Aspyr Media announced that it is canceling the Restored Content DLC for the Switch version of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords.

“Sadly, today we’re announcing that the Restored Content DLC for the Nintendo Switch version of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords will not be moving forward for release,” Aspyr revealed in a statement on Twitter.

However, Aspyr is trying to do right by fans by letting those who purchased the game before this announcement receive a complimentary game on Switch. The complimentary games include: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Star Wars: Republic Commando, Star Wars: Episode 1 Racer, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, and Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. There's also the option to get a Steam version of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II.

Update on the Restored Content DLC pic.twitter.com/P0TQtJsgRc

— Aspyr (@AspyrMedia) June 3, 2023

To receive your game key, people must visit support.aspyr.com and then submit a request along with a proof of purchase of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II.

The Restored Content DLC was a fan volunteer effort to mod in missing content for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, as well as fix technical issues. It was officially endorsed by Aspyr Media back in 2015.

Aspyr was working on a remake of the first Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game. However, back in August 2022, development was reportedly paused due to Lucasfilm and Sony being disappointed in an internal demo. Now, development has reportedly shifted from Aspyr to Saber Interactive.

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. He's been writing about the industry since 2019 and has worked with other publications such as Insider, Kotaku, NPR, and Variety.

When not writing about video games, George is playing video games. What a surprise! You can follow him on Twitter @Yinyangfooey

June has arrived and with it comes a full summer of gaming. Huge games like Street Fighter 6 and Diablo 4 will make their way to PlayStation consoles early in the month followed by Final Fantasy 16 in the second half. In the meantime, there are still a ton of amazing games for PS5 you can play right now.

Some games make excellent use of the DualSense controller’s innovative haptic feedback, others will make your gaming TV shine with 4K gameplay, and some are just plain great games. Without further ado, here are our updated picks for the 25 best PS5 games.

Most recent game updates were made on January 27, 2023.

More on the best of PlayStation:

• Where to buy a PS5
• Best PS4 Games
• Best PS3 Games

25. Genshin Impact

The Traveler, the Genshin Impact protagonist, has been stranded in the magical land of Teyvat, searching for their estranged sibling, ever since the open-world game was first released in 2020. Their tale is still in the midst of unfolding, as new updates continually add new map pieces to the puzzle - magical jungles, vast deserts, treacherous mountain peaks - and introduce us to extraordinary new characters who become part of their story. It’s a joy to explore and discover each new chapter that arrives - apologies to our protagonist’s lost sibling, but we’re glad to savor the journey rather than race to its resolution.

Genshin Impact’s Version 3.7 update is available now.

24. Apex Legends

From its inception, Apex Legends shook up the Battle Royale genre, featuring a handful of unique characters, fast-paced action, and some of the best movement in an FPS still to this day. While Apex Legends has had its ups and downs over the years, especially with issues surrounding its matchmaking, bugs, and expensive cosmetics, its dedication to consistency for content and pro-play still makes it one of the best FPS on the PS5. Apex has remained consistent with releases of new maps, characters, weapons, game modes, cosmetics, and balance updates.

The PS5 update for apex Legends improved on it with 4K output, Full 60hz gameplay, HDR, higher resolution shadow maps, and greater LOD distances to bring it closer to the true current-gen experience. And future updates are still planned to take advantage of the adaptive triggers, haptics, add 120hz gameplay, and other visual improvements, meaning, in theory, it should only get better with time. If you have a few friends and want to play a stellar FPS together without spending money, Apex Legends is the game for you.

Apex Legends Season 17: Arsenal is available now.

23. Dead Space

The 2023 remake of Dead Space takes players back to dismembering necromorphs in the terrifying hallways of the USG Ishimura with not only an extremely gnarly new lick of paint, but a new focus on improving Issac Clarke’s story at every opportunity. While rebuilding from the ground up, EA Motive masterfully manages to remain extremely faithful and respectful to the original, while also adding all the exciting extra bells, whistles, and violence we’ve come to expect in a modern survival horror game. Simply put, 2023’s Dead Space is the ultimate way to experience this horror classic.

In a recent Reddit AMA on the Dead Space subreddit, senior game writer Jo Barry expressed EA Motive’s interest in continuing to remake the Dead Space series. He said in part, “We've said both internally and externally that we'd be interested in continuing our work on the Dead Space franchise. Our Core group is passionate about the brand and we need to discuss what's the right next step for us.”

22. Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection

Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves takes the two PS4 Uncharted games, polishes them up for the PS5 with 4K visuals, optional performance modes, haptic feedback and adaptive triggers with the DualSense, and more. While it clearly wasn’t as heavy a lift as The Last of Us Part 1's translation to PS5, these two action-adventure classics simply hold up incredibly well, even with just a few improvements.

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End still delivers gut punches, massive set pieces, and grins in spades, giving Nathan Drake, Elena Fisher, and Victor Sullivan the send off they so rightfully deserve. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, a generally underrated PS4 gem, also stands tall, telling a thrilling side story in India with fan favorites Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross. If anyone with a PS5 missed these two heavy hitters the first time around, this Uncharted series collection is a no-brainer.

21. Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is something simultaneous fresh and familiar. It puts a huge spin on the Little Big Planet universe, swapping its typical freeform customization with a linear platforming structure worthy of comparison to the Mario games that clearly influenced it. It’s a platformer full of charm and delight, from its creative levels to its absolutely fantastic music, and one that’s even better when played in co-op with a few friends. There aren’t a whole lot of games like Sackboy: A Big Adventure on PlayStation 5, and it’s fun enough that it would likely standout from the pack even if there were, making it a must-play for any platformer fan.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is now available on PlayStation Plus.

20. Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Assassin's Creed Valhalla doesn't reinvent the wheel, but does offer one of the series' biggest worlds to date. What better way to break in your new PlayStation 5 than spending hundreds of hours in a Viking epic that will take you across three Kingdoms and even into the halls of Valhalla? The PlayStation 5 version massively improves the frame-rate, resolution, and loading times making the journey across the frozen north smoother and faster, making it the ideal platform to jump into Ubisoft's latest assassin adventure.

Check out our list of the best Assassin's Creed games and how to play Assassin's Creed in order for more of this series.

19. Devil May Cry 5

Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition is the rare next-gen upgrade that is only available on consoles, not PC. The new Vergil Mode, hyper-difficulty mode, Turbo Mode, and high-frame-rate mode are all console exclusive, meaning if you want to play Capcom's blistering action game at its best, you'll have to play it on a PlayStation 5. The long-awaited sequel in the Devil May Cry series is a return to basics, ditching the convoluted mythology for pure, unadulterated action.

18. Hitman: World of Assassination

Hitman: World of Assassination is the complete package of IO Interactive’s stunning stealth trilogy. Across 20 globetrotting locations, Agent 47 embarks on the biggest and most intricate missions of his career, from the catwalks of Paris, through the race tracks of Miami, to the pulsing rave halls of Berlin. That journey showcases the finest examples of IO's formula: your targets can be dispatched with cold-blooded efficiency, or fall prey to Rube Goldberg-style series of events that results in a much more comical death (or if something backfires, a Wile E. Coyote-grade failure.) Each mission is so packed with opportunities and creative methods of murder that not even five replays will reveal every secret. This truly is a treasure trove of trouble.

World of Assassination, initially released as a three-game trilogy, was great on PS4, but it’s even better on PS5. The missions from the original two games have been upgraded and polished to a modern shine, ensuring this feels a coherent package. It also now includes Freelancer, a roguelike mode that pushes your stealth skills to their very limits. Regardless Of the mode, though, you can kill a guy by making him slip on a banana peel, which is funny anywhere, but on PS5 it’s also very pretty thanks to increased resolution, a steady 60fps, and an overall smoother experience over the last-gen version.

IO Interactive has placed the Hitman franchise on hiatus to focus on developing the anticipated James Bond game.

17. Death Stranding: Director's Cut

Death Stranding was a divisive game upon launch for sure, even for fans of Hideo Kojima's madcap video game concepts. But if the idea of an Odyssian journey to reconnect a broken United States by delivering packages appeals to you (there are dozens of us) then you were rewarded with one of the most visually stunning, uniquely playing games of the generation. The Director's Cut adds several quality of life improvements that should make the game easier for players who just want to experience the story, and adds a bit more combat and stealth for fans who miss the Metal Gear universe.

Kojima Productions is producing Death Stranding 2, which may not be released until 2024.

16. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition

Everyone has heard of The Witcher 3 by now. One of the best RPGs of the last generation and the game that firmly cemented CD Projekt Red as one of the world's premier game developers. While critics have heralded the game's visuals, storytelling, and gameplay, the same can hardly be said about The Witcher 3's technical performance. The new Complete Edition with a bevvy of next-gen updates fixes most, if not all, the technical shortcomings. With smooth frame-rate, 4K textures, and loads of other fixes, The Witcher 3 on PS5 is the definitive version of one of the best RPGs of all time.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt recently got the 4.02 patch, improving Performance Mode and adding refraction to ray-traced water reflections, among other quality-of-life changes.

15. Gran Turismo 7

Gran Turismo games have always been as much tech showcases for the latest PlayStation console as they are excellent driving sims. As such the series has only improved with each generation, and with racing more popular than ever, now's the best time to dive into PlayStation's marquis driving sim. It's difficult to say whether or not Gran Turismo 7 is the most accessible game in the series, but there's a robust training mode that will take you through every aspect of the game's realistic driving elements. While you can find yourself spending hours on just learning how to turn a corner, if you put in the work, you'll be rewarded with access to the most beautiful racing sim released on this generation of consoles.

Gran Turismo 7’s 1.34 update is available now.

14. Deathloop

Arkane Studios’ Deathloop is undoubtedly one of the more unique experiences to grace the PS5 so far. Arkane builds on the immersive sim bones from its past to create an incredibly dense and playful world. Figuring out the right paths to take, weapons and powers to use, and even times of day to visit certain locations makes exploration its own puzzle, and Arkane's beautiful, Saul Bass-inspired world is filled with peculiar oddities to pick up on and exploit to complete your objectives. In a time where timeloops are the feature du jour in gaming, Deathloop's is one of the most unique and satisfying to navigate, making knowledge its own reward, on top of a suite of incredible powers. And don't even get us started on its stunning soundtrack.

Developer Arkane's co-op vampire shooter Redfall is available now.

13. Control Ultimate Edition

Control is a wonderfully weird game. On one hand, it’s very Remedy - the game’s tone, gameplay, and mixed-media previously used in games such as Alan Wake and Quantum Break feels familiar. On the other hand, it’s something wholly original. Control showcases more style in its full-screen title treatments than many games do in their entire aesthetics, and its suite of psychic abilities to inflict pain upon your foes is utterly bonkers.

Sometimes funny, sometimes scary, and always interesting, Control is a one-of-a-kind game that shouldn’t be missed. And the Ultimate Edition is worth playing for the new bells and whistles added on the PS5, especially if you’re interested in Remedy’s extended universe and if you would like to make use of PS5's Activity Cards in a way few games had so far. Just be warned: you will never look at a refrigerator the same way again.

Remedy is officially working on Control 2 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The studio is also developing a Control multiplayer game, the long-awaited Alan Wake 2, a free-to-play co-op shooter codenamed Vanguard, and remakes of Max Payne 1 and 2.

12. Final Fantasy 7 Remake/Intergrade

Final Fantasy VII Remake/Intergrade was the pipe dream that many fans hoped would happen but didn’t believe would see the light of day. Seeing the first chapter of FFVII remake in crisp HD and fully voice-acted not only made the day for those who tout it as the best in the franchise but also for those who may have missed out in the PS1 era. It's a shining example of how far gaming has come in the five generations of Playstation.

The game updated more than its visuals opting for faster real-time action that rewards skill and preparation while still allowing anyone who wants the traditional turn-based combat a way to choose that option as well. Because you never get to leave Midgar, Square-Enix improved and added to the side stories with the other members of Avalanche, your time in Wall Market, and added a few more areas to expand upon the original. The materia system is back and optimized with new materia for the updated gameplay style and introduces new ones to compliment it.

The Intermission expansion puts Yuffie front and center and gives her a chance to shine before the next release. It includes arguably the best and most engaging combat via her elemental ninjutsu, synergy attacks, and other ninja skills. Both the core game and the Intermission DLC add to the context of the world and give a sneak peek at what we can expect for the next installment of the FFVII Remake and is worth a try for the first time and longtime fans of Final Fantasy.

FF7R Part 2, officially titled Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, is due out "next winter." Before that, Square Enix will release Final Fantasy 16 on June 22 as a PS5 exclusive. Square Enix showed off some new features for Final Fantasy 16 in Sony’s latest State of Play presentation.

11. Ghost of Tsushima Directors Cut

When Ghost of Tsushima was released on the PlayStation 4, it already felt like a next-gen game thanks to its stunning visuals and impressive open world; it was clear Sucker Punch had learned a lot about creating an engaging open world since its (admittedly admirable for the time) efforts on the Infamous franchise. But the Director's Cut is the definitive take on Ghost of Tsushima, and it's all the better on the PS5.

This robust package, even as a refined PS4 game, makes great use of the DualSense in both exploration and combat. Add in new lip sync for Japanese voice over, and, somehow, visual and performance improvements, and you’ve got what is the must-play version of a must-play PlayStation game.

Sucker Punch's next project is another open-world game with stealth and action elements — perhaps Ghost of Tsushima 2? What has been confirmed is a Ghost of Tsushima movie. Directed by Chad Stahleski (John Wick), the movie will be a retelling of the game's story.

10. Resident Evil Village

Resident Evil has never shied away from the mystical and supernatural, and Village leans into those themes more than any entry in the series to date. From severed hands that can just be simply reattached, to floating killer dolls, to nine foot tall lady vampires, Resident Evil Village feels like wandering through a demented circus. In one fell swoop, it gave us what will go on to become one of the most recognizable Resi villains ever: Lady Dimitrescu, while still respecting the main antagonist's story that began in Resident Evil 7.

It brings the series back to its Metroidvania roots, requiring you to revisit areas seen several times throughout your playthrough, but with new tools at your disposal to explore them. It’s by far the most fantastical the series has ever gotten, and it remains to be seen whether or not Resident Evil will ever return to its more straightforward zombie roots, or at this point, if we’d even want it to.

Capcom has since released story DLC for Village called Shadows of Rose and Resident Evil 4 Remake is available now.

9. Astro's Playroom

The DualSense Controller is one of the most defining characteristics of the PS5, as the nuanced haptic feedback and strategically used adaptive triggers create a level of immersion that feels genuinely special. Nowhere is that tech better showcased than in Astro's Playroom which is – quite literally – designed to show off the capabilities of the Dualsense controller.

But this would-be tech demo is also a fantastic game in its own right, with a delightful set of worlds to explore that all celebrate a different facet of the PS5 and the different eras of PlayStation software and hardware. Astro's Playroom reminds players why they've loved PlayStation while giving them a reason to fall in love all over again. Its solid platforming, fun environmental puzzles, and enticing set of collectibles will have you gunning for the platinum and getting it in no time.

Developer Team Asobi is now working on its "biggest" game to date. Studio director Nicolas Doucet said it will be a full commercial title that's "not limited by any money or time."

See more of the best free-to-play PS5 games available.

8. Returnal

Returnal is a trailblazer of sorts. Roguelikes have long been one of the most popular genres on the indie scene, with games like Spelunky 2, Dead Cells, Enter the Gungeon, and The Binding of Isaac leading the charge, but in the AAA space, we’ve never really seen anything quite like Returnal. Returnal combines Housemarque’s expertise in intense, bullet hell, arcadey shoot-em-ups, with deep roguelike mechanics and a dense, chilling atmosphere, resulting in unforgettable experiences. Returnal’s one issue on release was the inability to suspend its lengthy runs and save your progress, but since that’s been patched, it’s hard to find flaws in this incredibly bold and ambitious take on the AAA roguelike.

The PC port for Returnal is available now.

7. Horizon Forbidden West

Horizon Forbidden West builds on the already impressive foundations of Horizon Zero Dawn to tell a deeper, more thrilling story that amps up the series’ explosive fights against complex robotic foes and blockbuster action sequences, while also adding lively settlements and thoughtful, intriguing sidequests to the world. The Forbidden West itself is absolutely gorgeous on PS5 - ranging from the incredibly detailed faces of the people you meet and costumes they wear to sweeping and frequently stunning landscapes. There’s a genuine sense of exploration, and loads of completely involving worldbuildingto uncover as well for those wanting to learn more. A triumphant combination of enthralling combat, top-tier creature and character design, and a captivating open world, Horizon Forbidden West is an absolute blast and fantastic showcase for the power of the PS5.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores, the game's first DLC, is now available exclusively on PS5.

6. Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart

As Insomniac's first truly exclusive PS5 game, Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart is a stunning showcase for what Sony's next-gen console can do, thanks to a series practically built to take advantage of all the new bells and whistles. Whether you're a newcomer to the duo's adventures or a longtime fan since the PS2 days, there's charm a-plenty to be found in returning characters, and brand new ones like the incredible Rivet and Kit.

The delightful, and surprisingly emotional story, is at the core of a theme park ride-like adventure through a host of varied alien worlds, which are stunningly realized in both depth and clarity of detail while running so smoothly on the PS5. And Rift Apart includes one of the franchise's best suite of weapons, from the wacky Topiary Sprinkler to the powerful Executor, all of which make great use of both the DualSense's haptics and adaptive triggers. Ratchet and Clank may be one of the longest-running Sony franchises still seeing new entries, but if Rift Apart is any indication, there's still so much life, humor, and dazzling action to left to experience.

Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart will be released on PC July 27.

5. Demon's Souls

Bluepoint Games had some high expectations to meet with the PS5 remake of Demon’s Souls. Not only was it an anticipated remake of a beloved and landmark game, but also as the first major showcase of what a dedicated PS5 game of this scope could look like.

Fortunately, Bluepoint delivered, and Demon’s Souls is not only jaw-droppingly gorgeous, but it’s also incredibly faithful to the source material.It's handily one of the deepest, richest, and most challenging experiences currently found on the console.

Developer Bluepoint Games was officially acquired by PlayStation in 2021. The studio's next project will be an original game, rather than another remake.

4. Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Though not a full-blown sequel, this standalone expansion sends Peter Parker on vacation and leaves his young spider-apprentice Miles Morales to look after New York. Building on the rock-solid foundations of Insomniac's first game, New York has been gorgeously blanketed with snow, holiday cheer, and next-gen polish.

The improvements aren't just cosmetic, however – the eponymous hero has a few more spider-powers at his disposal than Peter Parker, and these are cleverly adapted into new gameplay mechanics that, while they don't reinvent the wheel, they put enough of a spin on it to make it feel fresh - sometimes literally, thanks to the DualSense controller. It doesn't feature as robust of a campaign or as many colorful villains as 2018's Spider-Man, but Miles Morales' story has just as much charm and heart as its predecessor, possibly more. Its tagline of "Be Greater" set a high bar, but Miles Morales somersaults over it with ease.

And if you're loving Miles Morales but somehow missed out on or want to replay its predecessor, there's no reason not to get the ultimate edition and pick up Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered as well. We previously had MSMR as a standalone game on this list because it was such a great port, but considering the breadth of games we want to now highlight on the PS5, and its availability only as a part of Miles' special edition, we decided to couple it with our recommendation here.

3. The Last of Us Part 1

The Last of Us Part I is arguably the best way to experience the story Naughty Dog was initially told back in 2013. While there is a point of contention on whether this remake was necessary overall, the improvements and changes introduced are enough to warrant this as a great first way to experience this decade-old franchise. The improved character models and facial animation are the biggest praises for this remake, making the phenomenal acting done by the cast more meaningful and realistic. The Last of Us has an incredible and emotional story, and the updated technology allows even the most touching scenes to hit the closest to home. The utilization of the PS5's DualSense controller also greatly improves the core gameplay and is some of the best showcases of what the controller is capable of to date. The haptic feedback you can feel in every weapon used, from melee to firearms, and the fact that environmental effects such as the sensation of falling rain helo immerse you into this ravaged and desolated world. Not only that, but the DualSense features also have been a great tool in accessibility, using the controller's haptic feedback to allow players to feel everything they encounter, whether through physical interaction or hearing it, such as in dialogue exchanges.

While the remake does not include the multiplayer mode found in 2013 original, and the remastered version was ported just a year later, we know that Naughty Dog is working on a standalone multiplayer game set in The Last of Us universe.

2. God of War Ragnorok

God of War Ragnarok is hands down one of the easiest games to recommend to anyone asking what game they should play first on their PS5. The gameplay is an immensely satisfying combination of combat, puzzle solving, and exploration that is bound together with a heartwarming story of family, adolescence, and letting go. The combat rewards players for experimentation and precision but also is versatile enough that even using a fraction of the moves at your disposal feels effective and rewarding. Each moment is bolstered by its fantastic soundtrack that elevates everything from the smallest interaction to the most impactful moments in the story. The world's jaw-dropping landscapes feel organic and filled with life (except for Helheim, of course), but it's hard not to stop and admire it every step.

Its story, gameplay, soundtrack, and nearly every other part of the game culminate masterfully to live up to expectations for a flagship PlayStation game. Some may take issue with the pacing in certain parts of the game, but the next chapter in Kratos and Atreus's saga is filled with heart, charm, and humor. With the combination of the improvements from God of War (2018) and the path it's carved out for itself among other action-adventure games, God of War: Ragnarok is one of the new benchmarks for what Playstation exclusives can do on the PS5.

1. Elden Ring

It’s hard to encapsulate everything that makes Elden Ring such a monumental game in a short blurb, but let’s try: at the core of it all is Elden Ring’s incredible sense of freedom and discovery. There are open world games that are bigger than Elden Ring, prettier than Elden Ring, and quite frankly run better than Elden Ring, but few, if any, are as robust or as rewarding.

The Lands Between is positively littered with branching paths that lead to catacombs, dungeons, caves, forts, castles, towers, even entire underground cities, and within each of them is some sort of unique challenge, from a trap filled crypt with insta-kill chariots racing down every slope, to one of Elden Ring's many fantastic boss fights. The best part of it all is that every challenge comes with its own bountiful reward that may bend the difficulty curve in your favor, whether that’s a new spell, summon, weapon, or material that lets you upgrade your gear. Elden Ring can be an extraordinarily difficult game, sure, but the freedom it gives you to maneuver through or around that difficulty is absolutely liberating, and makes it the most universally recommendable From Software game yet.

Elden Ring is one of the best-reviewed games in modern history. It was crowned Game of the Year by IGN and The Game Awards.

Best PS5 Games FAQ

What PS5 Games Are Coming Out?

The PlayStation showcase for 2023 has wrapped up and there are a lot of great PS5 games on the horizon. The next new title to arrive will be Company of Heroes on May 30. After that, the biggest games of June include Street Fighter 6 on May 2 and Diablo 4 on June 6.

What Is the Best Game on PS5?

It can really depend on what types of games you like to play, but if you are looking for recommendations on the for what to play on the PS5, we recommend picking up a copy of Elden Ring. If you're looking specifically for a PlayStation Exclusive game, Horizon Forbidden West is also a very good option you can't play anywhere else.

What are the Best Games on PS Plus?

If you happen to have PlayStation Plus Extra or PlayStation Premium than you have access to some of the best games on the console. A few of the best PS Plus games include Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Bloodborne, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, Marvel's Spider-Man, and Red Dead Redemption 2.

Updates: On January 27, 2023 our best PS5 games list was updated to include 10 more titles. Rankings were also updated to reflect the opinions of IGN staff.

With contributions from Cristina Alexander

CD Projekt Red will lay off around 30 more employees by the end of 2023 as development on Gwent: The Witcher Card Game winds down.

Revealed in a blog post on Gwent's website, CD Projekt Red confirmed that "about 30 remaining Gwent team members are going to part ways" with the studio.

This contradicts a statement from December when the developer told IGN that a small number of employees would be kept on to keep the game running while the remaining staff would be moved to other projects at CD Projekt Red.

A spokesperson told IGN that four team members will be laid off in June, with CD Projekt Red gradually increasing this number throughout the year until around 30 staff have been laid off in total.

"It’s never easy to say goodbye," the developer said in the blog post. "And even though decisions like this are unavoidable and a natural result of the transition, we’d like to express our sincere thanks for all the contributions these team members have made to Gwent. Just like the community, you helped make the game what it is today."

This announcement from CD Projekt Red follows two other waves of lay-offs. The Molasses Flood, which is owned by CD Projekt Red and currently developing the troubled Project Sirius Witcher game, saw 29 team members laid off earlier in May.

CD Projekt Red also announced the closure of The Witcher: Monster Slayer in December last year, revealing that lay-offs would be made at developer Spokko as a result.

Development on Gwent is currently being switched to a community-focused approached. CD Projekt Red announced the change in December though assured the game will remain online for years to come, with final "official" updates being made from the development team between now and the end of 2023.

Gwent celebrated its five year anniversary of entering open beta in May 2022, but was first released in closed beta back in October 2016. Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales was released as a full RPG spin-off in 2018 and a single-player standalone expansion called Gwent: Rogue Mage was released in 2022.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

In March, Minecraft revealed new details about its 1.20 Trails and Tales update, which emphasizes "self-expression through representation, storytelling, and worldbuilding." Now, the update finally has a release date.

Today, Minecraft made a blog post revealing that Trails and Tales will be downloadable for free on June 7. The blog post also delves into the details of the update, which introduces quite a few new mobs and blocks, as well as some minor changes catered toward storytelling.

Trails and Tales brings the long-awaited camel, which can fit two riders, and the sniffer, the "gentle giant" that the community voted for during Minecraft Live 2022. It also introduces two new wood sets: bamboo and cherry, the latter of which is found in the cherry grove (the update's new biome).

Your journey is about to begin: The Trails & Tales Update arrives June 7! 🎉

Get ready to bring your stories to life, whether you're hatching a sniffer, exploring a cherry grove, trimming your armor, or much more. Mark your calendars and start planning! pic.twitter.com/jPNe0nyMdb

— Minecraft (@Minecraft) May 26, 2023

Also included in the update is archaeology, its main new mechanic, which allows players to dig through sand to find tools and pieces of pottery that can be put together.

Trails and Tales also introduces armor trims, which allow for more customization. The update will also include a few more minor changes to decorative blocks, including hangable signs, playable mob sounds, and the ability to store enchanted books in a new type of bookshelf.

We gave Minecraft a 9 in our 2011 review, calling it "an open world, a blank page just daring you to jump in and do with it what you will." The game has expanded a lot since then, though, so for more on Minecraft's newer features, find the game's complete history here and find ideas for what to build in 2023 here.

Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, they've contributed to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.

If you're looking to upgrade your existing smartphone but not sure where to start, you've come to the right place. If you're like most people, you've probably been with the same cellular carrier for many years, and the thought of switching might be daunting. However, with the introduction of eSIM (electronic SIM cards), most carriers offer a trial run that allows you to test out their network without actually having to swap your service or get a new device. Not only can you ensure that coverage in your area is sufficient, but you'll also have access to some great deals that many carriers only offer to those switching networks.

Verizon, one of the largest carriers, has some great deals for new and existing subscribers, including an incredible offer that lets you get the latest iPhone 14 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23+ smartphones for free, as well as savings on accessories, trade in promotions, and much more. Check out the deals below for a full breakdown.

Best Verizon iPhone Deal

If you're looking to get your hands on the latest iPhone, Verizon has a fantastic promotion running currently that gets you a 128GB iPhone 14 Pro for free (a $1,000 value) when you switch to Verizon, trade in your current smartphone, and choose the Unlimited Plus plan.

When switching from your existing wireless carrier to Verizon, you'll receive a $200 Verizon e-gift card that you can use to purchase accessories like cases, chargers, and more, or simply use it towards your monthly phone bill. The great news is that you'll be able to keep your existing phone number when you switch, so you don't have to worry about updating your friends and family with a new number.

Additionally, you can trade in your current working or broken smartphone (free of any battery damage) for up to $800 of bill credits applied over 36 months. This, combined with your $200 Verizon e-gift card credit, covers the monthly device cost of the iPhone 14 Pro, so all you pay for is your Unlimited plan.

Best Verizon Samsung Deal

If you prefer Android-flavored phones, Samsung's latest Galaxy S23+ could be yours for free (a $1,000 value) when you switch to Verizon, trade in your current smartphone, and choose an Unlimited Plus plan.

The best part of this deal is that by trading in your current smartphone (working or not) you'll receive up to $800 of bill credits that are applied over a 36-month period towards your new Samsung Galaxy S23+, so all you'll really be paying for is your monthly Unlimited plan.

And, by switching from your existing wireless carrier to Verizon, you'll also receive a $200 Verizon e-gift card that can be used to purchase additional devices, accessories, or simply applied directly to your phone bill to cover the remaining monthly device cost for the Samsung Galaxy S23+.

Additional Verizon Smartphone Deals

Here are some other great smartphone deals currently happening at Verizon.

Other Great Verizon Deals

Save on accessories and more with these great Verizon deals.

Why Choose Verizon as Your Carrier?

It's no secret that the major phone carriers have been battling it out over speed and coverage for decades, and Verizon is definitely one of the best options you can choose. Not only does Verizon boast incredibly fast speeds from its 5G Ultra Wideband network, but it also holds the crown for Network Quality - 30 times, in fact, as rated by J.D. Power. So, if you're looking for reliable nationwide coverage, Verizon is an excellent pick.

Additionally, Verizon offers its subscribers access to its free Verizon Up loyalty program which rewards you with exclusive offers and deals, as well as tickets to concerts, sporting events, and and live entertainment.

And, if that wasn't enough, Verizon also gives you access to some great perks as part of its Unlimited plans such as the Disney Bundle (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+), Apple Music, Apple One, Walmart+, mobile hotspots, cloud storage, and more.

Matthew Adler is a Commerce, Features, Guides, News, Previews, and Reviews writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @MatthewAdler as well as check out his curated IGN Playlists.

Bungie’s announcement of a reimagined Marathon as a PvP extraction shooter during the May 24 PlayStation Showcase was certainly a pleasant surprise. It was clear from comments on Twitter and in the live chat during the stream that there’s a whole generation of gamers unaware of the impressive 29 year legacy behind the name, and let’s face it: why would they be? Save for a free release designed to work on modern Macs, PCs, and Linux systems in 1999, an Xbox Live Arcade port of Marathon: Durandal in 2007, a port to iOS in 2011, and a bunch of easter eggs hidden in both Halo and Destiny (the Marathon symbol pops up all over the place in the first three Halo games, for example) the franchise has been left alone since the third game in the trilogy, Marathon: Infinity, released in October 1996.

While the new game will feature an Altered Carbon-style transfer of human consciousness into customizable clones that fight in a competitive extraction shooter scenario (if you’re unfamiliar with this most in-vogue genre of modern live service shooters, think Escape from Tarkov or Hunt: Showdown where you’re collecting loot and fighting against things in the environment as well as other players before getting out intact) the 1994 original was an early example of a methodical story-based first-person shooter, similar in some regards to Warren Spector’s System Shock which shipped that same year.

While the December 1993 release of Doom for MS-DOS-based PCs is remembered for establishing many of the conventions we take for granted today, Marathon’s contributions to the modern lexicon of game design are often overlooked because it was a Mac OS game.

There was a period during the early 2000s where Marathon was frequently included in many Top 100 games of all time lists alongside Doom, Quake and their ilk. For the past couple of decades though it has slowly faded in our collective memories. Regardless, its contribution to the way we play games can’t be ignored, so here are just some of the most important ways it has influenced the modern era.

Mouse-look

While not the first game to allow you to look around from a first-person perspective (Dark Forces, Ultima Underworld, System Shock, and Heretic all let you look up and down using the keyboard as far back as 1992), Marathon was the first game that coupled the camera to the mouse controls in the manner that we now all take for granted. This convention didn’t really emerge in PC games until a year later with Interplay’s release of the motion sickness-inducing Descent in March 1995, and it didn’t become the default standard for games before Bethesda’s unpopular and exceptionally crappy Terminator: Future Shock in August that same year. While most would credit iD Software’s 1996 release of Quake with popularizing the mechanic, it was Marathon that set us on this path.

Environment storytelling

So many modern games tell their stories through audio logs or journals conveniently left on nightstands that it’s become something of a cliché. While most of us would probably think of Ken Levine’s 2007 release of Bioshock as the quintessential “pick up what’s going on from stuff lying around in the environment” game, the technique was pioneered in Marathon. All major plot points were conveyed through entries on terminals found throughout the UESC Marathon – a giant colony ship carved out of Mars’ moon Deimos now orbiting Tau Ceti IV – and through messages from the three artificial intelligences that reside there, Leela, Durandal, and Tycho.

AI buddies

Bungie was acquired by Microsoft in 2000 leading to the November 2001 release of Halo: Combat Evolved as a launch game for the original Xbox. Its path to release was tumultuous, seeing time as a real-time strategy game, a third-person action game and a first-person shooter, but it actually started out life as an indirect successor to the second game in the Marathon trilogy, Marathon Durandal. In hindsight much of that connection comes in the form of the relationship between the cipher-like security officer you play as with a charismatic artificial intelligence. Many of the moments we cherish throughout Bungie’s Halo games between Master Chief and Cortana owe a lot to the work designers Jason Jones and Alex Seropian did while writing the messages from Marathon’s command AI Leela and later the more manipulative Durandal. Even the term “rampancy” when used to describe Cortana and Guilty Spark’s enraged-states is a throwback to dialog from the first Marathon, where Leela describes Durandal with the same term to describe how it is thinking freely for itself and is consequently quite annoyed.

Existential musings on heady subjects

Every now and then a game sparks debate because of its psychological or sociological musings and earns a reputation for making you think outside of the experience itself. The Metal Gear games played on modern geopolitics and the military industrial complex, the first Bioshock game riffed on objectivism and players’ lack of true freedom. Marathon tackled similarly heady subjects more than 10 years before either of them. When the artificial intelligence Durandal takes over from Leela in guiding you through the objectives of the game, it begins to talk to you about the notions of freedom and its developing self-awareness. As the story unfolds you learn that the security officer is actually a cyborg super soldier – referred to as a Mjolnir Mark IV cyborg – which explains your unquestioning willingness as the player to slavishly follow instructions and complete tasks for the AIs aboard the ship. Similarly, Durandal questions its own slave-like existence and begins to push back, highlighting that not only are the two characters in the game quite similar, but you as the player are too.

It remains to be seen how much of the lore established in the original trilogy works its way into Bungie’s new title. Judging from the small amount of info shared on the game’s website, and what fans have unearthed from the elaborate ARG supporting the game’s launch it seems the new Marathon is set 56 years after the first and retains the giant colony ship and Tau Ceti IV setting from the original. At around the 48 second mark in the new teaser there’s a glimpse of a S’pht, a caped, floating cyborg alien with a big glowing green light in its chest that appeared in the original trilogy as both enemies and allies, hinting at what some of the PvE elements of the new title may be. It seems likely that the artifacts players will be collecting as noted in Bungie’s first ViDoc, and the “long dormant” AIs cited in the early material will be throwbacks to the earlier games, hinting that the new game may follow the original in revealing its narrative through environmental story elements.

Bungie says it is approaching alpha in its development of the game, and will be going dark for an extended period before showing actual gameplay and revealing the game’s release date. When it does launch, Marathon will be available for PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC and will feature cross play and save across all platforms.

PlayStation finally pulled back the curtain on its PS5 lineup for this year and beyond in today's PlayStation Showcase 2023.

Sony showed off a ton of upcoming games for PlayStation 5 and PSVR 2, including the reveal of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater, gameplay for Spider-Man 2, a first proper look at Dragon's Dogma 2, a release date for Alan Wake 2, and a lot more. Read on to learn everything announced in today's PlayStation Showcase 2023.

Spider-Man 2 Gets Lengthy Gameplay Showcase

While we didn't get a release date for Spider-Man 2, we did get a lengthy gameplay showcase featuring both Spider-Men: Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Pete's new moveset revolves around the Symbiote Suit, while we saw some flashy new moves from Miles, too. The trailer also revealed another Spidey villain: Kraven the Hunter.

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater Remake Announced

PlayStation announced a remake of Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater. None of the game itself was shown, as we instead got a big, mysterious teaser trailer leading up to Snake's big reveal. PlayStation also announced the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1, which includes Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, which is coming to PlayStation 5 sometime this fall.

PlayStation Announced Dedicated Game Streaming Device

Sony announced a device codenamed Project Q that will allow players to stream any game from their PlayStation 5 console using Remote Play over WiFi. It has an 8-inch HD screen and all buttons and features the DualSense controller has. No release date was given for this new hardware. Sony also revealed the first official PlayStation 5 earbuds.

Assassin's Creed Mirage Gets October Release Date

The next Assassin's Creed game -- the smaller-in-scope Assassin's Creed Mirage -- is coming on October 12 to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, and Amazon Luna. PlayStation revealed a new feature called Assassin's Focus, which lets you mark and assassinate several targets in a row.

Alan Wake 2 Is Coming on October 17

Remedy showed off another look at Alan Wake 2, the long-awaited horror sequel. The trailer showed Alan Wake return, who appeared to be trapped in the Dark Place. This time, Wake is joined by a new playable character, Saga Anderson, who is joining Alan in his investigation. The game is coming on October 17.

Final Fantasy XVI Gets a New Trailer Ahead of Next Month's Launch

A new Final Fantasy XVI story trailer debuted ahead of its fast-approaching June 22 release date. We got a look at Clive interacting with a ton of characters around Valisthea, along with glimpses of a ton of new and returning Final Fantasy monsters.

Dragon's Dogma 2 Gets New Trailer

Dragon's Dogma 2 was finally officially unveiled today at the PlayStation Showcase, with a new trailer showing a ton of monsters, including an enormous dragon, of course. This marks the first new mainline Dragon's Dogma game in over a decade. We know very little about the sequel, other than that it's being developed in the RE Engine.

Bungie Announces New Marathon

Bungie announced a new entry in the Marathon series. Marathon is a first-person shooter Bungie originally released on Mac in 1992, making this a pretty deep cut for Bungie to return to. The game isn't a direct sequel to the originals, but Bungie says it belongs in the same universe. According to PlayStation, the game is PvP-focused and won't feature a single-player campaign.

Get a New Look at Street Fighter 6's Story Mode

Street Fighter 6 is out next week, and Capcom shared a trailer of the game's story mode. This will see players traveling and facing off against the game's roster of Street Fighter favorites and newcomers.

Jade Raymond's Haven Studio Reveals Fairgame$

Sony kicked the event off by revealing Fairgame$, which is coming from Jade Raymond's Haven studio. The game is a competitive heist experience coming to PS5 and PC about robbing the ultra-rich. The trailer started with images of hacking before seeing groups of people attempting to break into banks. It appears to have a science fiction bend, as the characters were wielding very advanced-looking weaponry. No release window was given for the game.

The Talos Principle 2 Is Coming This Year

Croteam's sequel to The Talos Principle is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC this year. The game was announced back in 2021, and details since its reveal have been slim. The sequel is set to expand "the first game's philosophical themes and stunning environments with increasingly mind-bending challenges".

Foamstars Is a Splatoon-like Shooter from Square Enix

Square Enix revealed a first look at Foamstars, which appears to be a Splatoon-like team shooter. The gameplay looked like characters were competing to cover the ground with as much foam as possible, and many fans in the chat were saying it looked like Splatoon mixed with persona. The game is coming to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

New Look at Adorable Indie The Plucky Squire

The Plucky Squire looks like an adorable, fresh take on the top-down action adventure, and we got a new look at the game in a trailer today. The gameplay showed the Plucky Squire adventuring between storybook settings and a real-world living room. The game looks like it will constantly be shaking up the gameplay with all of the different storybook settings the characters hop into.

Phantom Blade Zero Is a New Hack and Slash RPG

Phantom Blade 0 was revealed today, a new hack and slash RPG set in the Phantom World, a place where Chinese Kung Fu, steampunk, and more converge. The game will feature fast-paced sword combat, taking place in a "bleak and punishing" semi-open world. The game does not yet have a release date or release window.

Ghostrunner 2 Announced for 2023

Ghostrunner 2, a sequel to One More Level's action platformer, was revealed today. The new gameplay prominently featured vehicular combat, with players riding at high speeds on a motorcycle. The game is coming sometime in 2023.

Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 Announced

We got confirmation of a sequel to 2015's Helldivers, the co-op action shooter from Arrowhead Game Studios. The sequel appears to maintain much of the satirical, dystopian elements of the original, as the trailer kicked off with a comedic television advertisement. Plenty of gameplay was shown, with frenetic third-person shooting in tons of different biomes. The game is coming to PlayStation 5 and PC this year.

Giant Squid Reveals Sword of the Sea

Abzu and The Pathless devveloper Giant Squid has revealed its next project, titled Sword of the Sea. The game takes place in an abandoned world where the terrain flows in constant waves, where you control a new movement mechanic known as the Hoversword. This controls like a snowboard, skateboard, and hoverboard all in one.

Resident Evil 4 Remake VR Mode Trailer for PSVR 2

Capcom shared new gameplay of the PSVR 2 version of Resident Evil 4 remake. There was no release date given. The VR mode for RE4 follows an ongoing trend for the series, which also saw VR versions for Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil VII. The VR mode will come as a free update for those who own the PS5 version of Resident Evil 4.

Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 Announced for Late 2023

Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2 is coming to PSVR 2 sometime later in 2023. The original Help Wanted was first a VR title, before coming out on consoles. It featured minigames starring characters and locations from the Five Nights series. The new game will bring new minigames, locations, story, and animatronics.

Gris Creator Reveals Neva, Coming 2024

From the makers of indie hit Gris comes Neva, a beautiful, painterly adventure with a striking art style. The game is scheduled for sometime next year.

Cat Quest: Pirates of the Purribean Is Coming Next Year

Cat Quest: Pirates of the Purribean was officially revealed at today's event, showing a swashbuckling twist on the original Cat Quest. The kitties are searching for a mythical artifact across adorable pirate-themed landscapes. The game is coming sometime next year.

Towers of Aghasaba Is a Breath of the Wild-like Coming Next Year

Towers of Aghasba wears its Breath of the Wild influence on its sleeve, showing a character navigating landscapes with a paraglider. There's a heavy nature influence here, as we see tons of huge beasts and animals throughout the trailer.

Revenant Hill Is Coming to PlayStation 4 and PS5

Revenant Hill is a new adventure coming from the makers of Night in the Woods. The teaser shows a black cat running through sidescrolling, hand-drawn landscapes. We don't know much about this new title, but it is coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

GranBlue Fantasy Relink Is Coming This Winter

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is coming this winter to PS5, PS4, and PC. The game was announced way back in 2016, and is finally coming out this year. Platinum Games was originally on board to develop alongside Cygames, but the two parted ways in 2019. More updates are scheduled for sometime this summer.

Ultros Is a Colorful Metroidvania Coming Next Year

Ultros is a sidescrolling platformer with amazing, colorful art coming next year for PlayStation 4, PS5, and PC. We got our first look at the game today.

A Look at Perfect World Games' Tower of Fantasy

Tower of Fantasy is an open-world sci-fi game coming from Hotta Studio. We got a look at the game's bright, colorful landscapes and fast-paced combat today.

Four New PSVR 2 Games Revealed

A segment of today's showcase revealed a ton of new games coming to PSVR 2, including Arizona Sunshine 2, military shooter Crossfire: Sierra Squad, nDreams' Synapse, and a Queen music pack DLC for Beat Saber.

Firewalk's Concord Is Coming Next Year to PS5 and PC

Concord is the first original AAA project from Firewalk Studios, and it's a new PvP multiplayer game set in a science-fiction universe. The game is coming to PlayStation 5 and PC.

New Gameplay Trailer for Immortals of Aveum

Ascendant Studios shared some fresh gameplay from Immortals of Aveum, the single-player first person magic shooter that's coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on July 20.

There’s never been a better time for smartphones. We’ve come a long way from the brick-shaped phones that came with a shoulder strap or had to be plugged into a car to use. Almost every Android phone and iPhone is a thin, glass-covered rectangle with a high-res screen and ample performance.

But that’s a double-edged sword, as almost every phone looks and performs the same. Obviously, you want something special, or offering the most features and bang for your buck at least. Luckily, we’ve seen and tested every new smartphone available today and can tell you which are the best to pick from.

We get that choosing the right phone is unlike any other device. After all, it’s something you rely on and use every day. Trust us, we won’t steer you the wrong way in your quest for the best smartphone.

TL;DR – These are the Best Smartphones:

• Google Pixel 7
• Google Pixel 7a
• iPhone 14 Pro
• Google Pixel 7 Pro
• Asus ROG Phone 5S
• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Google Pixel 7

Best Smartphone

• See it on Best Buy

The Google Pixel 7 is honestly the best value smartphone you can buy today. For $599 to start it undercuts most of its competition while packing in some great hardware. The 6.3-inch devices features a classier design with a more aluminum frame and camera bar. The 1080 x 2400 resolution has also been upgraded with an even brighter panel that hits a maximum brightness of 1400 nits so it can shine in the sun too.

Of course the biggest hallmark of any Pixel phone are fantastic cameras and this handset delivers with an incredibly sharp 50MP main camera and a serviceable 12MP Ultrawide camera. That leaves a telephoto camera conspicuously out of the picture, but the Pixel 7 makes up for this with a Super Res Zoom feature that can capture images with an up to 8x zoom – though shots stop looking so great after 5x zoom. This phone is also considerably faster at all of its smart AI-powered functions like speech recognition and Night Sight photography thanks to Google's latest Tensor G2 chip.

Google Pixel 7a

Best Budget Smartphone

For a budget smartphone that offers flagship performance, grab the Google Pixel 7a, which costs $499—a $50 price hike from last year’s Pixel 6a at launch. However, you get the same Google Tensor G2 processor found in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. When you pair it with 8GB of RAM, this phone delivers upper-mid-range performance to cruise through games and open multiple apps at a time. That chip also lets you take advantage of some impressive AI tech.

The Pixel 7a delivers a big, bright OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate to ensure smooth scrolling, streaming, and gaming. You also get a 64MP main camera which has more pixels than the flagship models, though the sensor is smaller. It still takes photos and videos that won’t disappoint. However, the 4,385mAh battery isn’t the best but should last all day with light to moderate use. Topping the phone up is also simple, thanks to wireless charging support.

iPhone 14 Pro

Best iPhone

For an iPhone that goes above and beyond, you’ll want the iPhone 14 Pro. This version brings a slight upgrade to our previous favorite, the iPhone 13 Pro. You get a beefy phone powered by Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip, making it breeze through pretty much any task you throw at it, including gaming or video editing for content creators. This version gives you an upgraded screen, which finally removes the notch for Face ID, opting for a new pill-shaped camera hole called the Dynamic Island. This feature can expand and show different animations, including alarms, navigation, and the music playing—which can be held down to access media controls. The stunning display also offers a 120Hz refresh rate that drops to just 1Hz, allowing for the new always-on-display that won’t drain the battery.

The iPhone 14 Pro totes plenty of other features that make it one of the best phones money can buy. First, there are the cameras. You get a 48MP main with 2x zoom for beautiful, vibrant images along with a 12MP wide and a 12MP telephoto with 3x zoom. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better phone cameras than these, and the 14 Pro even shines when photos are taken in low light. It’s also possible to film 4K videos. Just be prepared, as the cameras bump so big it prevents your phone from sitting flat on a surface. You also get new safety enhancements like crash detection and a satellite phone feature for easy contact with emergency services.

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Best Android Phone

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a closer to perfect smartphone than the Google Pixel 7 Pro, which offers even more greatness than the Pixel 6 Pro. Don’t expect it to blow every phone out of the water by every metric, but just realize that everywhere you look, you’ll find excellence. The phone comes with a unique design that helps it stand out while still providing a solid build. Inside that frame, Google has put plenty of oomph with the new Tensor G2 processor that handles everyday tasks and gaming with ease. It even renders images quicker and powers some impressive speech recognition. Beyond that, you get ample battery life with faster charging, Face Unlock, and a top-notch camera system.

The Google Pixel 7 Pro totes a huge, sharp display, hitting a wild 1,500 nit peak brightness that’s made all the better with a 120Hz variable refresh rate. That display makes for a solid viewfinder to use with the triple camera system on the rear. You get a phenomenal main sensor that captures a wide dynamic range, warm colors, and excellent detail. The main camera is flanked by an ultra-wide camera for getting everything in the shot, and a 5x telephoto camera goes all the way to 30x digitally. All that, and Google is only asking $899, whereas its competitors ask over $1000 for their top-spec models.

Asus ROG Phone 5S

Best Gaming Phone

For a beast of a gaming phone, you'll want to turn to the Asus ROG Phone 5S. The latest iteration improves upon the already great ROG Phone 5. The system is now powered by a Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset backed up by 16GB of LPDDR5 memory (can go up to 18GB), so speed and capacity won't be an issue. Games load from a solid 256GB of fast, UFS 3.1 storage. And, when you need a reliable connection for gaming, you can enjoy 5G on the go or the latest Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. You'll be able to get in some marathon gaming sessions thanks to the phone's 6,000mAh battery, but you can keep playing even as you’re juicing up since there’s a charging port on the side of the phone.

Sure, plenty of phones offer fast internals, but it's what Asus does on the outside that sets it apart for gaming. The Asus ROG Phone 5S has a zippy 144Hz AMOLED display that scans for touch inputs at a wild 360Hz. Asus also includes more controls, so you're not stuck handling all the complicated actions of games with just your thumbs. Two ultrasonic side buttons can work like triggers or even handle swipe gestures. And, there's a motion control system that will let you set up 10 different phone movements to correspond with in-game controls – think tilt to turn. Heck, there's even some cool RGB lighting on the back of the phone.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Best Phablet

If you’re looking for a big screen packed with loads of power behind it, nothing beats the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The company’s latest release features a design very similar to last year's model, with a bright 6.8-inch AMOLED display that offers a speedy 120Hz refresh rate. It even comes with a stylus slotted inside, making it easy to jot down notes or do some sketching while connecting the phone to a monitor, keyboard, and mouse via a USB-C hub for more functionality is even possible.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra’s display is stunning, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and 8GB of RAM make this phone a standout, letting it act like a tiny computer. It shouldn't break a sweat, even when running multiple apps or completing more taxing tasks like editing videos or gaming. Of course, we can’t forget to mention the bordering-on professional cameras with exceptional levels of zoom, a RAW mode, and a wild 200MP sensor that shoots 8K video.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

Best Foldable Phone

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a far cry from the flip phones of yesteryear, though it does look nearly identical to its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Fold 3, with just a few minor improvements. It rocks a 6.2-inch display and remains relatively thin when folded. However, you can open the phone like a book—using the redesigned hinge to make the action smoother—and inside lurks a 7.6-inch screen, meaning you basically get a little tablet that’ll fold neatly into your pocket. Just be prepared for the phone to feel a bit awkward at first due to its unique dimensions, and there’s still a slight crease where it folds.

If you’re worried about the quality of the two seamless displays, you should find them plenty bright and smooth thanks to the Dynamic AMOLED panels offering a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Samsung has added a taskbar to the Z Fold 4 to house your most used apps and improved the under-display selfie camera to better blend with whatever is on screen. Powering those displays is a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor paired with 12GB RAM to cruise through tasks and games. A 4,400mAh battery is loaded in, so you can use it all day without it dying, though there’s a fast charging feature if it does. You also get decent cameras, but unfortunately, they don’t compare to the stunning cameras on Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra.

Kevin Lee is IGN's Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam.

Danielle Abraham is a freelance writer and unpaid music historian.

Nintendo is facing a lawsuit in relation to the Spotlight Pipes lootboxes that were available in mobile game Mario Kart Tour until September 2022.

As reported by Axios, the plaintiff is a young gamer who spent more than $170 on Mario Kart Tour microtransactions using their father's credit card. The lawsuit alleges that the lootboxes "capitalised on and encouraged addictive behaviours akin to gambling" and calls for refunds for all minors in the U.S. who bought them.

Mario Kart Tour's Spotlight Pipes were fairly typical lootboxes, letting players pay real money to receive a randomly selected reward, though the suit claims Nintendo made it difficult to progress in the game without purchasing them and tricked players into spending more money than they would like to.

These practices are alleged to violate California business law and Washington State's Consumer Protection Act.

Nintendo removed this lootbox method of purchasing items from Mario Kart Tour in September last year and now incorporates microtransactions through a more standard in-game shop, where users can simply purchase the item they want.

IGN has reached out to Nintendo for comment on the lawsuit.

Lootboxes have come under fire from various governments and consumer groups in recent years, with many likening their random drop rates to gambling. Belgium and the Netherlands banned the practice in 2018 unless the companies selling them have a gambling license, and some U.S. politicans also took a stance against lootboxes in 2021.

The Norwegian Consumer Council last year called their presence in games manipulative and exploitative in a report backed by consumer groups across Europe, though the UK opted not to introduce laws against lootboxes around the same time.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

In 2023, E3 was canceled, leaving gamers hungry for news of what’s on the horizon. What games should we be looking out and preparing for? What should we make room for on our must-play lists? NetEase, a leading force in the gaming industry, has answered these questions with their NetEase Connect 2023 Annual Product Launch event. Whether you're a hardcore gamer seeking intense shooters, strategic masterminds yearning for immersive experiences, or casual gaming fans looking for engaging multiplayer adventures, NetEase has delivered an array of thrilling announcements to satisfy gamers everywhere.

Bring On the Games!

The event featured an impressive lineup of 19 games, including several we were excited to get more details on. We’ve covered announcements of many games showcased at the event and were eager for more information to share. Gamers may already be familiar with several IPs NetEase is known for, but here are a few quick notes about the games shown at this year’s event.

The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War is an officially licensed mobile strategy game that recreates the world of Middle-Earth with a focus on its attention to detail and the source material! Players can form their fellowship, establish fortified settlements, assemble their armies, and live their own War of the Ring.

Harry Potter: Magic Awakened is a card collection and MMORPG game set in the enchanting world of Hogwarts. Thanks to the game’s engaging gameplay, immersive world-building, and the ability to create your own character and attend classes, it’s managed to captivate millions of fans worldwide. The NetEase Connect revealed that Harry Potter: Magic Awakened soared to the top of both the paid and free charts, surpassing 50 million downloads in just 7 hours after release.

Infinite Lagrange, which we covered recently, is a space exploration game where you travel the universe mining for resources, building ships, exploring galaxies, and protecting yourself from pirates and other explorers.

Identity V is the first asymmetrical horror mobile game with a Victorian-era art style and a gothic twist. You enter the game as a detective or hunter in 1v4 gameplay as you race to solve the mystery in randomized maps and escape the killer.

Justice Online Mobile is an MMORPG set in ancient China, incorporating elements of traditional Chinese culture, like: martial arts, mythical creatures, and traditional architecture – all with a creative twist on how players interact with the world around them.

Justice Online Mobile offers players the opportunity to craft and influence the constantly evolving world around them. Non-playable characters dynamically respond and adapt to players' choices and actions and within this virtual realm, players can engage in immersive and realistic interactions with the diverse cast of characters thanks to intelligent AI-based NPC technology that NetEase designed years ago.

Infinite Borders is NetEase's new simulation game set in a Three Kingdoms-themed terrain, combining ancient Eastern elements. What sets Infinite Borders apart is its unique season structure, allowing players to conquer the world anew each season while encountering different enemies and allies. Players can assume various roles like strategist, spy, commander, or alliance leader, allowing them to experience the game from different perspectives. The "Conquest Season" introduces specific gameplay mechanics tailored to each scenario, offering a distinct and immersive experience every season.

A title gamers should be familiar with is NARAKA: BLADEPOINT. This 60-player battle royale experience is unlike anything else we’ve played. A battle between two ancient gods eons ago created an artifact of legendary power, the Mask of Immortality. Now you are one of the many heroes looking to claim that powerful treasure for yourself.

Players worldwide have gathered on Morus Island to engage in fast-paced combat that features a wide array of weaponry that runs the gamut from katanas to muskets. Conquer the competition by wall running, zipping across mountains and buildings with grappling hooks, and parkour effortlessly as you hunt down unsuspecting foes to claim the Mask of Immortality as your own. The game already has more than 10 million players waiting to greet you.

Once Human, is a new weird sandbox survival game by Starry Studio set in the aftermath of an apocalypse that altered the fabric of reality. A world where bloodthirsty creatures roam the earth while secret shadow organizations seek to take dominion and control it.

Horror fans may be interested in Dead by Daylight Mobile. This 4v1 multiplayer game allows you to play as a ruthless Killer or as one of four Survivors attempting to escape a gruesome death. You can either hunt and sacrifice or hide and escape. Which side will you choose？

The futuristic street racing game Ace Racer is part Tron and part Need for Speed. Race to the finish line with the help of a variety of customization options. But don’t just get to the finish line – drive with style! In addition to the customization options, each race awards players for stylish drifts, turbo boosts, and more.

Vikingard is a casual simulation mobile RPG inspired by the hit TV series Vikings. Players find themselves in the role of a tribal leader tasked with rebuilding their clan, which is on the verge of destruction. With dwindling prestige and the harsh Scandinavian winter closing in, your people look to you for leadership. Expand your territory, cultivate crops, preside over trials as their Jarl, and engage in fierce battles with warriors in true Viking fashion. Vikingard offers fully fleshed-out characters, an engaging storyline, and dynamic gameplay. Vikingard has recently commenced its third collaborative event with the highly praised "Vikings" series, which has garnered immense popularity among players worldwide.

Lost Light is a free-to-play survival shooter game for PC and mobile with 10M+ registered players, and once ranked in the top 30 trending new games in the Google Play Store.

Those looking for a sports game can download Dunk City Dynasty. A mobile game featuring NBA stars Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Jordan Clarkson, and more. Play against other players, team up with friends, and build your squad to rule the court. One-click team formation, innovative 11-point game modes, and dynasty mode are some options that make this an excellent mobile game for basketball fans.

Another interesting mash-up of different genres is the high-stakes espionage-themed game of hide & seek Mission Zero. A captivating blend of genres, Mission Zero combines elements of espionage and hide & seek gameplay. Players assume the role of hunter or spy, engaging in a thrilling game of cat & mouse. With unique abilities, nerve-wracking escapes, and an array of item-based tactics, players must outwit their opponents. The game delivers an intense sense of tension as players navigate the dynamics of pursuit and evasion, creating an immersive experience of psychological warfare and strategic deception.

Ashfall is being billed as the first cross-platform (PC and mobile) post-apocalypse shooter MMORPG ever made. The world’s economy has deteriorated in a not-so-distant future, and a violent conflict between humankind and artificial intelligence has gripped this futuristic wasteland. Players will embark on an adventure into the broken world to pursue destiny.

Fans looking for a casual party game for mobile devices should check out Eggy Party, where you’ll compete against other players in creative and hilarious minigames. Players can customize their characters with different adorable outfits, emotes, and expressions to stand out from their peers while dodging giant eggs barreling down toward them or running through an obstacle course toward the finish line. The game also features a unique user-generated content feature that enables players to create their own maps and gameplay styles.

Badlanders is a survival looter shooter where you’ll face other survivors and scavenge for treasure in a post-apocalyptic world. While it may sound familiar, there’s a twist. In Badlanders, you must escape to keep your hard-earned loot before time runs out. Cash out, or get knocked out. Your fortunes can change in the blink of an eye.

Epic of Tia - Genesis Project was one of the most intriguing projects shared at the event. It is an open, robust, easy-to-use MMORPG creation platform for anyone to create their own game without boundaries or barriers. Automatic server creation, an all-in-one integrated editor and game client, assisted publishing, and the ability to be compensated for what you create, make this a potentially industry-shaping game.

Finally, NetEase Esports Center, a thrilling venture by NetEase Games, stands as one of their latest projects. This platform serves as a hub for all things related to NetEase's esports endeavors, including the latest updates on tournaments, events, and dynamic partnerships with esteemed esports organizations and game developers. Stay connected to the pulse of the esports world through this exciting platform, where you can witness the evolution of competitive gaming unfold before your eyes.

Whether you’re into survival horror, historical simulation, racing, or card collecting – the NetEase Connect 2023 Annual Product Launch event had a game for everyone.

Rewatch Now

On top of these announcements, the NetEase Connect event also had special guests, including Award-winning composers Hans Zimmer and Steve Mazzaro, known for their work on films like Iron Man, The Dark Knight Rises, and Inception.

The NetEase Connect 2023 Annual Product Launch Event streamed live on May 20th on YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, Facebook, and Taptap. However, you can catch the replay HERE. We’ll be there to bring you all the future game updates and announcements with more in depth breakdowns as they continue to come out. If you download one of the games listed online, maybe we’ll see you soon!

On April 14th, developer I Got Games launched their first-ever Viking-themed simulation game, Viking Rise. With this title, studio IGG seeks to fill a unique gap they believe is missing in the mobile simulation gaming market. They've secured Korean star Ma Dong-seok as their official spokesman in Korea. They’ve also teamed up with two-time Emmy Award-winning composer Trevor Morris, who fans may recognize for his work on the hit TV series Vikings.

Viking Rise is an online multiplayer, real-time strategy game with free construction elements inspired by Viking culture and Norse mythology. The game utilizes 3D modeling and new graphic rendering techniques to combine lifelike characters with more stylized backdrops, creating a contrasting aesthetic that adds to the game’s visual style. Fans of shows like Vikings, movies like The Northman, and real-time strategy simulation games like the Civilization series will feel right at home as they fulfill their Nordic fantasy.

A Life Worthy of a Viking

Players will take on the role of a Jarl, a Viking leader in command of a tribe trying to find their place in the new world of Midgard. With the help of advisers, players can explore, hunt, loot, and fight to achieve success. The new world of Midgard offers the opportunity for fame, power, and riches, along with danger and threats from both the physical and mystic worlds. Players must conquer land and sea, with Naval Combat significantly impacting how your Viking can approach and overtake competitors. Players will helm a “Drakkar Ship” that facilitates travel across the circular, winding water routes.

In Viking Rise, players can summon heroes from Norse mythology and Viking history to join their fight. As Jarl, you must decide what kind of tribe you will lead. Will you develop your people into a commercial trade center bustling with bartering and resources? Or will you build a mighty military fortress unlike anything the world has ever seen and rule by force? Players must stay vigilant for day cycles and changing seasons as they manage their growing tribe in traditional city-management-style gameplay. Different seasons and weather changes will bring their unique challenges to overcome. This will help keep the game interesting as players navigate these changes.

A Joint Effort

Viking Rise is a Nordic-themed online multiplayer game, meaning that it has to play into the strategy of anyone hoping to thrive in Midgard. Forming the right alliances may prove crucial when assistance is needed to protect one’s tribe from invasion by other players. Viking Rise offers plenty to get lost in, with opportunity and danger around every corner. Multiplayer boss dungeons and a game mode that developer I Got Games has coined Divine Realms add another layer to the experience. In this mode, players must strategize with allies to control the battlefield, defend against hostile rival alliances, and win the day.

Trevor Morris brings his expertise and knowledge of traditional Nordic instruments to help create the official theme song for Viking Rise. Fans of Nordic music & grand Norwegian scores can find the track on major music streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music.

Viking Rise is available now for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Jarls looking for other Viking lords to connect with can do so on the game’s official Discord or Facebook page. For those who choose to answer the call, may your reign be glorious; Valhalla is Calling!

To celebrate the upcoming release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales will be swinging into Fortnite on May 23.

Epic Games shared a short video announcing the update on Fortnite's official Twitter account. The teaser shows Morales' Spider-Man bursting through a skyscraper and swinging out of sight. Miguel O'Hara/Spider-Man 2099 then steps forward and peers out of the smashed window.

It’s Miles!! And he brought… a friend?

Spider-Senses say you’ll want to stick around for tomorrow’s update! pic.twitter.com/O8vMSTipg3

— Fortnite (@FortniteGame) May 22, 2023

The two new character skins will arrive in Fortnite with the next update. They will be available to purchase from the in-game item store, giving players a chance to pick them up and swing into action before the hotly anticipated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse arrives in theaters.

Miguel showed up in a post-credits scene for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The latest trailer for the sequel gave us a better look at the character, who appears to have assumed the role of the movie's central antagonist, as hundreds of Spideys join the fight against him.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse releases in theaters on June 2 and will reportedly clock in as the longest animated film ever from a major Hollywood studio. The movie is also looking to "wow" audiences with six major art styles, including one from Spider-Man 2099's Nueva York.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

The first three hours of Final Fantasy XVI made me feel emotionally involved in the eventful life of protagonist Clive. In the beginning of the game, the player experiences Clive’s past through a lengthy playable flashback. Clive’s younger brother Joshua, a girl named Jill, and wolf puppy named Torgal each make appearances during this early part of the game.

As previous trailers have shown, during this period in the young Clive’s life, Joshua is killed in front of his eyes, prompting Clive to devote the rest of his life to revenge. He is also separated from Jill and Torgal.

What happens to Clive after the death of Joshua and how he reunites with Jill and Torgal are best experienced when you play the game for yourself, so I won’t go into further detail, but let’s just say that it all reminded me of classic RPG Dragon Quest V.

Regarded as one of the best RPGs of all time – especially in Japan – Dragon Quest V is remembered for its emotional scenario. You start the game as a 6-year-old boy who is introduced to his childhood friend Bianca, and they save a Saber cat together. Then, the protagonist loses someone very dear to him and is separated from Bianca and the Saber cat, only to reunite with them seven years later.

I asked the development team about this similarity during an exclusive interview at Square Enix’s Tokyo office.

“Yes, I think I may have been influenced by it in some way,” Creative Director and Scenario Writer Kazutoyo Maehiro admits with a chuckle.

“In Dragon Quest V, you start out as a kid and travel with your father Pankraz and reunite with Bianca,” explains Maehiro. “You’re turned to stone at some point and eventually even have kids. In how it depicts the entire life of its protagonist, I think that Dragon Quest V’s scenario and game design are a complete package. Of course I’m a fan myself, so I think I’ve been influenced by it.”

That doesn’t mean that Final Fantasy XVI is a direct reinterpretation of Dragon Quest V. The world is darker, and Clive’s journey seems to tackle more adult themes. Experiencing childhood tragedies and dealing with them later in life is a universal theme, and obviously not something that originated with Dragon Quest V.

“Upon depicting Clive’s journey through life, we needed to know his goals and motives,” says Producer Naoki Yoshida. “He is not the type who originally wants to save the world. That’s how I think we naturally came to this story.”

Depicting the growth of a character from youth to adulthood is something commonly seen in novels and movies, but rare for a game. In that sense, Final Fantasy XVI should be on the radar for any player who holds fond memories of Dragon Quest V’s engaging story.

Final Fantasy XVI releases on June 22 for PlayStation 5. For more on Final Fantasy XVI, check out how the development team were inspired by FromSoftware’s games, why Chocobos are referred to as horses in the Japanese version, and the reason the development team chose not to include mini-games.

Esra Krabbe is an editor at IGN Japan. Together with Skies of Arcadia and Suikoden II, Dragon Quest V is his favorite RPG.

HoYoverse released Genshin Impact in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly three years ago, and it has become a major hit in the gaming industry. This free-to-play anime RPG from China allows players to explore the vast world of Teyvat as a traveler separated from their twin in another world and interact with — as well as play as — a wide variety of characters whose combat moves are based on elements, like earth, wind, fire, water, and electricity.

Although the story is about a traveler (male or female, depending on your choice) working to find their sibling, Genshin Impact becomes more about exploring the seven nations of Teyvat, learning of their cultures and customs, and fighting the monsters that reside in those nations and less about the eventual family reunion. This game has won numerous awards (including Player’s Voice at The Game Awards 2022) and spawned loads of fan art and animations.

But for those who want to take a break from Genshin Impact and play something similar, here are 10 games you can check out.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Breath of the Wild is the one Zelda game that kicked off a generation of open-world games outside the series that were inspired by its gameplay mechanics and/or art style, and Genshin Impact draws plenty of inspiration from it. Link wakes up after a century of slumber with no memory of anything that happened to him, and is tasked with saving Princess Zelda and stopping Calamity Ganon from destroying Hyrule and the world.

Nintendo gave players permission to complete the game’s story in a nonlinear fashion, giving them ample room to explore the vast landscape on the ground and in the air and experiment with various gameplay elements.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

In Ubisoft’s interpretation of Greek mythology, Typhon has escaped from his imprisonment in the underworld and robbed the Olympian gods of their powers and essences, causing Zeus to flee to Prometheus, who he chained to the mountain as punishment, for help to defeat him. Prometheus makes a deal with Zeus that if a mortal can beat Typhon, he will be freed from his imprisonment, thus he tells the story of Fenyx, a mortal who must stop Typhon after escaping the underworld in order to save their brother.

Fenyx gains the powers of the gods as the game progresses, such as Ares’ Wrath, and can upgrade their weapons. The one gameplay element that makes Immortals Fenyx Rising stand out from Genshin Impact is the player’s ability to change Fenyx’s gender (Fenyx is female by default), voice, and appearance. Genshin only allows you to choose characters of different genders. Aside from that, players need to monitor their stamina during combat so that they don’t get exhausted after repeated attacks.

Sonic Frontiers

You might think that Sonic Frontiers is leagues apart from Genshin Impact, but the lovable blue hedgehog’s latest outing couldn’t be any more different. Sonic and his friends get sucked into Cyber Space via a wormhole en route to Starfall Islands, and he manages to escape while they’re stuck in the digital world, hence why they appear to Sonic in pixelated form when he rescues them.

Frontiers is similar to Genshin Impact in that Sonic has the stamina gauge next to him every time he boosts or goes underwater, is able to climb up structures, has a skill tree, and experiences the day-cycle, and has a navigation system that leads him the desired destination. Not to mention that the puzzles and challenges he completes reveal more locations.

Final Fantasy 14

Final Fantasy 14 takes place five years after the events of the original 2010 game, which was a critical and commercial failure for Square Enix. The gods bless the player character to time travel five years into the future in order to escape the destruction of Eorzea caused by the primal dragon Bahamut, and must face the threat of invasion from the Garlean Empire as they are working to rebuild the land.

Unlike Genshin Impact, FF14 is an MMORPG where players interact with each other but still allows them a great deal of open-world exploration. However, the one thing the game has in common with Genshin is that it has a games-as-a-service model that contains gacha items for people to spend real money on if in-game currency doesn’t cover it. FF14 has also received four expansions in the last 10 years: Heavensward (2015), Stormblood (2017), Shadowbringers (2019), and Endwalker (2021).

Persona 5

Developed by Atlus, Persona 5 centers on a high school student under the pseudonym Joker who, after transferring to a new school after being falsely accused of assault and placed on probation, manifests a Persona along with some other students, prompting them to become vigilantes known as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. They dive into a supernatural realm created by humanity’s subconscious desires called the Metaverse and steal malicious intent from the hearts of adults.

Persona 5 allows players to go into dungeons within the Metaverse called Palaces, formed by the hearts of corrupted adults that represent their distorted perception of a real-world location, to fight them and their shadows (which are their true selves). Outside of that, they get to perform part-time jobs and fulfill requests from NPCs.

Tchia

Tchia is set in a fictional archipelago heavily inspired by the Pacific Island nation of New Caledonia, where the titular 12-year-old heroine goes on a mission to rescue her father after he gets kidnapped by a tyrant and his army of paper warriors. Tchia explores her island home by sea (in her raft), by air (with a glider she builds herself), and by ground. She also gains a unique ability called soul-jumping, which allows her to possess and assume control of animals and inanimate objects in order to perform certain tasks, such as a dog or a coconut, to travel to new areas, solve puzzles, and defend herself against enemies.

The characters speak entirely in French and Drehu, two languages that are dominant in New Caledonia. Soul-jumping is also inspired by New Caledonia’s folklore around shapeshifting.

Honkai Impact 3rd

Honkai Impact 3rd is HoYoverse’s sci-fi version of Genshin Impact that takes place 50,000 years in the future in an alternate version of Earth that has been plagued by catastrophes caused by Honkai, a powerful entity that corrupts humans and endows certain people called Herrschers with god-like powers to cause an apocalypse every time a civilization gets too advanced. Three Global factions were made to combat or take advantage of the Honkai: Schicksal, which deploys Valkyries; Anti-Entropy, which uses human soldiers instead of mechas; and World Serpent, which has been manipulating events since the end of the previous civilization.

Honkai Impact 3rd incorporates multifarious genres, including bullet hell, platforming, shoot ‘em up, and dungeon crawling in conjunction with gacha mechanics that offer new weapons and characters. It also hosts limited-time seasonal events that offer gameplay elements not seen in normal gameplay modes.

Honkai: Star Rail, the sequel to Honkai Impact 3rd which takes place in space, is available now on iOS, Android, and PC via Epic Games Store.

Tales of Arise

The 17th entry in the Tales series, Tales of Arise revolves around a Dahnan slave named Alphen, a slave with no memories of his past, and Shionne, a Renan girl with a curse that makes thorns erupt from her body if anyone touches her, as they form a bond during their journey to end the Renans’ oppression of the Dahnan people.

This game has no multiplayer like its predecessors, but most of its gameplay emphasizes evasion, countering, and other character interactions in combat.

Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

Set hundreds of years after the events of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom revolves around a young Grimalkin (part-human, part-cat) named Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum, who gets deposed on his coronation day in a coup following the untimely death of his father. He sets out on a journey to build his own kingdom and unite all the world’s nations.

Players can freely explore the open world of Ni no Kuni 2, but they have to complete quests in a linear fashion to move the story forward. In battle, players can switch between three other characters at any time. There is some world-building involved, as they have to manage the workforces within the town to provide materials for weapons and armor in the shops.

Xenoblade Chronicles X

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a Wii U-exclusive Xenoblade title that takes places on the planet of Mira, where some of humanity flees to following the destruction of Earth by alien warfare. The player character, who suffers from amnesia after being rescued from their escape pod, becomes a member of BLADE and joins the mission to defend their new world against the Ganglion coalition — and explores their environment walking in their mechs.

Players can customize their character’s gender, voice, build and facial features at any point in the game. Just like Mondstadt serves as the hub world of Genshin Impact, New Los Angeles serves as the hub world for Xenoblade Chronicles X. Completing quests, most of which are divided into story quests, grants players experience points, elevating their stats and class.

Cristina Alexander is a freelance writer for IGN. To paraphrase Calvin Harris, she wears her love for Sonic the Hedgehog on her sleeve like a big deal. Follow her on Twitter @SonicPrincess15.

The Apple iPhone is indisputably the most popular smartphone on the market right now, and for good reason. It boasts unparalleled build quality, a gorgeous Retina display, the most powerful processor, the best smartphone camera, an easy-to-use OS, the largest selection of apps, compatibility with other equally well-engineered products like the AirPods and Apple Watches and more. The only downside really is that the newest generation Apple iPhone doesn't come cheap. It costs as much as or more than flagship smartphones from other brands. There are actually many ways to get an iPhone at a much lower price than MSRP, but most of it involves signing up for or extending a contract. There are, however, a few deals that come around once in while that allow you to get an iPhone without a plan.

The Best iPhone Deals Without a Contract

Apple iPhone 14 Plus 512GB for $819.99

Factory Reconditioned

Woot has the factory reconditioned Apple iPhone 14 Plus 512GB smartphone for only $819.99. That's a pretty massive price drop from its $1199 retail price (for the 512GB model). If you've been shopping around for iPhones, you're probably well aware of the fact that it is extremely hard to find a discount on the newest generation iPhone without signing up for or extending a contract. This deal is the next best thing. Although it is factory recondition and only comes with a 90-day Woot warranty, Woot states that "These units are in PRISTINE condition. They have NO visible scratches or blemishes and appear practically brand new! They also come with a minimum battery health of 95%."

Apple Store iPhone Deals

Get up to $630 off an iPhone 13 or 14 with Trade-In

Apple Store has its own trade-in program. The best thing about it is that you can get a brand new unlocked phone without having to sign up for a contract. You can get up to $630 in trade-in credit depending on your phone. Apple Store only accepts iPhone models and they have to be the iPhone 11 or newer.

Verizon Wireless iPhone Deals

Get up to $800 off an iPhone 14, Pro, or Pro Max with Trade-In

Verizon Wireless is offering up to $800 off an Apple iPhone 14, 14 Pro, or 14 Pro Max when you trade in an eligible smartphone within 30 days of your purchase. You will need to sign up for a new 5G Unlimited plan. If you're already a Verizon customer and you just want to upgrade an existing line, then you'll get up to $440 back with your trade-in. You will get your trade-in value in the form of bill credits over 36 months.

Get up to $200 off an iPad and/or $120 off an Apple Watch

This deal can be used in conjunction with the deal above it. If you buy an Apple iPhone with a 5G Unlimited plan and an iPad with any plan, then you'll get up to $200 in promo credit over 36 months. Likewise if you buy an Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), 8, or Ultra with any plan, you'll get up to $120 in promo credit over 36 months. These two credits are stackable, so if you buy both an iPad and an Apple Watch (both with respective plans) at the same time as your iPhone purchase, you can get all three credits.

AT&T Wireless iPhone Deals

Get up to $1000 off an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max with Trade-In

AT&T Wireless is offering up to $1000 off an Apple iPhone 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max when you trade in an eligible smartphone within 30 days of your purchase. You will need to sign up for a qualifying 5G plan. You will get your trade-in value in the form of bill credits over 36 months. Depending on your phone, the trade-in value will either be $1000, $700, or $350.

T-Mobile Wireless iPhone Deals

Get up to $830 off any iPhone 13 or 14 with Trade-In

T-Mobile is offering up to $830 off any Apple iPhone 13 or 14 model when you trade in an eligible smartphone within 30 days of your purchase. You will need to sign up for a Go5G Plus plan. You will get your trade-in value in the form of bill credits over 24 months. That's better than the 36 months payout from Verizon and AT&T. T-Mobile offers the most generous trade-in values as well. You could trade in an Apple iPhone 7, 8, X, SE (2nd Gen) as well as some other older phones and still get the full $830 credit.

Get a Free Apple Watch SE

This deal can be used in conjunction with the deal above it. If you buy an Apple iPhone and an Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) 40mm watch with a Digits Apple Watch Plus line, you'll get the watch free. Alternatively you can get the 44mm model for $30. The credits will be paid out as a $99 prepaid MasterCard and $200.99 in bill credits over 24 months.

Buy One iPhone 13 or 14, Get a Second for up to $700 Off

Buy one Apple iPhone 13 or 14 phone and get up to $700 off a second iPhone 13 or 14 phone. You'll need to activate at least two new qualifying lines (or at least one line for existing customers). Bill credits are paid out over 24 months.

Differences Between the Newest iPhone 14 Models:

There are five current-gen Apple iPhone models: the iPhone SE (3rd Gen), iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Here's a quick roundup of the differences.

Apple iPhone SE (3rd Gen)

The iPhone SE is a compact phone that easily fits in most pockets. It features a smaller 4.7" Retina HD display that's powered by an A15 Bionic chip, the same CPU found in the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. It has a simpler single rear camera system consisting of a 12MP main lens.

Apple iPhone 14

This is the most basic of the iPhone 14 models but still a serious upgrade from the iPhone SE. The iPhone 14 boasts a 6.1" Super Retina XDR display and is powered by the A15 Bionic chip. It features a dual rear camera system in the form a 12MP main lens and a second ultra-wide lens.

Apple iPhone 14 Plus

The Apple iPhone 14 Plus is almost identical to the iPhone 14 in specs, except for the larger 6.7" display and hence the bigger footprint. On a plus note that also means the battery life is a bit longer since the extra space affords a larger battery.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro features a higher resolution and brighter 6.1" Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology and the coveted Always-On feature. In addition, the CPU has been upgraded to an A16 Bionic chip. The biggest upgrade, however, is the triple rear camera system. It boasts a significantly enhanced 48MP main lens as well as a second ultra-wide lens and a third telephoto lens.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

Like the 14 Plus is to the 14, the Pro Max is to the Pro. The specs are nearly identical, however the 14 Pro Max has been upgraded with an even larger 6.7" display.

More Apple Deals

• The Best iPad Deals
• The Best AirPods Deals
• The Best Apple Watch Deals

Epic announced it has launched a rewards program for its PC storefront called Epic Rewards. Users can earn 5% back in rewards for every eligible purchase they make on the Epic Games Store starting today.

All Epic Games account holders are automatically enrolled into the program when they make a purchase. Any games, applications, DLC, and virtual currency, including V-Bucks, will count towards the 5% Epic Rewards. However, the rewards won’t be added immediately to users’ reward balance, but 14 days after the associated purchase is completed.

Certain subscriptions are also eligible to earn reward points. In order to activate that aspect, users need to accept the latest version of the Epic Games Store End User License Agreement by going into their Account Settings and clicking on the Subscriptions tab.

Reward points can be combined with other discounts and coupons, but be aware that they will eventually expire. They will expire in 25 months from the date they were placed in your balance.

The Epic Games Store has been rolling out new features for its platform, including most recently self-publishing tools that allow game developers and publishers to release their games on the storefront. Over the past several years, it has implemented an achievement system and also shopping carts.

George Yang is a freelance writer for IGN. He's been writing about the industry since 2019 and has worked with other publications such as Insider, Kotaku, NPR, and Variety.

When not writing about video games, George is playing video games. What a surprise! You can follow him on Twitter @Yinyangfooey

Bossa Games, developer of I Am Bread, I Am Fish, and Surgeon Simulator, has announced its next game. It’s called Lost Skies, and in many ways, it’s a significant departure from Bossa’s previous humorous sandbox efforts.

Lost Skies is an upcoming open-world, co-op adventure where up to six players work together to explore a world composed of floating islands, build flying ships, and take on gigantic monsters. It’s planned for a PC launch in 2024, but will enter what Bossa calls “open development” later this year, allowing the community to access and test vertical slices and offer feedback to shape Lost Skies’ development.

Expecting the Unexpected

According to Bossa Games CEO Henrique Olifiers, Lost Skies is able to be played single player as well as co-op, and single player play is in fact incentivized at times to assist the overall cooperative efforts of a group. He tells us that combat includes two components. One is “ground” combat, where “ground” is used a bit loosely because, per Olifiers, everyone will be hook-shotting around “Spider-Man-style” in very vertical spaces. The other is ship combat, with customizable flying ships built to tackle much larger creatures that serve as both enemies and puzzles.

While he’s not willing to share too many deep details about gameplay just yet, Olifiers described the two “drivers” of gameplay as surviving the world, and fighting these massive “guardian” creatures with friends, one in each of Lost Skies’ regions. With those two drivers, Olifiers adds that he wants players to feel a sense of freedom - similar to the freedom of Bossa's previous smaller sandboxes - that they are “always looking at something on the horizon” that sparks curiosity and strategy. He wants players to feel they can do anything they can imagine.

“I have this saying that ‘A good game is when something that you didn't expect took place,’ ” he says. “The fondest memories I have of multiplayer games was when in Ultima I was standing there when someone exploited the [fire field] bug to kill Lord British in the game, or when I go into raids in World of Warcraft, and my friends ask, ‘Who's got the potions?’ and we look at each other: ‘What potions?’ That's what we go to the pub later to talk about. So we want to create those in Lost Skies. Every hour one of those [experiences] happens, and the only way for us to craft that is to give players the means to play in the way they want.”

When we spoke with Olifiers ahead of Lost Skies’ announcement, we asked why the studio was going in such a grander, more adventurous direction after years of games where you play as a slice of bread trying to make its way to a toaster through a room full of hazards. Olifiers acknowledged that Lost Skies was a shift in “form and theme” from previous Bossa games, and said the studio’s reasoning came out of its long-standing development process of constantly doing internal game jams.

According to Olifiers, every Bossa game is made out of a game jam, and the studio has dozens of internal prototypes that never see the light of day. But, he continues, this means that all of Bossa’s games historically have been started from scratch: because they’re not building on the foundation of something else, development takes a lot of time.

So Bossa Games wants to focus, and through discussion the team found that many of its members were excited by co-op survival games and building such as Valheim, Project Zomboid, and 7 Days to Die. In focusing on that space and game jamming in it very specifically for a time, Bossa came up with Lost Skies.

Returning to Worlds Adrift

Notably, Lost Skies is meant to take place in the same universe as its previously shuttered MMO, Worlds Adrift. Worlds Adrift entered early access in 2017, but was discontinued two years later due to the game no longer being commercially viable. We asked Olifiers why Bossa was revisiting that universe despite the struggles its first endeavor had.

“We tried well to put to good use all the hindsight that we had with Worlds Adrift,” he says. “What worked, and what didn't work, and to create a brand new game in that universe that so many people fell in love with and we never could fully realize…Hindsight is super useful. You have the advantage of going back and doing something again, but, with that experience, it's like riding a bicycle. You never ride a bicycle well the first time you do it.”

One way Bossa is working to ensure the success of Lost Skies is by releasing it early in “open development.” Olifiers says that currently Bossa has a group of a few hundred community members with full access to game builds who are giving feedback and actively discussing with Bossa devs what they want to see from Lost Skies. The plan is to slowly grow this community over time.

While this might seem like a risky strategy, Olifiers says it’s one Bossa has a lot of experience with in its past games. It has a website, Bossa Presents, where it shows off “weird and wonderful prototypes” for community feedback, and Olifiers says I Am Fish specifically was the result of a game jam prototype that community members fell in love with.

“I remember we were watching videos of people doing things in Surgeon Simulator that we never thought possible, and then going back to the game, updating it, and putting achievements if someone else did that,” he says. “So, this kind of positive feedback loop is what we are trying to do on Lost Skies from day one.”

Lost Skies is currently in development for a full PC release sometime in 2024, and Olifiers says Bossa is still considering a potential console release. And there are big plans long-term, too. Bossa has a “huge post-launch roadmap” in mind for long-term Lost Skies support, in hopes the game will sustain them for years to come.

“It's meant to be our bread and butter, going forward, right?” Olifiers says. “Our life.”

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.

Pokémon GO developer Niantic has responded to fan criticism over the changes made to remote raids in March while announcing a brand new feature called Shadow Raids.

Speaking to IGN, Pokémon GO producer John Funtanilla said Shadow Raids — a Team Rocket takeover of normal raids that let players catch Shadow Pokémon including Shadow Mewtwo — are a reinforced commitment of Niantic to get players outside similar to its changes to Remote Raids.

The developer announced in March that it would limit players to a maximum of five Remote Raids per day and also raise the price of Remote Raid Passes. The community criticised the decision for its impact on Pokémon GO's accessibility and boycotted the store, resulting in the game falling out of the top ten mobile gaming spending charts for the first time since April 2022 according to Circana (previously NPD).

A tough decision.

This decision wasn't easy for Niantic to make according to director of Pokémon GO live game Michael Steranka, who said the Remote Raid changes were made to stop players abusing the system and stepping away from the core message of going outside with friends.

"The changes that we made to Remote Raid Passes, this is an incredibly difficult decision to make and not one that we took lightly," said Steranka. "Personally speaking, I would wager to say that I used to do more remote raids than 99% [IGN] readers, that's something that was a deeply embedded in my daily gameplay in Pokémon GO.

"But ultimately, as the years sort of went on, what we noticed is that the sort of uncapped experience of Remote Raid Passes led to a really unhealthy play behaviour for a lot of our players in Pokémon GO. You would see players using dozens, sometimes hundreds of Remote Raid Passes in a single day. And that's really not the experience we ever intended the game to be.

"So we did have to take action on that and we knew that it was going to be an incredibly unpopular [decision], and it's a tough pill even for myself to swallow."

Having unlimited access to Remote Raids in Pokémon GO would essentially let players spend money to grind Raids and obtain the best possible Pokémon. Especially after introducing player versus player battles, this would offer an unfair advantage to those with unlimited money without ever leaving their homes.

Responding with actions, not words.

Steranka added that Niantic didn't respond to complaints caused by the changes until now when it had something to show. "We're really hopeful that actions speak louder than words here," he said.

"As players will see over the coming months, yes we are trying to pivot away from more of that remote playing experience, but that's because we're going to be introducing a lot of new and fun ways to engage with the game that we feel really confident that player's going to enjoy."

Funtanilla added that Niantic cares just as much about Pokémon GO as its players. "We're a team of incredibly passionate players ourselves, and I think that's something that sometimes may get lost in translation," he said.

"We're constantly playing the game when we're off to maybe a company offsite, things like that. We're battling each other, we're trading, we're a group of people that is very similar to our player base, and we're really hoping that that shows with the new features that we put out."

Shadow Raids.

Shadow Raids will be the first of these new features, and will initially run for one week from May 22 to May 29. Tier 1 to Tier 3 Pokémon will be available from Monday to Friday, while stronger Pokémon, headlined by Shadow Mewtwo (including its shiny form), will be available at the weekend.

Team Rocket members will also begin dropping Shadow Shards that can be converted to Purified Gems that can be used in battle. Tier 3 and Tier 5 Shadow Raid Pokémon will enter a special enraged form during battle that boosts their attack and defense, and players will need to throw Purified Gems at the Pokémon to subdue them and return them to normal.

Niantic didn't say exactly Shadow Raids would return after their debut week, but Steranka said they'll definitely be a mainstay of the game moving forward. "Anytime we build a new feature in Pokémon GO, we typically don't want them to be just sort of a one and done experience," said Steranka. "You can expect Shadow Raids to get incorporated into your daily activities in the game after launch."

As for what comes next Steranka couldn't say much, but did promise that fans will hear more about them very soon. "In my opinion, 2023 is our most ambitious year yet when it comes to feature development and Shadow Raids are the tip of the iceberg there," he said.

"We're really excited to share with players over the coming months up until the end of the year a lot of really incredible new features that we've been building that are going to fundamentally change the gameplay in Pokémon GO in new and exciting ways."

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer and acting UK news editor. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.

One of the advantages of owning an Android smartphone or tablet is a larger selection of mobile games available—compared to the Apple iPhone. Google isn’t as restrictive as Apple with the types of apps and games that you can download, so you’ll always have a wider range of gaming experiences.

However, there are millions upon millions of apps available to play on the Google Play Store, so it may be intimidating to find a good place to start. That’s where we come in.

Jump to:

• Most Popular Free iPhone Games
• Most Popular Paid iPhone Games

We rounded up the top 10 free and the top 10 paid games (20 in total) for your Android mobile device. So whether you like simple, yet challenging puzzle games, in-depth strategy MMO (massive multiplayer online) games, or just looking for something fun to play every once and a while, you’ll find a great selection of games worth playing, below:

TL;DR – These are the most popular Android games

Free Android Games

• Monopoly Go! (Free)
• 2248 - Number Puzzle Game (Free)
• Roblox (Free)
• Royal Match (Free)
• Attack Hole - Black Hole Games (Free)
• Hide and Go Seek: Monster Hunt (Free)
• Camo Sniper (Free)
• Block Blast Adventure Master (Free)
• Honkai: Star Rail (Free)
• Cooking Craze: Restaurant Game (Free)

Paid Android Games

• Minecraft ($7)
• Bloons TD 6 ($7)
• Monopoly - Classic Board Game ($4)
• SpongeBob SquarePants Battle for Bikini Bottom ($1, $10)
• Incredibox ($5)
• Garten of Banban 2 ($3)
• Stardew Valley ($5)
• Brotato: Premium ($5)
• Papers, Please ($5)
• Terraria ($5)

Most Popular Free Games

1. Monopoly Go!

Monopoly Go! is one of the most popular games on Android for a few reasons, it’s a classic that’s easy to play, quick to learn, and just flat out fun. This is the “Go!” version of the board game, which is faster-paced and more ruthless—instead of just bankrupting your opponents, you also have to destroy their properties in this take-no-prisoners mobile game.

2. 2248 - Number Puzzle Game

The app 2248 - Number Puzzle Game is easy to pick up and learn, but difficult to master. This is a swipe-and-match puzzle game where you match and merge identical numbers to clear a level.

For example: If you match four blocks of the number two, then four blocks merge into one number eight block, and then you try to match that with other number eight blocks around it, and so on and so on in sequence. The more you match and merge, then the more you can clear levels.

3. Roblox

Roblox is the ultimate online community! This is an app that combines games and social media where you can create your own games and experiences, discover other player-created games, and build just about anything they can imagine. It’s also a virtual space where you can meet and chat with others.

4. Royal Match

Save the kingdom! Royal Match is a match-three puzzle game where you match royal items to clear levels to save King Robert. Once you clear a level, you get coins to upgrade, decorate, and rebuild your kingdom.

5. Attack Hole - Black Hole Games

The object in Attack Hole is to move a black hole to swallow as many bullets, shotgun shells, grenades, guns, and more weapons down within 20 seconds. The faster you swallow, the bigger the hole gets to suck up more and more. Between each level, you have to use the ammo and weapons you collected to take down the big boss. If you take him down, you get more points and coins for upgrades and extended time to clear the next level.

6. Hide and Go Seek: Monster Hunt

Hide and Go Seek: Monster Hunt is a simple game of hide-and-seek with a group of friends, only you’re placed into a room and then transformed into an item that belongs to that specific room—like a roll of toilet paper in a bathroom. The object of the game is to stay hidden in plain sight, as a large orange monster tries to find and eat you.

7. Camo Sniper

The enemy is elusive and clever, so if you want to be the best, you have to track ‘em down and shoot ‘em. Camo Sniper is a first-person shooter game where you survey the land looking for enemy soldiers through a sniper scope. However, soldiers are designed to seamlessly blend into the background. You have to have a keen eye and steady trigger finger to win this game.

8. Block Blast Adventure Master

Block Blast Adventure Master is a puzzle game that’s a mix between a traditional block game and a grid game. Just place the blocks in the square to create a solid line. Once a line is created, it disappears to make room for more blocks. Think of it as a drag-and-drop version of Tetris without the falling blocks.

9. Honkai: Star Rail

From game developer HoYoverse, Honkai: Star Rail is a space fantasy turn-based RPG (role-playing game) that features a journey across the galaxy aboard the Astral Express, as you travel to distant planets and meet new companions to stop the evil and corrupting “Fragmentum.”

10. Cooking Craze: Restaurant Game

Travel the world through the meals you prep, cook, and serve in Cooking Craze: Restaurant Game for Android. This is a restaurant game where you grow in the kitchen ranks as a professional chef. Make burgers in New York City, fancy pastries in Paris, grill up some savory meat treats in Rio, as you try to keep your guests happy to build your business and upgrade your kitchen.

Most Popular Paid Games

1. Minecraft ($7)

At $7, Minecraft is where you can explore anywhere and build anything in an open sandbox game. Your journey and experience are all up to you! You can use blocks, items, and other materials to build your home or your village, while you can also craft weapons to defend your home or hunt animals to eat or farm. The game is only limited to your imagination.

2. Bloons TD 6 ($7)

Defend your home from invading “Bloons” in Bloons TD 6 for $7. You can use an army of hero monkeys, structures, towers, bridges, and other devices to prevent balloon-like “Bloons” from traveling from one side of the map to the other. The more Bloons you pop, the more coins you make for upgrades, extra lives, and more.

3. Monopoly - Classic Board Game ($4)

Play the classic board game Monopoly on your Android smartphone or tablet for $4. You can play as the classic game tokens—such as the car, top hat, battleship, and others—as you travel around the board buying up properties, building houses and hotels, and collecting rent via Monopoly Money. The object of the game is to bankrupt everyone, so you’re the sole winner with most of the money and properties.

4. SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom (on sale for $1 $10)

On sale for $1 (was $10), SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom is a madcap platform video game adventure where you play as SpongeBob, Patrick, or Sandy as you try to save Bikini Bottom from all sorts of killer robots.

5. Incredibox ($5)

From French game developers So Far So Good, Incredibox—which goes for $5 on the Google Play Store—is an app that’s a mix between a music app and a gaming app where you can make your own music. Just drag-and-drop the beats, effects, melodies, and even voices to create a bouncy hip-hop track with impressive and fresh visuals and animations.

6. Garten of Banban 2 ($3)

At $3, Garten of Banban 2 is a survival horror game that takes place in an underground facility under Banban’s Kindergarten classroom. You’re tasked with finding the truth behind the suspiciously empty space, while trying to survive and discover its hidden mysteries.

7. Stardew Valley ($5)

With more than 50 hours of gameplay, Stardew Valley—which is priced at $5—is a farm simulation game that has elements of open-world role-playing. Set in Pelican Town, you inherit a small house and a plot of land from your grandfather. You’re then tasked with clearing the land to grow a farm that’s full of all sorts of livestock and crops. Once you’re ready to harvest, you sell your goods to expand your farm and business with more upgrades, animals, and crops.

8. Brotato: Premium ($5)

Armed with up to six weapons at the same, Brotato: Premium is a top-down arena shooter where you play as a badass potato who fights off waves of aliens. The object of the game is to stave off threats until your platoon rescues you from an alien world, while you create and build unique weapons to survive. Not bad for $5.

9. Papers, Please ($5)

At $5, Papers, Please is a puzzle simulation game and takes place in a border town called Grestin after a six-year long war between two fictional European countries, the Communist Arstotzka and neighboring Kolechia. Think of it as East Germany and West Germany post-World War II.

You play as an immigration officer in charge of people entering the Arstotzkan side from Kolechia, while you must check and stop hidden smugglers, spies, and terrorists from entering using only documents and fingerprints at the border.

10. Terraria ($5)

Terraria—which goes for $5 on the Google Play Store—is a 2D action-adventure sandbox game where you can dig, fight, explore, mine, survive, and build your very own world. It combines elements of platforming and exploration, while it’s described as a mix between Metroid and Minecraft.

What to Look for in Android Games

The Google Play Store is the primary place where Android users find and download games with nearly four million apps available. It may sound daunting to search for games, but Google’s most popular free and paid games lists are a good place to start. Here’s what to look for in Android games.

The first thing you should do is check to see if the mobile game you want to play is compatible with your Android device. Most apps in the Google Play Store require that your smartphone is running, at least, Android version 4.4 KitKat—which was released in October 2013. Older mobile devices might not be able to run most modern games.

You should also consider how much storage space is available on your device. While some games have small file sizes of only a few hundred megabytes, there are others that have very large file sizes of up to 20GB. Luckily, there are Android devices that are designed with an expansion card slot built-in. If you run out of space, you can always pop in a microSD card to add extra storage. But if your device doesn’t have an expansion slot, then you’ll have to delete a few apps, photos, or videos to free up some space or get a new smartphone with a larger capacity altogether.

Meanwhile, when it comes to price, the Google Play Store divides games into two categories: Free-to-play and paid. And while free-to-play sounds self-explanatory, it doesn’t mean these games are completely free. Free versions of games might have commercial breaks or some limitations to gameplay, while in-app purchases can upgrade or remove restrictions. For example: Cooking Craze: Restaurant Game includes in-app purchases for additional items and bundles, but purchases are not required to play this game.

Additionally, most paid games download to your Android device completely unlocked. But, it might also include in-app purchases for upgrades. For example: Monopoly has in-app purchases to unlock special editions of the game. There’s also a gaming subscription called Google Play Pass for Android users. Games available for the service include zero ads and in-app purchases, so you’re free to play without restrictions for $5/mo.

Finally, the most important thing about picking an Android game is if it’s fun to play. Whether you’re going to spend a few minutes or hours upon hours playing it on your smartphone or tablet, games have to look like a fun and immersive challenge to conquer.

Upcoming Android Games

Wondering what new games are coming down the pipeline on Android? See the biggest upcoming Android games for the latest.

Also see: the 20 most popular iPhone games right now.

Rudie Obias is a contributing freelance Tech writer and editor for IGN with a speciality in all things Apple products.

Blizzard's once-annual convention, BlizzCon, is returning to the Anaheim Convention Center for the first time in four years this November, the company announced today.

BlizzCon will take place November 3 and 4, with ticketing information and other details to come. Hotel blocks for the convention are currently available. As in past years, BlizzCon will include at least some digital elements, with past shows incorporating livestreamed panels and in-game rewards across various Blizzard properties.

BlizzCon has been in a bit of a limbo since the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down all major in-person gaming events. It returned briefly in February in 2021 as a fully digital showcase, but again went on hiatus until this year.

Previous BlizzCons have featured numerous panels, contests, musical guests, and an opening event including major announcements across Blizzard's major franchises. Past BlizzCons have hosted the announcement of games like Overwatch, Diablo 4, and multiple World of Warcraft expansions, as well as regular major updates for games like Hearthstone. Currently, Blizzard's active catalog includes Diablo 4 (launching June 6) and Diablo Immortal, Hearthstone, Overwatch 2, and World of Warcraft Retail and Classic, with an additional survival game in development.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.