Heroes come in all shapes and sizes! There’s the brooding, overwhelming Alpha. The well-balanced Gamma hero.

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And of course, the sweet and subtle Beta, who can win a person over with a charming smile or a tender gesture. These heroes are sweet and supportive, good guys who are patient with their affections. There are obvious contenders for this title, especially the much debated Jamie Fraser of Diana Gabaldon’s, but hopefully this list of heroes will add some more Betas to your reading pile!Contemporary Romance. Paperback $7.99Alden Ainslie (, by Katie MacAlister)Alden Ainslie is committed to renovating a dilapidated Tudor mansion. He’s shy and introverted. When a troupe of medieval re-enactors arrives on the property, it’s essentially Alden’s worst nightmare, until he meets Mercy Starling, an American stranded in England.

Watching Alden get into one awkward situation after another is incredibly endearing. He’s hopeless around women, but upbeat Mercy is charmed by Alden’s passion for his restoration project. A cute contemporary romance with plenty of slapstick comedy! NOOK Book $7.49 $7.99Brian Sinclair (, by Olivia Cunning)As the lead guitarist and songwriter for one of the country’s most popular metal bands, Brian Sinclair can’t have an off day, but heartbreak leads him to a creative block, taking solace in drinking instead of writing. He’s a bit of a hopeless romantic and, with his notion of romance shattered, Brian isn’t quite sure how he’ll be able to keep the success going with his bandmatesuntil he meets psychologist Myrna Evans. One night with her and Brian’s found himself a new muse, though whether or not his attraction to Myrna can survive his latest tour is another story. Paperback $15.00Brody Brown (, by Lauren Dane)For readers who like their books on the hotter side, Brody Brown is a sensitive and caring tattoo artist in this contemporary erotic romance.

Brody is a provider. He’ll take care of anyone who needs help, and even raised his siblings when he was seventeen. He’s not above expressing his feelings, especially with the single mom, ballet dancer next door.

Though tattooed and in love with his Harley, Brody is definitely a hero who looks bad on the outside, but inside is a big ol’ softie. Paperback $14.99David Butler (, by Santino Hassell)Sunset Park is an angst-filled, friends to lovers, opposites attract gay romance. David Butler is a neurotic teacher with a new roommate, Raymond Rodriguez, a bisexual longshoreman who’s a little rough around the edges. What starts as a friendship between roomies turns into something more, but David is still harboring a lot of guilt and lack of closure from his previous relationship. It’s an intense romance made hotter by David and Ray’s close quarters. NOOK Book $2.99Ed (, by Delphine Dryden)At a party, Ed makes a great first impression by spilling his drink on Beth. The aerospace engineer knows he’s blown his chances with the lovely psychology lecturer, until he meets her again at a BDSM club.

Beth usually plays the role of a submissive, but lately has been wanting to try the other side of things. When Ed shows up at the club she frequents, he makes a startling wager. He’ll be her submissive for the night if she agrees to go on a date with him. Ed’s willingness to give up control to Beth, despite their disastrous first meeting, is kind of adorable.

Paperback $15.95Ethan Dexter (, by Kristen Callihan)Ethan Dexter is a bearded football player with tattoos and a man-bun. He may look intimidating, especially with his football pads on, but he has a heart of gold, especially when it comes to a certain family friend, Fiona Mackenzie. Fiona is also the more “experienced” between the two of them and is warned to take it easy with Ethan’s feelings. It’s a great role-reversal from what readers normally see in romance. Fiona and Ethan’s tentative, long distance romance is so sweet. Paperback $7.99Ivan Shifflett (, by Adriana Anders)Under Her Skin isn’t for everyone. It’s rather dark, with a heroine fresh out of a toxic, abusive relationship.

Starting over in a new town, the heroine, Uma, keeps to herself, though she’s attracted to her next door neighbor, Ivan. Despite his gruff, monosyllabic exterior, Ivan is gentle and patient in his pursuit of getting to know Uma better.

And, he has his own blacksmithing studio. A stunning debut romance from Anders with a hero readers won’t forget.

Paperback $7.99Joe Kowalski (, by Shannon Stacey)Joe Kowalski is a reclusive author. He doesn’t do any sort of press and he likes his privacy. When the girl that got away returns to town, hoping to negotiate an interview, Joe makes Keri Daniels a wager.

She has to survive his family’s annual camping trip. For each day she makes it, Keri can ask Joe a question for her interview. Though Joe fully intends to make Keri work for her questions, it’s clear that he’s never stopped caring about it, which makes the time they spend together so sweet. Paperback $13.99Josh Tucker (, by Jennifer Comeaux)Josh Tucker and his sister are competitive pairs ice skaters. He’s been born into a wealthy family with access to the best trainers, but the limelight of ice skating fame is at odds with his shy personality. To make things more difficult, he’s been spending time with the competition: Courtney Carlton, a pairs skater from another team.

She’s determined to qualify for the Olympics, but with Josh and Courtney becoming fast friends, can their attraction to each other survive the Olympic trials? NOOK Book $3.99Liam Nussbaum (, by Emma Barry)Political blogger, Liam Nussbaum, spends a lot of his time behind his computer, but his feelings for socialite Alyse Philips are very real. Alyse’s passion for philanthropy leads her to very powerful circles. When she discovers she’s possibly being framed for money laundering scheme, Alyse turns to Liam for help and he sees this as a perfect opportunity. Liam could get the coveted news story of the year and finally convince the girl of his dreams to give him a chance.

NOOK Book $3.49Michael Young (, by Sarah Mayberry)As a young widower, Michael Young has his hands full taking care of two children while dealing with the sudden loss of his wife. He’s lonely and grieving, but still trying to be the best dad he can be. Family friend, Angie Bartlett, has had enough with watching Michael struggle, and offers to help out. As Angie and Michael bond, friendship turns into attraction. Is this new relationship something Michael wants to turn into forever, or will he risk losing Angie as both a lover and a friend? NOOK Book $7.99Nev Chamberlain (, by Ruthie Knox)Nev Chamberlain is a straitlaced banker.

He’s everything his family wanted him to be. But truth be told, he’s miserable. The stiff corporate lifestyle isn’t for him, though his parents probably wouldn’t support his artistic dreams. Enter Cath Talarico with her tattoos and wild side.

She’s the complete opposite of Nev, but she sense something kindred beneath Nev’s crisp, pressed suits and expensive ties. It’s an opposites attract romance about a good buy who wants to go bad. Paperback $10.32 $16.00Niall Stella (, by Christina Lauren)Who can resist an awkward, stuffy British hero who doesn’t quite know how to handle himself around women? Niall Stella is a sought after urban planning executive, but a business trip with his firm’s promising engineering intern poses quite a problem. The flirty and fun Ruby Mills sends his brain short-circuiting and with the two of them sharing close quarters in New York, Niall needs to work on calming his nerves around Ruby, or the sexual tension between them might just eat him up. Paperback $14.99Rafe (, by Sarina Bowen)Rafe is a virginal, stand up, sweetheart of a guy.

When he loses his V-card to Bella as a result of a sloppy hookup, he feels completely awful about it, courtesy of his Catholic guilt. Bella isn’t interested in a relationship, but she’s left humiliated by a fraternity prank, Rafe is on hand to be Bella’s knight in shining armor. He’s incredibly thoughtful and what makes Rafe a great beta hero is that he’s not one to mistake his own kindness for a weakness. Paperback $17.99Rex Vale (, by Roan Parrish)Rex Vale has lived in Holiday, Michigan for years, lonely and in a comfortable cabin. When rough-around-the-edges Daniel Mulligan accidentally hits a dog and dings up his car, Rex helps him out.

He bandages the dog’s leg, gives Daniel a place to stay for the night, clothes, and even cooks him a meal. The two share a drunken kiss, but Rex has enough presence of mind to not let things get out of hand. The scene, which sets the background for Rex and Daniel’s future interactions, perfectly shows how nurturing and selfless Rex can be. NOOK Book $5.99Rob Rush (, by Cara McKenna)Rob Rush is living a life of solitude and penance in the Scottish Highlands. He prefers hiding out from the world, covering his introversion with a gruff demeanor. When a woman turns up ill on his doorstep in the woods, he’d love to be able to turn her away, but he can’t seem to do so.

Instead, he takes Merry Murray in to get some rest and heal up. What follows is a slow burn, erotic romance between two people with plenty of baggage.Historical Romance. Paperback $7.99Benedict Frost (, by Theresa Romain)While serving in the Royal Navy, Benedict Frost loses his sight. He spends his time now traveling and working on his memoir. Unfortunately, he lacks the funds for his writing endeavor until he hears about a treasure hunt offering a large reward. But he’s not the only one competing! Among others after the prize is courtesan Charlotte Perry.

As Benedict and Charlotte keep coming up against obstacles, they realize they work better together than apart. Paperback $7.99Colin Sandhurst (, by Tessa Dare)Colin Sandhurst is known as Lord Payne, a notorious rake who’s agreed to fake an elopement with spinster Minerva Greenwood. Their false relationship will be put to the test as the two share a 400-mile carriage ride and a bed along the way. Despite Colin’s being a bit of scoundrel, he’s witty and flirtatious, doing his best to put the awkward Minerva at ease, though behind his humor he hides some rather deep insecurities.

A Week to Be Wicked is a fun historical romance with a unique road trip element. Paperback $7.99Daniel Merial (, by Jennifer McQuiston)The women of London all seem to be in need of medical attention lately and Miss Clare Westmore knows why. It all boils down to the handsome Dr. Daniel Merial with his gentle bedside manner.

While Clare is popular and sociable, Daniel doesn’t feel as comfortable in a crowded ballroom. When Clare twists her ankle, turning her into the season’s latest wallflower, the only saving grace is being able to bask in Daniel’s TLC. Luckily for Clare, he takes his job very seriously. Paperback $7.99George Fitzhugh (, by Sherry Thomas)George Fitzhugh has an arrangement with his wife, Millie.

She earns the title of countess by marrying him, and her wealth saves him from bankruptcy. Once they produce an heir, they’ll lead separate lives, with Fitz reuniting with his childhood sweetheart. But Fitz sees Millie as his best friend.

As the conclusion to their arrangement looms ever closer, he begins to fear the impending loss of his wife. What seemed like a perfect agreement at the beginning, suddenly feels wrong. Fitz isn’t sure he can abandon Millie, especially not after finally consummating their marriage. Paperback $7.99Graeme Montgomery (, by Maya Banks)Forced to marry the daughter of his enemy, Graeme Montgomery is surprised at meeting his delicate wife, Eveline Armstrong. Eveline is the pride of her clan, though “touched.” In truth, she’s deaf, a secret that she’s done her best to keep hidden, but she’s worried she won’t be able to hide it from her new husband. Despite being a rugged and intimidating Scotsman, Graeme is tender with Eveline, defending her to those who dismiss her, and calm when she struggles to understand things around her. Recommended for those who prefer their heroes in kilts!

Paperback $7.99Jeremy Cleland (, by Eva Leigh)Jeremy Cleland is a clergyman who has always lived up to his family’s expectations. He’s also been tasked with ousting the identity of an erotic author making quite the stir. Lady Sarah Frampton is the author in question, a somewhat shy woman Jeremy meets at a garden party. What makes this romance so great is that both characters are introverted, but highly intelligent. However, their shyness belies their romantic needs both inside and outside the bedroom. Paperback $7.99Kent Randolph (, by Beverly Jenkins)A friends to lovers romance set in the American West, Breathless is sweet and satisfying. Kent Randolph has known Portia Carmichael for most of his life.

Now grown, he has himself a ranch and all that’s missing is a wife and family. A patient man, Kent has his eyes set on Portia, though her hands are more than full with tempting suitors. He handles them in stride and rather than interfering with Portia’s decisions, he waits for her. No heroine-claiming alpha males here! Paperback $6.99Oliver Rivington (, by Cat Sebastian)Cat Sebastian is a new and wonderful force in the world of historical romance.

Limbo is a 2D platform puzzle game, originally released on Xbox Live. Now you can play it on your Mac via Steam. In Limbo, you control a boy on a journey through a strange and frightening world full of monsters and mechanisms that are out to get him. It's presented in stark monochrome, but the graphics are far from basic. Download LIMBO for macOS 10.7 or later and enjoy it on your Mac. ‎Uncertain of his sister's fate, a boy enters LIMBO. What the press said: “Limbo is as close to perfect at what it does as a game can get.” 10/10 – Destructoid “The game is a masterpiece.” 5/5 – GiantBomb “Limbo is genius. For anyone tempted by the current Steam sale of Limbo (50% off until Jan. 3rd) the Mac port of Limbo is supported under SteamPlay, and will be coming to Steam in early January 2012. (January 12th, if what I've read is correct.). Clicking on the Download Now (Visit Site) button above will open a connection to a third-party site. Download.com cannot completely ensure the security of the software hosted on third-party sites. Publisher's Description. Uncertain of his sister's fate, a boy enters LIMBO. You can download Limbo 1.1.4861 for Mac from our software library for free. Our built-in antivirus checked this Mac download and rated it as 100% safe. The actual developer of this Mac application is Playdead. Limbo for Mac lies within Games, more precisely Puzzle. Limbo steam.

Oliver Rivington is home from war and all he wants out of life is a quiet, predictable existence. But then Jack Turner shows up, a man raised in the London underground with a history of criminal activity. The two men couldn’t be more opposites: refined and rough. Though fate has a way of shaking things up, as a gentleman falls for a ruffian. Don’t miss out on this romance!

Paperback $7.99Nick Blackshear (, by Cecilia Grant)Nick Blackshear has been in love with his friend Kate Westbrook for years, but she’s already turned him down and he’s not looking to repeat that heartache again. What Kate needs to help restore the reputation of her family is a match to a wealthy man and if Nick can’t be with her, he’ll do his best to help her and avoid questionable suitors. However, remaining just friends in the wake of a trying to make a match is tougher than it seems, and Kate begins to realize that perhaps the right man for her has been there all along.

Paperback $7.99Quill McKenna (, by Jo Goodman)There’s something irresistible about a hero who isn’t intimidated by a powerful woman. When bodyguard Quill McKenna’s boss needs a new gun for hire, he recommends sharpshooting bounty hunter Calico Nash. Their first meeting is amazing, with Quill believing Calico’s in danger. He’s slightly surprised to find Calico has tied up and knocked out the “danger” in question. Once the two begin to work together, it’s obvious that Quill not only respects Calico as an equal member of his team, but as a woman who can handle herself in tough situations.

Paperback $11.99 $12.99Robert Blaisdell (, by Courtney Milan)If you like angsty historical romances, The Duchess War is for you! Robert Blaisdell is a handsome duke who is desperate to remove himself from the wrongdoings caused by his father by supporting worker’s rights. It’s in this advocacy that he meets bespectacled Minerva Lane, and the two form a bit of an alliance. Minvera also has her fair share of secrets, and watching Robert and Minerva slowly open up to one another is enough to leave readers misty-eyed.

Paperback $5.99Sebastian Vane (, by Caroline Linden)Penniless and injured, Sebastian Vane is a man with a ruined reputation. With his inheritance gone and his father lost to madness, he can’t help but feel that he may suffer the same fate eventually. The only light at the end of his tunnel is Abigail Weston, a kind and beautiful woman with an extremely large dowry. Poor Sebastian’s insecurities are heartbreaking, feeling that Abigail would rather have anyone as a suitor but him. It Takes a Scandal will have readers rooting desperately for a happy ending, as Sebastian soaks up the happiness Abigail gives him.

Paperback $14.00Solomon Hathaway (, by Rose Lerner)Solomon Hathaway runs a dye-making shop and is grieving the loss of his brother. Unfortunately, a meddling uncle has him sent on a wild goose chase to Lady Serena after an heirloom goes missing. To his surprise, Lady Serena is the same woman who was supposed to take his virginity years ago. Shy Solomon backed out of his meeting with the courtesan, though still paid her handsomely for the trouble. Now, they two must work together to retrieve Solomon’s family heirloom. In return, Solomon and his eye for color will update Serena’s inn. It’s quite the bargain that puts the two of them in frequent close contact.

Paperback $7.99Vincent Hunt (, by Mary Balogh)Wanting nothing to do with his mother’s meddlesome matchmaking, Vincent Hunt hightails it to the countryside. He feels stifled by his mother and sisters’ attention, wanting to do everything for him on account of his blindness, but all he wants is some room to breathe. Sophia Fry’s family hopes to use the viscount’s blindness to secure her into a marriage with Vincent, but Sophia refuses and is thrown out of the home. Vincent, being the upstanding gentleman that he is, offers Sophia a betrothal anyway given her predicament, but can love spring from this unceremonious marriage of convenience? Paperback $7.99Winter Makepeace (, by Elizabeth Hoyt)Winter Makepeace lives his life for others.

He looks after his sisters, teaches young children, and currently serves as headmaster for a foundling home. He’s serious and staid, though what others don’t know is that he’s leading a rather dangerous double life. Lady Isabel Beckinhall sees the stoic Winter as a challenge, and she loves nothing more than a challenge. Once little girls begin disappearing from the area, Winter must balance his quest for vengeance and the passion he feels for Isabel.Paranormal & Fantasy Romance. Paperback $7.99Archimedes Fox (, by Meljean Brook)For steampunk and alternate history fans, what happens when a grumpy airship captain and mercenary meets a charming treasure hunter? Archimedes Fox is supposed to be dead, but it seems the treasure hunter has nine lives as he makes his way onto Yasmeen Corsair’s airship.

He’s boarded once before, and Yasmeen isn’t about to let him talk his way on again. However, Archimedes doesn’t take Yasmeen’s near-murder of him to heart. Instead, he finds himself completely infatuated, and if he can melt Yasmeen’s icy exterior while swiping the Leonardo da Vinci sketch she has in her position, then he’d be killing two birds with one stone. NOOK Book $3.99Brishen Khaskem (, by Grace Draven)Brishen Khaskem, prince of the Kai, has found himself agreeing to a political marriage. Loyal to his people and his kingdom, he marries Ildiko, a human and the niece of the Gauri king. Their cultures couldn’t be more different, but both seem committed to making the marriage work. Unfortunately, Brishen finds Ildiko to be hideous and she feels the same about him.

What follows is a slow burn romance between two unlikely allies, who seem to know nothing aside from the duties of their respective kingdoms. Paperback $16.00James Bennett (, by Alisha Rai)In a post-apocalyptic world, James Bennett is an analyst who lives underground. It’s been years since he’s left his bunker, surveilling the outside through technology.

He’s formed a bond with Jules Guerrero, a woman who patrols outside, protecting surviving humans from creatures that roam the surface. The two communicate nightly, a pseudo-long distance attraction growing. When Jules goes missing, James gathers up the courage to leave his base and find her, by any means necessary. Paperback $7.99Lachlan “Lock” MacRyrie (, by Shelly Laurenston)Lock MacRyrie is used to intimidating those around him. Not only is he nearly 7-feet tall, but he’s also a Jersey boy, and a bear shifter. However, beneath his big and bulky exterior, he’s sweet, loyal, and has a deep love of honey. The one woman he doesn’t seem to scare is hybrid tiger/lion shifter and Philly native, Gwen O’Neill.

When an enemy starts targeting hybrid shifters, Lock knows that Gwen can handle herself, but the bear in him wants to help. A great blend of action and humor, The Mane Squeeze has a well-matched couple on the wild side. Paperback $8.99Lucien (, by Gena Showalter)Who knew that Death was a beta hero? Years ago, Lucien had to ferry his beloved’s soul to the Underworld. That moment broke his heart and he did everything he could to keep women away from him, even physically scarring his body to make himself seem less attractive. Anya is the goddess of Anarchy.

She’s a warrior woman who has her sights set on Lucien. For readers who love to see the roles reversed, with a heroine in pursuit of her celibate hero, pick this one up! Paperback $7.99Malkom Slaine (, by Kresley Cole)Demon Malkom Slaine has not only been cast out from his people, but poisoned with vampiric blood. Sheltered and still somewhat innocent in spite of his demonic heritage, Malkom doesn’t quite understand his attraction to the bawdy, outspoken witch, Carrow Graie.

The two are a mismatched pair. Malkon is quiet, while Carrow is loud. She’s experienced, while he isnot. The tenderness inside Malkom makes it worse for Carrow when she realizes she must betray him.

Though he’s survived countless tragedies, can Malkom survive the ultimate heartbreak? Paperback $8.99Saille T’Willow (, by Robin D. Owens)Saille T’Willow has recently discovered his mate is none other than DuFleur Thyme, a woman who wants nothing to do with him or matehood in general. She’s a scientist, dedicated to her work. It also doesn’t help that Saille’s grandmother brought a scandal upon DuFleur’s father. Luckily, Saille is a patient man, waiting until DuFleur comes to him.

What’s great about this fantasy romance is that Saille doesn’t rush DuFleur into something she doesn’t want. Readers will appreciate this hero who can take things slowly. Paperback $7.99Seth Mortensen (, by Richelle Mead)Author Seth Mortensen is Georgina Kincaid’s dream guy. He’s introverted, adorable, and shares Georgina’s deep love of books. There’s just one catch: Georgina is a succubus and can’t touch him. Talk about a temptation.

Even with this glaring, obvious obstacle between them, Seth can’t stay away from Georgina and he’s in no hurry to give up on her. It’s hard not to love a hero who doesn’t believe in insurmountable problems, especially succubus-sized ones.Romantic Suspense. Paperback $5.99Derek DiMarzio (, by Laura Kaye)As the computer expert to the group of Special Forcers operatives who run the Hard Ink Tattoo shop, Derek DiMarzio is used to infiltrating things with the help of a keyboard and mouse. But to truly help his teammates, he must go into enemy territory.

His first order of business is to establish contact with their enemy’s sister, clinical psychologist Emilie Garza. Smart and honorable, Derek is dedicated to his mission, though experiences a major setback when he realizes Emilie has become way more than a target. Paperback $7.99Eli Landon (, by Nora Roberts)Whiskey Beach has become a solace for Eli Landon after a dark scandal rocked his world.

Guilty in the public eye of murdering his soon-to-be ex-wife, he’s been interrogated by police and press alike. Now, all he wants is some peace and quiet to rebuild his life and maybe even write a book. Abra Walsh does anything and everything.

She cleans houses, teaches yoga, and even makes jewelry. Abra becomes a friend to Eli and he’s grateful for her company, until the murder investigation finds its way to the small town of Whiskey Beach. Paperback $7.99Ken Karmody (, by Suzanne Brockmann)Ken “Wildcard” Karmody is known as the joke-cracking tech expert, always there to bring levity to the situation with a quick quip. When former college acquaintance Samantha von Hopf specifically requests his help in dropping of some ransom money, he’s surprised to say the least, but begrudgingly agrees. Samantha’s feisty nature frequently trips up Kenny’s sometimes silly nature, making them an odd by endearing pair.

Also, it’s not often readers get to see a nerdy Navy SEAL! NOOK Book $4.99Tobias Faraday (, by Edie Harris)Fireworks explode when a brassy, mouthy British assassin meets a staid and serious lawyer! Tobias Farraday has helped keep spy Chandler McCallister captive for information on who harmed his sister. However, she agrees to help on one condition and that’s to attend her sister’s wedding. Tobias reluctantly acquiesces, but he has to go with herand pose as her date. The pair are opposites, with Chandler being loud and confident, while Tobias prefers to blend into the background. A great fake relationship romance with covert operations and plenty of action.

Paperback $7.99Virgil Skinner (, by Brenda Novak)Virgil Skinner spent fourteen years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Now released, he’s adjusting to life once again, determined to protect his sister and her family. Even if that means going back to prison undercover to help the California Department of Corrections. Chief Deputy Warden Peyton Adams has mixed feelings about the assignment and especially about Virgil’s safety.

How can she keep a man so selfless safe, when he’ll do just about anything for the people he loves?Which beta heroes are your favorite?

Further ReadingMost of these new games are set in the League of Legends universe, one that we're admittedly not bullish on at Ars Technica. That's one reason why the biggest exception to the newly rising LoL-iverse caught our eye:.Previously known as 'Project A,' this PC-exclusive game was first teased as a 'character-based tactical shooter.' That description, combined with, had us asking: was Riot seriously going to slam and together in such shameless fashion? The answer is a loud and clear 'yes.'

And after diving into the new game's first public test this week, we've come away utterly impressed with this chocolate-and-peanut-butter combination. Shameless as it is, this early version of Valorant is already as thoughtful and compelling an entry in the online-shooter fray as we've seen in years. On Brimstone, on Phoenix, on Sova and Omen. Control the map with Viper's range of poison-cloud powers.Another differentiation from Overwatch: most of these abilities are designed around CS-style tactics. In particular, many characters can create massive clouds and temporary walls, which can be used to either break sight lines or block map paths outright.Five characters are unlocked for all players by default, and an additional five can be unlocked by earning experience points through gameplay. (Though the game's closed beta includes real-world money purchases, the heroes cannot be purchased this way.) No team can have duplicates of the same character in a match. S-tier fun for garbage-tier criticsI'll confess: I went into Valorant's closed beta as a garbage-tier player.

In spite of playing the earliest CS mods during my college heyday, I've never been fantastic at tactical shooters, even though I've kept up with various comers to CS:GO's throne. The only one we've seen really keep up a sustained fanbase is Rainbow Six: Siege, which emphasizes gadgets and destructible cover; most other attempts to usurp CS's popularity have hewed too closely to CS's model, usually without success.But my hours of Valorant have flown by in fantastic fashion, and that quality is largely thanks to its nimble handling of these character classes.

To be clear, these don't turn the game into a run-and-rush explosion of superpowers. Careful, slow movement is crucial no matter what skill level you bring into a tactical shooter, and that doesn't change with Valorant's range of character-specific abilities. The sounds of footsteps really matter in terms of revealing position, so you'll want to hold the 'walk' button by default (especially with how incredible Riot's 3D sound-modeling tech works on headphones). Valorant gameplay footage, courtesy of Riot.Instead, the character-specific abilities give new and inexperienced players a variety of ways to noticeably contribute through slow-and-tense combat—and more matrices to quickly adapt and learn from. Maybe I won't kill anyone in a single round, but I'll at least pop off my vision-blocking domes or enemy-stifling patches of ice.

Doing that a few times, and communicating with teammates in the process, organically taught me where and when to toss those attacks. Like, maybe wait a minute. Look at my squadmates' reveals of enemy positions. Redirect my abilities elsewhere on the map accordingly. What's more, this learning process kept me crouching and sneaking through maps and led me to more organic opportunities to exchange bullets (sometimes successfully, too).Riot also rolled this closed beta out in a clever fashion.

You could only claim keys by watching other approved players' streams, which Riot has tracked for code distribution over the past week. The resulting audience of closed beta players has been phenomenal, at least in my anecdotal experience. Every team I've joined has included helpful, focused players, all ready to offer tactical advice and guidance over their headsets—along with the kind of map- and character-specific knowledge that might only come from watching hours of pro players' Valorant experience. (Speaking of: the closed beta's four maps all feel like tactical-combat playgrounds of bliss, as each offers a different tack on the 'rush a position and set a bomb' archetype.

A given map might have two or three possible bombing points, and each is a playground of map-crossing routes, combat sight lines, and a wicked web of options for snipers and run-and-gunners to annoy each other with.). / Most of my rounds in Valorant weren't great. Here's an exception, which the game has saved for me to review any time I want via the 'career' tab. The map on the bottom-right animates to show the round's progress, as well.While my playtime has so far been admittedly brief, caused in part by first-day server woes, every session included some kind of 'gosh, why don't more shooters have this?' After my first match, I noticed a ridiculous dump of round-by-round stats that I could study. After my second match, I realized that each round's bomb has a massive explosion radius, which forces the bomb-planting team to juggle a funky proposition: Do I stay closer to the bomb to shoot anyone who might defuse it? Or do I keep a bigger distance so I can escape its explosion and keep my gear for the next round, thus saving precious in-game cash?

With every session, I felt more and more convinced that Riot knew what it was doing with its handling of every CS-equivalent scenario. Further ReadingThat subtle stuff drove me to type this out, even as a tactical-shooter novice. Valorant has me absolutely convinced that Riot can launch a legitimate contender to Counter-Strikes' throne. The questions of when that will happen, and exactly how its retail payment model will play out, remain to be seen. In the latter case, at least, this looks like Valorant will have an Apex Legends-styled economy, with new characters to be earned via gameplay and new outfits to be purchased with cash. Until then, I will continue playing—and watching—Riot's inventive, impressive shooter debut.