A couple of days ago, Capcom revealed that Title Update 4 for Monster Hunter Wilds would pack some performance improvements. And yesterday, the Japanese team shared two videos that showcase some of these improvements. So, let’s take a closer look at them. Capcom has basically compared the current version of Monster Hunter Wilds, Title Update … Continue reading Capcom Showcases Performance Improvements for Monster Hunter Wilds in New Videos→
Episode 7 of IT: Welcome to Derry introduced us to Bob Gray, a character briefly glimpsed in the movie IT Chapter Two but one who is of great interest to fans of Stephen King’s creation. Essentially, Bob Gray is the original, human Pennywise, whose form It began to favor taking to hunt the children of Derry. Now Welcome to Derry is finally telling his story.
Andy Muschietti, who directed the IT movies and developed Welcome to Derry with his sister/producing partner Barbara Muschietti and co-showrunner Jason Fuchs, told me that the goal of the show was always to dig into the “big enigmas” that are presented in the Stephen King book. He felt that King intentionally created an incomplete puzzle, with cryptic characters and events that lent themselves to being further explored. And chief among them was the character of Bob Gray, aka the man who would become Pennywise.
Bob Gray, the Man Behind the Clown
“Bob Gray, the man behind the clown,” said Andy. “[He’s] an absolute mystery. It's mentioned a couple of times [in the book], but never is there really a fleshing out of the story.”
Barbara points out that the mystery of this character was a big part of what brought the show into existence, and it all came from the conversations that Andy and Pennywise actor Bill Skarsgård had during production of IT Chapter Two in 2018.
“Bill did a very small flashback into Bob Gray and loved it,” she recalled. “So they started talking about exploring that. And when the pandemic came, Andy's like, ‘Let's start talking about that!’”
With the development time the pandemic allowed, the Muschiettis and Skarsgård started to really dig in on what Bob Gray’s story might be, as it has never been fleshed out by Stephen King. Yes, we know about Pennywise’s cosmic origins, but the dancing clown? Not so much. Until now.
I went back into all the interludes and all the catastrophic events that are depicted in every one of the cycles. And I saw a story there, a hidden story.
“It's more like an incarnation of Bob Gray [in IT Chapter Two], it's an IT incarnation, so you can see the evil behind,” said Andy. “But who was Bob Gray really? It all started there. And then delving deeper into it, I went back into all the interludes and all the catastrophic events that are depicted in every one of the cycles. And I saw a story there, a hidden story that was worth telling. And of course there was a lot of invention, which was part of the excitement of it. It's like, OK, we're going to fill the gaps, put all the pieces of the puzzle that are missing.”
The Origin of Pennywise’s Human Self
The approach then was to figure out who the human character was. For starters, the writers and producers knew they didn’t want him to be some kind of a psychopath. And they wanted to find the humanity of the character.
“It's shrouded in a bit of darkness and ominousness,” said Andy. “But we presented him as someone that was benign, that was basically someone that life didn't work very well for. He has a daughter and he wants to do well. And then when Bill finally came in, we started really granularly exploring the character and he said, ‘All this is good, but I don't think we should do such a wholesome thing.’ And that's where alcoholism appeared, the grumpiness. And so it's very nuanced. You see a character that is taking swigs from a flask in between when the curtains fall. And there's a reason for that. The reason is the death of his wife.”
This is the backstory that was created for the character by Muschietti, Skarsgård, and the show’s writers, and which we get a true feel for in Episode 7.
“Bob Gray was a big clown in a big circus,” explains Andy. “One day he lost his wife and that sort of pushed him into a down-spiraling hole where he became an alcoholic. He was fired from the circus, rehired sometime later into a small traveling circus, and we have this scene where he's basically talking to his daughter and he reminisces about the good old times. And even though he's in bad shape right now, because he's an alcoholic, he has hope. And Ingrid, his little daughter, is what keeps the hope alive for him.”
Of course, Ingrid is Ingrid Kersh, aka Periwinkle (another invention of Welcome to Derry’s), the adult version of whom is played by Madeleine Stowe. And certainly her dad’s disappearance after his run-in with IT leads her life to a not-great place, to say the least. But that’s a different story.
Maturin, The Dark Tower Connections, and Welcome to Derry Seasons 2 and 3
The Muschiettis told me that when they started putting the story together for the show, they had much more than they could possibly include in just one season. And so a three-season plan was hatched, as the writers had to take chunks of story out and save them for future seasons.
It talks more about the reason of IT, what is IT, what does IT want, and why is IT in this plane of existence?
“It's a bigger story that goes across the two following seasons,” Andy explained. “It talks more about the reason of IT, what is IT, what does IT want, and why is IT in this plane of existence? But also, it's a glimpse into the bigger mythology that looms on the other side. The thing with the book is that it's told from the perspective of our human characters very much. There's only like two or three moments that, through the Maturin root or the Smoke-Hole, we access other planes of reality, but it's very sparse. It's just very, very contained, but it does really connect to other works of Stephen King, mainly The Dark Tower. And there's so much about the turtle, Maturin. That is one of those things that people who love these movies, they really are into Maturin. So basically across the two more seasons, we're going to explore the bigger mythology.”
IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 8, Season 1 Finale Release Date and Time
The final episode of IT: Welcome to Derry Season 1 will debut on HBO Max at 6pm PT/9pm ET on Sunday, December 14. Tell them Bob Gray sent you!
Ah, AI. A word that a lot avoid like the plague. A word that can make a lot of players boycot the games that use such tools, just like they do with games that use Denuvo. And you know what? To a point, I can understand it. YouTube has been bombarded with fake AI videos. … Continue reading This AI Remake of The Witcher 3 Will Leave You Speechless→
As I wrote in my PC Performance Analysis a few months ago, Borderlands 4 had serious performance problems when it launched on PC. The game was poorly optimized and had many technical issues. Now, in December 2025, a big new PC update has been released, and it promises to fix many of those problems. Going … Continue reading Borderlands 4 Gets a Major Performance Update on PC→
Razer is offering a great deal on its best gaming chair for the holidays. Only at Razer.com, you can get the flagship Razer Iskur V2 gaming chair for just $399.99 with free delivery . That's $250 off its usual $650 retail price. This is a more premium product than both the Razer Iskur X and the Razer Enki.
Save $250 Off the Razer Iskur V2 Gaming Chair
We like the Razer Iskur V2 here at IGN. It made it into our 2025 gaming chair buying guide. We also reviewed it earlier this year and gave it a 9/10 rating. This is a premium chair through and through, featuring a durable steel frame with aluminum wheelbase, high-performance PU leather upholstery, an extra wide seat that covers heights up to 6'2" and decked out in dual density foam, and an included ultra-soft memory foam head pillow.
There's plenty of adjustability here too. Your customization options include 6D adjustable lumbar, 4D armrests, and 152 degrees of recline alongside more standard features like height and tilt adjust.
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.
Audible's new Harry Potter full-cast audiobook series is already receiving its second entry. This new form of the Harry Potter books kicked off just last month with a unique interpretation of The Sorcerer's Stone, and you'll soon be able to listen to the second book starting on December 16.
If you're curious about this series, you can currently grab a free 30-day trial of Audible directly from Amazon to listen at no cost. Audible is also still running a deal that gets you three months of the service for only $0.99 until December 16. I had the chance to listen to the full audiobook for The Sorcerer's Stone when it released in November and genuinely loved it. At just over eight hours, I though it was a unique experience that landed somewhere between reading the books and watching the films. I'll definitely be listening to The Chamber of Secrets as soon as it comes out.
Audible has already announced release dates for the full line-up of these audiobooks. All seven of the books in the series will be getting the full-cast treatment with new releases every month from now until May 2026.
Who's in the Voice Cast?
The official Harry Potter website released a full list of voice actors we know about after the first audiobook. More cast announcements are on their way for the second book, but here's the core list of names we know so far:
Hugh Laurie as Dumbledore
Matthew Macfadyen as Voldemort
Riz Ahmed as Snape
Michelle Gomez as McGonagall
Mark Addy as Rubeus Hargrid
Adeel Akhtar as Argus Filch
Jude Farant as Draco Malfoy
Cush Jumbo as Narrator
Frankie Treadway as Harry (Books 1-3)
Max Lester as Ron (Books 1-3)
Arabella Stanton as Hermione (Books 1-3)
Jaxon Knopf as Harry (Books 4-7)
Rhys Mulligan as Ron (Books 4-7)
Nina Barker-Francis (Books 4-7)
As you may have noticed, the voice actors for Harry, Ron, and Hermione are the same for the first three books and then shift to new people. This is due to Audible launching all of these audiobooks within the span of seven months rather than over years of time. We don't yet know what these character's voices will sound like in the jump between The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Goblet of Fire, but we can assume that they will be more mature.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor's degree in communication and over 8 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics -- from TV series to indie games and books.
Looking for a cheap (under $20) item that's sure to be a hit for your tech-savvy giftee? Then check out this really run STEM toy for both kids and adults, now on sale at a pretty deep discount. Amazon is currently offering Amazon Prime members the Syma S107H-E RC Helicoptor for just $19.88 after you apply coupon code "N5NYAFZR". According to camelcamelcamel, the price has hovered consistently around $50 for most of the year. Everything you need to get off the ground is included, including the remote control and rechargeable batteries.
Syma Remote Controlled Helicopter for Under $20
The S107H-E RC Helicoptor is easy to use, even if you've never flown RC choppers before. The helicopter itself is small, lightweight, with a sturdy metal alloy body that's built to withstand rough landings, bumps, and even crashes.
The remote is deceptively simple with just two joysticks. The left joystick controls throttle and yaw (up/down, left/right while holding in place). The right joystick controls pitch (forward and back). Beginner-friendy features include one button takeoff and landing, an "altitude hold" feature that keeps the chopper at a constant height, and two speeds.
The chopper can last about 8 to 10 minutes before needing to recharge. You don't need to remove the batteries, simply plug the included USB cable into the body of the chopper. Keep in mind that this chopper is mostly for indoor use; it's so lightweight that it wouldn't be able to cope with any kind of wind if you try it outside.
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.
The Lord of the Rings has maintained its cultural significance since the 1950s through books, movies, and now television, expanding a fandom that stretches across generations, which makes it an excellent starting point as you shop for the One Gift in 2025. Now that the holidays are almost here, a good LotR gift idea could be just what you need to bring some Middle-earth flavored joy into the equation.
Top The Lord of the Rings Gifts
There’s no shortage of options for the Lord of the Rings fans in your life, so we’ve narrowed down the best gifts across different areas of interest, from must-have movie and book sets to collectibles of all kinds. There's a little something for everyone here.
Gifts for Fans of the Books
Our top pick for Lord of the Rings readers is this gorgeous 1,248-page compilation of the full trilogy featuring 30 maps and sketches illustrated by Tolkien himself. With unique cover art and red-sprayed edges, this edition of Tolkien’s fantasy saga is an eye-catching addition to any bookshelf that holds within it one of the greatest and most beloved works of fantasy.
You can also pick up the massive Deluxe Illustrated editions of The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion, all of which have reduced prices at Amazon. We've also included a couple of popular book sets as well and other coffee table books worth adding to your collection below. These are some of our overall favorite gifts for readers in general, so definitely worth considering.
Gifts for Fans of the Movies
Our top pick is a fairly new release that came out last December. This collection bundles the theatrical and extended cuts of all three Lord of the Rings movies with faux-leather packaging and a high-quality replica of the One Ring engraved with the same Elvish text seen in the book/movies: “One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
If you'd rather pick up each trilogy separately, you can do so in their own 4K collection. You can also pick up War of the Rohirrim, the most recent animated film as well. There are a lot of different LotR Blu-rays available, but we've found that the box sets make for the best overall gifts and are usually less expensive than buying individually.
Gifts for Fans of LEGO
The LEGO Balrog Book Nook set is great for fans of the books looking to give their bookshelves an extra flair, and the size of this set pair nicely with the Deluxe Illustrated Editoins of Tolkien's collected works. We built the set earlier this year, and highly recommend it for both LEGO fans and avid readers. It's one of the best LEGO gifts of 2025.
One of the other awesome Lord of the Rings LEGO sets we recommend is a majestic depiction of the Elven settlement Rivendell, complete with 15 minifigures and movable models of key locations like Frodo’s bedroom and the Council of Elrond. The 6,167-piece set is sure to keep its new owner busy well into the season. Kevin Wong, LEGO fanatic and builder, said the LEGO set is "an epic tribute to Fellowship" froom his LEGO build guide from earlier this year. And finally, more recently LEGO released a Shire set that is also quite delightful and about half the price of Rivendell.
Gifts for Fans of Board Games
Our top pick is the perfect gift for experienced board game players. War of the Ring is an expertly crafted, fairly advanced strategy game for 2–4 people that pits the armies of the Free Peoples against those of the Shadows in a battle for Middle-earth.
Outside of that game there are actually quite a few other Lord of the Rings tabletop options available. If you're looking for a re-skinned version of a classic, you can pick up LotR Monopoly or even a themed chess set. Tolkien's world makes for a really cool chess set if you don't mind spending a bit of money to snag one.
Gifts for Fans of Magic the Gathering
The Lord of the Rings starter kit provides two gifts in one: the cards themselves and the ability to immediately jump into the game with two ready-to-play, 60-card decks. It’s a great value at $20, and it’s our top pick for those looking to learn the ins and outs of MtG with a friend. Be sure to also see the best Magic the Gathering gift list which also includes these LOTR highlights!
Gifts for Chronic Puzzlers
There are a lot of great jigsaw puzzles for adults out there, but Lord of the Rings puzzles are some of the most enticing. J.R.R. Tolkien's world has been expanded beyond well beyond the movies and books all kinds of merchandise, so it shouldn't be too surprising that there are some enticing jigsaw options worthy of gifting as well.
We've featured the theory11 puzzle because it has the same look and feel of illustrated Lord of the Rings books. It's a cool design that is worthy of hanging on the wall when you're done. But there are plenty of other Lord of the Rings puzzles where that came from, including 3D builds that are a much cheaper LEGO alternative.
There are a lot of great jigsaw puzzles for adults out there. If anything, there are way too many options to choose from. Because of this, it can sometimes help to narrow down your search to a specific franchise you love and then start looking for options within that. You can never go wrong with a puzzle depicting one of your favorite stories or characters, and the end result can sometimes even be display worthy.
One such franchise that has some great puzzle options is The Lord of the Rings. J.R.R. Tolkien's world has been expanded beyond books to be portrayed in movies, video games, and even LEGO sets, so it shouldn't be too surprising that there are some enticing jigsaw options too. I've found seven of the best best Lord of the Rings puzzles that are available online right now. All of these would make for a great gift for any adult LotR fan in your life.
TL;DR — These Are the Best Lord of the Rings Puzzles
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Puzzle
Best Overall
If you're a fan of the Lord of the Rings movies like I am, then this Return of the King puzzle is an excellent option. It features main characters and scenes from the final film in the trilogy and has a nice border around the whole thing. You've got Frodo struggling to drop the ring into the fires of Mount Doom, Gandalf in the heat of battle, and Aragorn accepting his rightful role as king. What more could you need?
This puzzle was also made by Ravensburger, which is one of the best overall puzzle brands out there. Every piece is unique and fits together perfectly. If you like the idea of a movie-themed puzzle, there are actually quite a few movie poster puzzles available I'd recommend you check out. We also have a pretty substantial guide for the Lord of the Rings movies on Blu-ray that's worth checking out if you don't already own the films.
theory11 Lord of the Rings Jigsaw Puzzle
Coolest Design
The main reason this theory11 puzzle is featured here is because it just flat out looks awesome. The design of this 1,000-piece puzzle has a similar look and feel to some of the original illustrations from J.R.R Tolkien himself. The green and gold colors also go really well together with the illustrated style.
If you like the look and feel of illustrated Lord of the Rings books, you'll like how this puzzle comes together. It's a great option if you are looking for something to frame and display once it's completed. This brand also has some really cool Harry Potter puzzles if you're interested in more like this from a different franchise.
Barad-Dur Eye of Sauron 3D Model Kit
Best 3D Puzzle
Although the standard jigsaw puzzles on this list are all great options, there's a growing market of model kits for adults out there that bring puzzles into 3D space. This particular puzzle kit from 4D Build features the massive tower of Sauron in all its glory. Unlike many other model kits, it doesn't require any glue or tools to put together.
Another great option for anyone looking for a puzzle worthy of displaying somewhere is this 1,000-piece map of Middle Earth. The map features prominent locations from the story with the Shire as a focal point. Since this is the map from the Hobbit, it doesn't include every location in Middle Earth, but it is the overall best Lord of the Rings map puzzle I've been able to find. You can always browse the interactive map online if you want to see where Mordor and Gondor are located.
Hobbit House Puzzle
Best for Beginners
While I prefer the challenge of a good 1,000- or 2,000-piece puzzle, not everyone likes digging through a mountain of pieces to complete a picture. This simple 100-piece puzzle is a great option for beginners or casual puzzlers who just want something easy to put together in an afternoon. The image itself depicts a lovely Hobbit home in New Zealand and it's an actual destination you can visit!
Aquarius Lord of the Rings Triptych Puzzle
Best Movie Poster Alternative
This last puzzle is my top pick for anyone looking for an alternative to movie posters. This is essentially all three movie posters from the trilogy on top of a map, but in puzzle form. So you'll be able to piece together the image and then have something worth hanging on your wall. This is an awesome gift for any Lord of the Rings fan who loves the movies and puzzles.
LotR-Themed Book Nook
Best Book Nook Puzzle Kit
Technically, there is an official Lord of the Rings book nook you can buy, but it's actually a LEGO set. The LEGO version is a recreation of Gandalf taking on the Balrog in that epic "You shall not pass" moment from the books and movies. But that LEGO set will cost you $130. If you're interested in the idea of building an LotR book nook of your own that won't destroy your budget, I recommend checking out this knock-off version on Amazon. It comes complete with a ring, and nice little scene, and LED lighting. If you ignore the fact that it says 'Spirit Valley of Magic Rings' on the side then you're golden.
There are actually a ton of cool book nook puzzle kits out there, but none of them are licensed to specific IP in the same way other puzzles are.
Tips for Choosing the Best Puzzle for You
If you're fairly new to puzzles or are looking to purchase one as a gift for someone else, there are a few things you'll need to consider before you buy, even for Lord of the Rings puzzles.
How many pieces is it?
You can determine how difficult a jigsaw puzzle will be based on a few factors. The first and most obvious question to ask is how many pieces is it? A 100-piece puzzle is more ideal for kids or beginners, a 500-piece puzzle is great for intermediate puzzlers, and a 5,000-piece puzzle is a true undertaking. If you want a relaxing puzzle you can do in an afternoon or with a young kid, you should stick to 300 pieces or less.
What size is it?
Another important thing to consider is how much room it's going to take up. Even smaller puzzles can be pretty big and if you don't have room for it on your table, it's going to be hard (or even impossible) to put together. This is especially true for larger puzzles that will take days to complete; the table where you eat meals might not be its ideal home if it's going to take up the whole thing. This is where a decent puzzle board or mat can really make a difference.
What does the picture look like?
The last thing to consider is the actual image itself. Obviously you want to choose a puzzle of something you like, but you should also consider the composition of the image itself – certain qualities will make the puzzle more of a headache to put together than others. Do the colors blend together? Is there a lot of empty space? Puzzles with more unique elements will be easier to put together than something with a bunch of clear blue sky, for example.
Do you plan on displaying it?
In many cases it's fun to just put a puzzle together and then pack it back into a box for later. But if you're looking for a more permanent situation for your finished puzzle, you'll want to think about that ahead of time. If you are planning on putting it on your wall or framing it, then you'll want to pick up a puzzle that works well for that. Map puzzles are a great option for displaying as well as 3D puzzles that are more akin to a model kit.
Connexion
