Tron: Ares is one of the most anticipated movies of 2025, acting as the first Tron movie in 15 years. While it first entered development in 2010 following Tron: Legacy, Disney decided to have the film serve as a reboot in 2017, tagging Jared Leto to lead. While Tron: Legacy is loved for its sci-fi elements, the one thing unanimously loved by both fans and critics was the soundtrack, composed by Daft Punk.

The electronic duo split in 2021, leading the way for Nine Inch Nails to take over for Tron: Ares. Announced this week, Amazon has opened preorders on the Tron: Ares 2xLP Vinyl Soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails. Set to release in mid-September ahead of the film, this is the perfect item to prepare for the next chapter of Tron.

Preorder the Limited Edition Tron: Ares Vinyl at Amazon

Everyone’s favorite athletic canine is coming back for a sequel with Air Bud Returns next summer.

The dog lovers behind Air Bud Entertainment and Cineverse announced another sequel in its line of sports-playing dog movies today. It’s an announcement of distribution rights for the latter that will see Air Bud Returns bouncing its way to theaters sometime in the summer of 2026.

Air Bud Entertainment and Cineverse say their goal is for the new Air Bud movie to spark a “potentially long-term collaboration,” but the two entities stop short of spelling out what other projects could arrive in the future. while no plot or casting details have been revealed, we at least know Air Bud Returns will tell a unique story in the puppy-centered cinematic universe, and, most importantly, it stars a Golden Retriever.

“In Air Bud Returns, 12-year old Jacob has always dreamt of being a star basketball player,” an official description says. “After the passing of his father, that dream felt even more impossible. But everything changes when he and his mom move into his dad's childhood home in Fernfield. There, Jacob discovers an original VHS of the Air Bud movie in his father’s belongings and has a chance meeting of a stray golden retriever he names Buddy. Together they embark on a journey of healing, unite a team of misfits, and chase a championship. Through it all they learn to play from the heart, believe in each other, and always take the shot!"

Robert Vince, producer for the original 1997 Air Bud and all of its many sequels, has stepped up as writer and director for Air Bud Returns. In a statement, he teased a film that tells a “deeply human story” with themes of “adaptation, redemption, and teamwork.”

“Air Bud Returns isn’t just another sequel or remake — it’s a unique story,” Vince said. “This movie will engage nostalgic Air Bud fans while introducing a new generation to the beloved basketball-playing golden retriever, Buddy. It builds upon the legacy of the OG Air Bud with all the fun, the magic, heartwarming scenes, and Buddy playing basketball.”

Air Bud emerged as the movie world’s first basketball-playing Golden Retriever in the late ‘90s and quickly spawned a litter of sequels. These range from its original 1998 follow-up, Air Bud: Golden Receiver, all the way to the Air Buddies spinoffs, which include projects like 2009’s Space Buddies, 2012’s Treasure Buddies, and 2013’s Super Buddies. Including the Santa Paws franchise, there are 14 films in total, with Vince writing and directing 10 of them.

Air Bud Returns has no release date outside of its summer theatrical 2026 window. For more, you can read our 6/10 review of the original movie’s Special Edition DVD release. You can also see where Air Bud falls on our list of the 13 best basketball movies.

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).

Fans attending San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday got their first look at the upcoming animated film Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires during the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment panel where the first trailer for the movie was revealed.

Weren’t able to make the panel? Don’t worry because IGN can exclusively share the trailer for Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires with you here. Watch it via the player above or the embed below.

From Warner Bros. Animation, Ánima and Chatrone, Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires reimagines the Batman mythos through the lens of Mesoamerican culture.

According to the official synopsis, the film “unfolds within the vibrant and fierce culture of 16th century Mesoamerica. In the time of the Aztec empire, tragedy strikes Yohualli Coatl, a young Aztec boy, when his father is murdered by Spanish conquistadors. To warn King Moctezuma and his high priest, Yoka, of imminent danger, Yohualli escapes to Tenochtitlán.

There, he trains in the temple of the bat god Tzinacan with his mentor, developing equipment and weaponry to confront the Spanish invasion and avenge his father’s death. Along the way, he encounters key figures like the fierce Jaguar Woman and the enchanting Forest Ivy.“

Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires will be available in the US exclusively on digital on September 19 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on September 23. It will be available in both Spanish and English-language versions.

The English voice cast features Jay Hernandez (Hostel, Suicide Squad) and Raymond Cruz (Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy), while the Spanish version — Batman Azteca: Choque De Imperios — features the voices of Horacio García Rojas, Omar Chaparro, and Álvaro Morte.

Juan Meza-Léon directs from a screenplay by Ernie Altbacker. José C. García de Letona, Fernando De Fuentes S., Carina Schulze, Aaron D. Berger, Jim Krieg, and Kimberly S. Moreau are producers. Sam Register, Tomás Yankelevich, and Michael Uslan serve as executive producers.

The movie runs 89 minutes and is rated R for some violence and bloody images.

The physical and digital releases of Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires will include the following special features:

• The Battle Cry of Aztec Batman – Go behind the scenes and inside the voiceover booth with Jay Hernandez as he fulfils a childhood dream and reveals the creative process of becoming Batman.
• The Batman Mythology and Aztec Inspiration – Screenwriter Ernie Altbacker and Jay Hernandez reveal the film’s approach to melding the historically accurate world of the Aztecs with the iconic cast of Batman conic book characters.

For more DC coverage, find out the latest on Booster Gold coming to TV and learn whether James Gunn will retcon that Superman origin twist.

Amazon has just announced two new Kindle models, both of which are available to buy now. These aren't new devices necessarily, just slightly altered versions of the Kindle Colorsoft Amazon launched back in 2024. The latest 16GB model and the first Kids edition have joined all of the other latest Kindle editions on the market right now.

The main draw of the Kindle Colorsoft is that it offers full-color reading, rather than the black and white e-ink you'd get from the Kindle Paperwhite. The addition of color adds to the overall cost of the device, however, and it's one of the most expensive Kindles available. The new 16GB version does cut down the price a little bit, but at $250 it's hovering around the same price as an iPad.

New Kindle Colorsoft Models Available Now

The cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps recently gathered to try out Marvel Rivals for the first time, and the actors' reaction to Invisible Woman’s skimpy Malice skin has the internet in tears.

Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm), and Joseph Quinn (Human Torch) recently gathered to play NetEase Games’ popular hero shooter with YouTuber Loserfruit. The resulting video is quite funny, showing the new Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) family as they fumble through a few matches as their in-game counterparts.

Meet the family! ✨Marvel Studios The Fantastic Four: First Steps cast's genuine reactions as they try out Marvel Rivals! 😄 pic.twitter.com/sq8lwMh7pp

— Marvel Rivals (@MarvelRivals) July 24, 2025

It's goofy and occasionally hard to watch as Pascal flails his stretchy arms at enemies, but the highlight is no doubt the Fantastic Four cast’s reaction to Invisible Woman’s infamous Marvel Rivals Malice skin. Fans of the game had already taken the time to see everything the shockingly revealing outfit had to offer when it made its debut with Season 1 in January. On the eve of the new Fantastic Four movie’s premiere, though, the cast is only just seeing it for the first time.

Kirby is the first to joke about the skin: “Thank you. This is my favorite bit of her as well,” she says of the video game version of her Fantastic Four character. “This is my favorite bit. Guys, watch out, like I said, for the sequel. You better watch it.”

The Fantastic Four: First Steps, of course, has yet to receive the green light for a proper MCU sequel, though we do know at least some of its major characters will make an appearance in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Invisible Woman’s evil black-and-red Malice skin probably won’t make it into the MCU, but the slack-jawed Pascal still shared some of his thoughts.

“Here we go,” Pascal said. “Costume designer, take notes.”

Loserfruit’s video also includes the Fantastic Four cast’s reaction to other Marvel Rivals cosmetics, including Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman’s The Life Fantastic wedding skins. Of course, it’s how all four actors reacted to the Malice skin that has started to achieve viral status. You can see the group's reaction at 4:40 in Loserfruit's video and then see how it's spread to the internet below.

pic.twitter.com/8n9dQItgZq

— 🏆- Christian (@Braves246) July 24, 2025

Their reaction when they saw Sue's Malice skin 😭💀 pic.twitter.com/tFQ7kAvlGq

— Suebi ⓸ (@wasabitoffee) July 24, 2025

The Fantastic Four: First Steps officially lands in theaters tomorrow, July 25, and will introduce the first new live-action take on Marvel’s First Family in a decade. Meanwhile, a crossover featuring movie tie-in skins will arrive in Marvel Rivals starting tomorrow.

You can check out our 7/10 review of the film before you head to the theater. If you’re still looking for more on Marvel, you can read about all of the skins, characters, and other cosmetics coming in Marvel Rivals Season 3.

Screenshot via I Play Marvel Rivals with the Fantastic Four Cast by Loserfruit.

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).

In a surprising turn of events, Indiegogo, one of the largest global crowdfunding platforms second only to Kickstarter, has been acquired by board game crowdfunding site Gamefound.

In a joint announcement, Gamefound revealed it will be integrating its technology to enhance the Indiegogo platform, offering creators and backers more powerful tools than ever before. These include over 20 payment options, a full-featured mobile app, built-in marketing tools, and more robust pledge management. Indiegogo will also adopt Gamefound's flat 5% fee structure, putting more money in creators' pockets.

“It’s time for crowdfunding to be a forward-facing industry again,” said Julie dePontbriand, CEO of Indiegogo in the official release. “Gamefound’s technology is unrivaled, and we’re thrilled to bring it to Indiegogo’s diverse community. Together, we’re making crowdfunding more innovative, creator-friendly, and exciting than ever before.”

The two sites will continue operating independently for now, with Gamefound remaining focused on tabletop games and Indiegogo continuing to promote tech, film, and other creative projects. In the near future, Gamefound campaigns will also be discoverable through Indiegogo, opening the door to a much broader audience.

Indiegogo is one of the original crowdfunding pioneers, having launched over 17 years ago. In that time, it has amassed 38 million members and raised more than $3 billion for projects across the globe. By combining Indiegogo’s global reach with Gamefound’s cutting-edge infrastructure, the partnership might finally give Kickstarter a run for its money.

What does this mean for the board game industry?

Overall, this acquisition is a massive win for the board game industry. Gamefound will soon be cross-promoting its tabletop campaigns through Indiegogo, allowing creators to get in front of millions of new customers.

With fewer fees and more native tools to help promote projects, creators may finally start shifting away from Kickstarter for new campaigns. Since Gamefound doesn't have a paid promotion feature like Kickstarter Boost, it levels the playing field for smaller creators, too.

Large publishers are already favoring Gamefound, with six of the ten largest board game projects in 2024 successfully funded there, including the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 board game that reached its goal in ten minutes.

Matthew Adler has written for IGN since 2019 covering all things gaming, tech, tabletop games, and more. You can follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @MatthewAdler and watch him stream on Twitch.

Chromebooks can offer amazing value for the money, whether you're looking for a laptop for studying, work, or just casual web browsing. There are even Chromebooks for gaming (and they're more impressive than you might expect). Don't let the low price tags on these laptops fool you – they're little workhorses.
Keep an eye out for Chromebook Plus models in particular. They feature more advanced hardware and stronger performance compared to basic Chromebooks. They also come with perks like a free 12-month Google AI Pro subscription, which includes access to Google Gemini and 2TB of Google Cloud storage.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Chromebooks:

Chromebooks aren't a perfect fit for everyone, though. Keep in mind these laptops can't run Windows or Mac apps, so depending on what your must-have apps are, you might be better served with one of the best laptops or MacBooks. With that said, Chromebooks are a great choice if you mainly use web-based tools like Google Drive or only need a laptop for basic tasks like web browsing and word processing. They also make great budget laptops – every Chromebook I picked is well under $1,000.

1. Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14

Best Chromebook

2. Acer Chromebook Plus 514

Best Budget Chromebook

3. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Best Chromebook for Students

4. Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE

Best Chromebook for Gaming

5. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

Best 2-in-1 Chromebook

How to Choose the Best Chromebook

Choosing the right Chromebook starts with deciding on a budget and one or two must-have features. The vast majority of Chromebooks cost well under $1,000, with higher-end models ranging from around $600 to $800, mid-range models landing between $400 and $600, and budget options covering anything less than $400.

Beyond price, battery life and design are often deal-breaker features. Ideally you don't want to settle for less than 8 hours of battery life unless you're on a very tight budget. Even then, it may be worth saving a little extra money to get a Chromebook that can hit 8 hours. If you travel frequently or commute, it's a good idea to aim even higher, ideally around 10 hours or more.

Design comes down to whether or not you care about 2-in-1 functionality. Chromebooks mainly rely on the Google Play Store for apps, which can be a drawback but also means you can use apps designed for tablets if your Chromebook has a tablet mode. For instance, Goodnotes is a great notetaking app designed for tablets that could come in handy for students with a 2-in-1 Chromebook.

It's also important to consider how much storage you'll need. Most Chromebooks include 128GB or 256GB of storage. It's possible to find some with 512GB or more, but those models are less common and more expensive. Also keep in mind that if you get a Chromebook Plus model, you'll get a free year of Google AI Pro, which includes 2TB of Google Cloud storage.

Chromebook FAQ

Can Chromebooks use the same apps as Windows?

No, Chromebooks can't use Windows apps, but some Windows apps may have ChromeOS versions. Chromebooks are mainly limited to apps from the Google Play Store. Even then, not all apps on the Play Store are designed to work on Chromebooks. So, it's a good idea to double-check that your must-have apps are available on ChromeOS before switching from Windows or MacOS.

Can Chromebooks run Steam?

Some may be surprised to hear that Chromebooks can run Steam and play certain Windows games from Steam through Valve's Proton compatibility layer. Steam for Chromebook is currently available as a Beta app, but has the full Steam experience. Unfortunately, not all Chromebooks are eligible, so check Google's list of hardware requirements and supported Chromebook models to see if yours qualifies.

What is the difference between a Chromebook and Chromebook Plus?

Chromebook Plus laptops are a collection of Chromebooks with more powerful hardware, allowing them to handle more advanced apps and run Google's Gemini AI. Most new Chromebook Plus laptops also come with perks, like a free year of Google AI Pro, which gets you full access to Google Gemini and 2TB of cloud storage.

Stevie Bonifield is a freelance tech journalist who has written for IGN, PC Gamer, Tom's Guide, and Laptop Mag, covering everything from custom keyboards to gaming on Linux.

Books are great, obviously. They're also bulky space eaters – just ask the piles of books sitting around my apartment that don't fit on my already overstuffed bookshelf. If you have space for a real home library, how lucky for you! If not, do yourself a favor and get a good reading tablet. You'll miss out on the tactile joy of reading, but they make building out a personal library so much more accessible – including books you can read for free without leaving home – and far less messy. We found a few of the best tablets to make reading anywhere a bit easier.

TL;DR - These Are the Best Tablets to Read on:

Reading tablets come with varying capabilities. E-readers, like our top pick, the Kindle Paperwhite, are geared towards book formats, often featuring screens that attempt to mimic pages. These devices are more limited in what they can do – don’t expect to be scrolling socials or streaming shows when taking a break from reading. On the other hand, your more typical tablets, like the iPad Mini, can do a lot more, but the displays may strain your eyes and batteries deplete quicker. Notetaking functionality, like the Kobo Libra Colour offers, is also handy for students or people who like to write freely in book margins. Deciding which is best for your needs is a personal preference.

1. Kindle Paperwhite

The Best Kindle and Best Reading Tablet

2. iPad Mini (7th Gen)

Best iPad for Reading

3. Apple iPad Pro (2024, M4)

Best Tablet for Reading Comics and Manga

4. OnePlus Pad 2

Best Android Tablet for Reading

5. Kobo Libra Colour

Best Reading and Writing Tablet

How to Choose the Best Reading Tablet

Choosing the best reading tablet requires careful consideration of several factors to ensure that the device meets your specific needs. Whether you're an avid reader of fiction, a student reviewing textbooks, or a professional keeping up with all the PDFs your boss keeps sending, selecting the right tablet can significantly impact your reading experience.

One of the main things you have to look into is the display's quality. The screen is where your eyes will spend most of their time, making display quality paramount. Eye comfort is also crucial, especially for extended reading sessions. Tablets with blue light reduction features or e-ink technology, which mimics the appearance of paper, can help reduce eye strain. E-Ink screens are easier on the eyes, but LCDs are more versatile if you want to use the same tablet for multiple purposes.

Long battery life is essential for uninterrupted reading, especially when on the move. Looking into tablets with a solid battery life will ensure that you can enjoy your books, magazines, or documents without constantly worrying about finding the next power outlet.

Lastly, size and weight affect how comfortably you can hold the tablet for long periods. While larger screens provide more immersive reading experiences, they should not compromise the device's portability. A lightweight, slim design makes it easier to carry your tablet in a bag or even hold it with one hand.

Best Tablets for Reading FAQ

What is the best tablet for reading according to Reddit?

If you're hoping to look to Reddit for advice on which tablet is best for reading, users on the r/androidtablets subreddit have point out a few clear winners. The top commenter points out that the Aldocube 50 Mini and Mini Pro are great options for reading due to being lightweight with good screens at a decent size for reading. Other commenters recommended Barnes & Noble's Nook because the e-paper technology offers more of a similar reading experience you'd get from an actual book.

Are tablets good for reading books?

Sure they are, but you’re going to find that regular LCD screens will tire your eyes much faster than an e-ink model. Battery life is also something you’ll want to keep in mind because most standard tablets don’t last as long as a Kindle, for instance, since their hardware is more demanding.

Do you need a Kindle subscription to read ona Kindle device?

You don't need a Kindle Unlimited subscription to read books on a Kindle. There are other ways to downlaod e-books on your Amazon device or you can simply purchase books directly from the Kindle storefront with no subscription required. The benefits of a subscription are more if you plan on reading a lot of books and don't want to purchase them all. This is especially true if you're a fan of LitRPG books, which tend to be included with a subscription.

What is the best tablet for reading outside?

If you're looking to read your tablet on the beach or sitting at the park, the Kindle Paperwhite is what you want. Unlike many tablets, this e-reader features an e-ink display, which acts and looks similar to printed paper. That means battling severe glare, brightness, eye strain, and battery life will be far less of an issue compared to LCD screens. The Kindle Paperwhite is also IPX8 water-resistant, unlike many tablets, so getting splashed poolside or caught in the rain won’t slow the device down.

During his panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Robert Kirkman announced that Matthew Rhys voices Dinosaurus in Invincible Season 4, and committed to a 2026 release window.

Warning! Potential spoilers for Invincible Season 4 follow:

Rhys, who played Philip Jennings in The Americans, plays Dinosaurus in Invincible. Dinosaurus is expected to be the next major villain to appear after Conquest, and in the comics seeks to heal the world from the toxic effects of human civilization.

BREAKING: Matthew Rhys will voicing Dinosaurus in the next season of Invincible. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/kf2eCYot6C

— IGN (@IGN) July 24, 2025

Meanwhile, Kirkman said all of Thragg’s lines have been recorded, but stopped short of announcing the voice actor. Grand Regent Thragg is the true main villain of the Invincible saga, and the ruler of the Viltrumite Empire.

With Season 4 set for release in 2026, fans are wondering what Kirkman’s master plan is for Prime Video's Invincible adaptation. During the panel, he said 7-9 series will be needed to tell the story from the comics.

“Roughly seven to eight to nine seasons I think would be necessary to do the complete arc from the comics of Invincible,” he said. “So we’ll see. Hopefully we get there. We get a tonne of support from Amazon Prime and couldn’t be more thrilled with how things are going. So, very excited and hopeful for it.”

As fans know, Invincible has at times seen a large gap between season releases, and during the panel he joked that Season 5 will be out in 2032, adding: “You can quote me on that.” Perhaps it’s more likely he’ll get close to completing the Invincible comic arc by then!

And finally, Kirkman addressed a complaint about the animation quality of Invincible, insisting it was improving with each season.

Robert Kirkman responds to criticism about the Invincible show’s animation. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/LAKkExRDO0

— IGN (@IGN) July 24, 2025

Outside of the Prime Video adaptation, Kirkman used his panel to reveal Battle Beast as a playable character in the upcoming Invincible VS video game. That’s a fighting game, but some fans are hoping for an open world Invincible game. Kirkman addressed this request, too, pointing to the massive budgets that would be required to make such a game a reality. Smaller scale Invincible games sound more realistic, based on Kirkman’s comments.

Robert Kirkman acknowledges the internet’s wish for an open world Invincible game. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/RKy3Sw7QxK

— IGN (@IGN) July 24, 2025

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

For the longest time, the prevailing advice (and sometimes requirement) for students buying laptops was to get something like a MacBook Air or even a Chromebook, two devices that are more than capable of lightweight research and writing workloads and are pretty affordable to boot. However, as more workloads become accelerated by GPUs, workstations and gaming laptops are becoming necessary for some college students – especially if you’re in a field like engineering or design.

It’s more important than ever to take a close look at your syllabus and find out the apps you’re going to be using in order to make a better call on your school laptop. You don’t want to put yourself in a situation where you are holding yourself back because your laptop struggles to handle the work. But you also don’t need to fork over thousands of dollars for some serious workstation when a more affordable gaming laptop can do the same kind of tasks.

What Even Is a Gaming Laptop These Days?

I’m old enough that when I think of gaming laptops, I instinctively think of thick, garish machines made of plastic and bright LEDs. But gaming laptops have come a long way in the last 10 years, and it's probably because manufacturers have realized that people are using them for more than just gaming.

You don’t even have to look far to see the impact of this. The new Razer Blade 16 is a gorgeous laptop that trims down its footprint to be nearly as thin and light as a MacBook Pro. This has come at the expense of some performance on the high-end, as Razer needs to limit the TDP of the GPU to make sure it doesn’t, like, melt, but the result is something that is more attuned to creative professionals than the gamers that made Razer a household name.

Likewise, the entire Asus Zephyrus lineup used to be marketed as high-end gaming devices. And while they’re still certainly capable of playing Cyberpunk, something like the Zephyrus G16 doesn’t really look like a gaming laptop – and that’s because it kind of isn’t. Instead, laptops like this that would have traditionally been known as gaming laptops come with Studio drivers pre-installed and are marketed more towards their AI and creative workload capabilities – plus it looks like it belongs in a board room. This kind of laptop is more akin to a portable workstation than what I’d call a ‘gaming laptop.' So what even is a gaming laptop in 2025?

It used to be that any laptop with a discrete GPU was a gaming laptop – quite simply it was a laptop that could play games. But as creative and AI workloads have ramped up in complexity, that distinction has become more muddled. There are plenty of laptops out there that have high refresh rates and high-end GPUs, but come preinstalled with Nvidia Studio drivers and are marketed and priced as creative workstations.

The fun part, though, is that you can install those Studio drivers on any Nvidia GPU, so you can unlock that creative or AI performance in a more affordable gaming laptop like the MSI Cyborg A15. It won’t be as pretty, or as easy, to carry around campus, but if you have a limited budget, it might be the best way to unlock the extra performance you need for your schoolwork.

The GPU Demands for STEM Work

To be clear, when I was in school studying philosophy, I didn’t really need a powerful laptop – in fact, I did most of my schoolwork in the campus computer lab because I didn’t even have a laptop. But if you’re using, I don’t know, Blender for schoolwork, you really don’t want to depend on a run-down school PC to get your final project out the door.

You also don’t need to drop thousands of dollars on a top-end workstation to get that work done. If you’re studying in a STEM field, it’s just important that you get something with a discrete GPU. Every time I’ve benchmarked Blender on a CPU, it is exponentially slower than on a discrete GPU, whether it’s on a desktop or a laptop. Likewise, if you’re creating AI models during your coursework, training it is going to take forever on an integrated GPU. Even a low-end discrete chip is going to significantly boost performance.

Gaming laptops aren’t going to be the right fit for every student, though. If your coursework primarily focuses on research, writing, or even diving into Excel, a MacBook or Chromebook is still going to be the way to go. Then again, having a device that lets you play PC games is a nice bonus.

Gaming In Your Downtime

There are plenty of students who can take advantage of the extra power of gaming laptops for their work, but also gaming laptops are just awesome. PC gaming is better and more diverse than ever before, and even a low-end gaming laptop is able to run most games. An English major isn’t going to need a GPU to boost their writing skills, but a gaming laptop is the best way to play games on campus – especially if you’re shacked up in a dorm room.

Because dorms aren’t really known for their spacious layouts, the more any single device can do, the better. A solid gaming laptop can also be an all-in-one schoolwork and entertainment device. No need to get a tiny TV and a PS5 if you can just play games on your laptop, after all.

You can technically play PC games on any laptop with a decent internet connection, too, thanks to services like Game Pass Ultimate or GeForce Now, but I wouldn’t recommend relying on your school’s Wi-Fi. Playing games on dedicated hardware is just going to be a better experience.

Take the Asus TUF A14 we reviewed last year, for instance. With its RTX 4060 – a last-gen part, mind you – this laptop was able to play everything in our test suite above 60fps. And that includes Cyberpunk 2077, one of the hardest PC games to run. RTX 5060 laptops have started trickling out, too, and while we haven’t had the chance to review one yet, you can probably expect similar performance out of them.

Battery life in gaming laptops also doesn’t take as much of a hit as it used to, either. Mostly thanks to the AMD chip in the TUF A14, the laptop lasted nine and a half hours in the PCMark 10 battery test. Now, you won’t get that kind of longevity while you’re actively playing games, but when you’re going around campus doing schoolwork, the laptop should last most of the day.

Plus, who doesn’t want the option of pulling up a game during a boring lecture that you’re not learning anything from anyways?

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor at IGN and the PC components queen. You can follow her @Jackiecobra

After taking a year off in 2024 (partly to avoid the election cycle, as creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have said), South Park has returned. The series is making its comeback just in time to skewer every ridiculous thing currently happening in the world.

Despite The White House’s claims that the show "hasn't been relevant for over 20 years" (lol), Parker and Stone recently reached a new $1.5 billion streaming deal with Paramount. With the premiere of Season 27’s first episode mere days after the deal was inked, the animated comedy has already been making waves on social media.

If you’re hoping to get in on the fun through full episodes instead of clips on Twitter/X and Bluesky, here’s how you can watch new South Park episodes online.

How to Stream South Park Season 27 Online

Legendary Jazz musician, composer, and King of the Hill regular Chuck Mangione has died at 84.

TMZ reported on the famous brass artist’s passing today, saying that he died of natural causes in his Rochester, New York, home. The Bartolomeo & Perreto Funeral Home adds (via RochesterFirst) that Mangione died in his sleep Tuesday.

Mangione’s career in music traces back to the 1960s, where he managed to kick off his life as a professional musician alongside his brother, Gap, with records like Hey Baby! and Spring Fever. Mangione emerged as one of the most notable, recognizable jazz musicians of the century thanks to ‘70s hits like Give It All You Got, Bellavia, and, most famously, Feels So Good.

Let’s be straight with each other: when it comes to what’s under our desks, pretty much anything can become a footrest, right? For most of my adult life, I’ve had a philosophy of “whatever’s around.” Some days it’s a printer. Others it’s the UPS my computer is plugged into or maybe one of my kids’ balls that happened to roll under there. It’s the PC user’s equivalent of the “if it fits, I sits” mantra adopted by cats around the world. But, even though it works, it’s not ideal and isn’t nearly as comfortable over time as something dedicated to that purpose might be.

That’s where the Secretlab Otto comes in. It’s an adjustable leg rest designed to serve as everything from a gentle support while sitting upright to the end of your gaming-chair bed when you recline for a cat nap. I’ve been testing it for a couple of weeks and it’s mightily comfortable – and you don’t have to have a Secretlab gaming chair to use it! You do have to have deep pockets, however, because at $300, this one doesn’t come cheap.

Secretlab Otto Adjustable Legrest – Design and Features

We may as well get this out of the way first: the Secretlab Otto is just about the definition of a luxury item. Nobody needs this. It's functional in the way a Lamborghini is functional: it'll get you where you need to go, but nobody really needs a Lamborghini. It's overkill for getting from point A to point B, and it costs an arm and a leg, but you sure might want one.

At its core, the Otto is just what its name implies: it's an ottoman, themed after Secretlab's Titan Evo line of gaming chairs, and much more thoughtful and comfortable than most footrests aimed at PC gamers. And it’s adjustable to support different sitting styles, but at the end of the day, you put your feet and legs up on it.

When you get past that base functionality, however, it’s clear to see that it’s very much a step above pretty much any other option in this space. Most often, the footrests you see coming out of gaming chair brands are the simple, plastic or metal tilting stands that are mostly copy-pasted between brands. Others are this weird amalgamation of parts, Frankenstein-like creations that look like a gaming chair seat perched atop a wheelbase and definitely not a way for the company to get rid of spare parts. The Otto, on the other hand, actually looks like a footrest; a product designed from the ground up for this one purpose.

There are a few parts to this leg rest, so let's start with the cushion. Secretlab has positioned itself as a premium, even a luxury, brand in the gaming space and the Otto fits this description to a tee. Like the company's armrests and neck pillows, it's made of its PlushCell memory foam and is upholstered with a very stylish and, forgive my eloquent vocabulary, fancy-looking pattern of interlaced triangles. The fabric is soft and velour-like, and the entire thing is contoured to avoid hard edges (like the corner of a printer or a UPS). It’s the kind of design that just makes you want to touch it, which speaks to the appealing nature of its design.

Like Secretlab’s armrests and neck pillows, it's exceptionally soft with a slow rebound when you remove pressure. I review chairs for a living and can say confidently that Secretlab's memory foam material is genuinely some of the best and most comfortable in the business – and I'm comparing it against the cushions on some of the biggest brands and most expensive chairs you can buy this side of being a CEO. It just cradles you, giving way around your weight but not pressing in on you once you’re settled. Secretlab lushly pads the Otto; there’s more than what you need, but it’s a darn good pillow for your legs.

It’s also adjustable in a way most others aren’t. Thus far, the only adjustment I've seen on competing footrests from gaming brands has been the aforementioned tilt on the hard, low stationary footrests and height on the rare Frankenstein models. One or the other, usually, but the Otto gives you both. Using levers on either side, you can raise or lower the chair three inches to match the height of your chair and sitting posture. The opposite lever unlocks its angle adjustment, allowing you to choose from 0°, 7.5°, 15°, 22.5°, or 30° support angles. Secretlab also includes distance as an adjustment point and, sure, you can pick it up using convenient handles on either side to make sure it supports your preferences (pun intended).

But, to be clear, those flat, floor footrests and ottomans like the Otto aren’t trying to be the same thing. They’re made for different purposes and if that’s what you’re after, Secretlab has a whole product line dedicated to that. In this space, the one that’s about supporting your legs and encouraging you to kick back with your feet up, usually all you’re getting is height adjustment, so the Otto is inherently more versatile for combining those two worlds.

These adjustments also allow it to fulfill multiple roles, which the company highlights in its included usage guide. If you move it close to the chair at its steepest angle, you get bloodflow-encouraging leg support and a more comfortable sitting experience while working or playing a game with a mouse and keyboard. Move it further away with a shallower angle and it fills the role of a full-on recliner.

But wait – Secretlab already has a product for that: the Secretlab Recliner. It’s an attachment that clamps onto the underside of your gaming chair (Secretlab only) and extends by pulling a lever. That accessory, which I loved when I reviewed it and still love to this day, tucks away under your chair and, by necessity, uses a much narrower pillow that can only support your calves. The Otto is bigger and the better choice if you prefer support for the whole leg instead.

With that, it doesn’t attach to the chair itself and instead stands on an X-shaped glass-reinforced nylon base. Its adjustable arm is made of metal and feels rock solid. I also dig the red accent just below the telescoping arm that raises the cushion.

Assembly, as you might imagine, is dead simple. The arm comes attached to the cushion, so all you have to do is slot on the base and tighten four screws with the included driver. I spent far more time cutting up and disposing of the packaging than I did putting it together, so don’t worry about needing to be handy to put this one together.

Secretlab Otto Adjustable Legrest – Performance

Earlier on, I mentioned how thoughtful the design of the Otto is, and because this is so clearly a luxury product, it's worth examining that when we analyze whether or not it's worth investing in.

Given its $299 price point, I expect the utmost when it comes to build quality, and it checks every box. The fit and finish is excellent. The stitching is impeccable. The small touches – like clean, tight cuts at the end of stitching runs so there’s no dangling strings – to the precision of the embroidery to give an almost royal, chevroned appearance. The top layer, where you touch, is slightly thicker than the sides, so you have a more durable, yet still soft, surface layer. Each lever is custom molded and sleekly labeled, and has a glossy accent badge. The red ring on the extending arm mentioned before adding its dash of color. Or the fact that the legs facing the chair on its base are shorter so you can tuck it right in without interfering with the chair’s movement… These are things that give it an intentionality of design and quality of execution befitting its high asking price.

And though you can use it with any gaming chair and aren't limited to Secretlab's catalog, if you do use it with a Titan Evo, you'll find that the contouring of the footrest is made to complement the contouring of the chair's seat. This makes sense both from a brand uniformity standpoint, but also because the contours of both have been designed to promote proper posture, pressure relief, and blood flow for long sitting sessions.

The versatility of its adjustment points allows the Otto to be more of a daily companion than a traditional footrest. Tucking it in close when typing allowed my legs to have a very slight angle, something so small that you wouldn’t think would make a difference. In practice, it’s obviously more comfortable right away. Moving it further away and using it like a traditional ottoman when reclining with a controller is just as good, and lends it more support than the existing recliner add-on due to its size.

This type of design gives it a larger footprint, however, so you'll need space under your desk. The X-shaped base and tilting mechanism allow it to almost slot-in in front of the chair, so you won’t need to give up nearly as much room as any other kind of ottoman. It’s much closer to the impact of a stationary floor footrest, which is impressive considering how much bigger this is. TL;DR: you’ll be able to tuck your chair in just fine as long as you have a little extra room under your desktop, but you will need a foot or so of free area.

Invincible VS will feature Battle Beast as a playable character.

Confirmation comes direct from Invincible creator Robert Kirkman’s panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, where a new trailer, below, showing Battle Beast in action was revealed.

Invincible VS is the upcoming 3v3 tag fighting game set in the Invincible universe. It’s developed by Skybound Entertainment’s first in-house game studio, Quarter Up. Already confirmed Invincible VS characters include Mark Grayson (Invincible), Atom Eve, Thula, Bulletproof, and Rex Splode. Check out IGN’s Invincible VS preview from June for more.

Here’s the official blurb on Battle Beast:

Battle Beast enters the arena with all the rage, strength and brutality fans know and love. His insatiable bloodlust has led him across the arena, using massive attack range and Super Armor to overpower opponents. Though slower in speed, his sheer power makes him a dominant “anchor” fighter capable of turning the tide of battle.

Warning! Spoilers for Invincible Season 3 follow:

In the Season 3 of Invincible, Battle Beast survives a brutal battle against a Viltrumite in space after a prison break. In the season finale he is found frozen and adrift by a ship from the Coalition of Planets and revived, setting the stage for his potential involvement in the Viltrumite War. He wants “more!”

To catch up and find out what all this means for Season 4, check out IGN's Invincible Season 3 ending explained.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

The minds behind South Park are feuding with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration after the long-running Comedy Central show aired an extended segment mocking the leader’s behavior and politics, among… other things.

Clips from last night’s South Park Season 27 premiere, titled Sermon on the ‘Mount, flooded social media feeds today as fans of all kinds gathered to see how creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone chose to pick apart the 47th President. While the heavily stylized, satirical series is known for its ruthless takedowns of celebrities, politicians, and everyone in between, its criticisms of Trump feel especially fierce.

Hey, Satan! pic.twitter.com/JQzbcWVUbm

— South Park (@SouthPark) July 24, 2025

The 22-minute episode begins quietly enough as the citizens of South Park seek answers from a president who can “only arrest and sue people” while making everyone’s lives far worse. After the entire town bands together, the show’s new take on Trump is revealed to be a much more accurate depiction of the sitting U.S. president.

Many familiar photographs of Trump, including what appears to be an edit of his infamous 2023 mugshot, are used to portray the character, who has a funny-yet-familiar voice and mouth that separates his chin from the top of his head. This version of Trump then proceeds to take flak for inflicting tariffs on Canada, bombing Iran, and more, calling direct attention to real-world events that have transpired since 2025 began.

Parker and Stone only heat up their criticisms from there, as the show follows a Trump that laughs while threatening to sue White House artists for painting him in a particular way.

“Why is my dick so small?” South Park Trump asks the artists at one point during the Season 27 premiere.

A similar jab can be seen multiple times throughout the episode, as Trump can then be seen taking all of his clothes off before getting into bed with Satan. On more than one occasion, South Park Trump’s behavior, voice, actions, and dialogue also suggest the character is a new version of the South Park movie’s Saddam Hussein, who features many of the exact same traits.

Trump White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers released a statement addressing how the South Park Season 27 premiere depicted the President.

“The Left’s hypocrisy truly has no end — for years they have come after South Park for what they labeled as ‘offense’ [sic] content, but suddenly they are praising the show,” Trump White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers told Rolling Stone.

“Just like the creators of South Park, the Left has no authentic or original content, which is why their popularity continues to hit record lows. This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention. President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country’s history — and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump’s hot streak.”

It’s unclear if future episodes of South Park will continue to lambast Trump and his actions, but Parker and Stone do include one last stinger toward the end of the new episode. Just before its conclusion, one of 50 of what are called the “South Park Pro-Trump” PSAs is played. In the clip, what appears to be a live-action deepfake of Trump can be seen shuffling through the desert before removing all of his clothes.

“His penis is teeny tiny, but his love for us is large,” the PSA voiceover says.

So can we talk about how Cartman saying "I love you man" to Butters during the end credits was actually Trey saying that to Matt in case it's all over for South Parkpic.twitter.com/oiK2i08EVt

— Ericka ♡ (@NeonTravesty) July 24, 2025

As the episode comes to an end, Eric Cartman (Parker) and Butters (Stone) deliver one last line that seemingly pokes fun at fears of cancelation following its criticisms of Trump. It’s one of a few other moments from the premiere touching on the controversy surrounding its parent company, Paramount, and the lawsuit it recently settled with Trump for $16 million.

The case saw the President sue Paramount based on accusations that CBS News had deceptively edited an interview with 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The deal had previously faced criticism from Stephen Colbert of The Late Show, which CBS announced was coming to an end after 33 years on the air just last week. Colbert had called the settlement “a big fat bribe” just days earlier.

“I didn’t want to come back and be in the school, but I had to because it was part of a lawsuit and the agreement with Paramount,” South Park’s Jesus Christ says through clenched teeth in the Season 27 premiere. “The guy can do whatever he wants now that someone backed down, OK?”

The character continues: “You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount! Do you really wanna end up like Colbert?”

Parker and Stone signed a five-year streaming deal with Paramount+ reportedly worth $1.5 billion earlier this week after Paramount had moved to delay the show, sparking criticism from the creators. Stone celebrated the news on social media yesterday.

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).

Let's make this simple: You want to know if there are any post- or mid-credits scenes in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The answer is yes, there's both.

There’s a lot riding on The Fantastic Four: First Steps. It’s the film that finally introduces the iconic team to the MCU (even if they aren’t on the right Earth just yet). It’s a film that’s striving to do big box office numbers in a very crowded summer movie season and coming off the heels of two underperforming Marvel movies. And, of course, it’s directly laying the foundation for 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and the rise of Robert Downey, Jr.’s Doctor Doom.

We'll get into the specifics of how First Steps ends and how it does (or doesn't) set up Doomsday when our full Ending Explained breakdown drops tomorrow. But for now, there's one all-important question that needs to be answered.

Does The Fantastic Four: First Steps Have Any Post-Credits Scenes?

Come on, this is a Marvel movie. Of course it does.

Sticking to the traditional MCU formula, First Steps includes both a mid- and a post-credits scene. They're both worth sticking around for, albeit for very different reasons.

So there you have it. Check back here on Friday for our full ending explained update.

IGN's Clint Gage gave The Fantastic Four: First Steps a 7 out of 10 in his review, writing, "With The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Matt Shakman directs a film that’s for sure interesting to look at even if it doesn’t quite rise to the scale of its planet-eating antagonist, a force of cosmic nature that doubles as a metaphor for parenting in a way that makes me feel seen as a father. These First Steps might not be the great strides I was hoping for, but they are sure footing for the Fantastic Four to officially leap into the MCU."

For more on the FF, learn about the Fantastic Four that almost was and see our ranking of the Fantastic Four movies.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

If there is one moment of real connection in director and co-writer Joseph Khan’s frenzied horror-comedy Ick, it occurs less than three minutes before the ending credits begin to roll. After managing to escape a lengthy tentacle monster attack during what ends up being a rather deadly prom, a surviving teen asks, “Are we done now, or…?” After nearly an hour and a half of being whisked from half-baked scene to half-baked scene, watching absolute bedlam practically materialize out of thin air, and struggling to recall any details from prior scenes that could help me understand how we arrived to certain seemingly major developments, I found myself asking the very same thing.

Early peeks at this nostalgia-fueled alien thriller promised commentary on the dangers of mass apathy shrouded in big laughs and pulpy action, all to the tune of early 2000s radio royalty like All-American Rejects and Wheatus. Instead, Ick skips past any sharp satire with its almost punishing pace and a broken jukebox approach to sentimentality with needledrops so on-the-nose that they’re rendered ineffective. To make matters worse, the actual storytelling isn’t comprehensive enough (nor are the jokes funny enough) to save any of it with memorable characters or any sort of payoff at the end.

Ick follows (or, more accurately, attempts to keep up with) Hank Wallace (Brandon Routh) a former high school football star who endures a rather lengthy rough patch between his teen years and middle-aged adulthood, when he eventually becomes a science teacher at his old high school. This rough patch, I must add, is fully documented in a whirlwind montage that crams far too much backstory in the almost eight minutes before the title card even appears. The wall-to-wall, whooshing quick cuts feel visually reminiscent of Shaun of the Dead or Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (where Routh also appeared in a funny cameo). But unlike those instances, where speedy cuts were only sparsely and strategically used as scene transitions, this panicky pacing carries on throughout the entirety of Ick.

It’s consistently overwhelming, downright sloppy in places, and there doesn’t appear to be a good enough reason for the breakneck tempo in the first place: it doesn’t effectively enhance the story’s comedic or frightening qualities. It does, however, add to the confusion by trying to pack more into 90 minutes than that timeframe can accommodate, making the whole ordeal feel much longer than it actually is.

Ick’s bewildering temperament is made more aggravating by the story’s near-refusal to dig below the surface of anything, even when the dormant creature known as the Ick inexplicably reaches a critical mass and begins attacking the town. There isn’t any solid explanation as to where the Ick came from, how this small town has managed to coexist with it for decades (while it was dormant, its slimy tendrils were still visibly everywhere), or why it suddenly needs to attack at all. Perhaps it’s just a visual ode to iconic horror, or commentary on how time and complacency has desensitized the general public amid serious danger, but failing to metaphorically tie this tentacled blob to any societal ill feels like a missed opportunity.

The same lack of exploration also applies to the town’s occupants, who are nothing more than thinly rendered high school archetypes. Routh, for his part, seems to loosen up halfway through and lean into the foolishness when he’s not attempting to play the part earnestly, but those scenes don’t last long enough to allow his or anyone else’s performance (such as the criminally underwritten Mena Suvari as Hank’s high school girlfriend) room to breathe. Ick also doesn’t appear to press all that hard against the well-worn cliches that Hank represents beyond the fallen hometown hero. Early scenes touch on the hypersexual nature of ‘90s-era high school thrillers and the desperation to cling to former glory, but not enough to make any hearty observations or even crank out a few cheeky digs.

Ick’s younger cast, led by Malina Pauli Weissman as the Gen Z voice of reason, Grace, largely exist to lampoon #wokeness. Some of it works, like in the case of Harrison Cone’s Dylan, who weaponizes his feigned social awareness to get away with being a creep and a bully. Beyond that, the angle doesn’t yield any creative jokes or insights that might’ve at least made the pokes at basic empathy worth it. Even Grace’s supposed twist of a storyline feels like an haphazardly inserted afterthought amongst the mayhem that goes nowhere.

As the Ick ramps up in presence, the action mainly remains one-note: Inky roots creep up the bodies of victims, seemingly siphons their life force, then fully possess their new host, lather, rinse, repeat. To its credit, Ick’s special effects are mostly serviceable, even if the action they support is largely forgettable. Sprawling and invasive, the monster does look fairly menacing, even in its dormant state. There are definitely scenes when the attacks reach peak aggression and the quality begins to look strained, but as a nod to the classic creature features of yesteryear (which Kahn clearly harbors an appreciation for) it actually fits.

Still, Ick’s big, climactic moments aren't particularly memorable and we aren’t given a reason or chance to care enough about the characters to feel anything about their fate, positive or negative. At most, the mounting danger results in a refreshing cameo from Debra Wilson, who lands the movie’s best wisecracks as an overextended and ultimately unhelpful military leader. She also delivers on one of the more overt themes: the ineffectiveness of government during times of real crisis. The commentary’s a little light, but it is there, for what it’s worth.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Ick is its failure to really nail the nostalgia beyond a somewhat predictable soundtrack, a misstep that really only matters when nostalgia is a central part of the story. Film and TV are rife with examples of well-placed music – Netflix’s Beef, for instance, is a buffet of expertly deployed early 2000s bops that bring heft or energy to its more emotional moments. Ick, on the other hand, opts for the spray n' pray method of musical direction, throwing the era’s most obvious pop-rock tunes into a blender without much thought other than to say, “Hey, remember Hoobastank?” The choices aren’t terribly inspired or all that exciting, which is especially baffling considering Kahn’s extremely diverse videography as an award-winning music video director. It’s a soundtrack you’ve heard time and time again, and putting it in this context doesn’t merit a revisit.

So much of this would be forgivable – the one-note characters, the exaggerated visual cues, even the myopic view of the era’s music – if Ick actually took the time to say anything meaningful. But if Kahn has any real perspective on the state of our society or the era of film this is meant to reflect, it’s almost entirely overshadowed by chaotic editing and a startling lack of cohesion.

San Diego Comic-Con 2025 was the home of a number of Critical Role Prime Video announcements. During an SDCC panel, we finally got a release date for The Legend of Vox Machina spinoff The Mighty Nein, but The Legend of Vox Machina itself was the subject of two reveals: a 2026 release window for Season 4, and a renewal for a fifth and final season.

Alongside these announcements, the Critical Role crew revealed a new clip for The Legend of Vox Machina Season 4 in which the main characters plot a heist designed to steal a secret scroll from a heavily guarded vault inside a Cobalt archive. This is all part of the team’s bid to save the world from the apocalypse, of course.

Lucasfilm has released two first-look Star Wars images: one for Maul - Shadow Lord, and another for Ahsoka Season 2.

In a post on StarWars.com, Lucasfilm revealed the first still from Maul - Shadow Lord, below. Announced at Star Wars Celebration Japan in April, Maul - Shadow Lord is a brand-new Disney+ series featuring fan-favorite villain Darth Maul. It sees Sam Witwer reprise his role as Darth Maul from 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.) The new series is set 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." Expect it out at some point in 2026.

The mainline Pokemon games make up one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. From Pokemon Red and Blue to the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, these games have amassed a huge audience that just keeps coming back for more.

If you haven't played all of the Pokemon video games in the series, however, you may find yourself in a bit of a dilemma trying to figure out where to start in 2025. Most of the major titles in the series are excellent standalone games to dive into, but if you want to start from the beginning, there are two different ways to play in order: Chronologically or by release date.

Jump to:

• How to Play in Chronological Order
• How to Play by Release Order

Which Pokemon Games Should You Actually Play First?

Choosing where to start boils down to what Nintendo console you currently have, though the recent Delta emulator may change that for you. If you only have a Nintendo Switch, you can start with Let's Go Pikachu or Let's Go Eevee, which are kind of like remakes of the original Yellow version from 1998. You can also play Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl for another remake experience. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is also an option, but it is very different from the other mainline games.

If you're wanting to dive right into Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it's worth noting that you likely won't be missing out on any overly pertinent information from the previous games. The only games in the main series you might not want to jump right into is Black 2 and White 2 as those are sequels.

How to Play the Pokemon Games in Chronological Order

The Pokemon timelne may seem pretty linear at first glance, but without enough obvious details to go off of, it can be pretty confusing to try to follow the chronology from title to title. Luckily, a now deleted tweet from Toshinobu Matsumiya has given us a starting point for some of the games. For the rest, we can only make educated guesses based on a few key details witin the games.

1. Pokemon Legends: Arceus

The first game in the chronology is very clearly Pokemon Legends: Arceus seeing as it's set in a time when the relationship between humans and Pokemon was only just starting to form. You spend a large portion of your time running around a vast open wilderness catching and battling wild Pokemon, and the people you interact with are clearly just beginning to understand the world of Pokemon. This game features crafting and research tasks, which greatly differentiates it from the usual gym battle formula we are used to.

Though we don't know just how long ago Pokemon Legends: Arceus takes place compared to the other games in the series, we do atleast know that it seems to feature the ancestors of Diamond and Pearl characters.

2. Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow

As the original games in the series, Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow are up next in the timeline. Bringing the first-generation Pokedex and introducing us to the classic Pokemon game formula, these best-selling games are what started it all.

Although we can't know for sure that these Game Boy games are up next in the timeline, the deleted Tweet from Game Scenario writer Toshinobu Matsumiya confirmed that the series starts with these. The technology featured in the game is also fairly limited compared to some of the newer games -- though still advanced enough to bring fossils back to life!

Bonus: Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen

Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen are remakes of the original Red and Blue games and thus are at the same exact point in the timeline. Much of the plot is the same as the originals with some key differences -- including visiting the Sevii Islands after becoming champion of the Elite Four.

3. Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald

Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald brought all new Pokemon and throws you into the Hoenn region -- which is some distance from both the Kanto and Johto regions. Considering this game features the third generation of Pokemon and some new technology, it seems most likely that it would take place after both Red and Blue and Gold and Silver. However, according to that same deleted tweet from Matsumiya, Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire take place at the same point in time as FireRed and LeafGreen.

This also means that Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are at the same point in the timeline here seeing as they are remakes.

4. Pokemon Gold, Silver, and Crystal

As the second game in the series (in terms of release date) Pokemon Gold and Silver take place three years after the events of Red and Blue. With some exciting new Gen 2 Pokemon and some of the best post-game content in the series, Gold, Silver, and Crystal were an excellent follow up to the original games. By traveling to the Kanto region after becoming the champion of Johto, you get a firsthand look at the passage of time. You even get to battle the protagonist from the first games, Red, who is quite strong.

This placement in the chronology also applies to the remakes: HeartGold and SoulSilver. Although the remakes offer some additional content, they are essentially just updated versions of the originals.

5. Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum

In terms of series release order, Pokemon Diamond and Pearl came a few years after Ruby and Sapphire. However, we now know from that deleted tweet from Matsumiya that Diamond and Pearl actually takes place at the same time as HeartGold and SoulSilver. This may seem a little bit confusing considering the advancements in technology we see in Diamond and Pearl, but we can likely just chalk it up to the actual date the games were created rather than the chronology within the Pokemon universe.

This would also mean that the remakes, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are set in the same point of the timeline. Though the timeline gets a bit wonky with the inclusion of Fairy-type Pokemon considering those weren't introduced until X and Y.

6. Pokemon Black and White

Featuring the fifth-generation of new Pokemon, Black and White was the second mainline game to come out on the Nintendo DS. Although we don't know exactly when the story takes place in the Pokemon universe, we do that it takes place after Diamond and Pearl thanks to Matsumiya's tweet. Since there aren't any obvious links to the previous games, we can only assume that Black and White takes place more than 3 years after Red and Blue.

7. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2

As a true sequel to Black and White, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 offer a fairly obvious transition through the chronological timeline. We see changes where gym leaders pass on their duties to the next generation, Team Plasma has advanced their plot, and there is a new Champion. Between all of these things, we know that roughly two years have passed since Black and White, progressing the timeline forward in an uncharacteristically linear fashion.

8. Pokemon X and Y

As the first game in the series to allow payers to explore and battle in 3D, Pokemon X and Y was a fresh take on the classic Pokemon formula. While this is largely due to it being the first title in the series to be a Nintendo 3DS game, it definitely helped set up future games. While we don't know exactly when the game fits in the chronology, thanks to Matsumiya we atleast know that X and Y take place at the same time as Black 2 and White 2. However, it's possible that it is set in a different universe due to Mega Evolution being a thing.

9. Pokemon Sun and Moon

Happening a few years after X and Y, Pokemon Sun and Moon takes us to the Alola region. While we don't have any information from Matsumiya about where this game fits in the timeline, it features a few characters from X and Y that indicate that time has passed between games. An adult Red and Blue also make an appearance, though their exact age isn't revealed, so we still don't know exactly how much time has progressed since Red, Blue, and Yellow.

This also means that Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon take place at the same point in time as they are essentially remakes of Sun and Moon with some additional content.

10. Pokemon Sword and Shield

With the arrival of the Nintendo Switch came the first Switch-exclusive mainline Pokemon game: Sword and Shield. Featuring a brand-new region, new Pokemon, and the introduction of Gigantamax, Sword and Shield is essentially a soft reboot of the series. So that being said, we have no idea where it fits on the chronological timeline. There aren't really any hard references to the previous games, so there is no way of accurately fitting it into the known Pokemon universe.

One of the only clues we have about the timeline comes in the form of new technology. The addition of the Rotom Phone seemingly places us further in the chronology than Red and Blue at the very least, but that's all we can really gather. It's possible that Pokemon Sword and Shield simply takes place in an entirely different universe than any of the other games.

11. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

As the latest entry in the series, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet brings all-new Gen 9 Pokemon and the open-world Paldea region to the Nintendo Switch. There haven't been any obvious clues revealed about where it lands on the timeline, so we unfortunately don't have enough information to try to accurately place it. That being said, if it follows the chronological structure of previous mainline games, it's possible that it takes place at the same time as the events of Pokemon Sword and Shield.

How to Play the Pokemon Games by Release Date

I you want to play the games in the order they were released rather than try to attempting to go through the convoluted chronological timeline, here are all of the mainline Pokemon games by release date:

1. Pokemon Red and Blue - February 27, 1996 - Game Boy
2. Pokemon Yellow - Game Boy - September 12, 1998 - Game Boy
3. Pokemon Gold and Silver - November 21, 1999 - Game Boy Color
4. Pokemon Crystal - December 14, 2000 - Game Boy Color
5. Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire - November 21, 2002 - Game Boy Advance
6. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen - January 28, 2004 - Game Boy Advance
7. Pokemon Emerald - Sepember 16, 2004 - Game Boy Advance
8. Pokemon Diamond and Pearl - September 28, 2006 - Nintendo DS
9. Pokemon Platinum - September 13, 2008 - Nintendo DS
10. Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver - September 12, 2009 - Nintendo DS
11. Pokemon Black and White - September 18, 2010 - Nintendo DS
12. Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 - June 23, 2012 - Nintendo DS
13. Pokemon X and Y - October 13, 2013 - Nintendo 3DS
14. Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire - November 21, 2014 - Nintendo 3DS
15. Pokemon Sun and Moon - November 18, 2016 - Nintendo 3DS
16. Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon - November 17, 2017 - Nintendo 3DS
17. Pokemon Sword and Shield - November 15, 2019 - Nintendo Switch
18. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl - November 19, 2021 - Nintendo Switch
19. Pokemon Scarlet and Vilolet - November 18, 2022 - Nintendo Switch
20. Pokemon Legends Z-A - TBA Late 2025

Upcoming Pokemon Games

We finally got an official gameplay reveal of the next mainline Pokemon game during this year's Pokemon Day. Titled Pokemon Legends: Z-A, the upcoming game is set in Lumiose City, within the same Kalos region as Pokemon X and Y. The city itself is in the midst of a technological evolution to support trainers and Pokemon thriving together.

As a Legends game, Z-A's starter Pokemon are a throwback: Chikorita and Totodile from Gen 2 alongside Tepig from Gen 5. Like in Legends: Arceus, these familiar starters will be getting new final evolutions. The gameplay trailer also showed off new battle mechanics, like positioning, dodging, and aiming your Pokemon's attacks.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A will launch on the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 on October 16, with a Switch 2 bundle with the game (sorry, no special edition) releasing on the same day.

The Home opens in theaters Friday, July 25.

From Danny McBride writing Halloween sequels to Chris Rock starring in a Saw movie and Jordan Peele’s entire career shift, recent years have found a lot of famous funnymen prove they can also do horror with the best of them. As the latest comedian to jump into that world, Saturday Night Live veteran Pete Davidson does decent work in The Home, playing things straight and doing his best to make his character Max feel relatable, but it’s an uphill battle he can’t win in a movie that is as flimsy and inadvertently silly as this one.

The story focuses on Max, who we know is Very Troubled because he wakes up in a drug den and then goes and tags a building with graffiti that reads “Our future is burning” as his red spray paint splatters back on his face, evoking blood. It’s subtle, but you might get the idea this guy is in a bad place in his life! And that sort of clumsy and awkward storytelling unfortunately is par for the course here.

One thing leads to another and Max ends up being given a community-service sentence to work a temporary job as an orderly at a retirement home, where he discovers some very strange and disturbing goings-on. Yes, it’s a time-honored horror movie tradition to leave us to ponder why characters don’t just leave when things get weird and dangerous, but The Home is especially egregious in this regard. Without any sort of genuine, slow build-up to let us believe Max might first feel some connections to this place, it’s preposterous that he doesn’t bail on his very first day after discovering two of the elderly residents having sex wearing bizarre masks, and then witnessing a woman suddenly begin to bleed from the head while doing pool exercises. His legal issues don’t hold up as a credible reason for him to stick around or to not at least contact someone about the hugely troubling signs that something is very off, and yet Max initially seems more curious or bothered than properly freaked out by the rapidly escalating strangeness.

Co-writer/director James DeMonaco is best known for The Purge series, and while those films are certainly inconsistent, there is a lot to enjoy in them and the heightened world DeMonaco created. The Home, though, seems like it’s trying to at least begin in a more grounded, realistic setting, but feels incredibly and often laughably heavy-handed from the start.

To its credit, there is some mildly interesting mystery to be found as Max begins to do some investigating into what’s going on in this place, especially in regards to the fourth floor and what he’s been warned are especially troubled occupants. Yet Max’s reactions continually don’t read true, and would-be scary scenes often play as more goofy as a result. When Max inevitably ventures onto a forbidden floor and a snarling, out-of-control old man lunges at him, his response is to say “I’m not gonna hurt you,” rather than, you know, getting the hell away from this guy.

DeMonaco is going for some messaging here, but it’s muddled and hard to decipher until near the end, where parallels to real life discussions and debates about different generations and who’s in control are made blatant. It feels like too little, too late as far as resonating or helping The Home to hit home, even if there is some last-minute amusement to be had with how things suddenly get a lot more direct and pointed. The final sequence does at least allow for some over-the-top visceral confrontations that feel like DeMonaco veering back into The Purge terrain, where he’s much more in his element. (Also, while most of the gore isn’t done with much panache, if you’re sensitive to harm being done to eyeballs, this movie might elicit a reaction.)

Prior to that, though, The Home pays lip service to how the elderly can often be discarded or overlooked, while mostly leaning into a lot of easy and tired, “Aren’t these old people so creepy?” imagery. It doesn’t help that some of the scenes here are very similar to 2022’s X, including Max seeing an old woman hauntingly staring out a window at him or a sequence where one of the residents crawls into bed with him while he sleeps. But unlike Ti West’s film, where the elderly Pearl was an evocative character given enough nuance to allow us to understand the twisted pain and jealousy that guided her, here it all feels surface level and hollow.

The supporting cast is at least filled with a pretty impressive, recognizable group of, “Hey, it’s that guy/gal!” veteran character actors as the retirement home’s staff and residents, including John Glover, Bruce Altman, Ethan Phillips, and Mary Beth Peil. Their presence at least keeps The Home a bit more engaging than it might otherwise be, particularly Glover, who looks to be having a lot of fun as an eccentric acting class teacher. But with such a weak story at the center, all the support in the world can’t hold this up as a horror movie worth watching.

The Legend of Vox Machina spinoff The Mighty Nein finally has a release date and guest voice cast confirmation.

As announced during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, The Mighty Nein hits Amazon's Prime Video on November 19. While it of course stars the main Critical Role cast, The Mighty Nein also includes a long list of guest voice actors, including Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler in the X-Men movies and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday), Mark Strong (Kingsman, Assembly Mage in The Legend of Vox Machina), and singer-songwriter Tim McGraw.

Other big names to guest star include Anika Noni Rose from The Princess and the Frog, Ming-Na Wen (bounty hunter Fennec Shand in Star Wars), Moana star Auli’i Cravalho, and the one and only Number One himself, Star Trek’s Jonathan Frakes.

The Mighty Nein guest voice actor cast:

• Mark Strong
• Alan Cumming
• Tim McGraw
• Anika Noni Rose
• Ming-Na Wen
• Auli’i Cravalho
• Rahul Kohli
• Robbie Daymond
• Jonathan Frakes

Critical Role is the Dungeons & Dragons livestream sensation, which now has two of its fantasy role-playing campaigns adapted into animated shows for Prime Video. The Legend of Vox Machina (Season 4 is on the way) is based on Critical Role’s first tabletop adventure, whereas The Mighty Nein adapts Campaign 2. It is set in the same world as Vox Machina (Exandria), but takes place around 20 years later, with its main cast playing different characters.

Here’s the official blurb:

The Mighty Nein follows a group of fugitives and outcasts, bound by secrets and scars. But when a powerful arcane relic known as The Beacon falls into dangerous hands, they must learn to work together to save the realm and stop reality itself from unraveling.

Expect an hour-long new animated series starring Critical Role founders and cast members Laura Bailey (The Last of Us: Part II), Taliesin Jaffe (World of Warcraft), Ashley Johnson (The Last of Us), Liam O’Brien (Marvel’s Avengers), Matthew Mercer (Baldur’s Gate 3), Marisha Ray (Fallout 76), Sam Riegel (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), and Travis Willingham (Marvel's Avengers). The Mighty Nein is described as being "intentionally darker, grittier, and edgier" than Vox Machina. A clip shown during the Comic-Con panel featured the main characters very much not taking an interrogation seriously.

Which is it - The Mighty Nein or The Sensual Seven? Whatever it is, looks like it comes exclusively to Prime Video on November 19th! pic.twitter.com/OE5Lc5IQOR

— The Legend of Vox Machina and The Mighty Nein (@LVMandM9onPrime) July 24, 2025

The Mighty Nein main character descriptions:

• BEAU (Marisha Ray): Beau is a Cobalt Soul monk with attitude. Part MMA fighter, part kickass detective, she's on a secret mission to root out corruption within her own organization and abroad.
• CALEB (Liam O’Brien): Caleb is a disheveled – some might say filthy – wizard with a penchant for fire magic. He's on the run from his past that continues to haunt him.
• FJORD (Travis Willingham): Fjord is an orphan sailor. After his ship blew up in a deadly scheme, Fjord washed ashore without a scratch and with magic powers. But he's still trying to figure out if the powers are a gift or a curse.
• JESTER (Laura Bailey): Jester is a loveable chaotic prankster who was born and raised in an upscale brothel. After pranking a powerful politician with no sense of humor, she's forced to go on the run with her best friend, an invisible god named the Traveler.
• MOLLY (Taliesin Jaffe): Molly is the flamboyant tarot reader for a traveling carnival. His endearing wit is a stark contrast to his mysterious ability to manipulate blood to his will.
• NOTT (Sam Riegel) : Nott the Brave is a foul-mouthed alcoholic goblin girl and a master of stealth and crossbow. She drinks to hide from her painful past, which she hopes her new friend, Caleb, can help her solve.
• YASHA (Ashley Johnson): Yasha is a barbarian woman from the wastes of Xhorhas in the Kryn Dynasty. Her roving mercenary work has earned her the harrowing moniker: “The Orphan Maker.”
• ESSEK (Matthew Mercer): Essek Thelyss is a Kryn elf and elite spy for the Dynasty. He will stop at nothing to protect the ones he loves.

It's a busy time for Critical Role, which just this week confirmed it has a video game on the way.

Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.

Spider-Man is one of the most iconic superheroes of all time, but he didn’t swing onto the big screen until director Sam Raimi helped bring 2002’s Spider-Man to life. Since then, Spider-Man has become one of the most profitable superheroes, with pretty much every film adaptation taking the box office by storm.

While it may be easy to watch the films in release order, there are those of us who love watching stories in chronological order to experience these stories in a whole new way. Luckily, the release order and chronological order of the Spider-Man movies and spin-offs are the exact same, so it really just comes down to how you want to watch all the films that tell the complete story of the Spider-Verse (pun intended!).

This guide will help you in your quest to watch all the Spider-Man movies and their spin-offs. Whether you want to watch just the main movies with Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, or you want to have the complete picture and future-proof your Spidey knowledge with various spin-offs, we have you covered.

Below, you can find a mostly spoiler-free look at how to watch all the Spider-Man movies and their spin-offs in chronological order. You'll also see a few lists on Spider-Man movies in release order or with a particular actor. And if you want to just find out how to watch the Spider-Man spin-offs like Venom and Kraven and the like, check out Sony's Spider-Man Universe in Chronological Order.

Jump to:

• How to watch in chronological order
• How to watch by release order

How Many Spider-Man Movies Are There?

While the wider Spider-Man Universe includes over a dozen movies, there are ten total films led by Spider-Man himself. Eight of those movies are live-action — three led by Tobey Maguire, two by Andrew Garfield, and three by Tom Holland — and two are animated, featuring a variety of Spideys. That animated film, Into the Spider-Verse and the sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will be followed by Beyond the Spider-Verse.

For a full list of how to stream all of the films, take a look at our guide on where to watch the Spider-Man movies in 2025.

Spider-Man Movies in Chronological Order

1. Spider-Man (2002)

2002’s Spider-Man is the one that brought Peter Parker into the world of live-action on the big screen. Starring Tobey Maguire as everyone’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane, this film gave us many memorable moments, including the upside-down kiss that may still be one of the most iconic kisses of all time.

Oh, and it features Willem Dafoe and his fantastic first performance as Harry Osborne/Green Goblin and J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, roles they would both reprise in future films beyond the Maguire-era.

Read our review of Spider-Man.

2. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Tobey Maguire’s journey as Spider-Man continues in 2004’s Spider-Man 2, and this time he must face off against Alfred Molina’s Doctor Otto Octavius when a tragic lab accident turns the Doctor into a supervillain. This second film in the Maguire era took place two years after the first and gave us the legendary scene featuring Spider-Man saving a runaway train with nothing but his spider-strength and web-slinging prowess.

Read our review of Spider-Man 2.

3. Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Spider-Man 3 is the last film of Sam Raimi’s trilogy and the final entry starring Tobey Maguire as the titular hero. Whereas the first two films focused on one main villain, this third entry packed three baddies into its runtime, including Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), Venom (Topher Grace), and a new Green Goblin (James Franco). This movie, which takes place about a year after Spider-Man 2, is probably the most polarizing of the first three films, but it did give us Spider-Man’s Black Suit and that must give it some points, right?!

Read our review of Spider-Man 3.

4. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man saw Marc Webb swing into the director’s chair, and was the first to star Andrew Garfield as the web-slinging hero opposite Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy. The Amazing Spider-Man is another take on Spidey’s origin story and features some history about Peter’s parents. The big bad in this movie is Rhys Ifans’ Lizard, a mutated scientist who once worked with Peter’s father.

Read our review of The Amazing Spider-Man.

5. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 was the second and last film in the Garfield era and, much like the last film in the original Spider-Man trilogy, it featured a trio of villains. like. Taking place two years after the original, this sequel introduced Jamie Foxx’s Electro, Paul Giamatti’s Rhino, and Dane DeHaan’s Green Goblin, and was supposed to set up future entries in the franchise featuring Venom and the Sinister Six. Unfortunately, the film’s mixed review and lower box office performance contributed to all of those plans being scrapped.

Read our review of The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

6. Captain America: Civil War (2016)

While Captain America: Civil War is obviously not a Spider-Man movie, it did introduce the world to Tom Holland’s version of Spider-Man. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) recruits Holland’s Peter Parker after he has already become Spider-Man, and we get to see him facing off against or teaming up with many of the MCU’s greatest heroes.

Read our review of Captain America: Civil War.

7. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Spider-Man: Homecoming, Tom Holland’s first solo film as Spider-Man, arrived in 2017 with Jon Watts at the helm. It takes place after the events of Captain America: Civil War, and tells the story of Peter Parker handling the twin challenges of high school and proving to Tony Stark that he’s ready to join the Avengers. Despite that, he still takes it upon himself to improve his skills and stop crimes as Spider-Man alongside hanging out with his friends MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon). Homecoming also introduces us to Michael Keaton’s Adrian Toomes/Vulture, a villain who will appear again down the line.

Read our review of Spider-Man: Homecoming.

8. Venom (2018)

While there is no Spider-Man in 2018’s Venom, Tom Hardy’s version of the iconic Spidey villain does have a role to play in Holland’s Spider-Man story as future films will see their paths almost cross. It remains to be seen if Holland’s Spider-Man will ever actually run into Hardy’s Venom, but this character will undoubtedly have an important part to play in the future of the web-slinger, one way or another.

Read our review of Venom.

9. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is another Spider-Man story separate from the mainline films, but it is one well worth a watch. The story centers around Shameik Moore’s Miles Morales, but Spider-People from many different multiverses quickly enter the picture and build a cast of characters, including Hailee Steinfeld’s Spider-Gwen, Jake Johnson’s Peter B. Parker, John Mulaney’s Spider-Ham, Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Man Noir, and more.

Read our review of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.

10. Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War features a large cast of the MCU’s greatest heroes, and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is one of them. He plays an important role in Infinity War and his growing friendship with Tony Stark is one of the highlights.

Read our review of Avengers: Infinity War.

11. Avengers: Endgame (2019)

While certain plot reasons keep Tom Holland’s Spider-Man out of Avengers: Endgame for much of the movie, he still makes his presence felt in key moments of this film’s story. Also, it is the culmination of 21 MCU films before it and deserves a spot on the watch list.

Read our review of Avengers: Endgame.

12. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Taking place after the events of Avengers: Endgame and dealing with much of what happened in that film, Spider-Man: Far From Home begins in New York City before taking Holland’s Peter Parker to Europe for a school trip. He wants to take a trip undisturbed from the world of superheroes, but the universe has other plans for him. Throughout Far From Home, Holland crosses paths with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), and Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal), who claims to be a hero from a different universe. Make sure to stick around for the post-credits scene here!

Read our review of Spider-Man: Far From Home.

13. Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)

Much like the first Venom film, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is very much adjacent to the Spider-Man films rather than directly tied in. However, this film builds up the world of Tom Hardy’s Venom, and includes a post-credits scene that brings these two worlds closer together than ever.

Read our review of Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

14. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Spider-Man: No Way Home picks up right after the post-credits of Spider-Man: Far From Home and is the most recent mainline Spider-Man film to be released. After Peter and his friends’ lives are turned upside down, he goes to Doctor Strange and asks him to make things right by making everyone forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man.

However, things go awry and the multiverse opens up, bringing many familiar faces from previous films into the MCU. No Way Home is as much the next chapter in Holland’s story as it is a continuation of the Maguire and Garfield eras, and the fan service is just so wonderful, especially if you have seen the previous films.

Read our review of Spider-Man: No Way Home.

15. Morbius (2022)

Morbius, much like Venom, has very little in the way of Spider-Man specifically, but it helps build out the wider universe. We know Morbius takes place in the same universe as Venom as there are certain nods like a reference to the events “in San Francisco,” but the connection to Spider-Man is a bit more unknown. Morbius is a Spider-Man villain, and the film also sees the return of Michael Keaton’s Vulture, who looks to have a bigger role to play in the future of Spider-Man, hinting that Morbius could take place in the MCU or Sony or even a bit of both.

Read our review of Morbius.

16. Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse (2023)

Across the Spider-Verse is another animated film that seemingly sits outside of the MCU. That being said, it dives deep into the multiverse and could eventually be pulled into the rest of the Spider-Man universe similar to how the other films were brought into the fold with No-Way Home. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a direct sequel to Into the Spider-Verse, taking place about a year after the last film ended.

The film is largely centered around Miles Morales getting pulled further into the multiverse to join Gwen Stacy and a team of Spider-People to take on a powerful new threat.

Read our review of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

17. Madame Web (2024)

While the Spider-Man spin-off Madame Web is connected to our favorite web-slinging hero, the events of the film don't feature him. Sure, there may be some spoilery links we won't ruin here, but this is a mostly standalone story in the Spidey-verse that you can watch at any time.

This film stars Dakota Johnson as Cassandra Webb and tells her origin story. We follow her as a paramedic in Manhattan who begins to develop powers to see the future and and tries to come to grips with trying to change what's to come. She is joined by Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O'Connor, who are all "bound for powerful destinies... if they can all survive a deadly present."

Read our review of Madame Web.

18. Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

Tom Hardy had his last go-round as Eddie Brock, as well as Venom, in 2024's Venom: The Last Dance. Our review said "Venom: The Last Dance trips over its own tendrils and lets a boring, generic plot, and bad action distract from the surprisingly resilient central relationship between Eddie Brock and his symbiote bestie."

Read our review of Venom: The Last Dance.

19. Kraven the Hunter

The Aaron Taylor-Johnson-starring Kraven the Hunter didn't fare well with critics, and appears to be the last live-action movie for now in the Sony/Marvel universe. And just think, none of these guys ever even got to meet Spider-Man!

Read our review of Kraven the Hunter.

Spider-Man Movies in Order of Release

• Spider-Man (2002)
• Spider-Man 2 (2004)
• Spider-Man 3 (2007)
• The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
• The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• Venom (2018)
• Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
• Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
• Morbius (2022)
• Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse (2023)
• Madame Web (2024)
• Venom: The Last Stand (2024)
• Kraven the Hunter (2024)

Tobey Maguire Spider-Man Movies in Order of Release

• Spider-Man (2002)
• Spider-Man 2 (2004)
• Spider-Man 3 (2007)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Andrew Garfield Spider-Man Movies in Order of Release

• The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
• The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Tom Holland Spider-Man Movies in Order of Release

• Captain America: Civil War (2016)
• Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
• Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Upcoming Spider-Man Movies

Following the release of Kraven the Hunter, Sony's Spider-Man Universe appears to be on hold, at least in terms of live-action movies not starring Tom Holland as Spidey. But still, there are more projects on the way...

Beyond the Spider-Verse

The third Spider-Verse movie, Beyond the Spiderverse, is in development. While originally slated to release in 2024, we got official confirmation at CinemaCon that the new release date is June 4, 2027.

Nic Cage will also be continuing in his Spider-Verse role as Spider Man Noir for a live action Amazon series from producers Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Orien Uziel.

MCU Spider-Man

Tom Holland's Spider-Man will continue in the MCU with Spider-Man: Brand New Day. It's scheduled to release on July 31, 2026, with Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi) on board as director. Sadie Sink (Stranger Things) recently joined the cast; she'll reportedly play either X-Men character Jean Grey or Mary Jane Watson. Jon Bernthal will also be reprising his role as the Punisher.

Outside of those two movies, other updates include Kevin Feige confirming Miles Morales won't appear in live-action in the MCU. We've also gotten exclusive reveals of the upcoming Spider-Man Magic: The Gathering expansion. For more info, check out our full list of upcoming Spider-Man movies and shows.

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Wicked: For Good isn't arriving in theaters until November later this year, but LEGO is getting ahead of the upcoming release with some really cool sets. Alongside several other major announcements (including a LEGO Game Boy) LEGO has revealed a new Emerald City Wall Art set. At just over 1,500 pieces, it's the latest addition to the LEGO Art line targeted specifically at adults and it's set to release on September 1.

LEGO released a line of Wicked sets for the first movie last year, but they were designed mostly for kids. This year the company seems to be putting more of a focus on its adult audience as this is the second Wicked set specifically made for the 18+ market.

LEGO Wicked Emerald City Wall Art Preorders Are Live