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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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."
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."
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.
Switch 2 owners, if there's one upgrade you'll absolutely need, it's additional storage. The Switch 2 only has 256GB of onboard storage, and chances are you'll run out of space down the road. Fortunately, Amazon just lowered the price of the 256GB Samsung P9 MicroSD Express card, which will double your available storage, to just $34.99. This matches the best deal that I saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You don't have to worry about performance, either. We recently reviewed this exact card and strongly recommend it.
Nintendo Switch 2 compatible
As you should already know, the Switch 2 console will only accept MicroSD Express cards. If you have a standard MicroSD card from your previous Switch, you sadly won't be able to use it to store games in the Switch 2. Although the two might look similar, MicroSD Express cards are much, much faster than their precedessors, with speeds of up to 800MB/s. MicroSD cards, on the other hand, cap out at well under 200MB/s.
This Samsung P9 Express is guaranteed to be compatible with your Switch 2 console. In fact, Samsung is the company that manufactures Nintendo's official Switch 2 memory card. It's very likely these two cards are identical.
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.
Actor Sebastian Stan is the latest MCU veteran to join The Batman: Part II.
Deadline reports that Stan has been cast in an undisclosed role in the Matt Reeves-directed sequel. The site claims DC Studios had no comment.
Although Stan’s role isn’t specified, it’s tough not to look at the actor and picture him as Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face, a character who has been rumored to be in The Batman: Part II.
Stan will join his Avengers castmate Scarlett Johansson in the DC sequel, which is set to begin filming this spring for an October 1, 2027, release.
In confirming Stan’s involvement with the film, Variety reports that “Barry Keoghan is also expected to appear once more as the Joker.”
While Zoe Kravitz’s Catwoman isn’t expected to return, Colin Farrell’s Penguin, Andy Serkis’ Alfred Pennyworth, and Jeffrey Wright’s Jim Gordon are all poised to join Robert Pattinson’s Batman in the sequel.
Sebastian Stan, of course, still plays Bucky Barnes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having just recently starred in Thunderbolts*, and he is set to reprise the role in Avengers: Doomsday.
The actor earned an Oscar nomination for his performance as young Donald Trump in The Apprentice, and also recently starred in the films A Different Man and Dumb Money.
Matt Reeves co-wrote the screenplay for The Batman: Part II with Mattson Tomlin.
These days, streaming services are a dime a dozen. Disney+ remains one of the most popular services, largely because of the amount of exclusive content. You'll not only have access to dozens of Disney and Pixar films and TV shows, but the entirety of the collected Marvel Cinematic Universe and every Star Wars project pre- and post-acquisition. Depending on the subscription tier or bundle you pick, you can also experience Hulu and ESPN Unlimited content as well, making this the best bang-for-your-buck streaming services around.
I think it goes without saying that Disney+ is a particularly good gift idea for any Disney adult in your life. If you're looking for last-minute gift ideas, why not help a friend or family member cut down on their subscription bill? We've gathered everything you need to know on how to give a subscription out to your loved ones and how the process works.
The best way to go about giving a Disney+ subscription as a gift is through a gift card. You can choose values anywhere between $25 and $200 to load onto the card, so figure out what your gift recipient likes and plan accordingly. One month of Disney+ is $11.99 for example, so the base $25 is good for two months.
There are a handful of different Disney+ bundles available, and luckily the gift cards work towards these as well. So if you're wanting to grab Hulu, ESPN, and HBO Max to bundle and save, you can do so to save a few bucks. Our explainer guide on how to get or switch to one of these bundles is a useful tool for how to decide what to pick.
Like I mentioned previously, you can load the gift card with values ranging from $25 all the way up to $200. Some folks like to pay up front for their longterm subscriptions so they don't have to worry about it later, so a gift card of $100+ is a great route to take if you're planning on binging the entirety of the MCU or catch up on Andor. Check out our Disney+ bundle price guide for more info, or look at a quick TL;DR below so you can get a good idea of how much to give as a gift. Keep in mind only Disney+ premium includes 4K streaming.
Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.
We’re merely days into the new year, and Amazon already has a huge 4K UHD movie sale. Basically, if you buy at least three eligible movies, you get them for $11 each. Finding three movies to buy shouldn’t be a problem, because many of the eligible titles are all-timers. We’re talking stone-cold classics, like Boogie Nights, The Big Lebowski, Inception, The Shining, and Inglourious Basterds. Additionally, a smattering of new releases are in here as well, like Sinners, Weapons, and Wicked.
To risk sounding like a used-car salesman, that’s not all, folks. If you want more than three movies, additional picks ring up for $11 apiece as well. So, as far as I’ve seen, there’s no limit to how many movies you can pile on here and still get the savings.
Basically, anyone interested in bulking up their 4K movie collection will likely find plenty of interest here. Kubrick movies on the list include A Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Spartacus, and the aforementioned Stephen King adaptation The Shining. Other King adaptations include Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s previously mentioned Boogie Nights is on there, along with Phantom Thread. Spielberg’s on there with Schindler’s List. Spike Lee’s on there with Do the Right Thing.
Horror movies are well represented here, with stand-outs like Nope, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Companion, and the previously mentioned Weapons, which happens to be my favorite film from last year. All sorts of Batman movies are in here, including the 1989 Tim Burton original. If you’re interested in having a few laughs, you can pick up The Blues Brothers, or the cringe comedies Meet the Parents and American Pie. Thriller fans can grab The Departed, Vertigo, Training Day, and The Sting.
Basically, whatever kinds of movies you’re into, you’ll find plenty of excellent examples on the list to pick up. I’ve seen lots of these sales over the years, and the best movies do tend to sell out well before the sale ends, so you’d be well advised to grab what you want sooner than later. In any case, the sale ends January 19, so be sure to make your selections before then.
In other 4K movie news, a trio of excellent new Arrow releases are also on sale right now: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy, The Mask, and Spawn. Solid '90s bangers all.
Chris Reed is a commerce editor and deals expert for IGN. He also runs IGN's board game and LEGO coverage. You can follow him on Bluesky.
If you're a Windows user who's looking for a PC version of the Apple Mac Mini, then one of the most popular models has dropped in price. Amazon is currently offering the AceMagic Kron Mini K1 AMD Ryzen 7 7730U Mini PC for just $385.56 shipped with coupon code "32GB1TBACE". This is a great opportunity to pick up a complete tiny PC package that includes everything - the CPU/GPU, RAM, storage, and OS - for less than the cost of a Mac Mini.
The AceMagic Kron Mini K1 is small, really small, measuring 5" x 5" x 1.6", roughly the same size as a Mac Mini. It's equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U 8-core CPU with a max turbo frequency of 4.5GHz and Vega 8 onboard graphics. This is an efficient chip with a low 15W TDP rating, yet still powerful enough to run all of your everday apps, and even some light gaming. It's paired with 32GB of DDR4 RAM and a 1TB M.2 SSD. Windows 11 Pro is pre-installed.
There are plenty of connectivity options here. Running down the list, the ports include six USB 3.2 ports, one USB 3.2 Type-C port, one HDMI 2.0 port, one DisplayPort 1.4b port, one 3.5mm audio jack, and one gigabit ethernet jack. It's also equipped with Bluetooth 6.0 and WiFi 5 (802.11ac) wireless networking.
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.
She’s coming back home for another shift. The Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried led psychological thriller The Housemaid has been a solid box office success — so naturally, Lionsgate has greenlit a sequel.
The second film will be titled The Housemaid’s Secret and will be based on the second novel in the best-selling book trilogy by Freida McFadden. According to a press release from the studio, the movie has been in development for the past few months and will see production start “later this year.” Screenwriter Rebecca Sonnenshine will return to write the sequel adaptation.
Most importantly, Sweeney and costar Michele Morrone will reprise their roles and director Paul Feig will return to helm the project. Sweeney will also serve as executive producer alongside McFadden.
The Housemaid, which is based on the first novel in McFadden’s series, grossed $133 million since it was released on December 19 and has proven itself to be a commercial hit for the studio thus far. The series overall has sold over 12 million copies, so it’s clear there’s a huge appetite there.
“It’s clear from both the global box office and from the outpouring on social media that audiences have responded strongly – and audibly – to the totally unique and truly theatrical experience of The Housemaid and want to know what happens next,” Adam Fogelson, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair, explained in a statement.
“We believed in these stories from the very beginning, and we are beyond excited to bring the next chapter of Millie’s story to life on-screen in collaboration with our outstanding creative partners Todd, Paul, Laura, Carly, Alex, and Sydney,” he added. “The Housemaid’s Secret is another wildly thrilling book in Freida’s series that has captivated readers worldwide, and we look forward to translating it into a similarly rousing and riotous moviegoing experience.”
Paul Feig also shared his thoughts on bringing the second book to life. “It’s been thrilling to see audiences around the world fall in love with The Housemaid and the incredible work of our talented cast and crew,” he said in his own statement. “We’re lucky that Freida McFadden has already extended Millie’s journey on the page, and that we get to work with Rebecca Sonnenshine and Lionsgate to bring this next story to audiences.”
Of course there’s no wired on a release date just yet but it seems sometime in the latter half next year makes the most sense.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Often cited as one of the world's most valuable media franchises, Pokémon is a household name that's been a Nintendo staple since the Game Boy. The beloved series is home to hundreds of amazing creatures you can catch in-game or collect as trading cards, with each new generation bringing loads more to discover. Every console released by Nintendo has had plenty of Pokémon games released for it, and the Nintendo Switch is no exception.
Pokémon Day brought tons of new announcements about what's next for the franchise. Below, we've compiled every Pokémon game that has been released on Nintendo Switch and the information we have on a number of upcoming Pokémon games releasing on the Switch 2.
In total, 13 Pokémon games have been released for the Nintendo Switch. This includes the mainline games for the 8th and 9th Pokémon generations as well as plenty of spinoffs. For the sake of this list, we've counted mainline entries with two versions as a single release. We also don't include the Pokémon games offered through Nintendo Switch Online, but you can check out that list below.
Pokkén Tournament was originally released for the Wii U in 2016. A year later, Nintendo and Bandai Namco prepared a deluxe version of the game for Nintendo Switch, adding new characters and updated visuals to take advantage of better hardware. This three-on-three battle system is a blast to play with friends both in person and online.
Pokémon Quest turns all your favorite Pokémon into miniature cube form. This free-to-play Switch game features a fun and simple combat system where you send Pokémon on expeditions. Equip different abilities to your Pokémon to handle all types of encounters.
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! & Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! are remakes of the beloved 1998 Pokémon Yellow. These titles were the first mainline Pokémon games ever to release on a home console, since none made it to the Wii U. Set in the Kanto region, all 151 original Pokémon appear with varying forms from previous mainline installments. With heavy accessibility features, these remakes were a great first step for the series on Nintendo Switch for newcomers and veterans of the series.
Pokémon Sword & Shield marked the first installment in the series to feature aspects of an open world. Dubbed the Wild Areas, these regions allowed for free traversal and battles with wild Pokémon. Gyms also made a return for the first time since X & Y. Additionally, Sword & Shield introduced the eigth generation of Pokémon, which included Dynamax and Gigantamax forms of previous Pokémon.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is a remake of the 2005 titles Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team & Blue Rescue Team. Surprisingly, this is the first Pokémon spinoff remake ever, with development handled by Spike Chunsoft. The gameplay consists of completing jobs in different dungeons and unlocking new Pokémon along the way.
The other Pokémon release of 2020 was Pokémon Café ReMix featuring similar gameplay to other puzzle games like Disney Tsum Tsum, which requires you to connect Pokémon together to solve puzzles. In Pokémon Café ReMix, you and Eevee own a café and must serve the Pokémon who come for food or a little drink. This charming service game is free-to-play via the Nintendo eShop.
After more than 20 years, the Nintendo Switch is the console that finally received a sequel to Pokémon Snap. Developed by Bandai Namco, you traverse around different biomes and areas with an on-rails camera to capture pictures Pokémon in the wild. You can unlock new courses by taking good pictures in New Pokémon Snap, leaving for a sizeable amount of content to unlock and discover. You never know what you might find during each session!
This free-to-play game marked Pokémon's first entry into the MOBA genre. You command and control a team of five Pokémon in head-to-head battles against other players online. There's a solid amount of Pokémon to choose from, so you can adjust your team to best fit your needs. Pokémon Unite went on to be featured in different esports tournaments, with multiple championships held for the game.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Pokémon Shining Pearl are remakes of Pokémon Diamond & Pearl, which originally released in 2006 for the Nintendo DS. As the fourth generation of Pokémon, Diamond & Pearl feature a wide variety of Pokémon to battle against and discover. The remakes feature a new chibi art style that was created to stay faithful to the original titles while still remaining fresh.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is often praised as one of the best Pokémon games available on the Switch. This original title takes place far in the past, somewhere in the Hisui region. With a focus on exploration, you can freely walk all around the map to capture Pokémon, explore different environments, and so much more. Pokémon can be spotted wandering around all over the map, which requires you to be strategic if you're looking to avoid battle.
The latest mainline Pokémon games officially kicked off Generation 9, bringing along an entire new approach to gameplay and world design. In Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, an open world awaits with freedom to explore wherever your heart takes you. The DLC pass, titled The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, is now wrapped up, making it a perfect time to check out Scarlet & Violet.
One game and one movie later, the sequel to Detective Pikachu is finally available on Nintendo Switch. Tim's father is missing, and it's up to Detective Pikachu to solve the case! This sequel features new puzzles and investigations, where you can investigate scenes and use your notebook to get to the bottom of the mystery. If you're a fan of both Pokémon and mystery games, this is a great game to consider.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A is the most recent release in the series, launching on both Switch systems on October 16. Rebekah Valentine's review for IGN marks a significant shift from the downfalls of the previous generation, describing that "what elevates Lumiose City far above the much larger overworld of Scarlet and Violet is that it’s dense with interesting landmarks, items, obstacle courses, stores, Wild Zones, shops, and people."
The game takes place in the French-inspired Lumiose City, with familiar starters in Tepig, Chikorita, and Totodile, all of which get new Mega Evolutions. A big change in this game is the combat system, which introduces more real-time action.
The Nintendo Switch Online subscription service has additional Pokémon titles if you're looking for more after completing the Nintendo Switch library. Here are the five Pokémon games you can play with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership:
A spread of leaks have supposedly pointed to the future of Pokémon for the next several years. Take those with a grain of salt. In the meantime, here's what Pokémon has officially announced:
While we may not be getting a new Animal Crossing game (yet, though we are getting a Switch 2 edition of New Horizons), Nintendo announced a new Pokémon spin-off game that looks pretty darn similar. Pokémon Pokopia makes you a Ditto with a human appearance, who must work and learn from local Pokémon to build a new community on a small island. The game is set to launch on Switch 2 on March 5, 2026.
Yep, there's more. Game Freak and The Pokémon Company have also announced Pokémon Champions, a new battle game in the spirit of Pokemon Showdown. Coming to mobile devices and Switch, you'll be able to battle with Pokémon you've trained in other games through the Pokémon Home app.
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.
In today’s world of streaming services taking over the entertainment industry, it can be hard to pick just one. With the Netflix getting more and more expensive every year, you may even find yourself looking elsewhere for a place to watch good movies and shows. Since its humble beginnings as a mail-in movie rental service, Netflix is now producing thousands of hours of original content that is only available on Netflix and nowhere else. Naturally, other services have followed the trend and made their library of content exclusive to their subscription, making it more difficult than ever to choose between Netflix and something else. If the current Netflix plans and prices aren't doing it for you, there are some decent alternatives worth your time.
Luckily, many of the more popular Netflix alternatives also offer a free trial of their services so you can experience everything they have to offer without having to spend any money. Since many of these streaming services are still catching up to Netflix, their original content libraries aren’t quite as vast, but they each offer great content and the free streaming trials will let you test them out before cancelling Netflix for good.
A great place to start when looking for an alternative to Netflix, Hulu continuously produces quality, original content comparable to Netflix. It's the only place you can watch Shōgun, new episodes of Futurama, The Bear, and The Handmaids tale. Hulu is hock full of award-winning, original shows and well-known cinema, much of their original content is well worth talking about. After exploring the vast library that Hulu has to offer in this generous 30-day trial, there are a wide range of subscription options to opt into from $11.99 a month up to just over $100 a month–if you want to include live TV or premium add-ons such as ESPN+, Cinemax, Paramount+ with Showtime, Starz, and more. If you inlcude live TV, however, your free trial gets cut down to only three days. The Hulu + Live TV free trial is arguably the best live TV service you can test out for free, even with the short window of time.
If you want to skip the free trial entirely, Hulu also offers some of the best streaming bundles currently available. First up there's the Disney+, Hulu, and Max Bundle for only $19.99 a month, which will get you access to the most content.
Read our review of Hulu or check out all of the Hulu bundles available.
Well-known in the modern list of streaming service options, Amazon Prime offers one of the longer trials of 30 days to decide if you enjoy what they offer. Responsible for the production of more high-quality, arthouse films and series every year, it’s hard to look away from the Amazon Prime Originals catalog that easily rivals Netflix’s. After the 30-day trial is concluded, users will be charged only $14.99 a month (or $139.00 a year) to continue viewing and enjoy free shipping on orders from Amazon’s shopping center. There is also a student discount of $7.49 a month (or $69 a year). Prime Video is currently the only place you can watch the Fallout series as well as Rings of Power.
Outside of streaming, there are also quite a few benefits to having an Amazon Prime subscription. You get free shipping on your orders as well as access to exclusive discounts during sales events like Prime Day.
Read our review of Prime Video.
For viewers looking to expand their Anime horizons and join in on the millions of viewers worldwide, Crunchyroll has an offer that is hard to beat. While there are three different membership tiers to choose from ($7.99/mo to $14.99/mo), Crunchyroll also has a decent amount of anime content streaming for free. Though Netflix streams some good anime and even some great, original anime series, Crunchyroll has access to all the best anime in the world. Any fan of anime knows that Japan is the leader in anime production, which is why Crunchyroll gives users premium access to brand-new episodes shortly after its initial release in Japan. While Netflix only has 4 seasons of My Hero Academia, Crunchyroll has all 7 seasons and most of the movies.
There are currently three different premium Crunchyroll subscriptions to choose from, but all of them offer a free trial. You can also get access to the Game Vault at certain tiers, so it doubles as a video game streaming service.
Read our review of Crunchyroll.
A recent underdog-turned-showstopper in the streaming service war, Apple TV+ takes exclusivity to a whole new level. Featuring some highly appraised, original shows (Ted Lasso, Severance, Masters of the Air) and movies (Killers of the Flower Moon, Spirited, Napoleon), Apple is quickly gaining momentum in the race against its competitors–especially Netflix. After the 7-day free trial has expired, the monthly subscription will cost $12.99 at base cost, depending on how many users are added to the account. As a disclaimer for those without Apple products, you will have to create a verified Apple ID to access the premium Apple TV+ streaming library.
The latest reason to pick up an Apple TV+ subscription is the Murderbot series, which stars Alexander Skarsgård and is based on the book series of the same name.
Read our review of Apple TV+.
Similar to Hulu, Paramount+ contains a decent selection of original shows and movies to choose from. The studio that had a hand in more projects than one might expect, Paramount+ offers exclusive access to original content such as the Mission Impossible movies, the Halo series, and the entire Star Trek film/series universe. With new shows and movies being regularly released on the platform, Paramount+ is catching up to its original content competitors like Netflix. After the 7-day free trial of their services, the recurring monthly amount to stay subscribed will be as low as $7.99 (or $59.99 a year) with limited ads, or $12.99 a month (or $119.99 a year) to add SHOWTIME’s full library and remove almost all ads.
In terms of new content to look forward to, Paramount+ is also the home of everything Sonic, so this is where you can currently stream Sonic 3.
Read our review of Paramount+ or learn more about the Paramount+ free trial.
Although most folks may think of DirecTV only as a satellite TV service, the company also offers a pretty solid streaming service with a free trial. DirecTV Stream has a wide array of streaming options that include various movies, series, and premiere live TV streaming access. The trial itself is very short at only 5 days, but it comes with some premium content with your subscription. When customers sign up for one of three packages ranging in content and priced from $79.99 a month to $119.99 a month, they offer add-on streaming services Max, Paramount+ with Showtime, Starz, MGM+ & Cinemax included in the first 3 months of the subscription. All in all, it's a decent option if you are looking for a live TV alternative to Netflix. It's also one of the best streaming services for sports, which Netflix doesn't really offer at all.
See our guide on how to get the DirecTV Stream free trial.
While a lot of content available on Netflix could possibly be available elsewhere, original Netflix shows and movies are, unfortunately, not available without a subscription. Additionally, Netflix does not offer a free trial of their services, yet offers multiple tiers of options that range in price from $7.99 / month to $24.99 / month depending on if you want to stream in 4K or not. You can check out our guide to Netflix plans and prices for more info.
Connor Sheppard is an Oregon-grown culture writer for IGN with previous work on The Manual. Intrigued from a young age by pop culture and movies, he has developed into an experienced critic and consumer of all things media. From his time earning a bachelor's degree in digital communications at Oregon State University, he found a love for writing and appreciating specific actors and directors in the many films he watches.
The Legend of Zelda is one of the most iconic video game series of all time. Starting on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986, The Legend of Zelda follows various incarnations of Princess Zelda and Link as they fight to save Hyrule from the evil that is Ganon. While the series has always been popular, the Nintendo Switch has catapulted Zelda into one of Nintendo's best-selling properties with landmark titles in Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.
Echoes of Wisdom released toward the end of the original Nintendo Switch's life cycle, but Nintendo has already revealed quite a bit about the next generation of adventures in Hyrule. Here's every Legend of Zelda game on the Nintendo Switch as well as new Zelda games coming to the Switch 2.
In total, five Zelda games, three Hyrule Warriors games, and one spin-off game have been released specifically for the Nintendo Switch. This includes both mainline entries and spinoff games that were released from 2017 to 2026. All of these Zelda games are playable on the Switch 2.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was the first Zelda title released for Nintendo Switch. Launching alongside the system, this title marked a turning point in the Zelda series, bringing a style of open world gameplay that we'd never seen before. You can traverse to anywhere you can see in the world. Link awakes after a 100 year slumber, where he is tasked by the spirit of Hyrule's former King to save Princess Zelda from Calamity Ganon - a primal evil trapped inside Hyrule Castle.
Read our original review of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or see what we thought of the Switch 2 version.
Hyrule Warriors is an action hack and slash title developed by Omega Force and originally released for the Wii U. Characters from all kinds of Zelda games make an appearance, whether as playable characters or villains. The game was brought over to Nintendo Switch in 2018 in the form of Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, and includes all characters, stages, and modes from the original game in addition to Breath of the Wild inspired costumes for Link and Zelda.
Read our review of Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition.
Cadence of Hyrule is an extremely unqiue collaboration between Brace Yourself Games and Nintendo. The game combines the roguelike rhythm gameplay of Crypt of the NecroDancer with the world of The Legend of Zelda and its characters. This spinoff offers an incredible soundtrack and beautiful pixelated graphics. Up against Octavo, a musical villain, Zelda and Link team up with Cadence to thwart his plans and save the Hyrule.
Read our review of Cadence of Hyrule.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a remake of 1993 Game Boy title developed by Grezzo. This charming platformer sees Link castaway at Koholint Island, where he must solve the mystery of the Wind Fish, a legendary being said to be on the island. Unlike some of the more modern Zelda titles, Link's Awakening takes you across many different dungeons and areas to collect the Instruments of the Sirens. If you never got the chance to play the original Link's Awakening, this is the definitive way to experience one of the Zelda series' most unique titles.
Read our review of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.
The second Switch entry in the Hyrule Warriors series, Age of Calamity is set 100 years before the events of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Here, you can experience firsthand the events that occured in the fight against Calamity Ganon. All of your favorite Breath of the Wild cahracters are here and playable, including Link, Zelda, the Champions, and so many more. Omega Force created a fun and expansive title, with two waves of DLC you can check out after completing the main story.
Read our review of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is the long-awaited remaster of the classic Wii game. Set at the beginning of the Zelda timeline, Skyward Sword takes Link to the skies as he traverses across the world to save his childhood friend Zelda. You'll uncover the Master Sword was created as part of this journey, among other things. The remaster includes the iconic motion controls you can operate with the Joy-Con and a new button-only gameplay style for those looking to play without motion.
Read our review of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom hit the market in 2023, selling over 10 million copies in just three days as well as quite a few special edition Switch consoles. Set a few years after the events of Breath of the Wild, Link is tasked once again with finding Princess Zelda after Ganondorf is resurrected. Tears of the Kingdom takes to both the skies of Hyrule and the depths below the land. This creates one of the largest maps you'll find in any game, leaving for hundreds of hours of exploration to be had. All in all, it's the best Zelda game of all time and a hard one to follow.
Read our original review of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or see what we thought about the Switch 2 version.
But, of course, Tears of the Kingdom was not the end of this beloved Nintendo franchise on the original Switch. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was announced during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct before launching on the Switch in the fall later that year. While Echoes has the titular Princess take the story's reigns, and features a more 2D art style à la Link's Awakening, it should not be mistaken as a spin-off or side project. This is a full-blown, magical Zelda game, that lets you unlock your creativity to try and save Link and the rest of Hyrule in entirely new ways.
Read our review of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
The latest Zelda-adjacent release is a new entry in the Hyrule Warriors series. Nintendo has heavily emphasized that the story is canon, giving us a deeper look at the Imprisoning War in what is essentially a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom. You get to play as a spread of different characters, including Princess Zelda, who has been sent into Hyrule's past and must work with new allies in the fight against Ganandorf.
Read our review of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
If you're interested in checking out some of the older Zelda titles, the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service has loads of Zelda titles from Nintendo's older consoles. Here is every Zelda game currently available on the service:
*On the GameCube library exclusive to the Switch 2
There has been no news of upcoming mainline Legend of Zelda games. We'll be sure to let you know as soon as it's announced, because it's almost certainly in Nintendo's pipeline. In the meantime, Nintendo has announced other plans with the franchise.
First up, Nintendo has officially teased a new LEGO The Legend of Zelda set as a follow-up to the LEGO Great Deku Tree. The next set seems to be inspired specifically by Ocarina of Time and will be released at some point in 2026, when we're also expecting the first LEGO x Pokemon collab.
In addition to the games themselves, Nintendo has also announced they will be bringing Hyrule to the big screen with a live-action Legend of Zelda movie. In terms of details, the movie's director, Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes), has expressed his desire to make a more "grounded" Zelda adaptation that feels like live-action Miyazaki. The Zelda movie will be releasing in theaters on March 26, 2027 and Nintendo has officially confirmed the actors playing both Link and Zelda.
See the full list of upcoming Switch games for everything coming to the system.
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.
After the critically acclaimed streaming hit Prey and animated anthology Killer of Killers, Dan Trachtenberg’s third directorial entry into the Predator franchise finally introduced the concept of “Predator as protagonist.” Along with the suprise addition of a Weyland Yutani synth played by Elle Fanning, the result ended up being the highest-grossing Predator movie of all time.
If you weren’t able to catch it in theaters or prefer to delight in the hunt from the comfort of your own couch, Predator: Badlands is now available to rent or buy online through digital marketplaces like Prime Video.
The most recent Predator movie arrived on digital almost exactly two months after its initial theatrical release on November 7, 2025. Since then, the film has grossed over $180 million globally. Clint Gage’s review of the movie for IGN highlights Trachtenberg’s fresh take on the franchise: “Dek and Thia are an unexpectedly fun pairing that bring a new energy to the franchise and an altogether different kind of hunt.”
Predator fans had plenty to enjoy last year, starting with Trachtenberg’s Predator: Killer of Killers, an animated anthology IGN's review describes as showing "just how cool a Predator fighting Vikings or ninja can be.” Predator: Badlands also anchors its plot in a connection to the Alien franchise, which had its first TV show last year with Alien: Earth on Hulu.
Is this pointing toward another full crossover? While we haven’t heard any specific updates, I’d be surprised if we don’t see the Predator return in some capacity sooner rather than later.
Predator: Badlands will join the rest of the Predator franchise on Hulu within the next couple months, most likely after the DVD release in mid-February. Hulu itself is also about to have a bit of a funky year as it officially merges into the Disney+ app.
Given how expensive digital releases are nowadays, I think it’s always worth taking a look at the physical media alternatives. A February 17 Blu-ray release date was announced alongside today’s digital release, but as of now, the only Predator: Badlands listing available in the US is the 4K UHD steelbook up for preorder at Walmart. It’s currently running for $44.99, and appears to include a decent spread of bonus features about the artistry behind the film.
Steven Spielberg and Universal Studios would like you to know that Disclosure Day is on the way, and they're letting you know about it with a massive, buildingside mural ad. But rather than setting it up in Hollywood, where these things usually appear, it's popped up in an unusual location: Kansas City, Missouri.
This was brought to my attention a week ago by u/KCLawgirl over on the Kansas City subreddit, and I strolled downtown to look for it today. It's been painted on the Mainmark building, at 1627 Main Street in the downtown Crossroads area. You can get a really good view of it from Walnut Street nearby, if you stand in the park between 16th and 17th, or you can just drive south down Main St.
The precense of such a billboard in Kansas City might not sound extraordinary, especially if you've seen the teaser for Spielberg's upcoming sci-fi thriller, which reveals it is set (at least in part) in Kansas City. But for Kansas City residents (hi), it is pretty weird, even a little cool! We almost never get big film ads like this here. I won't say never ever, because it's possible there have been some I missed, but some research into the recorded history of the Mainmark building suggests that this is a pretty rare thing. Many of the ads over the years have been for cell phone services, with occasional interruptions for local sports-politics such as the push for Kansas City to be a World Cup host city (which it is, this year) and a more recent one advocating for the Royals to move their stadium downtown.
I don't know that Disclosure Day is necessarily going to be a massive hit in Kansas City specifically, but I know that plenty of residents will be watching it like red-tailed hawks for any specific references to our fair city, or any slip-ups ala Ted Lasso referring to the airport as "KCI" and suggesting it might have direct flights to Heathrow (lol). Of course, the Kansas City bit of Ted Lasso Season 3 was filmed locally with more to come in Season 4, but it sounds like Disclosure Day was filmed in New Jersey. Rats.
Disclosure Day lands in theaters on June 12, 2026, and is created and directed by Steven Spielberg, and stars Emily Blunt (Oppenheimer, A Quiet Place), as well as Josh O’Connor (Challengers, The Crown), Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, Kingsman franchise), Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters, The Perfect Couple), and Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Rustin). We think it has something to do with aliens? The trailer is mysterious and deliberately unclear in the interest of building suspense. Per the tagline: "if you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? This summer, the truth belongs to seven billion people.
"We are coming close to... Disclosure Day."
Will aliens descend on Kansas City? Will they land on the Missouri side or the Kansas side? Do they like BBQ? I, and many of my fellow Kansas City nerds, are waiting to find out.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
The process is well and truly underway to finally bring the iconic video game legend Lara Croft to the screen once again. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s upcoming Tomb Raider series for Amazon has officially added a bunch of new talent to the cast, including some huge names.
Alien and Avatar star Sigourney Weaver and Lucius Malfoy actor Jason Isaacs will appear in the series alongside Sophie Turner, who was previously announced to be taking on the role of Croft. Weaver will play Evelyn Wallis, a new character not featured in the original games who is described by the studio as a “mysterious, high-flying woman who is keen to exploit Lara's talents.”
Unlike Weaver, Isaacs will play a character who is canon to the franchise: Croft’s uncle, Atlas DeMornay. Two other canon roles have been cast: Bill Paterson (Lord Lyman Beesbury in House of the Dragon) will play Winston, the Croft family’s longtime butler, while Martin Bobb-Semple takes on the role of Zip, Croft’s right-hand tech support and close friend.
Additionally, Jack Bannon, John Heffernan, Celia Imrie, Patterson Joseph, Sasha Luss, August Wittgenstein, and Juliette Motamed (who is excellent in the Peacock series We Are Lady Parts, by the way) have joined the cast in various roles that have been created specifically for the series, which will “reinvent the franchise on a massive scale” and will interconnect “live-action television series and video games into a unified storytelling universe.”
“Tomb Raider boasts a plethora of iconic characters,” Waller-Bridge explained in a statement. “I am thrilled to have been able to bring some personal and fan favourites to the screen while also introducing a few new rascals of our own to the mix. This cast is beyond my wildest dreams!”
Peter Friedlander, the head of Amazon MGM Studios, expressed a similar sentiment. “Tomb Raider has always been defined by bold storytelling and unforgettable characters, and these new cast members bring incredible depth and gravitas to the series. With talents like Sigourney Weaver and Jason Isaacs joining the ensemble, we’re elevating this world in exciting new ways, and can’t wait for our global Prime Video audience to experience this next chapter of Tomb Raider.”
The following cast are confirmed in canon roles from the Tomb Raider video game franchise:
The following cast are confirmed for roles to the Tomb Raider universe:
The upcoming series is bound to be interesting at the very least, especially with Turner and Waller-Bridge (as well as co-showrunner Chad Hodge) at the helm — but it looks as though it will be a while before we have a release date, as the series was reported back in September to start filming this month.
Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images For Disney.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
With the holidays in the rearview, January is a great time to pick up some new movies to carry you through the remaining winter months ahead. Thankfully, there have been some great deals popping up that are worth jumping on, including discounts on Arrow Video's recent releases of the TMNT Trilogy, The Mask, and Spawn in 4K at Amazon.
Spawn's 4K release has received the biggest discount of the bunch, dropping a massive 50% to $24.99, while both The Mask and the TMNT Trilogy have received 14% discounts that have dropped their prices to $29.99 and $49.99, respectively. These may not stay on sale for very long, so be quick to grab your favorites below.
In addition to these excellent deals, Amazon is also running a huge sale on 4K UHD movies that gets you three movies for $33. You can even keep adding more eligibile movies to your cart and you'll get them all for $11 apiece.
For Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fans, this trilogy set also comes with plenty of bonus features alongside a few extras, including a collector’s booklet and reversible sleeves. If you're curious what else you'll get to dig into with this set, our TMNT Trilogy buying guide features the full list of everything it comes with.
Similar to Spawn, The Mask's 4K release is also filled with bonus features, including new interviews, deleted scenes, and so much more. To see a full list of what bonus features and goodies come with this release, our buying guide for The Mask can help you out.
Alongside its stellar discount, this 4K UHD release of Spawn is stacked with excellent bonus features for fans to check out. These range from archival featurettes to interviews, but if you're curious to see a breakdown of everything that's included with this 4K, have a look at our buying guide for Spawn to see the full list.
If you're on the hunt for even more movies or shows to add to your collection for 2026, it's worth having a look at our roundup of upcoming 4K UHD and Blu-ray release dates. With so many exciting releases coming up, it's worth it to plan ahead for the ones you definitely want to add to your library.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.
Not only can Sadie Sink not talk about Spider-Man: Brand New Day, she can’t even say who she’s playing, something she has described as “torture.”
The Stranger Things star has been seen filming opposite Tom Holland, still with her natural red hair — something that has fuelled fan speculation that she's playing a familiar redheaded character from the Marvel comics.
Last month, an alleged look at Spider-Man: Brand New Day appeared online, offering a clue to Sadie Sink's mystery character. The leaked Spider-Man trailer was of extremely low quality, but appeared to show Sadie Sink's character threatening Peter Parker — and claiming to know his secret identity as Spider-Man.
Sink's role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day has been kept firmly under wraps by Sony since her casting was announced, while a recent on-set sighting showed the Stranger Things star bundled up in an apparent bid to hide her costume.
Fan speculation on who Sink might be playing has been rife, with everyone from the X-Men's Jean Grey to Mayday Parker up for grabs. But a persistent rumor has pointed to Sink playing shapeshifting multiversal villain Shathra. "You're a mess, Spider-Man," Sink's character says in the leaked trailer. "Don't get in my way. Otherwise, it won't just be your friends who don't remember who Peter Parker is."
Could this be a double bluff? Sony and Marvel's Spider-Man movies have a habit of surprising audiences with characters' true identities (MJ and Mysterio, to name two). And with Sink reportedly returning for 2027's climactic Avengers: Secret Wars, has she really just been cast as this film's villain?
Speaking on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Sink was asked what it’s like not being able to talk about her role on the hotly-anticipated sequel.
“It's torture!” she replied. “And there's so much speculation, too. I feel like there's a new character every week.”
Sink did confirm that she has talked about what she’s up to family members, before revealing that she read about her casting in Spider-Man online before she was even asked to appear in the movie.
“I found out through online theories,” she said. “Like, before I got cast in Spider-Man, like, there was speculation online that said, ‘Sadie Sink is going to be in the new Spider-Man. I was like, ‘Hmm? I am?’ And then sure enough, like two days later, they asked me to do it.
“So yeah, those theories are sometimes… there's sometimes some truth to it.”
Sink is fresh from starring in the much-discussed Stranger Things finale, and the actress has offered her interpretation of the ending and Eleven’s fate. Spider-Man: Brand New Day launches this summer.
Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
Vanran, a fast-paced soulslike action game with Shadow of the Colossus-sized boss battles, is getting a playable demo later this month. Check out the new trailer above, and the reveal trailer below.
If this is your first time hearing about Vanran, it's an indie-developed, faster-paced-than-usual soulslike that features random dungeons, and whose developers at Becuzus describe its fantasy world as such: "Vanran is a dark fantasy action RPG where a fallen human slave wields a sealed blade to spark rebellion. Players walk a brutal path toward freedom in a world of despair."
A playable demo will be available on Steam from January 23-30, and you can wishlist it on Steam if you're interested.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN's executive editor of previews and host of both IGN's weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He's a North Jersey guy, so it's "Taylor ham," not "pork roll." Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
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