It’s been four years since Nintendo brought the first batch of Nintendo 64 games to its Nintendo Switch Online service, now redubbed Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Classics. For someone who started his games media career covering N64 games, this modern take on Nintendo’s legendary Virtual Console era was a very welcome addition. I ended up playing through a few of the games over the months that followed and was surprised how well some of them aged (special shoutout to Rare’s Banjo games)!
It’s not all sunshine, of course. The games aren’t running natively and may not feel as snappy as you remember them. Some early emulation challenges, like Ocarina of Time’s fog rendering, were addressed pretty quickly, even if some others still linger (F-Zero X is still not as we remember it). And while there are many all-time classics to be found in the emulated library, I would’ve honestly expected a bigger lineup by now with a few more first-party hits as well as some third-party gems that have firmly entered the forgotten gems realm. Which means, Nintendo Classics is a convenient and cost-effective solution to relive the N64 age, but not a perfect one.
Analogue 3D: Nintendo 64's Digital Offspring
Enter the Analogue 3D, a modern – but costly – take on the Nintendo 64 hardware. See Seth’s review for more:
If you’re not familiar with the company, it’s known for making extremely capable high-end solutions to play classic games on modern screens, such as the Analogue Duo (PC Engine/TurboGrafx), the Super NT (SNES), Mega NT ( Genesis/Mega Drive), the Analogue Pocket (all Game Boy systems – with adapters for Game Gear, NGPC, Lynx, and more), and now, the $270 Analogue 3D, capable of bringing both NTSC and PAL games to 4K screens, lag-free, and with additional bells and whistles, like CRT-style display options, overclocking, and VFR. It’s not a replacement for the Switch consoles’ ability to emulate Nintendo 64 on the go, but for purists who have or are willing to build a sizable N64 cartridge collection and want the games to feel and look as good (or better) as they remember, it’s surely the best way to play them on modern screens.
I preordered one day one, mostly because I anticipated some major N64 games that I still own to never come to the Switch service – though I’ll concede that Nintendo has surprised me before. For starters, I did not have the Japan-only Custom Robo and Custom Robo V2 on my Switch Online bingo card. Perhaps there’s more where that came from?
People interested in game preservation usually know their way around a classic gaming library and if you’re part of the Analogue 3D club, you likely have some N64 carts at home already. But as someone who reviewed Nintendo 64 games for a living some three decades ago, I humbly present this non-exhaustive list of personal favorites that are worth going back to and AREN’T yet – and in some cases never will be – on Nintendo’s service.
10 Nintendo 64 Must-Plays
Let’s kick it off with 10 must-plays, in alphabetical order. I've included IGN's Top 25 N64 games at the bottom of this article -- but these picks and other picks in this column are specifically games you can't get yet play on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
Beetle Adventure Racing
I wrote a whole column about this one as well, but EA’s Battle Adventure Racing is more than just a – now – obscure entry in the Need for Speed series. It’s a genuinely good racer in which the hunt for its imaginative shortcuts is as entertaining as the actual racing action. Given that the VW Beetle car license comes with strings attached (VW isn’t making Beetles anymore and may not be motivated to rubberstamp an emulated re-release), the Analogue 3D is surely the best way to play it today!
Read my column, Raising the BAR, for more on the history of Beetle Adventure Racing -- and its canceled sequel.
Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Conker’s Bad Fur Day didn’t age as well as Rare’s best platformers, Banjo Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie, partially because of its dated humor and references, but it’s still a great time. I actually played the original saccharine Conker’s game before it was retooled into the M-rated adventure we all know and love today, and historic significance of that “design 180” aside, there still isn’t anything as outrageously funny as the Great Mighty Poo boss battle. Even without the context of Conker’s roots. Perhaps replaying it will finally purge the Ugas’ chant from my brain, too. Note also that the Conker: Live and Reloaded remake is playable on modern Xbox consoles via backwards compatibility.
Diddy Kong Racing
It’s very strange Nintendo added Rare’s much worse Jet Force Gemini to Nintendo Switch Online before adding Diddy Kong Racing, but perhaps the combination of Microsoft-owned game code with Nintendo characters made it a much trickier title to negotiate a re-release contract for. Or maybe it’s still coming. Regardless, Diddy Kong Racing merged the stylings of Mario Kart and Mario 64 into a racing game with multiple vehicle types and an explorable overworld hub – decades before Mario Kart World. The Analogue 3D even smoothes out some of DKR’s framerate issues thanks to its ability to overclock. Given how long it takes Nintendo to make a new Mario Kart, I’m still hoping we’ll eventually get a true remake or a sequel – but lest you want to risk waiting until you approach Cranky Kong’s age you may want to just revisit the original.
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon
Bonus Pick: Goemon's Great Adventure
Konami’s been issuing classic game collections left and right, which is why we haven’t seen some of its best classics, like the Castlevania GBA games, on Nintendo's service. Goemon games may be more likely additions, since Konami hasn’t revisited them in a long time, but the fact that the only Mystical Ninja game playable on modern hardware today is the obscure arcade original should tell you something. Though they’re not as good as Goemon’s best outings on SNES, Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon is a surprisingly daring Ocarina of Time-style 3D action adventure – and it came out before Nintendo’s mega hit. Plus, with overclocking, it’s actually much more playable than ever. Great Adventure, on the other hand, is a return to the 2D side-scrolling co-op action that may not be as original, but aged much better. Both are still fun to play.
I wrote an entire column about this true gem of strategy RPG and its predecessor, but at the risk of repeating myself: Ogre Battle 64 still rocks. Unfortunately, it’s also exceedingly rare and will cost more than a hundred bucks (without box or manual). If you don’t own it yet, always keep a weather eye out for a copy at the next neighborhood garage sale. See: Forgotten Gems: The Legendary Ogre Battle for more.
Rocket: Robot on Wheels
You’ve probably never heard of Rocket, but its developer’s pedigree has improved a thousand fold since its debut back in 1999. I’ve always had a soft sport for developer Sucker Punch’s inaugural game, but those curious what the people behind Ghost of Yotei, Infamous, and Sly Cooper did before they were famous will find a slower-paced, physics-based puzzle platformer featuring a long-forgotten unicycle robot mascot. Given that Sony owns Sucker Punch and publisher Ubisoft likely let the license lapse, here’s probably your one chance to play it again or for the first time. Criminally underplayed when it first came out, Rocket is worth another look.
Space Station Silicon Valley
I’m convinced that DMA’s Space Station Silicon Valley will eventually join the Nintendo Classics lineup – after all, both its publisher, Take Two, and the developer – known now as Rockstar – are still alive and well. But until then, this obscure platform puzzle game is best played on original N64 hardware or the Analogue 3D. Silicon Valley has you switch between a variety of robotic animals to solve increasingly complicated puzzles. It’s odd, funny, and endlessly creative.
Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
Bonus Pick: Star Wars: Battle for Naboo
It’s surprising this graphical showcase hasn’t returned to a Nintendo platform given that you can buy the PC port for a few bucks on Steam. Until it does, you could do worse than play the Expansion Pak-enhanced shooter on an Analogue 3D or original hardware today. A technical achievement for its time, Rogue Squadron is still a very playable and fun experience today. I was actually surprised how good it looks compared to pretty much every other N64 game when I plugged it into my Analogue 3D. The Analogue, of course, also supports the high resolution display mode that requires the 4MB Expansion Pak on original hardware. Bonus: try Star Wars: Episode I Battle for Naboo. It may not have the benefit of the more memorable battles from the original trilogy, but it’s a quality shooter in its own right.
Super Smash Bros.
Yes, I know. It’s insane the original Smash Bros. has not been released on Nintendo 64 Classics. Whatever the reasons, it still feels great and is a wonderful reminder as to how even the biggest hits started small. It’s the weakest game in the series with its limited roster of just 12 characters, but the genius of the series is already on full display here.
WWF No Mercy
Bonus Picks: WWF Wrestlemania 2000, WCW/NWO: Revenge, WCW vs. NWO: World Tour
I’m not a wrestling guy, but even I could tell that developer Aki’s run of Nintendo 64 wrestlers was something special. WWF No Mercy was always our internal top pick at IGN64 (we played it for many late, late hours), but any of the four Aki-made games are still worth playing. And given the complications with character and league licenses, the chances of them ever coming to Nintendo’s service are very slim.
Those 10 picks should be enough to get you started.
Even More N64 Picks for Your Analogue 3D
And here are a few more games worth checking out, based either on gameplay quality or historical significance, as noted:
Bakuretsu Muteki Bangai-O
Inferior to the Dreamcast version, but still a great example of what made Treasure’s games such rare delights, Bangai-O has you steer a tiny flying mech through a maze filled with enemies and relentlessly blast the opposition. Only released in Japan in limited numbers, it’s so ridiculously expensive to buy for N64, it would be really nice to get a digital rerelease.
BattleTanx and BattleTanx: Global Assault
Nintendo 64 was the multiplayer console of the ‘90s – but some of us kept playing four-player split-screen years afterwards, too. Stemming from failed console-maker 3DO, the two BattleTanx games were lesser known, but managed to serve up such addictive tank PVP gameplay, we ended up playing it almost as much as GoldenEye. Sadly, 3DO went under before they managed to pull off a hat trick. Prism Entertainment snapped up the license and maintains the trademarks for BattleTanx, but hasn’t done anything with them. Might as well grab the carts for cheap at a garage sale.
Body Harvest
Body Harvest is not a great game – and its visuals definitely didn’t age well. But it’s an experiment so ahead of its time, it deserves to be played again. From the makers of Grand Theft Auto comes a fully polygonal alien invasion action adventure that lets you command any vehicle you see. If you’re intrigued, please see my column for more: Body Harvest: The Game Nintendo Walked Away From. Killer soundtrack, too.
Bomberman X4
Nintendo 64 is home to four Bomberman games. Let me break them all down so you know which one's which. The first, Bomberman 64, known as Baku Bomberman in Japan, is notable mostly for bringing Bomberman into polygonal 3D. It’s not as snappy as its 2D predecessors, but it’s still fun to revisit. It was followed by the single-player Bomberman Hero. The lack of multiplayer was confounding and the action is decent enough, but it's at the bottom of the Bomberman list for me. It was followed by Bomberman 64: Second Attack. This underrated sequel to the inaugural 64 outing ffeatures more multiplayer options, including two-player co-op and a four-player splitscreen mode. Not all of them hit, but it’s still a quality game to revisit.
Now, things get confusing. There’s also: Bomberman 64.
No, you’re not seeing double. This Racjin-developed game takes everything back to 2D. Which much better results. Only released in Japan, it’s a shame the real Bomberman 64 from the makers of Snowbo Kids is more obscure than the inferior earlier title.
Castlevania: Legacy Of Darkness
Konami tried really hard – and struggled – to bring all its classic 2D series into the third dimension. It gave up on Contra 64 outright and canceled the project, while Goemon fared slightly better and saw two N64 releases, covered above. But you have to laud Konami for not giving up. Legacy of Darkness is basically a redo of Castlevania [64]. Its foggy, blurry visuals won’t dazzle you, but it’s a flawed and forgotten gem worth remembering. I still love that oversized “Home Depot Skeleton” battle.
Cruis’n USA and Cruis’n World
Take a deep breath. I don’t love these games. Actually, I don’t even like these games. I had some fun with Cruis’n USA in the arcades, but only when there weren’t better racers around to play – which was rare, because contemporaries like Daytona USA were always near. The N64 version isn’t a great conversion, but I know many older arcade fans are nostalgic for both Cruis’n games, so it feels right to include them with a special callout.. I do appreciate Williams/Midway's early attempts to recreate arcade game on Nintendo 64 -- a key reason why Nintendo of America included them in their much-publicized Dream Team.
Donkey Kong 64
While I’m making you angry, I have very mixed feelings about DK 64 as well. The two Banjo games are definitely superior in every way, which is no doubt why both were prioritized for release on Switch. But for all the collection bloat, Donkey Kong 64 still has some memorable moments -- and music -- that make it worth revisiting. Plus, that yellow cartridge looks mighty good in either the white or the black Analogue 3D. Overclocking helps with its erratic framerate, but the drop in quality from Banjo-Kazooie is palpable when you play them back to back. I know, I know, many of you love it.
Doubutsu no Mori (Animal Crossing)
Animal Crossing on GameCube was actually a port of Doubutsu no Mori, a Nintendo 64 “communication game” that predates it by a full year. You’ll have to be able to read Japanese kana to fully enjoy it – but also note that you’ll mostly be playing the same game that later came to GameCube as Animal Crossing and Doubutsu no Mori+.
San Francisco Rush and Rush 2049
The original arcade conversion was surprisingly competent, but the Nintendo 64 version of its sequel, Rush 2049, manages the rare feat of being better than the arcade original. The key to its success was the ability to control the vehicles while airborne, which made all the difference for this version’s battle and stunt modes. “Rush… It’s DANGEROUS.”
Gauntlet Legends
Atari was intent on reinventing each one of its arcade classics in 3D for the new millennium, and Gauntlet Legends turned out to be one of the few that made it and left an impression. Ironically, its blocky polygonal graphics didn’t age as well as the OG’s top-down sprites, but I remember having a plenty of fun playing four-player in both the arcades and at home on N64.
Hybrid Heaven
It’s not as good as you remember it to be, but it remains a really unique attempt at marrying Metal Gear-style action with classic roleplaying gameplay. Ultimately, the world you explore is just not interesting enough to keep most player’s attention, but it’s historically interesting as the only sci-fi action RPG from Konami’s Osaka team and because it featured a widescreen mode way back in 1999. Hybrid Heaven supported the physical Expansion Pak for higher resolution output on N64 hardware, which the Analogue 3D supports virtually as well. For all its faults, Hybrid Heaven remains a cool experimental game that unfortunately ended up a mere footnote in Konami console game history.
Mickey’s Speedway USA
I’m no fan of Mickey’s Speedway USA – to me, it’s the game where Rare’s considerable design chops fell victim to having to color in the lines of a high-profile license. But it’s unlikely we’ll ever see this Disney take on Mario Kart (with way too wide tracks) re-released, so snap it up if you encounter it in the wild. The marriage of Nintendo, Rare, and Disney seemed like the start of a beautiful friendship and Speedway USA is more of a dead end -- but it's still cool to see Rare try something very "American", even if its NASCAR with mice and dogs didn't quite work out.
Micro Machines 64 Turbo
Here’s a surprisingly good racing game, on the other hand. Unfairly overlooked, Micro Machines 64 Turbo is a top-down multiplayer racer that offers up super-fun four player action with 32 different vehicle types – cars, tanks, boats, helicopters – across 48 different tracks. It even features an eight-player mode via what it calls “pad share” (yes, it’s as awkward as it sounds, but you have to appreciate the total commitment to create the ultimate party game).
Mischief Makers
Mischief Makers bucked the trend of making every game 3D on N64 and it’s still good for some fast and fluid action from storied developer Treasure. It’s not as good as Treasure’s own Gunstar Heroes for Genesis, but hey, not many games let you play as a brawling robot maid. We haven't gotten a new Treasure game since 2014, so even its lesser efforts are worth digging up.
Mission: Impossible
The movie-licensed Mission: Impossible may not be a great game, but it's worth adding to your physical cart collection as something that will likely never see a re-release on any platform due to licensing issues and the fact that it's a better museum piece than a video game. Mission: Impossible was a hugely ambitious game development project that didn’t quite make it to the desired finish line. It was pared down and became considerably less ambitious to get it out the door, but some of the great ideas are still to be found in what could’ve been a Hitman game before there were Hitman games.
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Though not as good as the Dreamcast version, Rayman 2: The Great Escape on Nintendo 64 is an excellent platformer that shows the limbless hero could hang with Mario and Banjo (unlike Ubi’s very similar 3D platformer attempt that year, Tonic Trouble). Rayman’s 2D outings have aged better, but The Great Escape is still surprisingly good.
Snowboard Kids 1 and 2
Nintendo 64’s four controller ports and early success with Mario Kart 64 multiplayer inspired some developers to experiment with “Mario Kart, but with…” games. With Snowboard Kids, Osaka-based Racjin found the winning formula. Never as good as Mario Kart – or 1080, for that matter – both Snowbo Kids games do conjure up plenty of happy memories of playing against friends.
Star Fox Adventures
Originally conceived as an original project called Dinosaur Planet, Nintendo had Rare add Star Fox characters and flight sequences to turn it into the only non-shooter spin-off in the franchise. Parts of it are much better than you remember. Like a Legend of Zelda with foxes. But other parts – like the writing, pacing, or Rare’s obsession with nonsense McGuffin collectoritis – are eyerollingly bad. “Yesssss, you found a BafomDad!” Still, I have a soft spot for it and break it out ever so often.
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
I know there are plenty of N64 fans who would put this in their top 10 based on the strength of its excellent Hoth level. Visually, it was way ahead of its time. But unfortunately, most of the game is marred by sluggish and unbalanced first-person shooter sections and a repetitive, highly compressed mono soundtrack. It’s an interesting failure that has its fans. Worth playing just for the Snowspeeder bits and the fuzzy memories.
Top Gear and Friends
I wrote about the original Top Gear on SNES in a previous installment of this column, but N64 is a home to a slew of Top Gear titles, all quite different from each other. There’s Top Gear Rally, Top Gear Rally 2, Top Gear Overdrive, and Top Gear Hyperbike. The first one is still arguably the best in the bunch – Boss Game Studios, how you’re missed! Top Gear Rally and the Boss-developed street racing successor World Drive Championship showed what was graphically possible on Nintendo 64, while the Saffire-developed Top Gear Rally 2 added equipment failure to the mix for a more authentic endurance racing experience. Top Gear Overdrive, finally, is an obscure attempt at challenging Beetle Adventure Racing – and it’s quite competent. It’s from Snowblind Studios, the people behind Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance. That same team also made Top Gear Hyperbike – a decent racer, but not in the same league as Excitebike 64.
Tetrisphere, The New Tetris, Tetris 64, and Magical Tetris Challenge
Nintendo 64 was home to many quality puzzle games, some of which have already been released on Nintendo Switch. But there’s a quadrilogy of Tetris games that never got there that’s still worth playing. The visually-exciting but also confusing Tetrisphere and the more traditional The New Tetris are mostly notable for their kicking soundtrack (the same composer scored both), while the Japan-only Tetris 64 mixed things up significantly with new block sizes and different modes (and a bio sensor you can clamp to your ear). Capcom’s quality attempt, Magical Tetris Challenge, combines two complicated licenses – Disney and Tetris – and thus will never be seen again outside its limited console run (and the arcade original it’s based on).
There's Even More
How’s that for a list to keep you busy? No, they're not all great -- but they're all interesting games that are surely worth another look. There’s plenty more, of course, from the oddball liquid puzzler Wetrix, to WipEout 64, platformers Chameleon Twist and Glover, rally racer MRC, and some quality sports games like NFL Blitz, ISS ‘98, and NBA Courtside. Bored with GoldenEye? Eurocom’s The World is Not Enough isn’t bad. Plus, there are the excellent (but widely available) Worms Armageddon, Spider-Man, Vigilante 8, and some fun and goofy ports of StarCraft 64, Command & Conquer, Quake, Quake II, Rainbow Six, and Duke Nukem to keep you busy. And yes, I know about Quest 64 and the Army Men games – more power to you if you enjoy them – but they’re not on my Christmas List.
Do you have any favorite Nintendo 64 games that I didn’t mention? Share your recommendations with others – and let me know if you’ve gotten your hands on an Analogue 3D and what your first impressions are.
Peer Schneider heads up Game Help & Tools across IGN, Maxroll, Map Genie, Eurogamer, RockPaperShotgun, and VG247 and has played every single game named in this article. Likely before you were born (no offense).
Look, you might already own these movies. You might've see them a million times. But, can I interest you in The Dark Knight trilogy once more, now in 4K UHD and featuring HDR for "deeper, more lifelike visuals?" Christopher Nolan's iconic Batman trilogy is on sale for a near-low price of $29 during Amazon's Black Friday sale.
The Dark Knight Trilogy 4K UHD for $29
The Dark Knight Trilogy features three incredible films: 2005's Batman Begins, 2008's masterpiece The Dark Knight, and 2012's The Dark Knight Rises. Christian Bale's performance as Batman is one of the best the franchise has ever seen in live action, and Heath Ledger's legendary depection of The Joker set the benchmark for what a comic book villain can be.
While this isn't as fancy as the Amazon-exclusive steelbook set that was recently released, it's a great package that brings all three movies into the modern era with improved visuals that pop on 4K TVs all for under $30.
Black Friday is also historically the best time to pick up a new TV, so if you're looking to upgrade your current set to something larger or with a better picture (or both), check out our Black Friday TV shopping guide for tips on what to look for and where.
Black Friday sales are just beginning, including early sales from Amazon and Best Buy, so be sure to follow along all week as we round up the best deals this shopping season.
Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering all things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.
Calling all fans of blue – PS5's latest special edition DualSense, Icon Blue, is already discounted during Playstation's Black Friday sale. Despite releasing only a month ago, the Walmart-exclusive color is on sale for $64, which is actually cheaper than a standard DualSense controller. But, don't wait too long as this controller is likely to sell out quickly at this price.
Save $20 Off Icon Blue DualSense at Walmart
This new controller is very blue, with everything from the joysticks, buttons, triggers, and grips all featuring bold and vibrant shades of blue. The touchpad even features glossy blue icons representing the PlayStation symbols.
In the recent PlayStation blog post, Leo Cardoso from the Color, Material and Finish design team said the new DualSense is "inspired by PlayStation’s iconic shades of blue, this design captures the feeling of anticipation and wonder every time you pick up the controller. As a nod to our origins, we added Katakana characters on the back that spell our name the Japanese way: Pureisutēshon."
Sony is no stranger to releasing unique colors of its DualSense controller, but since this is labeled as a "Special Edition," it's not likely to stick around for long. I rarely purchase special edition controllers, but this one has me very tempted.
Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering all things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.
Target is one of the best places to buy LEGO sets in general, but sometimes it's also the only place to buy them at a discount. One such set is the LEGO Wreath-Making Kit, which is currently discounted to $87.99 as part of a three-day sale. This $12 price cut may not seem significant, but seeing as it is completely sold out at Amazon right now, it's definitely worth picking up at this price while you still can ahead of the holidays.
LEGO Wreath-Making Kit Sale at Target
LEGO actually has a ton of really cool Christmas sets available, but not very many of them are getting discounts right now. There was a LEGO Christmas Tree set that went on sale a couple of weeks ago that was incredibly popular, but that price drop didn't last long before jumping back up to full price. This latest deal on the LEGO Wreath-Making Kit deal appears to be even more popular than that seeing as it has already sold out at Amazon at this price.
The wreath itself is made up of a whopping 1,194 pieces, which has earned it an 18+ age rating. As part of LEGO's Botanical line of sets, each of the pieces are made to look like actual fir tree foliage. The wreath is comprised of a ton of little leaves, colorful berries, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and pine cones. It has all the makings of a great wreath, but without the actual mess and smell of a real wreath. You can choose to hang it on your door or place it on a wall as a nice Christmas decoration ahead of the 2025 holiday season.
According to Target's sale page, this discount will only last through Sunday November 23. Coincidentally, that's also when the official Target Black Friday sale is set to begin. The full Target Black Friday ad has been released and you can already check out what upcoming LEGO discounts will be arriving next week.
More LEGO Christmas Sets
If you're looking for more LEGO Christmas options, there's plenty more to choose from – though not at a discount. The LEGO Poinsettia is a great choice if you like the Wreat-Making kit, but there's also more fun sets like the Star Wars Gingerbread AT-AT that just came out this year.
Black Friday is usually the best time of the year to pick up Apple products, as that tends to be when they hit their lowest-ever prices. Apple's official Black Friday sale begins November 28 and includes up to $250 in gift cards with select products, which has been the case for many years now. However, Amazon is actually running better deals than Apple on its products, including a new lowest-ever price for AirPods 4 (both the Active Noise Cancellation and standard models). The best part? You can get the sale price right now. Check out the deals below.
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation for $99.99
Right now, you can pick up the AirPods 4 (with Active Noise Cancellation) for $99, and the standard AirPods 4 for $79. While many people will likely be happy with the cheaper option, I urge you to consider spending the extra $20 for the better pair, as the difference in sound quality between the two is night and day.
AirPods 4 features a complete redesign of Apple's iconic wireless earbuds, including a new shape that fits better in your ears, improved audio quality, up to 30 hours of total listening time, and better phone calls that isolate your voice for added clarity.
But, the biggest jump is the introduction of a second AirPods 4 model with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). While this feature has traditionally been reserved for the AirPods Pro models, it's a welcome addition for the base AirPods as it helps eliminate distracting external noise while listening to music, podcasts, or talking on the phone. This model also includes a wireless charging-capable case as an added bonus.
Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering all things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.
If you're not familiar with the adorable Astro Bot yet, there’s someone we’d like you to meet. The star of a PlayStation VR minigame and the PS5 pack-in has finally got his own full-length, non-VR adventure (although Rescue Mission is well worth playing). It’s one of the best platformers on Sony’s newest console. If you’ve not picked it up yet, you can save 33% during Amazon's Black Friday sale.
Astro Bot Might Be The Best Way To Spend $40 On PS5
Thanks to Amazon’s early-bird Black Friday deals, the game is now $39.97, and it’s well worth a look at that price. It's been one of the most popular PS5 game deals for Black Friday so far.
The 2024 adventure sees Astro’s ship torn asunder by a nefarious alien, and he needs to work across multiple galaxies to bring all the pieces back together and recruit his pals.
What could have become a hollow, soulless brand fiesta of navigating worlds and finding cute Bot versions of iconic PlayStation (and third-party) characters feels like the best celebration of the medium since Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as you navigate through worlds inspired by the likes of God of War, Ape Escape, Uncharted, and more.
As reviewer Simon Cardy said, “A fantastically inventive platformer in its own right, Astro Bot is particularly special for anyone with a place in their heart for PlayStation.” He awarded it a 9 out of 10. It also got last year's Game Awards Game of the Year award.
While the game is accessible for just about anyone whether they’re a platforming expert or relative novice, developer Asobi Team has added additional time trial modes for free since launch that are particularly challenging – but add even more gaming icons as their reward.
The Astro Bot DualSense Controller is also on sale
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
One of my favorite family holiday traditions is gathering around a good jigsaw puzzle. It's one of the few activities that draws in people of all ages to work on the same activity. Every year we break out a new puzzle and just slowly work on it throughout the day together. It's relaxing, fun, and you end up with a feeling of accomplishment when you finally place that last piece. It's my turn to bring a puzzle to the family gathering this year, and luckily, Amazon is discounting a ton of puzzles from Ravensburger right now.
Ravensburger is one of the best jigsaw puzzle brands available and one of the few I always look to buy when there's a sale. The collection of Christmas-themed puzzles I've highlighted below are especially good for the holidays, but you can check out the full sale for more options.
Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzle Sale at Amazon Today
Almost all of the puzzles in this sale are considered Amazon Lightning deals. That means there is a limit to how much stock is available at the discount listed for each item. So the more popular a puzzle is, the more likely it is to have the discount fully claimed before time runs out on the sale. After covering these sales a few times, however, I've found that the "limit" on the discount is only ever reached on the most popular puzzles. And since these discounts are all part of Amazon's official Black Friday sale, it's likely that the deals will last beyond the limit if people are buying enough of them.
Tips for Buying Jigsaw Puzzles
Buying any size puzzle is a commitment. It's one that you can easily just put on a shelf and forget about, but actually starting and finishing it takes time. Unless you are a world champion puzzler, it's going to take you more than one day to put one together unless it's less than 100 pieces or you have many people helping you out.
Make sure you have enough space
The first thing you should consider before buying a puzzle is whether or not you have a place to put it together. Given that many popular puzzles are 500-1,000 pieces, it can be hard to keep track of all of them at any given time. You'll need ample space to both sort through and organize pieces and be able to leave or store it and come back to it later. If you don't already have a table that is ideal for puzzling, there are quite a few puzzle boards and tables you can buy to remedy that. There are also jigsaw puzzle mats to roll up your puzzle and put it away without undoing all of your progress. All of these make for great puzzle gifts and I'd highly recommend them to any puzzle fanatic.
Make sure you actually like the puzzle's image
Perhaps the more obvious tip for buying any sort of puzzle is to make sure you actually like the image you're putting together before you make a purchase. A lot of puzzles feature a ton of tiny intricate details to keep you interested as you put it together, but some feature large swaths of single colors that could get tedious to put together. If you're already investing a bunch of your time into a puzzle, pick something that you'll be happy to see when finished, even for just a moment in time.
Invest in some puzzle glue
While most people put together puzzles just for the enjoyment of it all, it can also be fun to display the finished product once you're done. This is especially true if the puzzle is depicting a work of art, rather than just a photograph. It is, after all, a cardboard poster that you've put together yourself. If you plan on displaying your puzzle after you finish, you'll want to get yourself some puzzle glue to ensure the finished product actually stays together when you frame it.
Playstation's Black Friday sale is now live, offering sweet deals like $100 off PS5 consoles, savings on dozens of games, and much more. It's rare that Sony discounts its limited edition DualSense controllers, but they are all currently $20 off as part of this sale, including the newly updated Astro Bot DualSense, which now features a joyful expression on the touchpad.
If you've been waiting to replace one of your aging DualSense controllers, looking to add another limited edition to your collection, or just can't get enough of that adorable little Astro Bot, then you won't want to miss out on this deal.
Like many of PlayStation's limited edition DualSense controllers, the Astro Bot DualSense is based on one of its many franchises, specifically 2024's Game of the Year, Astro Bot. The controller features a white and blue trim that perfectly matches the Dual Speeder in-game, as well as a smiling set of eyes on the touchpad.
The Joyful limited edition is actually a slightly updated version of the original controller, which released at the end of October, with the only difference being Astro Bot's cheery expression on the touchpad, as opposed to the original's circular eyes.
If you haven't played Astro Bot yet (and seriously, why not?), it's currently on sale for $39 as part of the PlayStation Black Friday sale. This is a must-play for fans of mascot platformers and especially for fans of PlayStation, as there are countless references to the company's 30-plus-year history littered throughout the game that will have you looking as cheerful as this matching controller.
We gave Astro Bot a glowing 9/10 review, with our reviewer saying, "Team Asobi has crafted a mascot platformer that goes near enough toe-to-toe with Nintendo's best efforts, and that's about as high a compliment as I can give it."
Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering all things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.
It took a long time to get the next chapter of Peter Parker’s journey after that Venom tease at the end of the first game, but we finally got here. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 more than lives up to the first game and the Miles Morales-focused PS5 launch title. And, now that its been out for two years or so, we’re starting to see more discounts on the city-spanning adventure. As part of Amazon’s Black Friday deals, the game is down to $29.99 – that’s better than half price.
That price is thanks to Amazon jumping the gun on its Black Friday deals, meaning you can snap up the AAA adventure for under $30.
As for the game itself, it tells the story of both Peter and Miles this time around, with both playing key roles. It’s a great way to see more of Spider-Man’s rogues gallery than would fit in the first game, but the biggest threat is Kraven who comes to New York to hunt our two Spider-Men.
It ratchets everything great about the first game up a notch, and even lets you switch between both characters effortlessly in the open world thanks to the PS5’s SSD loading speeds.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
Black Friday is officially almost here, but the deals have already started. We've rounded up the best deals for Saturday, November 22, below, so don't miss out on these limited-time offers.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach for $49.99
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is still my favorite game of 2025, featuring a vast world to explore, rich characters and narrative, and an astounding score. Ahead of Black Friday, you can score DS2 for $49.99 and embark across Mexico and Australia yourself. If you've been holding out on this game, today is a great time to pick up a copy and experience the latest from Hideo Kojima.
The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (4K) for $49.49
The Lord of the Rings trilogy might just be the greatest film trilogy of all time. Peter Jackson's larger-than-life trilogy is still as masterful to watch today as it was two decades ago. For a limited time, you can score a 4K copy of all three movies for under $50. This set includes both the theatrical and extended editions.
PlayStation 5 Digital Edition for $399.99
The PS5 Digital Edition is $399 right now at Amazon, which is $100 off its normal price. Consoles are always an excellent gift during the holiday season, and the PS5 is no exception. Regarding exclusives for PS5, 2025 saw the release of Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, Lost Soul Aside, and more.
Bleach Rebirth of Souls for $19.99
Bleach Rebirth of Souls was the first major Bleach game release in many years, with Bandai Namco and Tamsoft bringing the iconic series to modern platforms as a fighter. All of the most iconic Bleach characters are here, including Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia Kuchiki, Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, and even Coyote Stark. Save $40 off the base game this weekend with this deal at Amazon.
Astro Bot for $39.99
Astro Bot is a must-own game for any PlayStation 5 owner for many reasons. The fun platforming adventure is a trip across PlayStation's iconic history of games, with cameos from many of the beloved characters that shaped each console generation. Today, you can score Astro Bot for $39.99 at Amazon,
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake for $34.99
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake was one of the most enjoyable RPGs of 2024, featuring a gorgeous remade HD-2D world and voice acting. If you haven't had the chance to check this one out yet, Amazon has copies available for only $34.99. With Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake available now, it's the perfect time to dive into one of the most important games in the genre.
Silent Hill 2 for $29.99
Silent Hill 2 is available for $29.99 at Amazon as part of Black Friday sales. The Bloober Team-developed remake brought new life to the iconic Konami game, depicting the story of James Sunderland as he travels to Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his dead wife. With revamped combat, a rerecorded soundtrack, and new story additions, Silent Hill 2 is a fantastic horror game that is worth experiencing.
Battlefield 6 has offered a true return to form for the long-running shooter franchise, and while its campaign perhaps doesn’t do anything new, it remains a fantastic multiplayer sandbox.
Battlefield 6 only launched in October, and sold big numbers, but it’s already down to $59.45 from its $69.99 MSRP on Xbox. PlayStation players have it even better, with the PS5 version of the game down to $52.99.
While we didn’t love the campaign, there’s no denying it’s a gorgeous-looking shooting gallery, but as with any Battlefield game, the real draw is multiplayer.
Whether you’re looking for infantry combat, the opportunity to fly a jet or helicopter, or you just want to pile into a tank with your friends and bring down buildings, there’s something for everyone.
Reviewer Justin Koreis gave the multiplayer an 8 out of 10, saying, “Battlefield 6’s multiplayer action is expertly crafted, wrapped in a wonderful layer of destructibility that both looks great and materially affects the flow of combat. The gunplay is excellent, with weapons that are accurate enough to reward skilled shooting, but have just enough sway to promote a bit of careful thought while you take aim.”
Given how successful the game has been for EA, you can likely expect new seasonal updates well into the future.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
I've only ever owned one robot vacuum in my life and it was a Roomba. I absolutely loved the thing right up until it came time for me to empty it, which was surprisingly frequently. But then once we got a dog who sheds and emptying became an almost daily thing, I ended up giving up on the idea of having a little vacuum butler in my life and retired it to the basement. But as I'm browsing Amazon's latest Black Friday deals this weekend, there's a pretty significant price cut that caught my eye and has me questioning whether or not I do need a robot vacuum.
The Roomba J9+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum has dropped in price by a whopping 64% today. That's one of the cheapest prices I've ever seen on a self-emptying Roomba, and by far the most affordable this particular model has ever been. At this price I'm definitely considering picking one up this year.
iRobot Roomba j9+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum Deal
I usually rely on IGN's tech reviews to research things before I buy them, but since we don't actually review robot vacuums I had to look to our sister site, PC Mag. According to an expert review from Andrew Gebhart, PC Mag's Senior Smart Home writer, the iRobot j9+ is "a user-friendly robot vacuum that justifies its high price with strong suction power, reliable obstacle avoidance, self-emptying functionality, and ample app features." The vacuum also made his list of the best robot vacuums you can buy in 2025.
It seems like the main downside of this vacuum is the high price, but that's pretty much negated with the latest discount. At $319.98, the j9+ is down to its lowest price in Amazon history by a pretty significant margin. There are certainly cheaper self-emptying vacuums from other brands out there, but this particular model was expensive for a reason: It comes with a ton of features (like mapping out your home) and has an excellent battery life.
Do you need a robot vacuum?
I'm certainly not a robot vacuum expert, but when I did have a roomba in the past I loved the convenience. They are especially helpful for hardwood floors that gather a lot of obvious dust and hair, but they don't fully remove the need to vacuum entirely. Even with smarter features, robot vacuums still miss spots and have limits to what they can do. They do greatly cut down on how often you need to vacuum, though, and they are great for keeping dust levels down for anyone in the household that gets extra sneezy.
With that in mind, nobody actually needs a robot vacuum. They are a luxury you add to your home simply because you can. If you want one, just make sure you get a good one that will last long enough to be a worthwhile investment.
Want to get a brand new phone for an absolute steal? Well, Boost Mobile has you covered, as it has deeply discounted the Google Pixel 10 and Google Pixel 10 Pro. Yes, Google’s top-tier smartphones that just came out at the end of August have had 60% or more knocked off the price tag when you sign up for Boost Mobile’s Unlimited Premium Plan.
Boost Mobile has been a reliable mobile carrier for decades, and since it began as a prepaid provider, it continues to maintain those core benefits across all its plans. That means when you sign up for any of Boost Mobile’s various wireless packages, prepaid or not, there are no contracts and no credit checks, which makes committing a whole lot easier.
With its Unlimited Premium Plan, you get the best savings, unlimited talk, text, and data, along with 50GB of premium data, a hotspot, unlimited texting or calling in Canada and Mexico, and more for just $60/month. Adding more lines to the plan will bring even greater discounts. And of course, you also score that awesome deal on Pixel phones.
Enjoy 60% Off New Google Pixel 10 Phones
Get the Google Pixel 10 for just $299.99 (typically $599 on sale and $799 MSRP)
For only $299.99, you can get the Google Pixel 10 (versus MSRP of $999 at other retailers). Not only does this phone look absolutely stunning with a sturdy matte frame and easy-to-manage 6.3” display, but it has some serious performance chops. The new Google Tensor G5 chip enhances AI performance and supports cool features, such as “Camera Coach” to get the perfect shot. Speaking of shots, the phone now features a 5x zoom on a telephoto lens, while the battery is larger than in previous generations and now supports Qi2 wireless charging, ensuring you’re rarely without juice.
Get the New Pixel 10 Pro for just $399.99 (typically $999 MSRP)
If you’re after something with a little more oomph than Google’s flagship Pixel 10, you can get the Pixel 10 Pro for $100 more. It delivers an absolutely stunning 6.8” display, an impressive camera system, including a telephoto lens with 100x super zoom, and 4GB of extra RAM, making it a true multitasking powerhouse.
Additional Boost Mobile Black Friday Deals
For its early Black Friday sale, Boost Mobile has plenty of deals on other smartphones and even plans. The iPhone 16e is only $100, while the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is free with the Unlimited Premium Plan. Maybe you don’t need a new phone or everything that the Unlimited Premium Plan offers? Boost Mobile is offering its Unlimited Plan, which includes unlimited text, talk, and data with no contract for only $10 for the first 2 months. It jumps to $25/month after that, but that price can be locked in forever.
For those who’ve been thinking about switching carriers or want to get a cheap phone upgrade this holiday season, Boost Mobile is a great option. From excellent coverage to affordable plans for commitment-phobes, Boost Mobile delivers.
It’s not Black Friday yet, but many of the sales have already started. While LEGO’s official Black Friday sale doesn’t start until November 28, LEGO Insiders can access an exclusive sale right now. The LEGO Store is running the annual Insiders Weekend sale November 22 - 23, giving members access to exclusive deals, 2x Insiders points on all purchases, and some pretty neat Gifts with Purchase as well.
If you’re not yet an Insider, you can sign up here for free. Then read on to see what kinds of deals and promotions are on offer. Note that the sale ends November 23, and many of the promos are only available while supplies last.
Sets on Sale for LEGO Insiders
Here’s a look at the sets on sale for LEGO Insiders for Insiders Weekend. It’s not a lot of sets, but if you’ve had your eye on any of them, now’s a good time to buy. We're talking LEGO Star Wars sets, LEGO Botanicals sets, and more. If you don’t see anything you want, rest assured lots more sets will get discounted in LEGO’s official Black Friday sale on November 28.
Note: several of the sets that were initially on sale for Insiders have gone out of stock and are no longer available. If you see one you like that’s in stock, I’d buy it sooner than later.
This one is good for anybody who shops at the LEGO Store regularly. Loyalty points can be turned in for Insiders Rewards (about which, see below) or for discounts on future purchases. Here’s a breakdown of the 2x points:
Spend $50 to earn 650 LEGO Insiders points (worth at least $5.00 in rewards)
Spend $100 to earn 1,300 points (worth at least $10.00 in rewards)
Spend $150 to earn 1,950 points (worth at least $15.00 in rewards)
Spend $200 to earn 2,600 points (worth at least $20.00 in rewards)
Spend over $200 to earn even more points
Exclusive Gifts With Purchase
A new trio of Gift With Purchase sets is available this weekend. Each one comes free when you spend the amount indicated below. The sets stack as well, so if you buy a $250 set, you’ll get all three GWP sets (provided they’re still in stock).
Two new Insiders Rewards have been added to the Insiders Rewards page. One is a sweepstakes to win 1 million Insiders points, and it doesn’t cost any points to enter. Anyone with an Insiders membership can enter for free. The other is a small LEGO set you can get for 2,400 points.
Sweepstakes for a chance to win 1 million Insiders points - 0 Insiders points
That’s it for the LEGO Insiders Weekend. For more, be sure to check out Best Buy and Amazon’s Black Friday sales, as they’re in full effect. For more sales, take a look at our Black Friday schedule to see when other retailers are kicking off their sales.
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.
Sony has never been shy about trying new things, and after the PlayStation 4 got the original PSVR, the PlayStation 5 gets, you guessed it, PlayStation VR 2. The PS5 headset is a marked step up from what came before, and thanks to PlayStation's Black Friday deals, you can pick one up for just under $300. The deal is available at every major retailer that sells gaming gear.
You can either get the base PSVR, or the one that comes bundled with Horizon: Call Of The Mountain, so you'll obviously want the one that comes with a free game. Both are reduced by 25% from the MSRP, bringing it down to $299, and includes everything you need to jump into VR – except, well, a PlayStation 5. Thankfully, PS5 consoles are on sale for Black Friday as well.
Still, if you do have Sony’s latest and greatest console you can enjoy the headset, two controllers with finger tracking, haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers, and a copy of Horizon: Call Of The Mountain.
We gave the game 7/10 when Simon Cardy reviewed it, writing, “Horizon Call of the Mountain’s exciting highs elevate it just enough above its often monotonous climbing mechanics to create a fun first blockbuster entry into the PS VR 2 library.” But if you were planning on picking up the headset anyway, it’s a nice bonus inclusion.
So, what of the hardware? The HDR OLED panel inside the headset supports up to 120Hz refresh rate, and there’s a 110-degree field of view for improved immersion, with foveated rendering to know where you’re looking and what to render in more detail.
We gave the headset a huge 9/10 from Gabriel Moss, saying, “With top-notch visual quality and immersively tactile Sense controllers, PlayStation VR2 represents a quantum leap over its predecessor, setting a new standard for console VR gaming.”
Couldn’t have put it better myself.
Lloyd Coombes is an experienced freelancer in tech, gaming and fitness seen at Polygon, Eurogamer, Macworld, TechRadar and many more. He's a big fan of Magic: The Gathering and other collectible card games, much to his wife's dismay.
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