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  • Palworld list of Pals, types, and base skills

    Palworld list of Pals, types, and base skills

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    Image: Pocketpair

    Our in-progress list of Pals, along with their types and base skills

    Continue reading…

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    Julia Lee

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  • Top 10 cities with the SLOWEST traffic in the world (19 GIFs)

    Top 10 cities with the SLOWEST traffic in the world (19 GIFs)

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    Jon

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  • All Taylor Swift Albums in Order

    All Taylor Swift Albums in Order

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    Successful singer songwriter Taylor Swift has created an amazing 14 albums so far from her very first release when she was a teen to re-releases of her most popular albums.

    If you are itching to know when these LPs were out and what you can expect to hear from each of them then look no further than our list of all Taylor Swift Albums in order!

    Taylor Swift (2006)

    Image Credit: Taylor Swift/Big Machine

    Taylor was only 16 years old when she released her first single Tim McGraw and her debut album dropped in the same year. She soon rose to fame after signing a deal with Sony Music and Big Machine Records.

    Even at this young age, Swift had written countless songs and soon found herself on the radar of music award bodies and country music fans everywhere. This album is far removed from what people know now about Swift’s sound but her hardworking ethos has stayed the same. Taylor travelled throughout the USA to promote her debut album and made a name for herself. Speaking to her local paper she remarked: “I’m having the time of my life. I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere.”

    Fearless (2008)

    taylor swift album cover fearless
    Image Credit: Taylor Swift/Big Machine

    Fearless followed hotly on the heels of Taylor Swift’s first album. 2008 saw the release of Fearless, still a little bit country but with a lot more of a pop feel.

    This album also introduced a bit of Swift’s recognizable themes of being heartbroken and lovelorn. Tracks like ‘You Belong To Me’ and ‘Love Story’ remain firm favorites with fans today. Fearless earned Swift a Grammy for Album of the Year and Best Country Album making her the youngest ever to win the awards at the time. She was now officially the hot new star in the pop country music scene!

    Speak Now (2010)

    taylor swift album cover Speak now
    Image Credit: Taylor Swift/Big Machine

    Swift’s third album, Speak Now, showed a maturing of her sound and writing. She also moved further into the pop-sphere with many of the tracks. This move established her as a more mainstream artist.

    Speak Now was a continuation of Swift’s popularity and success with the album sales reaching six times platinum by 2020. The album includes ‘Dear John’, rumored to be written about Taylor’s ex-beau John Mayer, and ‘Back To December’, which Taylor wrote as an apology to Taylor Lautner. The whole album is full of optimism and reflection and depicts the transition Swift was going through from teen girl to young woman.

    Red (2012)

    taylor swift album cover red
    Image Credit: Taylor Swift/Big Machine

    Taylor Swift’s Red album was released in October of 2012 and the songs are inspired by the emotional rollercoaster Swift was experiencing at the time. The themes of romance continue with a further evolution of Swift’s sound to include more dance-pop vibes.

    Red includes the hit song ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ which fans argue is either about Jake Gyllenhaal or Harry Styles. Some say it is about Calvin Harris but their relationship came much later so this is less likely. Swift’s other song on the album, ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’, was almost certainly about Harry Styles, but this isn’t confirmed by Taylor. This album also won Swift a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.

    1989 (2014)

    taylor swift album cover 1989
    Image Credit: Taylor Swift/Big Machine

    1989 is where Taylor Swift evolved her sound completely and left country firmly in the past. If pop fans didn’t love Swift before they might have given her chance with 1989. This album was named 1989 as a symbol of rebirth of Swift’s songwriting and artistry.

    Pop hits ‘Shake It Off’, ‘Blank space’, and ‘Bad Blood’ put Swift’s name on the lips of music critics everywhere. Rumors of Swift’s personal life began to make the front pages of papers, creating memes and gossip fuelled further by scrutiny of Taylor’s lyrics. This album became another award-winner for Swift, gaining her Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2016 Grammys. ‘Out Of The Woods’ is allegedly about her snowmobile accident with Harry Styles back when they were dating. Swift’s apparent ‘feud’ with fellow singer Katy Perry inspired the hit ‘Bad Blood’.

    Reputation (2017)

    taylor swift album cover reputation
    Image Credit: Taylor Swift/Republic Records

    Reputation came after a year of criticism was aimed at Taylor Swift in public and in her private life. This album left her pop-princess crown behind and shifted Swift towards a darker, more mature sound and attitude.

    This album came about around then same time Swift had alleged beef with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. This celebrity feud, along with the breakdown of romantic relationships, inspired the songs on Reputation. Her lead single ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ was a huge hit, quickly followed by ‘Delicate’. Taylor began her Reputation stadium tour across the USA but once that was over she took a break from public appearances for a while, even going as far as to abandon social media.

    Lover (2019)

    taylor swift album cover lover
    Image Credit: Taylor Swift/Republic Records

    After recovering from the whirlwind of very public controversies before, during, and after Reputation, Swift recorded and released her seventh studio album, ‘Lover’.

    Lover showed fans that Swift hadn’t abandoned romance entirely and decided to write a “love letter to love” with this latest release. The album’s sound revolved around a lot of pop rock and electro-synth vibes culminating in an eclectic folk-funk-pop album. Swift touches on not only love and lust, but also LGBTQ and women’s rights. The track ‘You Need To Calm Down’ was a direct response to trolls all over social media who would bully LGBTQ people online or try to pit successful women against each other. 2019 was the same year Swift also received the accolade of Artist of the Decade at the American Music Awards.

    Folklore (2020)

    taylor swift album cover folklore
    Image Credit: Taylor Swift/Republic Records

    Since Taylor’s Lover concert tour was cancelled thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, she had some time on her hands. This resulted in Folklore which became her eighth studio album.

    Folklore was written as Swift was in quarantine and her writing became “a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness.” It became a much more relaxed and mellow sound compared to recent albums, with piano and strings at the forefront supported by muted percussion. The album theme digs into the isolation Swift felt during quarantine and results in nostalgic and romantic vibes. The album gained a lot of positive critiques thanks to its poetic and wistful lyrics.

    Evermore (2020)

    taylor swift album cover evermore
    Image Credit: Taylor Swift/Republic Records

    Only five months after Folklore was released, Taylor Swift released her ninth studio album ‘Evermore’. This was a spontaneous and surprise album, perhaps even a bit of a surprise to Swift herself!

    Evermore continued the cottagecore aesthetic and folklore-inspired themes of her previous album. Taylor has said since their releases that she considers Folklore and Evermore as “sister albums”. Just as Folklore gained wide positive critique for the poetry and emotional depth, Evermore brought beautiful and experimental production and storytelling. The release of this album also coincided with Swift’s decision to re-record some her earlier albums.

    Taylor’s Version Albums (2021 – 2023)

    taylor swift album cover fearless TV
    Image Credit: Taylor Swift/Republic Records

    2019 saw Taylor come into dispute with Big Machine Records, a former record label. This dispute over the ownership of the masters of Swift’s early albums drew worldwide media coverage and the singer accused the owners of her former label of being “incessant and manipulative bullies” on her Tumblr page. This drama forced Taylor to rerecord her albums and rerelease them herself under her own steam. Between 2021 and 2023 Taylor Swift released the following albums:

    • Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (2021)
    • Red (Taylor’s Version) (2021)
    • Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (2023)
    • 1989 (Taylor’s Version) (2023)

    So those are all of Taylor Swift’s albums released so far but who knows what 2024 will bring! For further Taylor news and gossip check out more below.

    About the author

    Rowan Jones

    Rowan is a writer and educator from Devon, U.K. She has been writing about mobile and console games since 2020. Rowan loves puns and dad jokes, and also runs a secret meme page. She has a love/hate relationship with Dead By Daylight and a completely healthy obsession with Fortnite.

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    Rowan Jones

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  • Taylor Swift Boyfriends List in Order

    Taylor Swift Boyfriends List in Order

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    Taylor Swift has got a long list of ex-lovers: some rumored and some confirmed, and many become the subject of her songs. Taylor is no stranger to love and heartbreak and the tabloids love to remind her weekly! We have all Taylor Swift’s boyfriends listed in order right here from Joe Jonas to Travis Kelce.

    Joe Jonas (2008)

    Image Source: Andrew Chin/Getty Images

    Taylor and Joe were an item from July to October in 2008 before Jonas unceremoniously dumped Swift during a 27-second phone call. This lead to Taylor Swift writing a couple of heart-wrenching songs, ‘Last Kiss’ and ‘Forever And Always’, about her now-ex boyfriend.

    ‘Forever And Always’ is the 11th track on the 2008 album ‘Fearless’. Inspired by her relationship with Joe Jonas who she felt “slowly slipping away” and feeling rejected, upset and angry. “It rains when you’re here and it rains when you’re gone. ‘Cause I was there when you said, ‘Forever and always’.”

    ‘Last Kiss’, from her 2010 album ‘Speak Now’. is about Swift’s relationship with Jonas and the heartbreak she endured post-breakup. “I never thought we’d have a last kiss, never imagined we’d end like this, your name, forever the name on my lips.”

    Lucas Till (2009)

    Lucas Till walks the red carpet premiere for Un Fils Du Sud
    Image Source: Francois G. Durand/Getty Images

    Lucas Till and Taylor Swift met when Lucas was hired to play Taylor’s boyfriend in her music video for ‘You Belong With Me’. Clearly there were some spark between them and they had a few dates before realizing the chemistry between them was purely platonic.

    It doesn’t seek like Swift wrote any songs about the brief relationship (if you can call a couple of dates a ‘relationship’) but that’s probably because neither of their hearts were in it from the start. Lucas Till told MTV: ” There was no friction because we were too nice. We just really both liked each other… I just really liked her as a friend.”

    Taylor Lautner (2009)

    Taylor Lautner has the time of his life at Heidi Klum's Halloween party
    Image Source: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images

    The two Taylors met on the set of the romantic comedy ‘Valentine’s Day’ back in 2009 where they played high school sweethearts. There onscreen romance continued off-screen and fans aptly named the pair “Taylor Squared”. Although the Taylors were very sweet as a couple, and appeared at various functions together, their relationship did not last.

    Taylor Swift is said to have written ‘Back To December’ in 2010 for her album ‘Speak Now’. It is rumored that Taylor Swift wrote the ballard as an apology for the way she treated Lautner when breaking up with him. “So this is me swallowing my pride, standing in front of you saying I’m sorry for that night.” The pair have since shown that exes can still be friends as they have been snapped at the Teen Choice Awards and seem to have nothing but good things to say about each other.

    John Mayer (2009)

    John Mayer performs a song with a peculiar look of intensity on his face
    Image Source: Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images

    John Mayer and Taylor Swift came together in 2009 when they collaborated on Mayer’s track ‘Half Of My Heart’. They performed together a few times and were frequently seen together, sparking rumors of their romance. Neither of them confirmed the rumors but it became pretty obvious after Swift released ‘Dear John’ and Mayer responded in kind with ‘Paper Doll’.

    The age gap between them caused some concern for fans as Swift was only 19 and Mayer was 32 at the time. Swift also wrote ‘Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve’ in 2022 which references a relationship she had when she was 19. There was quite a bit of negativity thrown John’s way over the years; when he joined TikTok for the first time he received endless stitched videos from fans playing ‘Dear John’. “That was a real weird day,” he sang in a later video.

    Cory Monteith (2010)

    Cory Monteith attends an event of some description
    Image Source: Jason LaVeris/Getty Images

    Neither Taylor Swift or Cory Monteith confirmed that they were dating but they had been spotted together on a few different occasions through the year. Taylor was asked about Cory and their rumored relationship when she appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2010 but didn’t confirm a thing. Her quick smiling and blushing face only fuelled the rumor mill.

    Cory had said they were only friends but admitted he did find her attractive, “I don’t know where the time to date is these days. She’s lovely. I think talent is attractive.” When Cory Monteith died in 2013, Swift gave a short but clearly pained response that she was “Speechless. And for the worst reason.” It isn’t confirmed whether she wrote any tracks about Cory or their time together and, as the pair didn’t officially date, she probably never got round to writing any.

    Jake Gyllenhaal (2010 – 2011)

    Jake Gyllenhaal is wearing an awful shirt, but he seems to be happy about it
    Image Source: Dominik Bindl/Getty Images

    Taylor and Jake had a pretty public relationship back in 2010 until they parted ways in 2011. They were seen out together around L.A and New York City and even spent Thanksgiving together at Jake’s sister’s house. Like the relationship with John Mayer, there was some unease about the 10-year age gap which is said to be the cause of their eventual breakup.

    Taylor wrote ‘All too Well’ about the now-infamous incident with Taylor’s scarf which Gyllenhaal has been spotted wearing over the years. The song includes quite a few references to Jake and Taylor’s relationship including trips to New York and Thanksgiving at his sister’s house. “Now you mail me back my things and I walk home alone, but you keep my old scarf from that very first week ’cause it reminds you of innocence and it smells like me.”

    Adam Young (2011)

    Adam Young defaces a wall, the lovable scamp
    Image Source: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

    Although Adam Young, from the band Owl City, never became Taylor Swift’s official boyfriend the pair did have a bit of a connection. They communicated mostly over email until they eventually met face-to-face which inspired Swift to write ‘Enchanted’, a track featured on ‘Speak Now’.

    Young found out ‘Enchanted’ was about him and sang his own cover version: “I’m wonderstruck, blushing all the way home. I’ll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you.” It is a wonder why they never go together!

    Chord Overstreet (2011)

    Chord Overstreet expresses his enthusiasm for America as well as his enthusiasm for attending events
    Image Source: Presley Ann/Getty Images

    Chord Overstreet was Cory Monteith’s Glee co-star, and was spotted with Swift after Taylor finished her Speak Now tour. The two watched L.A Kings together, laughing and joking and seemed very happy in each other’s company.

    They could have been just going out as friends but the celebrity rumor mill never stops, especially for Taylor. “The thing is,” Chord remarked in USA Today, “I have tons of friends I hang out with and if you get your picture taken with anyone, all of a sudden you’re dating.”

    Eddie Redmayne (2011)

    Eddie Redmayne cosplays as some sort of Christmas present
    Image Source: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

    ‘Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them’ star Redmayne was spotted hanging out with Swift in New York in 2011. Taylor auditioned for the role of Eponine in Les Miserables so had met up with Redmayne during her stay.

    Whether the two were hooking up or merely friends is not confirmed by either party. Perhaps they were just testing the waters and seeing if the chemistry was there. Either way, no relationship bloomed and no song was written about Eddie… That we know of!

    Zac Efron (2012)

    Zac Efron showcases his pecs, which could beat most people in a fight by themselves
    Image Source: RB/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

    ‘High School Musical’ teen heartthrob, Zac Efron, was rumored to be Taylor Swift’s potential boyfriend in 2012. The two young stars both appeared in the movie ‘The Lorax’ as neighbors and love interests Audrey and Ted. Once again fiction inspired reality as the pair became close after filming.

    They both denied any sort of romantic relationship, calling out the rumors on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Swift became quite tired of her dating life being the only thing Ellen every wanted to talk about, “I was 23 and people were just like kind of reducing me to making slideshows of my dating life and putting people in there that I’d sat next to at a party once.”

    Conor Kennedy (2012)

    Conor Kennedy attends an event that likely involves DKNY in some capacity
    Image Source: Taylor Hill/Getty Images

    Conor Kennedy and Taylor dated in the summer of 2012. The grandson of Robert F. Kennedy is a few years younger than Taylor which drew some mild criticism. The pair seemed to start off well, with Swift even buying a home near the Kennedy compound. Unfortunately it didn’t last.

    It is said that the Kennedy family weren’t all that happy with the relationship. Swift was accused by the family of crashing the wedding of Conor’s cousin Kyle in the Summer. The relationship fizzled out and Swift ended up writing ‘Begin Again’ about the brief romance. “I’ve been spending the last eight months thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end. But on Wednesday in a cafe I watched it begin again.”

    Harry Styles (2012 – 2013)

    A Harry Styles wax figure suffers an existential crisis, too unalive to be a man but too fabulous to be a statue
    Image Source: Don Arnold/Getty Images

    The relationship between Swift and Styles was a dramatic one. The two singers dated only a month but were spotted multiple times together in New York City. They exchanged necklaces and were snapped kissing in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. They also got into a snowmobile accident while on a vacation together.

    ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’, ‘Out Of The Woods’, and ‘Style’ were all written about Harry. There are references of their time together in the lyrics of all three. “Your necklace hanging from my neck. The night we couldn’t quite forget.”

    Calvin Harris (2015 – 2016)

    Calvin Harris is entirely ambivalent about the event he is attending, and would perhaps rather be playing Genshin Impact
    Image Source: Joe Maher/Getty Images

    Calvin Harris was one of Taylor Swift’s more well-known boyfriends and the relationship spanned 2015 to 2016. They were introduced to each other through a mutual friend (pop star Ellie Goulding) and hit it off straight away. The couple were seen many times out in the city and on red carpet events together. It was destined to not work out though and they had an om-again-off-again thing going on for a while.

    Apparently it was Calvin who instigated the final, and messy, break up. Many fans believe Swift’s song ‘We Are Never Ever Ever Getting Back Together’ was about Harris. Others claim it is clearly about Gyllenhaal. No one but Taylor will ever know for sure.

    Tom Hiddleston (2016)

    In this photo, Tom Hiddleston suggests that he might be the devil, however this is not true based on our research
    Image Source: Jun Sato/Getty Images

    Even the most die-hard romantic Swifties will say this one was just a bit weird. No one would have predicted this coupling and yet here we are. Many in the media assumed the two got together for the publicity but that might be a bit unfair. They were practically glued to each other during their brief romance, travelling and dining out regularly.

    They called it quits only two months after Tom Hiddleston was papped wearing an “I Heart T.S” t-shirt. Hiddleston had only good things to say about Taylor after the break up. Speaking to GQ in the following February he said, “Taylor is an amazing woman. She’s generous and kind and lovely, and we had the best time. Of course it was real.”

    Joe Alwyn (2017 – 2023)

    Joe Alwyn has a pleasant smile on his face which hides the deepest, darkest secrets in his heart
    Image Source: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

    Actor Joe Alwyn was almost The One and ended up being Taylor Swift’s longest relationship yet. They tried to keep the relationship out of the prying public eyes during the six years they spent together. Maybe that is the key to a more successful celebrity realtionship! Even their break up wasn’t reported until weeks after it happened.

    Taylor hosted a secret listening session with fans for her album ‘Reputation’ where she allegedly told them her song ‘Gorgeous’ was about her boyfriend. When ‘Lover’ was released fans speculated about an impending wedding when they heard songs from that album. “I’ve loved you three summers now, honey, but I want them all. Can I go where you go? Can we always be this close forever and ever?”

    Matty Healy (2023)

    Matty Healy pulls off his best Japanese idol pose, but loses points for how dangerously close he is holding his cigarette to his ear
    Image Source: Rick Kern/Getty Images

    More proof Swift loves a British boy, she dated Matty Healy briefly in 2023. Was it a rebound? Perhaps. Should she regret it? Never. They had actually been on a date ten years prior but it didn’t progress from there. The 1975 frontman seemed like an obvious choice for Taylor but it still didn’t feel like a good fit for either of them.

    Taylor was pretty happy to begin with and expressed her joy during her Eras tour. “I’ve just never been this happy in my life in all aspects of my life ever before!” However this was short-lived. The relationship fizzled out and the pair went their separate ways.

    Travis Kelce (2023 – Present)

    Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs intimidates his foes by pretending he is Albert Wesker prior to an NFL game. COMPLETE GLOBAL SATURATION, he hisses, which is incidentally how I feel about Taylor Swift coverage at every Chiefs broadcast
    Image Source: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

    Taylor Swift’s current romance is with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce. Kelce was the one pursued Swift first by making her a friendship bracelet with his phone number (smooth move). He then went to the Kansas date of the Eras tour to see if he could meet up with her. “I was a bit disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows. She has to save her voice for the 44 songs she sings!” he said on his podcast.

    Taylor soon got the hint that Kelce was interested, of course, and the relationship began to bloom. Swift has been seen at his games, and he pair have been snapped on dates. Kelce even booked out an entire restaurant so the two could party in peace. They seem like a great pair and Kelce certainly has everything one would want for a boyfriend for the gorgeous Taylor Swift!

    About the author

    Rowan Jones

    Rowan is a writer and educator from Devon, U.K. She has been writing about mobile and console games since 2020. Rowan loves puns and dad jokes, and also runs a secret meme page. She has a love/hate relationship with Dead By Daylight and a completely healthy obsession with Fortnite.

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    Rowan Jones

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  • These are the 10 Most Overrated & Overhyped Games of 2023, Cry More

    These are the 10 Most Overrated & Overhyped Games of 2023, Cry More

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    2023 was admittedly a pretty good time for gaming, but not all of this year’s triple-A titles were worth their price tags. Grab your popcorn and power up your consoles as we embark on a journey through the pixelated pitfalls of the most overrated games of 2023!

    Forspoken

    Image Source: Luminous Productions via IGDB

    Welcome to the enchanting world of Forspoken, where the only magical thing about it is the sheer amount of dedication it must’ve taken to turn all of the most cliché fantasy tropes into a “choose your own adventure” eye-roll. After the first few admittedly entertaining hours of this game, it’s like the developers just gave up and threw in some fancy fireworks to distract you from the fact that the story is as about as exciting as a wizard’s grocery list.

    This game plays like a terrible self-insert Wattpad fanfiction. Forspoken boldly goes where every young adult fantasy book has gone before, with a storyline so generic you’ll wonder if they used a Mad Libs template. Its flashy combat and parkour system only just barely make it worth playing, but even they can’t save it from being one of the most overrated games of 2023.

    The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

    The Lord of the Rings Gollum Steam Page Cover Image
    Image Source: Daedalic Entertainment via Steam

    Why, in an ever-expanding universe teeming with iconic characters, did someone ever think that playing an entire game as Gollum would be a good idea? Who is this game for? What is it even meant to achieve?? Literally who even asked for this game??? I feel like this game might have had some potential if there was any actual demand for it, or if the developers had even tried to take their jobs seriously.

    Forget the solid action of previous Middle-earth games, as Gollum invites you to revel in thrilling activities like brutal busywork, uninspired and hair-pulling platforming, and a masterclass in bad stealth mechanics that even Sauron would cringe at. Honestly, I’m baffled that they even felt confident enough to release this bad excuse for a game; the only people I would recommend this game to are the most die-hard, tunnel-vision eccentric Lord of the Rings fans — or maybe Gollum’s therapist.

    Redfall

    Redfall Cover Artwork
    Image Source: Arkane Austin via IGDB

    Step into the nightmarish world of Redfall, where even the undead might rise from their graves to ask for a refund! This game, though labeled as a co-op shooter, is more like a haunted house of glitches, awkward AI, and pop-in nightmares that not even garlic could ward off. It’s not just the vampires that suck here — button commands vanish like ghostly apparitions, random NPCs pull their best Houdini acts at the worst of times, and the story scenes are so cheap and overused, they make thrift stores look like luxury boutiques.

    Redfall is, without a doubt, one of the most depressingly overhyped games to come out in recent years; plagued with insurmountable glitches, constant bugs, and tired gameplay mechanics, Redfall didn’t stand a chance against the rest of 2023’s major game releases. Not only was Redfall not worth its price tag, it wasn’t worth playing at all.

    Final Fantasy XVI

    Final Fantasy XVI Title Artwork
    Image Source: Square Enix via IGDB

    Now this one might be a bit of a controversial choice for this list, but hear me out here. Final Fantasy XVI has absolutely no personality whatsoever; its side quests are unbelievably uninspired, the loot is even worse, and its world exploration is the most unrewarding waste of time I’ve ever seen in an RPG. Not to mention the fact that this game is unbelievably easy to play; the only people who might like this game are kids because it literally takes almost no brainpower to play.

    After all, who needs challenging quests and immersive storylines when you can have the thrill of pressing the same buttons repeatedly over and over again without ever breaking a sweat? This game is a fantasy alright, but not the kind you’d ever want to write home about. Final Fantasy XVI — where the only thing that’s final is your patience with uninspiring sidequests and brainless gameplay. If you’ve played the last few entries in the Final Fantasy series, then congratulations, you may as well have already played this one.

    Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

    Star Wars Jedi Survivor Title Artwork
    Image Source: Respawn Entertainment via IGDB

    Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is, without a doubt, one of the most overhyped and overpriced games of 2023. Anyone who tries to defend this game is either in complete denial, has never played any other Star Wars game before, or is just super embarrassed about the fat wad of cash they had to hand over just to play it.

    Survivor’s PC port especially suffered from numerous technical glitches, rendering the gaming experience near-broken and far from seamless, while the overhyped performance mode failed to impress even the most indifferent of players; it’s even been labeled by many as possibly the worst of its generation. The game’s narrative and NPCs were unimaginative at best and completely uninspired at worst, and its outdoor exploration, puzzles, and combat (all pivotal aspects of any action-adventure title) were deemed similarly lacking.

    The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

    The Lord of the Rings Return to Moria Cover Artwork
    Image Source: Free Range Games via IGDB

    Speaking of games that fell far short of the mark, Return to Moria is easily considered by many to be one of the most overhyped, overrated games of 2023 by far. It’s not quite as bad as Gollum, but come on; it’s a barely passable title within the Lord of the Rings franchise, and honestly, I can’t even believe that anyone thought this game was a good idea.

    What many LOTR fans might be surprised to know about Return to Moria is that it’s actually barely even a Lord of the Rings game at all; Return to Moria is more like a random survival game that just so happens to take place in a world that’s very loosely based off of J.R.R Tolkien’s works. If you’ve played literally any fantasy survival game within the last decade, then congratulations, you’ve essentially already played Return to Moria.

    Crime Boss: Rockay City

    Crime Boss Rockay City Cover Artwork
    Image Source: INGAME STUDIOS via IGDB

    Welcome to Crime Boss: Rockay City, where decades-old nostalgia meets present-day regret, and the in-game 90s backdrop feels less like a golden era and more like a cautionary tale of what we all collectively chose to forget. Despite a commendable level of earnestness in its creation, Rockay City’s charm just couldn’t quite mask the overall sloppiness of its design.

    Crime Boss: Rockay City just couldn’t quite manage to do itself any justice, no matter how hard it tried. Its outright atrocious voice acting and frustratingly repetitive mission design were enough to scare most of its potential player base away, and its unoriginal single-player storyline and unnecessarily complex co-op mode were enough to drive away the rest. In the end, Crime Boss: Rockay City was its own worst enemy; maybe if the developers had spent a little more time on it and hadn’t hyped it up so much prior to its release, it would have been met with more positive reviews.

    Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

    Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Cover Artwork
    Image Source: Insomniac Games via IGDB

    Despite high expectations for a next-gen leap into the friendly neighborhood Spiderverse, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 seems to have fallen short of the mark quite spectacularly. For starters, the game’s overall lack of environmental realism is honestly embarrassing for a game made in the 21st century; the game’s “interactable” environments lack any form of destructible elements, hindering player immersion to an unforgivable degree.

    Furthermore, its combat, a long-established staple of the Spider-Man experience, has consistently been described as overly repetitive, leaving players longing for a more dynamic and engaging system. Perhaps the most stinging blow of all, however, comes in the form of the game’s narrative, which easily stands as the weakest of Insomniac’s roster of Spider-Man games. In the end, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, while delivering on the web-slinging spectacle, falls short of the expectations set by its predecessors and its promise of next-gen innovation, earning it a top spot among the year’s most overrated releases.

    Everybody 1-2-Switch

    Everybody 1-2-Switch Cover Artwork
    Image Source: Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development/NDcube via IGDB

    Have you ever wanted to play a game so devoid of any and all emotion and personality that it legitimately fills you with rage? Well then congratulations, you’ve found your match with Everybody 1-2-Switch! Prepare for the party game apocalypse with this sorry excuse for an entertainment elevator; this game somehow manages to suck any and all joy out of gaming faster than a vacuum in zero gravity.

    Everybody 1-2-Switch boasts a tedious catalog of unoriginal party games that are, surprisingly, meant to entertain friends and families. It’s the kind of experience that makes you long for a simpler time when the biggest party game dilemma was choosing Mario Kart characters, not enduring a digital gathering that feels more like purgatory than a celebration.

    Diablo IV

    Diablo IV Steam Cover Image
    Image Source: Blizzard Entertainment via Steam

    Last but not least, we come to Diablo IV, arguably one of the most highly anticipated game releases of 2023. Diablo IV just feels like a slightly worse, reskinned version of Diablo III, and I can’t even believe that the developers at Blizzard can sleep at night with how much they’re charging for it.

    Any self-respecting, long-time Diablo fan would agree that Diablo IV’s uninventive gameplay is way too easy, especially when compared to the previous entries in the Diablo game series. The boss battles feel tedious at best, the world bosses are far too easy, and its dungeons are so repetitive and undifferentiated that they all begin to blur together after only a few runs. Overall, it’s an okay game for newcomers to the series, but for veterans of the franchise, it just feels like one big disappointment.

    And that’s it for our curated list of all of the most overrated games of 2023! From soulless storylines to maddening mechanics, this year’s disappointments have proven that even in the realm of pixels and polygons, not all that glitters is gold. If you want to take a peek at what 2024 has in store for the gaming community, be sure to check out Twinfinite’s list of the “Most Anticipated Games of 2024“!

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    Allysen Pierce

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  • 7 Most Underrated Games of 2023 You Probably Missed

    7 Most Underrated Games of 2023 You Probably Missed

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    In the ever-expanding realm of gaming, where triple-A titles often dominate headlines, there exists a hidden trove of gems waiting to be discovered! As we embark on a journey through the gaming landscape of 2023, it becomes increasingly evident that greatness isn’t solely reserved for the most hyped-up releases.

    This article delves into 2023’s many underrated releases, shining a spotlight on the hidden treasures that may have slipped under the radar of mainstream attention. From innovative indie creations to overlooked masterpieces, read on to discover all of the greatest underrated games of 2023!

    Cross Blitz

    Image Source: Tako Boy Studios via IGDB

    Cross Blitz is an indie game that was released towards the tail end of 2023, so it’s understandable why it flew under the radar for so many gamers. Cross Blitz is one of those games that’ll keep you absorbed for hours; you’ll sit down to kill some time for a few minutes and then look up, only to realize that you’ve been playing it for like 3 hours straight (yes, I speak from experience).

    Cross Blitz is a unique, deck-building RPG that offers its players over 30+ hours of action-packed adventures across multiple different storylines, leading to wildly differing narratives and endings. Along the way, players can collect over 200 unique cards to use in tactical turn-based card battles, with each battle being more harrowing than the last. Fans of deck-builders and fast-paced RPGs especially shouldn’t sleep on this incredible hidden gem!

    The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood

    The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood Cover Artwork
    Image Source: Deconstructeam via IGDB

    From the makers of The Red Strings Club comes The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, a game about living in exile, making unimaginable sacrifices, and testing the limits of the human psyche. This game is an absolute must-play for any and all fans of emotionally charged RPGs, narrative-driven games, and games that explore wildly complex themes. You definitely don’t want to miss out on this emotionally charged title; The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is easily one of the most underrated games of 2023!

    The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood immerses players into a bewitching narrative experience as Fortuna, a fortune-telling Witch who has been condemned to live in exile on an asteroid for 1,000 years. In her desperation, Fortuna calls upon a Behemoth, a forbidden entity, in order to regain her freedom. The consequences of these actions are great, but her desperation is far greater; follow Fortuna as she navigates her new-found freedom as one of the most powerful Witches of all time!

    LISA: The Painful – Definitive Edition

    LISA The Painful Definitive Edition Artwork
    Image Source: Dingaling via IGDB

    LISA: The Painful is a dark and emotionally charged RPG that thrusts players into a post-apocalyptic world steeped in despair, hopelessness, and horrors beyond human comprehension. Although it was originally released back in 2014 along with its expansion, LISA: The Joyful, its definitive edition was finally made available to the public in July 2023.

    This indie gem immerses players in the harrowing tale of Brad, a deeply troubled and flawed protagonist navigating a desolate landscape fraught with grotesque enemies, unimaginable moral dilemmas, and, most importantly, absolutely zero women. In the post-apocalyptic world of Olathe, women have all been completely wiped out, or so everyone thought; one day, Brad stumbles upon an abandoned baby girl wrapped in a blanket, and decides to do his best to keep her hidden from the rest of the depraved monsters and men of his former home.

    Season: A Letter to the Future

    Season a Letter to the Future Cover Artwork
    Image Source: Scavengers Studio via IGDB

    Season: A Letter to the Future was released all the way back in January 2023, so it’s honestly baffling to me that it’s flown under the radar for so many people for so long. This game is widely considered to be one of the most underrated games of 2023, and it’s no wonder why; Season: A Letter to the Future is one of those games that’ll give you a whole new perspective on life, whether you like it or not!

    This philosophical game allows players to take on the role of Estelle, a young woman leaving home for the first time as the world comes crumbling to an end. In the wake of the inevitable apocalypse, Estelle is determined to document the wonders of the world in her journal as a “letter to the future”, in hopes that someday, someone might be alive to come across it, and know that the world that came before them was a beautiful one. This game will leave everyone who plays it with a smile on their face and tears in their eyes; it’s an emotionally eviscerating journey that won’t leave anyone unaffected!

    The Coffin of Andy and Leyley

    Cover Artwork for The Coffin of Andy and LeyLey
    Image Source: Kit9 Studio via Steam

    (THIS GAME IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART)

    Okay, so while the other entries on this list have had at least some measure of heartwarming elements to them, The Coffin of Andy and Leyley is pretty much the complete opposite. If you love playing morally decrepit games that deal with wildly deranged subject matters, then look no further than The Coffin of Andy and Leyley! Despite its grim and grisly narrative, this horror game somehow maintains an immaculate Steam rating of 10/10 with over 10,000+ reviews and counting.

    The Coffin of Andy and Leyley is about two morally bankrupt siblings, Andrew and Ashley Graves, who have been left for dead in their abandoned apartment. While slowly starving to death, the toxic-ly codependent siblings strive to find a way out of their prison of an apartment building, and “accidentally” develop a taste for human flesh along the way. Surprisingly, however, cannibalism is not the most effed-up thing that players will have to deal with while playing this game. If you like horror and have been looking for a game that will live rent-free in your brain for the rest of your life, then congratulations, you’ve found it!

    (The developers themselves once described it as a “questionable trainwreck” in a devlog, if that tells you anything)

    The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog

    Corpse of Sonic the Hedgehog in the Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog
    Image Source: SEGA via Steam

    Similar to the last entry, The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog deals with themes of death and murder, though it’s not nearly as horrific and is mostly a comedy. Developed by Sega themselves, The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is a 100% free game that has received thousands of positive reviews since its release back in April 2023. Honestly, I can’t see why it’s not infinitely more popular than it is; it’s probably one of the greatest underrated games of 2023!

    As you may have already guessed by its title, The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog is about, well, the murder of Sonic the hedgehog. This game takes place on a train called the Mirage Express, where Sonic’s lifeless body has just been discovered! You, the main character, must interrogate the entire colorful cast to find out what happened to their beloved blue hedgehog. Is it all just a big misunderstanding, or is something more sinister afoot?

    Chants of Sennaar

    Chants of Senaar Steam Page Artwork
    Image Source: Rundisc via Steam

    Chants of Sennaar is easily one of the most underrated puzzle games of all time, let alone 2023. This indie game came out back in early September 2023, and it is a bit on the small side (at least when compared to similar games within the genre), so it’s easy to see why it got overlooked despite its excellence.

    Chants of Sennaar is a puzzle adventure game that allows players to take on the role of a traveler who has been tasked with reuniting the Peoples of the Tower. Following an ancient prophecy, the traveler must explore a seemingly endless prodigious labyrinth, uncover long-buried secrets, and find the answers to ancient mysteries better left unsolved. Solving long-dead mysteries and deciphering ancient languages to restore communication between the Peoples of the Tower won’t be easy, but someone has to do it!

    And that’s it for our list of the greatest underrated games of 2023! From the enthralling narratives of bewitching worlds to the mind-bending puzzles of unexplored realms, these hidden gems have proven that greatness often lies beyond the spotlight. For more 2023 game recommendations, check out Twinfinite’s “Best Indie Games of 2023” and “Best Co-Op Game of 2023“!

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    Allysen Pierce

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  • The Most Anticipated 2024 TV Shows

    The Most Anticipated 2024 TV Shows

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    Would you like to live in a European autocracy run by Kate Winslet? Maybe not after watching this limited series, created and written by Succession and The Menu alum Will Tracy. Succession’s Frank Rich is also an executive producer, and the writing comes from a team that includes the screenwriter of Bodies Bodies Bodies and satirical novelist Gary Shteyngart—all auspicious signs for those who like their comedy pitch black.

    Girls5Eva

    • Premiere Date: March 14
    • Network: Netflix
    • Noteworthy Cast: Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Paula Pell, Busy Philipps

    Thank goodness this absolute gem of a sitcom didn’t die on Peacock after two seasons: Its third will appear on Netflix, where the girls can hopefully develop a Kimmy Schmidt–esque following. Season three finds our ladies on the road, attempting to jump-start their comeback with a cross-country tour. According to Netflix, they’ll also “play a billionaire’s birthday party” (yes) and “cross paths with the biggest pop star on the planet” (double yes).

    Manhunt

    • Premiere Date: March 15
    • Network: Apple TV+
    • Noteworthy Cast: Tobias Menzies, Anthony Boyle, Lovie Simone, Matt Walsh

    This thriller about the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination takes a surprising approach: “I saw it as more of a conspiracy thriller, more of a cat-and-mouse detective story,” producer and showrunner Monica Beletsky tells VF. “I loved the idea of making Stanton the cat to Booth’s mouse.” That would be John Wilkes Booth, played by Boyle, and Edwin Stanton, played by Menzies—the Secretary of War who made it his mission to track the assassin down.

    Palm Royale 

    • Premiere Date: March 20
    • Network: Apple TV+
    • Noteworthy Cast: Kristen Wiig, Ricky Martin, Leslie Bibb, Kaia Gerber

    If Kristen Wiig as a plucky outsider trying to break into Palm Beach high society doesn’t sound like a good time to you, then what are we even doing here? The show, set in 1969, is a loose adaptation of Juliet McDaniel’s novel Mr. & Mrs. American Pie. Expect pastel paisleys and tongues sharp enough to cut a Florida orange.

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    Hillary Busis

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  • The 22 Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

    The 22 Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

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    We know literally two things about Jordan Peele’s next movie. One: It is a movie directed by Jordan Peele, of Get Out, Us, and Nope fame. Two: It’s coming out December 25, 2024. Will previous Peele collaborators like Daniel Kaluuya, Lupita Nyong’o, Keke Palmer, or Steven Yeun make an appearance? Will the film be visually arresting and psychologically unsettling, raising high-minded questions about the way we live now? Will the title be terse? Your guess is as good as ours, pal!

    Nosferatu 

    • Release Date: December 25
    • Studio: Focus 
    • Director: Robert Eggers
    • Noteworthy Cast: Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, Willem Dafoe

    Coming from the director of The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman, this take on the classic horror tale promises to be a stylish and inventive update, and maybe exactly the kind of Christmas Day counterprogramming the holiday season needs. The original film, which turned 100 last year, was a landmark in German expressionism and remains an iconic part of vampire lore. It’s a high bar, to be clear, but if there’s anything we’ve learned from Robert Eggers’s filmmaking career to this point, the man loves a challenge.

    His Three Daughters 

    • Release Date: Undated
    • Studio: Netflix
    • Director: Azazel Jacobs
    • Noteworthy Cast: Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen

    A surprise tearjerker when it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September of 2023, His Three Daughters is an extremely intimate, deeply felt drama about three sisters gathering to await the imminent death of their father. Filmed almost entirely in a New York City apartment, and featuring the kinds of intense monologues you might associate with theater, the film from Azazel Jacobs is still incredibly cinematic—and not just because of the hypnotizing power of a Natasha Lyonne close-up. Picked up by Netflix after the festival, it’s a small film that might play well on the streaming platform, but is one of the 2024 movies worthy of a full-fledged awards push when the time comes.

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    Hillary Busis, Katey Rich

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  • Top 10 Most Underrated Anime of 2023

    Top 10 Most Underrated Anime of 2023

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    Most anime fans will agree that 2023 was a great year for anime. Tons of new shows were released, and many major titles came and went as the year progressed, like the release of the One Piece live-action and the final episode of Attack on Titan (heartbreaking).

    With so much focus on these major titles, however, many of 2023’s other anime were easily overlooked. This article will give those anime the recognition they deserve by focusing on all of the greatest underrated anime of 2023!

    Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

    Image Source: ShoPro via IMDB

    Okay, so this one actually got a fair amount of recognition after its initial release. However, because it was released right in the middle of summer, it was majorly overshadowed by tons of other anime releases, making it one of the greatest yet criminally underrated anime of 2023.

    Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is an unconventional zombie apocalypse anime that didn’t get nearly the amount of attention that it rightfully deserved. This anime follows the story of Akira, a businessman trudging his way through life while suffering at the hands of his soul-suckingly meaningless office job.

    Once the undead pandemic hit, however, Akira couldn’t have been more excited; finally, he could have some well-deserved time off from his corporate nightmare! Rather than feel overcome by mortal terror at the end of the world as he knew it, Akira simply decided to go about his daily life, slaying zombies left and right, while crossing off the 100 entries on his bucket list.

    Level 1 Demon Lord and One Room Hero

    Demon Lord and Room Mate in Level 1 Demon Lord and One Room Hero
    Image Source: Houbunsha/Seven Seas Entertainment via IMDB

    This anime is criminally underrated. Similar to Zom 100, Level 1 Demon Lord and One Room Hero was released around the middle of summer 2023 alongside some pretty major anime titles, which could be the reason why it has flown under the radar for so many.

    Level 1 Demon Lord and One Room Hero is about a hero, Max, who defeats a fearsome and dangerous Demon Lord named Maou. Instead of dying as everyone expected him to, however, the Demon Lord went into a deep slumber instead, to preserve his remaining power. Ten years later, he unexpectedly awakens into an adorable chibi version of himself!

    Curious about his predicament and how his mortal enemy has been faring all this time, Maou visits Max to see if he’s gotten stronger in his absence. Instead, Maou learns that Max is now a total loser living in a disturbingly run-down one-bedroom apartment. Absolutely disgusted at how low his once fearsome rival has sunk, Maou the Demon Lord decides to move in with him, in hopes that they’ll both be able to regain their former glory!

    Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre

    Girl Being Attacked in Junji Ito Maniac Japanese Tales of the Macabre
    Image Source: Junji Ito/Netflix via IMDB

    Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre, other than being a mouthful to say, is easily one of the most underrated anime of 2023. This anime is based on a series of short horror stories written by Junji Ito, a famous author of numerous horror manga.

    If you’re a fan of horror/supernatural anime, or are just a fan of horror in general, then you would love this series. Japanese Tales of the Macabre features an animated collection of 20 of the most horrifying, macabre stories written by Juji Ito.

    Each episode features one or more of his famous works, ensuring that fans of the series remain constantly on the edge of their seats. This series is pretty much only available on Netflix, which could explain its lack of popularity.

    Buddy Daddies

    Assassin Dads in Buddy Daddies
    Image Source: Aniplex of America via IMDB

    How is this anime not more popular? Frankly, I was on board as soon as I saw “daddies” in the title, but after watching it, I honestly don’t see how more people aren’t just as obsessed with this anime.

    Buddy Daddies is about Kazuki Kurusu and Rei Suwa, two extremely talented assassins who happen to be roommates (oh my god, they were roommates…). This pair of deadly (and attractive) assassins have literally never failed a single job; they’ve never once let a target escape and are widely considered to be the most dangerous men in their fields. All it takes is one adorable little girl to completely change their lives forever, though.

    An innocent four-year-old girl is spontaneously thrust into their lives with little explanation, and they have to suddenly figure out how to juggle being cold-blooded assassins and loving, adoptive parents at the same time. These assassins are normally able to take anything that’s thrown at them, but somehow find themselves struggling with this little kid; from taking her to nursery school to feeding her balanced meals, Kazuki and Rei realize that they may just be up against their toughest job yet: parenthood.

    The Gene of AI

    Hikaru Sudo in The Gene of AI
    Image Source: Nikkatsu Corporation via IMDB

    The Gene of AI is a perfect choice for fans of futuristic and sci-fi anime alike, as it takes place far in the future. The world that this anime takes place in is similar to ours, but it comes with a very specific unique twist: humanoid AIs walk and live among humans in a futuristic society.

    Similar to humans, these AIs suffer from a variety of ailments and illnesses, the likes of which can’t be solved by regular doctor appointments. Thankfully, Dr. Hikaru Sudo has dedicated his life to the field of medicine, and won’t turn a patient away just because they aren’t human!

    Dr. Hikaru Sudo treats these humanoid AIs with the same level of professionalism and respect that he does with his human clients, though he often has to resort to illegal methods in order to treat their ailments. But as more and more AIs become afflicted with strange ailments, and the ethical lines of Dr. Hikaru Sudo’s practice become further blurred, how will humanity be able to continue existing peacefully alongside these hyper-intelligent beings?

    The Fire Hunter

    The Fire Hunter Trailer Image
    Image Source: WOWOW via IMDB

    The Fire Hunter is admittedly a bit of wild ride, but hoo boy you’re going to love every single second of it. The Fire Hunter is easily one of the best, yet most criminally underrated anime of 2023; there hasn’t been a single person who’s watched this anime and not loved it.

    The Fire Hunter takes place in a supernatural world that’s been overrun by terrible, fiery beasts known as Flame Demons. Mankind’s last hope for survival lies in the hands of the Fire Hunters, the only ones capable of facing the fiery menace.

    This anime follows the story of Toko, a young girl who is miraculously saved by a Fire Hunter while being attacked by one of the beasts. The Fire Hunter who saved her tragically died as a result of the attack, and she, along with the Hunter’s dog (who also miraculously survived) must travel to the country’s capital to deliver the terrible news to the Hunter’s family. Terrible secrets about the country’s leaders, the Demons, and the very world they live in are gradually unraveled in the process, however, and it becomes a race against time itself to stop humanity from succumbing to its imminent downfall.

    My New Boss Is Goofy

    Boss and Employee in My New Boss is Goofy
    Image Source: Aniplex of America via IMDB

    Unlike a handful of other entries on this list, My New Boss is Goofy is a very lighthearted and unproblematic anime that’ll leave you in stitches! This anime is hilariously relatable, especially to anyone who’s ever felt underappreciated in their workplace (and I mean really, who hasn’t?).

    This anime follows the sad little life of Momose, a middle-aged salaryman just trying to navigate the stale and underwhelming world of corporate advertising and business sales. After having finally reached the end of his rope at his last job due to his boss’s constant harassment, Momose decides to find a new job entirely, where he’ll never have to face his tyrant of a boss ever again.

    Once he’s been hired in at his new job, however, Momose suddenly becomes filled with anxiety; what if his new boss is somehow even worse than his last?? Thankfully, however, not only is Momose’s new boss, Shirosaki, the farthest possible thing from a tyrant, but he’s also a total air-headed goofball. Like, the very definition of a dumb blonde; it’s amazing that he even managed to make it to adulthood at all. As Momose’s anxiety decreases and Shirosaki becomes hopelessly more and more attached to his new employee, their relationship begins to gradually turn into something more… bromantic.

    Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions

    Detective and Officer in Ron Kamonohashi's Forbidden Deductions
    Image Source: Kadokawa Pictures Inc. via IMDB

    If this isn’t one of the greatest underrated anime of 2023, then I don’t know what is; it’s the perfect combination of murder mystery and buddy-cop. Ron Kamonohashi’s Forbidden Deductions has been described by many as the “anime version of Sherlock Holmes” and, honestly, I totally get it. If you loved watching BBC’s Sherlock or reading through Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlockian mysteries, then you’re going to fall head over heels for this anime!

    In this anime, Ron Kamonohashi was once a genius lead detective capable of solving any case that was thrown his way. After one fatal mistake, however, he was forced to resign and never return to his career as a detective, causing him to fall into a terrible depression and become an isolated, reclusive member of society. Thankfully, that’s where Totomaru Isshiki comes in!

    Totomaru Isshiki is a young and naive police officer who is, admittedly, pretty terrible at his job. After trying and failing to solve a horrifying serial murder case on his own, he knocks on Ron’s door to ask for help. Ron reluctantly agrees to help him, and their odd partnership as a mismatched detective team begins!

    I’m in Love with the Villainess

    Rei and Claire in I'm in Love with the Villainess
    Image Source: asmikace via IMDB

    Now I’m not usually one to fawn over romance anime, but I’m in Love with the Villainess is a notable outlier in the genre. Not only is this anime hilarious and incredibly engaging, but it also tugs on your heartstrings and leaves you wanting more after every episode!

    Similar to Zom 100, this anime did get some relatively decent recognition after its initial release, but fans quickly moved on to bigger and better titles directly after, leaving poor old “I’m in Love with the Villainess” in the dust. This anime is genuinely one of the most hilariously relatable and engaging anime I’ve ever seen; I can’t believe it isn’t infinitely more popular by now! Romance genre aside, this is easily one of the most underrated anime of 2023.

    I’m in Love with the Villainess is about a corporate drone who suddenly awakens as Rae Taylor, the protagonist in her favorite otome game. Rather than feel something normal about her situation, like fear or confusion, she is astoundingly ecstatic about the opportunity to finally romance her favorite character: Claire François, the villainess. Armed with only her knowledge of the game and her passion for Claire’s affection, Rae sets out to finally court the girl of her virtual dreams!

    Migi and Dali

    Migi and his Twin Brother Dali in Migi and Dali
    Image Source: REMOW via IMDB

    This anime somehow manages to be unbelievably creepy and hilarious at the same time. Migi and Dali is definitely one of the weirder titles that was released in 2023, but I guarantee that anyone who sticks around for this wild ride won’t be disappointed in the slightest. Migi and Dali is about a seemingly perfect little family that harbors a dark and mildly disturbing secret.

    In this anime, Osamu and Youko Sonoyama are a lovely elderly couple who decide to adopt a young boy, Hitori, from an orphanage. Unbeknownst to them, however, their seemingly perfect adopted son is harboring an insane secret: he’s not even real.

    In reality, Hitori is actually two twin boys pretending to be the same person. Migi and Dali (hence the name) are twin brothers who switch out at wildly inopportune times in a desperate attempt to make it seem as though they’re one child. Their motive behind keeping their true identities hidden remains a mystery in the beginning, but as their infallible plot begins to quickly unravel, the terrifying reason behind their deception becomes astonishingly clear…

    And that’s it for our list of the greatest underrated anime of 2023! These anime may not have been among the most major titles released this past year, but that doesn’t make them any less worth watching. If you’re curious about the many other amazing anime that headlined in 2023, feel free to take a look at our other recommendations, like our “Best Shonen Anime of 2023” list!

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    Allysen Pierce

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  • Pokémon Go Ditto disguises list for December 2023

    Pokémon Go Ditto disguises list for December 2023

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    Ditto is an elusive Pokémon in Pokémon Go, as it disguises itself and you can’t actually just catch one straight-up.

    In order to find Ditto, you’ll want to find the Pokémon that it currently disguises itself as. For example, you may see a Diglett, and it’ll stay a Diglett once you tap on it, but it’s secretly a Ditto. Once you catch that Pokémon, you’ll be met with an “Oh?” prompt, and it’ll turn into a Ditto — if you’re lucky.

    Ditto’s chosen disguises changes from time to time, so you’ll want to make sure you know what the disguises are currently if you’re Ditto hunting — specially if you are after a shiny.

    Below, we’ve listed out the current Ditto disguises.

    Pokémon Go Ditto disguises in December 2023

    As of Dec. 11, 2023, Ditto can be any of the following Pokémon as part of the Adamant Time event:

    • Oddish (Gen 1, Kanto)
    • Koffing (Gen 1, Kanto)
    • Rhyhorn (Gen 1, Kanto)
    • Goldeen (Gen 1, Kanto)

    From left to right: Oddish, Koffing, Rhyhorn, and Goldeen in Pokémon Go
    Image: Niantic via Polygon

    Whether these four will remain as Ditto disguises following the event’s conclusion on Dec. 15 remains to be seen. It’s also unknown whether the following list of previous Ditto disguises (which last updated on March 21, 2023) will return, and we’ll know more as we come towards the weekend:

    • Diglett (Gen 1, Kanto)
    • Grimer (Gen 1, Kanto)
    • Snubbull (Gen 2, Johto)
    • Corphish (Gen 3, Hoenn)
    • Starly (Gen 4, Sinnoh)
    • Roggenrola (Gen 5, Unova)
    • Tympole (Gen 5, Unova)
    • Litleo (Gen 6, Kalos)

    From left to right: Diglett, Grimer, Snubbell, Corphish, Starly, Roggenrola, Tympole and Litleo in Pokémon Go

    From left to right: Diglett, Grimer, Snubbell, Corphish, Starly, Roggenrola, Tympole and Litleo in Pokémon Go
    Image: Niantic via Polygon

    How to find shiny Ditto in Pokémon Go

    There’s a few things to know about Ditto and shiny hunting. For one, if you encounter a shiny Pokémon that can be a Ditto, it will never be a Ditto. Don’t worry, you won’t lose your shiny.

    Shiny Ditto with regular Ditto. Shiny Ditto is blue

    Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic

    Finding a shiny Ditto is just the luck of the draw. Any Ditto you find and catch has a chance to be shiny and the shiny rates are higher than usual. Expert research group The Silph Road says it’s about a one in 64 chance to be shiny (via Wayback Machine). You’ll just have to get lucky when you find disguised Pokémon.

    Shiny Ditto was initially made available to players via a paid Special Research Task set for the Kanto Tour back in 2021, but is now just a regular encounter.

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    Julia Lee

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  • Monster Hunter Now weapon list and how to unlock new weapon types

    Monster Hunter Now weapon list and how to unlock new weapon types

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    Weapons are the most important tools in your Monster Hunter Now arsenal.

    This mobile version of the series stripped back the usual roster of weapons down to six choices at launch, locking them behind story quest progression or Hunter Rank progress, with more being introduced with seasonal updates over time.

    Despite the limited number of weapons in Monster Hunter Now, there are a couple of ranged options and series staples, such as the Great Sword, giving you some variety to play around with.

    Monster Hunter Now weapons list: How many weapons are there?

    To date, the roster of weapons in Monster Hunter Now is as follows:

    • Sword and Shield
    • Great Sword
    • Bow
    • Hammer
    • Light Bowgun
    • Long Sword
    • Dual Blades (added in Dec. 2023’s “Fulminations in the Frost” update)
    • Lance (added in Dec. 2023’s “Fulminations in the Frost” update)

    Developers Niantic and Capcom have confirmed new weapon types will continue to be added to the game as part of a “season system,” so for those familiar with the main series, hopefully your favorites will roll out before too long.

    How to unlock new weapon types in Monster Hunter Now

    Image: Niantic / Capcom via Polygon

    To begin with, you’ll only have access to the Sword and Shield, albeit with multiple variations by forging together parts from slaying large monsters.

    To unlock new weapon types in Monster Hunter Now, you must progress through the main story quest. Specifically, you need to reach Chapter 2, where you’ll first unlock the Great Sword, and just a few steps later, the remaining roster of weapons.

    Specifically, you need to reach the following points in the story:

    • To unlock the Great Sword, complete the first stage of “Chapter 2: Shimmering Swamp” in the main story.
    • To unlock the Bow, Hammer, Light Bowgun, and Long Sword, reach Hunter Rank 15.
    • To unlock the Dual Blades and Lance, they appear to unlock for all players from Hunter Rank 15 as part of Dec. 2023’s “Fulminations in the Frost” update.

    These pre-requisites aren’t too far into your Monster Hunter Now journey — requiring just a few hours of play. Of course, that might be staggered out depending on how much you’re able to explore, with many story steps based on collecting resources, which will be limited if you are playing in just a single spot.

    Meanwhile, though large monsters do spawn frequently on your stationary position, making use of paintballs for when you need to complete large monster steps quickly is advised.

    When will new weapon types arrive in Monster Hunter Now?

    New weapon types — alongside new monsters and story updates — will be coming to Monster Hunter Now as part of major quarterly updates.

    The first of these was “Fulminations in the Frost”, arriving Dec. 2023, which introduced the Dual Blades and Lance.

    From here, developers Niantic and Capcom have confirmed “additional weapon types” from March 2023.

    Monster Hunter Now Fulminations in the Frost teaser image, showing Hunters fighting Zinogre.

    Image: Niantic / Capcom

    It’s possible there’s more to come in this update — and if not, expect more weapons to be rolled out in subsequent ones to come.

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    Matthew Reynolds

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  • 10 Call of Duty Easter Eggs You May Have Missed

    10 Call of Duty Easter Eggs You May Have Missed

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    The Call of Duty franchise is packed with Easter Eggs and secrets. The Zombies mode has even built questlines around finding objects and solving complex multi-step puzzles. Unfortunately, the urgency of missions and the chaos of gunfights can lead players to miss some of Call of Duty’s best Easter Eggs.

    Mannequin Madness

    Image Source: Activision

    The multiplayer map Nuketown is a staple of the Black Ops sub-series and each incarnation has had its own Easter Egg involving the various mannequins dotted around the map. For example, in the first Black Ops shooting off all of the mannequin heads will trigger The Rolling Stones’ song Sympathy For The Devil to begin playing out of the map’s air raid sirens. Likewise in Black Ops III shooting off all the mannequin heads in under two minutes will make them start chasing and attacking you like zombies.

    The creepiest Easter Egg of Black Ops III, and arguably the creepiest in the entire franchise, occurs if the player shoots all the mannequins’ arms off within two minutes. This will turn the mannequins into terrifying creatures akin to the Weeping Angels from Doctor Who, deadly monsters that only move when the player isn’t looking. Watching will freeze them in place, but considering how many mannequins are dotted around Black Ops III’s Nuk3town map, there’s probably one creeping up on you right now. Don’t even blink. Blink and you’re dead. The mannequins are faster than you could believe. Don’t turn your back, don’t look away, and don’t blink!

    Riley Returns

    Riley the dog cameo in Modern Warfare 3
    Image Source: Activision via Twinfinite

    Trojan Horse is the final level in 2023’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and begins with the player, as Task Force 141 member Soap, tailing a hacker in London. To successfully complete this mission the player must blend in with the crowds and avoid detection. One way they do this is by approaching and petting a German Shepherd called Riley.

    This isn’t a hidden Easter Egg as everyone who plays the level will, quite rightly, have to pet the dog. However, many players might not realize that this dog references Call of Duty: Ghosts’ four-legged fan-favorite hound Riley. Ghosts is a largely forgotten game in the series, but with both it and Modern Warfare III developed by Infinity Ward (although Sledgehammer Games worked on the campaign of MW3), there is no doubt this dog is a reference to Ghosts’ most iconic character.

    Mind Zombies

    Black Ops Cold War Zombie
    Image Source: Activision via Twinfinite

    Break on Through is one of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War‘s most mind-bending levels as the player character Bell and CIA agent Adler venture into the former’s memories. With Adler narrating Bell’s time in Vietnam, the player can follow or ignore his instructions. Disobey his instructions enough times and you can come across a hatch in the ground. Opening the hatch and descending down the ladder within, the player finds themselves in a dark tunnel.

    Armed with a flashlight and a 1911 pistol, suddenly zombies emerge from the darkness. The undead will spawn endlessly as the player fights, runs, and shoots as much as they can. No matter what, the horde will overwhelm the player, consuming them. The level will then continue on as usual. It’s a fun change of pace and a quick burst of fear in a level full of twists and turns.

    Remaster Paradoxes

    Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered General Shepherd
    Image Source: Activision

    The Precognitive Paranoia trophy in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered is awarded to players for killing the traitorous General Shepherd in the game’s opening level S.S.D.D. When the original Modern Warfare 2 was first released Shepherd’s betrayal was one of the game’s most shocking moments, and it is no surprise that players would try to kill him at the earliest opportunity in the remaster. Credit to the developers Beenox for pre-empting this reaction by adding this fun trophy into the game as a cool Easter Egg.

    There is a similar achievement in Modern Warfare Remastered called Time Paradox. In that game developers Raven Software retroactively added Modern Warfare 3 villain Makarov to the back of the level One Shot, One Kill. The trophy can be achieved by killing Makarov in this mission, thus wiping out the events of Modern Warfare 3.

    Call of Duty Skeletons

    Call of Duty Black Ops 3 Der Eisendrache Skeleton
    Image Source: Activision

    For many Call of Duty: Black Ops III is the pinnacle of CoD’s zombie mode. As classic as zombies are, on the map Der Eisendrache it is possible to substitute one undead horde for another; turning standard zombies into an army of spooky, scary skeletons. The process to do this doesn’t take long but does require the Wonder Weapon bow Wrath of the Ancients. Players will have to feed zombies to three dragon head statues to unlock the bow, and then find and shoot three skulls with it.

    The bow is also essential for completing Der Eisendrache’s main story Easter Egg, and is a generally useful weapon in and of itself, so it’s best to keep hold of it despite the rising numbers of zombies… or should that now be skeletons.

    Hackerman

    Call of Duty Black Ops Main Menu
    Image Source: Activision

    In Black Ops, it is possible to break out of the main menu’s interrogation chair and use a computer hidden in one corner. To do this players need to mash the bumper buttons on the controller or shake the mouse on the PC. It’s fairly well known that typing DOA into the computer unlocks the Dead Ops Arcade mode, a twin-stick zombie shooter. However, there are a number of other Easter Eggs players can uncover on the computer.

    Typing in the code 3ARC UNLOCK unlocks all campaign missions and typing 3ARC INTEL gives players access to all of the campaign’s hidden collectable intel. Players can get access to a collection of behind-the-scenes material, but also discover the sign in details of important characters like Frank Woods, Hudson, and even US Presidents John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson. Lastly, Dead Ops Arcade isn’t the only game unlocked in the computer as the text-based adventure game Zork 1: The Great Underground Empire (which was first released on PC back in 1980 by Infocom) by typing in ZORK or HELLO SAILOR.

    Rock, Paper, Scissors

    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered Emote
    Image Source: Activision

    Modern Warfare Remastered introduced the ability to inspect your weapon. A fun little gimmick, the animation allows players to see their equipped weapon in more detail during a match and, in later titles and Warzone, would be expanded on with some of the purchasable weapon blueprints having fun little animations when inspected.

    Rewinding back to Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered and the level The Hornet’s Nest has a unique animation all of its own. In this mission, the player controls Roach as he is pursued through the Brazillian Favella by the local militia. This exciting, tense mission plays out against the clock as the player is chased through the streets and across the rooftops. It might seem counter-intuitive, then, to stop and examine your weapon at this time. However doing so will make Roach play Rock, Paper, Scissors against himself.

    And The Award Goes To…

    Call of Duty Ghosts trophy case
    Image Source: Activision

    The Call of Duty franchise doesn’t just reference its own titles. In the Call of Duty: Ghosts missions Federation Day and Struck Down, players can find a trophy cabinet with a trio of neat Easter Eggs. The first is a gem-shaped trophy awarded for ‘Most Bushes Cut And Pots Smashed’. This is a reference to The Legend of Zelda franchise and the award is shaped like one of the collectible rupees in that series. The second is a strange box-shaped trophy awarded for the ‘Largest Interior With Smallest Exterior’, a nod to the classic sci-fi series Doctor Who. The award is shaped like the titular character’s spaceship the TARDIS, famous for being bigger on the inside.

    The final Easter Egg isn’t a reference to a famed video game franchise or legendary sci-fi series, but a real-life event. Kind of. The third award is given for the ‘World Not Ending 2012’, a reference to the ancient Mayan myth that the world would end on December 21st, 2012. For anyone wondering, CoD: Ghosts was released almost a full year later on November 5th, 2013.

    Nacht der Untoten in Black Ops 2

    Call of Duty: World at War zombies Nacht der Untoten
    Image Source: Activision

    Nacht der Untoten is the map that started it all. The first Nazi Zombies map introduced gamers to the classic, simple formula of rebuilding barriers, shooting hordes of the undead, and spinning the Mystery Box. The map has been remade and reused multiple times over the years. One very missable appearance is on the map Green Run from Black Ops II, specifically the Tranzit game mode. Tranzit is a unique spin on the zombie formula as players travel from one location to another via a bus route. Each location functions as its own little zombie map. There are nine locations on the map, with most of the action taking place in the Town, Diner, and Bus Depot.

    To get to Nacht der Untoten on Tranzit players need to disembark from the bus between the Farm and the Laboratories and travel through a cornfield. The problem? Green Run is covered in a thick fog that is hard to navigate, full of monkey-like Denizens, and specifically designed to be avoided by players. Unfortunately, there isn’t much to Nacht der Untoten in Black Ops II, players can visit the spawn room and grab a part of the Thrustodyne Aeronautics Model 23 Wonder Weapon, or the Jet Gun as it’s better known. Nonetheless, it’s a really cool, hidden Easter Egg for players to find.

    Samantha’s Lullaby in Mob Of The Dead

    Call of Duty Black Ops 2 Mob of the Dead ghost mode
    Image Source: Activision

    Picture the scene: you’re playing Call of Duty: Black Ops II and choose the Alcatraz-set map Mob of the Dead. After watching the awesome opening cut scene that sees four gangsters attempting a prison breakout, you’re ready to join the action. Cut scene over, you spawn in ready to fight for your life, only to discover you’re a spirit without a body. What little life you have left very quickly draining away.

    Who in their right mind then would let time run out and die before a single zombie has even spawned? Well, if you did die at this point in the game then the song Samantha’s Lullaby will play. Samantha’s Lullaby was composed by Brian Tuey and is available on the Mob of the Dead soundtrack. It first appeared on the Black Ops map Moon’s loading screen and has subsequently reappeared as a leitmotif over a dozen more times since. Usually, Samantha’s Lullaby is tied to completing a puzzle or destroying/collecting a number of objects on the map. In Mob of the Dead though, you just need to die before the game has even begun. The game wants you to do the exact opposite of everything players have come to expect from Call of Duty zombies.

    There are so many Easter Eggs, secrets, and references in the Call of Duty franchise that this list could have had dozens more entries. What’s your favorite Easter Egg in the franchise? For more news and features on everything Call of Duty, check out the links below.

    About the author

    Alex Johnson

    Alex has been writing about games for over four years and if there is one thing he fears in life it is writing a bio. He studied film at the University of Lincoln, has a small obsession with Fortnite and hopes to actually finish a FromSoftware game one day.

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    Alex Johnson

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  • Column: Laphonza Butler aces her first political test, passing on uphill Senate run

    Column: Laphonza Butler aces her first political test, passing on uphill Senate run

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    Laphonza Butler has been living a whirlwind these past few weeks.

    Overnight she went from being a campaign strategist and behind-the-scenes operative — unknown to most, save political insiders — to a U.S. senator representing nearly 40 million residents of the most important state in the union.

    Even Butler was surprised Gov. Gavin Newsom tapped her to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein. It was like plucking a set designer from the wings and placing her, with barely any notice, directly at center stage.

    Since then — as Butler learned which Capitol Hill stairways lead where, flew cross-country to meet with assorted constituencies and developed a case of COVID-19 — one overriding question trailed her: Would she run for a full term in 2024?

    On Thursday, she gave her answer: No.

    It was the right decision, and a politically astute one.

    By foregoing a campaign that would have been difficult to win, Butler leaves herself well-positioned for a future run if she chooses to seek office. It also allows the state’s very fresh freshman senator to devote herself full-time to her congressional duties.

    Which is exactly what Butler should do.

    The decision, announced abruptly, was hastened by a number of impending deadlines, among them cutoffs to vie for the state Democratic Party’s endorsement and to be included as a candidate in the information guide mailed to every California voter.

    But the most important date facing Butler was March 5, when the state holds its top-two “jungle” primary. (The two candidates receiving the most votes will advance to a November runoff, regardless of party.)

    That contest is a little over four months from now, an incredibly short time to ramp up a statewide campaign, raise the many millions of dollars needed to advertise and develop even a cursory relationship with voters sprawling over California’s vast expanse.

    Feinstein, for years the state’s best known politician, took a long time to develop her near-universal Eureka-to-Yucaipa name recognition. And that was after she had already waged two statewide campaigns.

    Butler faced other challenges.

    She lived in Maryland and worked in Washington, D.C., leading the women’s campaign organization Emily’s List before her Senate appointment. Her lack of longstanding California residency would have surely become an issue.

    A former labor leader, Butler also faced agita from the political left for the handsome sum she made working for Uber as the ride-hailing service worked to undermine its drivers’ push for better pay and working conditions. That, too, would have been an issue.

    Neither, however, posed insurmountable hurdles.

    The greater impediments for Butler were time and money, two vital ingredients to political success.

    She would have started flat-footed against a formidable field of contenders, including Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee who, collectively, have already amassed tens of millions of dollars.

    Butler, for her part, has not demonstrated particular fundraising prowess. Some familiar with her work at Emily’s List were underwhelmed with its financial ledger under her watch.

    Also, political handicappers tended to overstate the advantage of Butler’s labor connections. Although she enjoys a number of personal connections, several unions had already committed to others in the race, or assumed a wait-and-see approach. It’s not hard to imagine much of organized labor staying neutral, or endorsing multiple candidates, had Butler belatedly entered the Senate contest.

    In bowing out, Butler issued the kind of statement — brave, a little cocky — one often hears under such circumstances.

    “Knowing you can win a campaign doesn’t always mean you should run a campaign,” she said.

    The rest of her written remarks seemed more cognizant and truer to the heart.

    “I know this will be a surprise to many because traditionally we don’t see those who have power let it go,” Butler stated. “It may not be the decision people expected but it’s the right one for me.”

    At 44, Butler could have a good, long political career if she wishes to stay in elected office.

    Once she departs the Senate, it’s not likely she’ll return anytime soon, given the relatively young age of California’s other senator, 50-year-old Alex Padilla, and the likelihood whomever voters choose in November 2024 will serve a good long time.

    But the California governor’s seat comes open in 2026 and Butler could be an attractive candidate in a wide-open field.

    She’ll now have a little over year to rack up some achievements in Washington, travel the state to introduce herself to voters and, if Butler chooses, lay the necessary political and financial groundwork for a future political run.

    Far better than working half-time in the Senate and half-time on a quite possibly futile attempt to stay there.

    To run or not to run was the first major political test facing California’s newly minted senator.

    She made the smart move.

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    Mark Z. Barabak

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  • Austin Pets Alive! | Clarifying and Understanding APA!’s Shelter…

    Austin Pets Alive! | Clarifying and Understanding APA!’s Shelter…

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    Oct 07, 2023

    Austin Pets Alive! is a private nonprofit dedicated to eliminating the needless killing of shelter pets. We have been extremely successful because of the strategy we employ to make Austin, and now other cities, No Kill.

    Our No Kill strategy is simple and two fold:

    1. We save lives by drawing attention to, and taking pets off, the daily euthanasia list while

    2. Allowing that attention to apply pressure on the city to get the proper resources they need to decrease the euthanasia list themselves.

    In 2021, we worked with the city council on an amendment to our city contract that has caused some community and government staff confusion that we hope to dispel with these three points:

    1. Foundational to APA! is to pull only from the euthanasia list to have a measurable effect on the kill rate which ultimately helped the city achieve No Kill status in 2011. It is important to note that critical to this strategy, and implied by the creation and use of a euthanasia list to eliminate pets that they do not have the resources to care for, is that the city can manage and care for all the animals not on the euthanasia list.

    2. Our long term contract was extraordinarily overdue and in need of an update. The old contract created in 2011 was built on a guesstimate of the size of future years’ euthanasia lists; this contract stayed in effect for years past its expiration date with extension after extension after extension which ultimately led to operational misalignment between AAC and APA!. This was resolved in contract negotiations in 2018, when it was mutually agreed that APA! would continue to focus on the euthanasia list, but always have a 12% minimum, as long as we used TLAC. Even though that was documented in 2018, land issues prevented it being signed and so in 2021, APA! worked with city council to bring the extension-riddled contract in line operationally to match the agreement from 2018. The current contract wasn’t finalized until 2023 due to TLAC land issues.

    3. In response to the community demand that AAC do better for the pets that are not on the euthanasia list, the city council has more than doubled the AAC budget between 2008-2023 to allow AAC to reduce the euthanasia list, provide in house medical and behavioral care, as well as community support to meet their stated mission.

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  • Audio: Vivek Ramaswamy Says He Wants ‘the Truth About 9/11’

    Audio: Vivek Ramaswamy Says He Wants ‘the Truth About 9/11’

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    This summer, I set out to write about Vivek Ramaswamy because I thought that his public-speaking skills set him apart from his GOP presidential rivals. Whereas most candidates were struggling to find their lane, Ramaswamy knew exactly what he was offering: a message that seemed to be libertarian at its core, paired with views that were consistent with more extreme corners of the right. Ramaswamy’s team agreed to participate in the profile.

    Ramaswamy let me shadow him over the course of three days at the end of July. I visited his Ohio campaign headquarters and got a behind-the-scenes view of several of his media appearances. He brought me to his home and introduced me to his family. I flew aboard a private jet with him and rode on his campaign bus in Iowa.

    Read: Vivek Ramaswamy’s truth

    Over the three days, Ramaswamy and I had regular conversations—sometimes in short bursts, other times in longer sit-down sessions. Last night, in an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, he used the phrase free-flowing to describe our interactions. Our discussions were often challenging, but they were always respectful. With Ramaswamy’s permission, and in keeping with standard journalistic practice, I recorded all of our interviews.

    During our final interview aboard his campaign bus, I brought up one of his more explosive claims—a suggestion that we don’t know “the truth” about January 6. I asked him: What is the truth about January 6 that you’re referring to? His answer went down a curious path, invoking the investigation into the 9/11 terrorist attacks, among other topics. At one point, he said this to me: “I think it is legitimate to say, How many police, how many federal agents were on the planes that hit the Twin Towers? Like, I think we want—maybe the answer is zero, probably is zero for all I know, right?”

    Yesterday, after The Atlantic published my story and his comments about 9/11 and January 6 drew attention, Ramaswamy told Semafor that the quote we published wasn’t “exactly what I said.” Last night, asked by CNN’s Collins about the same quote, Ramaswamy said, “I’m telling you the quote is wrong, actually.”

    The quote is correct.

    Here is the unedited audio and a transcript of our exchange about 9/11 and January 6.

    John Hendrickson: When you talk about all the things, We can handle the truth about X, you know, and you list off a bunch of stuff—one of them that you said last night is: We can handle the truth about January 6. What is the truth about January 6 that you’re referring to?

    Vivek Ramaswamy: I don’t know, but we can handle it. Whatever it is, we can handle it. Government agents. How many government agents were in the field? Right?

    Hendrickson: You mean like entrapment?

    Ramaswamy: Yeah. Absolutely. Why can the government not be transparent about something that we’re using? Terrorists, or the kind of tactics used to fight terrorists. If we find that there are hundreds of our own in the ranks on the day that they were, that they were—I mean, look …

    Hendrickson: Well, there’s a difference between entrapment and a difference between a law-enforcement agent identifying—

    Ramaswamy: I think it is legitimate to say, How many police, how many federal agents were on the planes that hit the Twin Towers? Like, I think we want—maybe the answer is zero, probably is zero for all I know, right? I have no reason to think it was anything other than zero. But if we’re doing a comprehensive assessment of what happened on 9/11, we have a 9/11 commission, absolutely that should be an answer the public knows the answer to.

    Well, if we’re doing a January 6 commission, absolutely, those should be questions that we should get to the bottom of. And there can’t be hush-hush, separate, it shouldn’t be outside the commission, leaked to some media personality the hours of footage. No, this is transparent. These are the doors that were open. Here are the people that opened the doors, to whom? Here are the people who were armed. Here are the people who were unarmed. What percentage of the people who were armed were federal law-enforcement officers? I think it was probably high, actually. Right? There’s very little evidence of people being arrested for being armed that day. Most of the people who were armed, I assume the federal officers who were out there were armed. And so, I don’t know the answers. We deserve to know the answers, right?

    We did a Jan. 6 commission. There are certain questions you can ask. We did a 9/11 commission, and if there are federal agents on the plane we deserve to know. And if we’re doing a Jan. 6 commission and there are federal officers in the field, we deserve to know. Just tell us the truth. Tell us what happened.

    Read: A bouncy, fresh brand of Trumpism

    And it’s not just that, right? I think it’s also the reflective, the reflection on the truth about the underlying motivations of people. What were the sources of the frustration? Right? Is it really just, Donald Trump riled them up in an eight-week period? Or are these people who have been lied to and suppressed for a longer period of time? I think it’s clearly the latter, right? And I think that the failure to recognize the whole truth—we want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. That’s, that’s really, when I say we deserve—and I don’t think we’ve gotten it on any of those questions. On the Jeffrey Epstein client list, on unidentified flying objects, on January 6, on vaccine—on COVID-19 vaccine—on the origin of the pandemic, which we now know, by the way, systematic efforts by people who had no idea what the origin was to shoot down the origin. And I remember this at the time there were people in sort of the, uh, like, in the sort of the greater Harvard/MIT space, the Broad Institute and otherwise, who were sort of talking about, Well, there’s a decent chance it could have, but we should be careful about talking about this or It could undermine, erosion of trust in science. There’s no such thing as a noble lie. That’s my view. The noble lie is nonexistent. No lie is noble.

    Hendrickson: I think it’s interesting to compare and contrast 9/11 and January 6.

    Ramaswamy: Oh, yeah. I don’t think they belong in the same conversation. I’m only bringing it up because it was … I am not making the comparison. I think it’s a ridiculous comparison—

    Hendrickson: I’m not comparing—

    Ramaswamy: But I’m saying that I brought it up only because it was invoked as a basis for the Jan. 6 commission.

    Hendrickson: Of course. What I’m saying, though, is that I think Democrats and Republicans would agree that 9/11 is a day that’s like Pearl Harbor day, where there are good guys and bad guys and America was attacked. I mean, I think that’s very clear—

    Ramaswamy: I mean, I would take the truth about 9/11. I mean, I am not questioning what we—this is not something I’m staking anything out on. But I want the truth about 9/11.

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    John Hendrickson

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  • An Animated Debate: Which Feature Will Bring Home the Oscar?

    An Animated Debate: Which Feature Will Bring Home the Oscar?

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    This was such a good year for animation. Last year it truly boiled down to “Encanto vs. Mitchells”, but the field is wide open, so let’s run it down with the help of Vareity!

    With Disney/Pixar, we have Turning Red, a critical darling. Not commercial, because Disney didn’t give it a wide release….and Lightyear and Strange World, both of which did receive wide releases, flopped, and are non-entities in this race. Turning Red, which marks the first from Pixar to be solely directed by a woman, has received critical acclaim for Shi’s depictions of female friendships and the mother-daughter relationship.

    OP Note: TR is still probably my favorite film of the year.

    Netflix has quite a lot, including The Sea Beast, their most successful animated film to date. There’s also My Father’s Dragon, the latest from Cartoon Saloon, which hit the platform with a mild splash. Of course, there’s Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, which is almost guaranteed to place in the nominations.

    The article does not, however, mention Henry Selick’s Wendell and Wild.

    OP Note: Sea Beast was fine enough, and GDT’s Pinocchio was really cool. Nice to see a multitude of stop motion available, sad W&W isn’t getting more attention.

    GKIDS missed a nomination last year with Belle (tip: the soundtrack is amazing), but with Inu-Oh already being nominated for a Golden Globe, maybe they can take it all the way (and give us a US release, y/y?).

    Did you, like most people, forget Dreamworks Animation had not one, but two films this year? The Bad Guys had a fairly slow rollout worldwide with it’s soft, almost Spider-verse-esque style for a bunch of criminals. It sadly seems to have sunk out of the public conciousness. Meanwhile, the sixth entry into the Shrek franchise, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, may be 11 years too late, but it was worth the wait, with very positive reviews, and a bombastic artstyle and story that stops just short of saying memento mori.

    OP Note: Ok, maybe Puss in Boots is my favorite this year?

    Welcome to the animation side, A24, and welcome Marcel The Shell With Shoes On. I didn’t like it. But I’m glad another stop motion/live action hybrid is making the rounds, and is winning a lot of smaller circuits!

    src –> ft Apple and their John Lasseter film.

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    sandstorm

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  • Discussion for The White Lotus S2 finale

    Discussion for The White Lotus S2 finale

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    Discussion for The White Lotus S2 finale

    2×7: Arrivederci
    Albie asks Dominic for a karmic payment to help Lucia. Tanya grows wary of Quentin’s motives. Ethan confronts Cam.


    Meghann Fahy

    Mike White

    Haley Lu Richardson

    1 2 3 4

    ONTD, who did you hope were the murder victims (multiple choice so pick as many as you like)?

    Who do you hope is the returning character in S3?

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    silverstarry

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  • Visited Shares List of the Most Beautiful Lakes in the World

    Visited Shares List of the Most Beautiful Lakes in the World

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    The travel app takes a deep dive into the most visited lakes in the world based on user data.

    Press Release
    –

    Dec 6, 2022 09:00 EST


    TORONTO, December 6, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    The travel app Visited by Arriving In High Heels Corporation has published a list of the top 10 most popular lakes in the world based on user data.

    Visited, available on iOS or Android, is a travel app with over 1.5 million users who check off places they’ve traveled to around the world. Users can discover new places, set travel goals, browse top 10 lists, get printed custom travel maps, and more in the Visited app.

    The top 10 most popular lakes in the world include:

    1. Lake Como in northern Italy offers breathtaking views of the Alps and Renaissance-era architecture in the nearby villages of Bellagio and Como.
    2. Lake Garda is a popular vacation destination in Italy that features water sports and family-friendly activities.
    3. Lake Geneva in the northern Alps serves up stunning mountain views and luxury shopping, spas, and upscale resorts.
    4. Lake Zurich in Switzerland features serene mountain views in the Alps as well as water sports and proximity to nearby attractions in the city of Zurich.
    5. Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland is nestled in the Alps and borders the town of Lucerne, which includes medieval architecture.
    6. Lake Michigan borders Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin in the U.S. and includes 26 miles of shoreline along the city of Chicago, including beaches, waterfront paths, and Navy Pier.
    7. Lake Maggiore offers beautiful mountain views along the southern Alps in Italy and Switzerland.
    8. Lake Constance at the foot of the Alps borders Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and offers sailing, windsurfing, swimming, and serene natural views.
    9. Loch Ness in Scotland features stunning views and beautiful hiking as well as legendary tales of the Loch Ness Monster.
    10. Lake Bled located in Slovenia in the Julian Alps features breathtaking views and medieval history.

    To see the full list of the most popular lake destinations and over 50 top ten lists of the top attractions in the world, download Visited on iOS or Android. 

    To learn more about the Visited app, visit https://visitedapp.com. 

    About Arriving In High Heels Corporation

    Arriving In High Heels Corporation is a mobile app company with apps including Pay Off Debt, X-Walk, and Visited, their most popular app. 

    Contact Information

    Anna Kayfitz

    anna@arrivinginhighheels.com

    Source: Arriving in High Heels Corporation

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  • Ariana Grande Is Completely White Again?

    Ariana Grande Is Completely White Again?

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    Ariana Grande Is Completely White Again?

    Gurl, your blackfishing was off the charts in the seven rings era and your recent plunge into “asian” was something else.

    Everyone knows you’re trying it because you’re playing Glinda in a two-movie attempt at a block-buster that I’m betting is gonna flopp-

    But, I’m not having it.

    SHE ACTUALLY HAS THE NERVE TO CALL THIS MAKE-UP RELEASE “MOD VANILLA”.

    For those of us that still remember and have eyes to see…

    SOURCE

    ONTD are you multi-racial?

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  • NFL MVP watch: Ranking top five candidates, plus under-the-radar stars to watch

    NFL MVP watch: Ranking top five candidates, plus under-the-radar stars to watch

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    Six weeks into the 2022 NFL season, the league’s Most Valuable Player race is starting to come together, highlighted by a host of quarterbacks emerging as candidates. The leader of the AFC’s only one-loss team owns the best Vegas odds and the most first-place votes from our panel, while the QB of the NFL’s only remaining undefeated team has skyrocketed through the first third of the season. Those jockeying for the frontrunner spot have 12 more weeks to make their case.

    We asked a group of analysts — Stephania Bell, Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Courtney Cronin, Jeremy Fowler, Dan Graziano, Matt Miller, Sal Paolantonio, Jason Reid, Mike Tannenbaum, Seth Walder and Field Yates — to vote on the top players in the MVP race right now. Then we used those 12 sets of rankings to give our top five candidates, using Heisman Trophy-esque scaling for each ranking to determine how the field stacks up.

    We’ll also look at a few names who have seen their MVP stock either spike or plummet in the early going, and ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder also weighed in on an under-the-radar MVP-caliber player. Here’s a look at where things stand after six weeks.

    Note: All odds are via Caesars Sportsbook.

    Jump to:
    Top five | Just missed
    Stock up | Stock down
    Under-the-radar

    2022 stats: 1,980 passing yards, 17 TDs, 4 INTs, 75.4 QBR (257 rushing yards, 2 TDs)
    Current odds: +125

    Early season returns reveal an undisputed truth: Allen is the best quarterback in the NFL, an honor he began wrestling away from top AFC rival Patrick Mahomes in last year’s playoffs. Allen entered the season with the best odds to win the MVP and strengthened his case against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6 by outdueling Mahomes in a 24-20 thriller, which he capped off by leading a 76-yard, come-from-behind scoring drive with a little more than a minute remaining.

    That was the second game-winning drive he’s led the Bills on this month (the other was in a 23-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens) and his first fourth-quarter comeback since Sept. 27, 2020. Allen is the first starting quarterback to beat Mahomes twice at Arrowhead Stadium. He leads the league in passing (both in yards and yards per game) and his 753 passing yards over the last two games are the most in a two-game span in Bills franchise history.

    2022 stats: 1,514 passing yards, 6 TDs, 2 INTs, 59.6 QBR (293 rushing yards, 6 TDs)
    Current odds: +450

    Hurts’ ascension — where he’s seen vast improvement in areas such as completion percentage (66.8%, ranked ninth), passer rating (98.4, fifth), average release time (2.76) and yards per attempt (8.2, second) — has Philadelphia off to its first 6-0 start since 2004. The 24-year-old QB has won nine games in a row dating to 2021, tied for the longest win streak by an Eagles starting quarterback in 22 years, and he is the fifth player in league history to pass for 1,500 yards and rush for 250 through his team’s first six games.

    The Eagles boast the most offensive balance of any team in the NFC (394.5 yards per game, ranked third; 26.8 points per game, fourth) with a steady run game and explosive passing attack. Hurts has played a big role in what the Eagles are doing on the ground, with 11 more carries on designed runs (38) than any other quarterback and 16 of those coming in the red zone, according to Next Gen Stats. He’s also completing a career-high plus-2.7% of his passes over expectation, the third highest in the NFL.

    2022 stats: 1,736 passing yards, 17 TDs, 4 INTs, 74.2 QBR (113 rushing yards)
    Current odds: +500

    A lot was made about how the Chiefs offense would function without wide receiver Tyreek Hill. His absence has forced Mahomes to spread the ball around and become a more efficient, patient passer. Through six games, Mahomes and Allen are tied for first with 17 touchdown passes. Mahomes continues to be incredibly effective when under pressure, ranking first in touchdowns per pass attempt and third in first downs per pass attempt, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

    But the pressure he faced late in Week 6 determined the outcome for the Chiefs. Against the Bills, Mahomes accounted for 92% of Kansas City’s offense when he threw for 338 yards, two touchdown passes, two interceptions and completed 63% of his passes. While Allen led Buffalo on a touchdown drive to take the lead late, Mahomes responded by throwing an interception while under duress, his third pick on a game-winning drive attempt dating to last year’s AFC Championship game.

    2022 stats: 1,277 passing yards, 13 TDs, 6 INTs, 64.1 QBR (451 rushing yards, 2 TDs)
    Current odds: +850

    Jackson’s MVP candidacy is on hold — for now — after a hot start. He ranks third in touchdown passes and leads all players in yards per rush (8.1) and yards before contact per rush (6.3), becoming the first player to be top 5 in both categories through the first six weeks of the season since the NFL-AFL merger, according to Elias.

    Jackson is at his strongest early in games, with 12 of his 13 touchdown passes coming in the first three quarters. On the flip side, four of his six interceptions have occurred in the fourth quarter. His QBR in the first three quarters is better than fellow MVP candidate Hurts, but his QBR in the fourth quarter is worse than Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields.

    play

    2:06

    Marcus Spears discusses Lamar Jackson’s fourth-quarter struggles and how he can fix them.

    2022 stats: 6 sacks, 26 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 passes defended
    Current odds: +12500

    A quarterback or running back has won the MVP every year since 1987, but Parsons deserves consideration after a strong start to the season, as he is tied for first in total pressures (31) and second in sacks. Aside from a 26-17 loss to the Eagles where Parsons was largely contained, Dallas has won games this season due to a dominant defense. The Cowboys went 4-1 during a stretch where quarterback Dak Prescott was injured thanks in large part to the defense, which leads the league in sacks (24) and is third in points allowed (98).

    Just missed

    Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers (+2500)

    Herbert set a record for the most passes thrown (57) without a touchdown in the Chargers’ 19-16 OT win over the Denver Broncos on Monday, according to Elias. He’s still in the MVP conversation thanks to where he ranks in passing yards (fourth), touchdowns (sixth), interception percentage (fifth), passing first downs (eighth) and QBR (eighth), but he’ll have to go on a run over the next 11 games to be in contention with the frontrunners.

    Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants (+10000)

    For the first time in the Super Bowl era, the Giants have posted four upset wins in their first six games of a season in large part due to the identity they’ve established with Barkley, who looks like the best running back in the league. He leads the NFL with 771 yards from scrimmage and his four touchdowns this season are two more than he had in the combined 15 games he played in 2020-21. At minimum, he’s a front runner for the NFL’s comeback player of the year award.

    Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings (+4000)

    Cousins broke the Vikings’ franchise record for consecutive completions when he started 17-of-17 in a Week 5 win over the Bears and followed that up by throwing for two touchdown passes in a win over the Miami Dolphins. Coming off his third Pro Bowl season, the 34-year-old has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game but his efficient play has the Vikings off to a 5-1 start.

    Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks (not listed)

    Smith leads the NFL in completion percentage over expectation (plus-9.6%), according to Next Gen Stats, and leads the NFL in completion percentage (73.4%) through six weeks. He’s thrown for 1,502 yards and nine touchdown passes, which ranks ninth and eighth, respectively, among qualified starting quarterbacks. The Seahawks would be nowhere close to a .500 record without Smith, which is why the franchise should consider him as an option at QB beyond this season.

    Also received top-10 votes: Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Vikings WR Justin Jefferson, Bills OLB Von Miller, Rams WR Cooper Kupp, Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill, Bills WR Stefon Diggs, Browns RB Nick Chubb, Eagles CB James Bradberry, Rams DT Aaron Donald, Rams QB Matthew Stafford, Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, Falcons QB Marcus Mariota, 49ers DE Nick Bosa, Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

    Stock up

    Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

    Burrow bounced back after the Bengals got off to an 0-2 start, and he has completed more than 62% of his passes in each of his first six games. In a come-from-behind win over the New Orleans Saints, the Bengals’ QB completed 28 of 37 passes for 300 yards and three touchdown passes and didn’t turn the ball over. With Atlanta, Cleveland and Carolina coming up, Burrow could work his way into the MVP mix.

    Stock down

    Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

    Rodgers is struggling to compensate for a diminished supporting cast. He had a total QBR of 17.0 in a loss to the New York Jets, which was his second worst of the season (10.8 vs. Minnesota Week 1). Last year’s MVP has six turnovers through six games after turning the ball over four times all of last season. He’s lost three fumbles this season after losing two in the previous two seasons combined.

    play

    1:42

    Field Yates breaks down Aaron Rodgers’ dismal fantasy season.

    Walder’s under-the-radar MVP candidate

    James Bradberry, CB, Philadelphia Eagles

    Bradberry is worthy of a top-10 MVP vote, in my view. His nearest defender numbers from NFL Next Gen Stats are outrageous. Among outside corners with 125 coverage snaps Bradberry ranks:

    • Second in yards per coverage snap (0.5)

    • First in targeted EPA by a wide margin (minus-25.8)

    • Second in completion percentage over expectation (minus-20%)

    • First in receptions allowed over expectation (minus-8.0)

    To put the second number in context, the Bengals have recorded plus-28.7 EPA on Joe Burrow dropbacks this season (I’m mixing between NGS and ESPN EPA models here — not ideal, but you get the point). To record a level of production as a corner that’s in the same ballpark as a higher-end QB is incredibly valuable. Yes, a bunch of that was generated on a deflection that he turned into a pick-six off Jared Goff but it was hardly a one-off: Bradberry has been superb the whole year.

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