Warning: this text comprises full spoilers for each episode of Secret Degree.

Prime Video is as soon as once more championing the online game adaptation with its model new animated TV present, Secret Degree. Produced by Blur Studio, the corporate behind many incredible online game cinematics and Netflix’s Love, Dying & Robots, this CGI anthology collection dives right into a model new recreation universe every episode.

This primary season is made up of 15 quick tales set within the worlds of Unreal Match, Pac-Man, Dungeons & Dragons, and extra. Every episode is a standalone story that anybody can watch with out prior data of the video games, however you’ll actually have a richer expertise in case you have an understanding of the phrases they’re drawn from. That’s why we’ve put collectively this explainer information, which solutions the largest lore and background questions from every episode.

So in the event you’ve watched Secret Degree and are available away asking issues like “Who’s Xan?”, “What’s the Cult of the Dragon?” or “What was in that field?”, then you definately’re in the fitting place for solutions.

In fact, proceed with warning: this text comprises spoilers for each episode of Secret Degree accessible up to now.

Episode 1 – Dungeons & Dragons: The Queen’s Cradle

The Queen’s Cradle relies on Dungeons & Dragons, the 50-year-old tabletop RPG that created the world through which Baldur’s Gate 3 is ready. As is typical of D&D’s fantasy adventures, the story follows a questing social gathering of various characters: Mora, a goliath (see: mini large) paladin; Tally, a gnome wizard; Luzum, a dwarf monk; and Ahokal, an orc druid. Their mission is to save lots of Solon, a younger man coated in mysterious tattoos whom the social gathering rescues from the Cult of the Dragon.

What’s The Cult of the Dragon?

The Cult of the Dragon is a faction from the tabletop lore that believes undead dragons will in the future rule the world. A few of its extra grisly practices contain sacrificing individuals to the dragon gods, and that’s why Solon has been tattooed with these runes and symbols – the cult intends to sacrifice him to Tiamat, the five-headed queen of evil dragons. It’s talked about that Solon was supposed to be sacrificed on the Nicely of Dragons, which is a temple of Tiamat hidden away inside a volcano.

Who’s Oriel, the gold dragon?

Not all D&D dragons are evil. Tiamat’s brother and rival, Bahamut, is the chief of the noble metallic dragons. That’s why the social gathering seeks out Oriel, a golden dragon, to assist treatment Solon of his affliction that causes him to see visions of Tiamat. Oriel is an unique character for this story somewhat than an essential dragon within the lore, which is an effective factor contemplating he will get torn aside by Tiamat as she materialises inside him.

Tiamat’s respawn

It’s not precisely clear how Tiamat arrives in the way in which she does. The Nicely of Dragons has been utilized in prior D&D tales to coax Tiamat into the Materials Airplane (see: ‘regular’ actuality) from her lair within the 9 Hells. That’s seemingly what’s occurring right here, and Tiamat’s journey from hell could possibly be thought of one thing of a ‘rebirth’ or, to make use of a online game time period, a ‘respawn’. This idea is one thing explored throughout the whole Secret Degree collection.

Episode 2 – Sifu: It Takes a Life

It Takes a Life relies on Sifu, the 2022 motion recreation from developer Sloclap. Set in China, the sport follows the journey of a person looking for revenge for the dying of his father. In contrast to most episodes of Secret Degree, It Takes a Life really takes place throughout the storyline of its supply materials – the combat scenes are a recreation of Sifu’s second stage, The Membership.

Why can the MC respawn?

All through the episode we see our hero, recognized solely as MC (predominant character), die repeatedly. Slightly than rot in a puddle of his personal blood, the MC is ready to resurrect and proceed combating. This recreates a mechanic from the online game, through which the MC has a magical talisman that raises him from the lifeless. The power comes with a value, although; every resurrection ages the MC by a number of years. By the tip of the episode we see that the MC has grow to be an previous man because of the variety of deaths he has respawned from.

Why does the talisman break?

The MC’s talisman is made up of a pendant with 5 charms. Sometimes these charms break when the MC resurrects. That is one other recreation of the sport’s mechanics, as in Sifu a allure shatters when the MC has aged previous a decade milestone. Mainly there’s solely so many occasions the talisman can save him, as all of the charms can have damaged by the point he’s aged previous 70 years previous.

Who’s the boss?

After combating his means by way of the membership, the MC lastly faces the person he has been trying to find. That is Sean, the second boss from the online game. Whereas we don’t see the combat itself within the episode, the realm is equivalent to that seen within the recreation, and Sean wields the identical bo employees that his recreation counterpart makes use of.

Episode 3 – New World: The As soon as and Future King

The As soon as and Future King relies on New World, the MMORPG from Amazon Sport Studios. Particularly, it appears to be a prequel to Aeternum, the sport’s current replace. Set on an island the place no person ever dies, it follows the journey of a buffoonish king dying again and again in his try to assert rulership over the land.

Who’s King Aelstrom?

In New World: Aeternum, Aelstrom is an NPC quest giver who offers tutorial targets for brand spanking new gamers. Little is thought about him within the recreation, however he does clarify that he’s a former king. This episode of Secret Degree thus acts as one thing of an origin story for Aelstrom. We see how his youthful self, voiced by none aside from Arnold Schwarzenegger, makes an attempt to put declare to the island of Aeternum. He in the end fails, which presumably is the place to begin for his profession as an NPC camped out on Aeternum’s seashore within the beginning space of Monarch’s Bluffs.

Within the recreation, it’s revealed that Aelstrom has been kicked out of the town of Prydwen. It appears seemingly that the citadel depicted on this episode is Prydwen and the story’s occasions are the rationale why Aelstrom has been exiled from the town.

Why can Aelstrom respawn?

This episode briefly explains that no person dies on Aeternum (the island’s title is definitely the Latin phrase for “everlasting” or “endlessly”), therefore why King Aelstrom is ready to resurrect time and again, Fringe of Tomorrow-style. Very like the Sifu episode, this potential is rooted within the unique recreation. In New World, a mineral referred to as Azoth grants the island its supernatural energy and ensures that each one dwelling issues can resurrect. Merely put, it’s the lore behind why your character can respawn within the recreation.

Episode 4 – Unreal Match: Xan

Xan is ready within the Unreal Match universe and, very similar to the earlier episode The As soon as and Future King, acts as a prequel to the occasions that happen within the video video games. Throughout this quick we witness a retelling of the origins of the Unreal Match, which was designed to place a cease to an AI rebellion.

Who’s Xan?

The hero of this story is Xan Kriegor. Whereas he seems to be very completely different on this episode in comparison with the Xan seen within the first Unreal Match recreation, Secret Degree’s model of the character lives a life that largely matches the unique lore. Xan was constructed by the Liandri Mining Company for harmful mining operations. His notoriety started when he led a robotic rebellion in opposition to his human masters on asteroid LBX-7683. The episode exhibits how Xan is the primary to strike again in opposition to his human oppressors.

What’s the Unreal Match?

In Secret Degree, it’s instructed that the Unreal Match dying matches are one thing of a punishment for Xan and his staff of robots for his or her position within the rise up. Issues are barely completely different within the video games’ unique backstory. After quelling the rise up, Liandri captured the rebels and reprogrammed them, turning them right into a staff of robotic warriors often called The Corrupt. They have been then entered into the Liandri Grand Match, a legally-sanctioned bloodsport that was launched to supply a violent outlet for an more and more aggressive inhabitants.

Slightly than trying to assist his fellow robots by way of a brutal punishment as he does in Secret Degree’s model of occasions, the unique Xan is an environment friendly soldier trying to win victory for his employer. He shortly rises to grow to be the match’s champion, turning into a mythological determine within the course of.

Episode 5 – Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Worry

And They Shall Know No Worry is a narrative set within the Warhammer 40,000 universe. This makes it the second Secret Degree episode to be primarily based on a tabletop recreation, however this quick additionally acts as a companion piece to the lately launched Area Marine 2 online game. Going down after SM2’s marketing campaign, this episode sees Lieutenant Titus working as a part of an elite Bladeguard staff on a mission to get rid of an agent of Chaos – daemons who pose the best menace to humanity. Persevering with Secret Degree’s ongoing theme of respawns and rebirth, the story explores how Area Marines are created by breaking down youngsters and rebuilding them into fearless warriors.

What’s within the field?

All through the primary half of the episode Titus drags a coffin-like field by way of the battlefield. It’s finally revealed to include an astropath, a slave with psychic powers. Astropaths are basically the Warhammer 40k model of a phone, as their skills permit them to ship and obtain messages throughout interstellar distances. They’re additionally able to speaking with aliens and daemons, which is probably going one of many explanation why this astropath was introduced alongside for the mission. The primary motive Titus has the astropath, although, is for its defensive capabilities – a ability often called Psychic Barrier. We see this getting used to guard the squad from the spectral grasp of Chaos.

Who’s Titus’ foe?

The Area Marines are as soon as once more combating servants of the Chaos god Tzeentch, and followers of the sport will recognise each the blue-skinned Tzaangors and the statue of the large, bird-like Lord of Change. Slumbering throughout the statue’s employees, although, is a brand new enemy: a Sorcerer of Tzeentch. There may be not a mannequin of this creature within the tabletop recreation, nevertheless it has all of the hallmarks of a servant of Tzeentch: tentacle-like appendages, bizarre eyes, and the flexibility to poison minds with terrifying illusions.

What is going on in Metaurus’ imaginative and prescient?

A lot of this episode is seen from the angle of Metaurus, the squad’s sergeant. He’s an unique character for this story, however an essential one: it’s revealed that he was the particular person to recruit Titus. Slightly than break Titus as a toddler and rebuild him right into a fearless soldier, Metarurus explains that Titus was utterly fearless at the same time as a younger boy.

When the Tzeentch sorcerer torments Metaurus with visions, he begins to think about what Titus’ full lack of concern might imply. We see the picture of Titus remodel right into a spike-adorned disciple of Chaos earlier than stabbing his previous mentor. The implication is that Titus’ full lack of concern might imply he’s not fearful sufficient of Chaos, and thus could also be tempted to hitch them. This hyperlinks to the story of the primary Area Marine recreation, through which Titus is believed to have colluded with Chaos and is subsequently convicted of heresy.

Fortunately Titus’ incapability to really feel concern saves the day. Inside his personal imaginative and prescient he’s capable of strike again in opposition to the sorcerer, permitting his bodily self to cleave the creature in two. Within the aftermath, Metaurus asks “what might a soul like that be able to?” Primarily based on the occasions of this story, in addition to the 2 Area Marine video games, it looks as if Titus is the last word defender of humanity, incapable of falling to Chaos.

Episode 6 – Pac-Man: Circle

Circle is maybe Secret Degree’s most out-there episode, primarily based on the arcade recreation Pac-Man. Contemplating the Eighties traditional doesn’t have a lot in the way in which of story or setting, this quick acts as one thing of a wild reimaging of what the mazes, dots, and ghosts of Pac-Man might symbolize.

Pac-Man easter eggs

As a result of Circle is a whole reimagining of the sport, the Pac-Man components are virtually extra like easter eggs than direct recreations. The Puck is, after all, this episode’s most direct model of Pac-Man – a floating yellow orb that travels by way of a jungle-like maze. However the traditional position of Pac-Man is definitely fulfilled by the Swordsman, a confused humanoid trying to outlive the maze on the behest of the Puck. The 2 characters are united by the Swordsman’s blade, which options the open mouthed design of Pac-Man on its crossguard.

The Puck spurs the Swordsman on by saying “You have to be hungry”, a reference to how gamers eat their means by way of the maze within the unique recreation. Whereas the Swordsman doesn’t eat something resembling the sport’s pill-like dots, he does chow down on quite a lot of beasts, in addition to the enduring cherries. The Puck additionally suggests the Swordsman ought to eat the maze’s hungry ghosts, a reference to how gamers are capable of eat the ghosts who hang-out them within the recreation.

There’s power in repetition

The episode’s title, Circle, refers back to the cycle that the Puck consistently goes by way of in the hunt for a Swordsman who will defeat the maze. It seems that seemingly infinite Swordsmen are being held in stasis, every one destined to be bullied by the Puck into travelling by way of the maze. The Puck tells the Swordsman that there’s “power in repetition”, a commentary on each the Swordsman’s have to eat again and again to succeed in his objective, and the Puck’s compulsion to strive again and again to power a Swordsman to finish the maze.

This commentary hyperlinks into Secret Degree’s wider exploration of how dying and respawning is a key a part of video video games. There’s a recognition right here that the act of enjoying Pac-Man is a relentlessly repetitive course of, destined to steadily finish in Sport Over, however that it’s only by way of repetition that gamers enhance their abilities and are capable of grasp the video games’ mazes.

Episode 7 – CrossFire: Good Battle

Good Battle is impressed by CrossFire, a PvP shooter developed by Smilegate Leisure that’s massively standard in China and South Korea. The sport pits members of two mercenary groups in opposition to one another – the International Danger counter-terrorist organisation and the Black Checklist group. Each of those factions characteristic on this episode.

Who’s International Danger and who’s Black Checklist?

Because of the lore-light, multiplayer nature of CrossFire, there’s little that wants explaining about this episode. It’s value establishing who’s who, although, for the reason that script does a comparatively poor job of building sides for these unfamiliar with CrossFire. The episode begins from the angle of Black Checklist, who has been contracted to escort a person referred to as Mahler to a drop-off level the place he will probably be collected by “freedom fighters”. The Black Checklist staff are intercepted by International Danger, who will be recognized by the blue badges on their helmets. Confusingly, International Danger are outfitted in black and drive black automobiles, whereas Black Checklist put on tan-coloured tactical gear and drive white automobiles.

What’s within the bundle?

The members of International Danger aren’t really searching Black Checklist. As a substitute their mission is to retrieve the bundle Mahler carries. It’s not explicitly revealed what’s within the bundle (except for the dummy bundle, which is filled with sizzling water bottles), nevertheless it’s thought of very beneficial. International Danger desires it for safety functions, noting that if it have been to finish up within the unsuitable fingers “there wouldn’t be wherever left that isn’t a warzone.” In the meantime, Mahler believes the liberty fighters will kill him if he arrives with out the bundle. The implication is that the case comprises both info that might trigger international insecurity, or a nuclear/chemical weapon.

Episode 8 – Armored Core: Asset Administration

Asset Administration is the ultimate story in Secret Degree’s first batch of episodes. Primarily based on FromSoftware’s mecha fight collection, Armored Core, it options Keanu Reeves as an unnamed mercenary mech pilot. What looks as if a routine job turns into more and more complicated when the pilot realises that his targets could also be linked to his previous.

Why is the pilot particular?

Throughout the episode’s opening, two males in a bar focus on the pilot. The older man explains that “they made him to do one factor” and that “they don’t make them like that anymore.” It’s quickly revealed that the pilot is an augmented human, outfitted with techniques that permit him to immediately interface along with his mech. There have been many variations of augmented people throughout the Armored Core collection, however this quick as an entire pretty carefully resembles the latest entry, AC6: Fires of Rubicon, and so we’ll use that because the supply for our explainer.

In Fires of Rubicon, there have been a number of generations of the Human PLUS program. Every new iteration of human augmentation was designed to refine and enhance pilot aptitude, enabling the next ability ceiling and thus deadlier warriors. The primary 4 generations used an uncommon substance referred to as Coral to fabricate enhancements, and a aspect impact of that is no less than one pilot – C4-621, the protagonist of Armored Core 6 – is ready to hear disembodied voices of their head. Keanu Reeves’ pilot can be capable of hear a voice in his head, and so he might both be a fourth technology augmented human akin to the protagonist of AC6, or the results of Secret Degree’s personal model of the Human PLUS program (it’s unclear if this episode is ready in the identical universe as Fires of Rubicon or its personal model of the Armored Core fiction).

The final of his variety

Whereas the pilot initially claims that “all people like me is lifeless”, it seems that’s removed from the reality. It’s finally revealed that the pilot’s present contract is to seek out and get rid of different augmented pilots. That is reflective of the sport’s method to missions, through which the true nature of contracts is usually stored hid from the assigned pilot. The ‘enemy’ pilots have seemingly been assigned the identical contract within the hope that the augmented people will wipe one another out, however they pull their punches in battle – an indication that they don’t wish to kill the pilot. However, regardless of them being one thing akin to his ‘siblings’, the pilot carries out his orders and crushes the goal’s cranium .

There are a lot of potentialities as to why the pilot would willingly homicide different augmented people, however maybe the most certainly is that in Armored Core’s ruthless company future, it’s a beneficial factor to be the one particular person with a selected ability set. Maybe that is the pilot’s means of making certain he’s the primary choose for future contracts. Survival of the fittest, certainly.

The ultimate seven episodes of Secret Degree will launch on December 17.

Matt Purslow is IGN’s Senior Options Editor.