#Arc Browser Extensions

[bestzoomalternatives]

Unleash Your Gaming Potential: Discovering the Top VPNs for Gaming

In the ever-expanding world of online gaming, every millisecond counts. Whether you're battling in a fast-paced shooter, strategizing in a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), or exploring vast virtual worlds, a stable and secure internet connection is essential for success. This is where Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) come into play. But with so many options available, how do you choose the best VPN for gaming? Fear not! We're here to guide you through the labyrinth of choices and uncover the Top VPN for Gaming  that will elevate your gaming experience to new heights.

The Role of VPNs in Gaming: A Game-Changer in the Virtual Arena

Before we delve into the world of gaming VPNs, let's take a moment to understand their significance in the gaming realm. VPNs offer several key benefits that can enhance your gaming experience:

Reduced Latency: By connecting to a VPN server closer to the game server, you can minimize latency and enjoy smoother gameplay.

Protection Against DDoS Attacks: VPNs can shield your IP address, protecting you from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks often used by malicious gamers to disrupt your gameplay.

Access to Geo-Restricted Content: Some games or gaming platforms may be region-locked, but with a VPN, you can bypass these restrictions and access content from anywhere in the world.

Enhanced Security: VPNs encrypt your internet connection, preventing hackers from intercepting your data and safeguarding your privacy while gaming.

Now that we've established the importance of VPNs in gaming, let's explore the top contenders in the market.

1. ExpressVPN: The Speed Demon of Gaming VPNs

Bold: ExpressVPN is synonymous with speed, reliability, and top-notch performance, making it a favorite among gamers worldwide.

Blazing-Fast Servers: With servers strategically located around the globe, ExpressVPN ensures lightning-fast speeds and minimal latency for uninterrupted gaming sessions.

Military-Grade Encryption: ExpressVPN employs AES-256 encryption and offers advanced security features like a kill switch and split tunneling to keep your gaming sessions secure and private.

Wide Device Compatibility: Whether you're gaming on PC, console, or mobile device, ExpressVPN offers seamless compatibility across a range of platforms.

24/7 Customer Support: Need assistance? ExpressVPN's dedicated support team is available round-the-clock to address any concerns or technical issues you may encounter.

ExpressVPN is like the Ferrari of gaming VPNs, offering unparalleled speed and performance to fuel your gaming adventures.

2. NordVPN: The Guardian of Your Gaming Realm

Bold: NordVPN combines robust security features, a vast server network, and budget-friendly pricing, making it a formidable choice for gamers seeking maximum protection without breaking the bank.

CyberSec Suite: NordVPN's CyberSec suite blocks ads, malware, and DDoS attacks, ensuring a secure and uninterrupted gaming experience.

Global Server Network: With thousands of servers in numerous countries, NordVPN provides ample options for optimizing your gaming connection and bypassing geo-restrictions.

Dedicated Gaming Servers: NordVPN offers specialized servers optimized for gaming, ensuring low-latency connections and stable performance for online gaming sessions.

User-Friendly Interface: NordVPN's intuitive interface makes it easy to connect to servers and customize your gaming experience with features like automatic server selection and customizable DNS settings.

NordVPN is like the guardian angel of your gaming realm, offering unparalleled protection and peace of mind while you conquer virtual worlds.

3. CyberGhost: The Ghost in the Machine

Bold: CyberGhost combines simplicity, affordability, and advanced features, making it an attractive option for gamers of all levels.

One-Click Connection: CyberGhost's one-click connection feature allows you to instantly connect to the best server for gaming, eliminating the hassle of manual server selection.

Streaming Optimized Servers: With specialized servers optimized for streaming and gaming, CyberGhost ensures smooth and uninterrupted gameplay without buffering or lag.

Strict No-Logs Policy: CyberGhost adheres to a strict no-logs policy, meaning your gaming activities remain private and anonymous.

Simultaneous Device Connections: With CyberGhost, you can connect up to seven devices simultaneously, allowing you to game on multiple platforms without compromising speed or performance.

CyberGhost is like the ghost in the machine, silently protecting your gaming endeavors while you conquer virtual worlds with ease.

Conclusion: Level Up Your Gaming Experience with the Right VPN

In a world where every second counts, choosing the right VPN can make all the difference in your gaming experience. Whether you prioritize speed, security, or affordability, there's a VPN out there that's perfect for you. So why wait? Elevate your gaming experience to new heights with the top VPNs for gaming and embark on a journey of uninterrupted, high-speed gaming bliss. After all, in the virtual arena, victory favors the swift and the secure.

[nyerus]

A Masterpost for the Revised Version of TGCF

Due to the amount and frequency of misinformation about the revised version of TGCF, I wanted to make a post to serve as a resource for those who are confused about it, while also helping to debunk some of the sensationalist rumors floating around.

This post will be edited to include new things as needed.

⚠️Spoiler Warning: if you have not finished reading the original novel, or want to experience the new scenes from the revised naturally/fresh, please proceed with caution! I've intentionally kept things as vague as possible, but some spoilers are unavoidable!⚠️

✨ PART ONE: Frequently Asked Questions ✨

🔹What is the "revised" version of TGCF?

MXTX had been working on a revised version of TGCF since completing the original, as mentioned this in her postscript/afterword, and in an online interview (Q.27) done years ago just as she competed TGCF. That's all that was known for several years.

In early 2023, TGCF was finally released in print format in mainland China — and this was revealed to be the revised version! Due to regulations, this was a censored edition. However, in early 2024, the uncensored edition was uploaded to JJWXC (the site where all of MXTX's webnovels were originally published)! It's currently fully available to read in Simplified Chinese.

If you want a more in-depth explanation about the revised, please see my post about that here.

🔹What does the revised change compared to the original?

Several scenes have been added, some removed, others expanded upon. Overall, MXTX reportedly wrote 100k characters (words) of new content. While the overarching plot of each arc and the novel as a whole remains the same, it's a more cohesive and polished story. Pacing in each part of the story has been adjusted to flow better, especially in arcs notorious for feeling slow or disjointed.

Some segments have had fairly significant changes — namely the Bloody Banquet/Fang Xin Guoshi arc. (Though it still plays out much the same way.) Most others have smaller changes.

A new extra was also added, called "the Ghost King Dressed Down," which has been translated by Scarabsi on twitter.

🔹How does the revised version effect characters?

Apart from certain minor characters ��� such as the child Lang Ying who was removed entirely — there haven't been many drastic changes. The biggest thing was side characters like Lang Qianqiu and Ling Wen being given notably more backstory to further flesh them out. Their characterization itself hasn't changed, however.

🔹Which version is canon, then?

Whichever you want, and you can mix-and-match! MXTX has given fans her blessings and encouragement!

🔹How do I read the revised version in English?

Currently, there are no official or unofficial English translations of the whole revised version. Nor are there any plans to do so for the near future.

However, there are English fan translations of a few notable chapters, which you can read here. There's also instructions on that site on how to read the rest of the updated webnovel in English, using a browser extension.

Additionally, the audio drama is adapting the uncensored revised version, and has been doing an amazing job! Check out how to listen to that with English subs here.

✨PART TWO: Debunking Rumors & Clearing up Misinformation✨

Note that all chapter numbers given will be referencing the webnovel's. The old chapters are also available towards the bottom of the page as "serialized versions."

(Translated screenshots provided are janky because it's just basic google MTL!)

🔸"Mentions of Mu Qing's mother was removed from the revised!"

Not at all! Both his parents are still mentioned, along with how Mu Qing is the primary breadwinner due to his mom's failing eyesight. (Ch. 57)

🔸"The earring scene isn't there anymore!"

The earring scene is still very much there! Not actually sure why this is a rumor at all, when the whole earring thing spans several chapters. Here's the conclusion of it (Ch. 59):

🔸"Characters have been butchered in general, with Mu Qing especially getting scenes cut!"

No character (who didn't straight-up get deleted) has been butchered. Nor has any character been singled out for having their scenes deleted/changed, because that's happened to every character — yes, including Xie Lian and Hua Cheng! — and they also have new scenes added!

E.g. the scene where Mu Qing picks the cherries is removed, because that whole section was changed. (However, it's still mentioned that others are prejudiced against him due to his background, and so on.) Meanwhile, there's a brand-new scene that shows Mu Qing's aptitude in treating wounds, as well as he and Feng Xin having new hijinks as "junior officials" with Xie Lian, and more.

Despite the rumors, characters haven't been flattened to make them more one-dimensional compared to Hualian. Perhaps the idea of certain scenes being cut sounds scary for characterization, but a lot of the original has been retained one way or another. In many cases, MXTX just condensed things, or moved them around. The revised is meant to be looked at as a whole, after all.

🔸"Mu Qing now leaves for no reason in Book/Arc 4, instead of for his mother!"

Mu Qing clearly states in the revised that he wants to leave in order to find a way to improve their situation, since they anyways cannot agree amongst themselves. Just like in the original, he was frustrated and felt there was no point in continuing along the same path. (Ch 152)

And yes, he does not bring up his mother in the revised scene. For context: there is a three year gap between the end of Book/Arc 2 and the start of 4. Which means in the original, Mu Qing didn't mention his mother for those three years. Given the events leading to his departure, and what follows, this causes several inconsistencies.

That is a whole topic unto itself, however. But it's not surprising the revised did it a bit differently.

🔸"Feng Xin isn't as funny anymore!"

Feng Xin is actually one of the least changed characters! This rumor likely stems from the scene where Xie Lian reveals his password, to Feng Xin, who no longer rolls on the floor while laughing. Or maybe it's a miscommunication based on the printed revised, which censored some of his (and Qi Rong's) cursing. But that was only for the printed!

🔸"Ling Wen's character isn't as interesting because of the changes!"

People will really say anything on the internet. She's been given more depth and complexity, if anything. There's new scenes that expand on her background and early days in heaven, and her relationship with Bai Jing has been given a lot of extra attention. Her motivations and actions remain the same, but if the subtext was missed in the original, it could have led to some readers thinking of Ling Wen as certain way. Like a ruthless girlboss.

The revised reiterating that this isn't the case doesn't change or detract from her, as that was one of the points of her story to begin with. Plus, the revised arc gives Bai Jing much-needed characterization.

🔸"Ling Wen's ascension is now due to Jing Wen/not on her own merit/etc!"

Frankly, this rumor might be due to people not properly understanding how ascension works in TGCF, and thinking the revised is adding something that they forgot was already in the original. The revised didn't change anything about the manner in which Ling Wen ascended.

You can actually check out the revised Brocade Immortal arc here for yourself, as it's been fan translated!

🔸"The dynamic between Hualian is different in the revised!"

Their dynamic is exactly the same as before, only reinforced if anything. If the new additions are enough to destroy someone’s image of Hualian or turn it on its head, that’s definitely not a fault with either novel version!

🔸"The scene where Hua Cheng is disguised as Lang Ying and accidentally catches Xie Lian bathing is removed!"

Unfortunately, yes, the bathing scene is gone. However, Hua Cheng in disguise is still there — he's a village kid instead.

🔸"MXTX made changes to side characters/ships because she felt threatened by their popularity compared to her main couple!"

This one just doesn't really make sense, because several side characters were given *more* content — including their relationships.

Lang Qianqiu finally feels like an actual character. Quan Yizhen and Yin Yu have new stuff about them. Shi Wudu has some clever little cameos. Pei Ming’s feelings about Yushi Huang are brought up. Pei Xiu’s backstory is even more heartbreaking. Qi Rong has new scenes that make him feel genuinely menacing. Xiao Ying’s been completely revamped. These are just to name a few, and excluding things already talked about above.

It seems unlikely that MXTX would go through the trouble of adding to her side characters if she didn’t care about them, felt they weren’t important, or thought they were getting undeserved attention. Besides, popular characters like Shi Qingxuan and He Xuan had no cuts to their arc!

Looking at the actual metrics… MXTX has no need to feel threatened by her side ships vs her main ships.

[kuroshitsuji-wiki]

Kuroshitsuji Wiki now on wiki.gg!

As of today (February 24, 2025), the Kuroshitsuji Wiki has left Fandom Wiki and moved officially to wiki.gg! The new wiki can be found here!

From now on, only this wiki will be updated, not the Fandom one.

Why did this happen?

Please read these posts to learn all the reasons why the wiki was ultimately moved.

TL;DR: Fandom's latest policy auto-blocked the word "fag," making a good portion of the wiki uneditable. Fandom, as a site and wiki farm, has become increasingly bad and hostile over the years for many, many other reasons too.

What is new?

Amongst others:

More information: I revised/expanded some pages during the onboarding phase. Not as many as I wanted to, but some nonetheless! I also revamped the layout of the arc pages, though the summaries are still works in progress. I've started adding voice actors to the episode pages (Season 1 is finished, the rest will follow). Ch108 was mistakenly sorted into the Blue Cult Arc though it still belongs to the Emerald Witch Arc; this was fixed. Etc.

(Screenshot from Harcourt's Fandom article. That was a pitiable section orz (Clayton and Cheslock were not better off, embarrassingly.))

More themes/skins: On Fandom, you could only switch between light and dark mode. I put together four different themes for the new wiki, two of which commemorate S4 and S5 :) I hope they are to your liking!

Link hover previews: If you hover over a link now, you get a little preview of the page!

A better, prettier mobile experience: Colours and customisations are now retained on mobile. The references section now looks normal and does not send you on an endless scrolling spree. References actually pop up when you click on them. Etc.

Less ads!!!: THE #1 grievance people have with Fandom Wiki. wiki.gg has very few ads (and they are unintrusive ads too) on both desktop and mobile. If you are logged in, there are no ads whatsoever.

The move of one particular spoiler page (information under the cut)

(And some more things that might be too boring to list here, heh.)

And, of course, the freedom from Fandom and its horrible whims. Pages containing the word "fag" can now be edited again :)

(The little trivia that started it all: I wanted to add it to Diedrich's page and move on to a gazillion other things when I got the notice that my edit was blocked by Fandom's spam filter. It's finally on his page! It only took four months and one site migration...)

What can I do?

You can help out the new wiki by...

... never going on the Fandom Wiki again. Every visit there only strengthens its SEO. Please do not edit the old wiki anymore too, and do not vandalise it now even if it's tempting. Edits only push it more. (Because of Fandom's shitty forking policy, the old wiki cannot be deleted, unfortunately.)

... adding the wiki.gg redirect and Indie Wiki Buddy browser extensions. They send/redirect you to the independent alternative of a Fandom Wiki if such an option exists. (This, of course, helps other wikis that moved too, not just KuroWiki.)

... by sharing the news. "How's the weather?" "Pretty nice, but have you heard that the Kuroshitsuji Wiki moved?"

... by editing. If you want, please feel free to come and edit the wiki! If you used to have a Fandom Wiki account, you can reclaim it here (help for how to do that), or create a new wiki.gg account.

... or by simply visiting and using the new wiki.

I'm so happy the migration is finally done. I hope you like the new wiki, and thank you so much for all the lovely words you had regarding this migration and for all your help!^^ I'll go and continue editing the wiki with new joy and getting to the gazillion things I planned but haven't been able to do during the onboarding.*

*wikis are just never done...

And hello...

:)

----

Regarding that one spoiler page (Ch129 onwards, if you know you know):

The article for Smile's older twin brother, the original and actual Ciel Phantomhive is called "Ciel Phantomhive" (with the quotation marks) on the Fandom Wiki. He's called "Ciel" in articles too.

This was done because when he showed up in Ch129, it was not 100% confirmed yet whether that was Smile's twin, not just a clone or whatnot. A month later, it was confirmed that this was indeed Ciel's twin the actual Ciel. However, the article's name stayed. This had the advantage that the real Ciel's page would not appear when you typed in Ciel in the search bar.

wiki.gg's search function is better than Fandom's though and, here, if you type in Ciel, the search bar suggests pages that contain that word, not just start with it.

(I, unfortunately, forgot to take a screenshot before renaming the page...)

This is better illustrated with the search results for butler:

Innocently typing in Ciel into the search bar would have sent people to the spoiler, and that would be very shitty, wouldn't it? Especially with the influx of anime-onlys.

(I've also seen people complain about the quotation marks too. And, for whatever reason, that way of referring to him made it to Wikipedia???)

The quotation marks messed up the image migration too. Files with quotation marks in their names were the only ones that weren't transferred "properly" (the quotation marks were removed during the migration. Ch130 Ciel and Ciel.png is a horrid file name).

Anyway, I ended up renaming real Ciel's page to Lord Phantomhive. Real Ciel Phantomhive or Ciel Phantomhive (real) would have had the same search results as "Ciel Phantomhive" after all. There could not be a given name in the title.

"Lord Phantomhive" is the title he held as an earl's first son. Also, the fact that Tanaka, apparently, used to refer to Smile as "Lord Ciel"/"Ciel-sama" (Ch19) before the fire and now only calls him "Young Master" was one piece of evidence often brought forward for the Two Ciels Theory when it was still a theory. And, despite Undertaker's words that "Earl Phantomhive is still alive":

"Earl Phantomhive" fell through as an option too. (And because people might have searched for it looking for Smile, and because "Earl Phantomhive" is also Vincent.)

In articles, the real Ciel is either called "the real Ciel" or "Lord Ciel" or "the older brother/twin" or such. I hope I made the distinction between the twins clear enough in the texts.

[fangdokja-anon]

What are your favourite games of all times and what game(s) you are playing now? Which games will you suggest for horror, thriller, or psychological genere?

𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐨𝐤𝐣𝐚'𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 A Rationally Chaotic, Deep-Dive Breakdown by an Author Who Can Never Just Say “I Like This Game”

♡ Book 5. Ink & Insight (I&I): From Dead Dove to Daydreams. ; ♡ WC. 3,517

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈 𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐍𝐨𝐰

Let’s start with the present: I don’t play games right now. Not because I don’t want to, but because I have this little thing called "responsibility," and the moment I fall into a game, I vanish. Gaming is not a pastime for me. It’s a black hole. One I willingly crawl into, lose 17 hours, and emerge dehydrated and morally conflicted.

So yes, I’m on hiatus. For survival.

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞

Not based on popularity, but on psychological impact, strategic stimulation, and lore value. Basically, if it either made me suffer, think, or spiral, it's on the list.

1. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Genre: MOBA | Platform: Mobile | Played: Years

Childhood staple. Played it for years. Endless memories of suffering, clutch wins, and toxic teammates. I loved it. Still do.

Why this game? Strategy. Planning. Outsmarting. That adrenaline rush of dominating a match through brainpower alone.

Fun fact: I was this close to being a League of Legends player. I hung out with a group of guy friends who were all LoL addicts. But I didn’t have a decent PC back then. Couldn’t always hit the internet cafés either. I was the academically responsible kid. Top of class. Laptop was for PowerPoint and Word Docs, not gaming.

So I settled into ML. And never looked back.

2. Degrees of Lewdity Genre: Text-based RPG | Platform: Browser | Played: Extensively (Regretfully)

RPG + lore + disturbing daddy figures (would bang, yes) + complete psychological devastation.

This one’s hard to explain without sounding like I need help—because I do. I went into this thinking, “Haha let’s play a smut game for science.” What I didn’t expect was psychological warfare.

I played the original Vanilla version blind. No wiki. No Reddit forums. Just me and the filth.

Why it made the list:

The lore is surprisingly complex. Dystopian cult-like town? Corrupt institutions? Rape town and trauma? Sign me up.

The RPG mechanics actually matter. You don’t just pick traits for fun—you will suffer the consequences.

You learn to defend yourself. I mean literally. The combat, the stealth, the escape systems—it’s a survival game with rape as its main hazard. Which, horrifyingly, made for one of the most challenging experiences I’ve had.

And don’t get me started on the pirate arc. That’s where I mentally snapped.

3. Wuthering Waves Genre: Open-World RPG | Platform: Mobile/PC | Played: Lore Obsessed

This game feeds the academic gremlin in me. I read every research paper. Every dialogue. Every environmental clue. I’m that person who will click on every terminal in the lab to get a single sentence of backstory.

Why I’m obsessed:

The lore is crafted like a thesis. It’s not just "tragic character sad"; it’s "ecological collapse, metaphysical paradoxes, and bioethical dilemmas" level of storytelling.

Gameplay aside, the worldbuilding is what I log in for. Also: still waiting on Scar’s banner. Hurry up.

Genre Preferences: I gravitate toward RPGs, horror, psychological thrillers, and anything with strong lore or moral dilemma elements. I want to think, suffer a little, and walk away wondering if I’m the villain. That’s the sweet spot.

Alright, fine.

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫? 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞. 𝐀 𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐈’𝐦 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠:

You’re welcome.

You’ll also find a small pile of horror game recommendations buried somewhere in here. Some lean more psychological, some are thriller-adjacent. No, it’s not finalized. The characters are placeholders. Everything is subject to change. The entire structure might get torn down and rebuilt next week. Welcome to the creative process.

But I’ve written the intro already. So yes, something exists:

Not everything is included yet. I’m still debating on what games to cover in the series, what themes to dissect, and how far I want to psychologically ruin everyone involved (including myself). But yeah—SEE? I wasn’t lying when I said I’m doing horror content. It’s here. In the works. Slowly crawling into existence like a cursed thing.

𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨. 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭:

I will not be including Little Nightmares 1 or 2 in the future story. I know, they’re horror games. But to me? They’re not horror. They’re a tragic, poignant love story—one that hits a little too close to home. It reminds me of my marriage. (Yes, that says a lot. No, I will not elaborate.) What others interpret as eerie dread, I see as emotional devastation with a side of trauma bonding. That’s not horror to me. That’s Tuesday.

I hate Until Dawn. Don’t ask me to change my mind. It’s never happening. Yes, the graphics are great. Yes, it’s popular. Yes, everyone seems to love it. But no amount of pretty visuals can fix the sheer collective stupidity of that cast. It’s like watching a group of overconfident lemmings sprint toward a cliff while holding flare guns. If you enjoy it, power to you. Play it. But don’t expect me to pretend it belongs in my recommendations.

𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟑 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 / 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 / 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

You want horror that sticks. Not just cheap jumpscares, but something psychological. Unsettling. Memorable. Here are my top 3 recommendations—rationally chosen, emotionally devastating, and entirely worth your time if you're into psychological thrillers and horror with actual substance.

1. Little Nightmares II Genre: Psychological Horror, Puzzle Platformer

Start with: Little Nightmares I for context.

Yes, the first game is good. But Little Nightmares II? That’s the peak. The evolution in atmosphere, story, and boss design is unmatched. Each level introduces an entirely new, distinct setting and enemy, which makes the world feel like an ever-escalating nightmare.

The HOSPITAL. The dolls? The crawling mannequins? The lighting, the audio design, the movement mechanics? It’s perfection. No horror sequence has ever come close in execution. The sound of dragging limbs, the darkness, the chase scenes—it's masterfully paced. Psychological horror at its best.

The Lore. The lore, the atmosphere, the character dynamics—it’s all refined here. There’s a canon love story and horror story running in parallel (rare combo), and it doesn’t shove it down your throat either. It's subtle, it's tragic, and it enhances every decision made by the characters—especially in the endings. Because yes, you will suffer.

The Endings. They’re not just good. They’re art. Both game endings. No matter how you interpret the story, it hurts, and it sticks with you.

Six. Easily one of the most relatable characters for me. Her arc, her choices, and being the most hated character of the series—classic, and it’s all painfully real beneath the surreal horror.

In summary: if you want horror with emotional stakes and layered storytelling, Little Nightmares II is peak media. Play the first one first, but this is where it all hits.

2. Fears to Fathom Genre: Psychological Horror, True Crime, Interactive Story

You know what’s scarier than monsters? People. Real ones. Fears to Fathom bases each episode on real-life stories—things that actually happened to actual people. That’s what makes it so haunting.

Every story is different. From home invasion to hitchhiking, traveling alone to shady encounters—you get a variety of "this could happen to me" scenarios. That relatability is what makes it terrifying.

Episode 3? Easily the most memorable for me. No spoilers, but the tension never lets up. It's like living through a true crime documentary where you are the victim.

Mic detection. Yes, the game can hear you. Yes, it changes how you play. And yes, it’s horrifying when you realize being quiet actually matters.

It’s short, it’s grounded, and it doesn’t rely on gore or fantasy. Just people doing terrible things to other people. Highly underrated.

Also, bonus shoutout to a similar concept game where you’re a podcast host guiding callers through survival scenarios with killers after them—name escapes me, but if you liked Fears to Fathom, that’s your next stop.

3. Undertale (Genocide Route) Genre: RPG, Psychological, Moral Dilemma

Yes, really. It’s psychological horror if you let it be.

Undertale isn’t a horror game on the surface. But go down the Genocide Route, and you’ll find one of the most disturbingly effective explorations of morality, consequence, and the psychology of violence in gaming.

Play it last. Please. Do Pacifist and Neutral first so the weight of your choices in Genocide hits harder. The narrative actively remembers what you’ve done. The game turns against you. The characters turn against you. You become the villain—and not in a fun, over-the-top way, but in a quiet, haunting, guilt-inducing way.

It’s also a masterclass in environmental storytelling. Minimal graphics, minimal dialogue, yet it devastates you.

You’re the villain. And the game makes you feel it. Not in a shallow “you’re bad!” way. In a slowly creeping, gut-wrenching, existentially uncomfortable way.

The story reacts to your choices. Not just in dialogue, but in tone, pacing, and how the world interacts with you. You stop being the protagonist. You become the threat.

The difficulty spike? Real. But so is the emotional weight of what you’re doing. Every character remembers. And you will too.

The music. It’s iconic for a reason, especially in this route. It’s not just background noise—it tells the story. That's narrative music integration done right.

Play the other routes first. Then do Genocide last. It hits harder when you know what you’re destroying.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

These aren’t your average horror games. They’re psychological deep dives—subtle, layered, and emotionally devastating. If you’re tired of surface-level spooks and want something that sticks, these are the games you start with.

Each one gives a different flavor of fear:

surreal and symbolic (Little Nightmares),

real-world and true crime (Fears to Fathom),

and moral and introspective (Undertale).

If horror is a mirror, these three games will show you different reflections: the fantastical, the real, and the inner monster.

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

1. Dishonored Series (Dishonored 2 in particular)

Let's start with a severely underrated masterpiece. Technically not horror, but heavily psychological depending on how you engage with it. Most people discard it due to bugs—and while yes, bugs exist, I personally find the glitches comical rather than deal-breaking. The real highlight of Dishonored isn't just the ambiance or storyline; it's the gameplay.

The stealth mechanics? Solid. The open-world, do-as-you-please approach? Cathartic. You want to stab everyone? Go for it. Want to ghost through levels without a single casualty? Absolutely possible. It's the freedom of approach that gives this game its edge.

But the true genius lies in the Chaos Level mechanic. It's criminally underappreciated. Your actions directly influence not only the ending, but also the environment, NPC behavior, enemy placements, and worldbuilding. High chaos means plague, madness, more rats, more guards, and a grimmer atmosphere. Low chaos brings kindness, less resistance, and a more stable world. It’s a mechanic that seamlessly integrates morality into both gameplay and narrative, without a morality meter shoved in your face.

Also, Dishonored has peak naming aesthetics. I took lore inspiration from it—no regrets.

Graphically? It looks like Arcane before Arcane existed. Enough said.

2. The Last of Us (Part I)

Everyone already knows this one—or should. If you don’t, I have questions.

Not going to sugarcoat it: The Last of Us 2 was a misstep. Think Boruto-style sequel sabotage with forced character arcs and unnecessary romantic subplot force-feeding. It tried to be profound but lost the plot—literally. Just skip it.

The Last of Us Part 1, however, is a masterclass in emotional storytelling. It’s not revolutionary because of gameplay (though that was solid); it’s revered because of its characters. Joel and Ellie aren't just characters—they're conduits for grief, survival, and reluctant love. The pacing, emotional beats, and that final morally-gray ending? That’s the stuff of narrative legend. You finish it hollowed out, unsure whether to agree or disagree. That’s art.

The gameplay reinforces the storytelling. You aren’t a superhero—you’re surviving. You feel it in every bullet, every decision, every loss. The ending alone is enough to warrant philosophical debate. It's not a game that asks for your approval. It just is.

3. Resident Evil Series

Ah yes, nostalgia incarnate.

I was practically raised on this series. Resident Evil 4? Core memory. My blood father used to play it constantly, and it formed a foundational memory of gaming in my life. That being said—I have weird hesitations writing fanfics for RE or Call of Duty. Maybe it's the childhood link. Feels like writing about childhood friends. Something’s just... off. I’ll get over it eventually, but I’m not rushing it.

Resident Evil 6 deserves specific mention here. I know, I know—most people bash it, but listen: the duo gameplay was peak. The storylines, especially Chris and Piers? Top-tier chemistry. It also holds sentimental value since my only close friend, Mochi, and I used to duo the frick out of it. Whether in Mobile Legends or horror shooters, co-op games like this are our jam.

Biohazard (Resident Evil 7) is best experienced in VR. Watching my family members and YouTubers play it, I realized how much more terrifying and immersive it becomes in that format. VR horror is unmatched because it kills the one thing we writers rely on—emotional distance. Suddenly, you can’t hide behind prose or screen. You're in it.

And yes, I love maximum immersion. It’s apparent in my writing and in my taste in games. VR, AR, and AI will only push that boundary further. Eventually, the line between reality and narrative will blur. I’m here for it.

That being said, plot-wise? Yeah, Biohazard gets a bit dumb. It gives "Until Dawn" energy—great tension but questionable narrative logic. Still, the divorce jokes by YouTubers in Biohazard? A+ dark humor. Unexpected comedic relief.

4. On Horror Design: Weaponry Kills Fear

Shoutout to Jay/Kubz Scouts for voicing what I’ve always thought: "Fear leaves when you get a weapon."

That’s the truth. Give a player a gun, and you give them power. Fear dissipates. It’s why true horror thrives when you don’t have weapons. No power. No control. Just survival instinct and resource management. That’s where true fear lives. Not in gore, not in jump scares, but in vulnerability. Of course, it has to be done logically. Don’t remove defense and replace it with unreasonable odds. Just keep the fear grounded.

5. Silent Hill Series (Especially P.T.)

Do I need to explain this one?

If you like supernatural psychological horror, Silent Hill is basically the rite of passage. P.T., the playable teaser that never got to become a full game, that somehow eclipses entire AAA games in atmosphere, narrative implication, and pure tension.

It’s a masterclass in environmental storytelling. The infinite hallway. The ticking clock. The radio messages. It’s claustrophobic, cyclical hell—like Groundhog Day with demons and trauma. It’s horror that creeps under your skin without needing gore or gimmicks.

P.T. is like Schrödinger’s cat: everything is happening and not happening all at once. Nothing explicitly jumps at you (until it does), but your brain fills in the horror blanks with precision paranoia.

That said, I could never take Silent Hill 2 seriously. Half the enemies look like sausages and the iconic "pizza box villain" (you know the one) feels more like simp bait than an actual threat. But still—iconic atmosphere. Deep lore. It earns its place.

6. Twelve Minutes

You want psychological torment in digital form? Try Twelve Minutes.

A top-down interactive thriller where you play a man stuck in a 12-minute time loop with his wife. Each loop you gather knowledge, experiment with choices, and uncover horrifying secrets—until everything implodes in an unsettling psychological spiral.

It’s like Groundhog Day meets Memento but make it trauma. No spoilers, seriously—go in blind. Be warned: the gameplay can feel like rubbing a fork on a chalkboard, but if you like repetition as a narrative device, the payoff hits. Multiple WTF moments that will mess with your brain. Is it frustrating? Yes. Is it genius? Also yes.

What makes this game so unsettling is its slow reveal of information—like being spoon-fed cyanide one flake at a time. The plot twists are genuinely mind-splintering. Play it blind. Don’t look up spoilers. Let the breakdown come naturally.

7. At Dead of Night

It’s basically the video game equivalent of an anxiety disorder.

Let’s talk jump scares—this game nails it. Not the cheap ones where something screams in your ear for no reason. These are methodical. Earned. Cinematic. You play as a girl trapped in a haunted hotel, hunted by a deranged man named Jimmy who wears a comedy mask and has serious mommy issues. Lovely.

You investigate, hide, talk to ghosts (yes, literally), and piece together the mystery of what happened in that cursed place. The FMV (full motion video) visuals might feel uncanny valley-ish at first, but it adds to the horror. A ghost shows up and the camera pans—yeah, you're gonna scream.

You're not meant to feel in control. The game builds dread not through gore but through anticipation.

Bonus points: ghosts are useful in this game. They help you solve the central mystery.

8. Hello Neighbor

Yes, it looks like a children’s game. No, it does not play like one. The Neighbor’s AI learns from you. Which means you’re essentially fighting your own past behavior. The horror here is less supernatural and more in the realm of paranoia.

A game where your creepy neighbor (but low-key the player you're playing is the creepy one) is hiding something in his basement, and your job is to break in and find out what. Sounds simple—except the AI learns from your moves. You go through the front door too often? Expect bear traps next time. Climb through a window? He’ll board it up.

If you’re playing this, it's for the gameplay and the constant anxiety of being hunted. In fact, the plot is like FNaF’s—technically there, but buried under so many layers of abstract confusion it doesn’t reach my standards.

(Security Breach, honestly, is FNaF’s best gameplay iteration. Everything else feels like a lore wiki more than a game.)

But the jumpscares? Legit. Not because of cheap tricks, but because the AI adapts and the sound design goes hard.

9. Petscop

This is old internet horror at its finest.

Technically not a game you can play, but a fictional YouTube series pretending to be a lost PlayStation 1 game. Think analog horror meets child psychology wrapped in a pastel dreamscape. You watch the videos and unravel a disturbing narrative involving children, ghosts, abuse, and the metaphysical.

It gives dark web energy, in a nostalgic, uncanny valley kind of way.

Beginner-friendly horror? Surprisingly, yes. You watch, you analyze, and slowly you spiral. One word summary: children. Which should already set off alarms if you’ve ever played or read FNaF. It’s less jumpscare-heavy and more slow-burn psychological unraveling.

Games aren't just entertainment—they're narrative vessels. These titles, whether broken, brilliant, or bizarre, have informed how I understand immersion, fear, and interactivity. Some are memorable because of emotional nostalgia. Others are masterclasses in mechanics. And a few are just here for the chaos.

But every single one of them—dumb plot or not—left an impression. That’s what matters.

I’ve played games for as long as I can remember—probably since I was four, or even younger. And at this point, the list of games I’ve played, watched, or analyzed is so vast it’s essentially unquantifiable. Trying to list them all would be an exercise in futility. There are just too many, across far too many genres, to fit into any reasonable format.

Let’s just say: I’ve seen it all. MOBA, RPG, visual novels, indie horrors, narrative experiments, strategy sims, even cursed little “find the difference” horror games that sneak up on you with unexpected jumpscares and psychological manipulation. The range is wide, and the medium is endlessly creative.

But here’s the thing—quantity means nothing to me without substance. I don’t play games to turn my brain off. I don’t want to turn my brain off. My default mode is analysis. My favorites tend to fall into two categories: strategic depth or narrative complexity. Ideally? Both. I gravitate toward games with strong symbolic undercurrents, layered storytelling, lore that rewards critical thinking, and design choices that reflect deeper meaning. I like games that dare to say something—or at the very least, challenge the player to uncover what’s being said.

It’s not about difficulty. It’s about depth. If a game is all surface, all flash, all hollow dopamine loops, I’ll lose interest almost immediately. Give me ambiguity, give me a moral quandary, give me a story that disorients before it clarifies. I want my games to haunt me after the screen goes dark.

Ironically, though, horror games have never scared me—not even as a kid. Not once. It’s not bravado; it’s just a weird quirk of how I’m wired. I analyze everything as it happens. I deconstruct horror mechanics while they’re trying to scare me. I see the strings. I know the puppetmaster. Which isn’t to say I don’t enjoy horror. I do. Deeply. But for me, it’s always been psychological intrigue over visceral fear.

That said… the scariest thing I know isn’t any game. It’s my husband.

And no, I’m not elaborating on that. Interpret as you will.

General TAG LIST of “Ink & Insight”: @songbirdgardensworld , @neuvilletteswife4ever , @takeyomikamakura

Note: Not finished with “Code Vein”. But I strongly hypothesize that this will become my favorite game of all time.

[forevergoldgame]

I have a friend who loves everything I've shown them of the story and would love to play, but is unable to due to having a trigger relating to unsanitary words. Would it be possible to make some sort of filter to censor certain words so that they would be able to enjoy this wonderful game?

Hello! Glad you're enjoying the game, and honored you'd share it with friends.

Broadly speaking, there are some complexities to the idea of accommodating triggers in fiction, both in terms of artistic vision and practical implementation. If, hypothetically, a reader was sensitive to character death, there's not anything we could do to make them comfortable short of writing an entirely different story. On the system end, writing smart word filters that are actually useful to players is trickier than it might sound.

Thus, when Dan and I were discussing accessibility features in early development, we came to the conclusion we couldn't realistically promise support for trigger/sensitive topic accommodations.

That said, we're both proponents of taking things into your own hands and solution-crafting when you have an uncommon problem with no in-built solutions. We're curious people, so we asked ourselves what we would do in your friend's position and did a little investigating as to what the options would be. There's good news and bad news.

The good news: word-replacer browser extensions help!

We tested the game with a few word replacer extensions. The results were mixed. Each "page" of the story is stored as text on the back end, and some extensions had a lot of trouble with this. A few Dan tried couldn't load passages that contained block words properly at all.

Our best recommendation is "Word Replacer" for Firefox, which loads passages just fine.

However… it doesn't distinguish between plain displayed text and text in links and images. If you block a word that is used on the back-end, you might end up with missing images or links that lead to nonexistent passages. See how replacing "Naktoga" breaks his portraits:

A reader using a word replacer extension would have to be okay with the possibility of encountering minor hiccups, and they would have to be willing to toggle the replacer off for a few passages if they encounter link direction issues.

The bad news: a word replacer might not be enough.

Censoring specific words doesn't change the fact that the grime of the late 1700s is pretty baked into the story. Our first "plot arc" is going to be pretty explicit about acknowledging this and contain depictions of illness and antiquated ideas about sanitation.

So - proceed with caution. Always keep your own tolerance threshold in mind when engaging with art that contains subjects or themes which distress you.

-LS

[gwynndolin]

like at what point do you not just absolutely lose track of your tabs entirely. like there’s no fucking way you’re actually using AT MOST 20 of the 200+ tabs you have open, except for the time you accidentally misclick the tab you meant to and firefox has to whir up your dying laptop’s cpu to reload a reddit post you forgot about 2 years ago. if you have more than 50 tabs open right now, i need you to just do an entire factory reset on whatever device you’re on. Also download Arc browser or an extension that closes unused tabs or something man. thats just absurd

[weirdmageddon]

Do you have any tips/suggestions/etc for interesting things to look out for while rereading homestuck? Your recent posting has reignited my interest in the comic and you seem to have cool opinions on it (especially regarding Dave). I enjoyed Homestuck the first go around but between kinda rushing through it, reading it while half asleep mainly, and reading on mobile where a bunch of parts barely even functioned, I feel like a lot of the cool side arcs and details got lost on me until way after they had already concluded.

yeah

download the unofficial homestuck collection for reading (and the pov cam extension for the UHC browser) because viz media broke the original experience and makes it look like this

if you ever get lost about what’s going on in the story this is literally one of the best websites for a bird’s eye view of homestuck’s plot. this sounds like something you want

thank you for saying my dave analyses are cool

i hope im not annoying people with them i just love him and his depth hes my favorite character along with jade

[instapaper]

Bringing Highlights to the Open Web

Today we’re launching updates to our extensions for Chrome (including Arc/Edge), Firefox, and Safari. These updates bring support for highlights on the open web, archiving articles after saving, and Send to Kindle.

Highlights

With the updated Instapaper browser extensions, you can easily create highlights on any web page in a few different ways:

Select text and save the article.

After saving an article, any time you select text a small popover will appear with buttons to create a highlight or note.

After saving an article, you can create a Quick Highlight by holding Alt or Option and selecting text.

Your highlights will only be available on the page during that session, are not stored locally in the browser, and will not appear on a refresh. However, when you press the Instapaper button again it will bring all of your highlights back onto the page.

With these updates, pressing the Instapaper button is not only for saving the article, but bringing your highlights, notes, and Instapaper tools directly to the webpage itself.

We built these features to be discreet, however, you can also disable each feature in the extension settings:

Chrome: Right-click Instapaper extension > Options.

Firefox: Right-click Instapaper add-on > Manage Extension > Preferences.

Safari: Instapaper macOS App Settings > Safari Extension.

Archive after Save

We received many feature requests for archiving immediately after saving. We’ve added an archive button to the toolbar that makes it easy to quickly archive after saving.

Send to Kindle

With this update, we’re also bringing support for Send to Kindle directly in the browser extensions. It’s available for Instapaper Premium customers that have a Kindle email address configured in Instapaper Settings.

We recommend migrating Send to Kindle to the browser extensions, however, we will continue to maintain support for the Send to Kindle bookmarklet as well.

Send to Kindle can also be disabled in the extension options page.

Firefox Add-On

Earlier this year, Instapaper was removed from the Firefox Add-On store after attempting a small update to fix saving YouTube videos. After being removed and several subsequent rejections, we decided to self-distribute our Firefox Add-On.

We’re happy to share that we were able to work with Mozilla to resolve the issue, and Instapaper is now available on the Firefox Add-On store again. That said, given the situation we will be continuing to support the Firefox Add-On store and self-distribution of our Add-On.

In either case, your Add-On should automatically update as long as you’re using Firefox version 109 (January 2023) or later.

Safari Extension

For historical reasons, we previously distributed our Safari Extension with the Instapaper Save app. We’re happy to share that the new Safari Extension is now available with the main Instapaper macOS app.

We recommend migrating to the new Safari Settings by doing the following:

Update Instapaper macOS to version 8.6.2.

Open Safari Settings > Extensions

Enable new Instapaper extension (icon with rounded corners).

Disable old Instapaper Extension (icon with square corners).

Instapaper macOS 8.6.2 also ships with an updated Mac Share Extension that is improved from the Instapaper Save app (e.g. saving from Apple News now works properly).

With this update the Instapaper Save app is now deprecated. We plan to remove it from the App Store in the coming weeks. After you successfully migrate, you can delete the Instapaper Save app from your Mac.

Other Minor Fixes & Improvements

In this release, we’re also shipping a number of other minor fixes and improvements:

Fix inline Twitter saving on x.com domain.

Fix for saving Hacker News threads on Firefox.

Lobste.rs inline saving support.

As always, our roadmap is directly informed by your feature requests and bug reports. Please reach out to us at support@instapaper.com.

– Instapaper Team

[nommedtail]

mozilla might change their decision to put AI in firefox if enough people complain (doubtful) but just in case, here's some alternatives, some will be based on firefox but are separate entities so they won't do the AI stuff

Vivaldi: chromium, has a recent blog post saying they'll never put LLM stuff into their browser

Floorp: firefox based, open source

LibreWolf: firefox based, open source

Arc: chromium, Apple only for now, Windows version coming in months, has AI features but you need to specifically toggle it on

Orion: webkit, aka what Safari uses. 0 telemetry (it won't track your data), can use chrome and firefox extensions, only on Apple, currently in public beta

DuckDuckGo: yeah DDG made a browser, privacy focused, syncing does not need an account, extensions soon tm, seems to be webkit on mac, chromium on windows?

[anachronistic-falsehood]

11 & 18 for the ask game (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)

11. What's been your favourite arc so far?

AGH. happy pills. i know forever was like the main guy in it but it gave me shrimp emotions. i miss qforever, fly high king 😔 fuck ccforever fr but he gave us such a banger arc. i can give him props for his writing without condoning the shit he's done, i love the happy pills arc as short as it was and i want to go back and rewatch some of it because GODDD IT WAS SO GOOD...... agh. ough aggh. pain and suffering. qpac never left that bloodied chume labs......

18. Who's streams do you most watch outside of their QSMP streams?

CELLBIT cellbit <3 my fav guy ever. he's so fucking funny. even tho i don't speak portuguese and the translator extension doesn't work on my browser, i watch him just because his vibes are immaculate. love his streams so much. the streamer of all time fr

[nerdgirlriot]

Arc Browser for MacOS

I'm not a paid shill or anything but if you're on a Mac, you owe it to yourself to try out the Arc browser. It's finally out of beta and available to everyone, no invite or waitlist required.

What's so special about it? Well, it completely buys into the tabs ecosystem of web browsing. Bye-bye bookmarks. Every site you use regularly can be added to a side menu and accessed easily by clicking on it. I ADORE Spaces, which allow you to relegate links to their own window, allowing for greater control over organization.

Also there is the Boost system, which allows you, the user, to completely overhaul the look of sites you visit. You can remove things and keep them from being displayed! Minimize seeing ads! Move shit around! Change colors! Change fonts! REMOVE TUMBLR LIVE. Here's the Boost gallery (a crowdsourced group of Boost options) so you can see what can be done.

It runs on Chromium, which is the only downside. You still have to accept that its roots are in Google, but that also means that extensions for Chrome still work in Arc. Take a look if you'd like.

[the-inverness-design-studio]

Introduction to Arc Browser Arc Browser represents a new generation of web browsing tools, offering a fresh perspective on how users interact with the internet. Developed to address the limitations of traditional browsers, Arc brings innovative features and a streamlined interface tailored to maximise productivity, organisation, and customisation. This article will explore Arc Browser’s capabilities, user experience, performance, and the unique advantages it provides over standard browser options. This article looks at the reasons why we switched to the Arc Browser. Their marketing has also been equally interesting. This advert aired on across the US on CBS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc1VeqU1YoM Key Features of Arc Browser 1. Interface Redesign: Simplifying the Browsing Experience Arc Browser’s user interface is a significant departure from conventional designs, emphasising minimalism and ease of use. Instead of traditional tab structures, Arc utilises a sidebar that organises open pages, frequently visited sites, and saved projects. Sidebar Navigation: The vertical sidebar replaces the conventional top-tab arrangement, allowing users to manage and switch between tabs, pinned pages, and bookmarks without overcrowding the screen. Intuitive Controls: The sidebar also includes shortcuts for search functions, extensions, and browser settings, giving users quick access to frequently used tools. This design choice creates a clutter-free workspace that is visually appealing and reduces cognitive load, enabling users to focus on content rather than browser management. 2. Spaces for Enhanced Organisation Another reason of why we switched to the Arc Browser was their implementation of "Spaces," an innovative feature that allows users to group tabs and organise them by context. This is particularly useful for users juggling multiple projects or workflows. Customisable Spaces: Users can create dedicated spaces for different tasks, such as work, personal browsing, or research projects. Quick Switching: Switching between spaces is seamless, allowing users to keep relevant tabs within specific spaces and avoid clutter in the main workspace. Personalisation Options: Each space can be customised with unique themes, making it easy to visually differentiate between different tasks and environments. Spaces enhance productivity by allowing users to focus on specific tasks without distraction, effectively compartmentalising their workflows within a single browser. 3. Privacy and Security Privacy remains a cornerstone of Arc Browser's design, as it integrates several features aimed at securing users' data and online activities. Tracker Blocking: Arc comes with a built-in tracker blocker, preventing advertisers and third-party sites from monitoring browsing activities. Advanced Encryption: The browser prioritises secure connections, supporting HTTPS by default to ensure that data transmission is secure. User-Controlled Data: Users can easily manage cookies, cache, and other stored data through intuitive privacy settings, giving them full control over their digital footprint. 4. Built-in Tools for Enhanced Productivity Arc Browser incorporates a set of tools designed to make browsing more efficient. Screenshot Tool: With a built-in screenshot tool, users can quickly capture, annotate, and save portions of a webpage without needing additional extensions. Notes and Reminders: Users can take notes directly within the browser, linking them to relevant tabs or pages for easy reference. Tab Snoozing: Unnecessary tabs can be “snoozed” temporarily, decluttering the workspace and reducing memory usage, without losing access to important content. Another reason why we switched to the Arc Browser were for it's features enhance the browsing experience by providing users with tools that streamline tasks and reduce the need for external applications.

Performance and Speed Arc Browser is built on the Chromium engine, providing the same speed and compatibility benefits associated with popular browsers like Google Chrome. The performance is optimised to handle multiple open tabs and complex workflows without causing system slowdowns. Memory Management Efficient Tab Management: Arc’s snoozing feature helps in managing memory usage by unloading inactive tabs, thus freeing system resources. Optimised Resource Allocation: The browser is designed to reduce background processes and optimise resource allocation based on user activity, resulting in faster page load times and a smoother experience overall. Comparison with Traditional Browsers FeatureArc BrowserTraditional Browsers (e.g., Chrome, Firefox)Tab ManagementSidebar with Spaces and Snooze optionsStandard top-tab arrangementOrganisational ToolsCustomisable Spaces, NotesLimitedPrivacy ControlsBuilt-in tracker blocking, user-controlled dataVaries by browserResource ManagementSnoozing tabs to save memoryLimitedDesignMinimalist, workspace-focusedConventional User Experience and Customisation Arc Browser’s approach to user experience is heavily centred on personalisation and control. Beyond traditional themes, Arc allows users to select custom colours, fonts, and layouts to match their style or workflow. This depth of customisation is rare among browsers and offers a unique level of user engagement. Additionally, Arc integrates gestures and shortcut commands, streamlining navigation and enhancing usability for those who prefer keyboard-driven browsing. Limitations of Arc Browser While Arc Browser offers numerous advantages, there are some limitations that potential users should consider. Limited Extension Compatibility: Since Arc is a relatively new browser, some extensions and add-ons may not be fully supported. Learning Curve: For users accustomed to traditional browsers, Arc’s interface may require a period of adjustment due to its unconventional design. System Requirements: Arc Browser’s advanced features and Chromium-based build may require more system resources, which could impact performance on older devices. Why Arc Browser is a Game-Changer for Productivity Arc Browser’s innovative features, such as Spaces, tab snoozing, and privacy-focused design, redefine what users can expect from a web browsing tool. By combining productivity, customisation, and user-friendly design, Arc Browser addresses the needs of modern internet users who prioritise efficiency, privacy, and personalised browsing experiences. Arc's commitment to providing a streamlined yet powerful experience, coupled with its ongoing updates and user-centric enhancements, positions it as a promising choice for those seeking a browser that adapts to their workflow rather than the other way around. Arc Browser 2.0 on the way Arc Browser 2 is creating quite a buzz with its fresh take on web browsing, making it feel like more than just a tool—more like a productivity experience. Developed by The Browser Company, Arc 2 builds on its original framework but dives deeper into customisation, productivity, and the idea that your browser should feel personal. The interface is sleek and feels more like an app than a typical web browser. Unlike traditional browsers, it focuses on helping users organise their workspaces and tabs in a way that makes sense, so it’s ideal for people who want to keep multiple projects or personal content organised without feeling cluttered. https://youtu.be/WIeJF3kL5ng?si=eQhTCtG1zBi3X1aX One standout feature in Arc 2 is the “Command Bar.” It’s similar to Spotlight on a Mac, letting you quickly jump to any open tab, adjust settings, or search the web—all from a single search bar. It’s small tweaks like this that make Arc feel modern and incredibly user-friendly, especially if you’re the type who keeps dozens of tabs open at once.

Arc 2 also makes excellent use of split views, so you can see and interact with two tabs side by side. Some people may miss the familiar simplicity of browsers like Chrome or Firefox, but if you’re into trying new things and love the idea of making your browser truly work for you, Arc 2 is refreshing, intuitive, and a bit addictive. Conclusion In conclusion, Arc Browser is a breath of fresh air in a landscape dominated by conventional web browsers. With its innovative features like the sidebar interface, customisable Spaces, and built-in tools, it sets itself apart by offering users a more organised and personalised browsing experience. Its focus on privacy and security further solidifies its position as a next-generation browser, catering to users who prioritise both functionality and control. While there are some limitations, such as compatibility with older systems and extensions, the strengths of Arc make it an appealing choice for those looking to enhance their browsing productivity and experience. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. What makes Arc Browser different from other web browsers? Arc Browser stands out due to its innovative sidebar interface, customisable spaces for better organisation, and built-in productivity tools. Unlike traditional browsers, it focuses on creating a seamless, personalised, and privacy-conscious browsing experience. 2. Is Arc Browser free to use? Yes, Arc Browser is free to download and use. While it offers a premium set of features in the future, the current version remains fully functional without any cost to users. 3. Can Arc Browser be used on all devices? Arc Browser is available on both Windows and macOS platforms. However, as the browser is still relatively new, it may have limited compatibility with older devices or certain system configurations. 4. How does the "Spaces" feature improve productivity? The "Spaces" feature allows users to organise tabs and projects by context, making it easy to switch between different tasks without clutter. This helps users maintain focus and efficiency, especially when managing multiple workflows. 5. Does Arc Browser support extensions? While Arc Browser is based on Chromium, meaning it supports many Chrome extensions, there may be some compatibility issues with certain older or less common extensions. The browser is still evolving, and future updates are likely to improve extension support.

[transienturl]

XKit Rewritten "supported" platforms (i.e. the ones currently mentioned on the wiki, which I don't think we've really updated in a while):

Firefox (desktop)

Chrome (desktop)

Edge (desktop)

Opera (desktop)

Firefox (android)

Kiwi Browser (android)

Platforms on which it works... or, ostensibly works, I assume:

Vivaldi (desktop)

Opera GX (desktop)

Orion (MacOS)

Brave (desktop). If they haven't fucked everything up again, anyway.

Arc Browser (desktop)... probably? I would confirm this, but the fact that you have to make an account to even open it makes me delete the thing every time.

Lemur Browser (android)

Platforms on which I can confirm there are no technical reasons preventing the code from working, though the extension can't really be installed:

Safari (MacOS, iOS)

Platforms on which major browser bugs currently prevent the code from working; yes I've reported them:

Orion (iOS)

Edge Canary (android)

Platforms which support web extensions but which the code is not compatible with:

that I know of, currently none!

(italics reflect browsers which, that I know of, don't use the web extension API code built into the big three browser codebases)

[dpw67blog]

Arc Browser

I added a series of pages to the Arc Browser section.

Recently, I added a series of pages to the Arc Browser section of my website under Technology > Apps. These cover tabs (links), notes, Easels. split views, folders, spaces, profiles, sidebar, extensions, and Arc Max (AI). These are currently available on macOS, which has a Mobile Companion that syncs with the desktop app via iCloud for use on the iPhone. They are also actively working on a…

[cdevroe]

Dear Arc

As an avid Safari fanatic, I’m reluctant to dive into a new browser backed by any company with a business model I find… elusive. I’ve been giving Arc a spin every few releases since signing up for the beta and each time it has improved a lot.

Just yesterday I was chatting with our creative director at work and said “Oh, you’re going to love Arc, we should try it and see how good it has gotten”. And yesterday I made Arc my default browser on the Mac. (!!)

I don’t want to understate how momentous this was. This was like when Woody (the cowboy character from Pixar’s Toy Stoy voiced by Tom Hanks, oh you know who Woody is why am I writing this?) finally ceded that Andy was getting older and he may just move on. Maybe that isn’t an apt analogy… this was like when Frodo decided he needed to leave the Fellowship for the safety of his companions…

I don’t know exactly what switching from Safari to Arc felt like on my Mac but it was a day OK?

But I still love Safari. And I think Sonoma's version of Safari is going to be terrific. Especially since they are finally adding Profiles. Something every browser should have.

However, Arc is really well thought through. I know your team is iterating and listening to the community. I can see that through your communications and YouTube videos. You try stuff. Reverse it. Update it. Change it. I dig that. But this current version of Arc (1.5.1) is very good.

Here are my reservations, if I may lay them out here in public.

I don't know you. I know Apple. I know how Apple makes money. I know they don't make money by selling my personal information to advertisers. I pay them, handsomely, for their well made products, software, and services. And I'm very happy to do so. I would love to pay you for Arc. I'm scared that you don't allow me to pay for Arc.

You used Chromium as your basis for Arc. I totally understand why - that Extension ecosystem! There is no way you chose it because it was an efficient resource user on the Mac or because the primary contributor to its open source code is an altruistic company whose business model aligns with your company's values. The reason this scares me is that without picking through each line of Arc's code I don't know if you've unGoogled it enough.

That's about it. So I think I have a few simple ideas that would help me (and, maybe others?) to go all in on Arc and keep it as my default browser.

Let me pay you. Whatever future business model you have in mind -- I'm almost certain it is ads. I know you'll make some money (hopefully a lot) from Google Search or something but I'm sure ads is somewhere in your pitch deck -- let me opt out of that by paying you. I use a browser every single day all day. I would pay a fair price.

Give me a way to use Arc without an account. I don't mind that you have an account signup in the app. I think it makes total sense to forge that bond between company and user. And I'm sure the Arc account will be useful. However, if you go belly up (and, let's face it, if you're venture backed the chances of you going belly up are incredibly high) I still want to be able to use Arc.

Whether or not you ever read this, or implement my ideas, I do want to say that the team has done a great job building a fine piece of software. Very well done.

Oh, two more things while I have you. Join the fediverse! How in the world hasn't The Browser Company created their own Mastodon instance yet? @arc@thebrowser.company is like just begging to be a thing. And, the iPad app. Ship it!

Sincerely, Colin

(Emailed to The Browser Company on August 30, 2023)

[cipher-fresh]

earlier today I set up my laptop and connected it to my TV to play Tubi at 2x speed with my browser extension and sat on my bed to watch it. I wanted to search a new show to watch but didn’t want to get off my bed to type it into my laptop so I made a tumblr draft of a post reading “5th doctor”, saved it, then accessed tumblr on my laptop using my mouse on my nightstand, copied and pasted “fifth doctor” into the Tubi search bar and watched Arc of Infinity

sometimes you just have to be like wow I really do love in the future