The Monarch

The Half-Life Appreciation Article

Suyog Vibhuti '25 explains why Half-Life continues to captivate and influence gamers worldwide.

Suyog Vibhuti, Staff Writer • February 21, 2024

While there may be many good games on the market, truly memorable games like "Half-Life" are few and far between.

Explore the World of Genshin Impact’s Sumeru

A review on the new Genshin Impact update

Aryn Rizal and Caitlin Nguyen • October 18, 2022

Recently, the game has added a whole new nation to its collection. Sumeru, based on a combination of India and Middle Eastern countries, has brought new quests, playable characters, fun NPCs, a variety of different foods, and colorful music.

A Gaming World Update: League of Legends’ Arcane and Genshin Impact

A review of the Netflix original series "Arcane" and a review of "Genshin Impact"

Aadhithan Arivalagan, Faith Borrello, and Bianca Sutioso • February 19, 2022

Arcane is a story centered around Violet and Powder, two sisters who stumble into the twisted web of politics and war that makes up the city of Piltover. Genshin Impact’s, one of the most successful games in the world, features an immersive, open-world environment, providing hours of exciting in-game content from fishing to building your own housing system,

It’s Poppy Playtime!

An examination of Poppy Playtime, a new puzzle-horror game known for its detail-oriented graphics.

Alessandra Chang, Staff Writer • December 6, 2021

Poppy Playtime is a first-person puzzle-horror game developed by MOB Games, released on October 12, 2021. The game has taken over social media platforms recently as mainstream youtubers like Jacksepticeye, Markiplier, and CoryxKenshin post their enticing playthroughs of the indie game. Players interact as an ex-employee of Playtime Co., an abandoned toy factory haunted by a mysterious mass disappearance. So far, only the first chapter has been released and is playable. Even so, Poppy Playtime manages to captivate viewers through stunning visual graphics and innovative storytelling.

Jenny LeClue: Directionless Detective Work

Arabela Damarillo and Naomi Carvalho • May 12, 2021

We were first tipped off to this video game by its criminally good animation and killer trailer. Needless, to say, we entered this case with stars in our eyes. However, despite the optimistic start, this case quickly cracked us.

Nintendo Is Playing a Dangerous Game

Shivaditya Gohil, Staff Writer • May 12, 2021

Even people who have had no experience with video games know of Mario and the impact Nintendo has had in the entertainment industry. However, as of late, Nintendo has slowly been exploiting its fans with anti-consumer tactics.

In Support of Tabletop Games

Anthony Zito, Staff Writer • January 7, 2021

As everyone knows, video games are all the rage today. With their flashy graphics, hours-long storylines, and dubious return policies, it is no wonder why they capture the attention of so many seeking an escape from boredom that will last for hours on end. However, I come to you with an alternative, one primed for a comeback as our world inches towards reopening and people flock to friends, family, and freedom from isolation. I speak, of course, of tabletop games.

Zenimax Acquisition: Grandiose for the Gaming Community

Shivaditya Gohil, Staff Writer • November 10, 2020

What is Zenimax Media and why is this acquisition so important for gaming? Xbox Game Pass has been nothing but a lucrative deal for Microsoft and an amazing bargain for Xbox and PC players. There is just one slight problem with it — it's too unstable.

Xbox vs. PlayStation: a War Neither Side is Fighting

Shivaditya Gohil, Staff Writer • October 1, 2020

With November drawing closer, the battle between Sony’s PS5 and Microsoft’s, confusingly named, Xbox Series X and Series S is starting to ramp up, but things are vastly different from previous console generations.

One More Turn…

Anthony Zito, Staff Writer • October 1, 2020

The latest in a long series of society-building strategy games, Civilization 6 allows you to take control of a historical society and manage its development from the dawn of civilization all the way into the near future. With a series of updates occurring throughout 2020 and early 2021, this game continues to keep itself fresh while gradually distinguishing itself from its predecessors.

Who’s Switching to the PlayStation 5?

Naomi Carvalho, Staff Writer • October 1, 2020

You heard that right. The Nintendo Switch, a console that came out over three years ago, is poised to beat a big-brand, over-hyped console—that hasn’t come out yet. Today, we find out why. *cue dramatic music*

Kinda Sus: A Look Into “Among Us”

Are you the Imposter?

Natalie Greene, Staff Writer • October 1, 2020

This is Among Us, the spaceship-centric murder-mystery mini game that has recently been sweeping the internet. The stakes are high — Will you survive? Or will you become a ghost haunting the map?