In the realm of gaming, few have accomplished as much as streamer Ironmouse has without ever actually revealing their name. As a Puerto Rican singer and VTuber, she’s taken Twitch by storm as the platforms most followed and subscribed to VTuber, all while wearing the guise of her virtual persona, an anime-esque demon queen with a perky demeanor.
On top of amassing a rabid community and accolades — including winning “Best VTuber” and “Content Creator of the Year” at The Game Awards 2023, she’s also led philanthropic efforts to raise awareness for immune disorders like CVID (common variable immunodeficiency), of which she is afflicted.
Through it all, she remains lighthearted, relishing her love of gaming, saying, “I like games that make me feel excited to be in their world. I have a very big imagination, so if a game can actually make me feel an emotion, be it happiness, sadness, or fearing for my life, it’s doing a great job.”
Speaking with Rolling Stone on the future of gaming, she laid out three titles she’s most excited for this year.
‘Final Fantasy VII Rebirth‘
The second part of a trilogy that reimagines the fates of the characters from 1997’s Final Fantasy VII, Rebirth has a lot riding on it. The original is one of the most beloved role-playing games of all time and its story is one of the most expansive and influential in the industry (the game originally ran across three discs on PlayStation). With 2020’s Final Fantasy VII Remake just scratching the surface of the OG narrative before breaking the chains of Destiny to tell an entirely new story, Rebirth is sure to surprise fans and newcomers alike.
Ironmouse agrees, saying, “I’m just really excited to see where they’re going to take the story because it was one game before, now there’s a second part and I just want to see what kind of changes they [make] from the original.”
Like many, the streamer is a lifelong fan and invested in the fate of the franchise mainstays, adding, “I love Final Fantasy, and I’ve been a fan of Final Fantasy for so long. I’m kind of — I don’t want to say I’m worried, but I just want to see what they do. Honestly, I’ve been trying to figure out where they’re gonna take the story because I have thoughts, but I don’t know.”
Players can find out what surprises are to come when Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches for the PlayStation 5 on Feb 29.
‘Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth’
Her second pick, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a safer bet. Part of Sega’s perennial series formerly known in North America as Yakuza, whose most recent entry, Ishin! was one of our favorite games of 2023, Infinite Wealth promises to bring back more of the franchise’s gonzo tone complete with a hundred percent more Danny Trejo.
The eclectic mix of drama and outlandish mini-games that pairs slice of life gameplay with the tale of a criminal underworld is part of the selling point to Ironmouse, who muses, “It’s crazy because you can go through so many emotions playing that game. There’s a lot of dramatic moments, but then the comedic moments are what really sell it to me. [It] feels like it’s a franchise that’s not trying to take itself seriously while taking it so seriously at the same time.”
But there’s also a more personal tie to Infinite Wealth for the VTuber, who’s also thrilled to see her good friend (and fellow streamer) Kson join the series as an in-game character. Ironmouse attributes their friendship to introducing her to the Like a Dragon series in the first place, explaining, “She’s been obsessed with the franchise for so long, so I developed a newfound appreciation for it through her. So, I’m just really excited to see what this new game has in store, but I’m even more excited because my friend is actually in the game. I’m so proud of her.”
Experience the bizarre world of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth when it debuts on PlayStation 4 &5, Xbox One & Series X|S, and PC on Jan 26.
Tekken 8
Following last year’s Street Fighter 6 and Mortal Kombat 1, the cultural resurgence of fighting games will soon be fully solidified with the release of the the Tekken 8 — the last of the “Big Three” franchises in the genre to make its comeback. With overhauled mechanics and glitzy visuals built from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5, the newest iteration of the series is coming out swinging.
Despite her bubbly demeanor, it’s Tekken that brings out the warrior spirit in Ironmouse, admitting, “So, [I’ve] said that I don’t like competitive games, but I like fighting games a lot. I have been a fan of Tekken since I was a kid and I love it so much.”
On her favorite character, Ironmouse was definitive, announcing, “I’m a Eddie Gordo type girl,” which is great news for the streamer, given that the character was recently announced as the very first downloadable character post-launch.
But not content to play as others, Ironmouse has larger ambitions of her own: she wants to become the next great Tekken character. She says, “It would be a dream come true to be in a fighting game. I’m already in Smite, but to be in a fighting game? Oh my god, I get excited. I hope one day it’ll happen.”
To find out if Tekken 8 lives up to the hype, check it out with it releases on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on Jan. 26.
To see more of Ironmouse’s gaming exploits, follow her on Twitch.
