you’d like to emulate – we picked an old school Macintosh option – that should give you an idea of the type of retro revivalism on offer here.

Critical thinking, exploration and a ton of reading is essential in Return of the Obra Dinn. If that all sounds appealing to you, and you’re happy with retro aesthetics, you will love this game. In fact, it’s one of the best indie games in a season marked with AAA decadence.

Parkitect

If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably spent hundreds of hours playing Roller Coaster Tycoon during your childhood. These days, while there have been plenty of amusement park simulators over the last few years, they’ve never quite hit that spot. That is, until Parkitect.

Parkitect might just be the closest we have to those early aughts park simulators currently, and we’re absolutely in love. From the cartoonish art style to the realistic simulation and Steam Workshop integration, Parkitect is one of the best indie games 2019 has to offer.

Flower

For years, thatgamecompany has been behind some of the best indie games on the market, but most of them had been exclusive to PlayStation. One such game was Flower. Serving as a kind of a precursor to the beloved Journey, Flower puts you in command of a flower petal, surfing through the wind.

You’ll activate different colors of flower beds to affect the environment, which will also get you different colored petals, until you have an entire trail of color surfing the wind. It’s an incredibly relaxing and creative experience, which also gives you an insight on the industrial world we all find ourselves living in. Trust us, give it a shot as it’s one of the best – not to mention, most legendary – indie games ever.

Michelle Rae Uy, Bill Thomas, Joe Osborne, Kane Fulton and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Best laptop for DJs 2020: the best laptops for music production

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:19 AM PDT

The best laptop for music production is essential if you’re a musician or a professional DJ. Utilizing one of the best laptops for music production makes perfect sense, even if you’re on a budget and think your old – not to mention, agonizingly slow – laptop will do.

Let us help you find the best value for you, no matter your budget. There are a few things to consider when choosing the best laptop for music production. First, you need a laptop with one of the best processors and plenty of fast RAM, so you can effortlessly tackle multiple music tracks at a time. You’ll also require one with a fast and spacious storage drive – or a dual drive with both an SSD and a hard drive should be plenty – to save your massive music files in. And finally, if you’re on the road a lot, you might even need a laptop that's rugged as well as light and thin like an Ultrabook so that it can take a beating or two and is extremely portable.

Your options for best laptop for music production may not be limitless, but you’ve got quite a few choices out there. We put together a list of the best laptops of your music production needs, whether you want the MacBook Pro or considering one that runs Windows 10.

Best laptops for music production and DJs at a glance

MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)
Dell XPS 13 (2019)
Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition
Surface Laptop 2
Surface Pro 6
Apple MacBook Air (2019)
Dell XPS 15

For years, the MacBook Pro has been the go-to laptop for musicians all over the world, and its 2019 refresh follows in those footsteps. Actually, it fits the bill even more. If you can justify the price of entry, the MacBook Pro is without a doubt the best laptop for music production, particularly if you’re already invested in the macOS ecosystem. With its 9th-generation Intel Core chips and up to 32GB of RAM, you’ll be able to load up as many tracks as you want in Logic Pro X without crippling your laptop or have it suffer slowdowns. It’s also surprisingly robust – you won’t have to worry about things bumping into it in your tour bag or dropping it a couple of times. This is because Apple has designed their MacBooks with a sturdy aluminum chassis that can survive hard falls and bangs.

Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)

See more like this: The best Macs

Dell XPS 13 (2018) — The Dell XPS 13 has had our vote as one of the best laptops on the market. (Image Credit: Dell)

The Dell XPS 13 has had our vote as one of the best laptops on the market for a few years running, so it’s no surprise that its successor, this model is no different. For budding music producers, the XPS’ move to an 8th-generation Intel Core chips should be alluring, as it will cut the time it takes to process tracks, making your creative process more streamlined and time-saving, which gives you more time to dedicate on other things. What’s even better, the 1TB storage drive configuration is back, which means you’ll have more storage space than ever to save your large files in.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

If you think Razer laptops are only for gaming, then the new Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition is here to prove you wrong. Razer takes its ever popular Razer Blade 15, fits it with even more impressive specs and turns it into one of the best mobile creative workstations has to offer. This powerhouse has been crafted for creative professionals and content creators, and is therefore ideal for musicians as well. You’ll be spending a lot of money to take this laptop home. But, make no mistake, it will be one of the smartest investments you’ll ever make. That is, if you can afford it.

Read the full review: Razer Blade 15 Studio Edition

With all the 2-in-1 laptops that can turn into a tablet and is bursting with features you might not even utilize that saturate the market, a more traditional Windows 10 laptop can be refreshing and might be best for what you need. If you’re a fan of the Surface devices, you’ll be ecstatic to know that Microsoft has released the Surface Laptop 2, which is one of the best laptops in its lineup. This best laptop for music production features a quad-core processor and plenty of memory, as well as a stunning touch display and many of the ports you’ll ever need – minus the Thunderbolt 3 port, that is. If you don’t need Logic Pro X, the Surface Laptop 2 is a perfect match.

Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2

If you want the best laptop for music production that can also moonlight as a Windows tablet to do some light gaming and movie watching on in your downtime, the Surface Pro 6 might just be the ideal laptop for you. Not only does this laptop alternative boast powerful internal components that are ideal for music production, but it also has a superb display as well – not to mention, a number of legacy ports for connecting your equipment. It might be missing USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports, but if you’re just in it for music production, that shouldn’t matter as much.

Read the full review: Surface Pro 6

MacBook Air (2018) — The MacBook Air brings Apple's thin and light mainstream laptop into the modern age. (Image Credit: Apple)

Recently refreshed, the MacBook Air brings Apple’s thin and light mainstream laptop into the modern age, flourished with a lustrous aluminum build, Apple’s Retina display and an actual modern processor. All of those add up to the best laptop for music production, especially if you’re invested in the macOS ecosystem but need to save some money in the process. Bear in mind though that you’ll need to invest in a couple of dongles or a port hub, since the two Thunderbolt 3 ports aren’t compatible with many music equipment.

Read the full review: MacBook Air (2019)

If you need a bigger and more powerful laptop for running music production software on, the Dell XPS 15 might just be the best laptop to meet your needs. Touting the same InfinityEdge technology as the smaller XPS 13, the screen extends right to the edge of the machine, which means that this laptop is as small as it’s possible to fashion a 15-inch laptop. It's indeed pricey, depending on which version you get. However, the very top end configuration has a 4K color-accurate display, which gives you a brilliant overview of all the tracks you're working on.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 15

Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptops.

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The best student laptops 2020: all the best options for school

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:18 AM PDT

The best laptops for college students aren’t always the cheapest or the most lightweight ones. Don’t get us wrong; budget laptops tend to be great candidates because price is always a huge consideration when someone’s off to college, and students generally don’t need high-powered laptops. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re always going to be the best laptops for college students.

The best student laptops need to fit a few criteria. They need to be affordable, first and foremost, especially when you’re working with a college student’s budget. They also need to deliver performance-wise, so they can handle a student’s particular workload as well as streaming and perhaps light gaming post-coursework. Finally, they must have enough juice to last them the whole school day at full charge.

We picked out the best laptops for students 2020 has to offer, and we’ve got something for every need. Whether you want the best Chromebook that offers a great price without sacrificing performance, or a heartier device equipped with a powerful operating system like Windows 10 or macOS, there’s something here for you. Skip all that tedious researching and get right to learning.

We’re massive fans of laptops that can skillfully strike a balance between price and performance with hardly any compromises, and the Huawei MateBook 13 comes closer to than anything else in 2019 so far. It’s light and compact, perfect for carrying in your backpack while you hurry from class to class; but it’s fast and affordable as well. This stunning 13-inch Ultrabook will make sure you’ll get all your work done in style, without burning a hole in your pocket. Sure, you might need to keep that charger on hand if you want it to last you the whole day, as the battery life is underwhelming. However, there’s still no doubt that the Huawei Matebook 13 deserves its lofty spot on the best laptops for students list.

Read the full review: Huawei MateBook 13

Dell’s flagship laptop has always been rated as one of the best laptops for students, not to mention among the most ideal devices for professionals and casual, everyday users. This time around, the Dell XPS 13 2019 welcomes back the entry-level model, making it affordable enough for college students once again. Dell has also addressed our biggest frustration with the XPS lineup – the webcam. It has finally been moved back above the display where it belongs. This means that your family and friends won’t have to stare up into your nostrils when you’re video chatting ever again.

Read the full review: Dell XPS 13

Have you been waiting for the day you can finally afford the premium price of Google Pixelbook? Well, with Google releasing Pixelbook Go, your wait is finally over. Granted, it isn’t quite the actual luxury device you’ve been dreaming of. However, rest assured, you will love this Chromebook, just as we have during our time with it. We love it so much, in fact, that it earned our coveted “Editor's Choice” award in the Chromebook category. It boasts incredible battery life, an even more impressive keyboard and a 1080p webcam, which you don’t see often in the more budget-friendly laptops even in 2019. And, that’s just to start.

Read the full review: Google Pixelbook Go

While the Surface Laptop was arguably one of the 10 best laptops for students, it was still held back by its below average performance, a lack of ports and Windows 10 in S Mode. Luckily, the Surface Laptop 2 has considerably improved on its predecessor – with the exception of the ports. It’s now packed with 8th-generation Intel Kaby Lake Refresh processors, full-fat Windows 10 Home and a black color option. We only wish it included even a single USB-C port. Still, you will get all your tasks done in style with this laptop with little to no effort, making it deserving of a high spot on this list.

Read the full review: Surface Laptop 2

Even if you’re only in the market for a laptop for school that strikes a balance between cost and performance, it can’t hurt to factor in a splash of style. The Microsoft Surface Go isn’t just one of the best Windows tablets, but it’s also one of the most beautiful devices on the market. Better yet, it also gets our vote as among the best laptops for students, especially from a value perspective. Don’t be duped by the low-power components: Microsoft engineered this tablet to take on all your general schoolwork and more without breaking a sweat.

Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go

Budget consumers looking for an Ultrabook that delivers great performance at a great, affordable price, you can’t go wrong with the Acer Swift 3 (2019). This 13-inch laptop from Acer is powerful enough for productivity tasks, which makes it a great tool for traveling and working at the same time. However, it can also handle a bit of casual gaming as well as some photo editing, perfect for some post-work computing. It’s far from perfect – that battery could use a boost, the keyboard could be better, and don’t even get us started on the speakers. But, for how much it’s worth, you’re definitely getting a great deal.

Read the full review: Acer Swift 3 (2019)

The HP Envy x360 13 (2019) has premium build, delivers up to 9 hours of video playback.

There are so many compelling reasons why the HP Envy x360 (2019) belongs to our best laptops for students like, and its slim, sleek design is the least of them. This 13-inch 2-in-1 has premium build, delivers up to 9 hours of video playback and a performance that will get you through most of your schoolwork and project, all without burning a hole in your pocket.

Read the full review: HP Envy x360 (2019)

The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 boasts a beautiful display, excellent performance and an impressive battery life.

The Microsoft Surface lineup has made a name for itself for being among the best Windows devices on the market, with beautiful touch displays, excellent performance and a battery life that lasts a long time. The Surface Pro 6 continues that tradition, even if it doesn’t improve much on its predecessor. You’re getting a fast Windows tablet that can effortlessly turn into a laptop with the addition of the Surface Type Cover. What does that mean for you? Simply that you can get your work done then effortlessly transition into Netflix time, making it one of the best laptops for students.

Read the full review: Surface Pro 6

Apple MacBook Air (2019) — The Apple MacBook Air has been refreshed for 2019.

Apple takes the MacBook Air (2018) and gives it a bit of refresh, adding True Tone technology to its display and an even more reliable keyboard. Unfortunately, it hasn’t upgraded the specs, but seeing as the 2018 version has already made our list of the best laptops for students, this improved version is just as deserving because of the improved hardware. But the best part is yet to come: this refresh is even cheaper, so you’re definitely getting more value for less.

Read the full review: MacBook Air (2019)

Apple’s most powerful MacBook in existence has just juiced-up, which means that the 15-inch Cupertino powerhouse is faster than ever. Whether you’re doing school projects, photo editing or light gaming, this will blow you away as one of the best laptops for students. What’s behind this refresh? To start, an improved keyboard, as well as some of the latest and most powerful processors from Intel. Now, you not only have the option to take one home with an 8-core Intel Core i9, but also configure one to rock a Radeon Pro Vega 16 or Pro Vega 20 GPU to give you a boost in graphics.

Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2019)

Bill Thomas, Michelle Rae Uy and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article.

Images Credit: TechRadar

Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop 2019
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Best computer 2020: the best PCs we've tested

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 11:15 AM PDT

The best PC you can afford might just be one of the most important investments in your life. These days, your computer is your lifeline, vital to your day-to-day productivity, staying connected with family and friends, or getting to the top of the leaderboards. And with powerful components hitting the shelves practically every month, PCs are only getting better and better.

These days, the strongest contenders for the best PCs are rocking powerful 8th- to 10th-generation processors, as well as super high-end graphics cards from Nvidia (some with real time ray tracing) or AMD. Simply put, they have been designed to demolish every computing task that comes their way or to offer the best value to performance ratio.

Get an all-in-one desktop powerhouse, a future-proof gaming PC, or the most robust creative tool rocking the latest and greatest PC components, like fast SSDs, more RAM and possibly even the best graphics card. Whatever it is you need, you’ll certainly find something on our list of the best PCs.

The Dell XPS Tower gets our vote for the best of the best computers 2020 has to offer for one simple fact. It boasts enough power and features without costing you a lot. This latest XPS Tower line is fitted with 9th-generation Intel Core processors and advanced VR-ready graphics, and it’s also fully configurable, which makes it future-proof. On top of all that, it’s got a good selection of configurations on hand so you can take your pick depending on your needs and budget. And, if you’re a big fan of the no-nonsense look, this tower’s simple 90s homogenous look.

The Surface Studio 2 isn’t going to compare well against most PCs, but that’s only because it was never designed to compete with them in the first place. This device is meant for the digital artist or other visually-focused content creators, and even with aging parts, it’s still the most robust digital drafting table on the market. It boasts a bright, vibrant display, and improved specs next to its predecessor. If you’re a digital artist or a content creator who’s visually-focused, this is the best computer for you.

Read the full review: Surface Studio 2

See more like this: the best all-in-one PCs

Alienware has a knack for concocting form factors you won’t see anywhere else, which makes its gaming laptops and desktops more appealing than their rivals. With Alienware Aurora R9, the manufacturer took things to a whole new level, design-wise. More importantly, it boasts configurations touting the most powerful internals right now. But what’s even better is that budget-minded users won’t even have to look elsewhere. This new line boasts a broad range of specifications, so that you don’t have to pay a small fortune to take it home.

Read the full review: Alienware Aurora R9

See more like this: the best gaming PCs

A unique chassis coupled with a price to beat, Dell’s latest in its G series gaming PCs is a solid contender in budget gaming. The Dell G5 boasts 9th-generation Intel chips as well as Nvidia’s most powerful gaming GTX and RTX graphics cards, starting with an i3 processor and the GTX 1650 to handle many powerful games without burning a whole in your pocket. Of course, if you’ve got more case to spare, it’s VR ready configurations are also on hand, though even those are absolutely affordable.

If you want an excellent desktop experience, but don’t have a lot of desk space, then Intel Hades Canyon NUC may just be ideal for you. This small bare-bones PC has an absurdly fast 8th-generation Intel Core i7 processor and discrete-class AMD Radeon graphics. Adding some RAM and storage to the mix, and you will be conquering the best PC games without breaking a sweat. It won’t compete against a full-sized desktop, but when you’re short on space – or you want a PC that looks like a set-top box – this is one of the best PCs to consider.

Read the full review: Intel Hades Canyon NUC

While the Decepticon look this gaming PC sports might only be for some, there’s definitely something for everybody as far as configurations go – whether you’re a casual gamer on a budget or a hardcore one willing to drop a lot of dough for a souped up rig. At less than $1,500 (about £1,180, AU$2,170), you’re getting more than enough power to get you through AAA games, albeit probably not on Ultra. At $2,335 (about £1,835, AU$3,235) or more, you’re getting a considerable amount of power and storage. Plus, HP Omen Desktop PC comes in a tool-less design, making it upgradeable. If you're after a high-end gaming PC that can handle the latest games with ease, this is the one to get.

Read the full review: HP Omen Desktop PC

It’s easy to think of Apple computers as overpriced, but your bank account will be spared if you jump on the Mac mini bandwagon. The Mac mini 2018 is a small form-factor PC that looks adorable and also packed tight with high-end desktop parts. And, that’s all for a much more accessible price than any other Mac on the market, making it a great buy for anyone who already has a slew of Mac-ready peripherals or for a Mac fan who doesn’t have the budget for a Mac Pro. What’s more, unlike many of Apple’s recent products, the Mac mini is relatively upgradeable – you can boost your memory up to 64GB of RAM.

Read the full review: Apple Mac mini

See more like this: the best Macs 2020

Some people have issues with desktop PCs, as they’re often rather bulky. The Intel Core Compute Stick has made that irrelevant. Looking more like a thumb drive than an actual computer, this tiny renegade can connect to any monitor with an HDMI input. Its base starts with a lowly 1.33GHz Intel Atom processor running Linux, but can be configured up to an Intel Core m5 processor. This is one of the best PCs, but one that you can literally slip in your pocket, whether you need to get some work done during your daily commute or squeeze in some PC time while you’re traveling.

As a designer, if you don’t fall in love with Lenovo Yoga A940’s thoughtful design, then we don’t know what will. This innovative all-in-one desktop boasts a stunning 27-inch 4K UHD display with up to 25-degree tilt, pen support and a rotating hinge for stability. It’s full of impressive features as well, like the Lenovo Precision Dial that you can attach on the left or right side of the hinge, whatever feels most comfortable for you and your process. And, unlike the best Macs, it offers 100% Adobe RGB support, an LED light at the bottom of the screen and even wireless smartphone charging. If you’re a content creator or designer, and you’re looking for an AIO that allows you a truly seamless workflow, this is the best computer for you.

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga A940

Unfortunately, what does hold Lenovo Yoga A940 back are its less powerful, slightly aging internals. If you want an all-in-one powerhouse that absolutely blows you away in terms of performance, then the iMac Pro is the best computer for you. This AIO designed specifically for professionals and creatives may not be super rich in features, but it’s got a lot to offer where it truly counts. That includes its vibrant 27-inch 5K display with a P3 wide color gamut, mind-blowing Radeon Pro Vega graphics, and plenty of memory for all your exacting workloads. Just be prepared to shell out a bunch of cash, as this doesn’t come cheap.

Read the full review: iMac Pro

Despite its tiny size – it’s so small, it doesn’t even have its own chassis, the Raspberry Pi boards have proven themselves to be utterly capable little machines, surprisingly capable of handling everyday productivity tasks like word processing and spreadsheets. And, with the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, we see this powerful computer getting the fantastic update it rightly deserves. Finally, the Raspberry Pi line gives you a desktop computer and a platform to experiment and create.

Read the full review: Raspberry Pi 4 Model B

Bill Thomas and Gabe Carey have also contributed to this article

Image Credits: TechRadar

While you’re at it, we’ve also found the best gaming desktop PC you can buy

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New OnePlus 8 leaks reveal more specs and another color

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 07:30 AM PDT

The OnePlus 8 leaks continue to drip in – we're expecting the phone to be officially unveiled in the middle of April, and we just got some more details in advance, including more specs for the display and a new color option.

Seasoned tipster Ishan Agarwal says that the OnePlus 8 Pro is coming with a 6.78-inch display running at 120Hz, offering improved color accuracy and support for 10-bit HDR. One of the best screens in a smartphone yet, in other words.

Agarwal also suggests significant improvements are coming to the custom OxygenOS software that OnePlus develops – get ready for a more optimized experience that's "smoother and faster" when the phone arrives in a few weeks.

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The same source revealed some of these specs earlier on in the week, so we can have a reasonably high level of confidence that they're accurate. The smaller, more affordable OnePlus 8 is being tipped to come with a 6.55-inch screen.

Meanwhile, Roland Quandt from WinFuture has shared some leaked renders of the OnePlus 8 as well, giving us a better idea of what the standard handset is going to look like. A new "Glow" color gets its debut, with a striking purple-to-orange gradient.

The other colors will be a green tone and the usual black finish, which we saw revealed via another leak on Friday. All of this means that we know pretty much everything there is to know about the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro at this stage.

OnePlus itself has confirmed that the new phones will have an always-on display – something we haven't seen on a OnePlus phone – while a source speaking directly to TechRadar has hinted that the second week in April is when the devices will be revealed.

It certainly looks as though the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro are going to be two of the best smartphones of the year, both in their appearance and the specs they offer. Click here to learn everything we think we know so far about the phones.

OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro look certain to be 5G phones

Via Engadget, Phandroid

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How to watch Homeland: stream season 8 online from anywhere

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 06:16 AM PDT

Homeland has taken viewers on a head-spinning journey over the years. Gone are questions over the loyalties of Sergeant Nicolas Brody, so superbly portrayed by Damien Lewis in the first couple of seasons. Now, clouds of doubt hang over the head of his once lover, CIA super-spook Carrie Mathison - or Claire Danes. Read on and learn how to watch Homeland season 8 and where to stream the latest episodes of the critically acclaimed show online right now.

Also still in the frame - and we should issue a minor spoiler alert for those who haven't watched Homeland before - is Mandy Patinkin's Saul Berenson and a very well cast Costa Ronin as Russian spy Yevgeny Gromov. He was ultimately behind Carrie's lengthy spell in a gulag at the end of Homeland season 7 - and many suspect he successfully turned her. Will we finally find out with the next episode now set to drop?

The show is an adaptation of Gideon Raff's Prisoners of War, which first aired in Israel back in 2010, while Homeland itself has won numerous awards including Emmys and Golden Globes since its release in 2011.

So once you've watched all the best Hulu shows and best Netflix movies, jump in and watch Homeland season 8 online or on TV - our guide will explain all the ways you can do this from anywhere in the world.

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How to watch Homeland from outside your country

You can watch Homeland season 8 in a number of countries around the world, but if you find yourself stuck abroad during these difficult times, you're likely to find that geo-blocking prohibits you from accessing your usual streaming services.

There is a solution, however. Downloading a VPN will allow you to watch Homeland online no matter where you are. This neat bit of kit changes your IP address so that you can stream all your favorite shows live or on demand, just like you would from the comfort of your sofa.

How to watch Homeland season 8 FREE in the US

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How to watch Onward: stream the new Pixar movie online anywhere

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 06:11 AM PDT

Whether you're a fan of all Pixar movies (and have already devoured Disney Plus's collection) or are looking for something to entertain the kids under lockdown, you can already stream the latest release from the iconic animation studio - here's how to watch Onward online wherever you are right now.

Featuring voice-overs from Hollywood stars like Tom Holland, Chris Pratt and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Onward is the fantastical tale of two teenage elves, brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot.

The duo come from a modern suburban world where technology has overtaken magic, but desperate to spend one last day with their father - who died before they could remember him - they adventure to find one last bit of magic and make their dream a reality.

As a Pixar film, it's been confirmed that it's coming to the excellent Disney+ streaming service on Friday, April 3 in the US. But right now, those who just can't wait to watch Onward have a number of options - allow us to explain how to stream the hit movie in full online today.

All the new shows and movies coming to Disney+ in April 2020

How to watch Onward from outside your country

In an ideal world, all of us would be at home and following our government guidelines on self-isolation during these difficult times. Many if not most of us probably are. However, the fact is that some people will still find themselves away from home for various reasons, and if that's the case you could be forgiven for wanting even a smidgen of home comforts by way of access to the streaming services and content you normally access. Unfortunately, this isn't always possible due to geo-blocking.

Fortunately, there's an easy solution. Downloading a VPN will allow you to watch movies like Onward in full and much more no matter where you are. This simple bit of software changes your IP address so that you can keep streaming movies and TV shows from all over the world.

How to watch Onward: online streaming options in the US

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Where to buy a Nintendo Switch: when will stock return?

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 05:12 AM PDT

Been looking for a Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch Lite recently? You've probably noticed that these consoles are selling out everywhere. You can still get a Switch Lite, though: scroll down for places that still have stock. The regular edition, though, is pretty much gone for now.

Below, we've gone into the reasons why the Switch is selling out for context, and provided our predictions for when it'll be back in stock based on our past experiences of covering the console during peak sales periods. Plus, we'll also let you know where to buy a Nintendo Switch once that stock does return, and highlight any current Switch or Switch Lite stock we can find.

Check out our Nintendo Switch bundles and deals page for an around-the-clock update on how the console's supplies are doing, but you're much more likely to find a Switch Lite out there right now than the base Switch.

The best Nintendo Switch games

Where to buy Nintendo Switch now - last remaining stock

If you're looking for the full, dockable Nintendo Switch console in the US, UK and Australia, you may have a little longer to wait. Stock has completely dried up.

However, if you're looking for where to buy a handheld-only Nintendo Switch Lite, you may be in more luck. There's still a smattering of stock across the US, UK and Australia for you to take advantage of.

Why is the Nintendo Switch selling out?

It's a combination of a few factors: the global pandemic has led to a rush of people buying the console to fill their hours indoors, which isn't surprising. At the same time, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has released, a long-awaited game and a massive crossover hit that's captured the imaginations of a wider, mainstream audience. The Switch has been regularly selling out for a while now. This has just exacerbated the issue.

In addition, back in February, Bloomberg posted a report warning that a potential bottleneck with component supplies coming out of China (caused by coronavirus) would see stock dry up as soon as April. If the reasoning mentioned in that report was correct, it looks like they were pretty on the money with the timing, except stock looks like it'll be gone even faster than that.

"Nintendo Switch hardware is selling out at various retail locations in the US, but more systems are on the way. We apologize for any inconvenience," is what Nintendo told THR in a statement. So, more stock is on the way. But when will you you be able to buy a Nintendo Switch?

When will the Nintendo Switch be back in stock?

Assuming supply chains are functioning normally, our prediction is it could take around a month for stock to return. What are we basing this on? Well, in the UK last year, the Switch sold out during the Christmas period, and it took until late January for stock to be replenished at every major retailer.

Another reference point in the US: Amazon's last remaining Switch Lite model you can pre-order at the time of writing has an in-stock date of May 7, 2020. That doesn't seem unlikely as a realistic date that we could see wider stock for that particular unit. That said, it's possible Nintendo is taking other measures to meet the unprecedented demand, and we could see consoles arrive a bit sooner. We'll have to wait and see.

Again, these are just predictions, but you can be guaranteed that when the Switch does come back, folks will be rushing to claim the new consoles. It's very likely to sell out again.

In the meantime, our advice is to avoid being gouged by third-party sellers who are inflating the price. $299.99/£279.99/AU$469 is the MSRP/RRP for the regular Switch, while $199.99/£199.99/AU$329 is the price for the Switch Lite. Paying above that isn't worth it unless you're picking up a bundle with games and accessories.

Where to buy Nintendo Switch when stock returns

As soon as those consoles hit that warehouse, retailers are going to want to get them on the shelves. And you can bet they'll be flying into delivery trucks just as quickly. If you hear word that the Nintendo Switch is back in stock in the US, Amazon and Walmart will be your best bet.

With massive warehouse inventories, speedy delivery, and quick checkout processes, these retailers are primed to pick up your Nintendo Switch order ahead of the queue. Plus, in all our time covering Nintendo Switch bundle deals, these stores have consistently won out in value, meaning you're more likely to grab some extras for your cash.

where to buy Nintendo Switch

In the UK, Currys and Game are likely to offer the first bundles of the pack, though don't underestimate the power of Argos same day delivery if you want your console now. We'll likely see the best prices come out of Currys, who are normally reluctant to increase the cost of the console as demand reaches its peak, and if you're looking for the fastest checkout times to secure yours before everyone else, you'll want to keep an eye on Amazon as well.

If stock has already been wiped clean at these retailers by the time you get there, you'll still be left wondering where to buy a Nintendo Switch. Luckily, plenty of non-tech retailers stock the Nintendo Switch as well, so you'll have luck with John Lewis, Jacamo and Studio among others.

In Australia, Amazon is likely your best bet, though it's worth keeping an eye on other online stores, such as Kogan and eBay. Big retailers such as JB Hi-Fi and Big W are also likely to receive new stock, and game retailers such as EB Games and The Gamesmen are also expected to get more units soon.

Don't leave yourself wondering where to buy a Nintendo Switch on the day, get prepped now and you have every chance of bagging one when the masses flock to the shelves.

Right now, you're more likely to find a Switch Lite than you are a regular Switch, but stock is still selling out fast. Here's a quick price comparison chart for the Switch Lite:

And here, you'll find a quick price comparison chart for the Switch itself.

We'll keep you updated on the Switch's stock levels.

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Why telcos in UAE don’t favour opening of WhatsApp and FaceTime amid Covid-19

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 05:00 AM PDT

Residents in the UAE have been urging telecom operators to further ease restrictions on free video and voice calls over the internet (VoIP) such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype and Apple’s FaceTime due to Coronavirus outbreak.

Even though the telecom operators – Etisalat and du – have provided access to remote learning applications (Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, Blackboard and Zoom) on the fixed network and Microsoft Teams, Blackboard and Zoom on the mobile network, they have generally blocked other popular applications.

Karim Yaici, Senior Analyst at Analysys Mason, told TechRadar Middle East that there will likely be a selective and progressive opening of VoIP apps in the UAE to facilitate communications.

He said that there are reasons that have prevented the liberalisation of the voice market in the country, a protective regulatory regime to limit competition and protect operators’ margins as well as licensing and security considerations.

“The regulator and the operators are unlikely to allow all VoIP applications in the market but there will be select applications that will be permitted in the run-up to, and during, Expo 2020. It remains to be seen with these exceptional measures, taken in time of a crisis, will soften the position of the regulator and the operators towards OTT VoIP providers,” he said.

He said that operators have been taken by surprise by the rapid take-up of ToTok in 2019 and expects operators to report a large shift of calls to the application and a significant drop in voice revenue during the first quarter of 2020.

"...The increased data usage, generated by OTT applications, is unlikely to offset the drop in voice revenue. So operators will have to think more creatively about how to further drive data usage and increase spend, for example, by offering richer video streaming and gaming services, Karim Yaici, Senior Analyst at Analysys Mason, said.

Telcos trying to protect voice revenues

This trend is likely to accelerate as the regulator has now allowed more OTT apps, especially business apps such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, to work for the first time in the UAE from residential lines.

“These measures are likely to be time-limited but if the crisis is prolonged and people get accustomed to using these apps and businesses start to depend on them, it will be difficult to justify blocking them back,” Yaici said.

As long as the most popular VoIP apps such as WhatsApp and Skype are partially or fully blocked, he said that telcos can still protect some of the revenues from voice services, especially lucrative segments such as international calls and roaming.

“This is important because the increased data usage generated by OTT applications is unlikely to offset the drop in voice revenue. So operators will have to think more creatively about how to further drive data usage and increase spend, for example, by offering richer video streaming and gaming services,” he said.

Expo 2020 could offer a silver lining

Yaici also said that the demand for telecoms services will be stronger as a result of the current Covid-19 crisis as voice and data traffic has shifted from businesses to residential lines and from outdoor to indoor usage, so it is undeniable that it will have an impact on mobile revenue with no clear compensation from the fixed business.

“Operators have potentially an opportunity to drive the awareness and take-up of new services such as gaming and encourage the upgrade of broadband services to higher speeds,” he said.

The potential impact of the Covid-19 crisis could be important without significant fiscal and monetary measures because key sectors of the local economy, such as oil, airlines, retail and hospitality, have already been hit hard in the UAE.

“Many businesses will struggle to keep operations afloat and many people will be at risk of losing their jobs and that will have a direct impact on demand for telecoms services. However, Expo 2020 could offer an opportunity to kick-off the economic recovery before year-end,” he said.

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Intel Core i9-10900K leak hints that the CPU is ready to lead the charge against Ryzen 3000

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 02:53 AM PDT

Intel’s Core i9-10900K has been the subject of another benchmark leak as we come closer to its release (preceded by a possible unveiling at the end of April), and this fresh result could help to calm fears that Comet Lake chips might just struggle in the face of AMD’s Ryzen line-up.

The Geekbench 5 result was uncovered by Tum_Apisak, who is the source of a lot of leaked benchmarks on Twitter.

The incoming flagship Core i9-10900K managed to record a single-core result of 1,437, and in multi-core the CPU hit 11,390 (assuming this benchmark isn’t fabricated in some manner, of course).

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Compared to the processor it will succeed, the Core i9-9900K, that’s a pretty considerable boost – this hit 1,340 in single-core and 8,788 in multi-core (although not in an identical system, so we have to bear that firmly in mind – there may have been different quantities and spec of system memory, for example).

At any rate, in terms of multi-core with this particular comparison, we are looking at an almost 30% leap in performance with the incoming 10th-gen processor.

So yes, that’s impressive, but then we’d expect the Comet Lake offering to outdo the previous flagship, of course. The thing is that some of the previous leaked benchmarks have indicated that we might not get that much of a relative boost, so this would seem to put paid to any of those fears (along with worries that Intel might be struggling to tame the power consumption of the 10900K, perhaps, as we’ve also heard on the grapevine).

As we get closer to the release of the processor, of course it makes sense that any leaked benchmark result would be more in line with the performance we might expect from the finished release version of the CPU (as opposed to engineering samples which are somewhat hampered due to being early versions of the silicon).

Getting more out of 14nm

Given that the 10900K has 25% more cores than the 9900K (10 versus 8), with no other factors coming to bear, you’d expect a roughly similar increase in multi-core performance – so the 30% figure shows that Intel has still been able to squeeze more out of its 14nm process. Of course, upping the maximum boost slightly from 5GHz to 5.1GHz (as per the rumor mill) would help in that regard, but may not entirely account for the extra horsepower, which is presumably due to Intel’s further refinements of 14nm with Comet Lake.

Refinements that must be increasingly difficult to make at this point, given how hard Intel has had to push 14nm (and for so long). Which is another reason why folks were somewhat concerned about the sort of performance we might get with 10th-gen desktop processors compared to current offerings.

Of course, all this remains speculation at this point, so we shouldn’t get carried away with any of this theorizing; but at least the latest indications are more positive than some of the previous buzz we’ve heard.

Intel needs to produce something special to help combat the success of Ryzen 3000 in the desktop arena, which has been storming ahead for AMD. And of course Ryzen 4000 isn’t too far away either, with even bigger potential gains for AMD, which might mean Intel could take action on the pricing front (it has been dropping CPU prices elsewhere in recent times, after all).

Running against that possibility is the fact that Intel isn’t known for coming in from the get-go with competitive pricing in a new product line, but as ever, we shall see when Comet Lake actually launches.

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Via Tom’s Hardware

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Supplier worries might mean a delay to the iPhone 12 launch

Posted: 29 Mar 2020 02:30 AM PDT

One minute the iPhone 12 is on schedule for a September launch, the next minute it's likely to be delayed. There's a whole lot of uncertainty around the world right now, and that's being reflected in what we're hearing about Apple's next flagship phone.

The latest report says a delay is likely, and considering it's from Reuters, that gives it some added weight. Apparently the factories that supply Apple are now back up and running – but there's some concern about buyer demand in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Reuters cites insider sources as saying that a planned production ramp-up on the iPhone 12 – the first Apple phone to carry 5G technology – has now been pushed back while the various companies in the supply chain take stock.

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"Things are changing on a day by day basis due to supply chain disruptions, so it is difficult to craft any meaningful comment at the moment about both supply and demand," said one of the sources that Reuters spoke to.

To delay or not to delay

With the phone-buying public in so many parts of the world taking a financial hit as the coronavirus pandemic takes hold, it's no surprise that there are some question marks about how many iPhone 12 units Apple is going to be able to shift.

The Reuters report doesn't state categorically that the phone won't launch in the usual September slot – it may be that suppliers scale down their operations but stick to a similar schedule – but it's another question mark.

If the iPhone 12 is delayed though, it may be to doubts about consumer demand rather than any logistical challenges. According to Reuters' sources, Chinese factories have recovered to the stage where they are ready to start churning out devices again, if needed.

We might get more hints when Apple announces its next round of financial results in April. Whether the phone launches in September or not, it should be well worth waiting for – besides on-board 5G, we're expecting to see a significant camera upgrade too.

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Via MacRumors

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Intel and AMD face an Arm’ed onslaught from this 96-core CPU monster

Posted: 28 Mar 2020 08:00 PM PDT

Hot on the heels of Amazon’s Graviton2, Marvell has announced the launch of the ThunderX3, its third generation Arm server processor.

AnandTech’s Andrei Frumusanu reports that the chip, originally forged by a small startup called Cavium (subsequently acquired by Marvell), has capabilities shared by none of its big rivals.

The ThunderX3 is one of the very few processors that can do more than two threads per physical core. Its 96-core (a very high count for a general processor) offers up to 384 threads on a single socket, with custom-designed Arm v8.3+ cores and speeds that are likely to ramp up to 3GHz.

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A server can support up to two sockets and a total of 16 DDR4 memory controllers. Comparisons published by Marvell showed that the TX3 can deliver a much higher performance per watt (up to 120%) than the competition, which in this case includes AMD’s older Rome Epyc and Intel’s Cascade Lake-SP Xeons.

The ThunderX3 is ideal for data centres, cloud computing giants, virtual desktop services and website hosting companies.

What does this mean for businesses? Essentially, greater compute performance for less money. Based on the performance/price metrics Amazon’s Graviton2 delivered, we expect Google and Microsoft to pay close attention to Altera and Marvell.

Unlike the x86 ecosystem, this technology will not trickle down to the B2C market. However, as new CPUs replace older models, the redundant kit usually ends up on eBay, like this 64-core Intel Xeon Phi 7210S on sale for $190.

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Sunday, March 29, 2020