The highest end iPad just dropped to the lowest price we've seen. For a limited time, you can pick up the new Apple iPad Pro 13" M4 tablet for $1051.16 shipped on Amazon. Alternatively, you can get the exact same model for about $20 cheaper from Walmart via Adorama (an authorized Apple reseller). The latest iPad Pro was released on May 15, 2024 and boasts significant upgrades over its predecessor including a powerful M4 chip and a gorgeous tandem OLED display.
Apple iPad Pro 13" M4 256GB Tablet From $131.74
The 2024 iPad Pro is the best tablet on the market, iOS or otherwise, thanks to the new M4 processor, which is both powerful and power-efficient. Compared to the previous generation, iPad M2, it performs about 20% better.
However, the biggest update of the iPad Pro is not the M4 chip, but instead the tandem OLED panel which hadn't previously been seen on an Apple product. Tandem OLED is better than traditional OLED in two ways: 1) it's far brighter, and 2) it's less prone to burn-in. If you're wondering why this technology hasn't found its way into TVs, the answer is simply because it's not cost-effective at larger sizes. The iPad can get away with it because the 11" screen is much smaller, but that's also a major reason why the iPad Pro is priced considerably higher than the other iPads in Apple's 2024 lineup.
More iPads are discounted for Mother's Day
Mother's Day lands on Sunday, May 11, which means that there's still (barely) time to order a gift and have it delivered by this weekend. And what better Mother's Day gift than a brand new iPad? Fortunately, Amazon has dropped the price of several of the latest iPad models, including the 11th-gen Apple iPad (A16), the 7th-gen iPad Air, and the iPad Mini (A17 Pro). These are the lowest prices we've seen and either match or beat the best deals we saw during Black Friday.
Looking for more iPad resources?
If you're not sure which iPad is best for you, we have a best iPad guide which details which iPad model is ideal for which use case. If you intend to get an iPad for schoolwork, we have the best iPad for students as well. Finally, if you're looking for options outside of iOS, check out the best Android tablets of 2025.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
If you’ve ever shopped for a VPN, you’ve likely come across dozens of different providers. The fiercely competitive nature of the VPN market means you can find VPN services at a variety of different price points. What’s more, there are some excellent money-saving deals to be found, particularly if you’re willing to commit for one or two years.
That said, I’ve tested many VPNs and found that the best VPN for the budget-conscious isn’t simply the cheapest VPN. Countless free and cheap VPNs fall short of our testing standards. It’s only by taking a deep dive into each VPN and specifics such as server speed and security features that I’ve identified the best budget VPNs.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Budget VPNs:
With a VPN, short for Virtual Private Network, you can secure your online activities from prying eyes. Your data is encrypted while your IP address is hidden for anonymous browsing. Other benefits include the ability to sidestep content restrictions and even bypass bandwidth throttling. The best budget VPNs allow you to do all of this at an affordable price without compromising on quality.
1. Mullvad
Best Budget VPN
Mullvad is the best budget VPN that’s just €5 a month (approximately $5.65 at the time of writing). So if you’re looking for a quality cheap VPN without being tied to a long-term contract, Mullvad is your best bet. Just bear in mind that if you’re willing to commit to a two-year subscription, you can save over $3 a month with the base tiers of CyberGhost and Surfshark. That said, Mullvad offers just one subscription tier which includes access to all its features.
One thing that Mullvad has proven is that it’s possible for a VPN to offer top-notch privacy without compromising on performance. Mullvad stands out in that you don’t need to provide an email address and can pay by sending cash in the mail. It’s one of the fastest VPNs I’ve tested, has user-friendly apps, and operates a genuine no-logs policy. You won’t find as many features as with NordVPN and Surfshark, but it does offer MultiHop servers as well as split tunneling.
2. Surfshark
Best Budget VPN with Extra Features
Surfshark stands out for having the lowest monthly subscription price of any of the best budget VPNs. This is through its two year plan, which is priced at just $1.99. One caveat however is that this is the Surfshark Starter plan which doesn’t include Surfshark’s antivirus. Still, there’s no shortage of features here, including an ad blocker and MultiHop servers. One-year plans start from $3.19 a month, but single month plans are among the most expensive of any VPN at $15.45.
From what I found in my review, Surfshark is an excellent streaming VPN thanks to a combination of fast speeds and reliable unblocking. It worked with multiple Netflix libraries as well as the likes of BBC iPlayer and Prime Video in testing. Surfshark is bursting with features with the highest tier plans including an antivirus and access to Incogni, which is Surfshark’s data removal service. It doesn’t hurt that you can secure all of your devices simultaneously with a single subscription either.
3. Proton VPN
Best Budget VPN with a Free Tier
Proton VPN has one of the more affordable one-year subscriptions. With a savings of 50% over its monthly plan, it costs just $4.99 a month ($59.88 total). Proton VPN’s one-month plan isn’t terribly priced either, at $9.99. You can only save an extra 5% with the two-year plan ($4.49/month) so paying less upfront with the one year deal is arguably the safer bet if you want to balance getting a good deal with having the flexibility to switch VPNs if needed.
More than one of the best budget VPNs, Proton VPN has the best free VPN plan on the market. That’s because its free tier has no ads, no logging, and no data or speed limits. It’s hard to find fault with Proton VPN, a strong all-rounder. It’s one of the fastest VPNs I’ve tested and, unlike most VPNs, gives you the option to pay in cash. A growing feature list includes an ad, tracker, and malware blocker. It’s just a shame that live chat support isn’t available 24/7.
4. IPVanish
Best Budget VPN for Unlimited Devices
IPVanish has one of the lowest monthly subscription rates of any VPN. Its two-year plan costs just $52.56, which equates to $2.19 a month – a price only beaten by Surfshark’s lowest subscription tier and PrivateVPN. The one-year subscription is also affordable at $3.33 a month. If you don’t mind paying roughly a dollar more per month for the Advanced tier, you get extras including cloud backup and phone support, the latter of which is a rarity in the VPN landscape.
This is a popular option with North American users thanks to its 1,400 servers in the U.S. and Canada. It has made huge strides with regard to its server speeds and unblocking in recent years. There’s no limit to the number of devices you can connect at once either. More recently, IPVanish has introduced new features such as a secure browser, cloud storage, and Double VPN servers. Privacy enthusiasts may prefer that it isn’t headquartered in the US (a Five Eyes country) however.
Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, IGN's parent company.
5. CyberGhost
Best Budget VPN With a Free Trial
CyberGhost has one of the most affordable two-year plans, totaling $56.94 ($2.19 a month). It also offers a six-month plan, which is a rarity among VPNs. This is priced at $6.99 a month, providing a compromise between an expensive short-term subscription and the higher upfront costs of a multi-year plan. CyberGhost has a generous 45-day money-back guarantee and a 24-hour free trial for Windows and MacOS (no credit card required), so you can try it risk-free.
One area in which CyberGhost stands out is its large server network that covers 100 countries. This gives you greater flexibility for unblocking and is a big reason why it’s among ourbest VPNs for streaming. That said, CyberGhost is one of many VPNs that struggles to work in China. Gamers will appreciate CyberGhost’s gaming-optimized servers located in London and New York, which allow for lag-free gaming when playing the likes of Fortnite and Apex Legends.
6. NordVPN
Best Budget VPN for Gaming
NordVPN has four different subscription tiers with generous discounts of up to 77% per month depending on which you opt for. Of course, the biggest savings come with its two-year plans starting from $3.09 a month. One-year subscriptions are a little more expensive and start from $4.99 a month. If you prefer to opt for just one month, you’ll pay $12.99 for the Basic tier but the Plus tier represents better value at $13.99 a month because it includes anti-malware protection and a password manager.
This is arguably the best-known VPN provider and for good reason. NordVPN excels at bypassing content restrictions. It’s also our best VPN for gaming thanks to its vast server network (a highly impressive 7,000+ servers in 118 countries), consistent connections, and Meshnet feature for LAN gaming. However, the apps arguably suffer from having too many features squeezed in, as well as a server map that not everyone will find particularly useful.
7. PrivateVPN
Best Budget VPN for Unblocking
PrivateVPN offers one of the least expensive plans of the budget VPNs. As long as you don’t mind a three-year subscription, you can save significantly as it works out at just $2 a month ($72 total). PrivateVPN also has a three-month subscription ($6/month), while its one-month plan ($9.90) is one of the more affordable, albeit still nearly double the price of Mullvad. PrivateVPN may be a lesser-known provider but has some of the most beginner-friendly apps.
I’ve found that PrivateVPN’s IP addresses don’t get blacklisted as quickly as more popular providers, making it particularly suitable for accessing streaming services such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Prime Video. PrivateVPN only has a little over 200 servers but they’re located in 63 countries and this, of course, includes the UK, U.S., Canada, and Australia. Where PrivateVPN does fall short compared to other best cheap VPNs is that it’s relatively light on features.
How to Pick a Budget VPN
The best budget VPN is not the same as the cheapest VPN. Instead, it’s that which offers the best service for the best possible price. In testing each VPN service, I measure server speeds, check for DNS leaks, time the reply speed of customer support, and more. None of this changes when looking at more affordable VPNs, only that I’m also factoring cost into the equation.
The best cheap VPNs all meet the following key criteria:
Affordable short-term or long-term subscription
Speeds that are fast enough for lag-free streaming
High level of encryption and protection from leaks
Absolutely no logging of any identifying data of users
Live chat and email support, ideally 24/7
Minimum of seven simultaneous connections allowed
I’ve taken the one-month subscription rates of each VPN as well as their lowest possible monthly price (usually as part of a two-year subscription plan) and compiled an average, factoring this into my rankings.
Mullvad VPN is the cheapest VPN if you’re looking for a short-term option or simply don’t want to have to commit to a VPN long-term. Yet Surfshark is arguably the best value VPN as its two-year subscription costs 65% less per month.
How to Use a VPN:
If you haven’t used a VPN before, rest assured that getting set up and connected is simple:
Sign up with one of the best budget VPNs.
Download and install the VPN app compatible with your device.
Open the VPN app and log in.
Connect to a server in your preferred location.
You’re all set!
Cheapest VPNs FAQs
Are budget VPNs less secure?
Not necessarily. Factors that can dictate a VPN’s pricing include the number of servers it operates and the availability of extra features like specialty servers or an antivirus or password manager. The best cheap VPNs still offer all of the key security features required from a quality VPN. It’s just that they do so at a more competitive price point.
Can I use a free VPN instead of a budget VPN?
Few free VPNs are trustworthy and of decent quality. Free VPNs don’t offer many servers or server locations, and they also tend to throttle bandwidth and cap data, resulting in poor performance. Many don’t provide an adequate level of encryption and may log and sell your browsing data. If you do need to opt for a free VPN, I’d recommend Proton VPN’s free plan.
What’s the difference between monthly and yearly VPN plans?
When you opt for a one-month VPN subscription, you’ll pay more each month than with an annual plan. The advantage is that you have more flexibility to switch if you’re unsatisfied. However, the biggest savings come with yearly or even multi-year subscriptions. While you’ll ultimately pay less when you break the pricing down per month with a yearly subscription, you have to pay the full amount upfront.
Can I get a refund if I’m not satisfied with a VPN?
All of these VPNs come with a 30-day money-back guarantee (except CyberGhost, which is 45 days). This allows you to try any of them out risk-free. As long as you remember to cancel before the end of that period, you’ll receive a full refund.
Mark Gill is a freelance VPN writer for IGN, bringing over five years of dedicated experience from Comparitech, where he delves deep into the intricacies of VPNs. A journalism graduate with a passion for safeguarding digital freedoms, Mark has strengthened his expertise with a Google Cybersecurity Certificate and is now studying for the CompTIA Security+ certification. When he’s not testing VPNs, Mark is an avid gamer with a soft spot for the Sega Mega Drive, reliving the classics for a dose of nostalgia.
There's this idea that a gaming PC is inherently a giant tower of metal and plastic that takes up so much space that you need to have a dedicated desk to handle it. These days, you don't need a massive hog of a tower to get incredible gaming performance. Instead, the best mini PCs can take up as little space as a cable box.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Mini PCs for Gaming:
There are inevitably some downsides when going with a mini gaming PC instead of a full tower. For one, the smaller form factor means there's simply less space for high-end graphics cards and CPU coolers. As such, you probably won't find many mini gaming PCs out there with an RTX 5090 and an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, at least not at a price that doesn't rival a down payment on your house. Instead, you're more likely to find something like the recently announced GMKTec Evo-X, which uses a powerful APU, rather than discrete graphics.
Different PC manufacturers deal with the space constraints in different ways. For instance, Asus bought out the NUC (next unit of computing) brand from Intel to make desktop PCs that use mobile hardware to fit into extremely small cases. Other companies, like Zotac, will find a way to shove powerful desktop-class hardware into a tiny chassis. They'll be inherently harder to service or upgrade than other towers, and also much more expensive, but hey, at least they're tiny.
When I first opened up the Asus ROG NUC, I was surprised by how small and light it was. Sure, it's using all mobile-class hardware, but for something I'm hooking into my TV, it has surprisingly little heft to it. Couple that with the fact it looks exactly like a cable box, and this is a mini gaming PC that's perfect for blending into a living room. It's great for a media center PC already, but the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 means it's no slouch when it comes to gaming – up to a point at least.
The wall I kept running into again and again when I reviewed the Asus ROG NUC is that the mobile-class hardware is always a limiting factor, especially when it's connected to a 4K TV. Don't get me wrong: The ROG NUC absolutely can power through any PC game on the market, including demanding ones like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong... at 1080p. If you connect this to a 4K TV, you will have to turn down some settings in some of the flashiest games if you want to maintain a solid framerate.
It is still quite a bit more powerful than the PS5 even with its limitations, and the Nvidia graphics do allow it to use DLSS to narrow the gap at 4K. Just keep in mind that you're not going to be maxing out Black Myth: Wukong with full ray tracing or anything, and you should be fine. To be clear, with how tiny the Asus ROG NUC is, there's no way a full desktop-class graphics card would even fit inside.
The Asus ROG NUC is probably one of the best mini gaming PCs you're going to find anywhere, but just like any mini gaming PC, you'll have to do some calculus about whether or not it's worth just going with a gaming laptop instead.
2. MinisForum Venus Series UM773
Best Budget Mini PC for Gaming
If you're on the hunt for a wallet-friendly mini PC that doesn't skimp on performance, then the MinisForum Venus Series UM773 is worth considering. Despite its budget-friendly price tag, the UM773 packs a punch with an AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS, with dedicated AMD graphics. There isn't a discrete GPU, but the integrated AMD Radeon 680M GPU can rival some lower-end dedicated graphics cards, especially in esports games.
Stepping into the next generation, the UM773 features 16GB of speedy DDR5 RAM and a generous 512GB SSD. You may need to consider an upgrade later down the line, but for now, it will definitely serve you well for just $450.
3. Zotac ZBox Magnus One
Best Mini PC with Desktop Graphics
The Zotac Magnus One doesn't look like much, but its tiny chassis is hiding a beefy RTX 3070 GPU. This graphics card is a powerhouse, delivering solid 1440p gaming performance. While the CPU is quite old, it’s still a solid performer that won't bottleneck the GPU, ensuring you get the best gaming experience possible. While 16GB of RAM might seem a bit modest compared to some other mini PCs on the market, it's more than enough for gaming and general use.
In terms of pricing, the Zotac Magnus One is on the more expensive side. You could arguably get a more powerful full-sized gaming PC for the same amount of money. However, if you're looking for a compact, space-saving solution without sacrificing gaming performance, the Magnus One is worth every penny. Its sleek design, impressive specs, and solid gaming performance make it one of the best mini PCs for gaming enthusiasts who value form factor and functionality.
4. Mac mini M2
Best Mini PC for Mac
You might not think of gaming when you think of the Mac mini M2, but it delivers surprisingly good performance, allowing you to play a wide range of games at a decent frame rate. Given its cost, it’s hard not to consider the Mac mini M2 as a capable gaming mini PC. With a noticeable performance increase over the M1 chip, the M2 chip comes with eight CPU cores and 10 GPU cores, supporting strong performance, whether you're playing games or getting work done.
Thanks to its many ports, the Mac mini M2 supports up to two 4K displays at 120Hz, and because the M2 natively supports Thunderbolt, you can even back it up with an external GPU later down the line. It also comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3, so you can plan to game online. For pure gaming performance, a Windows PC is a better option, but if you want a Mac and just want to dabble with playing games here and there, it’s a solid option. See our roundup on the best monitors for Mac Mini when you're ready to pick a display to pair it with.
How to Pick the Best Mini PC for Gaming
Just like with any gaming PC, finding the best mini PC for gaming is all about what games you're looking to play, and at what resolution. Mini PCs are much smaller compared to desktop PCs, and even some laptops, and size constraints naturally limit the components included.
If you want to play the latest titles without any hiccups, you'll want to aim for a mini PC with a solid GPU. Look for models that come equipped with modern graphics like the Nvidia RTX series or AMD Radeon cards rather than integrated graphics. However, if you’re on a budget and you’re not fussed about playing games that have just been released, you could get away with something less powerful.
A good CPU is crucial for gaming performance and overall system responsiveness. Aim for mini PCs with mid-to-high-end CPUs, ideally with around 4 cores, 8 threads, and a high clockspeed – around 4.0GHz or higher – just so your computer doesn't grind to a hault when you're trying to multitask. Similarly, you’ll need a decent amount of RAM (at least 16GB) and storage (at least 512GB SSD) to run and store your games smoothly.
Once you’ve nailed down the specs, make sure the mini PC has enough ports for your peripherals, as well as HDMI or DisplayPort outputs for connecting to external monitors or TVs. Thunderbolt ports are also a nice bonus if you plan on connecting high-speed external storage or other devices.
Mini PC FAQ
Are mini PCs good for gaming?
It kind of depends on what you mean by "good for gaming." It's unlikely that you're going to find any mini gaming PC that's going to be great at 4K gaming, but lower your expectations a bit and these tiny machines can surprise you. If you mostly play games at 1080p, especially if you play a lot of indie games, even mini gaming PCs with integrated graphics are good enough these days to give you a solid gaming experience. We're entering an age of PC gaming where basically any PC can play PC games to some extent and mini gaming PCs are certainly no different.
What is better: mini PC or PC?
Again, this depends entirely on what you're looking for. Because, yeah, a full-sized gaming PC with a Ryzen 9 processor and an RTX 5090 is going to wipe the floor with every mini gaming PC on the market when it comes to pure performance numbers. But no matter what you've heard on Reddit, performance isn't everything. Take it from someone that lives in a tiny NYC apartment: Sometimes having a small gaming PC is extremely important and can make up for the lack of performance, especially if you're pairing it with a lower-resolution gaming monitor.
What are the downsides to a mini PC?
When you're getting a mini gaming PC, you're going to have to make compromises in at least one of three categories: price, performance, and upgradability. There are some tiny gaming PCs that pack high-end desktop components, but you're going to have to fork over a huge wad of cash for them. On the other hand, there are some really affordable mini gaming PCs out there, but those are mostly using integrated graphics and are really only good for playing PC games at 1080p with medium-high settings. If you want a PC with swappable components, you really only have a few options in a small form factor, though these tend to be more powerful (and expensive) than other mini gaming PCs.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra
I currently own the newest Kindle Paperwhite and have been loving it. Kindles in general are very convenient, and having the ability to easily toggle the screen brightness is a game changer for reading at night. It is the overall best Kindle you can buy right now, but unfortunately that model is not currently on sale. You can, however, find a really good deal on the Kindle Paperwhite Kids' version on Amazon right now which is pretty much the same thing.
The newest Kindle Paperwhite Kids e-reader is currently on sale at its lowest price ever. On top of that, Amazon is running a promotion that takes an additional $20 off the price if you purchase two of them. If you've been in the market for a couple of new Kindles, this is a great option right now — even if it is a Kids' edition.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids on Sale Today
With the $40 discount, this price matches the lowest we've ever seen on the new Kindle Paperwhite Kids. If you factor in the additional $20 you can save by purchasing two at once, that discount brings the price down to just $129.99 per Kindle. That's only a little bit more expensive than the standard Kindle and about $30 cheaper than the regular Kindle Paperwhite.
The Kindle Paperwhite Kids is pretty much the same as the Kindle Paperwhite, but it comes with a couple of additional things. The first add-on is the cast that is included with the device. This is really just additional savings compared to the standard model where the case is sold separately. You also get a free six-month subscription to Amazon Kids+, which you can choose to continue or stop once the trial period is over. For those who aren't familiar with Amazon Kids+, it is essentially a digital platform that provides ad-free books, games, and videos. If you are purchasing this for a younger kid, it also comes with a parent dashboard that allows you to choose which books get added to their library.
Should I Buy the Kids' Edition for an Adult?
Whether you're looking to buy a Kindle for yourself or someone you love, there's really no reason you can't pick up the kids' version. It is the same hardware as the Paperwhite, comes with a cool case, and free subscription to some ad-free books. With the discount going on right now, this would even make a good Mother's Day gift. You may need to explain why the case is so colorful, but for the price it is absolutely worth it.
More Good Tablets for Reading
If you're looking for options beyond Kindle, there are actually quite a few good tablets for reading you can check out. Some of these options work better for full-color comics and graphic novels or browsing the web. We've gathered a few of our top Kindle alternatives below.
It’s about time for a new Rian Johnson murder mystery. No, not another Knives Out movie (yet). We’re talking about Poker Face, the comedy-drama starring Natasha Lyonne. The straight-to-streaming show aired its first season back in 2022, establishing a mystery of the week structure of with new guest stars in each episode. The through line is Lyonne’s Charlie Cale, an on-the-run casino worker who has an uncanny ability to tell when people are lying to solve various crimes.
A little more than two years later, Poker Face is returning to Peacock for its second season. Here’s what critic Samantha Nelson had to say in her review of the first 10 episodes: “Driven by a magnetic performance from Natasha Lyonne, clever writing, and a laundry list of comedic guest stars, Season 2 of the howcatchem isn’t prestige TV, but it should definitely be on your watch list.”
Whether you’re planning to see what’s up from the beginning of the series or have been eagerly awaiting Season 2, here’s everything you need to know to watch Poker Face.
Where to Stream Poker Face
Poker Face is streaming exclusively on Peacock. As one of the more budget-friendly streaming services, Peacock subscriptions start at $7.99/month. Peacock itself doesn’t offer a free trial, but you can technically get a free trial through Instacart+, which includes Peacock in its annual subscription plans and offers a 14-day free trial.
Season 2 Episode Release Schedule
Poker Face Season 2 has 12 episodes total. The first three episodes premiered on May 8, and subsequent episodes will be released one by one every Thursday. Here’s the full episode release schedule:
Episode 1: "The Game Is a Foot" - May 8 (now streaming)
Episode 2: "Last Looks" - May 8 (now streaming)
Episode 3: "Whack-A-Mole" - May 8 (now streaming)
Episode 4: "The Taste of Human Blood" - May 15
Episode 5: "Hometown Hero" - May 22
Episode 6: "Sloppy Joseph" - May 29
Episode 7: "One Last Job" - June 5
Episode 8: TBA - June 12
Episode 9: TBA - June 19
Episode 10: TBA - June 26
Episode 11: TBA - July 3
Episode 12: "The End of the Road" - July 10
Poker Face Season 2 Guest Stars
It should come as no surprising that Natasha Lyonne reprises her starring role as Charlie Cale. Otherwise, here’s all of the guest stars you can expect to see in Season 2:
Cynthia Erivo
Awkwafina
Katie Holmes
Simon Helberg
John Mulaney
David Alan Grier
Lauren Tom
Lili Taylor
Natasha Leggero
Richard Kind
Alia Shawkat
Rhea Perlman
Geraldine Viswanathan
Taylor Schilling
Adrienne C. Moore
Ben Marshall
B.J. Novak
Carol Kane
Cliff “Method Man” Smith
Corey Hawkins
David Krumholtz
Davionte “GaTa” Ganter
Ego Nwodim
Gaby Hoffmann
Giancarlo Esposito
Haley Joel Osment
Jason Ritter
John Cho
Justin Theroux
Kathrine Narducci
Kevin Corrigan
Kumail Nanjiani
Margo Martindale
Melanie Lynskey
Patti Harrison
Sam Richardson
Sherry Cola
Simon Rex
Blythe (she/her) is an SEO Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
If you're looking for a budget Blackwell graphics card for 1080p gaming, the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti is as good as it gets. Just make sure to get the 16gb variant and not the 8GB. Right now Amazon and Walmart have GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16GB GPUs starting at $489.99. That's still higher than the launch price of $429.99 for a reference model, but the price markup isn't nearly as egregious as the other RTX 50 series cards.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti GPU Starting From $489.99
The RTX 5060 Ti is an excellent GPU for 1080p gaming. It outperforms the RTX 4060 Ti by about 20% and the RTX 3060 Ti by about 40%. Like the other Blackwell cards, the RTX 5060 Ti pulls away even further in games that support DLSS 4.
The least expensive RTX 5070 GPU currently available is $609.99 and if you plan to stick to 1080p, that extra $120-$130 is probably not worth it unless you're aiming for super high frame rates. Make sure, however, that you pick a model with 16GB of VRAM like the ones above. The 8GB models are priced lower, but the smaller amount of VRAM significantly bottlenecks the GPU's performance in newer, more graphics intensive games and playing at higher resolutions like 1440p.
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Windforce OC GPU for $609.99
If you're planning to game at higher resolutions like 1440p, then you should step up to the GeForce RTX 5070 GPU. Amazon currently has the Gigabyte GeForce RTX 5070 Windforce OC 12GB Graphics Card exclusively for Amazon Prime members for $609.99 with free shipping. It also includes a voucher for the upcoming Doom: The Dark Ages game.
Compared to the previous generation GPUs, the RTX 5070 performs comparably with the RTX 4070 Super. We wish there was a bigger generation improvement in raw performance, but the RTX 4070 Super was already an excellent card for 1440p gaming. It also came in at a launch price of $599.99, which is only $10 less than the price of this Gigabyte 5070 model. None of this even matters anymore because it's impossible to find an RTX 4070 Super GPU for sale (at least at this price). The RTX 5070 does look and perform better than the RTX 4070 Super in games that support DLSS 4 and multi-frame generation, and it's a more future-proof card that will improve with driver optimizations.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
All-Star Superman tops many lists of the greatest Superman comics of all time (including IGN's own Top 25 list), and now fans will be able to experience that seminal story in a new form. DC and Penguin Random House are teaming up to adapt All-Star Superman as a full-cast audiobook.
Meghan Fitzmartin is adapting the book, which was originally written by Grant Morrison and illustrated by Frank Quitely. Quitely provided a new illustration for the audiobook's cover, which you can see below:
All-Star Superman is a standalone story set in a universe where Superman grapples with his impending death after literally flying too close to the sun. The series follows Kal-El as he reveals his secret to Lois Lane and undergoes his own superheroic version of the 12 Labors of Hercules, before finally having one last showdown with his archnemesis, Lex Luthor.
Here's the full cast lineup for All-Star Superman:
Marc Thompson as Superman/Clark Kent & Zibarro
Kristen Sieh as Lois Lane
Christopher Smith as Lex Luthor
Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes as Bizarro & Atlas
Brandon McInnis as Jimmy Olsen
Matthew Amendt as Leo Quintum
Ray Porter as Jor-El
Jessica Almasy as Nasthalthia Luthor
Pete Bradbury as Perry White
Scott Brick as Bar-El
Brennan Brown as Steve Lombard
Will Damron as Leader of the Superman Squad
Lauren Ezzo as Lana Lang
Robert Fass as Pa Kent
James Fouhey as Pete Ross
Todd Haberkorn as Klyzyzk Klzntplkz
Neil Hellegers as General Lane
Dominic Hoffman as Judge Morris
Đavid Lee Huỳnh as Kal Kent
Joshua Kane as Samson
January LaVoy as Agatha
Saskia Maarleveld as Lilo
Salli Saffioti as Ma Kent
Catherine Taber as Cat Grant
Oliver Wyman as Parasite
“As DC continues to connect with a wider audience of fans through innovative, accessible, and high-quality adaptations of our cornerstone Superman narratives, partnering with Penguin Random House Audio to adapt the classic DC comic book All-Star Superman will continue to expand our commitment to reach a broader fan base,” said Anne DePies, SVP and general manager of DC, in a statement. “With the All-Star Superman audiobook, we aim to provide an ideal entry point for newcomers to the Superman legacy while also drawing them into our rich literature. At the same time, we’re capturing the imaginations of longtime fans, podcast lovers, and audiobook aficionados by offering direct adaptations that faithfully bring their beloved stories to life.”
Andor Season 2 hit a new high note with Episodes 7-9, the climax of the show’s Ghorman storyline. We finally learned the full truth behind the Ghorman Massacre, arguably the most important, least understood conflict in the history of the Rebel Alliance. And as a nice little bonus, we got the origin story of Cassian’s faithful droid K-2SO.
There’s just one problem. We already got the full story on Cassian and K-2SO’s unlikely partnership in a 2017 Marvel comic, and it’s nothing like the story being told in Andor Season 2. For a shared universe that prides itself on maintaining continuity between movies, shows, novels, and comics, this is probably the biggest plot hole we’ve seen from the Disney Star Wars era. Let’s take a closer look at how Andor Season 2 diverges from Marvel’s version of events, and why ultimately it just doesn’t matter that much.
The Two Versions of K-2SO’s Origin
We knew coming into Andor Season 2 that Alan Tudyk would be reprising his role as K-2SO, with the series poised to reveal how this former Imperial assassin droid came to be partnered up with Diego Luna’s Rebel freedom fighter. That story is finally told in Episodes 8 and 9.
K-2SO is one of several K-X droids dispatched by the Empire to deal with the manufactured rebel uprising on Ghorman. After Cassian narrowly avoids being killed by the droid, he lugs K-2SO’s severed remains back to Yavin IV, where the droid is repaired, reprogrammed, and reactivated. He exists as a “living” monument to the atrocities committed by the Empire on Ghorman, and one that we know will be repurposed to do some good in the galaxy. Even if Cassian has to poke and prod him the entire time.
That episode tells a completely different story from the one we saw in 2017’s Rogue One: Cassian & K-2SO Special #1. Released a few months after Rogue One hit theaters, that comic reveals that Cassian acquires K-2SO during a mission gone awry on the planet Wecacoe. He and his partners attempt to salvage Imperial intel from a decommissioned Star Destroyer, only to blow their cover and have to fight their way out.
Cassian winds up duking it out with K-2SO during this mission, eventually subduing him and reprogramming the droid on the fly. It takes several attempts, but Cassian is eventually able to transform K-2SO into an ally who helps him escape the Empire. Though he fails to extract the intel from the Star Destroyer, Cassian is satisfied with the knowledge that K-2SO’s own databanks will provide invaluable information about the Empire’s security protocols.
In short, Lucasfilm has now released two completely different and contradictory versions of K-2SO’s origin story. The comic has effectively been retconned out of existence by the Andor show, relegating it to the same Legends status as the old Expanded Universe. But does that really matter? Let’s discuss.
The Messy Continuity of the Star Wars Franchise
For a franchise with as many moving parts as Star Wars, it’s inevitable that this universe is going to experience some continuity hiccups over time. Historically (in the Disney era, at least), Lucasfilm has tried to ensure that the movies and shows respect the stories being told in the books. Many details from the Star Wars: Aftermath novels have been picked up elsewhere, and we’ve seen characters like Cobb Vanth and Krrsantan make their debuts in print before crossing over to live-action. But the pieces don’t always fit perfectly. Andor Season 2 is hardly the first example where two versions of a story don’t align, even if this might be the most glaring example so far.
There’s definitely been conflict between the Star Wars shows and books/comics before. The Star Wars: Kanan comic series originally revealed how Kanan Jarrus survived Order 66, while Star Wars: The Bad Batch presents its own, somewhat different account. The animated series Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi offers a heavily condensed account of the story told in the Star Wars: Ahsoka novel. The 2014 novel Star Wars: Tarkin reads a little funny in hindsight because Ben Mendelsohn’s Director Krennic hadn’t been introduced yet, leaving Tarkin himself to act as the Death Star’s designated project manager.
But over time, plans changed and grew, and now we have what is probably the most glaring plot hole in Disney’s less-than-watertight Star Wars canon.
Similarly, Rogue One: Cassian & K-2SO Special #1 came at a time when no one could have predicted there would be an entire long-form series dedicated to exploring Cassian’s past. Even those within Lucasfilm’s Story Group probably assumed the door had mostly closed on Cassian following his death in Rogue One, leaving the comics free to fill in the gaps. But over time, plans changed and grew, and now we have what is probably the most glaring plot hole in Disney’s less-than-watertight Star Wars canon.
But again, does it matter? It’s not the first time the pieces of this vast puzzle don’t quite fit, and it certainly won’t be the last. The Star Wars saga is nothing if not messy, with numerous storytellers all working to flesh out their own little corners of a vast galaxy over the span of many years.
More to the point, Andor Season 2 is telling a much deeper and more thematically rich story. Rogue One: Cassian & K-2SO Special #1 is fine for what it is - a short, standalone tale tasked with answering a straightforward question. Andor is doing something far more ambitious. If showrunner Tony Gilroy and his team need to steamroll over a mostly forgotten comic in order to tell a more complex story with Cassian and K-2SO, then so be it. The show is bona fide prestige television. It needn’t have its hands tied by strict adherence to canon.
It helps to think of Star Wars not as one singular, fully cohesive story, but a series of documents retelling the history of a galaxy that existed long ago and far away. History is never fully set in stone, and is always subject to the whims and biases and interpretations of those telling it. Maybe the people of the Star Wars galaxy have multiple stories they tell about the history of Cassian Andor and his acerbic droid partner. Which one is true? Who can say? All that matters is that these “historical documents” make for riveting storytelling, and that’s certainly what Andor: Season 2 is doing.
Now more than ever, purchasing physical Blu-rays of your favorite anime is the best way to ensure you have access to them for years to come. The rise of streaming services has seen various movies and series pulled offline due to licensing issues, with some anime never returning to streaming afterward. One of 2022's most popular anime series is finally coming to Blu-ray! While the Limited Edition set is priced at $85 at Target and Amazon, you can score the Chainsaw Man Season 1 Limited Edition Steelbook for just $42.96 at Walmart.
Preorder the Chainsaw Man Blu-ray Steelbook at Walmart
Produced by MAPPA, Chainsaw Man stars Denji after making a deal with the Chainsaw Devil, Pochita. Together, the two work as a Devil Hunter alongside Power, Aki, and many other characters. If you're a fan of gruesome action and stylistic animation, this is a great series to jump into.
This exclusive Steelbook is only available at Walmart, featuring the Chainsaw Man artwork that was released alongside the announcement of the anime. While this Blu-ray edition does not include the 72-page art booklet packed in with the Limited Edition, you still get all 12 episodes of the Chainsaw Man anime, in addition to a slick Steelbook.
In our 9/10 review of Chainsaw Man, we wrote, "Chainsaw Man Season 1 brings one of the most popular manga of the past few years to the screen with a fantastic adaptation that not only does justice to the source material, but actively adds to it with cinema-inspired visuals that make this absurd, gory, dumb, and hilarious world feel incredibly real and relatable. Well, as real and relatable as the story of a man with chainsaws for hands can be."
More Upcoming 4K and Blu-ray Movies
There are a lot of upcoming Blu-ray and 4K options coming down the pipeline. Not only are the new shows and movies getting new steelbooks, there are also older movies that are just now getting the 4K treatment. If you're looking to add to your collection, here are some of the biggest upcoming physical media releases.
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.
The TZGZT Nintendo Switch 2 case is already over 50% off on Amazon. You can pick up this all-purpose travel case for just $12.84 ahead of the console's June 5th launch (if you were lucky enough to get one!). It comes with three-layer separation for extra protection, with plenty of room to store an extra pair of Joy-Con 2, cords, headphones, and other small accessories.
Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case Deal at Amazon
The actual space in this case is pretty deep, coming in at 5.3 inches, so you can even throw in a cell phone or any other pocket-sized items if you want. Also included are thin pocket slots to hold up to 10 Nintendo Switch 2 game cartridges. The outside of the case is water proof and scratch resistant and only weighs 250g, making it super easy to throw in a backpack for a long flight. The price alone makes this case a no-brainer for protecting your precious new console.
Also included are two anti-scratch tempered glass screen protectors that fit perfectly over the console's screen that are fingerprint proof and free of bubbling. If you have young ones at home, this might be a godsend. The travel handle makes this case a great option for pick-up-and-go scenarios. With the official case from Nintendo coming in at a price of $85, this is a great way to save on accessories.
Official Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories
Official first-party Nintendo Switch 2 accessories are also available for preorder, if you prefer to stick to uniformity. While prices have gone up as a response to the current world economy, the official Nintendo accessories have a high-quality, premium feel that some third-party brands don't offer. You can grab the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, microSD Express card, Nintendo Switch 2 camera, and the Joy-Con 2 grip from most major retailers.
Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have announced a The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum release date, scheduling plans to bring Sméagol’s story to moviegoers on December 17, 2027.
The update puts the premiere date more than two years out from today. It’s at least a one-year delay from the previously announced 2026 plan, but that likely hasn’t stopped fantasy fans from plotting out how they’ll spend Christmas in 2027.
The Hunt for Gollum is being directed by Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle director, Andy Serkis. He is, of course, also well known for his role as an actor, having made a name for himself playing the part of Caesar in the 2010 Planet of the Apes trilogy and, most notably, Gollum in both the original The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit film trilogy. Now, viewers should be happy to hear that Serkis is attached to the film both behind and in front of the camera.
The motion-capture legend is more than familiar with what makes Gollum tick, but he’ll be joined by other Middle-earth veterans when bringing The Hunt for Gollum to the big screen. Included as producers are Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner. At the writing table are Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou.
As for story details, Jackson offered fans a few clues regarding what to expect last year. Audiences can expect to see beloved characters’ pasts explored, with the filmmaker revealing that one goal is to tell stories that they “didn’t have time to cover” in previous installments.
“We really want to explore [Gollum’s] backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didn’t have time to cover in the earlier films,” Jackson said at the time. “It’s too soon to know who will cross his path, but suffice to say we will take our lead from [original author J.R.R. Tolkien].”
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).
Paradox Interactive has announced that its next grand strategy game is Europa Universalis 5, following a tease posted last week.
The publisher behind titles such as Cities: Skylines, Crusader Kings, and Stellaris pulled back the curtain on its latest continuation with a sweeping cinematic trailer today. It’s being developed by the Barcelona, Spain-based Paradox Tinto, the same team that’s aided in the development of Europa Universalis 4 for the last few years. While there’s no release date yet, the Europa Universalis 5 Steam page is already online.
“Challenge your strategic skills over 500 years of history, in Europa Universalis 5, the latest version of the celebrated grand strategy game,” a description shared by Paradox says. “Master the arts of war, trade, diplomacy, and government in the largest and most detailed Europa Universalis game ever. Guide the destiny of any of hundreds of nations and societies in a simulated living world of unparalleled depth and complexity.”
Europa Universalis 5 has been in development at Paradox Tinto for more than five years, with the team saying it’s made the experience “with the devoted Paradox fan in mind.” The team has taken “over a year of public discussion” into consideration, adding that the public’s voice has played an important part in what it calls “the largest and most detailed Europa Universalis game ever made.”
Europa Universalis 5’s campaign begins at the dawn of the Hundred Years’ War in 1337. As players lead their people through the major moments in history set to follow, they’ll have an army of new features to enjoy. Highlights from today’s reveal include the promise of a new and larger map that takes advantage of accurate map projection with hundreds of different societies. Paradox says it features a population-based system this time around, as well as upgraded production and trade systems that will see players carving out a place for themselves by building farms, plantations, and factories or trading with neighboring areas.
It’s all in the name of creating a strategy experience that gives players the freedom to build and run their nation the way they see fit. It was teased to be a mysterious and “ambitious” project from the Paradox team last week, though fans had largely figured out what was in store beforehand.
“Europa Universalis 5 builds on the franchise’s core concept of developing and advancing nations from around a deeply researched historical world,” the description continues, “adding more detailed diplomacy, a more sophisticated economic model, a revised military system, and greater logistical depth that will challenge even the most experienced strategy gamers.”
Europa Universalis 5 is currently set to launch for PC at an unspecified time in the future. While we wait for updates, you can read up on our hands-on preview here.
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).
Bummed over the fact that GTA VI won't be out until next year (and probably even later for PC gamers)? Well you shouldn't be because there are already some pretty outstanding games you can play today. Right now Fanatical is offering on average 20% off discounts on two of the very best games that were released in 2025.
22% Off Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (Steam)
First off, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which normally retails for $59.99, is down to $46.79, a savings of 22%. The voucher code can be redeemed from your Steam client. This is a masterpiece of a game that lets you completely ignore the main storyline (which itself is excellent) and do whatever you want in the sandbox world of 14th century Bohemia. According to How Long to Beat, it takes 125 hours for 100% completion. Personally, it took me over 150 hours. This is easily one of my top two games of 2025 and one of the best open-world RPGs I have played since The Witcher 3.
18% Off Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (Steam)
Fanatical is also offering Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 for $40.99 after an 18% off discount, also redeemable via Steam. This deal is arguably the better value because the game retails for just $49.99, which is incredible considering the quality of the game and the fact that prices in general are trending higher. Clair Obscur has become something of a sleeper phenomenon; Sandfall Interactive's first major game release has the highest user rating of all time on Metacritic. The game came out on April 24, but I've already put in over 70 hours and almost done with my second playthrough. We're still pretty early into 2025 with plenty of upcoming release, but so far this is my pick for game of the year.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
If you're looking for an Anker power bank that can handle the demands of power hungry electronics like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally X, or even a laptop, Woot! is offering an outstanding deal right now. You can pick up an Anker PowerCore 737 24,000mAh Power Bank with 140W of Power Delivery for just $79.99. Amazon Prime members get free shipping, otherwise pay an extra $6. I have owned this exact power bank for a few years now and highly recommend it; it has been on multiple flights and road trips and is still good as new. Woot is a legitimate marketplace (it is owned by Amazon).
Anker 737 24,000mAh 140W Power Bank for $79.99
The Anker 737 is one of our favorite Steam Deck chargers. This is a relatively hefty power bank, measuring 4.6"x2.2"x2" and weighing in at 1.4lbs. It's something you'd put in your travel bag or backpack instead of your pocket. It's equipped with two USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port. The USB Type-C ports support a maximum of 140W of power delivery. That means a single port could deliver 140W, or both ports will deliver a combination of 140W depending on which devices are plugged in (for example, 70W + 70W or 100W + 40W).
In terms of gaming handhelds, the Steam Deck supports up to 38W of charging, the Asus ROG Ally up to 65W, the Asus ROG Ally X up to 100W, and the Nintendo Switch up to 18W. That means the Anker Prime can easily charge all three gaming handhelds – even the ROG Ally X – at their maximum rate; you'll even be able to play and charge simultaneously.
A 20,000mAh battery equates to a 74Whr capacity. An 80% power efficiency rating (which is about standard for power banks) gives you about 59Whr of available charge. That means this power bank will charge a Steam Deck (40Whr) or Asus ROG Ally (40Whr) from empty to completely full 1.5 times, an Asus ROG Ally X (80Whr) 0.75 times, and a Nintendo Switch (16Whr) about 3.7 times. You can see here why we think a 20,000mAh capacity should be the bare minimum for more power hungry gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally (and especially the Ally X).
The Anker 737 is TSA-approved
TSA states that power banks must be under 100Whr in capacity for carry-on (check-in is not allowed under any circumstances). This Anker Prime is safely under that at 74Whr. You might get checked simply because the Anker 737 is a chunky power bank, but you shouldn't have any problems getting it cleared. I've gone through plenty of airport checkpoints and have only been checked once – at Tokyo NRT – and cleared without a problem.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Remakes and remasters are very much an “in” thing at the moment, and while it's no surprise that we would eventually see what are arguably two of the best entries in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series make their way to modern platforms, I definitely didn't expect this package to be as robust of a remake as it's shaping up to be. From the instantly recognizable levels of THPS 3, to the controls that activated a muscle memory I didn't realize was stored in my brain for over 20 years, and the refreshing pick-up-and-play two-minute time limits, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is definitely shaping up to not only be one of 2025’s better remakes, but a game that may keep you kicking and pushing for dozens of hours this summer.
As the name suggests, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is a remake of both games with a modern facelift, new parks and skaters, and most importantly, a banger of a soundtrack. It plays exactly like it did back when it was released on the PlayStation 2, and it's clear that this is definitely an “if it ain’t broke, don't fix it” kind of remake. There's a sense of nostalgia I felt when revisiting classic maps like THPS 3’s Suburbia and 4’s college, and while these definitely look much better now for obvious reasons, it still felt like the same games my friends and I stayed up way too late playing on Friday nights all those years ago. The wackiness and weirdness of the THPS games is still here, and outside of a few modern updates to the roster and the promise of new tricks and a new game plus mode, this is definitely the Tony Hawk you remember from yesteryear.
That's not to say it's all hardflips and smooth pavement, though. While Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 plays really smoothly and the inclusion of the traditional two-minute timer works surprisingly well, the lack of the campaign mode is a bit of a sore spot in an otherwise promising remake. THPS purists might be let down from this, but after playing for around two hours I didn't really miss it much. There’s something refreshing about playing a game that respects my time and limits me to shorter bursts of gameplay in an age where every game wants me to play it for hundreds of hours on end. While a career mode would have been a cool inclusion, there's still a lot here that's worth sinking your teeth into.
The lack of the campaign mode is a bit of a sore spot in an otherwise promising remake.
The gameplay feels natural – nothing’s been messed with, thankfully – and within minutes I was pulling off long grinds into manuals back into grinds and chasing that ever-elusive higher score while flying around the map trying to fill out SKATE. After a few minutes of tripping over myself in a comically over the top way, the controls quickly came back to me and I was flying around suburbia, heel flipping over cars, and popping off that satisfying orchestra hit whenever I landed a special move. The new map, Waterpark, felt like it was always part of the original games and was easily one of the most fun levels to grind around and discover its secrets. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’s addictive gameplay loop kept me wanting more whenever the timer ticked down to the last few seconds, and I frequently found myself quickly hopping back in for just one more run.
In a time where it seems like every game from the early 2000’s is getting a modern facelift, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is shaping up to be a welcome addition to a year full of excellent remakes and remasters. From its faithful recreation of what made the PS2-era classics so memorable, to its modern quality of life improvements, excellent soundtrack, and overall love letter to the series early days, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 is very much something that should be on your radar if you’re a fan of skateboarding, enjoy action sports games, or just want to play something that's simple and fun. It might be the easiest kickflip you’ll land this year.
Writer Greg Rucka and artist Nicola Scott teamed up for what may well be the definitive modern take on Wonder Woman's origin story in Wonder Woman: Year One. Now the two are reuniting to tell a very different story in the DC Universe, one called Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League.
Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League is written by Rucka and illustrated by Scott, with colors by Annette Kwok and letters by Troy Peteri. Check out the slideshow gallery below for an early look at the first issue:
This new six-issue series will be published as part of the ongoing DC All In initiative. While this particular supervillain pairing might seem random, the series hearkens back to Rucka and Scott's respective earlier careers at DC, with Cheetah being a major part of Rucka's two Wonder Woman runs and Cheshire being one of the main characters in Scott's original Secret Six series with writer Gail Simone.
Here's DC's official description of the book:
Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League showcases titular characters Cheetah and Cheshire meticulously planning and executing a bold heist—robbing the most secure facility in the DC Universe—and getting away with it! But to accomplish the impossible, Cheetah and Cheshire need to recruit a top-tier crew capable of beating not just the odds, but the Justice League themselves…all without stabbing one another in the back as they try to acquire one of the most dangerous devices in the DCU!
All that stands between the participants in this six-issue caper and pulling off the most daring extraction in DC history are a few tiny complications…like the most sophisticated orbital platform ever constructed, its AI-driven security system, and one other thing…the smartest and most powerful heroes in the DCU.
“I won’t bury the lede,” said Rucka in a statement. “This is a crew of villains, or at least nominal bad guys. Not one of them has access to—let alone would be welcomed aboard—the Justice League Watchtower. We’re not making this easy on them. But for Cheetah especially, this is an all-or-nothing play—she needs to do this job, and she’s not going to let anything, or anyone, keep her from getting what she’s after.”
Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League #1 will be released on August 6, 2025.
Something I didn’t expect to say as an adult is that sometimes, believe it or not, work can be fun and games. In worker placement tabletop games, they literally can be. In this form of gameplay, you take your team through different tasks of adventures as you build toward end goals. There are many different worlds you can choose to embark on, or themes to try, depending on the game you choose. This list has some of my latest favorites, including both newer and older worker placement games.
TLDR: The Best Board Worker Placement Games to Play Now
If you don't need no stinkin' blurbs, you can see all the games in this article in the handy side-scrolling catalog above. If you do want to read about the games, however, just keep on reading.
Viticulture
Viticulture, designed by Jamey Stegmaier of Scythe accolade, is a delightful trip to the region of Tuscany, where families of players take their mama's and papa's inheritance to help them create successful wineries. The game is about building a vineyard, harvesting grapes, bottling nectar, and selling vino. To do so you’ll have to use your workers wisely during the available time in the season. Players play across multiple years, building their wineries and ageing wine to fulfil orders. Gather your friends and raise a glass to Viticulture, which is playable competitively in its original iteration or as a cooperative board game in the Viticulture World edition (see at Amazon).
Yokohama
Yokohama is a board game about doing business in the titular real-life port city near Tokoyo in Japan. In it, players have a team of workers to help them build their business. Enlist a staff to help you strategically gain resources, build technologies, and complete orders to build your trading empire toward optimal success. The game is moderately complicated, but turns go by rather smoothly once you get the hang of it. It can be played with two to four players but Board Game Geek says it’s best with three.
Unconscious Mind
Unconscious Mind is a heavy Euro game about psychology and grief. It is also hands down one of the most gorgeous games I own. Gameplay is complex, providing options for layered strategies in movement and timing to best execute moves. The Nightmares expansion also further adds potential complexities to help make the game more challenging or, with some pieces like the fireworks and the gramophone lighter for folks who may want a softer experience. A heads up, however: this game takes a while to get going. You'll need time for setup, time to teach it to your fellow player, and time for the gameplay itself. It’s far more time than the box says, so be prepared for a longer haul time of gaming when you sit down with this.
Wayfarers of The South Tigris
Wayfarers is a complex but satisfying combination of dice and worker placement game that surprised me with how fun it was it was. The worker placement is connected to dice rolls, giving a bit of a chance to combine actions with workers and decisions, which, when they click, can be rewarding. The game has a lot of decision space to determine your moves. It can seem intimidating at first glance, especially if you're not versed in heavier Euro games. I was first intimidated by this game, and then pleasantly surprised when I finally sat down to play a three-player game of it. While resources are tight, with multiple decisions being key, it provides a lot of replayability. Don’t pass on this game – you’ll miss out on a lot of fun if you do.
Darwin’s Journey
If you’ve always wanted to be a scientific explorer like Darwin, you’ll enjoy playing Darwin’s Journey. In it, you race fellow explorers and the legendary Darwin himself across three islands by boat and by land to discover nature and science to put in a museum. This game is easy to navigate and highly repeatable. It’s lovely on the table but also accessible online. It’s worth getting a physical copy of it, though, as it seems to be a big hit with a variety of both seasoned and more casual players.
Fromage
If you’re hungry for a new game that's perfect to share with friends or dates (including solo ones), this is a good one, as it literally has food in the title. Fromage is a relaxed simultaneous board game about making and selling award-winning cheeses across France. You build structures, tend to livestock, and fill orders in this quick-to-play board game. Their Italian spin on the game Formaggio has my Italian taste buds craving Parmigiano even more, too.
The Gallerist
True to its title, The Gallerist is a board game about running an art gallery. In it, you discover artists, display their art, and work toward getting the right snobs – erm, artistic connoisseurs, with exquisite tastes – to be patrons in your gallery. A heads up before you grab a bottle of vino and your cheeseboard to open your shop: this is not a beginner-friendly board game. It's one of the most challenging games on this list, ranking at a 4.24 out of 5 complexity on Board Game Geek, so consider yourself warned. I guess you could say that it’s a bit like reality in that the art world can be difficult to get into.
Septima
Some games have art that wows you. As a colorful goth, I found the art in this one extraordinary. Septima is an accessible and user-friendly game that's focused on a theme I enjoy intensely: witches. The game works by building covens, collecting herbs, brewing potions, and, of course, surviving witch hunters and witch trials. I loved it despite the trials and pains of losing allied witches to an angry mob. I highly recommend finding your own coven and playing it yourself. You can also play this one solo if you’d like. Bonus round: there's also an expansion that includes shapeshifting with animals, adding even more gorgeously designed artwork.
Rock Hard: 1977
Rock Hard 1977 is a worker placement game about unleashing your inner rockstar. The game, made by legendary Rock N Roll bassist Jackie Fox of The Runaways, features stunning components that let players rock their way to stardom. The player board is shaped like an amp, paired with your favorite head icon. It was one of Gen Con’s fan favorites. User warning, however: this game has several heavy themes and is not advisable for folks who are not prepared to encounter some very sad content that, while it does happen in the rock star life, is not always groovy to come across if you’re unprepared for it.
Age of Comics: The Golden Years
Chances are that if you are here on IGN, you are like me and love comics. Age of Comics: The Golden Years gives you a chance to build a catalogue of comics during the Golden Age. Hire artists, writers, and inkers to help design your book. Race other players on their own publishing journeys to create ideas and publish comics to sell and reach fandom. While the art is full of pulpy goodness, you don’t have to be a comic book fan to enjoy the game. Heck, you don’t even have to have your own original ideas to produce books in the game, either. They sometimes say that you have to fake it until you can make it. In Age of Comics, you can do both if you want to. This one is playable for up to four players but is best with three. Like Septima and some others on the list, you can play it solo if you desire to pull it off the shelf alone. It’s also one of the easiest games on this list to learn.
Jennifer Stavros is a contributing freelancer for IGN, covering everything from comics, games, technology, and nerd culture. She has over 15 years of experience in the gaming industry, including testing and writing for Wired, Inverse, and more. Follow her on Twitter or watch her on Twitch under the handle @scandalous.
index.feed.received.yesterday — 8 mai 20253.3 🎲 Jeux English
AMD has released a new driver for its graphics cards. According to the release notes, the AMD Adrenalin 25.5.1 driver adds official support for Doom: The Dark Ages and F1 25. Since I have a review code of Doom: The Dark Ages, I can tell you that this driver is a must. Without it, the … Continue reading AMD Adrenalin 25.5.1 Driver Released for Doom: The Dark Ages→
There have been a lot of LEGO and Disney collaborations over the years, but the latest new set is perhaps the most iconic yet. The Pixar lamp Luxo Jr. and its little ball friend are officially up for preorder at Amazon for $70. This is a set designed specifically for adults and something I'm seriously considering for my own desk.
The LEGO Ideas Disney Pixar Luxo Jr. set will be releasing on on June 1 alongside many other new sets for the summer season. If you're a fan of classic Pixar movies and LEGO, I can't think of a better gift to buy yourself than this one.
The LEGO Disney Pixar Lamp Is Up for Preorder
Anyone who has grown up with Pixar movies like Toy Story, A Bug's Life, The Incredibles, and more will be all too familiar with the lamp from the intro of each movie. Luxo Jr. first made its way to the screen in the 1986 short film of the same name featuring a larger lamp and a smaller lamp. This short was an introduction into Pixar's ability to bring life and emotion to normally inanimate objects and helped pave the way for the studio (and its shorts) for years to come.
The LEGO set itself features both Luxo Jr. and the Pixar ball that's hidden in many of the films. Luxo Jr. is posable, so you can set it up in any position you want once you've put it together. There are also hidden easter eggs to classic Disney Pixar movies like Up, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Toy Story, and Finding Nemo that you'll get to discover as you build. With a total of 613 pieces, it looks like a really fun build that will be nostalgic for any Pixar fan.
Should you preorder at Amazon or LEGO direct?
Both websites are good places to buy LEGO for different reasons, and this is especially true for preorders. Amazon offers a preorder price guarantee that ensures you get the absolute best price for that set if a discount arrives before the release date. Alternatively, the LEGO store will offer you a free gift with your purchase and LEGO points for Insiders.
New LEGO Sets Available to Preorder
If you're wondering what LEGO sets you can already preoder, there are quite a few great options – most notably the Mario Kart set arriving on May 15 that looks really cool. Quite a few other awesome sets from various franchises are coming in June and beyond. Below, we've got quick list of some of the preorders we already know about, but you can also check out our guide to all of the new LEGO sets for May 2025 to see what's already out.
Paradox has an established tradition of putting out very complex, richly detailed historical strategy games. But I've never seen anything like the just-announced Europa Universalis 5 from them – or anyone – before. If the previous games in the franchise were your undergrad, this is a PhD game. The preview build I played could be almost obnoxiously unintuitive at times, and the first 30 hours or so felt like learning to swim in the middle of a storm with all the new features and systems – even as someone who has more than 2500 hours in Europa Universalis 4. But there's something to be said for a game that makes you work for it a little. And under those choppy waves, I found quite a lot to be excited about.
I can think of no better place to start than having a little bit of a gush about the map, which puts almost all previous renderings of the globe in a strategy game to shame. It features around seven times as many individual locations as EU4 had, and unlike in 2022's Victoria 3, they all have their own individual populations, buildings, topography, climate, and vegetation. Similar to Victoria, every person on Earth is represented individually. This is the exact number of people living in this specific bit of countryside in Portugal. And that population can grow, shrink, change in cultural composition, and convert to a different religion.
The level of detail almost seems like it shouldn't really be possible. And from what I've played, and you can probably see in the video at the top of this page, it sometimes isn't. This game is a CPU hog, and my Ryzen 7 3700X was not able to keep up with it on the fastest speed, so you'll have to excuse the choppiness. But I was assured by Paradox that the recommended specs for this demo were not what they intend to ship with, and optimization is an ongoing process. The graphics, as well, are not by any means final, though they're already looking pretty sweet.
Europa Universalis 5 excels most as a wargame.
One big visual improvement is in how armies are represented. Rather than one giant soldier like in EU4, you can have formations that may get as large as 30 models in the late game, with culturally-specific uniforms and period-accurate weapons that change with your level of technology. There's even a system that causes them to appear more ragtag or uniform based on the discipline stat of the army, which is especially cool.
March to the Sound of Guns
And I spent a lot of time looking at these little guys, because Europa Universalis 5 excels most as a wargame. It wasn't until I got into a big clash with several regional players that I really felt like I understood what it was going for. Food and logistics systems, which are a refinement of the ones from 2018's Imperator: Rome, make secure supply lines just as important to fighting an effective war as having good generals and troops. And the fact that mountains and hills now block vision even from adjacent locations creates opportunities for clever ambushes. This might be the best warfare system Paradox has ever designed.
Population, in general, adds so much to the Europa Universalis formula that I can hardly cover it all here. While previous games used ambiguous government points that the community came to refer to as "mana," the brakes on your imperial ambitions here simply come from having not enough people. Or in some cases, not enough educated people, since certain buildings require higher social classes to work in them. If you want to colonize, those settlers have to come from somewhere. Soldiers who die in your wars don't return to the fields.
On top of this, a new system of control makes it more difficult and expensive to administrate places further from your capital, creating new reasons to use vassals or marches, and keeping even larger countries from feeling too powerful at the start.
The new start date of 1337 appeals to me as a fan of the Middle Ages and a weirdo who would not have cared if you made EU4 a hundred years longer. It doesn't appeal to the people of Eurasia, though, who get hit by the Black Death a few decades after the start of the campaign. It's properly brutal, too, killing around half of the population in places like Europe, which sort of forces a hard reset on your long-term plans. And I wouldn't want it any other way. If this was a challenge real historical leaders had to face, I'd prefer they don't nerf it.
Graduation Day
Getting my head around all of this was an even more epic endeavor than surviving the plague, though. The tutorials and new player experience are still being worked on, so I was somewhat thrown into the deep end. I don't know that I've ever played a strategy game with so many mechanics to worry about on day one, from a royal cabinet to social values to a fully dynamic, multi-directional trade system that replaces the frankly unsatisfying and goofy one from EU4.
It took me almost four hours of set-up on my first campaign to finally hit unpause. And I had logged about 30 hours, according to Steam, before I actually felt like I knew what I was doing. That's not necessarily a bad thing from my perspective, though. I can just see it being a daunting cliff to climb – especially for anyone new to the series. To EU5's credit, you can automate almost any aspect of your country if, for instance, you only want to deal with the military or trade until you understand everything better.
I had logged about 30 hours, according to Steam, before I actually felt like I knew what I was doing. That's not necessarily a bad thing from my perspective, though.
In terms of historical flavor, there are a lot of little events with one or two choices that simply offer a small mechanical bonus or penalty that I wasn't too impressed by. But there are also larger historical situations, like the Protestant Reformation or the Hundred Years War, that involve multiple phases and have the potential to create much more interesting and dynamic historical stories.
It might not surprise you to hear that I feel I've barely scratched the surface of Europa Universalis 5 here. Even if I were to regale you with all of my experiences for the next several hours, I've only played through 200 years of its 500-year expanse. It's such a vast, uncompromising, sometimes terrifying thing that trying to suss out the shape of it feels like trying to trace the shadow of a whale beneath my tiny rowboat. And the performance issues I encountered were keeping that boat from sitting steady in the water.
But at the end of the day? I'm impressed and excited that they went this big with this long-awaited sequel. Nobody pushes the boundaries of the genre like Paradox, and with Europa Universalis 5, they're pushing them further in one game than they ever have. I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of the ride, even if it sometimes feels like I'm hanging on for dear life.
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