Hashi Gamers

Saturday, June 21, 2025

A Magic: The Gathering Beginner's Guide for Newcomers

I've said it a ton over the last few weeks, but interest in Magic: The Gathering is at what feels like an all-time high. With the recently released Final Fantasy Universes Beyond crossover set, new players that may have never picked up a card are now inching ever so slowly towards one of the most addicting and time-consuming hobbies around. If you're one of these people, or someone looking to dip your toes into the wonderful world of hundred-dollar cardboard, IGN has you covered with our Magic: The Gathering beginner's guide.

Where to Start Playing in Person

For newcomers, the best place to start playing in person is with what we call "kitchen table" Magic. No formats, no banlist, no meta, just good old fashioned vibes. Find a starter kit you like, grab a friend, sleeve them up, and jump in. These starter decks are great ways to learn the rules. I'd also highly recommend picking up MTG Foundations, as this set is specifically designed with brand new players in mind.

Now that you've learned the rules, found the colors you like, and learned a strategy that suits you, you probably want to move up to playing at a local game store (LGS) in your area. Your mileage will vary, as some stores' player bases favor certain formats over others. But for the most part, many LGSs will run the Standard format as their primary Friday Night Magic (FNM) event. To find an LGS near you, use the Wizards Event Locator to enter your address and distance you want to check.

MTG Formats

Every store is different, and not everybody enjoys playing the same formats all the time. Here's a quick breakdown of some of the most popular formats:

Standard: This is the most entry-level 60-card, best-of-three format in Magic. You can use cards from the last two years, and cards will rotate out every Fall.
Limited: Limited formats are 40-card events where you don't show up with your own preconstructed decks. The two options are Booster Draft, where pods of eight players will open booster packs and pick a card one by one, passing their pack to the next player until three packs have been drafted. Sealed is where you get six booster packs, open them, and build your deck from this pool.
Pioneer: Pioneer is the next step up in terms of power level from Standard. This format is non-rotating, and only cards from Return to Ravnica to current sets are legal. No supplementary sets are allowed, like Commander decks or sets like Modern Horizons.
Modern: Easily the most popular format among competitive players, Modern allows you to use cards from Mirrodin onward, save for Commander deck cards. Direct-to-Modern sets like Modern Horizons are legal, and are big contributors to the format's current meta.
Legacy: Every Magic set is legal in Legacy, including Commander decks. This means it has some of the most powerful decks in the game, the most expensive, and is the most difficult to learn. If you're starting out, you likely will not touch Legacy any time soon, if ever.
Pauper: One of my personal favorite formats, Pauper is essentially Legacy Lite. Every set is fair game, but you can only use common rarity cards. Many of Legacy's strongest cards are common, like Brainstorm and Ponder, so Pauper is a great format to learn when you're curious about these interactions.
Commander: Commander is the format most new and casual players are familiar with. Commander is a format where up to four players battle it out with 100-card decks, where each deck is built around their Commander (a Legendary creature of their choice). You can only build your deck using your Commander's colors.

TCGPlayer Is a Great Place to Buy Cards

All Constructed formats have a list of banned cards to help balance out the meta and remove insane combos from their respective formats.

For the best place to pick up singles to round out your decks or find sealed product, I recommend Card Kingdom and TCGPlayer. These are the two biggest and most-trusted TCG vendors in the world.

Where to Start Playing Magic Online

MTG: Online

Magic: The Gathering Online has been around for years, and is a pretty good translation of in-person play to this online client. You can play every format available in paper, buy, sell, and trade cards with other players, and it's the best way to grind out games to practice or learn different strategies.

MTG: Arena

MTG: Arena is the most recent online Magic client, launching in 2019. Taking visual cues from games like Hearthstone, Arena is my preferred way to play the Standard and Pioneer formats - Modern, Legacy, and other older non-rotating formats aren't present on Arena. You can still do booster draft and sealed, however. Arena also has a handful of its own bespoke, digital-only formats. Aside from Standard, Pioneer, and Limited, here's what's exclusive to Arena:

Alchemy: This is essentially standard. It has the same rotation schedule and relatively the same card pool. However, Alchemy versions of preexisting cards have digital-only mechanics that wouldn't be possible in paper, like Conjuring cards into your deck.
Historic: This is a non-rotating format, similar to Pioneer, that leans way harder into the client's digital only mechanics. Conjure, Seek, and giving cards perpetual buffs or debuffs are the main draw.
Historic Brawl: Brawl is a less popular Standard variant of Commander, and Historic Brawl is exactly what you'd expect: Digital-only cards are available to build your Brawl deck with.

Where To Go From Here

There you have it! Everything you need to know to start playing Magic: The Gathering both in-person and online. Whether you're the next best Pro Tour grinder or run the Commander tables at your LGS, there are countless ways to play and enjoy the most popular trading card game in the world. There are countless sealed products to buy and build your collection, and new sets are released every few months. For hardcore collectors, we've even helped track some of the most valuable cards to chase in the Final Fantasy Through the Ages collection. And if you're looking for great gifts for that special Planeswalker in your life or interested in some of the best MTG accessories and supplies, check we've got a guide breaking down dozens of my personal recommendations.

Magic: The Gathering Accessories and Supplies

Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/ILpGY6u
via IFTTT

The Best Deals Today: Donkey Kong Bananza, LEGO Animal Crossing, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and More

We've rounded up the best deals for Saturday, June 21, below, so don't miss out on these limited-time offers.

Donkey Kong Bananza Now Available to Pre-Order

This week's Donkey Kong Bananza Direct was absolutely bananas, and if you weren't interested in the game before, you probably are now. Bananza is set to be DK's biggest adventure yet, and this time, he's joined by a young Pauline. The two are tasked with heading to the very core of the planet, where wishes are supposedly granted. If you are looking for the next big game on Nintendo Switch 2, this right here is sure to be it. Donkey Kong Bananza is the best-selling game on Amazon at the moment, so be sure to lock in your copy to get it day one.

The Legend of Zelda Collector's Chess Set

Chess is more popular than ever, especially with the rise of digital games. However, nothing beats a quality physical chess set that you can play at home. This Zelda-themed chess set features pieces sculpted after Link, Zelda, Ganon, and more, with a total of 32 different characters and enemies. If you're a fan of The Legend of Zelda, this is an excellent way to add some functional decor to your home.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance for $24.99

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is back at its all-time low price this weekend! SMT V: Vengeance is an enhanced version of the former Nintendo Switch exclusive SMT V, launched in 2019. The biggest feature available in this upgraded re-release is the all-new Canon of Vengeance route, which is essentially 40 hours of new story content.

Save Over 50% Off This LEGO Animal Crossing K.K.'s Concert in The Plaza Set

LEGO sets nowadays do not come cheap, especially for those with a larger number of pieces. A few years ago, Nintendo teamed up with LEGO for Super Mario, and that has grown to include both The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing. This weekend, you can save over $45 off the LEGO Animal Crossing K.K.'s Concert Set, which is perfect for fans of all ages.

Super Mario Party Jamboree for $44.99

With the recent reveal of Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, it's no question that you are going to want to save anywhere you can. The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree is set to cost $79.99, but you can upgrade from a Nintendo Switch copy for $20. This weekend, save your cash and pick up a copy of Super Mario Party Jamboree from Woot for only $44.99.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Out Next Week

After almost six years, the sequel to Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding is finally set to arrive this upcoming week. Following the events of the first game, Sam Porter Bridges is now tasked with venturing outside the United States, with both Mexico and Australia set as destinations. If you're like me and incredibly excited for this game, you can even purchase the deluxe edition to play two days early on Tuesday, June 24.

Crucial T500 1TB Gen4 NVMe M.2 Internal Gaming SSD for $75.19

Most of us can always use a new SSD, and this deal from Crucial is quite good. Normally priced at $144, you can score this Crucial T500 1TB Gen4 NVMe SSD for $75.19 this weekend at Amazon. You can use this SSD in a laptop, desktop, or even a PlayStation 5 to expand your storage for games, media, and more.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii for $37.99

The latest Like a Dragon game stars everyone's favorite ex-yakuza, Goro Majima, on an adventure to sail the seas as a pirate. When Majima wakes up unable to remember anything about himself, he embarks on a quest to regain his memories, and of course, in true Like a Dragon fashion, things get crazy. This is the lowest we've seen this game so far, so be sure to pick up a copy while you can.

Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/hzBOCHt
via IFTTT

Friday, June 20, 2025

Duke Nukem Rights Acquired by Devil May Cry and Castlevania Showrunner

Netflix’s Castlevania and Devil May Cry showrunner Adi Shankar has turned his attention to the Duke Nukem series after acquiring the screen rights from Gearbox Software.

The animated adaptation creative lead teased his next project during an interview with Esquire. Although projects like Devil May Cry Season 2 are currently top of mind, it sounds like something based on the legendary tongue-in-cheek first-person shooter franchise is currently in the works.

“I'm being approached with different IPs and companies that want to work with me,” Shankar said. “I bought the rights to Duke Nukem. Not the gaming rights, but I bought it from Gearbox.”

Duke Nukem is an unmistakably ‘90s video game franchise that got its start in 1991, but it wasn’t until 1996 that it would find its FPS footing with Duke Nukem 3D. Although a laundry list of sequels arrived throughout the 15 years that followed, its 2011 entry, Duke Nukem Forever, was heavily criticized by critics and fans alike. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360-era title did so much to damage the blond, buzzcut hero’s reputation that there has not been a new Duke Nukem installment since.

Shankar is already cooking up ideas for what a present-day take on Duke Nukem could look like. It’s unclear if fans can expect to see an animated Duke Nukem show in the vein of Shankar’s other projects, a movie, or something completely different, but it’s clear Shankar is trying to put together a project of some sort behind the scenes.

"I don't intend on having anyone tell me what to do on this one.

“It's a middle finger to everybody,” Shankar said when describing his vision for Duke Nukem. “When Duke Nukem blew up, a bunch of people sat around trying to turn it into a brand, when it's just a middle finger. Duke Nukem can't be made by a corporation, because the moment a corporation makes Duke Nukem, it's no longer Duke Nukem. I don't intend on having anyone tell me what to do on this one.”

We’ll have to wait to see what Shankar has in store for the ‘90s icon. For now, no casting, plot, or release date details for the Duke Nukem show have been revealed. It's unclear how the recent rights aquisition will impact the Legendary Entertainment Duke Nukem movie reported on in 2022.

For a better look at what to expect, you can read up on his other Netflix projects. We gave Season 1 of Devil May Cry an 8/10 in our review, with Castlevania Season 1 earning an 8.1/10 from us upon its release in 2017. Shankar is involved in other Netflix projects, too, including the Castlevania: Nocturne spinoff series, an Assassin’s Creed series, and even an animated PUBG show.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/aw7PyEs
via IFTTT

Anime Rising Codes (June 2025)

Need codes for Anime Rising? We've got all the latest active codes so you can earn mythical fragments, tokens, and more. You can rely on us for when new ones are released and updates on when codes expire. And if you're not sure how to redeem codes, we have a quick explanation for that too.

Working Anime Rising Codes (June 2025)

These are all the current active codes for Anime Rising that you can redeem for a variety of rewards:

DUNGEONREWARDS - 10 Quirk Tokens, 3 Arise Luck Boosts, 3 Summon Move Speed Boosts, 5 Class Quirk Tokens, 8x 1 Hour Quick Income, 5 Random Chests, 25 Mythical Fragments, 2 Altar Summons, 3 Shiny Luck Boosts, 3 Player Move Speed Boosts (NEW)
UPTUESDAY - 10 Quirk Tokens, 6 Arise Luck Boosts, 6 Summon Move Speed Boosts, 1 Class Quirk Token, 2x 1 Hour Quick Income, 5 Random Chests, 25 Mythical Fragments, 2 Altar Summons, 6 Shiny Luck Boosts, 6 Player Move Speed Boosts
THANKYOU - 1 Hour Break Orbs, 3 Arise Luck Boosts, 1x 1 Hour Quick Coins, 3 Shiny Luck Boosts, 5 Revive Scrolls, 1x 1 Hour Quick XP, 1 Class Quirk Token, 1x 1 Hour Quick Income, 5 Random Chest, 25 Mythical Fragments, 2 Altar Summons, 3 Player Move Speed Boosts, 3 Summon Move Speed Boosts
RISEUP - 10 Quirk Tokens, 6 Arise Luck Boosts, 4x 1 Hour Quick Coins, 6 Shiny Luck Boosts, 5 Revive Scrolls, 4x 1 Hour Quick XP, 1 Class Quirk Token, 2x 1 Hour Quick Income, 5 Random Chests, 25 Mythical Fragments, 2 Altar Summons, 6 Player Move Speed Boosts, 6 Summon Move Speed Boosts

Expired Anime Rising Codes (June 2025)

There aren't currently any expired codes for this Roblox experience but if that changes, we'll be sure to update this section with them.

How to Redeem Anime Rising Codes

Redeeming codes in Anime Rising doesn't require too much effort unlike some other Roblox games. Fortunately you don't have to reach a certain level or join a specific group. Here are the quick simple steps to redeeming them:

Launch Anime Rising
Press the green "Store" button on the left side of your screen
Then press the "Codes" button of a blue bird near the bottom right.
Enter your code here and press the blue Redeem button to get your rewards.

Why Isn't My Anime Rising Code Working?

If you're having trouble redeeming a code, there are two main reasons why one usually doesn't work. Here's what you need to know:

The code is expired
The code has been entered incorrectly

If a code is entered incorrectly or doesn't exist, you'll see a message that says, "Invalid code". To avoid running into this problem, we recommend copying and pasting directly from this article. Just make sure you don't accidentally end up with an extra space in your code when copying one. This is why it never hurts to double-check before redeeming a code.

Where to Find More Anime Rising Codes

You can always check back here for whenever new codes are added since we try to update as often as we can. However, if you want to search for Anime Rising codes yourself, there is a dedicated Discord server where they're announced. The in-game window for codes mentions each developer's Twitter account but they don't seem to post any on there.

What is Anime Rising in Roblox?

Anime Rising is a collector game that seems to be inspired by Solo Leveling. You can defeat all sorts of enemies and then resurrect them to fight for you. Over time, you'll amass a large squad of teammates to help you complete quests. Using free summons from the codes in this article, you can also get characters heavily inspired by other popular anime shows too.

Jeffrey Lerman is a freelance game journalist for IGN who has been covering games for over a decade. You can follow him on Bluesky.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/bToa3i7
via IFTTT

Parasite Testing Codes (June 2025)

Looking for active Parasite Testing codes? We've got all the working codes for this Roblox experience, so you don't have to search for them. Redeem each one for rewards like credits to buy weapons or leveling up to access the armory sooner!

Working Parasite Testing Codes (June 2025)

Here are all the current active codes you can redeem in Parasite Testing as well as the rewards you'll get from them:

2KSERVER - 5 Credits, 5 Levels (NEW)
1M VISITS - 75 Credits, 25 Levels
PUPPETEER - 5 Credits, 5 Levels

Expired Parasite Testing Codes (June 2025)

The below codes have unfortunately expired and will no longer work. We've included them here so you know not to bother trying to redeem them:

1KSERVER

How to Redeem Parasite Testing Codes

Redeeming codes in Parasite Testing isn't too hard once you know where to look. Follow these simple steps to start getting those rewards:

Launch Parasite Testing
Interact with the laptop in the first room you spawn in. You can see it in the screenshot above.
Enter a code in the box that says, "Enter a code..."
Press the big green Submit button to redeem your code.

Why Isn't My Parasite Testing Code Working?

If you're having trouble redeeming a code, there are two common reasons why it may not be working:

The code is expired
The code has been entered incorrectly

If a code has been entered incorrectly or has expired, you'll see a message that says, "Not a valid code". In order to avoid this, we recommend copying and pasting the code directly from this article. As long as you don't accidentally get an extra space in there when copying it, it should work if it's active. We make sure to check and test every Parasite Testing code before we add them to this article.

Where to Find More Parasite Testing Codes

We always recommend checking our article here for up to date codes since you can rely on us to verify which ones are working. But, if you'd prefer to search for some Parasite Testing codes on your own, you can check the dedicated Discord server.

What is Parasite Testing in Roblox?

Parasite Testing is a Roblox experience that revolves around shooting eldritch creatures. A large red biomass will keep spawning parasites that evolve when attacking players. If you let them get too close, you'll become infected and have to worry about your teammates taking you out. Depending on the parasite type, you'll either respawn or can fight researchers while infected.

Eliminating creatures and infected players will give you credits and level you up. This will help you unlock new weapons for taking on tougher creatures. But you can also use traps to wipe out hordes of parasites via decontamination or electricity.

Jeffrey Lerman is a freelance game journalist for IGN who has been covering games for over a decade. You can follow him on Bluesky.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/l38angH
via IFTTT

Dune: Awakening Developer Is 'Formulating A Plan' To Improve PvP and Toxic Deep Desert Experiences

In its first Q&A since Dune: Awakening launched on June 10, developer Funcom responded to questions on what's next for its survival MMO, and in particular changes due to come to its endgame.

Funcom said it's "currently formulating a plan" to improve PvP in the Deep Desert, which players have previously branded as "toxic" due to griefing. Funcom has already patched out the ability for players to squish other people with their Ornithopter, but senior game director Viljar Sommerbakk also revealed the team was considering tweaking Ornis further, such as equipping them with rockets that "reduces overall maneuverability and max speed".

The team is also considering making Scout Orni rockets cost slightly more heat to fire, something Sommerbakk said would limit its combat usefulness relative to the Assault Ornithopter "while still allowing it to be an aerial threat."

"We have a lot of plans to address [players'] points about respawn times and revives," creative director Joel Bylos added. "Full loot is a decree that can be obtained via the Landsraad (so compete there if you want to make it a reality), there are control points in the deep desert already, we have no plans to reduce the DD size. As we work on the game, we will continue to work on making PvP more rewarding (I am sure you will note I am not being very concrete but that is because we are planning and watching how people are playing and finding the right points to address)."

Lead producer Ole Andreas Hayley said: "The Deep Desert will always stay a PvP free-for-all area, but we might consider adding other locations that offer factional warfare."

"We want players to make meaningful decisions about what they bring with them and how they outfit their vehicles," Sommerbakk continued. "Once players have engaged in PvP, we want the experience to be reliable, responsive, and clearly understood. This determines how PvP as a whole feels and how players make their moment-to-moment decisions in a fight. To ensure a more reliable experience in ground combat, we are continuing to address issues with movement desyncs and rubber banding, as well as ability activation reliability."

There's also some quality of life tweaks on the way, too, including named storage containers and vehicles, to help you differentiate, as well as "deposit/extract all" buttons for water storages and the like. We should also expect boss encounters as part of future dungeons as the team continues to evolve PvE content.

Interestingly, Hayley also teased that we could receive additional maps in the future, also.

"The Dune universe has a lot of interesting locations and worlds to explore, and we're looking forward to continuing to build on top of the foundation we have," he said.

Right now, there are no plans to make it easier to distinguish between NPCs and other players — "this is in line with the vision of the game" — and when asked if it would be possible to skip all dialogue and animations, Bylos said: "Absolutely not."

We gave Dune: Awakening a Great 8/10 in our review, writing: "Dune: Awakening is an excellent survival MMO that captures Frank Herbet’s sci-fi world incredibly well, mostly to its advantage and occasionally to its detriment. The survival climb from dehydrated peasant to powerful warlord of Arrakis is a joy almost every step of the way, and the story and worldbuilding filled this nerd with absolute joy.

"There’s still plenty for Awakening to work on though, as its combat never really hits its stride, the endgame is a bit of a chaotic mess not worth the effort, and there’s quite a few technical bugs yet to be squashed, but even these rough patches felt like tiny desert mice next to the leviathan shai-huluds that are this survival game’s wonderful successes."

Dune: Awakening has enjoyed a superb launch, with a 'very positive' user review rating on Steam. Within hours of going live on June 10, Funcom's survival MMO had clocked up over 142,000 concurrent players on Valve's platform, and hit a new high over the weekend of 189,333 players.

If all that's got you interested, make sure to check out all the Dune: Awakening classes you can choose from, and keep an eye on our in-progress Dune: Awakening walkthrough for a step-by-step guide to the story. To help you survive on Arrakis, we've got Dune: Awakening resource guides that'll help you find iron, steel, aluminium, and more.

Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world's biggest gaming sites and publications. She's also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/wFo6RCN
via IFTTT

Confused Nintendo Fans Spot Giant Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Advert Stating That the Game Is 'Out Now' — Sparking Hopes of an Imminent Release

A giant advert for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond at London's Oxford Circus tube station states that the game is now available, sparking confusion from Nintendo fans on their morning commute.

First off, if you've seen the advert yourself, no — the current London heatwave hasn't melted your senses. The advert, now spotted by multiple fans, really does say the game is "out now".

Officially, Nintendo has not announced a Metroid Prime 4: Beyond release date other than a vague promise it will launch this year. But even if the game isn't out now, its appearance on an advert in such a prominent location is giving Nintendo fans hope its launch is right around the corner.

"Any idea why the MP4 Beyond ad in the London Underground says 'out now'?" Nintendo fan orchestar wrote on reddit. "I’m genuinely confused. Do they mean the Switch 2 is out? I wish the game was truly out though haha."

Fans have speculated that the advert is perhaps outdated — maybe Nintendo did initially plan to launch Metroid Prime 4 now, and the wording wasn't updated? Alternatively, we could be seeing a version of the advert not due until later, alongside the game's actual release date.

For other Nintendo fans, keen to play the game soon after many years of waiting, the advert has sparked hope of a surprise release. This does seem unlikely, however, with Donkey Kong Bananza firmly positioned as Nintendo's next big Switch 2 title.

IGN has contacted Nintendo for comment.

Now a cross-gen title for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is set to finally arrive at some point in 2025 after a long and eventful development.

Originally announced back in 2017, the follow-up to Retro Studios' beloved GameCube and Wii trilogy was rebooted in 2019, and development restarted by Retro Studios after an earlier version in the works at Bandai Namco failed to meet Nintendo's standards. Years later, with Switch 2 on the horizon, Nintendo finally gave the game a proper unveiling in June 2024.

On Switch 2, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond will run at 120 frames per second and offer optional controls that take advantage of the Joy-Con's mouse feature. It seems most likely to arrive at some point between Donkey Kong Bananza's July launch and Pokémon Legends: Z-A's arrival in October.

Image credit: orchestar

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

from IGN Video Games https://ift.tt/PU8G0X2
via IFTTT