Video Game Release Dates: The Biggest Games of November 2025 and Beyond

Not only does November bring cooler weather, but it also offers an entirely new batch of PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, and PC games to entertain us. We're on the tail end of the big games of the fall, but the year isn't done with us yet. This month we get big releases like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, Kirby Air Riders, and perhaps most importantly, Terminator 2D: No Fate. Read on to see release dates for all the biggest games and expansions coming out this month and beyond. Let's have a look.

If you're the preordering type, you can click the links for the platform of your choice to see the game at Amazon (if available).

November 2025 - Video Game Release Dates

• Tavern Keeper - November 3 - (PC)
• Age of Empires IV - November 4 - (PS5)
• Europa Universalis V - November 4 - (PC)
• Football Manager 26 - November 4 - (PS5, Xbox, PC, Mobile)
• Satisfactory - November 4 - (PS5, Xbox)
• Biped 2 - November 5 - (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
• Dinkum - November 5 - (Switch)
• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - November 6 - (Switch 2)
• The Last Caretaker - November 6 - (PC)
• Of Ash & Steel - November 6 - (PC)
• Siberia Remastered - November 6 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Unbeatable - November 6 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Whiskerwood - November 6 - (PC)
• A Pizza Delivery - November 7 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Thrasher - November 7 - (PC)
• Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition - November 10 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road - November 10 - (PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox, PC)
• Lumines Arise - November 11 - (PS5, PSVR 2, PC)
• NASCAR 25 - November 11 - (PC)
• Unpetrified: Echoes of Nature - November 11 - (PC)
• Tombwater - November 12 - (PC)
• Winter Burrow - November 12 - (Switch, Xbox, PC)
• Anno 117: Pax Romana - November 13 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Yakuza Kiwami - November 13 - (Switch 2)
• Yakuza Kiwami 2 - November 13 - (Switch 2)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 - November 14 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)

• Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero - November 14 - (Switch, Switch 2)
• Monster Hunter Stories Collection - November 14 - (Xbox)
• Where Winds Meet - November 14 - (PS5, PC, Mobile)
• Escape from Tarkov 1.0 - November 15 - (PC)
• Unmourned - November 17 - (PC)
• Deadpool VR - November 18 - (Meta Quest)
• Morsels - November 18 - (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
• News Tower (1.0 launch) - November 18 - (PC)
• SpongeBob Squarepants: Titans of the Tide - November 18 - (PS5, Switch 2, Xbox, PC)
• Demonschool - November 19 - (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
• Kirby Air Riders - November 20 - (Switch 2)
• Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster - November 20 - (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
• STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl - November 20 - (PS5)
• Constance - November 24 - (PC)
• Project Motor Racing - November 25 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Terminator 2D: No Fate - November 26 - (PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch, PC)
• Bubble Bobble: Sugar Dungeons - November 27 - (PS5, Switch, PC)

December 2025 - Video Game Release Dates

• Simogo Legacy Collection - December 2 - (Switch, Switch 2, PC)
• Let It Die: Inferno - December 3 - (PS5, PC)
• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - December 4 - (Switch, Switch 2)
• Octopath Traveler 0 - December 4 - (PS5, PS4, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox, PC)
• Routine - December 4 - (Xbox, PC)
• Thief VR: Legacy of Shadows - December 4 - (PSVR 2, Quest 2/3, Steam VR)
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 - December 8 - (PS5)
• Yakuza Kiwami 1+2 - December 8 - (PS5, Xbox)
• Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader - December 11 - (Switch 2)

January 2026 - Video Game Release Dates

• Dragon Warriors Origins - January 22 - (Switch, Switch 2)
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade - January 22 - (Switch 2, Xbox)
• The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin - January 28 - (PS5, PC)
• Code Vein II - January 30 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)

February 2026 - Video Game Release Dates

• Nioh 3 - February 6 - (PS5, PC)
• Dragon Quest VII Reimagined - February 5 - (PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox, PC)
• Mario Tennis Fever - February 12 - (Switch 2)
• Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties - February 12 - (PS5, PS4, Switch 2, Xbox, PC)
• High on Life 2 - February 13 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Virtual Boy: Nintendo Classics (NSO) - Feburary 17 - (Switch, Switch 2)
• Tides of Tomorrow - February 24 - (PS5)
• Resident Evil Requiem - February 27 - (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, PC)
• Resident Evil 7 - February 27 - (Switch 2)
• Resident Evil Village - February 27 - (Switch 2)

March 2026 - Video Game Release Dates

• Monster Hunter Stories 3 - March 13 - (Switch 2)
• Crimson Desert - March 19 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Dynasty Warriors 3 Complete Edition Remastered - March 19 - (PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox, PC)
• Mouse: P.I. for Hire - March 19 - (PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox, PC)
• 007 First Light - March 27 - (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, PC)

May 2026 - Video Game Release Dates

• Grand Theft Auto 6 - May 26, 2026 - (PS5, Xbox)

September 2026 - Video Game Release Dates

• Halloween: The Game - September 8, 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)

Upcoming Video Games - Release Date TBA

• The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales - 2026 - (Switch 2)
• Animo - 2026 - (Xbox, PC)
• Aphelion - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• ArcheAge Chronicles - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Ark 2 - TBA - (PC)
• At Fate’s End - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Atomic Heart 2 - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Ballad of Antara - 2025 - (PS5)
• Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes - Early 2026 - (PC)
• Beast of Reincarnation - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Black Myth: Jhong Kui - TBA
• Blackfrost: The Long Dark II - TBA
• Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• The Blood of Dawnwalker - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement - 2026 - (PS5)
• Borderlands 4 - TBA - (Switch 2)
• Bubsy 4D - TBA - (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
• Cairn - 2026 - (PS5)
• Chronicles: Medieval - 2026 - (PC)
• Chronoscript: The Endless End - 2026 - (PS5, PC)
• Clockwork Revolution - TBA - (Xbox, PC)
• Coffee Talk Tokyo - 2025 - (Switch, PC)
• Contraband - TBA - (Xbox, PC)
• Danganronpa 2x2 - 2026 - (Switch, Switch 2)
• Directive 8020: A Dark Pictures Game - H1 2026 - (PS5)
• Dreams of Another - 2025 - (PS5)
• The Duskbloods - 2026 - (Switch 2)

• Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition - 2026 - (Switch 2)
• The Eternal Life of Goldman - Holiday 2025 - (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
• Everwild - TBA - (Xbox, PC)
• Fable - 2026 - (Xbox, PC)
• Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition - 2026 - (Switch 2)
• Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake - Early 2026 - (Switch 2)
• Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave - 2026 - (Switch 2)
• Forza Horizon 6 - 2026 - (Xbox, PC, PS5 later)
• Frostpunk 1886 - 2027 - (PC)
• Game of Thrones: War for Westeros - 2026 - (PC)
• Gears of War: E-Day - TBA - (Xbox, PC)
• Hail Macbeth - Q1 2026 - (PC)
• Hela - 2026 - (Switch 2)
• He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction - TBA - (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
• ILL - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - 2026 - (Switch 2)
• Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet - TBA - (PS5)
• Invincible Vs - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• John Carpenter's Toxic Commando - Early 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Judas - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Jurassic Park: Survival - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)

• LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight - 2026 - (PS5, Switch 2, Xbox, PC)
• Little Devil Inside - TBA - (PS5, Switch, Xbox)
• Lord of the Fallen II - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Marathon - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra - 2026
• Marvel Cosmic Invasion - 2025 - (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
• Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls - 2026 - (PS5, PC)
• Marvel's Blade - TBA - (Xbox, PC)
• Mio: Memories in Orbit - 2025 - (Switch)
• Mixtape - 2025 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection - 2026 - (Switch 2)
• Mortal Shell 2 - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Mudang: Two Hearts - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• OD - TBA - (Xbox)
• Okami 2 - TBA
• Onimusha: Way of the Sword - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Persona 4 Revival - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Phantom Blade 0 - 2026 - (PS5)
• Phantom Hellcat - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Pokemon Champions - TBA - (Switch, mobile)
• Pokemon Pokopia - 2026 - (Switch 2)
• Popucom - Holiday 2025 - (Switch)
• Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)
• Pragmata - 2026
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Professor Layton and the New World of Steam - 2026 - (Switch, Switch 2)
• PVKK - Summer 2026 - (PC)
• Replaced - 2026 - (Xbox, PC)
• Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Rhythm Heaven Groove - 2026 - (Switch)
• Road Kings - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Romeo Is a Dead Man - 2026 (PS5)
• Saros - 2026 - (PS5)
• Scott Pilgrim EX - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)
• Screamer - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Sea of Remnants - 2026 - (PS5)
• The Sinking City 2 - 2026 - (Xbox, PC)
• Slay the Spire 2 - early access in 2025 - (PC)
• Sleight of Hand - 2025 - (Xbox, PC)
• Solo Leveling Arise Overdrive - 2026 - (Xbox, PC)

• Splatoon Raiders - TBA - (Switch 2)
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake - TBA - (PS5)
• State of Decay 3 - TBA (Xbox, PC)
• Super Mario Bros Wonder: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park - Spring 2026 - (Switch 2)
• Super Meat Boy 3D - Early 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Styx: Blades of Greed - Fall 2025 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Terminator: Survivors - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• There Are No Ghosts at the Grand - 2026 - (Xbox, PC)
• Tides of Annihilation - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream - Spring 2026 - (Switch)
• Turok Origins - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Valor Mortis - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 - 2026 - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy - TBA (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 4 - 2026 (PC)
• Witchbrook - 2026 - (Switch, Xbox, PC)
• The Witcher 4 - TBA
• The Wolf Among Us 2 - TBA - (PS5, Xbox, PC)
• Wolverine - Fall 2026 - (PS5)
• World of Warcraft: Midnight (expansion) - 2026 - (PC)
• Wu-Tang: Rise of the Deceiver - TBA - (PC)
• Yoshi and the Mysterious Book - Spring 2026 - (Switch 2)
• Zero Parades - 2026 - (PS5, PC)

For more release date fun, check out our ongoing list of 4K UHD and Blu-ray release dates.

Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.

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Painkiller Review

Every now and then, some suit at a publisher looks at a beloved series they own, realizes they could make it into a live service co-op game, and says, out loud, “I know this has never worked for anyone else, but it might work for us.” It never does, of course; it makes the original fanbase angry, and oftentimes the franchise is old enough that new players don’t even know what it is. The result is a game for no one, a whole lot of nothing driven by market forces and the deluded belief that somehow, some way, this time the idea is just better than all of the previous times it’s been tried. This time, they, chosen by God, will be immune from whatever effects have frustrated lesser mortals. The latest game in this doomed genre is Painkiller, a reboot of People Can Fly’s 2004 cult classic, and the result is the same as it ever was. It’s fitting that it takes place in Purgatory. When it is consigned to the graveyard of history, its headstone will read “Here lies Painkiller, neither good enough to get into heaven nor bad enough to be damned to the inferno. You’ll wish you’d just played the original and called it a day, or simply booted up the Judas Priest song instead.”

This new Painkiller is one of those co-op games. You know the ones; a brief tutorial frontloads the meager plot, shows you the ropes and unlocks your base of operations. Once established, you pick from one of four visually-distinct-but-aside-from-one-passive-ability-virtually-identical-characters, all of whom come with pre-packaged quips that mostly sound like they were written by Dollar Store Joss Whedon. After selecting your weapons and loadout, you choose one of several missions, where you go to a place and kill a lot of bad guys, then return to your base with the spoils, where you can upgrade your stuff, and do it all again. You have seen all of this before, and I’m already bored describing it.

The story here is basically nonexistent. You are one of four souls stuck in Purgatory – Ink, Void, Roch, and Sol – approached by the disembodied voice of the angel Metatron to stop the demon Azazel, another faceless voice, from Doing Something Bad. Go on mission, go home, spend spoils, repeat. To Painkiller's infinite credit, there is no paid currency or battle pass here, just a Season Pass with skins and the like, But the loop never varies – once you get New and Better Stuff, it's just time to go do whatever Metratron determines needs doing next.

“That really doesn’t sound like Painkiller,” you might say if you played the original – and you, reader, you win the solid gold Kewpie doll, because it isn’t like Painkiller at all! If you squint, you can see the inspirations, though I use this term loosely. There are tarot cards, though you “win” a selection of them by spending gold in the Tarot Lottery because everything about video games is gambling now (even if you’re not spending real money), and equip them before missions for bonuses like +50 health and 30% more damage. Once the mission is over, your tarot cards are used up and you either have to spend more gold in the lottery or Ancient Souls, which you earn during missions, to restore one you’ve previously used. You can also use these currencies to buy and upgrade weapons, and you generally won’t have enough to do that and have tarot cards early on.

This isn't a Painkiller game; it's Warhammer 40k: Darktide wearing a Painkiller suit.

Speaking of, much of the original game’s iconic arsenal has been resurrected here like the Stakegun and Electrodriver, complete with their amusing alt fires. However, the titular Painkiller (which you always have) is now doing its best impression of Doom Eternal’s chainsaw, there to get you more ammo when your other guns run out. Sometimes, levels will lock you into a large, usually circular or rectangular space and make you kill a lot of enemies, though none of them are as visually striking or bats**t insane as the original rogues’ gallery. The similarities end there. This is not a Painkiller game; it is Warhammer 40,000: Darktide wearing a Painkiller skin suit, and hoping nobody cares enough to notice.

Painkiller looks good, but its problems really come down to mission design. Environments feel samey even when they look different, and each of the three acts (which are three levels apiece) finds a single gameplay idea and never lets go of it. Your progress will be stopped by something and the only way through will be Doing That Act’s Mechanic: in the first, that means filling barrels with blood by killing enemies near them and then slotting those into the proper place; in the second, you’ll need to find and use soul containers to power things; in the third, you’ll have to stand on ritual markers to activate dreamcatchers.

Occasionally, Painkiller will mix it up a bit – I actually liked the spots where my team had to use the soul containers to power a large cart we had to escort, but moments like that are rare. Mostly, you do the same things over and over again, moving through the environments, collecting gold, finding hidden chests, and picking up consumables –one plops down health; another plops down ammo; the third is a mostly useless decoy you will never pick up unless the other two are not available; and the fourth is an extra life; that’s it. You’re then locked into a combat arena until you either get enough blood canisters/soul containers/dreamcatchers to proceed or everything barring your path is dead.

Even the combat isn’t as satisfying as it should be. Most enemies are cohorts, harmless by themselves but potentially dangerous in large numbers (and they always come in large numbers) that die easily. There are also larger, more dangerous demons you can stagger by pouring on alt fires or kill outright, and the end of act Nephilim, who serve as bosses. None of these are all that engaging aside from the Nephilim, and while there are several different kinds of cohorts and a handful of demons, none of them have much of a unique visual identity. There are no Psychonuns or Hell Bikers or Evil Samurai or Freaks, nothing that made the original game’s wacky evil ensemble memorable. No, this is Purgatory by way of a heavy metal album cover if it were generated by AI. If you’re going to do Painkiller, it could at least look like Painkiller, you know?

It's Purgatory by way of a heavy metal album cover if it were generated by AI.

Perhaps most infuriatingly, Painkiller isn’t out and out bad. The movement is fast, precise, and a hell of a time – you can slide, dash, air dash, dash through enemies, bounce off walls for a double jump, and use the Painkiller to grapple to various anchor points (or enemies!). All six of the guns, whether it’s the Electrodriver, Rocket Launcher, Hand Cannon, Stakegun, Shotgun, or SMG, feel great, and I liked messing around with the various alt fires. A shotgun that freezes enemies so I can shatter them? Neat. A Stakegun that’s also a grenade launcher or can create a gravity well? Love it. Turning the Rocket Launcher into a minigun that shoots rockets that freeze? Sign me up. And getting a new upgrade on a weapon’s branching paths feels meaningful and changes how you play. Yeah, a lot of it is “we have Doom Eternal at home,” but if you’re going to steal, you might as well steal from the best.

I even came to enjoy the characters, particularly Sol, a haughty, eternally youthful priestess, and Void, a straight man with a self-described fishbowl for a head and no memory of his past. Even Ink’s sarcasm and self-loathing and Roch’s tragic backstory aren’t poorly written, really. (The bad stuff is reserved for in-combat dialogue.) The issue is you rarely get to hear them finish telling each other their stories because you’ll run into some enemies and the background heavy metal (which is good) will kick in, or another character will spout some inane combat dialogue and the story dialogue you were hearing will just stop dead and never resume. Yeah, you can read it in the codex at your home base, but it’s not voiced, and the voice cast does admirable work with what they have. Bummer.

The boss fights against the Nephilim are pretty good, too. They’re not groundbreaking – you’ve seen a lot of these mechanics before – but they’re engaging to play and they look cool, whether it’s a massive blood rat, a big statue hiding a secret, or a literal dragon. These are the best parts of the roughly four or so hours it takes to play straight through Painkiller’s Raid (read: campaign) mode, and a nice change of pace from the “we’re not locked in here with you, you’re locked in here with us” standard encounters.

Painkiller is designed as a three-player co-op game, and that’s the best way to play it, but if you’re short on friends or nobody’s around online, the bots are pretty good and respond well to player commands. Ordering them to stand on a switch to open a secret area is less intuitive than one of your co-op partners seeing the switch and just doing it, but it works, and I didn’t mind playing with bots when no one else was on.

Disappointment still manages to creep in, though. I figured Painkiller’s blink-and-you’ll-miss it plot was setting us up for a showdown with Azazel when we finished all nine levels, but nope. You just get access to his empty tomb where his voice offers you the chance to work for him. Your character naturally declines and he pivots to offering, and I kid you not, this is an actual line of dialogue, “a higher difficulty” and the opportunity for more violence and chaos. Sure, Azazel, why not? I’m already having so much fun.

There is also a roguelike mode to try out, and I enjoyed it because, unlike the Raid levels, there’s a lot more variety, and you can take your rewards back with you. You might navigate a platforming segment between fights that hurts you for as long as you’re in it or have to bring soul canisters up to the top of a ziggurat. Even the “we’re gonna lock you in a combat arena until either everything else is dead or all of you are” bits are more fun here just because you haven’t seen these environments before, and the randomized nature of your weapons, alt fires, and tarot cards feels more natural. It’s like this is what the Painkiller reboot was supposed to be before someone decided it should have a campaign, too. Unfortunately, during my first roguelike run, my game crashed. Talk about being damned.

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HyperMegaTech Super Pocket Editions Review

Back in 2020, Blaze Entertainment made a splash in the retro gaming market with the introduction of the cartridge-based Evercade platform. Ever since, the platform has grown to include a variety of handhelds, consoles, and bartop arcades, along with more than 650 games across 78 – and counting – cartridges.

In late 2023, the company created the new brand HyperMegaTech to release a series of simpler GameBoy-like handhelds with built-in games, which also happen to accept Evercade cartridges. As with the growing number of other Evercade-compatible devices and cartridges, the Super Pocket series is already up to a half-dozen variations. Although the Super Pocket series may not have the best screen size and resolution, or the most ideal controls for every game, it's still a value-packed portable companion, filling a completely different market than a handheld gaming PC. However, depending upon your gaming preferences, certain models may prove better values than others.

HyperMegaTech Super Pocket – Design and Features

Other than aesthetic themes and associated colorways, every Super Pocket edition features exactly the same hardware. The only other differentiator between models is the types and number of built-in games, which are themed to a specific publisher like Taito, Capcom, Atari, Technos, NeoGeo (SNK), or Data East. Sometimes limited editions will feature an additional cosmetic variation, like with the Atari Edition or NeoGeo Edition, with a woodgrain look for the former and MVS styling for the latter.

As a plug-and-play device, each Super Pocket package comes with the handheld, USB-C to USB-A charging cable, and quick start guide. You just need to charge, then power on.

When first powering on, you are prompted to answer a few questions, including your language and preferred difficulty (Easy or Normal) across all included games. Naturally, these and other settings are available to change after the fact by pressing the Game Menu button and choosing Settings.

At 3.07 x 4.92 x 0.98 inches and 0.36lbs, the Super Pocket is slightly smaller and lighter than the original Game Boy that clocked in at 3.5 x 5.8 x 1.3 inches. The sleeker body does support a slightly larger display at 2.8 inches (2cm larger than the Game Boy’s), although that's still rather small for modern handhelds.

The IPS screen has a resolution of 320x240, a 4:3 aspect ratio. Overall, the display is colorful with good brightness and viewing angles, although the small screen size and low resolution do mean loss of detail in some places, particularly with text or games that don't have a native 4:3 aspect ratio. While good close-up vision always helps when it comes to handheld displays, just keep in mind that certain games on the Super Pocket will not have an optimized viewing experience.

Display options include Original, Pixel Perfect, or Full Screen aspect ratios, as well as Shaders/Scanlines. Original aspect ratio ensures the original game's graphics are not stretched or distorted, but may result in black bars on the sides or top of the screen. Pixel Perfect aspect ratio maps the original pixels to a "perfect" square of pixels, but may result in an even smaller active display than Original. Full Screen aspect ratio stretches a game's image to fit the entire screen, which eliminates any black bars or dead space on the display, but also stretches or distorts in-game objects. Shaders/Scanlines include None, Subtle, or Strong, the latter two of which are meant to mimic how classic CRT displays processed pixel graphics. Subtle adds thin scanlines with minimal screen darkening, while Strong adds thick scanlines with more prominent screen darkening.

Below the display is the Game Menu button, direction pad, front speaker, Select/Insert Credit button, Start Game button, and the A, B, X, and Y face buttons. Both the direction pad and face buttons use standard membranes, so they have a softer feel and no real click but are still responsive enough for most games.

Each Super Pocket comes with a blank dummy cartridge to protect the rear slot. Also on the rear of the unit is a volume control, and R1, L1, R2, and L2 buttons, the latter two of which are used to fast scroll in menus. Below the buttons is a rear speaker, which provides clear, distortion-free sound output even at maximum volume when combined with the front speaker, although you'll still want to use a good pair of wired headphones for the best possible audio. (Like other Evercade-compatible hardware, Bluetooth audio isn't supported.

At the bottom of the Super Pocket is the USB-C charging port, power switch next to an indicator light that's blue when on, and 3.5mm headphone jack. Between the power switch and charging port is a charging indicator light, which shows red when charging and green when fully charged.

With its modest 3000mAh battery, you'll only get up to four hours or so of run time depending on play volume and game type. On the plus side, the battery does a tremendous job of holding a charge. I've gone many months without using some of my charged Super Pockets and they're still ready to play with 100% capacity when I do grab them again.

HyperMegaTech Super Pocket – Built-in Game Options

Blaze has a history of working around certain licensing restrictions on how certain games can be sold by building them into both their Evercade and HyperMegaTech hardware. While some of these restrictions have loosened of late – meaning, you're starting to see some previously built-in only games coming to cartridge – a product like the Super Pocket is still one of the more reliable ways to guarantee access to games not yet, or may never be, on an Evercade cartridge. You can read the full lineup that comes preloaded on each edition in this sheet.

Each Super Pocket features the original games from their original platforms, so they're not scaled to or optimized for the display. This is not an issue for many of the games, but for some – especially arcade games with a vertical/portrait (aka TATE) display – the active area can be quite small unless you choose to purposely distort the image with the Full Screen aspect ratio option. Examples of portrait display arcade games include Kiki Kaikai on the Taito Edition Super Pocket and BurgerTime on the Data East Edition Super Pocket, the latter of which highlights how difficult it can also sometimes be to make out text. In general, though, there are always enough games, even on the 12-game Capcom Edition, that work just fine within the display's constraints.

You also have to consider that the direction pad and four face buttons are not the best way to control every game. For example, Operation Wolf included on the Taito Edition is a light gun game in the arcade, so using the direction pad to drag the targeting cursor across the screen is less than ideal. Similarly, a game like Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting on the Capcom Edition is controlled with six buttons. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but the rear buttons on the Super Pocket are not ideally positioned to both hold the handheld and easily and consistently press those buttons, particularly in the heat of battle. Games that need four or fewer buttons, which is admittedly most of what's included, are not a problem.

On the plus side, when you're in any game, you can press the Game Menu button to Save or Load your place in one of six slots, as well as reference the controls. You can also change the Display settings, reset the game, or quit back to the main menu.

Between the six current editions, the Atari Edition features the most games at 50, and also the most games from (five!) different platforms. While some of the arcade games like Super Breakout or Crystal Castles have portrait displays or native controls that don't map well to a digital direction pad, for the most part, the other games work quite well on the Super Pocket thanks to the modest controls and resolutions of the original consoles and handheld. Of course, older arcade and 8-bit console games may have less appeal to some people than what's featured on something like the Capcom Edition Super Pocket, even with just 12 games.

If you want a slightly newer mix of arcade and console games, the Technos Edition might be more for you, though it only features 15 games with a good amount of overlap. For a little better variety, the 18-game Data East Edition might be more desirable, although that also features a few games not particularly optimized for the display. Finally, there's the NeoGeo Edition with 14 games, but each are well-optimized for both the controls and display as the Super Pocket's setup closely matches what the MVS arcade machine offered, making it arguably the best choice if you can choose only one.

HyperMegaTech Super Pocket – Cartridge Games

The HyperMegaTech Super Pocket's ace in the hole is its cartridge slot, which provides access to hundreds of additional games from nearly every genre across dozens of cartridges. There's some overlap, like with Taito Arcade 1, but in general, these games are only found outside of what's built into any of Blaze's hardware.

Every cartridge is compatible, but not every game included on them is optimized for the Super Pocket’s display or controls. They are, however, tuned or tunable for the mainline Evercade hardware; the Evercade EXP-R handheld, for example, has an 800x400 resolution 4.3-inch IPS screen, and can also enter TATE mode to better display portrait-oriented arcade titles. The two pairs of shoulder buttons are also far easier to reach and press in the heat of action.

The other functionality missing from the Super Pocket that the mainline Evercade hardware gets is online connectivity. That means that the Super Pockets don't get access to firmware updates or free games of the month, nor can they apply any updates to cartridges. On the rare chance a cartridge needs an update to run properly, it needs to be done on a mainline Evercade console, handheld, or bartop before it can be used in a Super Pocket.

In general, if you want the full Evercade experience, you're better off with the EXP-R handheld, the VS-R console, or the Alpha bartop. Fortunately, this is not a zero-sum game as the Evercade platform is designed to expand as your wants and needs evolve. To put it another way, investing in one or more cartridges (and one or more pieces of hardware) allows you to play a particular game or games however you want. The Super Pocket, in mimicking the general Game Boy design, certainly has its appeal, as does its ability to simultaneously host both its internal games and a cartridge that can nearly double its available content on the go.

Purchasing Guide

The HyperMegaTech Super Pocket Editions can be purchased via Amazon. (Check HyperMegaTech's retailer page for other options,) Each edition retails for $69.99.

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Mega Evolution: Mega Latios ex Box is at Market Value on Amazon

A new Pokémon TCG deal as appeared in the wild, this time it's the Mega Evolution-themed Mega Latias ex Box at market via Amazon. That means $37.30 for two Mega Evolution, one Destined Rivals and One Journey Together boosters alongside a very playable promo Mega Latias ex card and not-so playable jumbo card.

Pokémon TCG: Mega Latias ex Box

The Best Pokémon Cards you could pull from Mega Latias ex Box

It's really awesome to think about the chase cards you have a chance of pulling in this ex box, but that chance is usually quite slim. If I have a chase card I'm after and I don't have packs to rip off-hand, I usually check out TCGPlayer for the best price and sort myself out that way. Considering booster boxes for any set are going near or over $200 right now, you'd be suprised at how much money you'll save over opening booster packs. Here's the top ten Pokémon card you can pull right now from mega Evolution, Destined Rivals and Journey Together, their values and where to buy them:

Mega Gardevoir ex - 187/132 (Mega Evolution) Near Mint Holofoil: $490
Market price: $541.61
Most recent sale: $420

Mega Lucario ex - 188/132 (Mega Evolution) Near Mint Holofoil: $499.98
Market price: $542.29
Most recent sale: $525.50

Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex - 231/182 (Destined Rivals) Near Mint Holofoil: $495.99
Market price: $581.93
Most recent sale: $504.66

Cynthia's Garchomp ex - 232/182 (Destined Rivals) Near Mint Holofoil: $289.99
Market price: $296
Most recent sale: $291.01

Mega Gardevoir ex - 178/132 (Mega Evolution) Near Mint Holofoil: $257.99
Market price: $265.01
Most recent sale: $255

Mega Lucario ex - 179/132 (Mega Evolution) Near Mint Holofoil: $273.50
Market price: $281.51
Most recent sale: $275

Ethan's Ho-Oh ex - 230/182 (Destined Rivals) Near Mint Holofoil: $220.03
Market price: $242.87
Most recent sale: $221.30

Mega Venusaur ex - 177/132 (Mega Evolution) Near Mint Holofoil: $190.01
Market price: $194.58
Most recent sale: $191.30

Lillie's Clefairy ex - 184/159 (Journey Together) Near Mint Holofoil: $190.01
Market price: $194.58
Most recent sale: $191.30

Team Rocket's Moltres ex - 229/182 (Destined Rivals) Near Mint Holofoil: $145.93
Market price: $153.59
Most recent sale: $149.84

Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.

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Goddess of Victory: Nikke Game Director Discusses Third Anniversary Event and the Game’s Future

The third anniversary of Goddess of Victory: Nikke arrives in November, and today it launched its biggest in-game event yet that includes the culmination of the main “Rapture Queen” storyline and the largest-scale battles the game has seen.

If you don’t know about Goddess of Victory: Nikke, it’s a free-to-play third-person idle shooter from Korean developer Shift Up that’s available on Android, iOS, and PC. Downloaded more than 45 million times since its launch in November 2022, it has a roster of more than 160 “Nikke,” android soldiers who you take into battle in an effort to reclaim the overworld from a vicious race of aliens called Raptures who forced humanity to flee underground.

That conflict comes to a head in this new story event, which will see players face off in a final battle against the evil Rapture Queen. But that’s just scratching the surface of what’s coming in the anniversary update. The other big addition is the new Surface Beta mode, which features large-scale simulation-style battles where you assemble Nikke squads, fight Raptures, collect resources, and capture strongholds.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a major update without new recruitable characters. New SSR characters Nayuta and Liberalio will be recruitable through the normal gacha system, while SSR Chime will be a free anniversary event character. Nayuta and Liberalio will take center stage in the new story content, with Nayuta rallying her Pioneer Squad against the Rapture Queen, who Liberalio reveres as a mother figure.

The anniversary event adds a new gacha costume for Red Hood and pass costumes for Crown and Siren. Plus, it’s bringing back a re-run of the powerful Pilgrim characters, letting you choose one of Modernia, Dorothy, or Red Hood as your exclusive event pull. And there will be limited-time challenges like new boss fights, a new Union Raid, Solo Raid, and multiple minigames and events.

With the third anniversary fast approaching, we chatted with game director Yoo HyungSuk. He’s a 15-year veteran of the Korean gaming industry who started his career as a combat planner on MMORPGs. His previous work also includes being the director/planning director for games like Overhit and Lost Ark. He joined Shift Up in 2020, when he was named game director of Goddess of Victory: Nikke. We talked to him about the game’s successful three-year run, how the dev team approached the new anniversary content, their plans for the future, and more.

According to your livestream, the new anniversary story content leads to what is a "final battle." Could you explain why such a storyline is being launched at this point?

Yoo HyungSuk: Since launch, Nikke has had a considerable number of stories that are spread in all directions. We realized the need to slowly gather the stories that have branched out over the past three years into a single storyline, and the third anniversary is the starting point of this plan.

Nayuta, the featured character for the third anniversary update, is unique compared to previous Nikke characters. Can you talk about the concept behind the development of this character and the different abilities they have?

Yoo HyungSuk: All members of the Pioneer squad are based on classic JRPG parties. Snow White is the heavily armored knight and tanker. Scarlet is the agile swordswoman and DPS. Rapunzel is the priest who heals. That's how it works.

Nayuta is the fourth member, so she was designated as the monk who supports. We didn't want her to be stronger than the other three members in combat, so we developed her to focus on utility, which led to the abilities she has now. Her main ability is using her clones to learn massive amounts of information. As a former D.E.E.P. member, she's also familiar with over-technology.

You’re also introducing a new gameplay mode called Surface Beta to launch alongside the third anniversary. Can you tell us more about it?

Yoo HyungSuk: As its name suggests, the Surface Beta content allows players to explore the biggest world in Nikke. To make the experience more immersive, we decided to adopt a simulation-style battle system instead of the existing shooting battle format. We incorporated fun elements across the expansive field, such as uncovering hidden areas and solving puzzles. Mainly, we want players to experience the battles against Lord-class Raptures. As Raptures have basic gimmick patterns based on the surface, it is important to choose the squads' locations wisely. We will also introduce even stronger bosses in the future, so stay tuned for more!

Your dev team has consistently created new minigames throughout Nikke’s three-year run. What factors are usually considered when deciding what type of minigame to develop?

Yoo HyungSuk: In major events like this anniversary, minigames are not mini. Given how important this update is, we put more effort into the game mode, with this one featuring a never-before-seen genre with unique visuals and an impressive scale. It's a management simulation-style game where you restore Eden, which was destroyed for a mysterious reason.

Just the fact that we’re here celebrating the three-year anniversary shows how successful the game has been and how it’s maintained a connection with the community. What do you think are the reasons for that success?

Yoo HyungSuk: We think our Commanders enjoy unique content and stories that are different from other games. In this age of content overload, providing gameplay, visuals, and stories similar to other titles would be nothing short of boring.

Fans of our game have a deep understanding of our content and stories. Since we have to keep delivering excellent content and narratives without disappointing them, we really try to emphasize to the whole development team that they should truly love the game and then it's not just work. We will continue keeping this in mind and work harder to make our game better, so please stay tuned.

Since Nikke first launched, what have been the biggest difficulties you’ve run into and how did you overcome them?

Yoo HyungSuk: In the past three years, our biggest problem has been figuring out how to adapt to this fast-changing era and deciding what content and stories we should deliver to bring players for maximum fun. This issue has persisted for three years and will continue into the future. We are game developers, and fun is the core value of any game, so it's only right that we face this challenge and keep bringing more fun and new content to our players. So it's both a joyful and difficult journey.

That’s an interesting perspective. Do you think needing to adapt to that change has helped keep the dev team engaged? I imagine it can sometimes be difficult working on the same game for years even after release, dealing with complacency or burnout. But do you think having those consistent challenges to overcome helps with that?

Yoo HyungSuk: Yes, when we set endless goals it's indeed possible to encounter problems like job burnout. Like boxers, we need to constantly compete, prove our ability, and have strong mental resilience.

This is why, from the very beginning, we've emphasized to the development team that, rather than aiming for zero mistakes, what matters more is learning from the mistakes and growing. After adopting this mindset, we noticed that continuously setting goals actually helps improve the team's focus.

You’ve been able to collaborate with some big franchises, from Evangelion to Stellar Blade to Nier: Automata to the recent Resident Evil. What’s the process in deciding who to collaborate with?

Yoo HyungSuk: Collaborations are decided through various discussions, but recently, we've focused on finding IPs that players who like Nikke will enjoy, even if they're not familiar with it. We designed the Resident Evil minigame with this perspective in mind, and we hope players are having fun with it.

Nikke has also shown up at some surprising real-life events, like the San Diego Padres baseball game and on the Hudson River in New York. Will we see Nikke at other real-world events in the future?

Yoo HyungSuk: Of course! Bringing multifaceted enjoyment that goes beyond the game to our Commanders makes us happy. In particular, seeing Rapi throw the first pitch at Petco Park in San Diego was especially an honor for us. We'll continue to do our best, so please keep watching us.

Speaking of the future, what does Shift Up have planned for Goddess of Victory: Nikke in 2026?

Yoo HyungSuk: In 2026, we will continue to work hard to give you fun experiences, both in-game and beyond. We're preparing various events and updates to surprise you, and we're ready to bring more special surprises for the 3.5 and fourth anniversaries. I'm already excited now. In 2026, we also plan to improve the quality of our operations to provide a more stable experience. Hope you all enjoy the game.

Since the third anniversary’s story is centered around the “final battle” theme, could you give us a hint about what comes next?

Yoo HyungSuk: We hope in 2026 our story could move on to the next stage. We plan to gather the countless stories we've told so far, converge them into one culminating point, and then move forward.

Nikke has built up quite a following of passionate fans around the world in its three years. As we celebrate the anniversary, is there anything you want to say to the players who’ve been on this journey with you?

Yoo HyungSuk: This year, we participated in the LA Anime Expo with Cosmograph and had the opportunity to talk to American players in person. Many of them expressed their gratitude, and some even shed tears of excitement upon meeting us. This left a lasting memory in my heart.

For those of us who spend all day in the office, this opportunity to meet players in person is extremely invaluable. Being able to personally feel the love from fans is truly blissful. Although developing the game and providing live service is sometimes hard and exhausting, the support from players pushes us to overcome difficulties and pick ourselves back up over and over again, and come up with more exciting and fun events.

Goddess of Victory: Nikke is available to download for free on the game’s official website, or on the App Store or Google Play. You can also join the game’s community on Discord, Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube.

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Battlefield REDSEC Review in Progress

After a few long sessions since yesterday’s surprise launch of Battlefield REDSEC, the free-to-play battle royale spin-off of Battlefield 6, it’s clearly coming after other grounded-ish military battle royales like PUBG and Call of Duty: Warzone. Hiding a fun mission structure within its streamlined familiarity — as well as an entire non-BR game mode — I’ve had the most fun when its map, called Fort Lyndon, is used to push the boundary beyond the requisite ever-shrinking storm. I still need some more time in the fray to nail down a final opinion, especially since most of the random squadmates I’ve matched up with in the main BR modes haven’t exactly been playing as a team. But for now, the squad-based, elimination-driven, free-for-all Gauntlet mode has impressed me more than the battle royale option itself.

With destructible environments, the ultimate buzzword (levelution), powerful vehicles that can alter the tide of battle or serve as fun chokepoints, and a baked-in squad system, Battlefield 6 seems like a perfect fit for a battle royale mode. But so far, REDSEC’s translation of Battlefield’s role-based structure feels like a shallow, if fun, take on the genre. Its hasn’t offered much yet to fully draw me away from Fortnite’s cartoonish chaos and electrifying events or separate itself from the likes of PUBG or Warzone beyond using Battlefield 6’s weapons and the Frostbite Engine. On the surface, REDSEC seems intent on reviving the rote 360-era conversation about shooters with a washed-out color palette because it seems so similar to its contemporaries.

Thankfully, REDSEC’s compelling mission structure takes a rewarding cleaver to the otherwise ho-hum military BR doldrums. They’re kind of like the missions and bounties you’d find in Fortnite, but with better rewards and more diverse challenges. Even with otherwise uncooperative squadmates, I found myself planting bombs and capturing waypoints to reap the benefits of well-communicated rewards. That seems to be REDSEC’s secret sauce: each in-game mission pops up like clockwork after a few minutes, only requiring a few button presses to get you to the next simple target.

Hinging on classic military FPS objectives like babysitting a planted bomb or picking up an important file so you can transmit its signal back to home base, these smaller sidequests add order to the otherwise chaotic pace of conquering the battlefield. Completing an objective will always come with some kind of supply drop. I really like how these drops are handled, offering a clearly communicated reward before accepting the mission, since some will alert nearby players to your presence.

In contrast, Gauntlet expands each of these extra objectives into full-fledged game modes, pitting a handful of four-player squads against each other to rack up the most points on each objective. The mode and objective will change throughout each of the four rounds, with the lowest-performing squads getting eliminated until only two remain. Rotating through different named locations within Fort Lyndon, each game mode uses a piece of the map and works more like a mish-mash between Fall Guys and a squad-based, free-for-all version of traditional Battlefield that’s easily been my favorite part of REDSEC for now.

Battlefield REDSEC’s slow-rolling storm just hasn’t done much to incentivize me toward a hard objective or new destination, but its mission structure usually got me (and any uncooperative squadmates) moving in the right direction towards otherwise flat attempts at the #1 spot so far. I’ll need more time to complete missions and snipe away at opponents across the map before delivering a final verdict, but for now, REDSEC at least has some unexpectedly interesting things going for it.

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Battlefield REDSEC Launches to 'Mostly Negative' Steam Reviews as Battlefield 6 Players Push for Battle Pass Changes and Bigger Maps

EA just introduced its new, destructive take on battle royale with Battlefield REDSEC, and Battlefield 6 base game players are already slamming it with “Mostly Negative” Steam reviews.

PC users who head to Steam to check out the standalone Battlefield experience, which launched across PC and consoles for free yesterday, will be met with a flood of negative Steam reviews across the board. At the time of this piece’s publication, just 35% of REDSEC Steam user reviews were positive, with positive reviews in all languages fairing just slightly better at 39%. Both measurements result in a dark red, Mostly Negative label.

A wave of negativity for Battlefield’s latest crack at battle royale arrives as Battlefield 6 players continue to express their dissatisfaction with the premium experience. Calls for changes to the base game reached a boiling point with the launch of Season 1 yesterday, and now, criticism is spilling into REDSEC.

Although Battlefield 6 and REDSEC exist as separate multiplayer offerings, both EA and Battlefield Studios games share unlocks tied to many challenges, cosmetics, and battle pass unlocks. Where this has evolved into a problem is how one experience might affect another, with many Battlefield 6 players complaining of weekly challenges that require them to play battle royale.

“I wouldn't hate it so much if I wasn't forced to play it for challenges in the main game,” one negative Battlefield REDSEC Steam review says. “But I am. So I do.”

“This is not why I bought Battlefield 6,” they add.

"Oh, but you just can reroll the challenges!" another negative review says. "Yeah and 3 of them are sill for the BR because they are pushing it hard on people that would not touch it even once..."

Other PC players agree that challenges granting large amounts of Battlefield 6 battle pass XP shouldn’t be tied to another experience, but dissonance isn’t the only thing tanking REDSEC Steam reviews. Some base game players are using Valve’s digital storefront to air out grievances related to multiplayer map sizes.

Early Battlefield 6 adopters have called for larger multiplayer maps as far back as the August beta tests, with the October 10 launch only adding fuel to the fire, as launch locations failed to live up to expectations for the community. At least a few negative Steam reviews even praise REDSEC’s exclusive battle royale map, Fort Lyndon, with their frustrations mostly summed up with one question: Why does the free-to-play game get the map sizes that premium players are asking for?

“Oh wow a nice big map with lots of POIs and flanks,” another negative REDSEC review says. “If only we could get something like this for the main game.”

“It's trying to be too much all at once,” another Steam user review adds. “The map in this Battle Royale is so good it's criminal that it's not being used for Conquest right now.”

As Battlefield 6 players aim to leave their mark with REDSEC Steam reviews, there are plenty of comments actually related to the new standalone experience itself, too. Many are positive, applauding how BF Studios blends classic Battlefield mechanics with other popular battle royale experiences, like Call of Duty: Warzone. Launch also ushered in a spike in activity, with Steamdb recording a 24-hour peak of 549,766 Battlefield 6 players yesterday.

REDSEC, which encompasses Gauntlet and Portals modes in addition to its battle royale mode, is getting love in the Battlefield community, but there is still a general feeling that the experience is incomplete. Specifically, it’s the lack of a solo queue option and battle royale fatigue that many are calling out – both in negative and positive reviews.

“No solo Mode... When will they learn the overwhelming majority of players play solo?” one negative review asks. “It doesn't feel good to play with randoms against premade coordinated squads.”

“Fun update, the battle pass is not half bad,” a positive review adds. “Only problem with me is not having a solo battle royal mode.”

REDSEC is just 24 hours into its time in the public’s hands. Seasonal updates will continue to offer shared experiences between REDSEC and Battlefield 6. Season 1 launched yesterday, introducing the new Blackwell Fields map for multiplayer, with more mid-season maps and guns set to follow in November and December.

EA has addressed fan feedback in the past, with the latest update introducing fixes for a controversial green skin and some of the bothersome lighting effects that have distracted players since launch. In the meantime, some players have been content simply using their time to draw on walls with the Engineer repair tool.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer 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).

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Doom Arena Board Game Hands-On Preview: Rip and Tear on the Tabletop

It's hard to imagine what first-person shooters would be like today, if they were to exist at all, without the original DOOM, released back on December 10, 1993, for MS-DOS. A lone super soldier, the legendary Doom Guy, fending off the hordes of demons from hell is one of the defining images of PC gaming, and the series continues to shock and amaze fans to this day with every new gory entry. Now, Modiphius Entertainment is bringing DOOM to the tabletop with the upcoming Doom Arena Board Game, now on Kickstarter, and I had a chance to get some time with a prototype to see just how well I could rip and tear in my dining room.

While Doom Arena isn't the first cardboard adaptation of the series, this latest rendition is a bloodbath contest between one player controlling Doom Guy and the other controlling the demons. Taking place in – you guessed it, an arena – the two players maneuver their plastic forces around the hexagon grid-based warzone, competing to see who can dish out the most pain.

Each point of damage done to an opponent earns you blood, which serves as a victory point.

Each point of damage done to an opponent earns you blood, which serves as a victory point. The winner is whoever comes out ahead in two out of the three rounds by earning the most blood, with each round consisting of six turns each for both sides. Between rounds, both Doom Guy and the Demons can upgrade their arsenals. Doom Guy gets new weapons and armor, while the Demons swap out weaker enemies for hartier ones like Pinky, Cacodemons, or the mighty Cyberdemon.

Doom Arena is one of those games that fits great as a filler between some heavier ones during a game day, or when you just want to have some fun while sipping a cold one and munching on some snacks. The gameplay is a slick dice-chucker where the strategy takes a back seat to running in guns blazing and seeing how much pain you unleash, which is very reminiscent of its source material. The only real "strategy" I found myself thinking about is what upgrades I was going to spend my resources on between rounds.

I appreciate the simpler ruleset behind Doom Arena, because you can explain the rules to friends pretty quickly and be rolling dice shortly after. That being said, I wouldn't complain if there were a smidgen more depth to be found. To be fair, the prototype I had access to and a work-in-progress ruleset included only two-player game modes, whereas the final game will be playable with 2-4 players, so it's possible the additional depth I am hoping for will be found in the final rules and other game modes. On the topic of game modes, I will say that having official rules for starting with more upgrades is smart, and makes for a ton of chaotic fun, and I could see some great matches happen by adopting a pick/counter-pick approach.

The version of Doom Arena that I played featured miniatures showcasing the classic looks of Doom Guy and demons that players of the original game from the '90s will recognize. But those who jumped on the chainsaw wagon in more recent decades will have a version for them, too. Modiphius is producing a mechanically identical version that instead has arenas, models, and weapons pulled from the most recent Doom: The Dark Ages, with Doom Guy replaced by the menacing Doom Slayer and demons including the Mancubus, Imps, Imp Stalkers, Hell and Battle Knights, Pinky Rider, Arachnotron, and Soldiers. And for folks who may be lacking in storage space, Modiphius will also offer a version that replaces the plastic miniatures with acrylic standees, shrinking the box size and lowering the cost.

When I first heard the announcement that Modiphius was designing a new Doom board game, my mind immediately went to images of playing as Doom Guy, exploring corridors, finding keys to unlock doors, that eventually would lead to a fight with a big scary demon. Something more akin to say a Betrayal at House on the Hill, Cthulu: Death May Die, or Zombicide. I still would love a Doom game like that, but I can't deny that Doom Arena captures the spirit of these games splendidly.

This is a series about killing as many things as fast as possible, and Arena delivers on that premise in an exciting and digestible package. Even playing dice with this WIP build led to tense moments where I had to hold my breath as I rolled my dice, or giant sighs of relief as my demons avoided being brutally dismembered by a chainsaw. I eagerly look forward to seeing what sort of additional elements or add-ons will be available to play around with and what sort of other game modes will ship in the final release that use three and four players. With the Doom Arena Board Game, Modphius looks to deliver a box that fans of both the video games and board games in general can enjoy, and I am counting down the days until I can rev up my chainsaw again and take it to some demons again.

Doom the Arena Board Game’s campaign runs until November 21, 2025 with an expected delivery date of October 2026.

Scott White is a freelance contributor to IGN, assisting with tabletop games and guide coverage. Follow him on X/Twitter or Bluesky.

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10 Harry Potter Jigsaw Puzzles Worthy of Potter Fans in 2025

Harry Potter is one of those franchises that has now infiltrated pretty much every medium. There are endless Harry Potter gifts for every type of fan out there, but if your specific interest is in puzzles, there's some serious variety available to you. Just a quick search for "Harry Potter puzzles" will drown you in options from various brands that can take a while to sort through.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Harry Potter Puzzles

As a fan of both Harry Potter and puzzles, I have taken it upon myself to help you find the right Potter puzzle for you. Below I've gathered some of my favorite adult jigsaw puzzles with a Harry Potter theme, as well as some great options for kids. I've also included an awesome model kit that makes for an exciting 3D puzzling experience.

Marauder's Map Puzzle

The Marauder's Map is one of the most recognizable items from Harry Potter lore. From Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, this puzzle looks like the full map from the movie once it's been assembled. The puzzle itself is from The Noble Collection, which is known for making some of the highest quality officially licensed wand and Harry Potter prop replicas. You can see what the fully assembled puzzle looks like below:

Hogwart's Express Puzzle

This Hogwarts Express puzzle from Buffalo games depicts Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid as they were at the end of The Sorcerer's Stone. The train is set against a beautiful sunset backdrop, and we also see Malfoy sitting on a bench with Goyle at his side. It's a great-looking jigsaw puzzle from one of the most iconic scenes from the first film of the Harry Potter movie series.

Herbology Puzzle

This herbology puzzle is my favorite option on this list. It depicts various ingredients students would find and grow in herbology class. At the center of it all is a mandrake in all its weird root baby glory. The design of this puzzle is reminiscent of the classic drawings you'd find in a vintage botanical identification diagram and makes for a great display piece.

Hogwarts Crest Wooden Puzzle

This Hogwarts Crest puzzle is made up of 201 laser-cut wooden pieces. It depicts the Hogwarts crest, including all four houses, and a vibrant floral design. What makes this puzzle interesting is that it comes with many unique pieces you'll recognize from the books and movies. These pieces include a witch's hat, the Goblet of Fire, and the Deathly Hallows symbol. It's a great puzzle for both kids and adults to put together.

Hogwarts Castle Puzzle

This 3,000-piece Hogwarts Castle puzzle is an excellent option for anyone looking for something more challenging. The image depicts the majority of Hogwarts Castle and grounds, including Hagrid's hut. There are also owls, a phoenix, a hippogriff, and various other small details that make this larger puzzle really fun to piece together. It's made by Ravensburger, which is our overall favorite puzzle brand on the market right now.

If you like the massive size of this puzzle, you may want to check out the largest puzzles out there. 3,000 pieces is nothing compared some of these.

Hogwarts Express 3D Puzzle Model Kit

While not a traditional puzzle, this 3D model kit of the Hogwarts Express belongs on this list because of how cool it is. The kit comes with eight sheets of 181 pieces that you'll need to put togehter. No glue or tools are required to assemble the train, but it may be difficult for young children to piece together. Overall, this is a really different kind of puzzle and excellent alternative to the LEGO Hogwarts express that is extremely pricey.

If you don't mind spending a bit more, there is also a LEGO Book Nook set for the Hogwarts Express that is worth checking out.

Hogwarts Map

The second Ravensburger puzzle I'm featuring on this list also depicts Hogwarts castle and grounds, but in map form. The map itself has a rather whimsical design and features a variety of notable locations including Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest. The puzzle also includes a border featuring small images of various other locations from the story. At 1,500 pieces, it is a bit more challenging that some of the other puzzles on this list, but the end result is worthy of displaying.

The Enchanted Car Mini Puzzle

If you're looking for a good Harry Potter puzzle for kids, this 100-piece mini puzzle from The New York Puzzle Company is a great option. The image shows Ron and Harry flying in the enchanted car with Hogwarts in the background. This is an iconic point of the story in The Chamber of Secrets, and the design of this image looks like the original cover artwork from the Harry Potter books.

Gryffindor Crest Puzzle

Every true fan knows which house they belong to. Whether you're in Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff, there is a crest puzzle available from Aquarius. I've featured the Gryffindor design here, but each house is has its own crest and background color. At just 500 pieces, these smaller puzzles are great if you want to spend an afternoon finishing a single image.

Harry Potter Puzzle for Kids

The final Ravensburger puzzle I have on this list is specifically meant for kids. Not only is it just 100 extra-large pieces, it features bright colors and recognizable characters that make it fairly easy to put together. The box says it is meant for ages six and older, so it should be simple enough for younger kids to handle.

What About Harry Potter LEGO Sets Instead?

Jigsaw puzzles are an excellent choice for any fan of Harry Potter and puzzling, but it isn't the only option available. There are a ton of LEGO Harry Potter sets available that depict iconic scenes and characters from across the entire series. These LEGO sets are quite a bit more expensive than the puzzles on this list, but many of them are easier to play with and display than a simple puzzle once put together.

Jacob Kienlen is a Senior SEO Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 7 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different topics -- from TV series to indie games and popular book series.

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Hybrid Action RPG Duet Night Abyss Launches Globally with New Monetization System

Free-to-play hybrid action RPG Duet Night Abyss is out now worldwide on PC, mobile devices, and Epic Games Store featuring a dual narrative with two protagonists, no stamina limits for movement or commissions, and no character or weapon gacha systems. Let’s get into the details of what this game has to offer.

Duet Night Abyss takes place in the world of Atlasia, where tree-like crystals called Heaventrees were viewed as gifts from the gods and gave rise to a central religion called the Elysian Church. Originally, practically everyone followed this religion, but over time, groups broke off and formed their own factions.

You play through the story from the perspectives of two protagonists with very different backgrounds, and you can freely choose and deploy each of them across different chapters. You’ll meet people from several of Atlasia’s different factions, and you can unlock many of them as playable characters by using character shards, which can be obtained either by buying the exact number you need for a specific character or by collecting them through gameplay.

Characters are not sorted into tiers or star ratings, all of them are just as viable in combat as the others. There are also no character gacha banners where you have to spend resources and just hope you eventually get what you want. You can identify the character you want, gather the required crystals, and be 100% guaranteed to unlock that character.

As the developers said when we interviewed them in August, this was in response to player feedback and was with the goal of making the game more accessible to free-to-play (F2P) players. And as part of the game’s global launch rewards, players can complete events to unlock seven characters for free, giving you the opportunity to build the team you want right from the start.

No matter what characters you want to use in battle, you can equip them with both melee and ranged weapons and swap between them on the fly. Every character has access to every weapon type, so you can freely equip them however you want.

Melee weapon options include standard choices like swords, polearms, and greatswords, as well as more unique ones like the whipsword. There are also a variety of ranged options, from a bow and arrow to dual pistols, grenade launchers, and shotguns. And like characters, weapons aren’t locked behind banners and aren’t sorted into different tiers or star ratings. So you can use whichever combination of weapons you want with no optimization lost.

Combat will pit you against waves of enemies in hack-and-slash action, where you’ll mow down hordes of foes in seconds. The flow of combat stays quick thanks to the fact there are several mobility options with no stamina requirements, so no need to keep your eye on a gauge to see what moves you can use. At any time, you can sprint, use a grappling hook, dodge, jump, double jump, wall jump, or Helix Leap, which in one button press allows you to cover very long distances very quickly.

You can tackle commissions with up to three players in co-op mode, or go solo with two AI companions. There are no stamina restrictions for commissions either, so you’re not limited to only a certain amount of time you can play freely. And you can further customize your fighting style with Demon Wedges, which are versatile add-ons that you can obtain during commissions.

Demon Wedges come in three varieties: character, melee weapon, and ranged weapon. They can provide boosts to your health, crit rate, attack speed, and other attributes. These boosts are guaranteed at a set level when you acquire and upgrade them, so you don’t have to keep grinding for the same thing and hoping to get a better version. There’s no randomization involved.

On top of stat boosts, Demon Wedges can also change the mechanics of your characters’ attacks and skills, and you can combine these with certain weapon traits to customize your attack pattern. And once you’ve acquired a Demon Wedge, you can use it across as many characters or weapons as you want. So again, no need to farm for additional versions to equip multiple of them.

Characters, weapons, and Demon Wedges can all be obtained through normal gameplay. The game’s monetization model is currently focused only on cosmetics, with a range of character skins, accessories, patterns, dye colors, and weapon skins. Both outfits and weapons can be dyed, allowing for an additional level of customization.

The developers recently unveiled new skins for the characters Psyche, Rebecca, and the duo Truffle and Filbert. They also revealed Christmas-themed skins and a new sword skin called Tough Love. And as part of the game’s global launch rewards, players can get up to 107 Pristine Hourglass and Prismatic Hourglass just for logging in. These items can be used to draw new skins.

Duet Night Abyss is available to download now on PC, iOS, and Android. For more information on the world and characters, you can check out the official website. Or you can follow the game on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, or Discord to keep up with the latest news and info.

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Crash Bandicoot Set to Return — as a Netflix Animated Series

Crash Bandicoot looks set for a return in animation form with a new series on Netflix.

What’s on Netflix reported that the animation studio behind Sonic Prime, WildBrain Studios, is making the Crash Bandicoot adaptation for the streamer. WildBrain Studios has worked on plenty of animations for Netflix, including Carmen Sandiego, Malory Towers, and the aforementioned Sonic Prime. As What’s on Netflix points out, this is the first time Crash Bandicoot will front his own series. There is no release window nor plot details for the Crash Bandicoot animated series yet.

As for the Crash Bandicoot video game series, it’s been quiet for some years now. After 2018’s Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy came out, Activision released Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled in 2019, Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time in 2020, Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! in 2021, and, most recently, Crash Team Rumble in 2023. Support for the latter ended less than a year after launch.

Is there a new Crash Bandicoot video game in the works? Last year, it was reported that Microsoft, which brought Crash Bandicoot under its umbrella after shelling out $69 billion for Activision Blizzard, had reached an agreement with former Crash Bandicoot developer Toys for Bob for the studio’s next game.

In February 2024, Toys for Bob announced plans to spin off from Microsoft-owned Activision to become an indie developer. Toys for Bob is the developer behind Skylanders, Spyro Reignited Trilogy, and Crash Bandicoot games, but in more recent years had become a Call of Duty support studio.

At the time, Toys for Bob said it was exploring "a possible partnership between our new studio and Microsoft,” adding both Microsoft and Activision were "extremely supportive" of its new direction. While Toys for Bob's first project as an indie studio is apparently "in the early days," fans speculated it could be a revival of Crash, Spyro, or another IP Toys for Bob has become known and beloved for.

As for Netflix, continuing to invest in video game adaptations comes as no surprise given the success it’s seen doing so already. It has animations for everything from Splinter Cell to Tomb Raider, Castlevania to Cyberpunk. And of course it enjoyed critical acclaim from the League of Legends animated adaptation, Arcane. It’s now working on adapting board games, with Catan, Clue!, and Monopoly shows in the works.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

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