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Rainn Wilson at Fan Expo Chicago 2025
While there are 40 rules for the Schrute boys to follow, Wilson said the most important rule was to “be kind.”
“Be like 20 percent nicer than you think you need to be,” he said. “Going out into the world, I’m a pretty decent, reasonable pretty nice person. Give that extra 20 percent. How’s that? And if you don’t you get eaten in your sleep.”
aaroncynic
Aug 194 min read


GALLERY: Saturday Cosplay at Fan Expo Chicago 2025
Next time you attend a convention, we encourage you to stop for just a little bit and watch all the wonderful cosplay pass you by.
If you see something incredible, give them a compliment or two, take some pictures of their hard work, and trade insta handles. It's a welcoming world full of fun creative folks, and one of the best ways to bond with other people who like the things you do or find new things to love.
Here's some of the best things we saw on Saturday at Fan

Marielle Bokor
Aug 181 min read


Guardians of the Galaxy Panel: Fan Expo Chicago 2025
Fan Expo is known for its packed schedule full of A-list celebrity appearances but one of the major highlights this year was Saturday's Guardians of the Galaxy panel.
Alex Orona
Aug 182 min read


The Flash at Fan Expo Chicago 2025
It’s been two years since the series finale of The Flash on the CW. After 184 episodes and nine seasons, it’s a good time to reflect. Some of the cast reunited at Fan Expo Chicago to discuss their experiences on set as members of Team Flash.
Alex Orona
Aug 171 min read


GALLERY: Friday at Fan Expo Chicago 2025
Fan Expo Chicago 2025 is FIRE. And not just because it's "hotter than we thought it would be" but also because, Chicago comes to (cos)play!
Enjoy this gallery and come back tomorrow for more!

Culture Combine Staff
Aug 161 min read


Fan Expo Chicago 2025 Choose Your Own Adventure PREVIEW!
Just off the heels of Lolla, with Riot Fest on the horizon, it’s time to roll out the nerd carpet in Rosemont for Fan Expo Chicago!
Back when the Wiz was in town, we’d already be on the floor, but tonight we’re hard at work crafting our traditional Choose Your Own Adventure preview so you can craft your own unique con experience based on your personal preferences.
And, if you’re new to conventions, or just want a little sage advice, we’re here for you.

Marielle Bokor
Aug 1412 min read


Fantastic Four Review
Fantastic Four First Steps and Thunderbolts tells me that Marvel is definitely in need of a sea change, and these two films show me a bright future in looking inward, as opposed to dumbed down fisticuffs.
Alex Orona
Aug 145 min read


Death Stranding 2 Review
The Re-Strandening Or Beach’s Revenge Straight out of the brain of Hideo Kojima comes the sequel to 2015's first ever “Strand” game. In...
Alex Orona
Jul 265 min read


Ozzy Osbourne, Metal Legend, Passes Away at 76 after Triumphant Farewell Show
The music world (and world at large) remembers Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away today at the age of 76.

Marielle Bokor
Jul 222 min read


Review: Chicago Loves Winona Fighter
It's 10pm and something doesn't smell right but I can't put my finger on what. I take a big, deep breath through my nose, REALLY...
aaroncynic
Jul 222 min read


James Gunn Does Well - Superman Does Good
Well, it’s finally here for everyone to see: Superman . Editor's Note: This review contains spoilers for the film! James Gunn always had...
Antal Bokor
Jul 114 min read


Millions March Across America to Say "No Kings"
Millions of people in cities and states across America hit the streets on Saturday for one of the nation’s largest mass mobilizations in years. Dubbed “No Kings” by organizers, the protests were the latest escalation of people organizing against President Donald Trump, and the raids and kidnappings being carried out in his name by ICE, as well as fascism at large.
aaroncynic
Jun 181 min read


The Best of Steam Next Fest June 2025
We are closing out on the second of three Steam Next Fests of the year. This is the magical time when we are blessed with a festival of...
Alex Orona
Jun 163 min read


Mario Kart World is the Glimmering Hope in an Otherwise Dire Console Launch
Mario Kart 8 originally released for the Wii U back in 2014 but has seen new life being ported and expanded on the Switch. It’s been a powerhouse staple of most households for ten years now, but can anything steal the limelight away from such a dominant family party game? The answer is a resounding yes! Mario Kart World is a worthy successor, but stumbles in a few key areas. Still, let’s dig into what makes this new entry into the Mario Kart series so great.
Alex Orona
Jun 164 min read


PlayDate Season 2: A First Look
I can’t believe the PlayDate is already three years old, but here we are. It’s about time we got a Season 2! And there’s been a lot of stuff that happened since I last checked in on the PlayDate.
Antal Bokor
Jun 124 min read


The Alters is A Unique Hard Sci Fi Twist on Survival
Hard sci-fi is something that video games tend to fumble in a lot of ways. Even games like Elite Dangerous with its 1:1 scale universe have you interact with most of its world by shooting at it. The Alters, however, manages to use its hard sci-fi premise well, as an exploration on what makes a person who they are.
Antal Bokor
Jun 125 min read


I’m a Little T-Pose - To a T is Eccentric, Thought-Provoking and Full of Heart
To a T is a game that's about being stuck just the way you are, perfection as an imperfect goal, and...well, you'll have to play it to find out the rest.

Marielle Bokor
May 286 min read


Camaraderie Shines Bright at ACen 2025
This past weekend in Chicago, we attended the Anime Central Convention, or ACen as it’s known to the fandom. It’s one of the biggest anime cons in the Midwest, and features the most cosplay we've seen at a single convention. But it's also noted as one of the friendliest cons out there, and its community has continued to grow.
Alex Orona
May 223 min read


ACen 2025 Cosplay Gallery
The Anime Central Convention is one of the biggest conventions for cosplay in the midwest. Whether you’re into anime or not, this is where you go to show off your hard work in the cosplay space.
Alex Orona
May 201 min read


Roadcraft Masterfully Mixes Mudrunner Physics with Disaster Recovery Gameplay
The premise behind Roadcraft is simple: some sort of natural disaster has ravaged an area, and your job is to go in and get it running again. That includes tasks like clearing debris, cutting down trees, building roads, reconnecting electricity, delivering equipment and more.
Antal Bokor
May 195 min read
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