Nintendo said "Retail pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 will begin on April 24, 2025. At launch, the price for Nintendo Switch 2 in the U.S. will remain as announced on April 2 at $449.99, and the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle will remain as announced at $499.99. Pricing for both physical and digital versions of Mario Kart World ($79.99) and Donkey Kong Bananza ($69.99) will also remain unchanged at launch."
A Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle will also be available for $499.99, including the console and a download code for Mario Kart World, both launching on June 5. For those purchasing Mario Kart World separately, Nintendo has set the price at $79.99. Preorder listings for various Switch 2 launch titles have already started appearing at major retailers like Walmart.
You can currently register your interest with Nintendo to be notified about preorders for Nintendo Switch 2 and accessories from My Nintendo Store. Invitations to purchase will be sent via email on a first-come, first-served basis, prioritizing users with a 12-month Nintendo Switch Online membership and at least 50 gameplay hours as of April 2, 2025.
Once priority users receive invites, remaining eligible registrants will be considered. Invitations are non-transferable and valid for 72 hours. Purchases are limited to one system and one of each accessory per account. All major retailers are also expected to open up preorders on April 9, 2025, as well.
Still, this means that you won’t be able to bring your old storage cards over when you pick up the console this summer. To eventually expand your storage, you'll need to check out the cards that SanDisk and Lexar have listed on Amazon, and that we've linked to below, alongside GameStop, which is producing its own line of cards. This currently includes 128GB ($44.99), 256GB ($49.99), 512GB ($84.99), and 1TB versions ($149.99). Note: These cards have also already started to sell out at various retailers.
Switch 2 Game Preorder Listings
The games that are featured in these listings are a mix of brand-new and Switch 2 upgrades. The most popular new games like Donkey Kong Bananza and Mario Kart World are listed here, but there's also the Switch 2 edition of Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom.
Some of these games will arrive on the Switch 2 launch date of June 5 if you preorder them, but there are more to come at a later date. Donkey Kong Bananza doesn't come out until July 17, about a month after the launch of the new console.
Nintendo Switch 2 Prices:
Why is everything so expensive? Asked Rebekah Valentine in her column for IGN. And it's a fair question. Since its reveal, the conversation surrounding the Switch 2 has transfomed into a headache inducing question of price. Not only for the system itself, but also for the games and accessories you're going to need alongside it as well.
Nintendo Switch 2 by itself: $449.99 USD
Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart World bundled in: $499.99
Mario Kart World by itself: $79.99
Donkey Kong Bananza: $69.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: $79.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Camera: $49.99
Joy-Con 2 Controller pair: $89.99
Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip: $34.99
Joy-Con 2 Strap: $12.99
Joy-Con 2 Wheel pair: $19.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set: $109.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case and Screen Protector: $34.99
Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case: $79.99
When a major piece of gaming hardware goes up for preorder at a retailer, there’s no telling how long it will be available. We’ve seen sought-after hardware sell out in seconds. The best and most reliable way to know when a listing goes live is to follow IGN Deals on Twitter/X or Bluesky (IGN UK Deals on Twitter as well) and keep an eye on those accounts in real time. When preorders go live, we'll post links the moment they become available.
Nintendo has confirmed the pre-order date and price for the Nintendo Switch 2 console and its accessories. While the console's price hasn't changed, the cost of accessories has shifted across the board, and initial reactions indicate this might change early adopters' pre-order plans.
The price of the Nintendo Switch 2 is still $449.99 for the base model, and $499.99 for the bundle with Mario Kart World. The kart racer remains a $79.99 standalone game, while Donkey Kong Bananza will cost $69.99.
When it comes to accessories, though, prices have broadly gone up across the board. Here's a point-by-point rundown:
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller - $84.99
Joy-Con 2 Pair - $94.99
Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip - $39.99
Joy-Con 2 Strap - $13.99
Joy-Con 2 Wheel Set - $24.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Camera - $54.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set - $119.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector - $39.99
Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case - $84.99
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter - $34.99
In the announcement on its site, Nintendo confirmed Switch 2 accessories would "experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions." For the big ticket items, like a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers, a Switch 2 Pro Controller, or a camera, a $5 bump seems to be the common thread. The Switch 2 Dock Set, meanwhile, got a $10 bump, up to $119.99 from its previous $109.99.
As fans were quick to note, an additional pair of Joy-Cons is now a fairly expensive proposition. A Joy-Con 2 Pair is now $5 short of a triple-digit price tag, and prospective Switch 2 buyers certainly seem baffled by the expense.
Alongside the complaints about pricing, though, there are frequent reminders that many Switch 1 accessories will still be compatible with the Switch 2. As detailed on its support site, several accessories can be paired with the Switch 2, including the original Joy-Con controllers and the Nintendo Switch 1 Pro controller. The former cannot be directly attached, but both can be wirelessly paired. Others, like the Super Nintendo and N64 controllers, will still be pairable and playable with compatible games.
The price may still fluctuate in the future, as Nintendo warns in its announcement: "Other adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future depending on market conditions." But as the prices seem a little high for some, it's some comfort to know that those with a Pro controller still around can make use of it on the Switch 2.
Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 go live on April 24, 2025.
Invincible: The Dice Game is 44% off at Amazon right now. The push your luck card and dice game by Mantic Games is a fun, pick-up-and-play experience for two or more players. It comes in a relatively small box, making it a good small gift or game to take on camping trips to pass the time. With season 3 of Prime Video's Invincible animated show now over, this sale is the perfect opportunity to spend more time with these characters and the Invincible universe.
Invincible: The Dice Game Deal on Amazon Today
Players are looking to join the Guardians of the Globe by assuming the role of new recruits, taking on other heroes and fighting various villains. Earn enough reputation points, and you win. Be warned, however: your resources are limited to the amount of dice available in your pool, so strategy is the name of the game. Rounds go by fast, giving you ample opportunity to try out every path to victory!
In our review of Invincible season 3, we said "Invincible’s third season makes for a fun and interesting, but not always satisfying, watch. A lot happens in these episodes – Mark wrestles with the ethics of killing, other characters die or nearly die, and new villains arrive from other galaxies or dimensions – even though little of it feels conclusive. The door is left open to several possible developments – especially when it comes to Mark’s evolving morality." Season 4 of the popular Image comics adaptation will likely arrive in 2026.
The newest Apple Watch has dropped down to the lowest price we've seen. For a limited time, you can pick up a 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 for only $299 - 25% off its $399 list price - or the bigger 46mm model for $329 - 23% off its $429 list price. If you own an iPhone, the Apple Watch is indisputably the best smartwatch for you. It's stylish, boasts excellent build quality, excels as both a fitness tracker and smartwatch, and seamlessly integrates with your iPhone.
Apple Watch Series 10 From $299
The Apple Watch Series 10 is the newest generation mainstream model (the Watch Series 11 isn't expected until September of this year). Improvements over the Apple Watch Series 9 include a bigger OLED Retina display, a new S10 processor (that isn't faster but it's thinner, which allows the watch itself to have a slimmer profile), a slightly larger base model size (42mm vs. 41mm), and some admittedly trivial features like a water depth gauge. If you do already own an Apple Watch Series 9, there's probably not enough reason here to upgrade. But if this is your first time purchasing an Apple Watch, the Series 10 is definitely the best Apple Watch for most people.
Compared to the Apple Watch SE, the Apple Watch Series 10 boasts a larger size (42mm vs. 40mm), a bigger display with Always-On functionality, a 30% more powerful processor, double the storage, more advanced fitness tracking and body monitoring sensors, double-tap gesture support, and faster charging. The Apple Watch SE is substantially more affordable at $199 currently on Amazon, but I think the upgrades are more than worth it for most people.
Can You Use an Apple Watch with Android Phones?
Although it's technically possible to use an Apple Watch with an Android phone, we wouldn't recommend it. Apple made it so that a lot of the functionality of the Apple Watch requires a smartphone with an iOS operating system. There are some workarounds to implement some of the features, but for the average person, the hassle isn't worth it. If you're absolutely intent on getting an Apple Watch, then getting an iPhone first would be the best option. For those of you quite happy with your Android smartphone, there are plenty of Android smartwatches that would be a better fit than the Apple Watch.
More Deals in Amazon's Spring Sale
Plenty of Apple products are on sale right now, including several generations of AirPods. Otherwise, one of the most popular deals in the sale is Amazon's "Buy 3 for the Price of 2" on books, vinyl, and physical movie releases.
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.
Marvel is suiting up for another Swimsuit Special comic book release, and it looks like NetEase Games’ Marvel Rivals will join in on the summer fun with some of its own swimsuit skins.
Details on what could eventually result in the arrival of long-awaited Marvel Rivals swimsuit cosmetics were shared in a recent post on the Marvel website. It promises that Marvel will return to the fan-favorite series come July 9 with Marvel Swimsuit Special: Friends, Foes, and Rivals #1. The story will give Earth’s Mightiest Heroes a much-needed break from the stresses of saving the world, but more importantly, the comic book giant teases that the run will include a sneak peek at designs for Marvel Rivals.
“Roxxon Comics is at it again when they release their own UNAUTHORIZED SWIMSUIT SPECIAL,” a description for the Marvel Swimsuit Special says. “Wasp is on the case and seizes the opportunity for Marvel’s heroes to do their OWN swimwear fashion shoot all over the world! But fear not, True Believers, we know what you’re REALLY here for! This super-sized special features splash page after splash page of gorgeous art, but with a story so you can pretend you’re ‘reading it for the articles…’”
Unfortunately, Marvel doesn’t share much about when these summer designs will launch or which characters will be included in the collection. It’s also important to note that today’s post doesn’t outright confirm that these skins will specifically be part of a swimsuit set, but considering the special’s subject matter, it would make sense to at least see some summer cosmetics included. We’ll learn more about the Marvel Swimsuit Special in the months ahead, so let’s hope future news comes with more information about how it ties into Marvel Rivals.
Marvel Rivals launched in December and quickly became a popular distraction for multiplayer fans across PC and consoles. Its competitive nature and vast character pool have had players scheming up new ways to rise through the ranks, but while many focus on improving their performance, others are far more concerned with NetEase’s plans for post-launch support. One idea that has attracted the attention of armies of fans is the hope they may one day see a Marvel Rivals swimsuit collection come to the game, and now, we know that their prayers will likely soon be answered.
Regarding launch timing, there are a few clues we can look at when guessing when swimsuits may be included. We know that Marvel Rivals Season 2 brought Emma Frost and the Hellfire Gala to the hero shooter experience just last week. With the season set to end in about three months, we can guess that the new outfits should launch with Season 3 sometime around July or August. It’s a window that makes sense based on both NetEase’s previously promised schedule while letting fans soak up the sun just before summer comes to an end.
Also launching alongside Season 3 is NetEase’s new post-launch plans. Instead of three-month seasons, Marvel Rivals fans can look forward to snappier seasons that last only about two months. That means at least one new playable hero will be included every month for the foreseeable future. For more on Marvel Rivals, you can read up on the April Fools' Day emote that let Venom twerk. You can also click here to learn more about how NetEase made an infamous Moon Knight meme canon.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor 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).
From the return of Expanded Universe fan-favorite Dash Rendar to an impressive lineup of figures based on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, check out the slideshow gallery below to see everything revealed at the Hasbro panel:
Dash Rendar was easily the highlight of the panel, proving that Hasbro isn't shy about revisiting the Legends timeline now and then. In the past, they've also tackled characters like Jaina Solo and several characters from the Knights of the Old Republic series. Dash Rendar will be released as part of the 6-inch Black Series line.
As for Jedi: Survivor, fans can look forward to a Nightsister Merrin figure and a three-pack of Cal Kestis, Turgle, and Skoova Stev, both in the Black Series line. Hasbro is also releasing a new Merrin figure and a Rocket Launcher Trooper in the smaller 3.75-inch Vintage Collection line.
Other highlights include new Black Series figures of Han Solo and Chewbacca based on their Episode IV looks and a Vintage Collection playset that features a Tusken Raider and a full-size Bantha.
Hasbro also used the panel to show off their exclusive Celebration release, a Black Series figure of Star Wars: Visions' The Ronin and his droid R5-D56. The two come packaged inside a deluxe box with watercolor artwork and a slipcover. This set is being sold exclusively at Celebration, though if past exclusives are any indication, small quantities may go up for sale on the Hasbro Pulse website after the show.
Apart from The Ronin, all of these figures are slated for release in Summer 2025, with preorders opening on April 18 at 12pm PT.
iPads are consistently the best tablets you can buy, and pairing a few accessories with one can make it an even better machine. Sure, the new iPad Air and 11th Gen iPad models are the most powerful the iPad has ever been, but they’re also somewhat limited when you first take them out of the box. Adding a keyboard or stylus to the mix could make them viable laptop replacements or the perfect partner for creatives. That’s just the start of how you can accessorize these capable tablets.
TL;DR – These Are the Best iPad Accessories:
Accessories and peripherals help you get the most out of the best iPad models. Although there’s no shortage of attachments and add-ons out there, it may be tough to know which are more essential than others. We’ve picked 10 great iPad accessories to get you started. Whether you’re after extra protection for the pricey device with a cover and screen protector, you want to escape with some great wireless earbuds, or you’re looking to extend your iPad's battery life, we’ve got you covered.
In our review of the iPad Pro M4, we were huge fans of its impressive processing power. By snapping a keyboard onto the tablet, it could be a viable laptop replacement and Apple’s Magic Keyboard is the go-to option. Yes, it’s expensive but worth the investment given all the capabilities, especially with the few upgrades this model has gotten over previous iterations.
When in use, Apple’s tablet “floats” above the keyboard magnetically attaching to the case using a series of powerful magnets and it's slightly adjustable for better viewing angles. When not in use, it acts as a great iPad case, helping keep the tablet pristine, clean, and easy to transport.
The keyboard has responsive and smooth scissor keys with a backlight and feel similar to a MacBook keyboard. The trackpad’s size is boosted with this model and offers haptic feedback and Multi-Touch gestures, making it easier to select text and more. The magnetic Smart Connector technology means the Magic Keyboard draws energy from the iPad when it’s being used, but the keyboard doesn't block the iPad's charging port. The only major downside is that it's only compatible with the newer iPad Pro and Air models.
2. Ugreen USB-C Charger
Best Wall Charger for an iPad
Although all of the current iPad models still come with a wall charger (unlike the iPhone), it's never a bad idea to pick up another one – especially if you want something better suited for traveling or working from a coffee shop. Why bring three separate wall chargers when you can just take one? The Ugreen USB-C Charger can fast-charge up to three devices at the same time, like an iPad, a MacBook Air, and an iPhone, with 65W of power. It comes with two USB-C ports and one USB port. The prongs also fold up so you can toss it into a bag without risking the integrity of the plugs.
3. Paperlike 2.1
Best Screen Protector for an iPad
If you’re looking for a screen protector that will make writing or drawing with an Apple Pencil feel more natural, then the Paperlike 2.1 is your best bet. Its matte screen recreates the experience of using pen on paper, but with a stylus on the iPad. It's not an exactly one-to-one replicated experience, but the extra friction the Paperlike adds, plus the light ASMR scratchiness, gets pretty darn close. It won’t interfere with the iPad’s FaceID, so you can still unlock your Apple tablet that way. It also comes in a two-pack in case you scuff up the first one.
4. Anker 537 PowerCore 24K Portable Charger
Best Portable Power Bank for an iPad
It’s always a good idea to keep a portable power bank handy. The Anker 537 PowerCore 24K Portable Charger will charge up to two devices at the same time with its dual USB-C ports. You'll need cables since this is just a brick, but Anker does include a nearly 2-foot USB-C to USB-C cable. It’s ideal for traveling and working on the road.
5. Twelve South HoverBar Duo
Best Tablet Mount for an iPad
Maybe you’re looking to use the iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard or want the perfect camera positioning during a Zoom meeting. The Twelve South HoverBar Duo is an iPad stand that can make all that happen regardless of where you want your iPad to sit.
An adjustable clamp holds every generation of the iPad even rocking a case. That clamp attaches to a clip that adjusts the viewing angle of the iPad. From using the tablet as a secondary monitor to making video calls, a desktop stand weighing over 2.5lbs keeps the device securely in place when resting on a tabletop, and it can raise the device up to 2 feet for an ideal position. It’s not exclusively a desktop stand either – another clamp can mount the stand from a cabinet, shelf, orr other ledges. It's simple to swap from the desktop to the clamp with a quick-release feature.
6. Apple Pencil Pro
Best Stylus for an iPad
Digital creators and note-takers will absolutely love Apple’s Pencil Pro, building on what the second-generation Apple Pencil started. On appearances alone, this updated stylus looks much like its predecessor, designed with a flat side that attaches magnetically to the iPad for pairing and charging. Now there’s a Find My feature for those prone to misplacing the accessory.
The Apple Pencil Pro holds like a heavy pen and easily glides across the tablet, making accurate and instant markings on the display. Tilt and pressure sensitivity are especially useful to artists, but the highlight has to be the stylus’ “Squeeze” feature. When squeezing the Pencil, a palette full of useful tools pops up, like line weight and delete. There’s also a gyroscope and haptic feedback on board for more functionality. The biggest downfall though is the Pro Pencil only works with newe iPad models.
7. Apple Pencil (USB-C)
Best Budget Stylus for an iPad
The Apple Pencil (USB-C) is a great stylus for most iPads due to its low cost, solid performance, and excellent compatibility. Given that Apple has made it slightly complicated to figure out which Pencil model works with which iPad, the USB-C option is a slightly more universal option that can work with the majority of iPads.
Even with the budget price, the Apple Pencil (USB-C) works well, providing excellent precision with each input instantaneously reflecting on the tablet’s display. A tilt sensitivity also comes in handy for drawing or activating other effects. Unfortunately, pressure sensitivity is missing on this budget-conscious stylus. Still, it glides smoothly across the tablet for an enjoyable writing experience.
Design-wise, the Apple Pencil (USB-C) looks similar to other Pencil models and offers a comfortable and natural grip for long periods. A flat side helps prevent rolling and can also magnetically attach to most current iPads. However, there’s no wireless charging, so the Pencil will need to be plugged into a USB-C when the battery runs low.
Keep the latest 11th-generation iPad safe in style with Apple’s classic Smart Cover. Versions of this folio-type cover have been around for over a decade, and there’s a reason for its staying power. First and foremost, this case protects the tablet’s Liquid Retina display from scratches and bumps when not in use. Unfortunately, it only provides coverage for the screen, so the less fragile body of the iPad won’t enjoy the same protection.
The Smart Cover magnetically attaches to the iPad – those magnets are shockingly strong, so the cover should never fall off the device unless it’s intentional. With the wake feature, the iPad will turn on as soon as the cover is lifted from the screen The iPad will enter sleep mode again when it’s closed. A folio design also allows the cover to be folded and used as a stand in various ways to make writing, typing, or viewing the screen even easier.
9. Samsung T7
Best Portable External Hard Drive for an iPad
The Samsung T7 is one of the best external hard drives that goes great with iPad models with USB-C ports. It comes in various storage capacities up to a whopping 2TB and also features fast read and write speeds that won’t slow down your workflow.
This hard drive is tiny at about 3 inches long and about 2 inches wide with a lightweight design, weighing in at about 2oz. The Samsung T7 is small enough to keep in a backpack, a pants pocket, or even a purse, while it comes in three colors: blue, red, and titan gray.
10. Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)
Best Wireless Earbuds to Pair With an iPad
One of the best accessories are Apple AirPods, and we love the Pro model because of their excellent audio quality, seamless syncing via iPadOS, and high-end design. If you want an immersive experience, then the AirPods Pro are ideal, thanks to spatial audio that makes it feel as if audio is surrounding you (think of it as virtual surround sound) and premium noise-canceling to block out background noise from the outside world.
They come with multiple eartips, so you can get the best fit. Heck, the AirPods Pro can even analyze your ear canals with iPadOS’s “Ear Tip Fit Tests,” so it can recommend a good pair that’s specific for you.
Want a cheaper alternative? IGN expert Nick Woodard did some hands-on testing of the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC, giving the headphones an 8/10, writing that the earbuds “go head-to-head in several categories with the AirPods Pro 2,” making the AirPods 4 a great lower-cost option that still seamlessly works with Apple products.
What to Look for in iPad Accessories
The iPad is a mighty tablet that’s simple to use. Although it’s speedy and powerful already, there are a lot of attachments and add-ons that can help unlock its true potential as a casual and professional mobile device. From what works best, who makes them, and how much they should cost, here's what to consider in any new iPad accessory.
Function
For professional use, the iPad (namely the iPad Pro) can be turned into a full-fledged laptop replacement. However, you’ll need to add an attachment like a keyboard and mouse (or trackpad) through Bluetooth to get that kind of functionality. There are case covers that combine a keyboard, trackpad, and protective case all-in-one to make it more convenient and easier to sync with the iPad.
For creatives, all models are compatible with a stylus for taking handwritten notes or sketching, while special screen protectors can make it feel like you’re writing or drawing on a sheet of paper instead of glass.
If you’re a casual user, then there are tablet stands that can prop it up on a flat surface for watching movies and TV shows, while cases keep Apple’s tablet protected and safe from wear and tear or an accidental drop.
Meanwhile, there are boatloads of wall chargers, charging cables, and power banks out there to keep it charged and ready for use. You shouldn’t forget about these types of add-ons either. While they’re not the big ticket items, they do keep your Apple tablet working when you need it most.
Compatibility
Since there are multiple models, not all attachments and peripherals are compatible with all models. While there’s definitely overlap – like Apple AirPods Pro, various wall chargers and charging cables, and power banks – accessories made for the iPad Mini won’t work for the iPad Pro and vice versa. It’s important to pay attention to your model and if it’s compatible with a particular accessory.
This comes in handy with the Apple Pencil because there are two versions that work with specific models. Here’s the breakdown: The 2nd generation Apple Pencil works best with the iPad Mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro, while the 1st generation works with the 9th and 10th generation models.
Third-party accessories
Although Apple makes its own add-ons and attachments for their own devices, there are a lot of great third-party manufacturers – such as Anker, Belkin, Logitech, and others – that make high quality accessories at affordable prices. In fact, Apple even works with some of these companies to make peripherals that are certified to work with the iPad.
It’s recommended to steer clear of cheap, bottom-of-the-barrel attachments and add-ons that might harm your Apple tablet in the long run. Pay attention to shopper ratings for bad reviewsand low scores, and use web browser extensions like FakeSpot to sort and identify the bad actors on popular retail sites.
Price
While prices vary, accessories like cases, covers, and keyboard combos, range anywhere from $50-$300 depending on the manufacturer. While cables and wall chargers are on the lower end of the price scale, you’d want to pay at least $15 for these items. Anything lower, you might run the risk of picking something up that’s cheap, poorly made, and may completely fry your device.
If you’re a professional or creative, then there’s a lot of add-ons that will make the tablet more useful for accomplishing tasks or creating something brilliant and unique. If you’re a casual user, then there’s also attachments to help watching videos and browsing the web easier and more enjoyable. Overall, the best accessory for the iPad is the one you’ll get the most use out of it at an affordable price.
iPad Accessories FAQ
What accessories do iPads come with?
All existing models of the iPad come with a 1-meter USB-C charging cable and a 20W USB-C power adapter. Any additional accessories, including the Apple Pencil, must be purchased separately.
Is an iPad with a keyboard a full laptop replacement?
There’s been pretty consistent debate over whether the iPad and keyboard combo will take the place of the laptop. The improved file management systems on more recent iPad models mean that, yes, for many people, an iPad is a suitable replacement for daily tasks, such as handling e-mails, taking notes, and managing your schedule. Multiple apps can be opened simultaneously and split across the screen, providing an experience on even footing with windows and tabs. Creative professionals will also get a pretty seamless experience using Final Cut Pro or stylus features for Procreate.
For gamers, you'll be limited to Apple’s iOS, so you won't be able to replicate the full PC experience. That said, Xbox and Playstation have both released Remote Play apps that allow you to access games you own on their consoles on iOS devices. Still, the best budget gaming laptops offer more storage alongside higher-quality GPU and CPU specs. With the combination of traditional operating systems and portability, the best laptops likely aren't going anywhere anytime soon.
Romeo & Juliet is one of the most famous and beloved stories ever written, but it's safe to say you've never experienced that story quite like it's being told in the new graphic novel Romeo vs. Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure. This bold reimagining is hitting stores just in time for World Shakespeare Day, and IGN has an exclusive preview.
Check out the slideshow gallery below for a closer look at Romeo vs. Juliet:
Romeo vs. Juliet is written by Anthony Del Col and illustrated by Stefan Tosheff and is published by Gemstone Publishing. The book acts as a loose sort of sequel to the original Shakespeare play, though it takes quite a few liberties with the source material as it reimagiens the two characters (and other Shakespeare icons) for a fantasy Western setting.
Here's Gemstone's official description of the book:
In this Shakespearean Western, warrior-for-hire (and pregnant) Juliet Capulet is hired to protect a border town nunnery from the evil forces led by her ex Romeo. As they prepare, she reluctantly reunites with her old allies, including Hamlet, Othello, Puck (a “Magnificent Shakespeare Seven”) but they soon discover something rotten in the state of the nunnery and a magical force that dreams are made on… all while Juliet must determine if the father of her child is Hamlet… or the man she must kill, Romeo.
“No matter where someone’s from, or what language they speak, they know Romeo and Juliet as the world’s greatest lovers. Well, Romeo vs. Juliet provides the ultimate twist to that story,” said Del Col in a statment. “In our 'Shakespearean Western' they find themselves on opposite ends of a cause, forcing them to become rivals and culminating in a high noon-style showdown between the two.”
Del Col continued, “I enjoy the process of playing with well-known characters, peeling them and their stories down to their very core and then building upon that.”
Romeo vs. Juliet: A Kill Shakespeare Adventure will be released on April 22, 2025. You can preorder the book on Amazon.
This isn't the only comic that'll be remixing and reimagining Shakespeare for a modern audience in 2025. We recently got an early look at Disciple, a Hamlet-inspired series that will be the first release from Joe Quesada's Amazing Comics.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket byfollowing @jschedeen on BlueSky.
Nintendo shared the news on its website while also confirming Switch 2 accessories will "experience price adjustments from those announced on April 2 due to changes in market conditions." It also notes "adjustments to the price of any Nintendo product are also possible in the future depending on market conditions."
Alongside the base console price remaining the same, Nintendo did confirm the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle will remain at $499.99 and pricing for both the physical and digital versions of Mario Kart World ($79.99) and Donkey Kong Bananza ($69.99) will not change at launch.
Nintendo also shared a list of pricing for the console, games, and accessories as of April 18, and you can check them out below;
Nintendo Switch 2 - $449.99
Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle - $499.99
Mario Kart World - $79.99
Donkey Kong Bananza - $69.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller - $84.99
Joy-Con 2 Pair - $94.99
Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip - $39.99
Joy-Con 2 Strap - $13.99
Joy-Con 2 Wheel Set - $24.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Camera - $54.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock Set - $119.99
Nintendo Switch 2 Carrying Case & Screen Protector - $39.99
Nintendo Switch 2 All-In-One Carrying Case - $84.99
Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter - $34.99
Samsung microSD Express Card – 256GB for Nintendo Switch 2 - $59.99
Nintendo had originally planned on opening pre-orders for Switch 2 on April 9, but it made the decision to delay them as it needed time to "assess the potential impact of tarrifs and evolving market conditions."
"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in."
"Say hello to my l'il friend!"
"This entire courtroom is out of order!"
Very few actors have uttered, or shouted, as many quotable movie lines as Al Pacino.
An icon of cinema, one who helped redefine the American movie and bust the archetype of the leading man, Al Pacino's long, storied career has crackled with both intensity and charisma. Whether he's a cop, a crook, or a combination of the two, Pacino has always delivered powerhouse performances, bellowing lines with incredible quotable gusto.
A "G" short of an EGOT, Pacino's landmark work in the '70s made him an acclaimed household name, one that allowed him to remain at the top of his game, and at the peak of Hollywood royalty, for decades. The Godfather, Dog Day Afternoon, Heat, Donnie Brasco - Pacino is the perfect combination of subdued and wild. Calm and explosive.
We've compiled a short list of Al Pacino's 10 Best Movies, from Mafia bosses to compromised detectives to short-tempered Army vets to... Carlitos? It keeps us sharp, on the edge, where we gotta be.
Honorable Mention: Dick Tracy (1990)
Warren Beatty's bizarre passion project -- a wildly colorful live-action adaptation of 1930s comic strip Dick Tracy -- has gained a retro-appreciation over the past few decades, becoming a bit of a cult classic (for a large-budgeted IP grab). It didn't quite crack this list but we wanted to shine a spotlight on it for Pacino, who isn't usually one for comedy. Pacino grabbed his seventh Oscar nomination for his mirthfully manic portrayal of crime boss "Big Boy" Caprice. The actor was able to chew up the scenery in a different way, cartoonishly poking fun at his cold, calculating Godfather persona while going in a vastly different direction.
10. Carlito's Way (1993)
Between the two violent Brian De Palma crime operas where Al Pacino plays a latino, we're going with Carlito's Way.
Sure, there are plenty of Scarface lovers out there. Spencer Gifts is still in business for a reason. But Carlito's Way is the better film choice, following Pacino's Puerto Rican career criminal trying to escape his past after getting released from prison. Carlito's quest to tie up loose ends and skip town becomes a ticking-clock odyssey that's suspenseful and emotional, allowing Pacino to play a tough guy who's out of time. The '90s gave us Pacino in roles of redemption, crooks (even an aged Michael Corleone!) trying to get right and repent. Carlito's Way was the most stylish of the bunch, with some amazing De Palma set pieces. Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, and John Leguizamo co-star.
9. Scent of a Woman (1992)
Al Pacino finally took home an Oscar -- after nine nominations over the course of 20 years -- for Martin Brest's Scent of a Woman, in a performance that would become a go-to for all Al Pacino impersonators in the decades following.
As the irritable, blind Army lieutenant colonel Frank Slade, Pacino's acting style would dial upwards, developing into an abrupt, occasionally over-the-top take on his usual trademark ferocity. This specific type of bellowing would follow him through the rest of his career, notably showing up in movies like Heat, The Devil's Advocate, and Any Given Sunday. Pacino had always been a formidable yeller, but Scent of a Woman took things to a whole new level.
Paired with Chris O'Donnell's anxious prep school student, Charlie, Frank becomes a whirlwind in the young man's life, giving him lessons in confidence, respect, and love. All with an errant "hoo-ah" or two.
8. The Insider (1999)
Pacino re-teamed with Heat's Michael Mann for the biographical conspiracy The Insider, about Big Tobacco whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand (Russell Crowe). The actor would play tenacious CBS producer Lowell Bergman in this universally acclaimed '90s flick that's equal parts absorbing and infuriating. Pacino gives a dynamite performance as a dogged crusader for justice, a blinding beacon of speaking truth to power. It's not just one of Pacino's best, but also one of Mann's, as the two seem to bring out the best in each other. The Insider cleaned up at the Oscars on the nominations front, but it got beat out in the major categories by American Beauty. Still, it stands as the better film, then and now.
7. Insomnia (2002)
Al Pacino and Christopher Nolan collaborated only once, for Nolan's only film remake (adapting the 1997 Norwegian film of the same name, starring Stellan Skarsgård), but it was a masterful retelling, with Pacino leaning in on a morally compromised cop facing his demons while working an out of town case in the sun-never-sets city of Nightmute, Alaska. Insomnia pits Pacino' sleep-deprived detective Will Dormer against a blackmailing killer played by Robin Williams (who does tremendous work as well) and it's a cat and mouse game that could bring Dormer's entire world down around him. It's an Oscar-winners trifecta, as Hilary Swank also co-stars. This was Nolan's first jump to studio filmmaking (and his first for Warner Bros.) and Pacino delivered a career best.
6. Serpico (1973)
Al Pacino followed up his star-making role in The Godfather with Sidney Lumet's classic cop vs. corruption case, based on NYPD detective Frank Serpico's real life whistleblowing on his dirty racketeering peers.
A critical and commercial success, Serpico won Pacino a Golden Globe and cemented him as one of his generation's most talented performers. Gritty and thought-provoking, Serpico is teeming with social realism, all anchored by Pacino and his riveting achievement as a cop on the edge, obsessed with putting things right.
5. Donnie Brasco (1997)
Featuring an excellent, subdued performance by Al Pacino as aging bagman "Lefty" Ruggiero, Mike Newell's Donnie Brasco is a nuanced portrait of organized crime. Based on the real life exploits of undercover FBI Agent Joe Pistone (Johnny Depp), the film resists most gangster cliches and instead shows us a flailing Pistone, drowning under the pressure of living two lives, and a hopeful Lefty, who sees this new "Donnie Brasco" kid as his ticket back into a higher rung on the ladder.
The two form an unlikely, and doomed, friendship while Pacino proves that he can dial it back and break your heart with a stealthily graceful performance. In fact both leads, known for going over the top, play it rare and real here.
4. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Al Pacino's run of films in the early 1970s is a thing of beauty. He followed up The Godfather Part II, re-teaming with director Sidney Lumet, with the brilliant, bravura Dog Day Afternoon. Chronicling the real-life Brooklyn robbery and hostage situation led by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile in 1972, Dog Day Afternoon is an erratic, emotional gut-punch of a movie with a quirky sense of humor. Pacino is a roller coaster of energy and panic, giving an outstanding performance that would stand in stark contrast to his reserved machinations in The Godfather movies. Dog Day Afternoon is dramatic, slapstick, and revelatory all in one crazed package.
3. The Godfather (1972)
With Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, Al Pacino became an instant movie star, with the film itself becoming one of the most acclaimed and important genre-defining films in history. It redefined the modern gangster movie and the templates and tropes established within its near three-hour runtime are still used today. Easily transcending both crime stories and family dramas, The Godfather is a captivating, brutal chronicle of American life featuring Pacino's slow burn transformation from reluctant family outsider to full-fledged Mafia boss.
A true sensation when it opened, The Godfather garnered Pacino his first Oscar nomination and a fast track to stardom. Young Michael Corleone was never supposed to inherit the family business from patriarch Vito and it's that abhorrent ascension that creates an unquestionably great saga.
2. Heat (1995)
Though both Al Pacino and his exceptional contemporary Robert De Niro were both in The Godfather Part II, it took Michael Mann's Heat to bring them together. Even if it was just for one memorable clarification-slash-confrontation.
The story of a hero cop too obsessed with catching crooks to hold down a decent home life and a master thief who's starts realizing, perhaps too late, the value of love and interpersonal connection, Heat is a hypnotic, action-packed journey into the hearts and minds of tough guys driven by codes, honor, revenge, and other masculine intangibles that prevent them from achieving true happiness. Pacino, as LAPD Lieutenant Vincent Hanna, is a pit bull of explosive energy, refusing to let up in any aspect of his professional career. Especially when he's pitted against heist-master Neil McCauley (De Niro). Heat is a phenomenal watch with a talented ensemble. Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Amy Brenneman, and Diane Venora also star.
1. The Godfather Part II (1974)
We've arrived at yet another bonafide masterpiece of cinema here with The Godfather Part II. There's some debate, among FatherFans, over which of the first two Godfather films is the best, but Part II is usually seen as a fuller film experience, with Pacino's Michael Corleone now in absolute control of his crime empire while having to still deal with violence, betrayal, and heartbreak. He's a man pressured to act and yet haunted by his choices, forever with his immortal soul in peril. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and Pacino lets us feel it all here.
One of the greatest American movies ever made, and a prime example of how a sequel (that's also part-prequel) can match, or surpass, the original, The Godfather Part II is a pioneering triumph that stands as Al Pacino's greatest film.
What is your favorite Al Pacino movie? Did we list it? Did we leave it out? Vote in our poll and let's talk below! Hoo-ah!
If you're looking for Infinity Nikki codes, IGN has you covered! In this article, you'll find a list of active and working Infinity Nikki codes that you can redeem for free rewards and bonuses in April 2025, including Diamonds and Energy Crystals.
Active Infinity Nikki Codes (April 2025)
Below, you'll find all the active and working Infinity Nikki codes in April 2025, the free rewards you get for redeeming them, and their expiry date (if known):
Sidebyside - 10x Revelation Crystals (NEW!)
WARMSPRINGBONUS - 100x Diamonds, 20k Bling (expires April 29, 2025)
INFINITYNIKKISteam - 50x Shiny Bubbles, 15k Bling
NOSTRANGELINKS - 100x Diamonds, 20k Bling (expires April 30, 2025)
The Infinity Nikki codes listed below have expired and are no longer working as of April 2025:
100THDAYCELEBRATION
MAYEVERYGIRLHAPPINESS
Newstoryawaits
Newyearbliss
NIKKIFIREWORKS
NIKKIEXCURSIONTIME
NIKKINEWBLOOM2025
HEARTFELTGIFTS
NIKKIBEWITHYOU
NIKKIRELEASE
dreamweavernikki
NIKKI20241022
infinitynikki1205
BDAYSURPRISE
GIFTFROMMOMO
GIFTTONIKKI
nikkihappybirthday2024
NIKKITHEBEST
QUACKQUACK
AAbNxRNMmSm
AAbQjjYKwbH
AAb7xf6hWuS
AAbtWkna3V7
AAbaEyDU4EX
AAbMNJX8hxF
AAb5S3RSK8M
AAbUfWnYUtd
AAbUa8e2U3a
AAbtk9jmpnV
How to Redeem Infinity Nikki Codes
To redeem Infinity Nikki codes, follow the steps below:
Unlock your Pear-Pal during the Chapter 1: Wishes Without Wings - Land of Wishes main quest. It's about 20 minutes into your Infinity Nikki adventure.
Open the Pear-Pal menu by pressing ESC on PC (or the Menu button when using an Xbox controller on PC), the Menu button on PlayStation, or by tapping the Pear-Pal icon in the top-left corner on mobile.
Click on the gear icon to open the Settings menu.
Scroll over to the Other tab.
You’ll see a “Redeem Code” option here. Click on “Apply” and a Redeem Rewards pop-up menu will appear.
Input your code into the “Enter the redeem code” field and tap “Apply.”
If successful, a pop-up will appear showing your free rewards.
Why Isn't My Infinity Nikki Code Working?
If the Infinity Nikki code that you're trying to redeem isn't working, it's likely due to one of the following reasons:
There's a typo in the code.
The Infinity Nikki code is expired.
When inputting a code into Infinity Nikki, make sure there are no typos (Os instead of zeroes, capital Is instead of lowercase Ls, etc.) and that there are no accidental spaces before or after the code. If your Infinity Nikki code still doesn't work, it's probably expired and can no longer be redeemed.
How to Get More Infinity Nikki Codes
The best way to get more Infinity Nikki codes is to join the official Infinity Nikki Discord server. Once you're in, head to the #self-assign-roles channel and opt-in for the Redeem Code role. You'll receive a notification when a new code is released so you can receive your free rewards ASAP!
Alternatively, bookmark this Infinity Nikki Codes article, as we update it each time a new code comes out. The Discord server has missed a couple of codes posted to other channels, so we'd recommend checking our article every so often.
What is Infinity Nikki?
Developed by Infold Games, Infinity Nikki is a cozy, open-world RPG. You play as Nikki, as she's whisked away to the world of Miraland, a place where people make Wishes with the help of Stylists. You'll find and create a plethora of outfits and accessories, take on quests, and gather many types of collectibles with the help of Momo, Nikki's adorable feline companion.
Meg Koepp is a Guides Editor on the IGN Guides team, with a focus on trends. When she's not working, you can find her playing an RPG or making miniatures.
I’ve spent enough time building, testing, and troubleshooting PCs to know what’s worth your money and what isn’t. These days, I stick with gear that delivers top performance out of the box and holds up during long gaming sessions and workdays. That’s why I game on a custom-built MAINGEAR RUSH PC, paired with Glorious peripherals whilkst dreaming of an epic OLED display setup. These aren’t just products I’ve tested. They’re what I personally use every day.
My MAINGEAR RUSH PC, Glorious Gaming Gear, and Samsung Odyssey 3D Incuding a free $300 Amazon Voucher
Today’s roundup includes deals on that very same MAINGEAR build, the OLED ultrawide monitor I think is the best value right now, and the keyboard and mouse I rely on for everything from ranked matches to writing sessions. I’m also including a few wishlist-worthy monitors and collectibles that are worth a look while they’re on sale. If you care about clean performance, reliability, and products that feel built with intention, this is a list for you.
RUSH | Night Drive AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT
I use this exact PC every day, and I wouldn’t game on anything else. It runs quietly, handles everything I throw at it, and looks incredible on my desk. I picked the Night Drive Artist Series because I wanted a rig that felt personal and custom, and MAINGEAR absolutely delivered. It’s built around AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Radeon RX 9070 XT, which means I can max out any game at 4K and still get smooth performance. These aren’t just top-tier parts. They’re installed and tuned with care.
When I first unboxed it, I could tell this wasn’t just another prebuilt. The case design has a glossy finish that looks better than any other chassis I’ve owned. Inside, every wire is routed cleanly, and the ten RGB fans keep airflow strong and temperatures cool. I didn’t need to touch a thing before diving into my game library. No bloatware, no setup headaches. Just clean performance from the start.
I think what really sets MAINGEAR apart is the BIOS tuning they do before shipping. I’ve built my own rigs before, and I know how easy it is to leave performance on the table when settings aren’t dialed in. This PC came fully optimized. RAM was running at full speed, fan curves were smart, and the GPU boost settings were already perfect. I felt like someone had built it specifically for the way I game.
Customer support matters to me, especially with a high-end purchase. When I had a small issue with an older build’s RGB sync, they walked me through a fix without any hassle. They even followed up later to make sure it was resolved. That kind of service makes me want to keep buying from them.
This system is also ready for the future. I can upgrade the GPU or add more storage without dealing with proprietary hardware. If I wanted to send it back for an upgrade, MAINGEAR would handle that too. It’s a system built to grow with me, not something I’ll need to replace in two years.
In my opinion, if you care about gaming performance, reliability, and build quality, this PC is worth every dollar. I use it daily for gaming and work, and I have no plans to switch to anything else.
SAMSUNG 27-inch Odyssey 3D G90XF
This monitor caught my attention because it offers something I haven’t seen before. The G90XF takes your standard 4K 165Hz gaming monitor and adds AI-powered 3D effects. I think that’s a cool way to breathe new life into games I’ve already played. You also get a 300 dollar Amazon Gift Card when you buy the right bundle, which makes this an even better deal.
The screen itself has a 1ms response time and FreeSync support, so games stay smooth and responsive. Built-in dual speakers and edge lighting help add to the immersive feel, and the Reality Hub feature makes it easy to jump into supported 3D games.
If you want to try something different with your display setup and still want top-tier specs, this is a solid option. I think it would pair well with a high-end PC like MAINGEAR.
The Essential Writing Guides Bundle | Adams Media
If you’re writing your own game scripts or planning a novel, this Humble Bundle is packed with helpful tools. It includes guides like Plot Whisperer, Grammar Sucks, and Write Like Hemingway. I’ve used similar titles for game writing and storyboarding, and they’ve helped me stay focused and organized.
You get all 44 titles in DRM-free formats like PDF and ePUB, and you can use them on your phone, tablet, or desktop. Buying this bundle also supports Worldreader, a nonprofit focused on literacy.
For the price, I think it’s one of the best digital resource bundles out there. It’s great for gamers who want to improve their writing or storytellers looking to sharpen their skills.
Acer Predator Z57 | 57" DUHD 7680 x 2160 Mini LED 1000R Curved Gaming Monitor
I’ve tried ultrawide monitors before, but this 57-inch Mini LED display takes it to another level. It runs at DUHD resolution, which means 7680 by 2160 pixels, and has a 120Hz refresh rate with a 1ms response time. That’s exactly what I want for smooth gaming without sacrificing detail.
The curved design keeps everything in view, and the wide 32 to 9 aspect ratio is great for open-world games or multitasking. It also supports HDR1000 and has a KVM switch, so you can use it across multiple systems without constantly swapping cables.
If your desk can handle the size, this is a dream monitor. I’d love to pair this with my MAINGEAR build for single-screen immersion that still lets me keep Discord, OBS, and Steam open on the sides.
The Last of Us - Ellie With Handgun Bust
I think this Ellie statue captures the character perfectly. It’s a detailed resin bust that stands about 7.5 inches tall, showing her in full survival mode with a handgun drawn. It’s made by Dark Horse with input from Naughty Dog, and the quality shows. The sculpt is clean, the paint is sharp, and the expression feels true to the character.
If you’re like me and enjoy collecting gaming memorabilia, this is one to preorder early. It comes with a certificate of authenticity and will ship in August. I like that it’s not overly large, so it fits easily on a desk or shelf next to your gaming setup.
This is one of those collectibles that feels personal. If you’ve spent time in that world with Ellie, having this on display adds something special to your setup.
Samsung 49-Inch Odyssey G9 (G95SD)
I’ve been eyeing the OLED G9 for a while, and this price drop makes it a serious deal. For gaming, this monitor has everything I want. It’s huge at 49 inches and has a 32 to 9 aspect ratio that wraps around my field of view. The Dual QHD resolution makes games look sharp, and the OLED panel brings out every detail with deep blacks and vibrant color.
What makes this great for gaming is the combination of a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time. I’ve played on high refresh rate monitors before, but this one takes smoothness to another level. It makes a real difference in fast-paced games like Apex Legends or Call of Duty. Input feels instant, and motion stays crisp even in intense firefights.
Glare-Free tech is another reason I’d recommend it. I play in a bright room, and reflections usually ruin the experience on glossy screens. With this monitor, I can stay locked in no matter the lighting. At 500 dollars off, I think it’s one of the best display upgrades for serious PC gamers right now.
Glorious Gaming - Model D 2 Wireless Ergonomic Mouse
D 2 Wireless has been my go-to mouse for a while now. It’s lightweight at just 66 grams, which helps me stay fast and precise in games like Valorant and Apex. The shape fits my hand perfectly and doesn’t cause fatigue, even during long sessions.
The sensor is spot-on. It tracks every movement accurately, and the wireless connection has never lagged or dropped out on me. I switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz depending on what I’m doing. When I’m playing, it’s on 2.4 for the fastest response. When I’m working, I use Bluetooth to save battery.
I wouldn’t use anything else right now. It gives me the performance I need without costing a fortune, and it pairs perfectly with the GMMK 3 Pro on my desk.
Glorious Gaming - GMMK 3 PRO HE: Wireless Gaming Keyboard
This is the keyboard I use every single day. From gaming to editing and writing, it’s the one I trust. I went with the GMMK 3 Pro HE because of the Hall Effect switches. They let me adjust actuation sensitivity so I can set my preferred trigger point per key. That’s been a game-changer for FPS games where fast reactions matter.
It’s also wireless with a solid 2.4GHz connection that’s never given me issues. The aluminum frame feels strong and stable on my desk, and the 75 percent layout saves space without removing any of the keys I actually use. I also like that I can swap out the switches if I ever want to change the feel.
I’ve used a lot of gaming keyboards, but this is the one I keep coming back to. It’s fast, reliable, and comfortable, and I honestly think it’s one of the best gaming investments I’ve made.
Pokémon TCG Charizard ex Super Premium Collection
This is one of those sets where I blinked and it was sold out the first time. I’m glad it’s back and actually on sale. You get a shiny Charizard ex, Charmander and Charmeleon promos, a display figure, and ten booster packs. That’s a solid value for under 50 bucks.
In my opinion, this is the kind of product that works for both collectors and anyone trying to build out a fire-heavy deck. The packaging alone makes it feel like a gift, even if you’re just giving it to your future self. You get the following packs:
- Stellar Crown
- Twilight Masquerade
- Paradox Rift
- Temporal Forces
- Obsidian Flames
Xbox Wireless Controller – DOOM: The Dark Ages LE
I want this just to display it. This controller has matte green armor, silver spikes, a sinister red thumbstick, and buttons labeled in the Sentinel alphabet. I’m convinced it could survive a drop from orbit.
It’s still a standard Xbox and Bluetooth controller underneath all the theatrics, so it’ll work across consoles, PC, and cloud. I think it’s the best kind of extra. Completely over-the-top, but still totally usable.
The Last of Us 10th Anniversary Vinyl Box Set - 4LP
I don’t even play vinyl and I still want this sitting on my shelf. The music from Last of Us is unforgettable, and this set leans all the way into the emotion. It includes four colored records, a slipcase that looks like it’s been through some stuff, and two beautiful lithographs.
Gustavo Santaolalla’s soundtrack is about as iconic as game music gets. In my opinion, if you felt anything during that main theme, you’re going to want this in your collection.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together Elite Trainer Box
I think this box is for anyone who loves both strategy and structure. It comes with nine booster packs, a full-art promo of N’s Zorua, a mountain of energy cards, dice, sleeves, and even a collector’s box with dividers. It’s basically a starter kit for organized chaos.
It’s not the cheapest trainer box out there, but the amount of content here definitely gives it an edge if you're all in on the Scarlet & Violet era.
Return to Metroidvania Game Bundle
This bundle is a steal. For fourteen bucks, you’re getting eight quality indie games, and at least three of them could easily stand on their own. I picked it up for Gato Roboto, which is exactly what it sounds like: a cat in a mech suit.
In my opinion, this is ideal for anyone who wants games that actually let you explore and experiment. The titles are highly rated, weird in the best way, and don’t take up 80 gigs of storage. It’s refreshing.
Pokémon TCG - Scarlet & Violet: Journey Together Sleeved Booster
Alright, I’ll be honest. This one’s a bit of a wildcard. You get one booster pack, randomly selected, and that's it. The listing makes it clear you don’t get to pick the pack art or contents.
I wouldn’t build a collection around this, but if you need to nudge your cart over the free shipping threshold or just like rolling the dice, this might do the trick.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together Booster Bundle
This bundle skips the extras and gets right to the point: six booster packs from the latest expansion. If you're just here for the cards and not the fluff, this is a clean, solid option.
I like using these as a supplement to the bigger trainer boxes, or as a low-effort gift for a Pokémon fan who definitely already has more cards than they need.
Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet: 151 Booster Bundle
This bundle brings back the original 151 Pokémon with modern mechanics and new artwork, making it a highly sought-after product among longtime fans and collectors. It’s marketed as a great way to access the set without buying a full booster display box, and it consistently sells out quickly. Still, at nearly twice the standard retail price, it’s worth thinking twice unless you’ve had trouble finding it elsewhere.
Pokemon TCG Surging Sparks Sleeved Booster Pack
Currently the number one best-seller in collectible booster packs on Amazon, Surging Sparks includes over 250 cards, new Pokémon ex, ACE SPEC cards, and more than 50 cards featuring special illustrations. With solid pull potential and a modest price point, it’s an easy recommendation for casual players and serious collectors. Each pack contains 10 cards and is eligible for fast, free Prime shipping.
The Last of Us - Joel With Hatchet Bust
Available now for pre-order, this officially licensed Joel bust from Dark Horse and Naughty Dog stands 8.5 inches tall, reaching 11 inches at the top of the hatchet. The statue features detailed texturing on Joel’s flannel, backpack, and face, all set on a battle-worn concrete base with moss and bullet holes. It includes a certificate of authenticity and is scheduled to ship in August 2025. Ideal for collectors and fans of The Last of Us looking to lock in a centerpiece item.
Pokemon TCG: Azure Legends Tin
This newly released tin includes five booster packs and one random foil promo card featuring either Kyogre ex, Xerneas ex, or Dialga ex. Inside, you’ll find a mix of packs from recent expansions including Surging Sparks, Temporal Forces, Stellar Crown, and Obsidian Flames. It’s a solid mid-tier pickup for anyone looking to expand their collection with newer sets in one convenient package.
Dice & Destiny Game Bundle
This bundle features seven well-reviewed indie RPGs including Disco Elysium, Citizen Sleeper, Broken Roads, Roadwarden, and both Pillars of Eternity games. With ratings as high as 94 percent positive on Steam, the value here is undeniable for turn-based and narrative RPG fans. Plus, 15 percent off Citizen Sleeper 2 is included as a bonus coupon. The deal supports Care.org and is available for the next 15 hours only.
Pokémon TCG - Scarlet & Violet: Journey Together Sleeved Booster
Marked down from $15.99, this pack is part of the Scarlet and Violet expansion and comes in assorted packaging. Each blister contains 10 cards, with a chance to pull some of the newer generation cards and artwork styles. While the pack style you receive is random, this is a good opportunity to sample the set at a much lower price than usual.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together Elite Trainer Box
This is the first time I’ve seen the ETB for a reasonable price without having to buy it from someone’s backseat eBay hustle. Nine booster packs, full-art N’s Zorua promo, card sleeves, energy, dice, the works. I’ve seen this box selling for $90+ since launch, so $70.31 from Amazon is genuinely solid. Lillie’s Clefairy ex is still floating around $180 and N’s Zoroark ex has dropped to $13, which tells me the hype has deflated and we’re in “buy because it’s fun” territory again. I like it here.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet — Journey Together Booster Bundle
This is the low-frills version for people who just want to open packs without pretending they’re going to organize their collection. Six Journey Together boosters and none of the ETB fluff. Honestly, this is how I like to test a set when prices cool off. You still have a shot at cards like Salamence ex SIR, which tanked from $250 to around $106, or a sub-$20 N’s Reshiram. Even if you pull nothing, at least you didn’t overpay trying to win the cardboard lottery.
Pokémon TCG - Scarlet & Violet: Journey Together - Sleeved Booster
I threw one of these in my cart last week just to hit the free shipping minimum. One pack, random art, decent discount. There’s no reason to expect anything big, but the price is finally low enough that I don’t feel bad if I just pull a Furret. And if you happen to land something like Articuno’s Illustration Rare (now $18.69) or Wailord (around $14.55), it’s a nice win from a $10 impulse buy.
Train Sim world 5 Route Remix Bundle
I don’t know how many people wake up wanting ten train simulator add-ons, but if you’re one of them, today is your day. For $15, you get Train Sim World 5’s Starter Pack plus nine routes and loco add-ons. Antelope Valley, Cajon Pass, Thameslink, Santa Fe F7—the whole diesel buffet. It’s Steam keys, it supports CALM, and the value is so off the rails (pun fully intended) that I bought it just to mess around with the Railpool BR193 Vectron. Don’t judge me.
Lepro O1 AI Floor Lamp
This is one of those “tech that doesn’t make sense until you try it” products. It’s a smart LED floor lamp with AI-generated lighting modes, music sync, voice control, app scheduling, and a vibe for every mood. It’s absurdly bright at 2300 lumens, and it looks clean in any corner setup. The AI stuff isn’t just fluff either. Say “I want relaxing light” and it’ll give you ten preset scenes. I think it’s great if you want one light to do everything without fiddling with settings for half an hour.
Lepro B2 AI Smart Light Bulbs
These are the same AI bulbs as the ones in the floor lamp, but in classic 75W-equivalent LED form. They’re bright, colorful, and weirdly helpful if you’re too tired to fine-tune your lighting manually. The music sync is fun, the AI scenes work well, and the voice commands actually feel smart instead of gimmicky. I bought a set of these last month and haven’t touched the wall switch since. At $8 per bulb, it’s kind of a no-brainer.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet & Violet - Surging Sparks
I picked up Surging Sparks because six booster packs under $50 is lower than what Amazon has been charging recently (It's still above MSRP though) Honestly, I wanted something new to crack open. It’s part of the latest Scarlet & Violet expansion, so if you’re trying to keep up with current sets or just enjoy the chaos of pulling a good card, this one’s a smart grab.
Pokémon TCG: Iono’s Bellibolt ex Premium Collection
This one’s for the collectors who care as much about presentation as they do the pulls. Iono’s Bellibolt ex Premium Collection comes with six packs, a full-art promo, and a display sheet that’s more elaborate than it needs to be — in a good way. It's also a cool way to snag Journey Together packs with a fantastic promo card.
Mass Effect Merchandise
I think anyone who's replayed Mass Effect more than once knows exactly why these statues are tempting. I pre-ordered Jack immediately because, well, it felt necessary. The line includes Shepard, Tali, Legion, and others, and they look good enough that I’ve already made space for them on the shelf. If you're still quoting Garrus unironically, these are for you.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet: Paldean Fates: Booster Bundle
Paldean Fates is priced a double MSRP, but it's also very hard to come by in 2025. I grabbed it because the baby shiny sub-set is awesome, but if you just want to grab the single cards from this set, it might actually save you money.
Fellow Traveller Publisher Bundle
This bundle has some of the better narrative indies from the last few years. I paid the $12, added the games to my backlog like I always do, and immediately booted up The Pale Beyond. It’s a strong lineup if you like character-driven games and don’t mind occasionally being emotionally wrecked by minimalist storytelling.
Pokémon TCG: Scarlet and Violet Shrouded Fable Elite Trainer Box
I think of this one as the all-in-one box for when you want cards and a bunch of gear you probably won’t use but still want around. Nine booster packs, a promo, sleeves, dice, and enough extras to make you feel like you’re doing more than just opening packs. It’s a solid option if you like having a little structure with your chaos.
Pokémon TCG: Terapagos ex Ultra-Premium Collection
I hesitated on this one, then immediately remembered it includes 18 booster packs and a playmat. It’s definitely a big spend, but if you’ve been waiting for a premium bundle that actually justifies the price, this checks out. I picked it up more for the experience than the individual cards, and that’s the right way to approach it.
Pokémon TCG: Shining Fates Collection Pikachu V Box
I grabbed Shining Fates Pikachu V mostly because I never actually opened it when it first dropped, and now seemed like a good excuse. Four booster packs, a Pikachu promo, and the oversized card that ends up somewhere near your desk — standard stuff, but still a nice throwback if you missed it the first time around.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
Star Wars Celebration 2025 has seen a slew of new announcements so far, including a theatrical film starring Ryan Gosling that will hit theaters in 2027. And now, fans of the Star Wars animated universe have something to look forward to: a brand-new series featuring fan-favorite villain Darth Maul.
Revealed as part of the Lucasfilm Animation panel at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord is coming to Disney+ and features Sam Witwer returning as Darth Maul. Witwer previously voiced the iconic villain in both Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Witwer's voice was also featured in the closing scene of Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Sam Witwer, star of the upcoming Maul - Shadow Lord surprises fans at Star Wars Celebration. New animated series coming 2026 to @disneyplus. pic.twitter.com/AMeszrLfqu
The new series is set after after the final season of The Clone Wars and will see Maul "plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire."
The Star Wars Celebration panel featured new footage revealing the show as dark and gritty. In the clip, we see Maul break a force sensitive Twi'lek out of prison and offer to train her. We also see Maul slice up multiple characters with his double-ended lightsabre.
Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord debuts on Disney+ in 2026.
Mobile gaming obsession Monopoly Go is teaming up with Star Wars to add a little science fiction sauce to its real estate dice-rolling. The collaboration, announced today at Star Wars Celebration in Japan, will run from May 1 - July 2 and takes inspiration from events from Skywalker Saga and The Mandalorian.
As well as giving some beloved Star Wars characters a cute cartoon makeover, the Star Wars season on Monopoly Go will add a Star Wars Go sticker album to fill, podracing in the Mos Espa Grand Arena, and collectible in-game items like tokens, shields and emojis. Plus you get to enjoy the weirdness of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Han Solo, R2D2, Yoda, Anakin Skywalker and Qui-Gon Jinn hanging out Mr Monopoly, AKA Rich Uncle Pennybags.
It's not the first time Monopoly Go has done a mash-up, last September Marvel characters got Monopolized with Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the Avengers all making an appearance.
Publisher Scopely also recently acquired the Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now teams as part of a deal with Niantic.
According to a report from our sister site GamesIndustry.biz, Monopoly Go was ranked the top game for consumer spending in 2024, bringing in a "gold toilets for everyone on the team" $2.47 billion jackpot. In 2024 Scopely also reported 150 million downloads and 10 million daily users.
Rachel Weber is the Senior Editorial Director of Games at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, and French Bulldogs. Those extra wrinkles on her face are thanks to going time blind and staying up too late finishing every sidequest in RPGs like Fallout and Witcher 3.
Star Wars Celebration 2025 is now in full swing, and that means companies like Hasbro are making announcements regarding upcoming collectibles. Fans of The Mandalorian will be happy to know Hasbro continues to focus on that live-action series in a big way. At their Celebration panel today, Hasbro revealed the next two figures joining the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection lineup - Moff Gideon and Cobb Vanth.
IGN can exclusively debut the first images of these two Star Wars figures. Get a closer look in the slideshow gallery below:
Like all Vintage Collection figures, these two are designed at a 3.75-inch scale and come with packaging inspired by the classic Kenner Star Wars figures.
Moff Gideon is inspired by the character's appearance in the Season 3 finale of The Mandalorian, where he wore his indestructible Dark Trooper armor. The figure includes an electro-staff and a blaster accessory.
Cobb Vanth, meanwhile, is technically based on the character's appearance in The Book of Boba Fett rather than The Mandalorian. This figure depicts the good sheriff after he's given up his beskar armor and prepares to duel Cad Bane. The figure includes both long and short blaster accessories.
These Vintage Collection figures are priced at $16.99 each and will be available for preorder on Hasbro Pulse, Amazon, and other retailers starting on Friday, April 18 at 12pm PT.
Star Wars Outlaws fans will be able to head back into the game for a new tale of space smuggling on May 15, when the second story pack for the Ubisoft game will be released on all the game's current platforms. It'll be free for season pass holders, otherwise you're going to need $14.99 in credits to join Kay Vess and Nix on a new adventure.
A Pirate's Fortune gives players the chance to join forces with Hondo Ohnaka, head of the Ohnaka Gang. Hondo will be a name familiar to Star Wars: The Clone Wars fans and readers of the 2017 comic book series Star Wars: Darth Maul, and has even done time as one of the animatronic characters at the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge attraction. This time around he'll be Kay's ally as she takes on Stinger Tash and her gang, the Rokana Raiders, checks out a mysterious tomb and does some smuggling for the Miyuki Trade League. If you haven't quite finished the main storyline quests in Star Wars Outlaws you'll need to get that done to be ready to jump into the new content on May 15.
The news was announced during a panel at Star Wars Celebration in Japan today, where Ubisoft also revealed that Star Wars Outlaws would be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 on September 4 a few months after the handheld's June 5 launch.
Rachel Weber is the Senior Editorial Director of Games at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, and French Bulldogs. Those extra wrinkles on her face are thanks to going time blind and staying up too late finishing every sidequest in RPGs like Fallout and Witcher 3.
Ubisoft had already confirmed Star Wars: Outlaws as one of the games that will be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, but today we learned the space adventure won't be a launch title when the new Nintendo handheld is released on June 5, instead arriving a few months later on September 4.
If you missed it on PS5, XBox and PC, Star Wars Outlaws is set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and follows Kay Vess, a small time criminal who finds herself with a death mark from a cartel against her name. Our reviewer gave it a 7, saying it was "a fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration, but it’s hindered by simple stealth, repetitive combat, and a few too many bugs at launch."
Ubisoft didn't have many details to share beyond reiterating that the title would be available on Nintendo Switch 2 and confirming when, but at least we can update the Switch 2 Games List. With American and Canadian gamers locked in pre-order limbo as Nintendo assesses the impact of the new tariffs introduced by the Republican administration, any news on Nintendo Switch 2 games getting released is a welcome distraction.
The news was announced during a panel at Star Wars Celebration in Japan today, where Ubisoft also gave fans a look at the second story pack headed to Star Wars: Outlaws, titled A Pirate’s Fortune. The add on will see Kay joining allying with Hondo Ohnaka to take on Stinger Tash, leader of the Rokana Raiders. Star Wars: Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune will be released on May 15.
Rachel Weber is the Senior Editorial Director of Games at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, and French Bulldogs. Those extra wrinkles on her face are thanks to going time blind and staying up too late finishing every sidequest in RPGs like Fallout and Witcher 3.
Lucasfilm has officially announced Star Wars: Starfighter, a brand-new film directed by Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy that stars Ryan Gosling and will be released in theaters on May 28, 2027. Oh, and it takes place five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
The news was revealed at Star Wars Celebration and it was confirmed that production on the film will begin this fall.
We didn't learn much else about Star Wars: Starfighter besides that Gosling will be playing a brand-new character, but it should help in putting Memorial Day 2027 plans in place for Star Wars fans.
In a heartwarming moment, however, Gosling revealed his mom sent him an old photo of his childhood Star Wars bedsheets when he landed the role.
Ryan Gosling, star of the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, reveals his childhood love for a galaxy far, far away. pic.twitter.com/jA8vR7F6bv
Star Wars: Starfighter will be part of the new wave of Star Wars films alongside The Mandalorian & Grogu and movies from Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and a trilogy from Simon Kinberg.
Star Wars Celebration is taking place in Japan this year, and IGN is attending all the exciting panels! Follow along below for live updates from The Mandalorian & Grogu panel:
Ahsoka Season 2 Filming Begins After Star Wars Celebration
The Lucasfilm panel kicked off with the company’s president Kathleen Kennedy and chief creative officer Dave Filoni taking the stage alongside the iconic droids C-3P0 and R2-D2. Filoni told the crowd that they’ll start shooting Ahsoka Season 2 as soon as he gets off the plane from Celebration.
Kennedy and Filoni also confirmed that Star Wars films by James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Taika Waititi and a new trilogy by Simon Kinberg remain in ongoing development.
Star Wars: Starfighter Announced, Ryan Gosling to Star
Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy then took the stage to announce that his Star Wars film begins shooting this fall. The director said it’s a standalone adventure film that takes a few years after Star Wars, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.
Levy also said most of the rumors about the film swirling around online are very inaccurate but that one is true: Ryan Gosling stars in the movie. The Fall Guy star then took the stage to surprise the fans in the audience.
The Levy-Gosling film will be neither a prequel nor a sequel and will explore a period of time not chronicled in other Star Wars projects. It will feature a whole new cast of characters.
The movie will be titled Star Wars: Starfighter and will hit theaters May 28, 2027.
The Mandalorian & Grogu Coming to IMAX
Director Jon Favreau joined Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni onstage at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo to tout their upcoming film, The Mandalorian & Grogu.
Favreau confirmed that the movie will be in IMAX, which is notable since its origins are on the small screen. He said that sets had to be adjusted accordingly to scale.
The movie will feature some familiar faces from Star Wars lore, including Zeb Orrelios from Rebels and the explorer droid BD-1 from the games Fallen Order and Jedi Survivor.
Sigourney Weaver Says "Grogu Stole My Heart"
Pedro Pascal took the stage along with Sigourney Weaver. Weaver, the sci-fi icon from the Alien and Avatar franchises, told fans of her Star Wars casting: “I got real lucky.”
Weaver admitted she hadn’t watched The Mandalorian before being cast in the movie but when she finally did she fell in love with Pascal’s title character and added, “Of course, Grogu stole my heart.”
The Mandalorian & Grogu Footage Revealed for Attendees
Favreau then brought Grogu out onstage before screening footage from the film for attendees, but with the caveat that it’s still too early for a proper trailer.
The footage includes shots of an Imperial ship prepared to engage, Mando battling Flame Troopers, AT-AT walkers collapsing in the snow, and then our first look at Weaver’s character, who appears to be someone contracting Mando for a job.
Weaver’s character is seen at a table with Grogu. She says “very messy” and “You work for us, We need you.”
Grogu is seen swimming and later making items, including a droid, levitate.
Much of the action in the footage appears to take place on a snowy planet.
The Mandalorian & Grogu opens in theaters May 22, 2026.
Welcome to an absolute mixed bag of legends, oddballs, and underappreciated gems at a considerable discount. Whether you’re chasing sprawling RPGs, high-octane action, or quirky genre mashups, I've found something to tempt your wallet (and mine, to be honest). I say get 'em before they're goneski.
This Day in Gaming 🎂
In retro news, I'm celebrating the 14th birthday of Portal 2, one of the funniest video games ever made. I still have vivid memories of being guided by the artificial unintelligence of Wheatley (Stephen Merchant) while hungering for any new audio log from eccentric, gold-plated a-hole Cave Johnson (J. K. Simmons). The icing on the cake (that was a lie)? A rock solid 2P split-screen co-op mode.
Nintendo Switch fans can snap up Persona 5 Royal for a sharp discount. Listen closely and you’ll notice that series composer Shoji Meguro slipped in sneaky leitmotifs that reference earlier Persona games. Meanwhile, Golf Story is just A$3, and yes, it’s the delightfully Aussie indie RPG that mixes pixel art, putting greens and crime drama into one bizarrely wholesome adventure.
Over on Xbox Series X, Persona 3 Reload has been redone from the ground up in Unreal Engine. Unlike its original 2006 version, you can now control your entire party (a sore spot for longtime fans). You’ll also find The Witcher 3 Complete going cheap, which includes both expansions (which feel long enough to be games unto themselves).
On PS5, Judgment is a criminally underrated Yakuza spin-off starring a former boyband icon turned actor. And Stellar Blade, despite its early controversy, comes from the same Korean studio that almost made a game based entirely around acrobatic pole vaulting. I love werid games. Would've played.
PC players can’t miss Lords of the Fallen, a Soulslike that quietly lets you switch between realms in real-time. Or there's Black Desert for next to nothing. It's a game known less for its combat and more for having possibly the most detailed hair simulation in MMORPG history.
For a limited time, Best Buy is offering the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless gaming headset for PC, PS4, and PlayStation 5 for just $139.99, or a whopping 50% off the $280 list price. This is $50 less than SteelSeries' Easter Sale deal price of $189.99. The Arctis Pro is a top-end SteelSeries headset (in fact, its flagship model before the Nova Arctis Pro was released), and one of only two models with swappable batteries.
50% Off SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Gaming Headset
The Arctis Pro was the highest-end gaming headset in SteelSeries' repertoire until its successor, the Arctis Nova Pro, was released. It boasts some great features you don't see in other gaming headsets, like a separate standalone base station with volume knob and OLED display, simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz WiFi pairing, and probably the best one: the hot-swappable battery system. This way, you get wireless freedom with no waiting to recharge. SteelSeries includes two batteries: one that's in use in your headset and the other that's charging in the base station.
The Arctis Pro features as good of a build quality you'll find in a SteelSeries headset. The headband is made of a lightweight steel and aluminum alloy construction and the suspension headstrap is very comfortable for marathon gaming sessions. The ear cushions are made of an AirWeave performance fabric similar to the ones found on the new Arctis Nova Pro. The ClearCast boom microphone can be retracted when not in use. Audio quality is great thanks to the premium 40mm speaker drivers with high-density neodymium magnets that reproduce hi-res audio up to 40,000Hz.
The Arctis Pro was replaced by the Arctis Nova Pro in 2022. The current best price for a brand new pair of Nova Pros is $270 on Amazon. Although it's an excellent headset that we reviewed favorably and features significant upgrades like active noise cancellation and USB Type-C charging, it most certainly isn't worth nearly double the cost of the Arctis Pro.
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.
Just yesterday Amazon surprised us by dropping preorder listings for a Fallout season one 4K steelbook. It is fairly unusual for a Prime Video original series to get a physical release and many of our readers jumped at the chance to preorder a copy for themselves. At $39.99, it was a pretty good price for a new 4K steelbook in 2025.
Unfortunately, the listings for the 4K steelbook, Blu-ray, and DVD options for the series are no longer available on Amazon. It's unclear if Amazon is planning on bringing back the listing anytime soon, but you can check the links below to see for yourself if they have returned by the time you're reading this.
Fallout Season One 4K Steelbook Listings on Amazon
Although all of the listings are no longer showing a product for Amazon, there surprisingly is still a listing live at Walmart right now. It's only for the DVD version, but if you still want to get a preorder in, that is your only option right now. It will most likely come back on Amazon, but the fact that it was suddenly pulled could mean they may raise the price. Amazon does have a preorder price guarantee, so if you got your preorder in before the listing disappeared, you might still get it at that price. But that could depend on whether or not preorders get cancelled.
After some bonus goodies to kit out your monsters in Creatures of Sonaria? We've got you covered. Below, you'll find all of the active codes in Roblox's kaiju survival game, allowing you to redeem plushies and other rewards.
Working Creatures of Sonaria Codes (April 2025)
Currently, there are no active Creatures of Sonaria codes in April 2025. As soon as that changes, we’ll update this page, so check back soon for updates.
Expired Creatures of Sonaria Codes
COSBILLION
2024CAMPFIRE10
CAMPFIRECAMPOUT
EMBEREXTRAVAGANZA
CAMPFIREASHES
100ktwitter
100ktiktok
astralredeem2024
How to Redeem Creatures of Sonaria Codes
To redeem Creatures of Sonaria codes, launch the Roblox Experience and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:
Head to the main menu and look in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. Below the slot box, you'll see two gift icons.
Click the blue gift icon on the left to pull up the codes bar.
Type your code into the code bar, being careful to make sure it’s in the right case and spelt correctly.
Hit Redeem and your rewards will be added to your account.
Why Isn't My Creatures of Sonaria Code Working?
If your Creatures of Sonaria code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the code was inputted incorrectly. Creatures of Sonaria codes can either be in lower case or upper case, so make sure you have the code inputted correctly before you hit redeem. You can even copy and paste the codes directly from this article over to Roblox if you want to make sure you’re inputting them correctly.
The other possibility is the code has expired or you’ve already used it. If you’ve already used it, you’ll get a message below the bar reminding you the inputted code has already been redeemed. If you’ve inputted your code and the message says it's expired, it means the code's no longer available to use.
How to Get More Creatures of Sonaria Codes
If you’re looking to scout out some extra Creatures of Sonaria Codes, you should check out the game's official Discord server. The devs frequently post the latest news and updates in the server's announcements channel, including when they add redeemable codes.
You can also follow Sonar Studios on X, where they usually post when major codes go live.
What is Creatures of Sonaria in Roblox?
Creatures of Sonaria is a survival game with a unique twist. Instead of playing a human enduring a hostile world, you start off as a weak monster that must scavenge for food and water while avoiding threats. As you start to acclimatize to your harsh habitat, you age up, becoming more powerful and capable of taking on tougher hazards, as you hunt other monsters, survive deadly weather events, and more.
Featuring a wide range of creatures you can control and collect, cooperative play with friends online, and a large open-world to explore, Creatures of Sonaria is a sprawling experience that will test whether you truly have what it takes to survive.
Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.
As if they could resist putting Alicia Silverstone back in the yellow and plaid. The iconic actress is reportedly set to reprise her starring role as Cher Horowitz in a Clueless sequel series for Peacock.
The series is currently in development with the streamer, according to Variety, and the exact plot details are being kept quiet. The only details we have at this point are Silverstone’s involvement, the fact that the show will be a continuation of the story told in the original 1995 film, and the creative team. Additionally, we know this new attempt at a Clueless spin-off is different from the one that Peacock was planning to do back in 2020.
Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, best known as a team for co-creating the original Gossip Girl series as well as executive producing the reboot series, will write the series alongside Jordan Weiss. The trio will executive produce the series as well alongside Amy Heckerling, the original writer-director of Clueless, and Robert Lawrence, the film’s original producer. CBS Studios and Universal Television will also produce.
This is definitely not the first small screen adaptation of the 1995 comedy. Following its success with moviegoers, a television version of the film aired on ABC and UPN from 1996 to 1999 with Rachel Blanchard — instead of Silverstone — in the lead.
Silverstone recently reprised her Clueless role in a 2023 Super Bowl commercial for Rakuten — so it’s clear she’s been itching to get back into Cher’s closet. We don’t blame her one bit.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Let's make this simple: You want to know if there are any post- or mid-credits scenes in Sinners. The answer is yes, in a big way, since it has one of both.
Check back on this page Friday for a full spoiler breakdown of the movie!
Set in 1932, writer-director Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (review) involves twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) returning home to the town of Clarksdale, Mississippi, after seven years away in Chicago. World War I veterans who then made a living as criminals – it’s mentioned they worked for Al Capone – the two are now opening a juke joint in an old sawmill they bought from a local named Hogwood (David Maldonado).
But you know what? There are vampires in this town.
Does Sinners Have a Mid- or Post-Credit Scene?
It sure does! In fact, the film has one of those mid-credit scenes that actually feels like the proper final scene of the movie itself rather than just a fun bonus. To use a comparison from Ryan Coogler’s pals at Marvel Studios, where he learned a thing or two about credits scenes, this is like the one in Spider-Man: Far From Home with J. Jonah Jameson’s news report, where it would be a genuine shame to miss if you leapt out of your seat immediately.
There's also a post-credits scene, but we'll avoid digging in on either of them until Friday. So be sure to check back here for that discussion, including with commentary from Coogler himself...
LG's most popular current generation OLED TV has been discounted starting today. Right now Amazon has dropped the price of the 65" LG Evo C4 4K OLED TV to $1,396.99. The LG Evo C-series of TVs - including this model - have consistently been our favorite high-end 4K TVs for HDR movie watching and current generation console gaming.
65" LG Evo C4 4K OLED Smart TV for $1397
The C4 is the 2024 model in LG's C-series OLED lineup. The LG Evo C5 hasn't yet been released, but it was showcased during CES 2025. At least on paper, the improvements of the C5 seem to be incremental, with no major ground breaking updates that would make you want to hold off until its launch. More importantly, the C5 will probably release at a very high retail price which will take months to get down to a level that's competitive with other TV deals.
The C4 uses LG's Evo panel, which offers higher brightness levels than traditional OLED TVs. Compared to a standard LED LCD TV, an OLED TV offers superior image quality, near-infinite blacks, near-infinite contrast ratio, and near-instantaneous response times. Because of these advantages, the Evo OLED TV excels at displaying 4K HDR content in all of its intended glory. LG OLED TVs particular have been out for years and benefit from several generations of optimizations.
The LG C4 also has all the features you'd want in a gaming TV as well. It has a native 120Hz panel that can be pushed to as high as 144Hz and all four HDMI ports are 2.1 spec for running games in 4K at up to 120fps on a PS5 or Xbox Series X without any tearing. The C4 also supports variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM). The C4 is also easier to install than its predecessors; the rear cabinet housing is made of a composite fiber that weighs 36 pounds.
Need a good soundbar to pair it with?
If you bought a brand new TV over the holidays and you're looking for an inexpensive audio solution to pair it with, then check out this oustanding deal from Woot (owned by Amazon). Right now the certified refurbished Bose Smart Soundbar 550 with 1 year Bose warranty is selling for just $169.99, a huge 66% discount from its original $499 list price. Amazon Prime members get free shipping, the rest of us pay $6. It's easily one of the best soundbars you can get at this price, especially if you're looking for Dolby Atmos support, and you get the same warranty as buying new.
More Excellent OLED TV Deals Going on Right Now
If you don't mind going a generation back, you can pick up a 2023 65" LG Evo C3 4K OLED TV for just $1,196.99 with free shipping on Amazon. This is a better deal than what I saw during Black Friday. The 2024 C4 has minimal incremental upgrades over the 2023 C3, with the most noticeable improvements being an upgraded processor, newer WebOS smart interface, support for DTS audio, and a higher 144Hz refresh rate.
Looking for more options? Check out all of the best TVs of 2025.
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.
Fear not, friends — a new series of Taskmaster is just around the corner. The beloved British panel show, which has recently blown up in the U.S. because of how incredibly TikTok-able it is and how incredibly easy it is to watch for free, has released a trailer for series 19 of the show. Luckily for fans, they even dropped the series’ release date.
In the minute-long sneak peek, fans get a glimpse of the show’s classic style, but featuring a new cast of comedians in the hot seats. Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jason Mantzoukas, Mathew Baynton, Rosie Ramsey and Stevie Martin are the stars of series 19, with Mantzoukas being the only non-English comic on the panel.
In line with the show’s usual fare, the trailer shows them participating in all manner of crazy challenges, throwing out hilarious jabs left and right, and, of course, making wonderfully hilarious fools of themselves. “It’s just such a quirky show,” Alex Horne, creator of the show and assistant to host Greg Davies, says at the end of the clip, and man, that pretty much sums it up.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the comedic genius of this game show, the official synopsis reads thus: “Taskmaster tyrant Greg Davies, with the help of his loyal assistant Alex Horne, sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians. Unaware of what awaits them in each wax-sealed envelope, only one competitor can become the victorious owner of His Royal Task-ness’ golden head and be crowned the next Taskmaster Champion.”
According to the description on the show’s YouTube trailer, the show will be returning to its native Channel 4 on May 1st. The show will continue to air on Thursdays on Channel 4 throughout the season, but will also release episodes via YouTube for worldwide viewing the following day. In the meantime, you can watch essentially all of Taskmaster going back 18 seasons, plus the variations of the show in New Zealand and Australia, on YouTube as well to tide you over while you wait. Let the games begin!
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Vampires are a cornerstone of horror cinema, arising even before Universal opened Dracula’s coffin in Hollywood’s relative infancy. Since then, we’ve seen vampires of every iteration — the glittery heartthrobs, the ugliest creatures, the prankster roommates, and countless other reinventions. There have always been vampires lurking in shadows, and there will forever be batty wings flapping under the moonlight. Our task here is to highlight the best of the best vampire movies throughout history, covering period highlights as horror movements came and went faster than Drac stepping into the sunlight.
As always, there are personal favorites that haven't squeaked their way onto this list but still deserve recognition. Movies like Suck, The Transfiguration, Byzantium, Blood Red Sky, and Blade deserve to be in the conversation when fans discuss their favorite vampire movies, and we’d love to hear some of your suggestions! After reading our selections below, hit the comments with some vampire movies you rank as crowning achievements in vampire cinema.
But for now, let’s take a bite out of this massive subgenre. Here are the 25 best vampire movies of all time. You can also look at the best monster movies for more picks.
25. Vampyr (1932)
Criterion has dubbed Vampyr a horror classic with good reason. Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer implements what little technological advancements benefitted cinema at the time to create a black-and-white vampire mystery that operates in absurdist brush strokes. Most notably, Vampyr heavily uses shadows that maneuver with free will, giving a dreamlike state to supernatural influences. It’s no Nosferatu, but it exemplifies how vampire flicks can differentiate themselves through translucent visual effects and more ghostly disorientation even in days when techniques were limited. You can never stifle ambition, which will always find a way.
24. Bit (2019)
The “Vibe Check” on Brad Michael Elmore’s Bit passes with flying (neon) colors. Nicole Maines stars as a transgender teenage girl who moves to Los Angeles and falls in with a badass crew of vampires (run by cooler-than-everyone Diana Hopper as Duke) who do not allow men in their undead club. Elmore’s indie oozes LA’er attitudes from messaging to sexy nightlife scenes — complete with a needle drop of Starcrawler’s “I Love LA” — and boasts 10 times the style of contemporary vampire flicks with 10 times the budget. It feels authentic in thematic messages, ambitious yet wholly operating within its means, and still has some nice bloodletting for more hardcore horror fans despite execution that might favor younger audiences. A film that’s never shy about what’s on the tin and even holds its feminist message accountable is better for its slick-supportive-seductive ways.
23. Nosferatu (2024)
Robert Eggers no longer has to chase his white whale. The filmmaker’s ultimate passion project, Nosferatu, is as technically stunning and hideously moody as you’d expect. Jarin Blaschke’s meticulous arthouse cinematography deservingly earned one of the film’s four Oscar nominations, a testament to Eggers’s dedication to precise and unrivaled craftsmanship. Bill Skarsgård disappears under festering cosmetic makeup as he transforms into the predatory Count Orlok, while Lily-Rose Depp shines as his writhing, at times possessed muse. Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Willem Dafoe are all fantastic supporting players as Eggers reworks Henrik Galeen’s and Bram Stoker’s literature into his own sublimely atmospheric interpretation of Nosferatu’s curse. It’s gothic, gorgeous, and grotesque in ways only Eggers can accomplish.
22. Fright Night (2011)
Yes, 2011’s Fright Night remake earns an entry while the beloved 1985 original does not. Why? Because 2011’s Fright Night, starring Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, and Toni Collette, is an upgrade in fierceness and pacing, and separates its performances from the originals enough to exist without competing against its elders. There’s no comparison between Peter Vincents or Jerry Dandriges — Farrell operates like a shark smelling blood and David Tennant is the Midori-drunk Vegas showman dealing with darker demons. The '85 version’s practical effects are superior without argument, but Fright Night (2011) gets more credit everywhere else. It’s dreadfully predatory from the get-go and never relents.
21. Bloodsucking Bastards (2015)
Vampirism can represent numerous metaphors — for example, vampirism as addiction is popular — and in Bloocksucking Bastards, vampires invade office spaces. The horror comedy starring Fran Kranz and Pedro Pascal is about a sales office slowly turning into nocturnal sales agents of doom. The soul-sucking drain of cubicle life becomes quite literal because vampires can be more productive than humans who sleep, take lunch breaks, and so forth. What starts as a spooky Workaholics episode eventually reveals the satirical staying power of a Mike Judge comedy, as Bloodsucking Bastards unleashes undead corporate warfare with supply closet tools used as weapons. For the horror comedy fans in your life who love “Worksploitation” horror (exploitation flicks about day jobs), this is one cold call you should answer.
20. The Lost Boys (1987)
The Lost Boys is a Peter Pan riff with more neck biting and less innocence. It's quintessential '80s horror at a crossroads between bloody eruptions and glitter usage, infamous for its inclusion of "Sexy Sax Man." Kiefer Sutherland's gang of vampiric Santa Carla misfits ride dirt bikes and play mind tricks by making others think they're eating insects, but there's also a mean streak to The Lost Boys. Director Joel Schumacher's vision is as extra as the '80s would allow, and vampire makeup designs aim to stir frights — it's a boardwalk hangout flick with surprisingly gruesome vampire traits that audiences will never forget for its sense of over-the-top style.
19. Norway (2014)
Chances are you don’t even know Yannis Veslemes’ Norway exists — it sat around waiting for U.S. distribution from about 2014 until 2021. Maybe that’s because it’s hard to describe this Eurotrash take on vampirism about a bloodsucker who says he’ll die if he stops dancing. It’s a period piece about 1980s nightclubs and their underbellies that turns vampires into rave-loving party animals who befriend prostitutes and end up entangled in Nazi conspiracies... The music beats as loud as Veslemes’ artistic ambitions since sequences are treated like glitzy music video segments where blood can be any vibrant color. Everything from miniatures to Michel Gondry-esque daydreams thrive. I promise you will never see a groovier, more fleet-of-foot vampire hallucination than Norway.
18. Cronos (1992)
Guillermo del Toro’s debut is as del Toro as they come. Cronos is an alternative vampire movie about a golden insect mechanism, a scarab that grants eternal life, and vampirism in its least traditional forms. You’ll glimpse a baby-faced Ron Perlman acting as a mob goomba, and minimal bloodsucking except for del Toro’s entire impetus for writing the story of Cronos — his lead character licking nosebleed juice off a bathroom floor like an addict. It’s del Toro’s way of encountering the curse of vampirism, which pivots into more curiosity about everlasting life than how someone consumes fresh blood to stay alive. You can see del Toro evolves his passion for humanizing monsters from Cronos onward and channels his rebellious spirit when bucking genre conformity.
17. Blade 2 (2002)
One or two more slots on this list and Wesley Snipes’ first Blade movie would appear. As is, Guillermo del Toro’s Blade 2 represents the comic book franchise here as a rare sequel that outshines its original. Del Toro’s flourishes are an upgrade from industrial blood rave aesthetics since landscapes are more colorful, vampires become terrifying creatures, and mercenaries gun their way through monstrosities using high-tech weapons. Blade 2 benefits from del Toro’s characterization of the macabre and adoration of practical effects, all of which are precursors to later del Toro works like Hellboy and Crimson Peak — without losing a drop of Snipes’ bad-mama-jamma Blade attitude.
16. Stake Land (2010)
The feral intensity of Stake Land can feel like a direct response to Twilight, as this film was released only about two years after the infamous young adult vampire romance. Jim Mickle and co-writer Nick Damici (who also stars) approach vampires with an apocalyptic lens, where survivors now wander infested territories trying to find safe havens like in Zombieland — except trade humor for beastly tension. Damici’s playing a vampire hunter who takes a mentee under his wing, teaching him tricks while navigating vampire hordes who thrash, gnash, and rip at throats. Dystopian wasteland vibes are paramount, and action is relentless, making Stake Land one of the more effective responses to vampires as love interests in a post-Twilight world.
15. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)
Only Lovers Left Alive is too cool for school as Jim Jarmusch takes on vampirism with a carefree indie rock attitude. Hiddleston fits the role of a reclusive shut-in with the grace of a sedated Joey Ramone, while Swinton’s go-with-the-flow grace is intoxicating. The additions of Mia Wasikowska and Anton Yelchin inject a bit of chaos into bloodsuckers who embrace moody, musical hangout chemistry, while Jarmusch uses his film to equate vampirism to drug addiction and humanity’s intensifying corruption. It’s rebellious, punk-rock, and hipster without the stigmatic pretension, driven by tortured yet enviable performances that even pull off wearing sunglasses at night.
14. 30 Days of Night (2007)
In the conversation of “Best Comic Book Adaptations,” you best not forget David Slade’s 30 Days of Night. Josh Hartnett and Melissa George anchor a cast of Alaskan townsfolk submerged in darkness for 30 days and fending off a roving vampire gang. Danny Huston epitomizes vampires as creatures worth fearing, as primal and animalistic as horror fans have encountered. 30 Days of Night is magnificently monster-forward and never for a second lets audiences catch their breath, hinged on a glorious turning point in horror cinema where attitudes were still bleak as midnight, yet gore-heaviness evolved from mindless to punctual. Hence the graphic nature of 30 Days of Night, where vampire mercilessness is an accent to the already frigidly suspenseful survival scenario.
13. Ganja & Hess (1973)
Bill Gunn’s experimental vampire romance stands out for multiple reasons, first because it’s one of the only Black vampire films — especially in 1973. Duane Jones and Marlene Clark play lovers united by bloodlust once the former turns the latter, as Gunn utilizes essences of the Black experience to convey the imprisonment of vampirism. Sam Waymon’s score provides this ritualistic drum-beating that’s sometimes drowned out by vocal screams of anguish, which becomes a disorienting source of unease, even when providing a soundtrack for lovemaking scenes. Images of nooses, pools of bright red blood being lapped by humans, and this naked approach to showing vampirism as the antithesis of religion all embrace the sins of humanity with such pronounced rawness. Race, horror, and society collide in a time when vampires mainly were whitewashed European interpretations — the importance of representation strikes again.
12. Interview With the Vampire (1994)
Interview With the Vampire is a sexy, hunky, indulgent treat that starts in 1791 Spanish Louisiana and finishes with Guns N’ Roses playing over the end credits. Tom Cruise is a diabolically dapper Lestat, Brad Pitt a dreamily conflicted Louis, Christian Slater a beefcake journalist — the hunkiness of Interview is off the charts even before mentioning Antonio Banderas. Kirsten Dunst brings a supporting turn as a child stuck in a youthful body forever, confirming that the performances across the board are transformative as a vampire family bickers and feeds throughout decades. There are oodles of presence from Louis’ extravagantly decorated plantation to New Orleans penthouses to Paris’ Théâtre des Vampires (the film was received an Oscar nomination for Best Art Direction). Plainly and confidently, they don’t make ‘em like this anymore — flamboyant, unafraid of queer subtext, and excessively ornamental down to minute details.
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn is a crime thriller that stealthily turns into a sleazy vampire lockbox midnighter. It’s got everything from Salma Hayek delivering a blistering dance number to overwhelming vampire numbers as Titty Twister strippers tear apart drunk patrons. What starts as an insidiously dark kidnapping scenario quickly becomes a guns-blazing horror brawler with Mexican influences and an exciting approach to monster mania. George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, and more turn to holy water balloons and jackhammer stake machines to exterminate vampires with extreme unholy violence — with an emphasis on practical effects by some of the best in the business.
10. Dracula (1931)
Count Dracula’s debut in Universal’s classic monster run is all about atmosphere, massive stage settings, and the gothic architecture modern vampire films don’t have the nerve to challenge. Bela Lugosi sets the Eastern European template for “I v’ant to suck your blaaahd!” types of Counts to follow, and there’s a reason. Tod Browning’s Dracula is all about rubber bat puppets, painted backgrounds, and minimal technological advancement of the '30s — yet its moods are still infinitely more fascinating than most modern vampire takes. Gothic architecture, cobwebs throughout stone castle basements, and the shadowy black-and-white wash fit Dracula’s hypnotic horrors while Lugosi uses his gaze like a tractor beam. It’s everything we could ask for in a vampire film, especially when selling vampire films beyond drained bodies and sharp teeth (at a brisk 75 minutes).
In 2014, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night was handily any filmmaking newcomer's most accomplished horror debut. Ana Lily Amirpour's black-and-white Iranian vampire flick possesses such a colorful personality, with a standout performance from Sheila Vand. Amirpour's style blends skateboarding, indie rock, and homages to classic vampire cinema with a modern bite. Vand's loner seeks romance while stalking denizens of Bad City by night, as Amirpour marries sweet fantasies with cruel fates and spaghetti Western influences. It's a vigilante story, a tale of hopeless romantics, and has a taste for wicked men — all while Amirpour valiantly establishes herself as an eye-catching filmmaker who's since made good on such promises.
8. The Hunger (1983)
In the pantheon of horny vampire flicks, Tony Scott's The Hunger — starring Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon — would have 3 AM Cinemax specials hotly bothered. Any vampire movie that starts with Bauhaus's "Bela Lugosi's Dead" earns immediate kudos, and it's all gravy afterward. Deneuve's killer queen promises her lovers eternal life, but as Bowie's 18th-century cellist finds out, said eternity doesn't extend to physical features as he suddenly begins an accelerated aging process. Enter Sarandon's gerontologist, and the love triangle birthed from deception and sealed with bloody kisses as hungers for sustenance or sexual pleasure run rampant. So sultry, so seductive, and so chaotic as only the late Scott brother could deliver.
7. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi spoof vampire films as spectacularly as Rob Reiner's rock n' roll mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap spoofs backstage heavy metal docs. What We Do in the Shadows is a tour through vampire cinema's history with a goofball's sense of humor that's not without exaggerated scenes of sloppy feeding habits. It's not only one of the better vampire films or even horror comedies since its release, but one of the best flat-out comedies since 2014. It's endlessly quotable, knowledgeable about its fanged subjects, and genuinely hilarious. Werewolves, not Swear Wolves!
Alfredson adapts John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel by toning down horror elements and vampire conventions to stress the relationship between outcast children. 12-year-old Oskar and his neighbor Eli form a compassionate bond when Oskar’s victimization by bullies and Eli’s hidden vampirism force an unlikely connection. Society drives both children into the dark and urges them to survive by their own means, which becomes the crux of this tender and tragic love story that never subdues its nastier realities about vengeance or feeding. Let the Right One In is a tremendous vampiric achievement in terms of 2000s releases and all-timer quality.
5. Near Dark (1987)
Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark is an unconventional vampire western that ditches capes for rancher hats. It’s got more in common with The Texas Chain Saw family values than Count Dracula’s Transylvanian heritage and dares introduce blood transfusion as a successful counter to undead transformations. A stacked cast including Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen play vampires who strike fear when feeding on bar patrons, using their pack mentality to survive as nightwalkers prey on the unfortunate. The sunburnt southern vibes and contemporary rawhide grit are a bright atmosphere to this road trippin’ vamp tale, standing apart without sacrificing the viciousness horror fans expect.
4. Afflicted (2013)
With rankings come controversy, and placing Afflicted this high on this will certainly bring questions. Here's the point — Derek Lee and Clif Prowse's Afflicted is a feral evolution into found footage territories that blends the worlds of don't-look-down parkour action and bloodsucking salvation. Lee stars as the "afflicted" friend who's turning into a vampire while Prowse aids in his transformation, as the filmmakers use GoPro perspectives to give a ridealong experience into vampirism. Between Lee's physical performance as he contorts in agony to the high-flying acrobatics as Lee's monster flees from pursuers, Afflicted is one of the most innovative vampire flicks of the 2000s.
3. Nosferatu (1922)
The curl of Count Orlok’s talon-like fingers, his hunchback shadow ascending the staircase... Max Schreck disappears under makeup effects that never glamorize vampire afflictions. Nosferatu remains an O.G. vampire influencer that proves black-and-white, silent cinema can still deliver compelling horror tales. F. W. Murnau adapts an unauthorized iteration of Bram Stoker’s Dracula that is an embarrassment of atmospheric riches as the bushy-eyebrowed Orlok lurks from behind shadows to reveal his jagged, toothy grin. Vampires have rarely been scarier a century later — unlock your inner historian and honor your elders.
2. Thirst (2009)
Park Chan-wook's take on vampires, taboos, romance, and shame is a knockout. Characters all thirst for something, which Chan-wook explores through conventional and alternative vampire experiences. A Catholic priest turns vampire, and a disenchanted wife seeks forbidden everlasting romance in her own grasp of change — what happens next is artfully unhinged as chaos welcomes kidnappings, killings, and contemplations of eternal imprisonment. Chan-wook delivers thoughtful vampire riffage that gets dangerously creative. Ending shots in horror don't get much better than Thirst, either.
1. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Francis Ford Coppola adapts Bram Stoker’s Dracula with supreme decadence as a gothic horror creature feature that's also a sumptuous blockbuster experience. Coppola famously demanded only on-set and in-camera effects could be used, which resulted in an astonishing feast for the eyes, from werewolf costumes to projected arteries pulsating atop Winona Ryder. Gary Oldman’s bellowing command over his adversaries as Count Dracula and Anthony Hopkins’ hilariously blunt take on Van Helsing are triumphant performances — not to forget whatever accent Keanu Reeves attempts for Jonathan Harker or Tom Waits losing his mind as Renfield. Coppola preserves the spectacle nature of Old Hollywood while overblowing every facet of his Dracula production as only the '90s would allow. It doesn’t get better, nor has it ever been better, than Bram Stoker’s Dracula when it comes to vampires in cinema.
And that's our pick of the 25 best vampire movies of all time! What do you think of our picks? If we missed your favorite, let us know in the comments. You can also rank the best vampire films yourself using our tier list tool below!
New vampire movies are constantly coming out. Late 2024 saw the release of Robert Eggers' Nosferatu remake and we've got a few more vampire films to look forward to this year.
Here are the vampire movies coming down the pipeline:
Dracula: A Love Tale - July 30, 2025
Devour - TBA 2025
Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires - TBA 2025
Brides - TBA
Flesh of the Gods - TBA
Note: This story was updated on April 17, 2025, with our latest picks for the best vampire movies. It was originally published in 2022.
During today's Mario Kart World Direct, we got a closer look at a number of new tracks, features, and racers, including Penguin. We've known Penguin was in the game since its reveal last week, but today's Direct decided to feature this blue cutie in a very meme-specific way...by repeatedly throwing him off cliffs.
This happened not once, but twice during the Direct, as fans have pointed out on social media. On one occasion, Penguin simply misjudges a curve and sails neatly off over an icy landscape:
But in a second, even more on the nose move, a Penguin in Free Roam drives straight off a cliff into the sea below while music from Super Mario 64 toodles away in the background:
— 🔥FireShadow64🔥(DROP THE PRICE) (@FireShadow64) April 17, 2025
If you're confused as to why this is noteworthy, allow me to draw your attention to a long-standing community meme of Penguin from Super Mario 64. In Super Mario 64, players discovered years ago that it was possible to collect a Power Star from Mother Penguin by returning Baby Penguin to her, then to take Baby Penguin after the star appears and take them away again...or even drop them off a cliff:
This bit has been memed into fame for over a decade by the Mario community, so it's extremely funny to see Nintendo acknowledge it even if it's in a somewhat subtle, plausible-deniability kind of way. Is this a horrendous thing to do? Society still hasn't come down cleanly on one side or another of the Penguin-cliff debate. At least Mario Kart World gives Penguin a nice little water vehicle so they can just keep going once they've landed.
Today's Mario Kart Nintendo Direct wasn't exactly the font of new information many were hoping it would be, but we still got word on some interesting new stuff: more new characters, courses, items, and features, as well as a close look (courtesy of Penguin and others) of the new open world Free Roam mode, which will let players drive around anywhere in the world without restraint.
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.
Absolute Batman's first 6-issue arc came to a close this past March, with April's issue #7 set to introduce a new take on the iconic villain Mr. Freeze. If keeping track of single issue comics isn't your thing, trade paperpack collections are a must-have for those looking to get completed stories and physical media. Absolute Batman Volume 1: The Zoo, written by comics legend Scott Snyder with art by Nick Dragotta, collects issues one through six and is currently available for preorder. It releases on August 5.
It's available at a number of different retailers, but is currently discounted at Amazon. You can get the paperback for edition for $16.19 (10% off) and the hardcover for $23.24 (7% off).
Absolute Batman Vol. 1: The Zoo Preorder Sale
Absolute Batman is the start of DC's new All In publishing intiative that gives renowed creators free reign with these characters that started in late 2024. Without the confines of a pre-established continuity, writers and artists are able to take more creative liberty with the characters and truly make them their own. If you're not sure where to start with the Absolute Universe, check out our reading guide and release schedule.
IGN's Jesse Schedeen sat down with the creators to discuss what's to come now that they've wrapped their first arc. Absolute Batman drops hints to iconic villains like Bane and the Joker throughout, and writer Scott Snyder says " . . . this Joker is already really terrifying by the time he meets Batman. But his relationship with Batman is part of something that really evolves as the series goes.” Time will tell how this cryptic message will bear fruit.
Amazon's Preorder Price Guarantee
A benefit to purchasing Absolute Batman Vol. 1 on Amazon, along with any other product, is their preorder price guarantee. Per Amazon's policy, this ensures that you'll always pay the lowest price for whatever you purchase. So even if the prices drop below what's outlined here, you'll pay that price no matter what. How nice!
The Heroes and Villains-themed Disney Destiny is set to make its maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 20, 2025, and Disney just revealed a ton of new info on the latest cruise ship about to join its fleet.
There is a lot to look forward to on the Disney Destiny, including a Lion King dining experience, a Hercules Broadway-style show, and so much more, and we're here to break down everything you need to know.
The Disney Destiny Is All About Celebrating The Heroes and Villains We Love
Heroes and Villains are the name of the game for the Disney Destiny, and Disney wants its guests to be "inspired, encouraged, and empowered" by these characters during their journey. This sense of wonder will begin the moment you step on the Disney Destiny and are greeted by the Grand Hall and a one-of-a-kind statue of Black Panther. The Grand Hall will also feature 360-degree lighting effects that will, at times, take on the colors of some of our favorite characters to build the mood and immersion even more.
As for who we may see, Disney has revealed Loki will be up to his mischievous ways and will attempt to declare himself ruler of the ship and will cause chaos with "grand proclamations, questionable storytelling, surprise competitions, and more."
Creuella de Vil will also take center stage as she will let guests "put their personal style to the test on [her] very own wretched runway or take part in a bit of treble-making as they create a lyrical tribute to her marvelousness."
Furthermore, Cruella is the inspiration for De Vil's piano lounge that will have exclusive drinks like the Fashionista and Fearless Sir Galahad alongside and a "Hollywood Regency-inspired aesthetic." Oh, and a piano that looks just like a dalmatian.
The Villains don't get the only spotlight, however, as The Sanctum will take inspiration from Doctor Strange and some of his artifacts like the Cloak of Levitation and spell books from the library of Kamar-Taj. This lounge will have drinks and food, and you can check them out below.
Lastly, the Disney Destiny will be the first Disney cruise ship to feature a Marvel character on its stern as Spider-Man and his Spider-Bots will grace the filigree on the back of the ship.
These are just a few examples of the heroes and villains that will be the stars of Disney Destiny, and they will join such others as Dr. Facilier, Maleficent, Hades, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Captain Jack Sparrow, Bruno, and more.
Hercules' Broadway-Style Show Will Lead the Charge of Entertainment on the Disney Destiny
Hercules himself will be played by Corey J. Bradford, who recently wowed guests at a Disney Destiny media preview with his rendition of 'Go the Distance,' and he will be confronted once again by the terrifying Hyrdra, who is being brought to life by award-winning puppet designer Michael Curry.
Disney Hercules will be just one of the shows featured in the Destiny's Walt Disney Theater alongside Frozen, A Musical Spectacular and Disney Seas the Adventure.
Guests will also be able to enjoy shows and games inside of Saga, the central hub for "daytime family activities and adult exclusive evening entertainment." Saga's architecture is inspired by Wakanda, and will feature encounters with Maleficent, Match Your Mate, Family Time Game Show, a new Aquamouse story with villains, and more.
Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King Will Be Just One of the Many Dining Experiences to Remember
While the Disney Treasure had the incredible Plaza de Coco dining experience, the Disney Destiny is getting its own version inspired by The Lion King. The legendary songs and moments from this Disney classic will be just one part of a night to remember at Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King.
Storytells Mwongozo and Shaha will be taking us through the story of the great Simba, and other performers will help bring these moments to life with costumes, props, authentic African instrruments, and more.
As for the meal itself, Disney aims to "balance the wide-ranging flavors of African cuisines with familiar fare that will satisfy the whole family." Such highlights include Nala's Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Pan-seared Berbere-spiced Roasted Chicken, Cape Malay Shrimp Curry, Heirloom Tomato Kachumbari, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Warm Chocolate Malva Pudding, and even drinks like the Can You Feel the Rum Tonight? and the Slimy Yet Satisfying.
Other dining experiences on the Disney Destiny include Worlds of Marvel with Rocket and Groot, 1923, Palo Steakhouse, Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, The Rose, the Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired Cask & Cannon, Cafe Megara, Cafe Merida, and more.
The Incredibles will also be getting there own themed sweets shop with Edna A La Mode Sweets, which will be the place to get handmade gelato, ice cream, cookies, candies, and specialty treats.
The Disney Destiny Has So Much More In Store
There is still so much more to learn about the Disney Destiny, and we'll be updating this article and more as new details are revealed!
USB Type-C has become the standard for charging and data cables alike, so it's good to have extra on hand. Here's a deal where you can get a bunch of cables for pennies on the dollar. Amazon is offering a five-pack of Lisen USB Type-C cables in varying sizes for only $7.96 after a 50% off promo code "478NN6HT" is applied during checkout. That averages out to about $1.59 per cable. USB Type-C cables typically go for about $5-$10 per cable at your local big box store.
5-Pack of USB Type-C Cables for $7.96
This bundle contains cables of varying sizes. They include two 3.3-feet cables, two 6.6-feet cables, and an extra long 10 foot cable. They're all rated for up to 60W of USB Power Delivery and are encased in a braided nylon sheath for extra durability and aeshetics. These cables have over 5,500 ratings on Amazon with an average 4.6-star review. Fakespot, a site that determines how many of the reviews are fake, gives this product a solid "A" rating, which is rather uncommon.
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.
If you bought a brand new TV over the holidays and you're looking for an inexpensive audio solution to pair it with, then check out this oustanding deal from Woot (owned by Amazon). Right now the certified refurbished Bose Smart Soundbar 550 with 1 year Bose warranty is selling for just $169.99, a huge 66% discount from its original $499 list price. Amazon Prime members get free shipping, the rest of us pay $6. It's easily one of the best soundbars you can get at this price, especially if you're looking for Dolby Atmos support, and you get the same warranty as buying new.
60% Off Bose Smart Soundbar 550
The Bose Smart Soundbar 550 measures a relatively compact 27" long and is a great complement to any TV sized 32" and higher. It houses a total of five speakers including two upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos compatiblity. If your content doesn't support Atmos, Bose uses its proprietary TrueSpace technology to simulate spatial audio. Another nifty feature is Bose's A.I. Dialogue Mode, which does a great job detecting dialogue in video content and amplifying the voices.
True to its namesake, the Smart Soundbar 550 is a smart-enabled speaker with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. Pair with with the Bose app on your mobile device to sync and stream via Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and more. You can also pair it with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for voice control.
This was one of the best and most popular soundbar deals on Black Friday, and it's good to see it return for 2025. If you're looking for more options, check out our best soundbar picks of 2025.
See more soundbar recommendations:
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.
Starting today, Dell is offering an Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC equipped with the new GeForce RTX 5080 GPU for just $2,399.99 shipped. This is one of the best prices you can get right now for an RTX 5080 equipped prebuilt, especially since most other brands seem to be jacking up prices steadily since the RTX 50 series launch in January. The only other prebuilt you can get at Dell with an RTX 5080 GPU costs over $4,000. Good luck trying to find a standalone GPU to build out your own DIY PC; you'll probably spend as much for the GPU as you would this entire system.
Update: Just like everyone else, Dell has also been hit by tariffs. WIth the stock situation of the Blackwell cards not looking any better, prices on Alienware gaming desktops with RTX 50 series GPUs are expected to go up in the near future.
Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 5080 Gaming PC for $2,400
This Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F CPU, GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 16GB of DDR5-5200MHz RAM, and a 1TB NVMe SSD. The current-gen Intel Core Ultra 7 265F Meteor Lake CPU boasts a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz with 20 cores and a 30MB cache. It's cooled by a robust 240mm all-in-one liquid cooler and the entire system is powered by a generously equipped 1,000W 80PLUS Platinum power supply.
The RTX 5080 is one of three new Blackwell graphics cards that are out (and impossible to find). In our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review, Jackie writes that "If you already have a high-end graphics card from the last couple of years, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 doesn’t make a lot of sense – it just doesn’t have much of a performance lead over the RTX 4080, though the extra frames from DLSS 4 Multi-Frame Generation do make things look better in games that support it. However, for gamers with an older graphics card who want a significant performance boost, the RTX 5080 absolutely provides – doubly so if you’re comfortable with Nvidia’s AI goodies."
RTX 5080 and 5090 GPUs Are Sold Out Everywhere
The first wave of Nvidia GeForce RTX 50-series graphics cards went up for preorder and sold out within the first hour. First to be released were the two highest-end GPUs in the stack: the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080. The RTX 5070 Ti followed shortly after in February. Sadly, the same is the case with prebuilt gaming PCs equipped with these new GPUs. We saw a number of systems listed at launch, and at this point these are either out of stock, have gone up in price, or are currently experiencing extended delivery delays.
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.
Starting today, Walmart has slashed the price of the 75" Sony X85K 4K Google TV down to only $648, a savings of $650 or 50% off. This is the lowest price we've ever seen, and $150 less than the best deal during Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Although the X85K is an older 2022 model, it has the features you'd want in a current-gen gaming TV.
50% Off 75" Sony X85K 4K Smart TV, Now $648
The Sony X85K is a great TV to pair with your current generation PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X console. This is a 4K TV with a native 120Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 inputs which means it supports 4K gaming at up to 120fps. It also has other gaming features like variable refresh rate and auto low latency mode.
The X85K is also a great budget TV for streaming 4K HDR content. It's equipped with Triluminos Pro technology (similar to QLED) for richer colors and wider color gamut, and a high brightness rating. The Google TV interface is intuitive to use and supports voice commands through Google Assistant. You can also pair it with an Android phone to use as a remote.
Walmart had it for $798 on Black Friday and it was one of their hottest TV sellers at the time. If you're looking for more options, check out the best TVs we've picked out for gaming. Keep in mind, however, that every one of these TVs will cost significantly more than the X85K with this deal.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
“In 28 Years Later, we tried imagining how a world would rebuild itself after an apocalypse,” director-producer Danny Boyle explained in this exclusive behind-the-scenes video, which you can watch via the player below. (Check out the latest trailer here.)
Boyle and writer-producer Alex Garland teamed for the original 2002 film 28 Days Later but skipped its 2007 sequel, 28 Weeks Later. “It doesn't feel like a sequel. It feels like an original film,” said Boyle.
Returning to the world he created, Garland considered the effect the passage of so much time would have not only on Britain but also the infected.
“Initial conversations were often about imagining what does 28 years later mean? If the infection is still in Britain, what does the infection look like?,” said Garland. “How does the rest of the world respond to that? Has the country been quarantined, essentially abandoned?”
Garland continued, “When countries collapse for one reason or another, they're often abandoned. There's a ruthless, pragmatic, dog-eat-dog dimensions to the way these things play out.”
That abandoned Britain is represented in the early portions of the film by Lindisfarne (aka Holy Island), a tidal island on the Northumberland Coast. While that isolation offers some safe haven to the married protagonists played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer, it also robs them of any 21st century advantages.
“Holy Island, which is where our film begins, it's protected by a causeway that you can defend, but there's the lack of machinery, no electricity or fuel,” explained Boyle.
“Everything that surrounds our life now, suddenly it's useless. The mainland then becomes somewhere over there, which has both promise and threat.”
That threat, of course, is the infected, who Boyle referred to as “extraordinary creatures.”
As he did with imagining a Britain nearly three decades after an apocalypse, Garfield also considered how the passage of time would affect the infected who are not zombies per se.
“They haven't died and come back to life. They're living people who've got sick and been infected with a rage virus. That dictates some stuff,” said Garfield.
“They need to drink, they need to eat. If they've survived 28 years infected with this disease, what would they look like? Are they similar to anything in the animal kingdom? What would they be similar to?”
Fans will have to find that out when 28 Years Later hits theaters June 20th.
The free-to-play 3D waifu sci-fi RPG shooter Snowbreak: Containment Zone just dropped its latest update, and it adds lots of new content. There are new characters, skins, gameplay modes, and even more on the horizon.
If you’re not familiar with Snowbreak, it’s a third-person RPG shooter on PC and mobile that takes place in a world where giant beings known as Titans suddenly appear in heavily populated areas. They cause untold destruction and leave a toxic substance known as Titagen in their wake. Leaders joined together to form the Heimdall Force, a paramilitary unit whose mission is to fight back against these Titans.
You play as the Adjutant of the Heimdall Force, and your job is to recruit and lead a squad of female super soldiers. Known as Manifestations, these soldiers awakened to their powers after the first arrival of the Titans, and the strongest among them are even able to use Titagen in combat without the ill effects normally associated with it.
The story is told in chapters, with each chapter further broken down into stages. In each combat stage, you form a squad of three characters, each of whom have their own unique skills. You only control one character on the battlefield at a time, and using their skills drains energy, which slowly refills over time. So you need to strategically swap between each of your characters to make the best use of their abilities without fully draining their energy. As you progress, you can build relationships with members of your squad by giving them gifts or deploying them in combat. As their affinity for you grows, you’ll get to know them better.
The latest update adds a new story scenario called Abyssal Dawn, which will have you investigating an incident with the two characters who are also new additions in the update: Nerida and Nita - Pulse.
Nerida is self-demanding, often solitary, and can be stern with others but not to you. She likes sweet snacks, plushies, and ancient marine life models, and she’s obsessed with deep-sea documentaries and jellyfish care. She’s equipped with a Chaos-type assault rifle, and her role is the primary damage dealer of your squad.
She excels with both single-target and area-of-effect attacks and can build up the Internal Injury effect on enemies with both her Standard Skill and Ultimate, which summons a jellyfish that provides AoE damage buffs and stays on the field even if you switch to another character. You can then switch back to her to use her Standard Skill, which deals big burst damage by consuming the Internal Injury effect you’ve built up.
Nita - Pulse is casual yet perceptive, driven by money but protective of the vulnerable. While she’s on the battlefield, she keeps her eyes peeled for items of value and likes to pocket them, like Titagen objects. She wields a Thermal-type shotgun and brings a new QTE combat mechanic with her. Successfully chain QTE inputs together during her Standard Skill to deal increased damage, and if you fully complete the chain, she unleashes a final powerful strike.
Nita - Pulse is free to acquire for all players, available now by completing the Pulse Puzzles event. She’ll also be available for free as a login reward during the Nita’s Invitation event that starts May 1. If you participate in that event, you’ll also be able to earn Nita’s fully modified exclusive weapon, maxed Auctus Drive (her version of a Manifestation), and signature fixed-talent Logistics squad. So in one event, you can max out her full build at no cost.
If you’re wondering what the Pulse Puzzles event is, that’s another new addition with the latest update. As the name implies, it’ll have you solve puzzles across various parts of the game. It’s a chance to relax and better understand Nita, and it will be permanently available, so you can do it at your own pace. To get to know Nita even more, there’s also a new interactable scene with her called Grove of Secrets that’s available from now until May 29.
Nita - Pulse and Nerida were both introduced alongside additional skins. Nita’s transforms her into a white-haired forest nymph, and Nerida’s features interchangeable parts, including footwear and stockings, similar to the customization options available for Vidya. But they’re not the only ones getting new looks.
The update added new outfits for Katya, Fenny, and Bubu. Katya was introduced a year ago and is known for her unique appearance and characteristics. Fenny has been in the game since launch and become a fan favorite, and Bubu is a character from last year’s traditional-themed event.
There’s also a new hide-and-seek gameplay mode called Let’s Go, Heimdall! for 15 players at a time, where three seekers try to find 12 hiders. On the horizon is the much-anticipated Emotional Purge mode, which adds cover-based shooting gameplay. It’ll first be available on April 28 and will be further refined in future updates.
And in addition to her new costume, Bubu is also getting a new dorm room at your home base. That also adds new interactable furniture in the form of her Tranquil Desk Set.
Those are the highlights of this update, but there’s even more that’s been added. You’ll just have to play it to see it all. Snowbreak: Containment Zone is available to download for free right now on Steam, iOS, and Android, and it’s cross-platform, so your progress is shared across all platforms. To learn more about the game, characters, and world, check out the official website or join the community on Twitter, Facebook, or Discord.
Warning: This review contains full spoilers for season 3 of The Wheel of Time
Season 3 of The Wheel of Time is by far its best yet, building on the rich worldbuilding of the first two seasons while largely avoiding their melodrama and pacing issues. Skillfully fusing aspects of three of Robert Jordan’s books – The Dragon Reborn, The Shadow Rising, and The Fires of Heaven – the show condenses plots to keep the action moving while improving on some of the characters by giving them more depth. It makes some bold choices of adaptation, but overall the series is making the sprawling fantasy epic look great while keeping to its themes and ambition.
The ta’veren of Emond’s Field started the series as whiny, resentful, or wide-eyed about the change in fortunes brought by the Aes Sedai Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike), but they’ve grown significantly as characters as they’ve gained more power. The most improved is Rand al’Thor (Josha Stradowski), who has embraced his destiny as the Dragon Reborn by heading to the Aiel Wastes to raise an army. Stradowski brings an intensity to the role that simmers in quieter moments and fully ignites when he ferociously makes his case as the chosen one in the finale.
A major theme of The Wheel of Time is how change cannot be stopped or controlled, and it’s a lesson that many of the characters have to learn the hard way. Egwene al’Vere (Madeleine Madden) tries to cope with her traumatic experience at the hands of the Seanchan by resuming her relationship with Rand. But the childhood sweethearts can’t confront their demons until they make mutual respect, not love, the basis of their connection. It’s a richer portrayal of how those characters evolve together and apart than the books presented, enhanced by Madden’s ability to match Stradowski’s intensity as she blends both deep strength and emotional vulnerability.
Meanwhile, Perrin Aybara (Marcus Rutherford) tries to escape the coming war by returning to the Two Rivers and finds he must instead embrace his potential as a leader. The character often feels tangential in Jordan’s books, but the show’s writers do their best to do right by him, strongly weaving in his desire to avoid violence with the greater arc of the season. Perrin’s plot is strengthened by the addition of Faile Bashere (Isabella Bucceri), who has more personality in the show than on the page, where Jordan’s women often feel too similar. Bucceri brings plenty of charm to the role with her wry smile and teasing of Perrin, a ferocious counterpart to the more reserved blacksmith.
Aes Sedai royal advisor Elaida do Avriny a'Roihan (Shohreh Aghdashloo) makes an even bigger impact as a series newcomer: Her ability to drip contempt with every sentence especially shines opposite her primary rival, Siuan Sanche (Sophie Okonedo), who projects authority with a mix of restraint and folksy wisdom.
The efforts to build up the Forsaken Moghedien (Laia Costa) as one of the biggest threats on the show are less successful. Lanfear (Natasha O'Keeffe) continues to be an excellent villain, attempting to control Rand through a mix of Machiavellian scheming and vamping. Compared to her, Moghedien is just an overtly weird psychopath. At least the smug regality of the Forsaken Rahvin (Nuno Lopes) feels like a better fit for the catty dynamic the show has established among the Chosen.
The Wheel of Time never relies fully on spectacle to carry an episode.
Showrunner Rafe Judkins has done a great job not only trimming excess characters and storylines but building on Jordan’s work as well. The attack on the White Tower by Liandrin Guirale (Kate Fleetwood) and the Black Ajah is only referenced in a few lines of the book The Dragon Reborn, but 34 years later, writer Justine Juel Gillmer and director Ciaran Donnelly have turned it into an epic battle that kicks off season 3 with a bang. The sword and sorcery combat looks great in the premiere, skillfully blending CGI and choreography, and that strength continues in the multiple big battles throughout the season. There are some issues with monsters created with practical effects for closeups looking much worse when moving, but overall the production value is high. Costuming is an especially strong point for the show, particularly the ornate outfits favored by the Aes Sedai.
Unlike Prime Video’s other fantasy epic, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Wheel of Time never relies fully on spectacle to carry an episode. Pathos is as likely to drive the conflicts as magic is, which makes any moment of sacrifice or loss all the more excruciating. Jordan killed relatively few of his characters, but the show’s writers have a significantly higher body count, which keeps things tense even for book readers who think they know where this story is going.
That tension is broken by some great comic relief. After the first two seasons were tarnished by the departure of Barney Harris, some of the shine has been restored by his replacement, Dónal Finn. His take on Mat Cauthon is a charming rake whose definition of “laying low” involves showing off a powerful magical artifact in a bar. And his tendency to turn everything into a joke makes it all the more meaningful when he asks for help. Princess Elayne Trakand (Ceara Coverney) is the season’s other major source of laughs: She steals the show in episode 6 with a hilariously bawdy musical number.
It all amounts to a season of Wheel of Time that leans into the concepts of reincarnation and cycles of conflict core to Jordan’s marriage of Western fantasy and Eastern mythology. Nowhere are those themes stronger than in the terrific “The Road to the Spear,” which allows Rand to live through the long shared history of the Aiel and the Tinkers and come to an understanding of just how much was lost in the Breaking of the World. It’s another showcase of Stradowski’s acting talent, the makeup and costume team, and the writers. The keen understanding of Jordan’s vision – and ability to bring it to the screen in a satisfying way – in this episode, and season 3 as a whole, makes me eager to see where things go next.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to get special enhanced versions of several Switch 1 games, including The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. A newly spotted disclaimer has fans worrying some games, or at least one game, won't support Nintendo's cloud save functionality as they'd hope.
Over the last day or so, users have been noticing that Nintendo's pages for Tears of the Kingdom's Switch 2 edition carries the following disclaimer: "Please note: this software does not support the Nintendo Switch Online paid membership’s Save Data Cloud backup feature."
Though it's since disappeared from those pages, the Tears of the Kingdom still has the disclaimer as of this writing. The Japanese page though, per Eurogamer via machine translation, does not carry the same disclaimer; only the US and EU pages seem to be showing it.
IGN has reached out to Nintendo for clarification on the matter.
If this holds true, this could create some confusing scenarios for players. Nintendo's cloud save option for NSO members is handy, for one. It makes carrying games across systems, or juggling storage space for games without losing your saved progress, a little less stres-inducing.
Actually importing a save file from the original Switch to the Switch 2 Edition of Tears of the Kingdom does seem to still work. The Nintendo page noted an additional save slot for the Switch 2 Edition, where one can start a brand-new journey or "continue a previous one with your existing save data." Nintendo does note that save data created in the second save data slot cannot be trasnferred to the Nintendo Switch 1 version of Tears of the Kingdom.
It's a confusing situation that can possibly lead to some stress, as players would likely not want to lose a save file they've dumped many, many hours into when upgrading versions. Hopefully, this gets cleared up soon.
The Switch 2 Edition does have a few reasons for prospective Switch 2 owners to upgrade, including the Zelda Notes app, which comes packed with helpful guiding content, lore, and even some potential equipment repair options.
With so many great games coming down the pipeline, now's a great time to hop on the Xbox Game Pass bandwagon. If some titles joining the catalog this year have caught your eye and you're itching to join in on the fun, you can choose between one or three month Game Pass Ultimate membership options at Amazon. Unfortunately, there aren't any discount deals available at the moment, but we'll update this when a new one drops.
You can learn more about options for signing up, what's coming soon to Game Pass this month, and the big releases still to come below.
While there aren't any deals available at the moment, we've included where you can buy a one month Game Pass Ultimate membership above at Amazon. This will set you back $19.99. Amazon also has a three month Game Pass Ultimate membership option available for $59.99, if you want to stock up on a few months to get you started.
What's Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass?
Game Pass has a nice rotation of new titles to play every month. If you're curious about what's in store for the end of April and start of May, we've got you covered. The Xbox Game Pass April wave 2 lineup is:
Grand Theft Auto V (Cloud, Console, and PC) - April 15 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Neon White (Console) – April 16 Now on Game Pass Standard
Dredge (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – May 6 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
Unfortunately, for those subscribing to the Standard tier (available for $14.99/month), this does not give Game Pass users access to day one releases. This means that some of the big new releases on the platform will not be available on that tier.
What Games Are Leaving Xbox Game Pass?
Unfortunately with new games joining the catalog it means a few must take their leave. Below, we've listed the games that'll be leaving Xbox Game Pass on April 30.
Have a Nice Death (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Kona II Brume (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Sniper Elite 5 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The Last Case of Benedict Fox (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Thirsty Suitors (Cloud, Console, and PC)
The Rewinder (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Biggest Games Releasing on Xbox Game Pass
Xbox's Summer Showcase last June was a massive success, revealing an incredible amount of new games coming to the platform. The showcase included Doom: The Dark Ages, Perfect Dark, Fable, Gears of War: E-Day, and so many more. But which of these titles will appear as day-one releases on Game Pass? Thankfully, quite a few! Including all of the previously mentioned titles.
The latest big release on the platform is South of Midnight. In our review, IGN's Michael Higham said, "South of Midnight is a straightforward but well-executed action-adventure game elevated by the artistry and heart of the American Southern culture that’s wrapped around it."
If you're looking for even more savings on all things Xbox, have a look at our roundup of the best Xbox deals. There, we've highlighted all of the latest and greatest discounts on the platform, from incredible game deals to fantastic offers on high-quality headphones. Or, if you'd rather see what's going on with other platforms, check out our roundups of the best PlayStation deals, the best Nintendo Switch deals, and our overall roundup of the best video game deals.
Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.
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