The Lenovo Legion Go 2 came out back in September 2025, and while it was an extremely premium handheld gaming PC, it was held back by Windows 11. Luckily, Lenovo is fixing that at CES 2026, where it just annouced the Legion Go 2, powered by SteamOS.
The lenovo Legion Go 2 with SteamOS will still come with the same AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, with up to 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD. The only differences, really, are the menu buttons, which are now aligned with something like the Steam Deck or the Legion Go S, and, of course, the operating system: SteamOS.
Existing Legion Go 2 owners can install SteamOS themselves, of course, but you'd still have to go through the laborious process of installing Linux. With it coming out-of-the-box with SteamOS, new owners will never have to even look at the Windows desktop. Lenovo also claims SteamOS has been optimized to make full use of the hardware. If it's anything like the Legion Go S, when it launched back in June 2025, it may take the Z2 Extreme to another level.
Lenovo hasn't released any kind of release date for the Lenovo Legion Go 2 with SteamOS yet, but I do know that it will start at $1,199 – $100 more than the original Legion Go 2 with Windows. That's odd, given that Lenovo doesn't have to pay a fee to license the operating system, but we'll have to wait and see what exactly the starting configuration is before we pass judgement. After all, its not like RAM is getting more affordable any time soon.
Linux, Finally
Like many other handheld gaming PCs out there, the Lenovo Legion Go 2 was held back a bit by its software. Windows 11 still just isn't that great when you're using a controller, and while the new Xbox Full Screen Experience – which is available on the Legion Go 2 now – solves this a bit, SteamOS still offers a much better user experience.
One of the first things I did with the Legion Go 2 was install Bazzite, a SteamOS-like Linux distro that offers better hardware compatibility. And in the weeks that followed, the Legion Go 2 has become my most-used handheld. These gaming-centric Linux distros are just better for handheld gaming right now, and until Microsoft finishes everything it wants to do with the Full Screen Experience, I'd expect to see more handheld manufacturers shipping their devices with SteamOS. Lenovo already learned this lesson with the Legion Go S – now I just hope other manufacturers do too.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra
For the last few years, rollable displays have been the star of CES, but they're usually found in extremely expensive – and quickly discontinued – TVs. At CES 2026, though, Lenovo is showing off a gaming laptop that uses a rollable OLED display that can stretch to an ultrawide aspect ratio.
While it's still just a concept, the Lenovo Legion Pro Rollable is pitched to include a 'top-spec' Intel Core Ultra processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090. That super-powerful graphics chip is necessary, too, given the extra pixels it needs to push once the display is stretched out in all of its 24:9 glory.
Keep in mind, though, that because this is still a just a concept, you shouldn't expect it to hit store shelves any time soon. As such, the specs are likely to change if and when this rollable laptop ever makes it to market. Lenovo unsurprisingly hasn't revealed any kind of pricing for the Legion Pro Rollable Concept, either. But if it does come out, expect it to cost a few thousand bucks.
Stretchy Laptop
Lenovo showed me the concept back in December in New York, and it's clearly in early stages. For instance, the Lenovo rep had to mess with the command line to even get the display to roll itself out. In the short few weeks between when I initially saw it and CES itself, Lenovo has fixed this. The display now extends out with a simple key combination: just press down the Fn button and the right or left arrow keys to extend or shrink the display, respectively. Even for a concept, the motion was extraordinarily smooth, and will likely get even better if this laptop ever actually sees the light of day.
But because of the mechanism needed to have a rollable display like this, the laptop is quite heavy. Again, it's a concept, so Lenovo isn't sharing any hard specs, but this laptop has to weigh close to 8 or 10 pounds. Thats something else that'll likely be improved if this laptop comes out – a repeating theme.
The laptop by default has a resolution of 2048 x 1280 at a 16:10 aspect ratio. That's a weird resolution, for sure, but it's not exactly impressive by modern gaming laptop standards. However, that default screen configuration isn't really the point. The laptop's display can roll out to two different sizes, resulting in either a 21:9 display with a resolution of 2986 x 1280 or a 3413 x 1280 24:9 display.
No matter what, that means that the Legion Pro Rollable is a FHD laptop, but that just means that the RTX 5090 this thing is packing – for now – won't have any problem driving high framerates, even in super-demanding games. After all, Lenovo is calling these stretched out display modes "Tactical Mode" and "Arena Mode" for the 21:9 and 24:9 modes, respectively, so it seems it wants this to appeal to esports gamers.
If this actually comes out, I wouldn't recommend it to any esports gamers, though. Instead, the ultrawide display appeals much more to gamers that like more immersive and story-based games. There is just something about jumping into an open world and having it take up your entire field of view. That's why ultrawide displays are my favorite gaming monitors, and now we can potentially get that on a gaming laptop.
Unfortunately, the laptop didn't have any actual games installed on it either time I tried it, so I don't know how it handles actually playing games. I did try digging around the PC when no one was looking to find something installed, but instead all I got to do was extend and retract the display over and over again. That was fun, but I would have loved to see how the computer was able to handle the extra pixels introduced by extending the screen.
Unfortunately, I'll have to wait until Lenovo decides this is worth releasing into the wild to actually benchmark it. Until then, I'll just dream of booting up the Witcher 3 with the display extended all the way out to its 24:9 mode.
Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra
Not everyone is the DIY type. If you're in the market for a prebuilt gaming PC, Dell is one of the best brands we'd recommend. Alienware desktops and laptops feature solid build quality, top-of-the-line gaming performance, excellent cooling (further improved on the newer models), aggressive styling, and pricing that is very competitive with other pre-built options. Best of all, there are plenty of sales that happen throughout the year, so it's not difficult to grab one of these computers at considerably less than their retail price.
Dell and Alienware Coupons
Alienware Aurora Gaming Laptop Deals
Alienware's newest mainstream gaming laptop is dubbed the "Alienware Aurora" and it replaces the previous generation's x16 and m16 series of laptops. It comes in two models: the 16 and 16X. The 16 is the more economical model, but gamers should definitely opt for the higher-end 16X model. If you're looking for build quality and performance on par with the previous generation m16, then the 16X is its spiritual successor. It features an anodized aluminum lid and base, a higher quality display, a more powerful CPU, and a GPU that isn't throttled for maximum gaming performance.
Alienware Aurora R16 Gaming PC Deals
The Aurora R16 is Alienware's bread and butter gaming PC. It can be equipped with an Nvidia RTX 5060 graphics card all the way up to an RTX 5080 and the prices for Cyber Monday are extremely competitive with other brands. For example, currently Alienware has the least expensive prebuilt RTX 5080 gaming PC that I've found anywhere. Most of these systems are customizable, however it's not difficult to upgrade your own RAM and storage yourself.
Alienware Area-51 Gaming PC Deals
If you're seeking the absolute best of the best in PC gaming performance, look no further. Dell unveiled the new Alienware Area-51 gaming PC at CES 2025. The chassis is a super-sized upgrade to the Aurora R16 system with aesthetic and cooling redesigns. The internal components have been refreshed with a new motherboard, faster RAM, and bigger power supply to accommodate the new generation of CPUs and GPUs. With a high-end system like this, it's only fitting that it be equipped with an RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 graphics card, so these are the configurations I've listed here. Note that Dell Outlet refurbished PCs come with the same warranty as buying new.
Alienware Area-51 Gaming Laptop Deals
Alienware 18 Area-51 (18")
Alienware 16 Area-51 (16")
The Area-51 is Alienware's new flagship gaming laptop for 2025. It features an anodized aluminum shell for both the lid and bottom chassis with a gorgeous iridescent finish. The frame is made of a durable and lightweight magnesium alloy. Cooling has been upgraded with generous amounts of copper and a new thermal interface material to better transfer heat away from your hottest components as well as more fans and bigger cutouts for greater airflow. Dell claims that the laptop can handle a higher power ceiling of up to 240W TDP without raising acoustics.
Design-wise, the Area 51 has a sleeker, more contoured shape compared to previous models, with rounded edges and soft corners replacing the traditional squared off design. The hinges are internally positioned so that they're near invisible. There's a transparent window on the undercarriage to show off the internal components. As befits an Alienware laptop, there's plenty of RGB illunimation, although most of it can be turned off if you want your laptop to be a bit more subtle.
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.
In the last week alone I have bounced between cozy RPG comfort food, punishing action roguelikes, and at least one moment where I stared at a sale price and muttered "that cannot be right". This batch of deals feels especially unhinged in the good way, where backlog guilt briefly loses its grip and curiosity wins. I have played most of these, finished a fair chunk, and regret absolutely none of the recommendations that follow.
Meanwhile, in retro news, I'm celebrating the 16th bday of Darksiders, progenitor of a series that really should’ve continued today instead of only beingremastered andspun-off. My memories of reviewing it before launch were that of pleasant surprise. This was basically an edgier, post armageddon Ocarina of Time where you hewed through hellspawn and angels alike as the impossibly cool and brooding War, a horseman tricked into starting judgment day too early. Whoops!
Darksiders didn't exactly gallop action-adventuring forward, but it was still an intoxicating amalgamation of 2000s-era mechanics and concepts (see: Portal...portals). It's totally worth saddling up for to experience Kardashians-esque deity drama, slick Joe Mad comic visuals, and to finally see what War is in fact good for. And that's stylish mass slaughter with a sword the size of God's own letter opener.
Ni No Kuni II: Prince Ed. (-84%) A$12.70 A real time JRPG soaked in Ghibli vibes with sneaky strategy systems underneath. Kingdom building adds surprising depth and this price feels like a clerical error.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (-80%) A$11.90 XCOM lite tactics that absolutely slap. Smart maps, better jokes than expected, and proof Nintendo lets weird ideas cook sometimes.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy (-39%) A$45.50 Three courtroom drama visual novels packed with shouting, nonsense logic, and iconic music. Story first games done with full commitment.
Subnautica (-75%) A$11.20 Survival crafting that slowly turns into ocean induced anxiety. Gorgeous, lonely, and still one of the smartest games on Switch.
Hogwarts Legacy: Del. Ed. (-85%) A$14.90 Open world wizard fantasy that nails exploration even when subtlety leaves the room. At this price the Deluxe extras finally feel earned.
Monster Hunter Wilds (-64%) A$41.90 Capcom doubling down on ecosystem driven hunts and zero forgiveness. Deep, demanding, and a guaranteed free time destroyer.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla (-61%) A$39 A gigantic Viking RPG best enjoyed slowly. Perfect podcast game once the systems click.
Like A Dragon: Ishin! (-58%) A$41.90 Samurai drama filtered through Yakuza madness. Serious swordplay collides with deeply unserious side quests.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Comp. Ed. (-53%) A$37.80 Still embarrassingly good. Side quests outclass full RPGs and the expansions remain absurd value.
Slay The Spire (-75%) A$9.30 A deck builder so polished it quietly ruined the genre. Just one run never means one run.
Xbox One
Spyro Reignited Trilogy (-35%) A$45.30 Three classic platformers rebuilt with care and colour. Pure comfort food with better lighting.
Persona 5 Royal (-70%) A$29.90 Stylish turn based JRPG that will happily steal 100 hours of your life and justify every minute.
Blasphemous (-80%) A$7.40 Souls inspired action platformer drenched in religious horror. Punishing, grotesque, and extremely committed to the bit.
Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that's worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.
When it comes to TVs, there's one simple rule I always tell people to abide by: get the biggest TV that can fit your space and is within your budget. I doubt very many people purchase a TV and regret it afterwards because it was "too big".
Nowadays, big TVs aren't even that expensive. For example, Best Buy is currently offering a massive 85" Samsung U7900 4K Smart TV for just $699.99 with free delivery. That's the lowest price I've ever seen for a Samsung TV of this size.
85" Samsung U7900 4K Smart TV for $699.99
This entry level 2025 Samsung TV offers a standard set of features in exchange for a rock bottom price. What you're getting is a native 4K TV that offers solid image quality with full array LED backlighting, HDR10+ support, and a 60Hz refresh rate with Motion Xcelerator technology that should satisfy most TV watchers. It has built-in speakers, two HDMI inputs for hooking up your gaming console or soundbar speaker, and Samsung's proprietary Tizen smart interface.
The Samsung U7900 Pairs Well With the Nintendo Switch 2
This TV is actually a great choice to pair with the Switch 2. When in docked mode, the new Switch 2 is able to run games at 4K resolution, however only at a maximum of 60fps. That means you only need a 60Hz refresh rate to maximize the Switch 2's 4K potential, which this TV supports.
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.
You can easily find a serviceable desk or workbench for about $100 just by heading over to your nearest Ikea store. But if you insist on solid wood instead of a fiberboard or particleboard surface, then your options become more limited. Fortunately, there's one available at Amazon right now. For a limited time, you can get this 48"x20" adjustable height workbench - featuring a solid rubberwood desktop and steel frame - for just $105.99 with free delivery. Seeing as how the other options on the product page cost well over $200, this looks like a pretty fantastic deal.
48"x20" Workbench With Solid Wood Desktop for $105.99
The highlight feature of the "Enjoywood" workbench is most certainly the desktop, which is a finished butcher-block style rubberwood that measures 48" long, 20" wide, and 1.25" thick. Rubberwood is a hardwood with a hardness rating similar to cherry and walnut. The tabletop is completely solid, meaning there's no particleboard, fiberboard, or carboard interior. The desk sits atop a steel frame and four tubular legs that support a maximum load limit of 2,500 pounds, which is pretty impressive. The average standing desk, for example, supports less than 300 pounds. Additional quality of life features include a 4-outlet power strip that's integrated into the frame, pegboard mounting holes, and leveling feet.
Sure it's marketed as a workbench, but there's nothing stopping you from converting it into an industrial looking desk, except maybe for the fact that it's taller than your standard desk. Desks are typically 27" to 30" tall and this workbench is adjustable in height from 31.5" to 39.4", so you'll need a taller chair to compensate (or potentially remove the feet).
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.
1047 Games has some thoughts regarding how Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is faring on Steam, and it’s got a message for fans: “Steam Charts don’t measure fun.”
The Halo and Portal-inspired FPS re-launched December 17 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S after the studio chose to U-turn with an overall rework for Splitgate 2 back in July 2025. It was a move made amid layoffs at 1047 that saw both the sequel and its popular predecessor pulled offline as the studio promised to return with “big, sweeping changes.”
Those changes seemingly failed to attract players, with just around 2,300 players logging in to play the free-to-play game on Steam at launch and a little more than 800 playing at the time of this piece’s publication (via SteamDB). The Splitgate community quickly drummed up debate about what another disappointing launch could mean for the future of the shooter, but 1047 has a different take.
“Steam Charts don’t measure fun,” a message from the team says. “They show one number, on one platform, at one given moment. They don’t show the full picture or what it feels like to actually play, and they definitely don’t capture the community that’s actively helping shape what Arena Reloaded is becoming (including upcoming content like Arena Royale).”
It’s hard to separate Splitgate: Arena Reloaded’s launch player numbers from the nearly 26,000 users who showed up for Splitgate 2, but 1047’s targeted response does aim to remind players that the re-launch also came to consoles and the Epic Games Store. Metrics for those platforms aren’t as openly available as they are for Steam, so it’s unclear if interest is similarly quiet elsewhere.
Regardless, the studio wants both veteran and potential players to know it’s put work into getting Splitgate: Arena Reloaded ready for launch, and it doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.
“To our amazing community: thank you,” 1047 continues. “Your feedback and passion have helped make Arena Reloaded better every day.
“And to everyone who hasn’t played yet: Arena Reloaded is free, the gameplay’s the best it’s ever been, and we’d love for you to jump in and form your own opinion. A lot of passionate people worked very hard on it.”
As 1047 takes to social media to combat the negative sentiment surrounding its re-launch effort, its Arena Royale component is expected to launch in the near future. Splitgate: Arena Reloaded came with a rebuilt progression system, new and reworked maps, and more. We gave Splitgate 2 a 7/10 review upon its launch last year.
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).
If you need to buy a new Apple Watch charger, there's a better option than paying $29 for the official - but basic - charger. Amazon is currently offering the Joyroom Portable Apple Watch Charger that doubles as a 2,500mAh power bank for just $9.79 after you clip the coupon on the product page and apply coupon code "GJDNNUD8". Not only are you saving $20, you're also getting a charger that can keep your Apple Watch topped off even when there's no outlet nearby.
Joyroom 2,500mAh Portable Apple Watch Charger for $9.79
You no longer need to be near an outlet to charge your Apple Watch
The Joyroom charger works similarly to the official Apple charger. Like the official charger, you plug the Joyroom charger into an available USB Type-C port. Then you simply set your Apple Watch on the base without having to plug anything in. The Watch magnetically attaches and starts charging wirelessly. However, that's where the similarities end.
The Joyroom has a built-in 2,500mAh battery that allows you to charge your Apple Watch even when no outlet is readily available. It also happens to be one of the largest capacities I've seen for a portable watch charger (most are 1,000 to 2,000mAh). The battery is good for about three to four watch charges. When not in use, the cable can be looped to create an unobstrusive lanyard. There's even a display that shows remaining battery charge.
Although the Joyroom is designed for an Apple Watch, it can charge other MagSafe products like the AirPods Pro 2. The USB Type-C cable can also be used to charge your iPhone 15, 16, or 17 in a pinch.
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.
Shopping around for a budget PC under $1,000? Best Buy has one deal available right now that matches the best deal I saw during Black Friday. For this week only, the Lenovo LOQ gaming PC with GeForce RTX 5060 graphics card drops to just $799.99 shipped. Despite the low price tag, this PC is still more powerful than the upcoming Steam PC and will get you a consistent 60fps on just about any game at 1080p resolution.
Lenovo LOQ RTX 5060 Gaming PC for $799.99
The Lenovo LOQ gaming PC is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX CPU, GeForce RTX 5060 GPU, 16GB of DDR5-5200MHz RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. The AMD Ryzen 7 8745HX is an 8-core, 16-thread processor with a max boost clock of 5.1GHz. It's a solid general-purpose CPU that complements the RTX 5060 GPU. 16GB of RAM is more than sufficient for any gaming scenario, and fortunately the recent price surge in DRAM hasn't affected the price of this prebuilt.
The RTX 5060 outperforms its predecessor the RTX 4060 by about 20%-30% and that's before factoring in DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation. This is a solid budget option for 1080p gaming and you should be able to squeeze consistent 60fps+ framerate out of just about any game. If you're gunning for higher resolutions like 1440p or 4K, however, you'll definitely want to upgrade to an RTX 5060 Ti (16GB) or better.
On a side note, this is a considerably more powerful computer than the upcoming Steam Machine, which is reported to feature a custom GPU equivalent to the Radeon RX 7600M. Granted we still don't know how much the Steam Machine will cost now, but unless it comes it at under $700, this prebuilt is most likely the better value.
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.
Magic: The Gathering sealed product is making waves at big box retailers and TCGPlayer, but who has the best prices this week? Well, both Amazon and secondary marketplace TCGPlayer have their bargains, so I’ve noted the best deals down to save you looking, as well as the other best deals of the day.
TL;DR: Deals for Today
Alienware has just dropped a massive discount on their NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 build, coupled with one of the best gaming processors on the market right now in AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. Looking for a cheap and cheerful deal instead? How about two 6.6ft braided USB-C cables that can handle up to 240W for the price of a coffee? Thought so. Coming in at the product you didn't know you needed today is a cordless air duster for easy cleaning of desks, PCs, fans and more that's currently half off from $39.98. Let's get into it:
MTG: Cheapest at Amazon
Amazon is putting out some decent pricing, with my favorite pick here being the "Game Edition" of Cloud Strife-themed Limit Break Commander Deck. It's around the same price as TCGPlayer, making it market value, with the artwork being based on in-game moments instead of the traditional MTG artwork.
The same can be said for the Marvel's Spider-Man Play Booster Box containing 30 booster packs with the following: • 14 Magic: The Gathering cards • 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher • 3–6 Uncommon cards • 6–9 Common cards • 1 Land card (Traditional Foil Land replaces a Land in 20% of boosters) • 1 card of any rarity is Traditional Foil; Foil Showcase Mythic Rare in 1% of boosters
MTG: Cheapest at TCGPlayer
Meanwhile, TCGPlayer is the place to go for MTG preorders. It's the cheapest for the Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box and Bundle, with the next Universes Beyond entry Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box, Turtle Power! Commander Deck and Bundle, the latter being over $15 cheaper than Amazon.
There's some gorgeous Final Fantasy scene boxes coming in cheaper than Amazon too, not to mention the standard Limit Break Commander Deck being just under $5 cheaper on TCGPlayer. It pays to shop around for sure.
Alienware Area-51 RTX 5090
This beast is loaded with an AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, GeForce RTX 5090 graphics card, 32GB DDR5-6400MHz RAM, and a 1TB SSD. That alone sells this system with the custom cooling that makes Alienware's Area-51 builds worth the premium. The good news is we're seeing a rare discount on something that has an RTX 5090 in it, a solid 10%, or $550 off, knocking this build down to $5,049.99. What's not to love?
2 Lisen 6.6ft 240W USB Type-C Cables
Thanks to my kids destroying countless USB cables over the years, I know what makes a USB-C charging cable that lasts. Braided wins out over rubber cable every day of the week due to its flexibility and durability. Thick caps on either side protecting the port will also be a lifesaver, but getting 240W-capable cables can sometimes cost a fortune. Not today! You can get Lisen’s 6.6ft double pack for a ridiculously reasonable $5.60. These will handle fast charging for pretty much everything you can think of, from a mobile phone or Switch 2 to a MacBook. Even if you don't need a new cable, it's worth buying spares when deals like this crop up.
JVSCAM Cordless Electric Air Duster
Cleaning dust or crumbs out of your keyboard is a pain. No-one likes doing it and it takes ages to brush them all out. I was in the "Why the hell do I need an electric duster" camp, but then I bought one and I’m using it quite a lot.
I use mine to clear out vents, fans, GPU and more inside my PC, and even use it to get to hard-to-reach places in the car and on my desk. They're very handy to have in your desk drawer and it’s a great deal for $20.
Pokémon TCG: Market Value at Amazon
Well, the good news is you can get the Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box with Prime delivery without getting stung. It has nine booster packs, a gorgeous Charcadet Illustration Rare promo, Mega Charizard X–themed sleeves, card dividers, a tournament-legal coin, alongside some nice-looking dice.
Cynthia’s Garchomp ex Premium Collection has four Journey Together and two Destined Rivals booster packs, so if Trainer Pokémon cards are your thing, you’re good to go.
Pokémon TCG: Cheapest at TCGPlayer
If it were me making a choice from the TCGPlayer selection here, I’d go for the Destined Rivals Booster Bundle. It’s $13 cheaper than Amazon right now and works out at $4.66 per booster pack, which is one of the best prices I’ve seen for Destined Rivals booster packs recently.
If you want a decent Mega ex card for your Grass-type deck, I’d recommend the Mega Venusaur ex Premium Collection. If you run Meganium alongside it from Mega Evolution, you can double your Grass Energy value while being able to move a Grass Energy from one Pokémon to another thanks to their abilities. That means you can set up and use Mega Venusaur ex’s “Jungle Dump” attack for 240 damage in one turn (it costs four Grass Energy).
You’ll also get the following booster packs:
2 × Mega Evolution
2 × Destined Rivals
4 × Journey Together
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.
If you're trying to get healthier this year as one of your New Years resolutions, an Apple Watch would be a great tool to help you achieve your goal. Fortunately, the newest generation Apple Watch Series 11 is back on sale to kickstart the new year. Amazon is taking $100 off most colors and styles, starting at just $299 for the 42mm size and $329 for the 46mm size. This beats the lowest price during Black Friday and is a small price to pay for getting your health back on track.
Apple Watch Series 11 for $299 ($100 Off)
The Apple Watch is indisputably the best smartwatch for iOS users. It's stylish, boasts excellent build quality, and seamlessly integrates with your iPhone. It's loaded with tons of practical health and fitness features, including activity tracking and heart rate monitoring. The stats from your workouts are automatically recorded and stored onto your iPhone so that you can track your progress through the course of the year.
New to the current generation model specifically are (1) the Apple Intelligence powered "Workout Buddy" that motivates you during exercise, (2) hypertension notifications, and (3) a sleep score that measures the quality of your sleep. Hardware updates include a brighter and more scratch resistant display, 33% longer battery life, and 5G cellular connectivity.
Can you use an Apple Watch with Android phones?
Although it's technically possible to use an Apple Watch with an Android phone, we wouldn't recommend it. Apple made it so that a lot of the functionality of the Apple Watch requires a smartphone with an iOS operating system. There are some workarounds to implement some of the features, but for the average person, the hassle isn't worth it. If you're absolutely intent on getting an Apple Watch, then getting an iPhone first would be the best option.
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.
2025 was bursting with really cool new game releases: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yōtei, Blue Prince, Donkey Kong Bananza, I could go on. And yet, it seems like the vast majority of players (at least in the US) spent most of their time playing the old hits on repeat, because the five most popular games on PlayStation last year were exactly the same as the year before.
This comes from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, who shared on Bluesky today the top five most-played games in the US on PlayStation for 2025:
The layout is different (I guess) on Xbox, with Minecraft and Roblox flipped for 2025, and a slightly more complicated order for 2024: Call of Duty at No. 1, then Fortnite, Minecraft, GTA V, Roblox. But uh, same five games.
It's a pretty damning indictment of the current state of the industry. As Piscatella said himself almost a year ago on the Kinda Funny Gamescast, this is a fairly recent trend. As he explains, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a surge in the video game audience, with huge numbers of people playing games who never had before. As a result, many of the major gaming markets effectively reached a cap on how many new players they can obtain in future years, because everyone was already there.
On top of that, that capped audience is now playing a smaller number of games overall. Some of that is just because games are getting more expensive. More people are gravitating toward live service games they're already familiar with where they can spend smaller amounts of money for a fun experience on a platform they already own, rather than spend larger amounts of money to try new things on new platforms.
But some of that is simply a natural consequence of the rise of live service. As Piscatella continues to explain, the way the market used to work is that players would buy one big new game, spend all their time on that, then move onto the next one. But people just aren't buying new games anymore.
"If you take the top ten service games every month...on PlayStation and Xbox, seven out of every ten people that turn on their console will play at least one of those games every month, and in terms of total time they're taking, those ten games alone every month take up 40% of total playtime on the consoles."
Piscatella also shares that at the time, Circana expected 30% of people that play video games would not buy a video game in 2025 (the actual numbers for the full year haven't been released just yet). A further 18% would purchase a new game every six months or less frequently. Only 12% buy a game once a month, and 4% buy new games more often than that.
"So when we're talking about the developers and publishers who are being hurt the most, are the games that are really targeting this 16% of total players that are purchasing very frequently, while the vast majority of players are buying a game or two a year, and they're playing Fornite, Minecraft, and Roblox."
The result is that it's harder than ever for brand new games to break through, which has been a major part of the recent wave of layoffs, studio closures, project cancelations, and just general industry devasation that we've been reporting on primarily in the US industry for the last couple of years.
Piscatella concluded that Kinda Funny presentation with a sentence he's said to me many times, and continues to say: "The biggest competitor to any new video game is Fortnite."
Circana is expected to release its full report on US video game sales in 2025 later this month.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Last year, IO Interactive revealed that musician and singer Lenny Kravitz would be making his video game debut in 007: First Light – not as the singer of a film-like Bond Theme, but as an actual character in the game. Cast as Bawma, a charismatic pirate king with a mysterious edge, Kravitz's video game debut promises action, intrigue, and a dash of rockstar theatrics. I had the opportunity to speak with him about his role in the game, his decades-long love for the Bond films, and to try to glean a little bit more about his character’s role in this twist on a traditional Bond story.
Originally announced as “Project 007” in 2020, IO Interactive has started to loosen the valve on information about its upcoming game starring the international man of mystery. While we still haven’t had a chance to go hands-on with the project, it looks promising. Blending Hitman-style stealth-action with the globetrotting cinematic shine and sense of humor you’d expect from any silver screen adventure starring your pick of the actors who’ve held a license to kill, it feels appropriate that its villains would be larger than life, just like in the novels and films. That all starts with a bit of blockbuster stunt casting.
Though he’s new to the series as an actor, Kravitz’s love for the James Bond movies as a fan goes back to his time lining up to see Roger Moore’s films in junior high and high school. “I used to line up on the first night it would be in the theater with a friend of mine,” the musician told me, making sure to pay lip service to his favorite leading men, Roger Moore and Sean Connery. “The theme songs were always amazing, too, always epic,” he told me, reminiscing on Carly Simon’s Nobody Does It Better from The Spy Who Loved Me before shouting out his favorites: Shirley Bassey’s iconic Goldfinger, Wings’ Live and Let Die, and Duran Duran’s A View To Kill.
Kravitz’s cool charisma and rockstar persona feel well-tuned for the role of a pirate king.
Kravitz’s cool charisma and rockstar persona feel well-tuned for the role of a pirate king. But he insists that he’s not just playing himself or sending up his favorite campy villains of bygone Bond films. Instead, he looked inward, drawing on his own experiences for inspiration. “I’ve met some folks that are… similar to his character. I grew up in the Bahamas as well as New York City and there were guys who had [Bawma’s] vibe and were doing similar things in the islands.” The musician told me the hardest part of playing Bawma was finding that voice and personality. “It’s really all in the voice,” he assured me. “It took a moment, but eventually we found the sweet spot.”
But Kravitz isn’t just a prolific performer. He also brought some of his expertise as an icon in the fashion world to the character, even getting involved in giving notes to the art and design team, weighing in on Bawma’s costume as seen in his reveal trailer. From the cut of his jacket to the placement of tattoos and scars, the final design in the trailer was the result of deep collaboration between Kravitz and the IO Interactive team.
During our conversation, Kravitz dropped a few hints that Bawma might not be an outright bad guy, though, painting him as more of a morally ambiguous antihero, rather than a straightforward villain. “He’s an interesting guy. We’re not quite sure how he’s going to turn.” IO Interactive CEO and 007 First Light Director Hakan Abrak told me, “We wanted more than just a one-sided villain, like we wanted to have some kind of charisma.” Abrak added that he’s not all-out evil, teasing, “He has more sides to him that could maybe turn out surprising in the story. You’ll need to wait to see that until the game comes out.”
That depth played into IO’s casting for Bawma, Abrak told me. During early meetings, IOI realized they needed a performer who could captivate a crowd to fit the character they’d written. He told me, “The way Lenny moves, the way he draws sympathy and empathy kind of drags you in as a person” played a big role in pushing IO to choose the rockstar for this role.
Since these interviews, IO Interactive has announced that 007 First Light has been delayed from March 27, 2026, to May 27, 2026. For more on 007 First Light, check out our first big preview from last year.
It’s been 35 years since Intelligent Systems debuted its Fire Emblem series on Nintendo's Famicom. Through its ever-evolving combat and the introduction of beloved character bonding mechanics, the series has ascended to the upper echelon of tactical RPGs, culminating in two excellent mainline entries on the Nintendo Switch.
As we near the end of the original Switch era, we’ve compiled a list of every Fire Emblem game available on the console as well as what's coming to the Switch 2.
How Many Fire Emblem Games Are on Switch?
There are five Fire Emblem games on Switch: two mainline games and three spinoffs. There are three additional Fire Emblem games available with Nintendo Switch Online, though Path of Radiance is only available to Switch 2 owners with the Expansion Pack.
Every Fire Emblem Game on Nintendo Switch
Fire Emblem Warriors (2017)
The first Fire Emblem game released on Switch was the Dynasty Warriors crossover Fire Emblem Warriors. The mashup incorporates the best elements of each series, blending Fire Emblem’s team-based strategy with Dynasty Warriors’ button-mashing, hack-and-slash action. It’s a worthwhile spinoff for action fans, though the light story makes it inessential to those concerned with Fire Emblem lore.
The game was developed by Dynasty Warriors studio Omega Force in collaboration with the action gurus at Team Ninja (Ninja Gaiden, Nioh).
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019)
Fire Emblem: Three Houses was a milestone release for the series. It was the first Fire Emblem game released on a home console in 12 years, the first mainline entry released on Switch, and a critical and commercial success that carried forward the momentum of Awakening seven years before it.
Three Houses is a massive tactical RPG that balances the grand with the intimate. Large-scale battles progress an overarching story of politics and religion within a continental war, while quieter moments between battles are spent in the monastery training, teaching, exploring, and bonding with other characters through well-written and -acted conversations.
Three Houses is Fire Emblem at its best, and what we'd recommend as a starting point if you’re looking to jump into the series on Switch.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore (2020)
In 2020, Nintendo released Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore, an expanded port of the original Wii U release. Encore added new story content, characters, and music to the Nintendo-Atlus crossover game, which blends Fire Emblem’s “weapon triangle” combat mechanic — swords have an advantage over axes, axes over lances, lances over swords — with the flashy style, dungeon-crawling, and moment-to-moment combat of Atlus’s Shin Megami Tensei and Persona games.
The story is a comical, often over-the-top send-up of Japanese pop-culture that, as in Warriors before it, takes a backseat to the action.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes (2023)
Nintendo re-teamed with Omega Force for Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, the companies’ second Fire Emblem-Dynasty Warriors crossover following Fire Emblem Warriors. Three Hopes is a retelling of Three Houses set in an alternate timeline where Three Houses’ protagonist Byleth serves as the main villain.
Three Hopes is a more robust blend of the two franchises than its predecessor, integrating more of Fire Emblem’s social and tactical mechanics with Dynasty Warriors’ fast-paced action.
Fire Emblem Engage (2023)
Fire Emblem Engage is the series’ latest game and its second mainline entry on Switch. Engage is a progression of Three Houses’ excellence and an ode to Fire Emblem's past: It refines and scales down the social and hub mechanics of Three Houses while shifting its primary focus to the series’ longstanding tactical combat, most notably reintroducing Fire Emblem’s “weapon triangle" system.
The story of Engage follows a Divine Dragon named Alear, who’s tasked with collecting 12 rings to defeat the Fell Dragon and save the continent of Elyos. Engage’s original story connects to the series past through these 12 rings, each of which houses the spirit of a past Fire Emblem protagonist, allowing you to summon past heroes such as Marth, Ike, Celica, and Byleth.
Fire Emblem Games Available With Nintendo Switch Online
There are currently two Fire Emblem games available with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription outside of Japan: the 2003 Game Boy Advance game Fire Emblem, aka Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade, and the 2004 follow-up Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones. A third game, 2005's Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, was also added to the catalog when GameCube games launched on the Switch 2.
Here’s the complete list of Fire Emblem games currently available with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription:
Fire Emblem Shadows recently released for mobile devices, but the social deduction game doesn't appear to be coming to the Switch systems. Instead, it was announced during the September Nintendo Direct that a new Fire Emblem game will be arriving on Switch 2 consoles. The upcoming game is called Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, and while we don't yet have a release date, we know that it will be out sometime in 2026. Nintendo has officially released the first trailer for the game you can check it out below for more details.
Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN.
When you have a series that's consistently gotten new games for almost 40 years, you have to think about how younger generations will be able to play them. That, and, of course, thinking about your bottom line, has led every publisher to lean more and more into multiplatform releases. On top of PC ports, Square Enix has released a decent amount of remasters and special editions of the Final Fantasy series specifically for Nintendo's handheld.
The Final Fantasy games hitting Switch isn't entirely unprecedented. The connection between Final Fantasy and Nintendo dates back to the series’ infancy, when the first game debuted on Nintendo's Famicom system in 1987. In fact, the first six mainline Final Fantasy games debuted on Nintendo platforms before Square Enix jumped to PlayStation as the series’ primary platform with Final Fantasy 7.
How Many Final Fantasy Games Are Available on Switch?
There are 21 Final Fantasy games you can play on the Switch — 12 mainline games, one prequel, and eight spinoffs. These games have been split into two sections below: mainline games (ordered by original release date) and other games (ordered by Switch release date).
Every Mainline Final Fantasy Game on Switch
Final Fantasy 1–6 Pixel Remaster
The first six Final Fantasy games are all available on Switch as part of Square Enix’s Pixel Remaster collection. Each game has been overhauled with new graphics, rearranged soundtracks, updated UIs, and new galleries for players to explore the creatures, illustrations, and music from all six games. If you're interested in diving into the original Final Fantasy experience, this is the best way to do it.
The Pixel Remasters are available individually ($12–18 USD/each) or as part of the six-game Final Fantasy I–VI bundle ($75 USD). If you're looking at the games individually, I'd recommend FF6, as it has one of the more immersive storylines.
Final Fantasy 7
One of the series’ most beloved games, Final Fantasy VII, is also available on Switch. This is not a remastered version of the game but rather a port of the 1997 original with three extra features: a 3x speed mode, the ability to turn battle encounters off, and a battle enhancement mode to make encounters easier. While the newer remasters, Remake and Rebirth, introduce modern action RPG mechanics to Cloud Strife's battle against Sephiroth, the Switch edition of FFVII is one of the best opportunities to experience what made the original PlayStation game so impactful.
Final Fantasy 8 Remastered
The series’ next entry is also available on Switch as Final Fantasy VIII Remastered. This updated version was released in 2019, 20 years after FF8 originally debuted on PlayStation. Additions to the remastered version include a 3x speed mode, the ability to turn off random encounters, and battle assist options to lessen the difficulty of combat.
Final Fantasy 9
Final Fantasy IX on Switch, like FFVII before it, is a port of the original RPG, which, despite not being quite as "famous" as Final Fantasy VII, is considered to have one of the best storylines in the series. The Switch version includes a few extras compared to the 2000 original, including high-speed and no-encounter modes, an autosave feature, and HD cutscenes and character models.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is a bundle of Final Fantasy X and its sequel X-2 (the series’ first-ever direct sequel). The two games feature over 100 hours of RPG content, according to IGN sister site How Long to Beat, and include upgraded graphics and reworked audio (with the ability to switch back and forth between the new and original sounds).
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
Skipping the now-shuttered MMORPG Final Fantasy XI, the series’ next mainline game available on Switch is Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age. The Zodiac Age, a remaster of the 2006 original, features HD graphics and a re-recorded soundtrack, as well as the Zodiac Job System, an increased battle tempo, an optional high-speed mode, and autosave functionality.
Final Fantasy 15 Pocket Edition HD
Final Fantasy XIII and XIV: Online are not available on Switch, which brings us to Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition HD. It’s the latest mainline game available on the platform, as FFXVI is still only available on PS5 and PC.
Final Fantasy 15 Pocket Edition HD is an abridged version of the original game with cartoonish character models, simplified combat, a reduced skill tree, and fewer side quests. Pocket Edition HD does, however, retain the full FFXV story, boys on the road and all.
Other Final Fantasy Games on Switch
World of Final Fantasy Maxima (2018)
World of Final Fantasy Maxima, co-developed by Square Enix and prolific Japanese developer Tose, came to Switch with new content and the subtitle ‘Maxima’ two years after it was first released on PS4 and Vita. It’s an accessible RPG aimed at younger audiences that combines the series' Active Time Battle system with the ability to capture Mirages (i.e., creatures) to use in battle.
Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! (2019)
Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! is a remastered version of the 2007 Wii game Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon. This Final Fantasy spinoff is a turn-based RPG with randomly generated dungeons and a buddy system that allows players to bring other creatures or characters along for the dungeon-crawling chaos.
Collection of Mana (2019)
This collection of three Mana games is on this list due to its inclusion of the 1991 Game Boy game Final Fantasy Adventure. Despite beginning as a Final Fantasy spinoff, the Mana series dropped those ties with the release of its second game, Secret of Mana, and has since remained an independent franchise.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition (2020)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition is an enhanced version of the 2004 RPG/dungeon crawler originally released for GameCube. Crystal Chronicles for Switch features a cute aesthetic, online co-op, and the addition of English voiceover for the first time. It’s a graphical improvement upon the original that also added new areas, monsters, weapons, and a higher-difficulty option.
Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend (2020)
Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend compiles three Game Boy games: Final Fantasy Legend I–III. We’ve included these games in service to creating a comprehensive list, though these are only Final Fantasy games in name; the SaGa games belong to an independent franchise of RPGs inspired by but not necessarily connected to Final Fantasy. The first three SaGa games were given the Final Fantasy name to capitalize on the brand recognition with western audiences.
The collection adds a high-speed mode and Switch-specific enhancements like adjustable screen magnification and the ability to play with your Switch oriented vertically (when in handheld mode, with Joy-Cons detached).
Crisis Core –Final Fantasy VII– Reunion (2022)
A prequel to Final Fantasy VII, Crisis Core –Final Fantasy VII– Reunion is a remastered version of the 2007 PSP RPG. The game stars a young warrior named Zack Fair, whose connection to Cloud and FFVII is revealed throughout the story. Reunion features remastered graphics, new character and background models, fully voiced dialogue, a newly arranged soundtrack, and a refined battle system.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line (2023)
A rhythm game that celebrates the music of Final Fantasy, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line launched with 385 tracks from across the Final Fantasy series, though that has since grown to include music from other Square franchises for a total of 505 tracks. The Final Fantasy music pulls from 46 games, according to Squre, including FFI–XV. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line features over 100 characters and online multiplayer support for up to 8 players.
Chocobo GP (2023)
Chocobo GP is a Final Fantasy-themed kart racer developed by Arika (Tetris 99). While there are better kart racers available on Switch, Chocobo GP is a fun respite from the more involved RPGs that make up the majority of the Final Fantasy franchise. Like other kart racers, it features time challenges, tournament-style races, and options for multiplayer racing.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (2025)
A remake of Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles recently came to PS5 and Switch with enhanced graphics, voiced dialogue, and various quality of life improvements over the original PS1 game. Ronny Barrier's review for IGN says the remake of the tactical RPG removes "the cruft of Final Fantasy Tactics while surfacing what made it special through smart UI tweaks, convenience features, and excellent new voice acting."
If you want a single platform to play games at home and on the go, the Nintendo Switch has got your back. Even better if you're a fan of Sonic: Ever since the Switch arrived in 2017, Sega has worked like clockwork to consistently release Sonic games for the hybrid console. Last year we got Sonic x Shadow Generations alongside the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie, so it's safe to say Sega's speedster is bigger than ever.
Now that the Switch 2 has officially launched, it's pretty much guaranteed more Sonic games are on the way. The next big release, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, is launching on the original system, but as we move toward Switch 2-exclusives, some good ol' backward compatibility means your existing Sonic games aren't going anywhere.
For anyone looking to check out the modern era of Sonic (and friends), here are all the Sonic the Hedgehog games you can play right now as well as upcoming Sonic games on the Switch 2.
How Many Sonic Games Are There on Nintendo Switch?
A total of ten Sonic games have been released for Nintendo Switch. This spans the first year of the system back in 2017 to the most recent game, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, released in 2025. Keep in mind that this list below does not include the additional games available with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Every Sonic Game Released on the Switch (in Release Order)
Sonic Mania (2017)
Sonic Mania was developed by PagodaWest Games and Sonic fangame community member Christian Whitehead as a love letter to the classic Sonic the Hedgehog titles released on the Sega Genesis and Sega CD platforms. Taking place after the events of Sonic 3 & Knuckles, the game remixes eight iconic levels, including Green Hill Zone and Chemical Plant Zone, and introduces five new ones, including the glamorous Studiopolis Zone and the peaceful Press Garden Zone. This game also introduces a new troupe of Eggbots called the Hard-Boiled Heavies for Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles to beat.
Mania is considered one of the best Sonic games of the 2010s because of the experiment in allowing a group of Sonic fans to create a game other Sonic fans would love, the vivid neon graphics, and the new challenges present in every stage.
Sonic Forces (2017)
Sonic Forces makes Classic Sonic and Modern Sonic form a resistance against Dr. Eggman after he conquered most of the world alongside Infinite, a masked jackal who uses the Phantom Ruby to create doppelgangers and warp reality. The game switches gameplay modes between third-person Boost gameplay with Modern Sonic, side-scrolling gameplay with Classic Sonic, and a mode with the custom avatar character, which can be any animal you want, whose weapons use Wisp power-ups. Forces’ writing and lighting aren’t exactly the best in the series, but the game is still tolerable for some people.
Team Sonic Racing (2019)
Team Sonic Racing takes racing games to a whole new level by having players race with each other, not against each other. This game has a cooperative gameplay mechanic similar to Splatoon and Overwatch, using Sonic Heroes as a frame of reference, where you play in teams of three characters and work together to win each race, paying very close attention to your teammates’ performance and sharing Wisp power-ups with them to allow them to speed up and pull your ranks. Since most of the karts are sports cars, you can customize them with gold rims and paint your car any color you want West Coast Customs style.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 (2019)
Released a year before the real-life Tokyo Olympic Games was scheduled to begin (only to be postponed to 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic), Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 brings the platform rivalry between the jolly red plumber, the speedy blue hedgehog, and their respective friends back to the world stage with new events, like surfing, skateboarding, karate, and sport climbing, and bonus features. The game includes a story mode that takes Mario and Sonic back to the Tokyo 1964 Olympics and their early 2D sprite selves, while everyone else works to help bring them back to the real world in the present day. You get the best of both eras and some history lessons about the Olympic Games in Tokyo to go with it.
Sonic Colors: Ultimate (2021)
Sonic Colors: Ultimate is a remastered version of the original Sonic Colors developed by Blind Squirrel Games for Sonic’s 30th anniversary in 2021. The remaster enhanced the graphics to brighten up the colors of Eggman’s interplanetary amusement park and the character models, introduced a new Jade Ghost Wisp to help Sonic phase through walls and ceilings, replaced the traditional lives with rescues from Tails, and introduced mini races against Metal Sonic. You can also collect Park Tokens to customize Sonic with the wackiest designs for his shoes and gloves.
Sonic Origins (2022)
Sonic Origins compiles the first four classic Sonic games released on the Sega Genesis and Sega CD and remasters them for modern consoles and the audience that plays on them, whether they’re veteran fans seeking a nostalgia fix or young fans who want to understand Sonic’s history. Players can experience the game in Classic Mode, which is the original format presented in a 4:3 aspect ratio, or Anniversary Mode, which replaces lives with coins and allows Sonic to use Drop Dash as he did in Sonic Mania. Each game in the compilation features new animated cutscenes at the beginning and end done by the incomparable Tyson Heese to connect all four games into a cohesive story, provided you play them in the original release order.
Sonic Frontiers (2022)
Sonic Frontiers is the first open-world game in the Sonic franchise – or should we say, “open-zone”? – born out of a trend of open-world games being styled after The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Sonic explores the vast Starfall Islands to fight cybernetic enemies, solve various puzzles, and run through Cyber Space levels modeled after the levels from past Sonic titles in an effort to save his friends from the digitized dimension. Both veteran and new Sonic fans alike will enjoy running around the mysterious island set to a soundtrack that strikes a delicate balance between serenity and chaos.
Sonic Superstars (2023)
Sonic Superstars is a collaborative effort between Sega and Arzest to bring 3D graphics to a Classic Sonic game, a move that surprised everyone at the 2023 Summer Game Fest (including this author). With Classic Sonic being a CGI character on his own for the first time and classic levels getting revamped with new music and upgraded level designs, the game allows up to four people to locally play together as Sonic and his friends throughout 11 levels across the Northstar Islands and grants new powers for every Chaos Emerald they collect to overcome obstacles.
Sonic X Shadow Generations (2024)
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a remastered version of 2011's Sonic Generation that goes beyond graphical upgrades and quality-of-life improvements by including an all-new campaign comprised of reminagined Shadow stages from past Sonic games. The two campaigns combine for 15-20 hours of content across over 150 stages, leading us to say in our Shadow x Generations review that it "soars far and above previous enhanced versions we've gotten in the Sonic franchise."
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (2025)
The latest Sonic game follows up on 2019's Team Sonic Racing, featuring the full set of Sonic characters as well as new crossover racers like Joker, Hatsune Miku, and Steve from Minecraft. Jada Griffin's review of Cross Worlds for IGN says the game "fires on all cylinders with a fantastic roster, excellent courses, and lengthy list of customization options."
More Sonic Games Available with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack
If you're looking to play some classic Sonic games with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription, there are a few available under the SEGA catalog. You can find more info about them below:
Sonic the Hedgehog is reaching its 35th anniversary in 2026, joining a host of other video game anniversaries that will make you question the passage of time. Some fans speculate the anniversary will lead to a new release, but SEGA hasn't confirmed any upcoming Switch games yet.
Outside of games, Paramount has confirmed it will make Sonic the Hedgehog 4. The movie is targeting a Spring 2027 release window.
Cristina Alexander is a freelance writer for IGN. She has contributed her work to various publications, including Digital Trends, TheGamer, Twinfinite, Mega Visions, and The Escapist. To paraphrase Calvin Harris, she wears her love for Sonic the Hedgehog on her sleeve like a big deal. Follow her on Twitter @SonicPrincess15.
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