FPS fans have spent months obsessing about Battlefield 6 map sizes, so some players finally took the time to measure and compare nearly every map the series has seen in the last 15 years.

The Battlefield map size breakdown is a collaborative effort organized by Reddit users ClaraTheRed and PENGUINonPC and includes multiplayer locations featured in Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4, Battlefield: Hardline, Battlefield 1, Battlefield 2042, and, of course, last month’s Battlefield 6. It comes not only with a side-by-side comparison for each game’s map, organized by game mode and player count, but also color-coded horizontal bar graphs, illustrating how EA’s approach to map sizes has changed through the years.

ClaraTheRed shared details about their analysis in a follow-up post, clarifying that they have “done nothing but work on this the entire weekend.” The more than 45 hours of work resulted in a six-game, 72-map breakdown that paints a clear picture: Battlefield 6 doesn’t quite reach the gargantuan size of some of the series’ biggest maps.

ClaraTheRed points out that, while many of the relatively small Battlefield 6 maps, like Iberian Offensive or Siege of Cairo, are similar in size to maps seen in Battlefield 3 and 1, many of its larger maps rank among the medium-sized pool of maps studied. While games like Battlefield 3 and even Battlefield 2042 boast some of the most colossal maps the series has seen yet, Battlefield 6 falls short of offering even one map in the top 20. Even its largest map, Operation Firestorm, which itself is a downsized remake of the Battlefield 3 map of the same name, lands as the 32nd biggest map for total shared playable area and 22nd for total map area.

These are numbers the Battlefield community is already latching onto, but there are a few notes to consider. The evaluation stops short of including every map in the series, for example, with 2018’s Battlefield V, which ClaraTheRed says was difficult to gather data for, being one omission. Battlefield titles have also been known to alter the play area mid-match thanks to features like Levolution and environmental hazards, which some portions of the study consider. Every game that is included also has the benefit of being a completed work, DLC included – Battlefield 6 launched less than one month ago.

EA and Battlefield Studios have continued to push updates for its new Battlefield game in the weeks since its release, with Season 1 introducing a medium-sized map with Blackwell Fields last week, and another called Eastwood set to follow later this month. There’s also Battlefield REDSEC, a standalone offshoot with ties to the Battlefield 6 experience, which also launched last week. EA has proudly declared its map, Fort Lyndon, as the “biggest Battlefield map ever,” though much of the community has already placed it into a separate category thanks to its status as a battle royale map included with REDSEC, not Battlefield 6, specifically.

Battlefield 6 fans who hopped in as early as the August beta tests have spent months clamoring for larger maps as EA and BF Studios continue to work on post-launch content. It’s a topic that has set the community on fire, as some work to defend Battlefield 6’s current offerings while others take to review-bombing to express their dissatisfaction with map sizes, among other things.

“The two of us are not here to complain about map sizes in BF6 (although we do have our opinions on them),” ClaraTheRed clarifies, “but we're here to provide context and show that Battlefield maps throughout the last decade and a half have varied in size by a tremendous amount.”

Battlefield 6 players will likely continue to break down new maps as future seasons roll out. Until then, you can see our collection of every multiplayer map Battlefield 6 has to offer. You can also learn about the hidden firing range room that players are investigating for secret Easter Eggs and hints at future content. Those looking to brush up on their online skills can also read our multiplayer tips and tricks guide.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Not long you you wouldn't be able to find an electric bike for under $1,000. Although there are still plenty of "premium" brands that still sell ebikes for well above this threshold, it's no longer an accurate blanket statement. As we enter the Black Friday and holiday season, you can pick up an entry level ebike for as low as $300. The three deals below stand out for the following reasons: (1) they're a lot less expensive than buying the exact same bike off Amazon, (2) they're all shipped from a local US warehouse so you don't need to worry about tariffs or shipping delays, and (3) they're sold by reputable vendors with plenty of reviews and sales to back them up.

Amyet V9-G60 1000W Electric Bike for $426

Rockstar, the developer of Grand Theft Auto VI, reportedly fired between 30 and 40 employees in a move that the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain (IWGB) is claiming was "blatant" and "ruthless" union busting.

According to Bloomberg, the workers fired this past Thursday were all UK and Canadian employees who were also part of a private trade union chat group on Discord, and were either union members themselves or trying to organize Rockstar. IWGB has issued a press release in response to the firing, claiming that the employees' dismissal was explicitly due to union activities.

Rockstar has just carried out the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry. This flagrant contempt for the law and for the lives of the workers who bring in their billions is an insult to their fans and the global industry.

Despite this calculated attack on workers organising for a collective voice and to improve their difficult working conditions, the Rockstar Union remains undeterred. They will keep organising for respect and better conditions whilst continuing to pour their blood, sweat and creativity into games that are loved by millions.

The IWGB will pursue every legal claim possible to ensure our members are reinstated and receive interim relief.

In response, publisher Take-Two has issued its own statement via a spokesperson, countering that the firings were for "gross misconduct, and for no other reason."

We strive to make the world’s best entertainment properties by giving our best-in-class creative teams positive work environments and ongoing career opportunities. Our culture is focused on teamwork, excellence, and kindness. Rockstar Games terminated a small number of individuals for gross misconduct, and for no other reason. As always, we fully support Rockstar’s ambitions and approach.

These dismissals occur as Rockstar is on the cusp of releasing Grand Theft Auto 6 in May of next year, with the game projected by some analysts to make $3 billion in its first year on sale and said by others to be one of the most important game releases of all time.

Amidst massive public anticipation for the game, Rockstar has been sparing with its marketing, releasing very little information about the game ahead of launch. However, after a massive leak of the in-development game in 2022 and the day-early release of the game's first trailer the following year, Rockstar has been increasingly tight with security. Last year, the studio began asking employees to come to the office five days a week, citing a desire for both increased productivity and security. This decision was criticized by workers affiliated with the IWGB, who said Rockstar broke promises with the forced return to office, and accused the studio of refusing to engage with workers on the issue.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Xbox’s Black Friday sale this year is shaping up to be... complicated. Microsoft has spent much of 2025 raising prices across the board, with consoles, controllers, games, and even Game Pass Ultimate all getting more expensive.

We’ll definitely still see discounts for Xbox fans during the big sale season; it's just unfortunate that almost everything is starting from a considerably higher baseline than before.

That said, I'm also predicting that we'll still be able to score some worthwhile discounts come Black Friday. While Xbox's official "Black Friday" offerings (yet to be announced) rarely deliver great savings, in my experience, you just need to know where and when to look for bargains, and which "deals" to avoid altogether.

To help with this, I've put together my predictions for what will be discounted this year, alongside some expert advice on the best places to find Xbox deals once the sales properly kick off.

Xbox Game Pass

That's a great deal if you want to lock in coverage through the holidays. The max you can fill out your account with is 12 lots of three months (totalling 36 months), and currently costs $659.88, or $219.96 per year.

By comparison, at the new $29.99 monthly rate, three years of Game Pass Ultimate now costs $1,079.64. So there are already big savings to be had. It’s just a question of whether we’ll potentially see anything even better in the coming weeks.

Now that's where things get interesting. For the best deal possible in the final months of the year, my advice is to keep an eye on Amazon-owned Woot. Last year, Woot dropped three months of Game Pass Ultimate to just $28.99 during Black Friday, over 50% off at the time.

It was a great deal, but considering it now costs $90 for three months of Ultimate today, this now looks like an absolute juggernaut of a discount.

It's purely speculative that this offer could reappear, and I doubt we’ll see anything quite that generous in 2025, but anything even close to it would be worth shouting about again.

Woot is one of the best retailers for limited-time, doorbuster-style discounts, and since it’s backed by Amazon, it’s a safe bet. The only downside is that these deals sell out fast, so to avoid missing out, I'd suggest following @IGNDeals on Twitter/X for the latest updates.

Even now, the Carbon Black controller is $39.99 at Amazon ahead of Black Friday, which is likely better than anything Microsoft itself will offer once the sale begins. If you want to pick up one of the best PC gaming controllers at that price now, I wouldn’t judge you.

That said, I still expect we’ll see every color scheme go on sale closer to Black Friday, so it could be worth waiting to see if you can grab something a little bolder, and potentially at an even better price.

When it comes to deals to skip, I’d avoid paying anything over $45 for the core controllers during the sale season.

The only other Xbox controllers I’d be excited about this Black Friday are the new special edition models, such as the “Breaker” series, as long as they get deeper discounts.

I’m also watching to see whether we’ll get another significant price drop on the Xbox Elite 2 Controllers. Ideally, the Core Elite model would fall around $90, while the full Elite 2 package would drop to somewhere between $110 and $120.

Still holding out hope that Famke Janssen will reprise her role as Jean Grey in next year’s Avengers: Doomsday? Perhaps it's time to let go, because the actress has confirmed that Marvel hasn't asked her to play the superhero again since the end of Fox’s X-Men movies.

Famke Janssen played Jean Grey from 2000’s X-Men right up to a cameo in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. Her character, as the Phoenix, died in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand, with Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner taking over the role for subsequent X-Men movies.

But a number of actors whose characters died in the Fox X-Men movies are set to reprise their roles in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. For example, Sonic the Hedgehog star James Marsden is confirmed to play Cyclops in Doomsday, despite the character's previous on-screen demise.

Other Fox X-Men veterans set for Doomsday include Kelsey Grammer, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, and Rebecca Romijn. Grammer famously played Beast in the Fox X-Men franchise before making his MCU debut via The Marvels' post-credits scene. Stewart played Charles Xavier/Professor X in the X-Men films before appearing briefly in the MCU via Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as a member of the Illuminati. McKellen, who played Magneto, has yet to appear in the MCU. Neither has Cumming, who played Nightcrawler, Romijn, who played Mystique, nor Marsden. It begs the question: is Avengers: Doomsday secretly an Avengers vs. X-Men movie?

Whatever the nature of Doomsday's plot, it sounds like Famke Janssen won’t join the party. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, she was asked if Marvel had ever asked her to play Jean Grey again after the Fox era of movies. She replied: "Never. Never ever."

"I should be flattered, I suppose, that this character has resonated with people,” she added. “It's been so long, but it's nice that people are still talking about her. I'm sure every single time there's a new movie that they're doing, like [is it] Doomsday? ... it'll come up again.

"Every time I do an interview, it's mentioned. It's interesting. I didn't realize that was such a big part. Every interview I do, that will come up, and of everything I say, that is going to be the only thing that's gonna be printed."

Such is the interest in the MCU that Marvel superhero actors are often asked about reprising their roles for future films, and Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Secret Wars has only ramped interest up. Elizabeth Olsen, for example, recently said she’d “jump at” the opportunity to play Scarlet Witch again despite her character’s apparent death in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Olsen is not, however, among the confirmed cast for Doomsday. Interestingly, neither is Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman, who starred alongside Janssen in the Fox X-Men movies.

Lately, LEGO has been unveiling new sets we can look forward to seeing in early 2026, including a Back to the Future Time Machine and sets based on the video game LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. The latest announcement is a batch of Marvel LEGO sets that appeal to all ages, with a range of price points that (thankfully) doesn’t get ridiculously high. There are some very cool sets in the works, and the two that I like best are available for preorder right now. Let’s have a look.

Featured in this article

Here are all the new Marvel LEGO sets coming in January 1. You can find more details about them in the blurbs below.

LEGO Marvel Iron Man Mark 3 Collectors’ Edition

LEGO Marvel Spider-Man vs. Mysterio: The Daily Bugle

More Marvel LEGO Sets Coming January 1

A handful of smaller Marvel LEGO sets are also coming January 1, but they're not available for preorder. These include a pretty awesome Hulkbuster vs. The Hulk set, Spider-Man vs. Sandman, and sets that pit Spidey against Ghost Rider and Venomized Wolverine.

LEGO Speed Champions APXGP Team Race Car from F1 The Movie

Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser has offered the best explanation yet for why the developer's open-world spy thriller Agent fell by the wayside.

Agent is the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption developer's long lost spy game, which was announced as a PlayStation 3 exclusive in 2009 but has since disappeared. Rockstar has never officially canceled the project, but images leaked in 2015 showed some of its levels, and while some hope remained due to renewed trademarks, this was eventually scrapped in 2018 and its website was shut down in 2021.

So, what happened to Agent? Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption writer Dan Houser, now of Absurd Ventures, has finally offered fans a detailed explanation in an interview on the Lex Fridman podcast. According to Houser, despite multiple versions of Agent being attempted at Rockstar, the game never came together, and that’s because, fundamentally, an open-world spy game simply doesn’t work.

“We worked a lot on multiple iterations of an open-world spy game, and it never came together,” Houser began.

“It had about five different iterations. I don’t think it works. I concluded — and I keep thinking about it sometimes, I sometimes lie in bed thinking about it — and I’ve concluded that what makes them really good as film stories makes them not work as video games. Or we need to think through how to do it in a different way as a video game”.

The version of Agent Rockstar announced was set in during the Cold War in the 1970s, but Houser revealed this was just one version of many Rockstar tried and failed to turn into a fun video game. Indeed, there was a version set in the modern day that also failed to go anywhere.

“That was one of the versions,” he said. “There was another one that was set in the current… we had so many different versions of this game, we worked with so many different teams.”

He continued: “Espionage, assassinations… I don't know what it would've been because it never really… We never got it enough to even doing a proper story on it. We were doing the early work as you get the world up and running. It never really found its feet in either of them. And I sort of think I know why.

“Because in one of those films, they're very, very frenetic and they beat to beat to beat — you gotta go here and save the world, you gotta go there and stop that person being killed and then save the world. An open-world game does have moments like that when the story comes together. But for large portions, it's a lot looser, and you're just hanging out and you’re just doing what you want. And I want freedom. I wanna go over here and do what I want, and I wanna go over and do what you want. That's why it works well being a criminal, because you fundamentally don't have anyone telling you what to do. We try and create external agency through these people kind of forcing you into the story at times.

“But as a spy, that doesn't really work because you have to be against the clock. So I think for me, I question if you can even make a good open-world spy game. So lots of things would work as open-world games, but I don't know if a spy does.”

Considering what it offers, Disney Plus is one of the best streaming services on the block. From classic Disney animated films to the latest Marvel shows, Star Wars movies, and so much more, Disney Plus puts an incredible range of high-quality viewing options at your fingertips. There's tons to watch, but after another round of price hikes, you might want to revisit your streaming subscriptions. We're here to help.

At the moment, one of the best Disney Plus bundle deals available is the massive Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max streaming bundle. This starts at $19.99/month (after a recent price hike) to get you all three streaming services with ads. Bundles such as these are worth considering, especially following the news of Hulu eventually fully integrating into the Disney+ app. But while we wait for that merge to finalize, there's still plenty for Disney Plus users to enjoy.

We've included more Disney Plus bundle deals worth exploring below. If you're looking for more streaming deals from other services, check out the best Hulu deals and bundles and the best HBO Max deals.

How to Get the Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO Max Streaming Bundle

We don’t know much about the next DC Universe movie, Supergirl, but one of its actors has discussed in vague terms what it’s aiming to achieve, and teased that it will clarify the House of El business this year’s Superman set up.

Warning! Spoilers for Superman follow:

DCU kickstarter Superman switches up the established Superman origin story to present his parents, Jor-El and Lara, as villains of a sort. As Superman learns over the course of the events of the movie, his parents had sent him to Earth not to protect humanity, but to rule over it — a revelation that sends Kal-El spiraling for a time.

Some Superman fans were so shocked by this twist on the characters' motivations that they have speculated that DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn plans to either retcon this plot point, or eventually show the message upon which it is based to be fake or misleading. Gunn has denied this.

Supergirl, however, promises to continue the House of El subplot when it launches June 26, 2026. It will see Milly Alcock’s Kara Zor-El, fresh from her drunken cameo at the end of Superman, celebrate her 21st birthday by traveling across the galaxy with her dog, Krypto. We know Lobo is in the movie, played by Jason Momoa. But we know little else.

David Krumholtz (Bernard in The Santa Clause franchise), plays Zor-El, Supergirl's father, and in a recent interview with Nerdtropolis he was of course asked if he could say anything about the movie. Responding, Krumholtz kept his cards close to his chest, but teased a couple of things: Supergirl will closely follow the Woman of Tomorrow comic book, and it will act as the “next piece of telling the story of Krypton, and sort of further clarifying what the House of El is all about.”

“It’s very true to the graphic novel that it’s based on, Woman of Tomorrow,” Krumholtz said. “Very true, which is great. Plus Lobo, which I can say. Everybody knows that Jason Momoa is playing Lobo in it. So it’s that comic plus Lobo. What else can I say? I can’t say much, man.

“I’ll just say that I’m thrilled to be sort of the next piece of telling the story of Krypton, and sort of further clarifying what the House of El is all about.”

Let’s start with Woman of Tomorrow. Supergirl the movie is based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely's comic, which features a very different Supergirl than audiences are perhaps accustomed to. In July, Gunn said the DC Universe version of Supergirl is “a total mess.

As revealed in Superman, Supergirl got drunk on a planet bathed in the light of a red sun (it’s impossible for Superman or any Kryptonian to get drunk on Earth due to the empowering effects of our yellow sun). But beyond this, clearly Supergirl is suffering from mental health issues that are driving her to drink, the result of a very different upbringing compared to her cousin’s.

“I mean, I think as we learn, she's had a completely different background from Superman,” Gunn continued. “A much more difficult background. He's had this wonderful upbringing by these two parents that loved him and were very healthy. And her background was much different than that. And she's ended up different than her cousin.”

“In our story, we have Superman who was sent to Earth and raised by incredibly loving parents,” Gunn has explained. “Kara was on Krypton. She was on a piece of Krypton that drifted away from the planet and she lived there for the first 14 years of her life in a horrible situation where she watched everyone around her die. So, she’s a much harsher and more f*cked up Supergirl than you’ve been used to thus far.”

Recently, Gunn has called Supergirl a “space fantasy” — and said it will have a different tone than Superman. It’s more like Gunn’s own Guardians of the Galaxy, he’s said. For more, check out IGN’s article, Superman Introduces the Girl of Steel: Here's Why This Version of Supergirl Is So Different.

But we should also talk about Krumholtz’s comments about the House of El. Perhaps we’ll get further insight into why Superman’s parents did what they did, or maybe even some revelations about the fate of Krypton itself. Will David Corenswet reprise his role as Superman for a cameo in Supergirl? Certainly a battle with Lobo sounds like a lot of fun.

Supergirl isn’t the only DCU movie out next year. Fans also have Clayface to look forward to, as well as HBO Max TV show Lanterns. Then, moving into 2027, we have Superman follow-up Man of Tomorrow.

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.

Introducing Odds Chronicles, a new tactical roguelite RPG that features dice-roll battles set on diorama-like stages. You play in a fallen kingdom as Evryn, a former royal bodyguard in that kingdom in a tabletop-inspired fantasy story. It's in development for PC and due out in 2026.

Developed by eSolu and Team Mojo Games, Odds Chronicles renders its tactical diorama battlefields in Unreal Engine 5 and is doing its best to embrace its tabletop inspiriations. "Click to roll or throw the dice yourself, then use every face like a weapon," the developers said. "Generate resources - Strength, Dexterity and Magic - to fuel abilities. Charge powerful skills over time or unleash them immediately. Unused resources fill a bonus gauge, granting Wild Dice that can shift the tide of battle."

"As a royal bodyguard, you failed your King, and lost your honor," the developers note. "A tyrant now rules, her lieutenants crushing the realm. You returned too late...but revenge still burns. Your revenge against the tyrant ended in defeat. But instead of dying, you awaken in the Tavern Outside of Time, a mysterious place forged from memories...To reclaim the kingdom of Lynn and restore your legacy, you must fight through ever-shifting regions and confront the truth behind your revenge."

You'll be able to upgrade and swap abilities mid-run on the branching-choices story path; collect dice enhancements, abilities, and consumables; then beat the boss at the end of your run to Memory Shards that grant permanent new powers when you return to the Tavern to start again.

You can wishlist Odds Chronicles 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.

Keanu Reeves would love to play Johnny Silverhand again, but how can he given the events of Cyberpunk 2077? It turns out Cyberpunk creator Mike Pondsmith has worked out a way to make it make sense, and has told the much-loved actor: “contact me.”

In September, speaking with IGN while promoting his movie Good Fortune, Keanu Reeves said that he wanted to be part of the sequel to CD Projekt's 2020 game.

“Absolutely. I’d love to play Johnny Silverhand again," Reeves said when asked if he’d be interested in revisiting his legendary rockstar terrorist character in Cyberpunk 2.

Reeves's love-affair with the Cyberpunk community began with his viral "you're breathtaking" moment at E3 2019. Reeves, on-stage to announce the release date of Cyberpunk 2077, was interrupted by a fan who shouted out "you're breathtaking!" Reeves' response was to double-down with his own "you're breathtaking... you're all breathtaking!" Cue wholesome memes across the internet forever more. You can see the iconic gamer moment in the video below.

The question is, could Reeves actually play Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2 even if he wanted to? In other words, could Johnny Silverhand return in the sequel, given the events of Cyberpunk 2077?

Warning! Spoilers for Cyberpunk 2077 follow:

While many players believe Cyberpunk 2077 provided a suitable ending for Johnny and V's story, depending on which ending of the game CD Projekt makes canon for Cyberpunk 2, the door may be left open for Reeves' return. Could Johnny return in cameo form perhaps, having downloaded himself into someone or something else? Canon ending dependent, could V end up becoming Johnny Silverhand in mind and body for Cyberpunk 2? Perhaps we could see Johnny as part of a flashback to events before Cyberpunk 2077, as Cyberpunk 2077 had?

It sounds like Mike Pondsmith has been thinking about this ever since Reeves’ interview with IGN. In a CD Projekt livestream to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Cyberpunk 2077, Mike Pondsmith said, matter of factly: “Not that long ago, I saw that Keanu would like to find a way to come back from the dead and play Johnny again. I have ways to do that, Keanu. Contact me.”

Pondsmith, understandably, did not reveal what those “ways” were, but as we’ve mentioned, there are plenty of theories fans have come up with to make it make sense.

Reeves isn’t the only big Hollywood name to appear in Cyberpunk 2077. Idris Elba starred in the successful expansion, Phantom Liberty, which Pondsmith was delighted by. Indeed, he revealed he worried that CD Projekt might get sued because his character, looked so much like Elba, before it was revealed it actually was Elba playing the role.

"'So let me get this straight,'" Pondsmith recalled of his reaction to the news. "'You got Keanu Reeves, and then you turn around and get Idris Elba. What's next? Scarlett Johansson?’

"Scarlett, you know, I have roles for you. You can do anything."

Scarlett Johansson in Cyberpunk 2? That remains to be seen. But Pondsmith has been chatty about the hotly anticipated sequel in the past. In May, Pondsmith teased some previously unknown details when he was asked about the scope of his involvement with Cyberpunk 2 (then known as Project Orion) at the Digital Dragons 2025 conference.

Pondsmith admitted he wasn’t as involved this time around, but said he does review scripts and had been to CD Projekt to check out the ongoing work.

“Last week I was wandering around talking to different departments, and seeing what they had, ‘Oh look, this is the new cyberware, what do you think?’ ‘Oh yeah, that’s pretty good, that works here.’"

And then, the morsel on the sequel: that it features a brand new city in addition to the Night City we know from Cyberpunk 2077. Pondsmith described this new city as “like Chicago gone wrong.”

“I spent a lot of time talking to one of the environment guys, and he was explaining how the new place in Orion, because there’s another city we visit — I’m not telling you any more than that but there’s another city we visit. And Night City is still there. But I remember looking at it and going, yeah I understand the feel you’re going for this, and this really does work. And it doesn’t feel like Blade Runner, it feels more like Chicago gone wrong. I said, ‘Yeah, I can see this working.'”

Former Rockstar boss Dan Houser has explained why the Grand Theft Auto series won’t leave the United States in terms of its setting.

Speaking on the Lex Fridman podcast, Rockstar co-founder and former lead writer Houser said that — GTA London apart — Grand Theft Auto remained firmly rooted in the United States because it leans so heavily on Americana.

“We made a little thing in London 26 years ago — GTA London — for the top-down for PS1. That was pretty cute and fun, as the first mission pack ever for PlayStation 1. I think for a full GTA game, we always decided there was so much Americana inherent in the IP, it would be really hard to make it work in London or anywhere else.

“You know, you needed guns, you needed these larger-than-life characters. It just felt like the game was so much about America, possibly from an outsider's perspective. But that was so much about what the thing was that it wouldn't really have worked in the same way elsewhere.”

It’s a trend that’s set to continue with next year’s GTA 6, which is set in the fictional U.S. state of Leonida (a reimagining of Florida). And based on the two GTA 6 trailers we've seen so far, that parody of American culture is once again front and center.

It’s an interesting time, then, to wonder if GTA might hop on a plane and venture abroad at some point in the future. But it feels unlikely, not just based on Houser’s comments, but based on the GTA brand — built up over decades at this point — and what the public expects from it. Indeed, such is GTA’s relationship with America over the course of its many video games, that a University of Tennessee history professor will teach a GTA college history class early in 2026.

Professor Tore Olsson recently told IGN: “Video games are great at conjuring fictional worlds, but they also impact players’ thinking about real-world times and places. And just as Red Dead Redemption 2 has shaped folks’ perception of the nineteenth-century American West or Ghost of Tsushima has informed their vision of feudal Japan, millions of people around the globe imagine contemporary America through the lens of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Just think of how many GTA veterans have recognized landmarks in Los Angeles and New York thanks to their hours in Los Santos and Liberty City!”

Houser’s position on GTA is similar to that of the creators of post-apocalyptic role-playing game series Fallout, which has also remained in the United States. Last year, Bethesda development chief Todd Howard ruled out leaving the U.S. behind for a future Fallout video game, saying he’s a big fan of the “Americana naivete” that informs so much of Fallout’s tone.

Meanwhile, the wait for GTA 6 goes on, with May 26, 2026 the current release date. We’ve got plenty more on GTA 6, including all the details we’ve discovered so far, a roundup of 70 brand new screenshots, and the expert opinion on how GTA 6 will look on PS5 Pro. As for how much will Grand Theft Auto 6 cost? Amid the speculation, new research has suggested that a $100 price point would actually earn Rockstar less money than if went for the “sweet spot” of $70.

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.

MonsterVerze is a Roblox experience that revolves around fashion, where the afterlife gives you a second chance to serve looks. After suffering an unfortunate accident, you'll be able to travel around the MonsterVerze from the Graveyard to the Train Station and Eerie High.

Along the way, you'll dress up and customize your character, meaning you'll want Ghoulars to spend in the shop. You can pick up Ghoulars while you're running around, but we've also got MonsterVerze codes that you can use to boost your stacks of Ghoulars.

Working MonsterVerze Codes

The following codes have been tested and can be redeemed:

• MVHOMECOMING - Homecoming Balloons, Opal Plushie, 6,000 Ghoulars
• MV1MILLION - Shattered Love Crown
• BUGFIXES02 - 10,000 Ghoulars

How to Use MonsterVerze Codes

Launch MonsterVerze and then follow these steps to redeem codes:

1. Press Play and get into the MonsterVerze
2. Click on the Coffin icon on the right side of the screen
3. Then click on Settings at the bottom of the coffin
4. Copy the code from this article into the Enter Code... box and
5. Press Redeem

Expired MonsterVerze Codes

MonsterVerze has just entered its beta, so there are no expired codes at the moment! Be sure to use the codes in the working section before they disappear.

Why Isn't My MonsterVerze Code Working?

Codes for Roblox experiences are usually case-sensitive, so the best way to ensure you've got a working code is to directly copy it from this article. We check all codes before we upload them, so you can guarantee they're working. Just double-check that you haven't copied over an extra space!

When Is the Next MonsterVerze Update?

MonsterVerze updates every week, on a Sunday. For now, there are no special planned events but we'll be sure to update this article if that changes. The Sunday updates are currently designed to address any bugs and improve quality of life features.

Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.

Microsoft has confirmed the next batch of games set to leave Xbox Game Pass, and one in particular has caused a degree of frustration with subscribers: Stalker 2.

GSC Game World’s Stalker 2 launched as an Xbox console exclusive last year alongside backing from Microsoft. While it is not an Xbox Game Studios-published video game, Microsoft played a key role in its marketing ahead of its much-delayed release date in November 2024. It even worked with the Ukrainian studio on a 90-minute documentary that revealed the difficulty the developers faced building the game amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.

As confirmed by the Xbox app, Stalker 2 is set to leave Game Pass on November 16, 2025, alongside four other games detailed below.

The Godzilla Minus One follow-up is called Godzilla Minus Zero. The announcement was made at Godzilla Fest with the short teaser, below. The styling GODZILLA -0.0 can be seen at the end of the teaser with the official logo.

Minus One director and writer Takashi Yamazaki, who also handled VFX, returns for Minus Zero, which is once again produced by TOHO Studios. Godzilla Minus One was a breakout hit in 2023, winning critical and commercial acclaim internationally alongside a $113 million box office haul. It won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects at the Oscars, with Japanese filmmaker Yamazaki held up as a shining star of the form. IGN’s Godzilla Minus One review returned an 8/10. We said: “A grand, sweeping blockbuster, Godzilla Minus One is light on terror and heavy on spectacle.”

The follow-up comes as no surprise given the success of Godzilla Minus One, which is the third-highest-grossing foreign-language film in U.S. box office history with $56.4 million domestically, and the highest-grossing Japanese film ever at the U.S. box office. This is all the more impressive when you consider Godzilla Minus One’s lean production budget of around $15 million.

"Our situation was unique, given how I was situated in the larger scheme of the overall production," Yamazaki told IGN in a previous interview. "And the fact that I had a clear goal, more perhaps than other directors, because of my VFX background. There are good inefficiencies and bad inefficiencies. We focused on the approval process in different ways to streamline certain aspects of the VFX pipeline."

There is of course plenty of speculation about what the title, Godzilla Minus Zero, means for the movie itself. There’s no official word, but it’s worth noting that Godzilla Minus One was so-called because it took place before 1954’s Godzilla. Perhaps the movie after Minus Zero will be Godzilla... Plus One? And there are plenty of fans having fun with '-0.0' as a number that doesn't really exist.

Warning! Spoilers for Godzilla Minus One’s ending below:

At the end of Godzilla: Minus One, it’s revealed that Noriko miraculously survived the rampaging kaiju’s atomic blast, which leveled Tokyo. What’s more, Noriko mysteriously survived with minimal damage, save for an obfuscated black mark on her neck. During last year’s Godzilla Fest in Osaka, Yamazaki confirmed that the black marks on Noriko’s neck were Godzilla cells or G-cells. Yamazaki’s remarks about Godzilla Minus One's cliffhanger not only led to a roar of applause from thousands of excited Godzilla fans in attendance but also reignited months-old fan theories about what direction a potential sequel film could take.

Godzilla Minus Zero does not have a release date.

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.

This ain’t the 90s, folks. Many - if not most - games today don’t just live on a disc or a one-time download anymore. They live online as live services, delivered through patches, DLC drops, seasonal updates, ranked matches and live-service events.

Did you know your internet speed plan and home setup might be the final boss standing between you waiting to download the latest patch and actually playing it?

Now that nbn has introduced accelerated wholesale speeds on select Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) plans across Australia, eligible gamers have a chance to unlock a smoother connection that is built for the demands of today and designed to be ready for what is coming next. Here is why speed can make a difference, now more than ever.

Faster Downloads Could Mean First Dibs on Content

Gamers are wired for speed - we want everything immediately. We want in on new features, bug fixes and DLC the moment they are live (and sometimes that’s still not quick/soon/fast enough). That said, today’s game updates can be massive. We’re not talking a few hundred megabytes anymore.

We’re talking a night-killing gigabytes of data - 50, 100 or even up to 200 and often simultaneously with other downloads. On a 50Mbps download speed, a 200 GB file can take hours or could take almost as long as a Lord of the Rings marathon, to install. Meanwhile your mates are already power leveling and you’re stuck doomscrolling on your phone while the progress bar drag across the screen.

On an nbn® wholesale HFC or full fibre high speed plan, those same downloads can finish in a fraction of the time. Eligible Aussie homes can now enjoy up to 5x faster nbn wholesale speeds on select HFC and full fibre plans. Instead of watching your console crawl through a glacial install process, you are in the lobby, headset on, party chat buzzing. While you’re playing, faster speeds helps your online sessions stay smooth, even if the rest of the household is smashing the connection.*

Since nbn is a wholesaler, we recommend that you speak with your preferred internet provider to find a speed plan that suits your household.

As one of the most prolific and profitable subgenres in cinema, audiences are always in the mood for some spooky scaries. Fortunately, thanks to the accessibility of streaming services, places like Netflix are home to a plethora of chilling choices. Between original offerings and licensed titles, there’s a horror movie for anyone and everyone. To get you started, we’ve tracked down some of the must-see horror titles currently available to stream on Netflix.

Those original offerings are becoming more important. Netflix's horror section has eliminated many titles released before 2000, except maybe around Halloween. The platform is all-in on exclusives and international titles, which often get added with little fanfare. Netflix is letting other streamers keep their Conjurverse entries and familiar classics. We're here to try everything and let you know what's worthwhile.

Oh, and when you're done here, be sure to also check out our list of the Best Horror Movies of All Time.

Please note: This list pertains to U.S. Netflix subscribers. Some titles may not currently be available on international platforms. This article is frequently amended to remove films no longer on Netflix and to include more horror movies that are now available on the service.

Host (2020)

It's the scary movie that took lockdown by storm. Rob Savage's haunted Zoom flick Host hit AMC’s horror platform Shudder when we were all trapped inside by COVID-19, forced into virtual socialization. It was the nightmare we were already living with a genre twist, which became both relatable and creatively eye-catching. In terms of Screenlife horror titles—where cinematography is confined to technology screens—Host does a great deal right. Even better, it's just shy of sixty minutes. There's no wasted time, it's effectively spooky, and it's no longer contained to Shudder.

Sinister (2012)

It's the movie that brought together screenwriter C. Robert Cargill and filmmaker Scott Derrickson. Sinister wasn't beloved when it came out in 2012, but has since become regarded as one of the scariest movies of the 2010s and beyond. The film's usage of Super 8 murder footage and Bughuul's scare tactics is top-of-the-line horror imagery, wrapped around a true crime author's investigation of pure evil. Cargill and Derrickson understand the horror genre on such a granular level, which is why the film has endured over the years as horror fans sang rightful praises. There was even a scientific study done in 2020 that dubbed Sinister the scariest film ever made, so watch if you dare. Maybe keep the light on for this one.

The Blackening (2022)

“We can’t all die first.” Tim Story’s humorous send-up of Black horror tropes is both amusing and thrilling. The Blackening roasts racist horror tropes thanks to a hilarious ensemble, with credit to writers Tracy Oliver and Dewayne Perkins. It’s more horror than comedy as a horror-comedy, but the way Story levels satire as a means of advancing the way we think about and see horror stereotypes is worth a watch. The third act struggles to stick the landing, but everything that comes before it will have you laughing at the genre’s past as Story ushers us into a more inclusive future.

The Strangers (2008)

We all know that quote from The Strangers. “Because you were home.” Bryan Bertino’s evil depiction of random violence has become a 2000s horror staple thanks to the inescapable dread of unknown motives. For that reason, I beg that you never watch Renny Harlin’s ongoing trilogy of films that so confusingly tries to give The Strangers a backstory. The original is on Netflix and deserves your attention, as does Johannes Roberts’ worthy sequel, The Strangers: Prey at Night.

Escape Room (2019)

The idea of an escape room as the location of a horror film is so juicy, and I’m not sure there’s a better exploitation of the concept than Adam Robitel’s Escape Room. It’s the right formula—a group enters, and each room poses a new, heightened threat. The gameplay elements are devious yet fun-filled (for us viewers), while this grander universe of gamemasters organizing these sick, twisted events becomes an intriguing draw. Escape Room goes all-in on production value and nails the execution, building intricate rooms with unique obstacles that trigger horrid consequences. Plain and simple, it’s good ol’ “horrortainment” for the masses.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Netflix houses a limited collection of older horror films, so when something like Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre finds its way onto the platform, you have to take advantage. What's left to be said about this sordid 1970s slasher baked under the blistering sun? It's got Leatherface, revving chainsaws, and a sadistic mindset that turns cannibalistic. Hooper's massively influential release spawned countless imitators produced by creators who saw horror as a genre where you could spend a little and strike huge returns, but few are as good as the original. If you know, you know—but if you haven't seen The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, now's your chance.

Train to Busan (2016)

If Sang-ho Yeon’s Train To Busan is streaming on a platform, it will be in my recommendations. No exceptions. South Korea’s breakneck zombie thriller jams all the hyper-intensity of World War Z into a speeding commuter vessel and it’s non-stop excitement. Everyone from baseball players to businesspeople must band together when the undead sprint into stations where the train stops. Once the wheels start turning, Yeon’s film never ceases momentum — that’s why it’s one of the best zombie films to release in the last decade (minimum).

Dead Talent's Society (2024)

I've said it before and I'll say it again: John Hsu's Dead Talents Society is a cutesy and buoyant Taiwanese horror-comedy guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Expect shades of Monsters Inc. and Beetlejuice, as the dead compete in afterlife competitions as scare celebrities. It's partially a sports comedy as Gingle Wang's rookie specter strives to become a legendary scare master, but there are also creepy paranormal thrills and hilarious gore moments. Dead Talents Society is a bit of everything as a horror-comedy, and always for the better. Be sure to give this import a shot.

Death Note (2017)

Adam Wingard’s Death Note adaptation failed to start a franchise for Netflix, but I think the overall reception was a bit harsh. I don’t mind Death Note, Willem Dafoe’s Ryuk, or Wingard’s translation of manga pages to screen. Lakeith Stanfield ends up stealing the show as prodigy detective “L,” but that’s not to dismiss a cast that includes Margaret Qualley and Shea Whigham. Sure, it’s uneven when considering how gory some scenes are followed by something oddly neutered, but the overall experience is worth a watch if you’ve been avoiding Death Note since its less-than-glowing debut.

Grave Torture (2024)

Joko Anwar’s been busily putting modern Indonesian horror on the map with titles like Satan’s Slaves and Impetigore (streamable on Shudder). Now he’s taking over Netflix with his latest feature film, Grave Torture. Anwar’s style blends cultural touchstones with universal horror vibes, in this case depicting Siksa Kubur (aka grave torture), a punishment inflicted on sinners after death. It’s a religiously coded nightmare complete with frightening visuals and harrowing death sequences, confronting beliefs and traditions with grim tones. It’s what Anwar does best, and while I’d rate Grave Torture on the lower end of the filmmaker’s catalog, that’s only to emphasize the quality of his other works.

Till Death (2021)

"A woman finds herself shackled to a corpse as part of a revenge plot." Megan Fox plays the previously mentioned woman handcuffed to her stone-cold dead ex in one of her recent indie horror ventures. It's not that Till Death is revolutionary; more how Fox carries a gimmick film through engaging thrills as she drags her co-star's lifeless body around a house and away from killers. Till Death knows it's only ever trying to be a chilly Friday night stream at barely ninety minutes, and that's the proper mindset. Fox's "comeback tour" raises eyebrows with Till Death, a movie worth a gamble based on the premise's better-than-expected execution.

It’s What’s Inside (2024)

I’m a sucker for “party horror” movies like Talk to Me or Bodies Bodies Bodies, where gameplay becomes a nightmare for characters. Greg Jardin’s It’s What’s Inside is the latest example, blending sci-fi ambitions with parlor entertainment for pre-wedding festivities. It’s a story that relies on twists and turns, which won’t spoiled here, so trust my praise when I say it’s one of the year’s most thrilling and addictive mysteries. Expect an existential, out-of-body whodunit, playing blame games versus pursuing bloodcurdling frights. Put this one on with a group and have a blast — those are the vibes.

Under Paris (2024)

Xavier Gens’ Under Paris reverses the curse on a recent drought of good shark horror movies. It’s a ridiculous hybrid that somehow stays afloat between Jaws themes and a Geostorm-bonkers disaster scope. A mako shark gets loose in the ​​Seine River just before a massive triathlon that Paris’ leadership refuses to reschedule. It’s not an all-out action flick until about two-thirds through, but that doesn’t sink the experience. For those who love Dick Maas movies like Uncaged or Amsterdamned, Under Paris flows with the same vibes. Early patience is rewarded with a high-intensity third act filled with bloody waters, frantic swimmers, and enough governmental incompetence to make Mayor Larry Vaughn blush.

The Conference (2023)

Work sucks, but luckily The Conference doesn’t. It’s a furious “Worksploitation” slasher that puts a knife to the throat of scummy corporate culture. Kills all have a taste of the great outdoors since the film takes place at a woodland work retreat, from machetes through hammocks to a splashy jacuzzi death. The Swedish commentary on greedy business folk comes with a nasty savageness and cheeky workplace satires, comparable to other winning work retreat horror tales like Severance.

Eli (2019)

Eli can feel like a horror movie Mad Libs as the story keeps evolving, but that becomes the film’s ultimate charm. It’s about a boy suffering from an auto-immune disease trapped in a quarantine environment who begins to ponder his imprisonment. The “Bubble Boy” beginning turns into a haunted house thriller that becomes an even crazier third act that I won’t spoil for you now. I’m not saying every big swing is successful, but I’ll go to bat for Eli as a horror film that loves to prove expectations wrong. Give me weird and wild over conventional any day — especially when you have the freedom of streaming releases over theatrical constraints.

Nobody Sleeps In The Woods Tonight (2020)

In the mood for a 2020s Polish slasher created by lovers of 80s American horror trends? Bartosz M. Kowalski uses the campground massacre template to execute a contemporary slasher that feels as throwback as rereleases of Crystal Pepsi. It's a familiar brand of campers meeting gruesome fates one by one with a massive emphasis on practical effects, the goriest and most obscene of which become an overall saving grace. Kowalski aims to prove that Polish slashers can hack 'em up with the best of them, even if there's not much else to praise with the same enthusiasm. If you want blood, you've got it by the truckload.

Girls With Balls (2018)

It’s killer rednecks versus a championship volleyball squad in Girls With Balls. Expect a horror comedy with exploding heads and a musical cowboy acting as a narrator who sings about the gratuitous violence on screen. Don’t expect a brilliant subversion of gender tropes in slasher movies — Girls With Balls is an effects-heavy slaughter spree that doesn’t try to be anything else. International approaches to comedy make some jokes harder to laugh at stateside, so as long as you can focus on the balls-out aggression on screen, you should find entertainment in another bloody backwoods fight for survival.

The Block Island Sound (2020)

Kevin McManus and Matthew McManus summon a creepy coastal caper from the depths of Rhode Island waters. It’s more eerie than aggressive as multiple subgenres swirl together in this unsettling waterlogged mystery. You can expect psychological horror, eco-horror, aquatic horror, even possession horror as Block Island community members try to understand the unexplainable events washing upon their shores. The Block Island Sound weaponizes the idea of "siren songs," toys with out-of-body nightmares, and mixes a spoonful of grief into the batter as storytelling churns like a storm that won’t pass.

Before I Wake (2016)

It’s the Mike Flanagan movie that gets talked about the least — in my experience — yet deserves the world. Flanagan does what he does best: tell a powerfully emotional story using fear, family, and creatures. Jacob Tremblay plays an adopted child who’s terrified of falling asleep because of a ghoulish figure known as “The Canker Man.” Butterflies and fantasy worlds don’t detail the scariest horror experience, as Flanagan leans on childhood imaginations that turn traumatic memories into inescapable boogeymen. Maybe it’s that softness of scare volumes — coupled with unfortunate studio bankruptcies that forced an unceremonious Netflix dump premiere — that caused such comparatively little fanfare over the years (considering Flanagan’s hype elsewhere). Hopefully my recommendation can help Before I Wake find new streaming life.

Under The Shadow (2016)

Babak Anvari’s Under the Shadow is a phenomenal cross section of national trauma invaded by nightmare demons. A family in war-torn Iran is plagued by visits from djinns as if exploding bombs outside and military threats weren’t enough. Anvari manipulates shadows and creates haunted architectures under Iraq-Iran conflict conditions, highlighting the terrors of both. There are some extremely effective scares and fresh deliveries of otherwise common fright-flick molds because, when in doubt, turn to international flavors for something original.

Incantation (2022)

Kevin Ko’s Taiwanese found footage flick Incantation speaks in clichés, but that doesn’t make them any less frightening. You’ll get a few good jolts as a mother must protect her daughter from evils she called upon by breaking religious taboos. Translation: foolish viral video ghost hunters defy the unknown and pay consequences both then and later. The script is murky on the camera’s rules regarding who is filming from a found footage sense and taboo happenings around the entity’s curse. Nevertheless, there’s an interesting concept around interactive found footage horror that smacks of the Ring franchise in its social media focuses, and you’ll yip a few scared noises — you could do way worse on Netflix.

Read our review of Incantation.

There’s Someone Inside Your House (2021)

Patrick Brice’s slasher adaptation accomplishes two massive feats for modern horror flicks: keeps us guessing and slaughters without restraint. It’s another film about teenagers getting sliced and diced by a masked killer, but it’s stylish and fierce enough to carve its own path. Situational misdirects keep audiences guessing who could be guilty of mass murder as characters point fingers while blood runneth everywhere from church confessional booths to aflame corn mazes. Don’t expect the next Scream or anything, just a solid contemporary slasher that succeeds when it matters most.

Cargo (2017)

One of Netflix's first original horror films is still one of my favorites. Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke's Cargo stars Martin Freeman as a father traversing the Australian outback with his daughter — also, there are zombies. Think The Walking Dead as an undead film that's more about its human characters facing survival drama than zombie action, except this one packs sturdy emotional stakes. Freeman's traveler encounters psychos, ferocious walkers, and weather elements that add thrills to Cargo, but what's unexpected is how a baby doesn't weigh the narrative down. Child subplots in horror are a tricky formula to crack that Cargo gets right, as the fears of protective parents translate into a hearty zombie experience.

Read our review of Cargo.

The Babysitter (2017)

Does The Babysitter indulge McG’s tendencies as a director who loves popular needle drops and quotes pop culture like a middle schooler who discovered HBO? Yes. Is it also written by Brian Duffield of Spontaneous fame — a magnificent young adult dark comedy – and does it star modern scream queen in the making, Samara Weaving? Thankfully, these saving graces play into McG’s bounce-about take on horrific humor as a child realizes his babysitter is performing a cult ritual while mom and dad are out for the night. A supporting cast including Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Hana Mae Lee, and Andrew Bachelor all have their moments subverting specific “hunted home alone” tropes — still, The Babysitter is Samara Weaving’s showcase. Tune in, share some laughs, soak in a devilish Weaving performance, and check out Netflix’s funniest spooky original so far.

Read our review of The Babysitter.

The Ritual (2017)

Netflix's original horror game rose to another level with The Ritual, David Bruckner's directorial debut outside segments in The Signal, V/H/S, and Southbound. Four friends take a northern Swedish hiking trip in memory of their deceased fifth, only to become victims of a woodland nightmare. Visions begin by layering psychological horror as the characters confront fears or guilt, then cultism adds communal dread, and lastly, Bruckner delivers on creature-feature goods. One source of terror feeds into the next and provokes future traumas, all interconnected as Bruckner weaves in and out of multiple horror subgenres with ease. There's so much to enjoy as Swedish forestation becomes an isolated outdoor prison, and then all hell breaks loose. Bruckner flaunts his filmmaking chops in a significant way.

Blood Red Sky (2021)

Peter Thorwarth’s Blood Red Sky boils down to vampires on a plane — but not like the SYFY channel throwaway such a title suggests. Nadja (Peri Baumeister) is a bloodsucking mother whose only motivation is to keep her son alive from hijackers who want to crash a commercial flight. It’s far tenser and emotionally comprehensive than expected, staying far away from being another Snakes on a Plane knockoff. Performances are substantial, whether gruff terrorists or ferocious mothers, while intensity drives home an action-horror experience like airliner blockbuster Non-Stop but with more sucked blood. It's a solid vampire movie worth your time.

Apostle (2018)

Director Gareth Evans did not come to play with the gorgeous and gory Apostle. While the Netflix original is several years old at this point, it still feels like this one never got the attention it quite deserved. Before the era where Netflix original films were super prevalent, Apostle follows Thomas Richardson (played by none other than Dan Stephens) as he seeks out to rescue his sister from a strange, secluded cult.

#Alive (2020)

No one does a zombie movie quite like South Korea, and #Alive is one of the absolute best. A video game streamer decides to lock himself in his apartment while a zombie outbreak destroys the surrounding city of Seoul, but just as he’s losing all hope, he discovers that his neighbor in the apartment across from him is also still alive. The two create a zipline to share food, and share walkie-talkies to communicate with one another, while zombies terrorize the world outside of their walls. It’s a film as much about the human need for interaction as it is about survival, and the constant threat of zombies keeps keeps every moment filled with exhilarating tension.

Creep (2014)

Fans of POV/found footage horror films, rejoice, because Creep is one of the best in this style. In Patrick Brice’s directorial debut, Creep follows a filmmaker named Aaron who answers a strange man named Josef’s online ad to film him for the day, the final request of a man claiming to be dying of cancer hoping to make a video for his unborn child. Upon arrival, Aaron realizes that there’s something super weird about Josef and with the camera constantly rolling, we witness the absurdity and danger in store for Aaron. Come for the wild as hell Mark Duplass performance, stay for the Peachfuzz mask. If you love it, Netflix also has the sequel — Creep 2.

The Fear Street Trilogy

Leigh Janiak was the talk of the summer when Netflix dropped the cinematic trilogy based on the popular book series by “Goosebumps” author R.L. Stine, Fear Street. The Fear Street trilogy brought three separate movies to tell one cohesive story about the cursed town of Shadyside and the inhabitants impacted by generational horror. Each film is predominantly set in a different time period, delivering a little treat for fans of slashers, hauntings, teen horror, queer horror, and folk horror. The three films work best when watched all together, but each film can successfully stand on its own, making it a must-see trilogy.

Gerald’s Game (2017)

Stephen King’s Gerald’s Game was considered to be his “unfilmable” work, but if anyone is capable of proving King wrong, it’s Mike Flanagan. The man behind The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, Hush, Doctor Sleep, and others successfully tackled Gerald’s Game and provided one of Netflix’s best original horror releases. Gerald’s Game is a terrifying descent into madness and home to a dynamite leading performance by Carla Gugino.

His House (2020)

Remi Weekes truly made something special with His House, arguably one of the scariest films on the Netflix roster. A haunted house story on the surface, His House centers on a refugee couple escaping war-torn Sudan only to find that the English town they’ve fled to may be just as harrowing as the land they left. The source of the film’s horror lies not just with the supernatural elements, but also with themes of grief, guilt, abandonment, xenophobia, and assimilation. It’s a powerful haunt that will linger with you long after the credits roll.

May The Devil Take You (2018)

If there’s one area where Netflix thrives with their horror offerings, it’s with their international selection of scares. Genre fans have been praising the work of Timo Tjahjanto for years with his standout shorts in The ABCs of Death and V/H/S/2, but his feature film work in Indonesia is arguably his best, and Netflix’ acquisition has brought his work to mainstream Western audiences. In May The Devil Take You, a young woman visits her father’s former home trying to find the answer regarding his mysterious illness, only to discover the horrifying truth about his past.

The Perfection (2018)

Go into The Perfection as clueless as possible (but be aware of some triggering rape stuff), because half the fun of this psychological horror film is trying (and failing) to guess just what happens next. Allison Wiliams plays a former cello prodigy who returns to her prestigious music school to find that she’s been replaced by the new star student, Lizzie played by Logan Browning. The Perfection plays with exploitation film conventions and completely subverts them on their head in absolutely unpredictable ways. It’s a wild thrill ride and truly, perfection.

Vampires Vs. The Bronx (2020)

Vampires have been used as metaphors for a variety of othering, but Vampires Vs. The Bronx highlights humanity’s true villain –gentrification. After a trio of young best friends discover a brood of vampires are preparing to destroy The Bronx, they take matters into their own hands and get the community together to fight back against the monsters invading their home. Calling it The Lost Boys for a new generation feels too easy, but the Frog Brothers would be proud do see how Miguel, Bobby, Luis, Gloria, Lil Mayor, and the rest of the gang tackle the aptly named Murnau real estate film. Leave the stake, take the adobo.

See our list of the best vampire movies for more like this.

What are you favorite horror movies on Netflix? Let's discuss in the comments!

We've rounded up the best deals for Sunday, November 2, below, so don't miss out on these limited-time offers.

Bleach Rebirth of Souls for $34.99

We've rounded up the best deals for Saturday, November 1, below, so don't miss out on these limited-time offers.

Save $5 Off Kirby Air Riders

After another round of price hikes, it's worth paying closer attention to what Disney+ is offering its subscribers. Over the course of November, the streamer will get a selection of holiday-themed picks, particularly from the likes of Food Network, as well as a decent spread of rom-coms. From the MCU, we'll get the streaming release for Fantastic Four: First Steps, while a documentary about James Cameron's Avatar movies should give us a glimpse at Fire and Ash. And, of course, there's plenty of Disney Jr. series too.

Here's the full breakdown of what's hitting Disney+ in November.

Everything Coming to Disney+ in November

Ongoing Series

Several series will release new episodes on Disney+ throughout November. Dancing With the Stars continues in its 34th season, with new episodes streaming on Tuesdays until the winner is crowned on November 25. Disney Twisted-Wonderland, the villain-themed anime, will get new episodes every Wednesday. Subscribers will also sporadically see new episodes from Marvel’s “Amazing Friends” Disney Jr. series.

November 1

• CoComelon JJ’s Animal Time S1-3
• Joy to the World

Starting off the month, the youngins will get several seasons of the animal-themed CoComelon series. Joy to the World, a collaboration with Hulu, kicks off the rom-com holiday season with a classic “pretend to be my boyfriend, oops now we're in love for real” scheme.

November 5

• Fantastic Four: First Steps
• Disney Twisted Wonderland: The Animation (New Episode)

The big MCU streaming release of the month. First Steps introduced us to the MCU’s take on the Fantastic Four in a retro-futuristic version of the '60s. Clint Gage highlights the cast themselves in his review for IGN, describing a certain "charisma to each of them individually and chemistry between them all.” Definitely worth a watch, especially for anyone trying to do their homework before next year’s Avengers: Doomsday.

November 7

• Fire and Water: Making the Avatar Films
• Life-Size
• Love+War
• The Worst Trip Around the World
• Seventeen: Our Chapter

It’s documentary time. As you can glean from the title, Fire and Water will take a deep dive into the making of Avatar: The Way of Water while also, I imagine, giving us some fresh information about the upcoming sequel, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Love+War, another documentary from National Geographic, celebrates the work of photojournalist Lynsey Addario.

The theme continues with SEVENTEEN: Our Chapter, which follows the 13-member K-pop boy group preparing for a string of temporary absences. After premiering on November 7, new episodes will be released weekly on Fridays.

November 8

• 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - 8pm ET/11pm PT

You’ll be able to watch this year’s induction ceremony through Disney+ starting at 8pm ET. Honorees include Outkast, the White Stripes, Soundgarden, and Cyndi Lauper.

November 12

• Marvel’s Iron Man and his Amazing Friends (New Episodes)
• Freakier Friday

The lega-sequel to 1999’s iconic body switch flick, Freakier Friday is coming to Disney+ a relatively standard three months after its initial release in theaters. In her review of the movie for IGN, Petrana Radulovic’s candid take was that "some of it slogs along, but thanks to Lohan and Curtis’s stellar performances and the underlying emotional strength of the story, the movie is a worthy sequel.”

November 14

• Madame Web
• Botched Bariatrics
• LEGO Marvel Avengers: Strange Tails
• A Very Jonas Christmas Movie

Oh, Madame Web. Released as part of the Sony Spider-verse, which has reportedly been put to rest, Madame Web achieved near "It’s Morbin’ Time" levels of online notoriety. Francesca Rivera’s review for IGN doesn’t hold back in calling the film a “waste of talent,” but as someone who did pay money to see this in theaters, I think watching it at home with friends and no expectations could be a good time.

We’re also getting a new LEGO Marvel Avengers special. We don’t have too much information about it, other than a promotional image that shows a pretty massive spread of Marvel characters in plastic brick form. And yes, there is a Jo-Bros Christmas movie.

November 18

• Me and Mickey: In the Clubhouse S4 (New Episodes)
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ (New Episodes)

Disney has taken a few different approaches to modernizing its classic Mickey Mouse Clubhouse series. The Me and Mickey series, entering its fourth season, is a more interactive “vlogging” style with shorter-form videos. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ was just revived on Disney Jr. this past July, with a similar structure to the original series but with the addition of some new characters and hangout areas.

November 21

• Biography: Dolly Parton
• Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup
• Seventeen: Our Chapter (New Episode)
• Wrath: A Seven Deadly Sins Story
• A Day Late and a Dollar Short
• A House on Fire
• Tempting Fate

This one’s an interesting spread. We get documentaries about country icon Dolly Parton, as well as another update on Gypsy Rose. Otherwise, Disney+ is getting a spread of TV movies, including Lifetime’s Wrath installment in their Seven Deadly Sins series and the network's adaptation of A Day Late and a Dollar Short.

November 22

• Christmas Cookie Challenge

My personal favorite “holiday” series are all the baking and cooking specials, so thank you Food Network for offering up your Christmas Cookie Challenge.

November 24

• Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember

Chris Hemsworth and his father Craig take a road trip across Australia, exploring how memories and their bond can help Craig’s battle with Alzheimer’s.

November 25

• Dancing With the Stars S34 - Finale

November 26

• The Beatles Anthology
• Chibi Tiny Tales S5
• Kiff S2 (New Episodes)
• Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends (New Episodes)

Disney+ will be releasing the restored and remastered episodes from the hallmark Beatles Anthology docu-series over the course of three days. The streamer will also be getting new episodes from Kiff, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, and the most recent spread of Chibi Tiny Tales shorts.

November 27

• The Beatles Anthology (New Episodes)

November 28

• The Beatles Anthology (New Episodes)
• Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol

The fifth addition to Disney’s Prep & Landing animated TV special series will arrive on streaming the day after airing on the Disney Channel. An elf, Wayne, revisits his career working for Santa after a mission in the North Pole goes off the rails.

November 29

• Holiday Baking Championship

The Food Network series returns for its 12th season, bringing 10 bakers from across America to compete in a series of holiday-themed challenges. This year, bakers will be split into “Naughty” and “Nice” teams.

New Disney+ Streams

Disney+ streams are exclusive to Premium subscribers, offering a 24/7 run of themed episodes or specific series (a full circle to cable, in some ways). On November 4, Disney+ will launch “Seasons Streaming,” featuring a run of both Thanksgiving and holiday-themed episodes and movies. “Throwback” will launch on November 5, featuring a constant feed of Disney’s “greatest hits” from 2010 and earlier.

Reminder: Disney+ Subscriptions Are More Expensive Now

On October 21, all Disney+ plans increased by around $2-3/month, meaning you will see a higher charge on your account in November and going forward. You can check out our full breakdown of Disney+ pricing (including bundles), or see offers through Disney+ below. If the price hike is making you second guess the subscription, I won’t judge you for taking a look at how to cancel.

Playground Basketball is a competitive Roblox experience, where you'll be able to shoot hoops in the city, on the court, or at the park. Whether you're going 1v1 or 2v2, you'll need to create and customize a character. They can specialize in athleticism, dunking, ball handling, and more, all in the hopes of becoming the best player. So while you concentrate on scoring, we'll help you get the codes you need for additional coins.

Working Playground Basketball Codes

The following codes have been tested and are active:

• UPDATE1 - 4,500 Coins
• THANKSFOR2500LIKES - 1,500 Coins

How to Use Playground Basketball Codes

Before you're able to redeem Playground Basketball codes, you'll need to like the game and join the group for Playground Basketball | Community. Then, launch the experience and follow these steps:

1. Look for the icons in the top right corner of the screen. One of these is a blue gift box.
2. Click on the gift box to bring up the codes menu
3. Copy the code from this article and then paste it into the bar
4. Press redeem and receive your rewards!

Expired Playground Basketball Codes

The following codes can no longer be redeemed. Be sure to use the codes above before they expire!

• SORRYFORBUGS

Why Isn't My Playground Basketball Code Working?

Codes for Roblox experiences are usually case-sensitive, so the best way to ensure you've got a working code is to directly copy it from this article. We check all codes before we upload them, so you can guarantee they're working. Just double-check that you haven't copied over an extra space!

When Is the Next Playground Basketball Update?

Playground Basketball is already planning their second update, and like lots of Roblox experiences, it's getting into the spooky season. Update 2 for Playground Basketball will launch a Halloween event, along with new Halloween currency and haunting rewards.

Lauren Harper is an Associate Guides Editor. She loves a variety of games but is especially fond of puzzles, horrors, and point-and-click adventures.

Without fail, LEGO puts out new sets each month, but November is about as light a month as I’ve seen when it comes to new releases. That’s cool, though, because the two sets coming out in November (and their accompanying free Gifts With Purchase) are great. Plus, if you want lots of sets, check out October's LEGO releases, which were numerous. Anyway, let’s dive in to November's fresh new LEGO sets.

LEGO Ideas: The Goonies

The 1985 movie The Goonies is one of those enduring classics that both adults and kids can appreciate equally. On the back side of this set, you get a recreation of the Inferno pirate ship. On the front side, you’ll find the Fratellis’ hideaway, caves, and One-Eyed Willy’s treasure room. As you might expect, these rooms are packed with booby traps and Easter eggs from the movie.

The Goonies GWP - The Walshes’ Attic

And as an added bonus, if you buy this set between between November 1 - 7, while supplies last, you’ll receive The Goonies: The Walshes’ Attic as a free Gift With Purchase (GWP).

LEGO Tropical Aquarium

This set reminds me of the LEGO Botanicals line, because it’s a decorative set aimed at adults, and that it takes a lot less maintenance and upkeep than its real-life counterpart. This sizable build gets you a colorful, three-dimensional aquarium, complete with swimming fish and plenty of underwater flora that move in realistic ways when you operate hidden levers. The best part is, you don’t have to feed the fish or clean the aquarium.

Tropical Aquarium GWP - Fish Tank Filter & Fish Food Set

And once again as an added bonus, if you buy LEGO Tropical Aquarium between November 13 and November 19, and you’ll get a free Fish Tank Filter & Fish Food set as a GWP.

Gift With Purchase - LEGO Disney Classic Animation Scenes

Spend $130 or more on the LEGO Store between now and November 11, and you’ll get LEGO Classic Animation Scenes for free. The set is valued at $19.99 and is an old-school CRT television, complete with knobs and bunny ears. It comes with three inserts you can use for what’s being displayed on the TV. One is the Disney castle logo, which plays before every Disney movie. The other two are miniature scenes from Toy Story and The Lion King. Not a bad freebie at all, but it’s only available during the brief window, and while supplies last.

Double Insider Points on LEGO Ideas: Italian Riviera

Black Friday LEGO Set 2025

Traditionally, LEGO releases a massive set right around Black Friday each year. Last year, it was LEGO The Endurance, which we found to be a fascinating historical set when we built it. In 2023, LEGO released the Avengers Tower set, and in 2022 it was the Eiffel Tower set, which remains among the biggest LEGO sets available. In 2021, it was the massive (and now-retired) Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series AT-AT, while 2020 brought us the Colosseum.

This year’s Black Friday set hasn’t been announced yet, but rumor has it that it will be the Star Trek set LEGO has teased. If you don’t mind possible spoilers, some leaks suggest it will be the USS Enterprise-D, the ship from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

LEGO Sets Available for Preorder

Since November’s pickings are fairly slim, it’s worth looking ahead to sets scheduled to release in the coming months.

LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Sets

LEGO Has announced four new LEGO Batman sets for Legacy of the Dark Knight, a video game launching next year.

LEGO Speed Champions Lightning McQueen

In an age where digital platforms can pull culturally beloved content from their sites and kick films and TV series between each other seemingly at random, there’s never been a better time to commit to physical media. Not only does owning your content ensure you’ll have access no matter what the business papers say that day, but it also means you can tune out and enjoy a viewing without worrying about buffering, system outages, or connectivity issues. So, with a Blu-ray comeback on the menu, and every retailer vying for your previous dollars, we’ve rounded up a list of the best places to buy Blu-rays online.

The Criterion Collection

Ahead of Black Friday, Amazon dropped prices on official Xbox wireless controllers in Robot White and Carbon Black to just $39.99, which is impressive considering the fact that Microsoft raised the retail price of all of its controllers earlier in May. I recommend getting the Carbon Black model because it also includes a bonus USB Type-C charging cable. Not only are these the best controllers for the Xbox at this price, they're also one of the best PC gaming controllers.

Xbox Wireless Controllers for $39.99