A Party in Hell: 33 Immortals is a Damned Good Time

A Party in Hell: 33 Immortals is a Damned Good Time

33 Immortals Key Art

After about my third death, it became very clear to me that it’s dangerous to go alone in 33 Immortals. My sinful pride was getting the best of me as I navigated the Inferno, inspired by Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” filled with all manner of infernal beasts, creatures, and tortured souls, presented with crisp, beautiful hand-drawn animation. I thought my experience with ARPGs would be enough to push back against this enemy horde alone – I was wrong. It’s once I found other Rebel Souls (fellow players) to tag along with when my journey through Hell became a bit more manageable.

33 Immortals describes itself as a distillation of the MMO raid experience, an action-packed roguelike where 33 players are placed together on a large world map, a land littered with charred buildings and jagged spears of stone surrounded by flames. It’s also full of monsters. Lots of monsters.

In the first part of this game, conquering Hell is an exercise in structure. Your goal is to defeat Lucifer, the “boss” of Inferno, but first you must work with other players to unlock an Ascension Battle just to reach him. How do you do that? Glad you asked: You must complete 12 Torture Chambers, mini raids where you are grouped up with up to six players to battle multiple waves of monsters. Complete these to earn a variety of helpful loot and resources that you can then put into your character, increasing your odds of success as you proceed to tackle the next Torture Chamber, and then the one after that, and so forth.

This multi-tiered approach to finishing your roguelike “run” is challenging, yet very fun to play with — even though I only managed to complete just three Torture Chambers before succumbing to the elements (aka ‘ripped apart by monsters’). As I would learn during repeated runs – it seems the number of completed Torture Chambers is retained should you die and reenter Inferno — the larger the group of fellow Souls I traveled with, the larger my chances of survival became – and you can imagine how much bigger those chances get with 32 other people on your side. Leaning on one another’s skills and class abilities to unleash a balanced attack against waves of monsters is a key to success.

And becoming familiar with your abilities – and how they interact with others – is deeply important. Before you enter Inferno, you’re given the choice to pick one of four weapons, which also assign you a class: Bow of Hope (Shooter), Sword of Justice (Tank), Daggers of Greed (Fighter), and Staff of Sloth (Specialist). Each of these weapons have a primary and secondary attack that rely on you inflicting damage on enemies to build up their respective gauges.

For example, hitting enemies with the Sword of Justice will generate ‘Justice’ points for you to execute special attacks like Heavy Slash or Guard. Or like with Daggers of Greed, you generate ‘Greed’ off enemy hits; the amount of ‘Greed’ you build up determines the amount of damage you’re able to inflict with a takedown attack.

Of all these choices, I liked playing with the Bow of Hope the most, as it kept me at a decent length away from enemy attacks. Also, its Guiding Light feature, where returning arrows sliced through monsters on the way back into my quiver, allowed for a nice interplay of positioning to my targets so I could double-up on damage. I really like how 33 Immortals’ combat system is constantly finding ways to encourage you to go on the offensive.

There are three types of currency used in 33 Immortals that you’ll want to get a handle on. First, there’s Dust, which you earn from defeating enemies and can be spent at a Dust Shrine to upgrade characteristics like Attack, Vitality (Health), or Empathy (Co-op). There are also Bones which can be found in Urns and world chests in Inferno, used to buy healing, teleport stones (lets you warp across the world map), or a chest key that can open a locked chest full of useful loot found only in Torture Chambers’ chests. And then there are Shards, found inside the chests of Torture Chambers, used to spend on weapon upgrades and more when you’re in the Dark Woods (I’ll touch on this in a moment).

Upgrading your character and focusing on strengthening your class abilities is what will keep you in the fight through Inferno, along with working with other players, and the variety of currency you can earn here feeds into that. The reliance on other Souls to unlock the more difficult sections of 33 Immortals is a unique approach to cooperative gaming that I didn’t realize I was going to enjoy as much as I did. I primarily enjoy single-player experiences where I’m free to suddenly drop without letting my party down – I’ve become an unreliable online raider with growing adult responsibilities that can pull me away at a moment’s notice.

33 Immortals’ elegant solution here is to have a surplus of souls available on the world map at seemingly any given time – 33 to be precise – ready to jump in and help fill up any open slots. But should any Soul die, they will go back to the Dark Woods and not be replaced in that instance, making it vital to collaborate to give you and your Souls the best shot at taking down Lucifer. That also means you can join an open game at any time – there are more than enough enemies around should I just want a quick “pick-up and raid” session to earn some Shards to spend on cosmetics and Perks in The Dark Woods, your home base on this adventure. Having a constant flow of Souls in and out Inferno also fits nicely within the narrative of 33 Immortals — with this being Hell, there’s no shortage of damned souls looking for a chance of redemption. And loot, apparently.

The above-mentioned Dark Woods is a staging ground outside the realm of Inferno, free of enemies, and where you’ll be able to upgrade your Soul for its next run by speaking to some notable literary characters. It’s here where you can spend some of the Shards you’ve earned from those Torture Chambers or in your fights with Elite Bosses in Inferno.

Speaking with Dante will help you equip and upgrade various Perks like Fortitude of Heart, which increases vitality, or Guiding Light, which lets you inflict Status Effects on monsters. As your Feat level grows you can equip additional Perks (a maximum of six). Beatrice (Dante’s guide in “The Divine Comedy”) can also be found here in the Dark Woods to help with your progression, managing your Feats, like “Kill 35 Monsters” or “Complete 5 Torture Chambers.” Completing a Feat gets you Feat Points (XP) which then contribute to your Feat level. As this grows you can unlock additional features like weapon upgrades and more.

You’ll also find Charon, who manages the in-game shop, where you can equip and manage cosmetics for your Soul. One of those customization options is a pet by your side – I’ve got my eye on a little beagle companion. Finally, Virgil (based on the ancient Roman poet) is also here, managing the Compendium should you need a refresher on how the game works and if really wanted to know the official name of that creepy silkworm with teeth that killed you on your last run (for the record, it’s called a Mangiatore).

Of all of these, I found myself spending most of my interactions with Beatrice, tracking my various Feats and working to increase my Level and eventually unlock even more features. But I liked the vibe The Dark Woods area offers, letting me recover a bit from the hectic Inferno, and interact with these characters to help the story of 33 Immortals unfold.

Just a short time with 33 Immortals revealed a surprising amount of depth for what could first appear to be a simple action-roguelike. And there’s so much more for me to see: What’s the Ascension Battle like? How hard is it to face down Lucifer? How much more difficult will the second world, Purgatorio, be compared with Inferno? How badass can I make my weapons? What’s it like to run around hell with a beagle by your side? These are all exciting questions I’m looking forward to answering once 33 Immortals launches into Game Preview on March 18.

33 Immortals (Game Preview) launches March 18 for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Cloud.

Xbox Play Anywhere

33 Immortals (Game Preview)

Thunder Lotus

33 Immortals® is a co-op action-roguelike for 33 players. Play a damned soul, and rebel against God’s final judgment. Pick-up and raid, cooperate to survive hordes of monsters, defeat massive bosses, and face the wrath of God in a fight for your eternal life.

Join the rebellion
Your mortal life has been judged sinful, and your soul’s fate is to be punished for all eternity – but an uprising is brewing among the damned! Press on as a renegade in the immortal rebellion against God’s final judgment, and fight for your eternal life.

Pick-up and raid
Jump start your rebellion – dive straight into epic co-op battles with instant matchmaking. Fight through a lean, mean distillation of the MMO raid experience.

33-player co-op
Find true strength in numbers. Optimize your skills and tactics to bolster your 33-player team, and tip the odds in your favor through powerful cooperative moves. Sustain your numbers as best you can, for only the strongest group of survivors stand a fighting chance in brutal boss battles.

Rise above the Almighty
Face the Wrath of God, and stay bold – for He will end your quest swiftly and often. Expand your epic arsenal with weapons empowered by sins and virtues, loot the spoils of His realms, equip potent new relics to match your playstyle, and gain permanent upgrades to your soul.

Inspired by the Divine Comedy
Experience your soul’s epic journey through the afterlife rendered in beautiful hand-drawn animation. 33 Immortals is a unique take on Dante Alighieri’s literary masterpiece, the Divine Comedy.

This game is a work in progress. It may or may not change over time or release as a final product. Purchase only if you are comfortable with the current state of the unfinished game.

The post A Party in Hell: 33 Immortals is a Damned Good Time appeared first on Xbox Wire.

A Complete Guide To Weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

A Complete Guide To Weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Summary

  • Yasuke and Naoe each have access to unique weapons that dramatically impact how they fight in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
  • Pre-order Assassin’s Creed Shadows on the Microsoft Store for Xbox and get the Claws of Awaji expansion and Thrown to the Dogs bonus quest for free.
  • Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches March 20, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on March 20, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S and allows you play as two completely distinct characters: Naoe, an agile ninja, and Yasuke, a hulking samurai. Nearly everything about them is different, including what weapons they can use. Naoe and Yasuke can each equip up to two different weapon types to switch between, with each offering unique strengths and strategies to use in a fight. Here is a breakdown of all the weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows so you can find the right combination for any situation.

Yasuke’s Weapons

Long Katana

A samurai is nothing without his katana, and Yasuke’s long katana is his fastest weapon type, allowing him to quickly slice through foes with deadly precision. While it doesn’t have the longest range, its attack speed makes it ideal for dealing with small groups of enemies – or for when you just want to feel  like a samurai and slash through a wandering ronin who thought himself strong enough to challenge you.

Naginata

A polearm capable of sweeping attacks, the Naginata is perfect for dealing with large groups of enemies at once. While slower than the long katana, it has the longest reach of any of Yasuke’s melee weapons, allowing you to keep threats at a distance. It’s also particularly useful when facing enemies with naginatas of their own.

Kanabo

A massive club, what the Kanabo sacrifices in speed, it more than makes up for in sheer brute force. Even light attacks with the Kanabo can break an enemy’s guard and subsequent hits will dismantle any opponent’s armor – and likely their entire health bar – in seconds. The Kanabo is a slow weapon, so Yasuke can be vulnerable while using it in large groups when many different attackers can interrupt his swings.

Bow

One of Yasuke’s two ranged weapons, the bow is a silent killer. The ultimate tool in a stealthy Yasuke’s arsenal, it’s great at silently picking off guards from a distance. Certain abilities allow you to slow time while shooting or fire multiple arrows in quick succession, making the bow a viable option in a full-on fight as well.

Teppo

When silence isn’t high on Yasuke’s list of priorities, the teppo rifle packs a serious punch but be prepared for it to attract a lot of attention as well. You’ll have to reload after each shot, meaning you might need to hot swap to a melee weapon as enemies swarm. It’s not just a one-trick-pony, though – there are abilities that allow you to detonate a sack of gunpowder to create area-of-effect damage, and you can even use the rifle as a club to knock opponents down before shooting them, if you want to make an entrance.

Naoe’s Weapons

Katana

Don’t let the name fool you. The way Naoe wields her katana, it might as well be a completely different weapon to Yasuke’s. A full combo of attacks with Naoe’s shorter katana is likely to feature as many kicks and flips as swings and slashes. A medium speed weapon in Naoe’s hands (to be fair, no weapons are slow in Naoe’s hands), the katana is a solid all-around choice, good for one-on-one fights and small groups.

Tanto/Hidden Blade

The tanto is a dagger that Naoe wields with extreme speed, and couples with her Hidden Blade to unleash a flurry of rapid strikes on her enemies. Its range is minimal, so Naoe will have to get up close and personal to use it effectively, but it’s great for fighting singular enemies. As a bonus, a passive upgrade to Naoe’s Assassin mastery tab allows her to use the tanto to perform dual assassinations, but only if the tanto is one of her two equipped weapons.

Kusarigama

A scythe and a spikey metal ball connected by a long chain; the Kusarigama is arguably Naoe’s most versatile weapon. Light attacks mean quick strikes with the scythe end, while heavy attacks are sweeping swings with the metal ball end, perfect for dealing with large groups. Its huge range allows Naoe to keep her distance if she chooses.

There’s never really a bad time to use Naoe’s Kusarigama, unless you’re worried about collateral damage as those heavy swings will tear through everything from crates and shoji doors to bamboo trees and fruit baskets. Like the tanto, a passive ability in the Assassin mastery tab allows Naoe to use an equipped Kusarigama to rush assassinate targets, using the chain to hook enemies and launch herself in for the kill.

Tools

Naoe doesn’t have traditional ranged weapons like Yasuke, but she does have throwable tools that can help her kill, deal damage, and distract at a distance. Her kunai can take out many unarmored enemies in a single headshot, while her shuriken only deal minimal damage and are best used to stun enemies mid fight so you can regroup to go in for the kill.

Upgrading Weapons

There are multiple ways to upgrade your weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Each weapon type has a dedicated mastery tab that you can invest your mastery points in to increase damage and unlock new abilities. Weapons also have levels; you cannot equip a weapon that has a level greater than yours, but if you’ve built a Forge in your Hideout, you can upgrade lower-level weapons to meet your current player level, thereby increasing their base stats.

Weapons come in five tiers of rarity: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary. Uncommon weapons each come with a single engraved perk that provides a unique bonus, such as an increase to critical hit chance when striking multiple enemies. Rare and above weapons have two engraving slots, one with a predetermined perk, and another slot that allows you to select an individual perk from your Hideout’s blacksmith. Like to use abilities while fighting? You can engrave a perk that increases your adrenaline gain (adrenaline allows you to use abilities) when striking afflicted enemies. Couple that with a weapon that causes bleeding or poison affliction, and your adrenaline will stay topped up.

There’s no wrong weapon loadout or combination in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and a master Assassin will learn to skillfully wield them all. As long as you have more health than your targets then you’re doing just fine.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches March 20, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S. That means you still have time to pre-order Assassins’ Creed Shadows on the Microsoft Store for Xbox to get the Claws of Awaji expansion (coming later in 2025) and the Thrown to the Dogs bonus quest for free. You can also pick up Assassin’s Creed Shadows Digital Deluxe Edition which includes the above items, plus the Sekiryu Dual Pack including gear and weapon sets for both Naoe and Yasuke, the Sekiryu Beast, and Dragon Tooth trinket as well as the Sekiryu Hideout Pack that includes four unique ornaments to customize the hideout, as well as five mastery points.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

UBISOFT

$69.99

PRE-ORDER BONUS
Pre-order now to get the Thrown to the Dogs bonus quest available at launch, and the Claws of Awaji expansion, releasing later in 2025. Feel the fear of being hunted and under threat on a mysterious island. Reclaim a lost treasure while avoiding the traps and ambushes of deadly new foes. Master the Bō (a new weapon type), unlock new skills/gear/abilities, and get over 10 hours of additional content.

Experience an epic action-adventure story set in Feudal Japan!
Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and powerful, legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch between these two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.

ENTER FEUDAL JAPAN
Explore the captivating open world of Feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.

MASTER COMPLEMENTARY PLAYSTYLES
Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power.

MAKE INFORMATION YOUR WEAPON
Travel the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.

BUILD A PLACE TO CALL HOME
Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s buildings layout, decorations, and accessories.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Digital Deluxe Edition

UBISOFT

$89.99

PRE-ORDER BONUS
Pre-order now to get the Thrown to the Dogs bonus quest available at launch, and the Claws of Awaji expansion, releasing later in 2025. Feel the fear of being hunted and under threat on a mysterious island. Reclaim a lost treasure while avoiding the traps and ambushes of deadly new foes. Master the Bō (a new weapon type), unlock new skills/gear/abilities, and get over 10 hours of additional content.

The Assassin’s Creed Shadows Digital Deluxe Edition includes:
– The base game
– The Sekiryu Dual Pack including gear and weapon sets for both Naoe and Yasuke, the Sekiryu Beast, and Dragon Tooth trinket
– The Sekiryu Hideout Pack including four unique ornaments to customize the hideout for your shinobi league
– Five mastery points

Experience an epic action-adventure story set in Feudal Japan!
Become a lethal shinobi Assassin and powerful, legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch between these two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.

ENTER FEUDAL JAPAN
Explore the captivating open world of Feudal Japan, from spectacular castle towns and bustling ports to peaceful shrines and war-ravaged landscapes. Adventure through unpredictable weather, changing seasons, and reactive environments.

MASTER COMPLEMENTARY PLAYSTYLES
Become Naoe, a shinobi Assassin, and Yasuke, a legendary samurai, as you experience their riveting stories and master their complementary playstyles. As Naoe, use stealth to avoid detection and agility to confound your enemies. As Yasuke, strike your foes with lethal precision and power.

MAKE INFORMATION YOUR WEAPON
Travel the world, and build your own network of spies to be your eyes and ears across locations to hunt down your next target. Along the way, recruit new allies with unique abilities to help accomplish your missions.

BUILD A PLACE TO CALL HOME
Create a fully customizable hideout for your growing shinobi league as you train your crew, craft new gear, interact with key characters, and choose your base’s buildings layout, decorations, and accessories.

Internet connection and Ubisoft Account required to redeem digital content.

The post A Complete Guide To Weapons in Assassin’s Creed Shadows appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Bleach Rebirth of Souls: All Three Playable Versions of Protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki Revealed

Bleach Hero Image

Bleach Rebirth of Souls: All Three Playable Versions of Protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki Revealed

Summary

  • Ichigo Kurosaki’s most powerful form, Final Getsugatensho is revealed with unique combat mechanics, different from other characters in the game
  • There are a total of three different Ichigo Kurosaki forms that you can play in Multiplayer Mode or through the progression of Story Mode
  • Bleach Rebirth of Souls is available on March 21, 2025 for Xbox Series X|S.

Bleach Rebirth of Souls is an upcoming fighting action game based on the legendary anime franchise, delivering an immersive Bleach experience. Engage in thrilling one-on-one sword combat with your favorite characters and unlock powerful forms to overturn the tide of battle – the more desperate the situation, the more powerful you become! Of course, a Bleach game would be nothing without protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki – and we have some news on the classic character.

Ahead of the game’s release on March 21, we’re excited to reveal Ichigo Kurosaki’s most powerful form, Final Getsugatensho and its unique playstyle – as well as his two other forms, Bankai and base.

Through the Story Mode, re-live iconic battles and moments from the Bleach storyline and experience the growth of Ichigo Kurosaki as he discovers his new powers and unlocks powerful transformations. In the game, this will be represented by three different forms, each as a separate playable character, which will come with different combat styles to best suit his stage of growth in the Story Mode. Let us run you through each one.

Ichigo Kurosaki (Final Getsugatensho)

Bleach Screenshot

Ichigo Kurosaki (Final Getsugatensho) appears in the battle with Sosuke Aizen, the main antagonist in the Battle of Karakura Town Arc. The most unique feature of this form is that the combat mechanics are very different from other characters in the game. In this form, Ichigo cannot activate his Awakening state (an ability that significantly boosts stats and abilities) like other characters, but upon landing the Kikon Move (a powerful attack that depletes your opponent’s remaining life force) in succession three times, victory is yours! What also makes the Final Getsugatensho form unique is that Ichigo’s Signature Moves are unstoppable and cannot be guarded, making his combo chains incredibly dangerous when executed flawlessly.

Ichigo Kurosaki (Bankai)

Bleach Screenshot

Ichigo Kurosaki’s other alternate form is his Bankai state, offering an advanced sword technique that allows one to unleash the full power of their Zanpukuto (sword), which becomes available after the training arc in the Story Mode.

The Awakening state for Ichigo Kurosaki (Bankai) activates his “Hollowfication”, increasing overall performance where he gains a boost in Spiritual Power, allowing his powerful moves to deal additional damage.

Bleach Screenshot

While in Hollowfication, upon taking additional damage and filling out the Awakening Gauge, you have the ability to unleash Reawakening, where Ichigo will transform into the final stage of Hollowfication called “Full Hollowfication”, unlocking wild, high-powered attacks.

Ichigo Kurosaki (Base)

Bleach Screenshot

This is the base form of Ichigo Kurosaki and is a playable character during the iconic battle against Byakuya Kuchiki in the Soul Society Arc.

His combat mechanics are simple but have the potential to do massive damage against his opponents – especially with his movement abilities, which allow him to quickly close the distance to strike the enemy with a powerful attack.

Bleach Screenshot

During Ichigo’s Awakening state, he will be able to execute combo attacks in quick succession, enabling you to diversify your battle style against different opponents.

All three Ichigo Kurosaki forms will be available in both the Story and Multiplayer Modes. However, in the Story Mode, you can experience Ichigo’s journey right from the start, following his rise to become a Soul Reaper, and the challenges he faced to unlock new powers.

Play as Ichigo Kurosaki in Bleach Rebirth of Souls when it launches later this week, March 21, for Xbox Series X|S!

BLEACH Rebirth of Souls

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

Awaken the blade within you and reverse your fate in BLEACH Rebirth of Souls! Engage in thrilling battles with powerful sword abilities and characters from this legendary anime franchise.

• Unleash Your Sword
Choose your favorite character and unleash their unique sword abilities! Take advantage of each character’s unique abilities and command the flow of battle to find an opening that spells defeat for your enemies.

• Defeat Enemies with a Single Strike
In BLEACH Rebirth of Souls, a single strike can spell defeat for your opponent. Change the situation dramatically with the swing of your blade!

• Reverse Fate and Awaken Your Power
The more desperate the situation, the more powerful you become. Overturn the tide of battle and unlock new forms and new blades in the heat of battle to bring victory from the edge of defeat!

• Experience the BLEACH Story from the Beginning
Relive the main story of BLEACH from Ichigo’s rise as a Soul Reaper in the Substitute Soul Reaper Arc to the climactic battle against Sosuke Aizen in the Arrancar Arc. Unlock deeper insights into the characters of BLEACH with Secret Story mode, revealing the moments that shaped their personalities.

*There are also Deluxe Edition and Ultimate Edition products available. Please be careful not to purchase the same content twice.

The post Bleach Rebirth of Souls: All Three Playable Versions of Protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki Revealed appeared first on Xbox Wire.

How Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match is Helping Neurodivergent Children in Brazil

Summary

  • Hanoi Studios presented Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match in an inclusive support institution in Santo Andre, Brazil.
  • How inclusive games bring benefits to neurodivergent individuals.
  • Creator Luis Otavio shares the desire to bring this initiative to a wider range of educational institutes in Brazil.

On February 8, 2025, Luis Otavio, co-founder of the Brazilian indie game publisher Hanoi Studios and developer of Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match, visited Centro de Apoio e Reforço Escolar (CARE), an inclusive support institution in Santo Andre, SP, Brazil. The studio introduced both the Board Game and the ID@Xbox Play Anywhere versions of Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match, as a support tool for the development of neurodivergent children.

Fernanda Mombelli, neuropsychopedagogue and owner of the institution, emphasized the importance of early identification of a child’s special needs. She also highlighted the key skills and educational stimuli that inclusive games provide for neurodivergent students.

As a new release in the genre, Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match helps develop attention, concentration, memory, focus, and planning skills, functions in which neurodivergent individuals often face greater challenges.

HP Solid Match laptop image

Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match is designed to offer a welcoming challenge to players, where the number of moves per level is not enforced, allowing for experimentation and problem-solving at your own pace. Check out what pedagogue and physical educator Alan Nobre had to say about this initiative:

“In early childhood education, we don’t aim for high performance. We want this to be the happiest moment of a child’s life, because we believe that a happy child learns more, develops more and that’s our main goal.”

Take a deeper look at how inclusive games benefit neurodivergent individuals.

A student with ADHD, anxiety disorder, stuttering, and socialization difficulties played the game, and Fernanda Mombelli documented and observed their engagement and learning process:

“Initially, with minimal guidance, the student quickly understood the objective of the game and demonstrated rapid progress through the early stages. However, upon reaching the intermediate stages, they encountered more complex challenges, which led to visible signs of anxiety, including stuttering. The game was paused, and the student was instructed to take a deep breath, observe, and click on each piece to explore the available paths before making a decision. With this structured approach, they gradually overcame their difficulties and continued progressing through the intermediate stages.

HP Solid Match alt laptop image

Additionally, when engaging with the board game version in cooperative mode alongside two educators, they expressed great enthusiasm, stating that they loved the game and wanted to play more frequently during the sessions. This response not only highlighted their enjoyment of the activity but also indicated significant progress in their socialization skills, attention, concentration, and sense of belonging. It was a truly rewarding moment for all of us.”

HP Solid Match board game

What does the future of inclusive games look like for Luis?

“I want to develop more games with inclusion in mind and make this initiative reach a wider range of educational institutes in Brazil”.

If you’re looking for more resources and tips for family gaming, visit xbox.com/family. You can learn more about what Xbox offers for families, including information about privacy and access to privacy tools, the Xbox Family Settings app and Community Standards.

Play Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match on Xbox and PC today! The game is available as an Xbox Play Anywhere game with cross save and Smart Delivery.

Xbox Play Anywhere

Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match

Hanoi Studios

$4.99

A new game concept inspired by the classic Tower of Hanoi. Assemble towers stacking pieces of the same color on a hexagonal board with a mysterious and relaxing atmosphere.

Use the rules of the famous Tower of Hanoi puzzle,
where a larger piece cannot be on top of a smaller one.

Unlock blocked hexagonal cells by building a tower of the same color,
to open new paths and advance in the resolution of the Level.

The post How Hanoi Puzzles: Solid Match is Helping Neurodivergent Children in Brazil appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Next Week on Xbox – New Games for March 17 to 21

Next Week on Xbox Hero Image

Next Week on Xbox – New Games for March 17 to 21

Welcome to Next Week on Xbox! In this weekly feature we cover all the games coming soon to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Xbox App on Windows PC, and Game Pass! Get more details on these upcoming games below and click their profiles for further info (release dates subject to change). Let’s jump in!


Xbox Play Anywhere

33 Immortals (Game Preview)

Thunder Lotus

33 Immortals (Game Preview) – March 18
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Xbox Play Anywhere/ Game Pass Ultimate / PC Game Pass

A co-op action-roguelike for 33 players. Play as a damned soul, and rebel against God’s final judgment. Dive straight into epic, 33-player co-op battles with instant “pick-up and raid” matchmaking. Cooperate with your allies to survive against hordes of monsters and massive, challenging bosses. Expand your arsenal and equip powerful new relics to permanently upgrade your soul.


MLB® The Show™ 25 Standard Edition (Preorder)

MLB

$69.99

MLB The Show 25 – March 18

Forge your baseball journey in The Show. Ignite your passion and build your very own path to greatness, from high school all the way to the Hall of Fame! Along the way, connect with iconic baseball stars in fan-favorite modes updated with new ways to play. You can start playing today by picking up MLB The Show 25 – Digital Deluxe Edition.


Scrap Divers

Ternox

Scrap Divers – March 18

Dive into an incredibly fast-paced and beautifully crafted retro runner! Control your robot with just a finger to dodge sawblades, flames and many other dangerous obstacles while flying through an infinite tunnel. Are you ready for the drop? Parachute not included.


Boomerforge (Series X)

Synnergy Circle Games

Boomerforge – March 19
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Boomerforge is a top-down strategy game inspired by the classic game Bomberman. Place bombs strategically to open the path and find all the required ores. Explode the ores with your bombs to find iron, gold or mithril ingots. Gather everything you can and keep going until Grimfur finally reaches the end of the dungeon.


KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT

Mameshiba Games

$17.99

KinnikuNeko: Super Muscle Cat – March 19
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Get ready to enjoy this crazy 2D platformer adventure starring KinnikuNeko! A cat with the body of a bodybuilder who will fight against a big alien army that has invaded planet Earth and captured all its inhabitants. He will be accompanied by his friends Lemon and Keita, who haven’t yet been captured by evil beings from outer space.


S. Prysm Destroyer

Eastasiasoft Limited

S. Prysm Destroyer – March 19
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

S. Prysm Destroyer is a side-scrolling 2.5D shooter inspired by run ’n gun genre classics and mecha anime. Blast through enemy hordes and collect elemental power-ups to unleash the awesome potential of Prysm Destroyer attacks. Chase high scores through skillful play and unlock loads of costumes for Amor!


Stellar Docks: Deep Space

Afil Games

Stellar Docks: Deep Space – March 19
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Embark on an interstellar puzzle adventure in Stellar Docks, a grid-based logic game featuring charming 2D pixel art. Guide an astronaut as they push drones to their charging docks across challenging maps filled with strategic puzzles. With a top-down view and intuitive controls, the game offers a satisfying progression that will test your problem-solving skills. From the interiors of a spaceship to the icy landscapes of Neptune, explore diverse environments and unravel intricate challenges that push your mastery of each mechanic.


1-Bit Dungeon

Old School Vibes

1-Bit Dungeon – March 20
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

1-Bit Dungeon is a fast-paced 2D action platformer that blends crisp 1-bit pixel art with modern game design. Tight controls, intense combat, and a rewarding difficulty curve await those brave enough to enter. Dodge with precision, learn enemy attack patterns, and strike at the right moment to defeat monsters, ghosts, and slimes in brutal sword-based combat.


Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Ubisoft

Assassin’s Creed Shadows – March 20
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Experience an epic historical action-adventure story set in feudal Japan! Become a lethal ninja assassin and a powerful legendary samurai as you explore a beautiful open world in a time of chaos. Switch seamlessly between two unlikely allies as you discover their common destiny. Master complementary playstyles, create your shinobi league, customize your hideout, and usher in a new era for Japan.


Sledders

Bonus Stage Oy

Sledders – March 20
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Shred your sled in open-world backcountries. Sledders is a realistic, physics-based snowmobile simulator. Maneuver the big open terrain, plow through tons of fresh snow, conquer the mountains, and reach the peak faster than your friends!


Xbox Play Anywhere

The Answer Is 42

Mens Sana Interactive

The Answer is 42 – March 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Yes, 42 is the Answer to the ultimate question! As this is inevitable, don’t fight against it, and decipher the fundamental answer in all levels in this game. Bring your towel and master the secret of Life.


Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land

KOEI TECMO AMERICA


4

$69.99

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land – March 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

In a world where alchemy is deemed “taboo,” the alchemist Yumia yearns for the truth, hidden in a ruined continent. The time has come for her to take the first step on her grand adventure. Atelier Yumia tells the story of Yumia and her companions as they follow the path they believe in while being confronted by the memories they discover along the way.


BLEACH Rebirth of Souls Pre-Order

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.

$59.99

Bleach: Rebirth of Souls – March 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Awaken the blade within you and reverse your fate in Bleach Rebirth of Souls! Engage in thrilling battles with powerful sword abilities and characters from this legendary anime franchise. Choose your favorite character and unleash their unique sword abilities! Take advantage of each character’s unique abilities and command the flow of battle to find an opening that spells defeat for your enemies.


Hero’s Hour

Forever Entertainment S. A.

Hero’s Hour – March 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S

Hero’s Hour is an accessible, yet-deep and content-rich Strategy Roleplaying Game. Take control of your hero, explore the world, build up your town, fight fast-paced battles, level up your hero and amass an army large enough to take out the opponents – before they take you out.


The Last Hero: Journey to the Unknown

Ratalaika Games S.L.

The Last Hero: Journey to the Unknown – March 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

Voidgem, a powerful wizard, has stolen all the magical relics of the ancient world, and then created evil minions and monsters to begin a reign of terror. The relics of the ancient world are scattered across various parts of the world. As a lone knight armed with only a sword, a shield, and incredible courage, set out for adventure in search of the lost relics and face all enemies in your way. Explore over 30 diverse levels, collect powerful items, and battle menacing bosses on your quest to save this pixelated fantasy world.


Space War: Infinity

Rising Moon Games

Space War: Infinity – March 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery

A semi-procedural shoot-’em-up that will test your skills. Level up your ship, unlock amazing weapons, and defeat 5 formidable bosses. Challenge the infinite by facing real-time waves of enemies after completing all missions. Become the intergalactic hero now!


Xbox Play Anywhere

Spot Challenge Vol. 3

Lucky Raccoon Games

Spot Challenge Vol. 3 – March 21
Optimized for Xbox Series X|S / Smart Delivery / Xbox Play Anywhere

Spot Challenge Vol. 3 is a game series inspired by the classic “Spot the Differences”, where you need to compare two images and identify the differences between them. With over 340 differences spread across 35 levels, will you be able to find them all? Perfect for playing solo or with friends and family, Spot Challenge is the ultimate challenge to test your attention to details!


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