Timmy & Tommy's Fun Day Out

$60 | August 1, 2026

See at Lego

Animal Crossing's Timmy and Tommy have been hard at work peddling their wares since 2001, when Dobutsu no Mori, the first Animal Crossing game, made its debut in Japan. Despite their admirable work ethic, the brothers deserve some time off--and that's just what they get in Lego's new Timmy & Tommy's Fun Day Out set, which is now available for preorder for $60 and comes out on August 1.

Lego Timmy & Tommy's Fun Day Out (513 pieces) $60 | August 1, 2026

You typically only see Timmy and Tommy in Nook's Crossing when you play an Animal Crossing game, but it's lovely to see them enjoying the idyllic towns you bring to life. This Lego set measures 7.5 inches high, nine inches wide, and 5.5 inches deep and depicts the brothers playing on the Red Zen Bridge from New Horizons, with fish swimming in the lake below, flowers dotting the grass on both sides, and a bit of cracked earth that reveals a buried fossil. There's also a familiar red balloon floating overhead with a present that contains a DIY recipe card, a movable butterfly, a fishing rod, and a flag, so you can use these accessories to customize the scene any way you want.

This set is ideal for builders 10 years of age and up and contains 513 pieces. You can use the Lego Builders app to guide you as you build, which will save your sets, help you keep track of your progress, and rotate the models so you can see them from all sides.

Preorder at Lego

This is the seventh set in Lego's current Animal Crossing series, and they're all just as cute as you might imagine. The previous six sets are all available at Lego and range in price from $10 to $90. However, it's worth noting that Lego no longer makes some of its original Animal Crossing sets, so if you want to collect them all, don't wait too long to pick them up.

Lego's Current Animal Crossing Sets

• Able Sisters' Clothing Shop (322 pieces) -- $40
• Blathers Museum Collection (543 pieces) -- $80
• Creative Houses: Seasons of Fun (814 pieces) -- $90
• Goldie's Cozy House (149 pieces) -- $23
• Leif's Caravan & Garden Shop (263 pieces) -- $30
• Stargazing With Celeste (78 pieces) -- $10

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The internet's reaction to Nintendo's surprise announcement of a new Star Fox game was, to put it charitably, mixed. The new game is actually in many ways an old game--a remake of Star Fox 64, with fully revamped graphics, new animated cutscenes with a more realistic style for Fox and his crew, and other bells and whistles. For those hoping for an all-new Star Fox game, it was a letdown. But take heart, Arwing aces: This appears to be part of a calculated strategy to finally make Fox McCloud the star (fox) he deserves to be.

Star Fox has never been the most popular of Nintendo's franchises, as compared to others like Mario or Zelda. Star Fox fans widely agree that Star Fox 64 is hands-down the best game of the series, which means it peaked almost 30 years ago. Since then, the series has often felt adrift, meandering between experiments like Star Fox Command and Star Fox Guard, remakes like Star Fox 64 3D, and quasi-remakes like Star Fox Zero.

Now, it seems, Nintendo has decided that Fox deserves better, and it's doing all it can to make him a household name. The clearest indication is his shoehorned cameo in The Super Mario Galaxy movie, which was virtually a commercial for Star Fox. After a stylish anime intro, the other characters just take a beat to openly talk about how awesome Fox is. Toad actually calls him the coolest guy he's ever met in his life. It's not subtle! The message is clear: Hey kids, this is Fox McCloud, and he rules.

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Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is aiming to be the ultimate celebration of the Dark Knight's lasting impact on pop culture, referencing everything from the classic movies to enduring memes from actor Michael Caine. Ahead of its release later this month, a new trailer for the game has gone live and has done what few pieces of Batman media have been brave enough to do--acknowledge the existence of the 1995 film Batman Forever and one of its official tie-in songs, Seal's Kiss from a Rose.

Set against the backdrop of the song--that won Seal the 1996 Song of the Year at the Grammys--the trailer shows off more of Bruce Wayne's journey and how he transforms into Gotham's legendary vigilante, Batman. The video also features several more characters, including Batman's allies Robin, Nightwing, Batgirl, Jim Gordon, Catwoman, and Talia al Ghul as they take on foes like The Joker, Poison Ivy, Mr. Freeze, Two-Face, Ra’s al Ghul, and Bane--and yes, that is Matt Berry voicing the infamous Venom-abusing supervillain.

Kiss from a Rose was one of several licensed tracks heard in Batman Forever, alongside other selections from the likes of U2, Massive Attack, and The Offspring. Those songs and more appeared on the Batman Forever: Music from the Motion Picture soundtrack CD, a collection of tracks more '90s than owning a Tamagotchi. As for Batman Forever, the movie did receive mixed reviews during its run at cinemas, but its combination of a new Batman under the cape and cowl--played by the late Val Kilmer--the introduction of Robin, and Jim Carrey hamming it up as the Riddler saw it make a handsome profit at the box office.

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Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 has officially been revealed by developers Cold Iron Studios and Daybreak Game Company, marking a return to a galaxy infested with perfect organisms. A direct sequel to the 2021 game, Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 is aiming for a Summer 2026 release, and it's headed to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S--possibly out of the walls.

While the core third-person PvE shooter gameplay has been retained for the sequel, one of the big changes is that your fireteam of Colonial Marines is expanding from three to four players. According to IGN, the game will feature full cross-play support, new Xenomorph types, and improvements to the player classes. Players can also fine-tune a Specialist class by mixing abilities to create a versatile Marine, and Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 will launch with a dedicated Horde mode.

The first Aliens: Fireteam Elite game received mostly positive reviews when it first launched, with critics praising it for its gung-ho action, well-polished multiplayer design, and the Challenge Card system that kept the experience consistently fresh and rewarding. Post-launch DLC would further expand on the game, adding new story beats and gameplay features that amplified the intensity of the experience.

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Two unique bits of hardware from the '80s are making a comeback, as the Commodore 64 and Spectrum are being remade as handhelds. Expected to launch later this year, the two handhelds come preloaded with 25 games and feature design elements inspired by their predecessors. There's also a microSD card slot, allowing you to load your own games onto the device. Preorders are now open, with both expected to begin shipping on October 15.

The Spectrum Handheld$130 | Releases October 15

With a simple black design, four remappable function buttons, a headphone jack, stereo speakers, and a 4.3-inch IPS display, this handheld offers everything you need to relive the classics. You'll even find a USB-A port to connect a keyboard, and the custom UI lets you quickly save and load your progress. If you get tired of the 25 preloaded games, a microSD slot lets you upload your own games to the device.

Battery life seems reasonable at around three hours on a full charge, and you can quickly get the device juiced up with the included USB-C cable.

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Xbox's Jason Ronald, who leads the team working on the Projext Helix next-generation PC/console hybrid device, has confirmed that more details about the machine will be revealed this year. He didn't say when exactly, but one possibility is the Xbox Games Showcase in June.

He confirmed this in response to people wondering if the Project Helix developer-focused event today, May 7, would include more news about the device. As Microsoft said when the event was announced on April 30, it will be a recap of the announcements from GDC and is focused on presenting this information to developers. Ronald is trying to manage expectations here by telling fans this is not a news event aimed at consumers.

In any event, if you want to watch, you can, as the Xbox Game Dev Update will be published on YouTube at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET. Ronald and Xbox general manager Chris Carla will walk through the Project Helix announcements from GDC in March and discuss "what it represents for the future of Xbox."

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Rocksteady's Batman: Arkham games set a new standard for beat-'em-ups, mixing tight combat with a rhythmic flow that made you feel unstoppable once you got into it. Dead as Disco feels like a spiritual successor, focusing on that same rhythm-driven action. It adds its own twist with dance-floor brawls and a playlist of moves you can use on anyone who dares to step up.

Out now in early access, Dead as Disco wastes no time in laying the groundwork for why you're reducing the local hoodlum scene to single-digit numbers. You're the rock star Charlie Disco, out for revenge after your former bandmates left you for dead, and hellbent on exacting some stylish retribution while you dodge and weave to the beat of your own personal mixtape. It's a plot that's more barebones than the lyrics to a Black Eyed Peas song, and it absolutely rocks because it doesn't detract from the stylish and substantive action of Dead as Disco.

It's that sense of choreographed action that makes the game stand out, as you chase high scores and betrayers with fists of fury and a song in your heart. Dead as Disco is all about the Rule of Cool, and in the handful of levels currently available, that law is an ironclad application of melodic melee attacks as you match blows to the beat of the music. Nail the rhythm with fists, counters, and takedowns, and you'll rack up points as you dynamically bloody your knuckles for a showdown with a boss.

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The Epic Games Store continues to give away a free game each week, and this week's offering is another nice find at a price that can't be beat. Every Thursday at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET, Epic offers at least one free PC game (and sometimes even as many as two or three). All you need to do to claim the free games is create a free Epic account and enable two-factor authentication. You have a week to add the freebies to your library before the new one(s) take their place. At this point, Epic has given away hundreds of free games, and there's no sign that the program will stop any time soon. The company has also extended its freebies to Android devices, and you can claim a free game every week here as well. We keep this article up to date weekly to highlight both the current free games and next week's offerings.

If you're looking for more freebies, you can check out our list of the 25 best free PC games to play right now, or for more options, the 25 best free games to play on multiple platforms.

Current free games at Epic Tomb Raider I-III Remastered

This week, you can grab Tomb Raider I-III Remastered and Down in Bermuda for free. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered is a complete collection of Lara Croft's original adventures with updated visuals--or the original janky ones if you prefer--and several other quality-of-life features. Down in Bermuda is a 2019 puzzle game, revolving around a stranded adventurer trapped in a time bubble deep inside Bermuda and looking for a way to escape.

Next free games at Epic

Next week's free games are...a mystery! Epic usually plays its cards close to its chest when it has a few big games to give away or during promotional events, so you'll have to check back next week to see what's behind the curtain.

See all free games at Epic Epic Games Store free games list

We're keeping a running list of every free game that Epic users have been able to claim in the past. From AAA hits to indie darlings, Epic has really made its mark with free games. You can even snag these games if you don't have a powerful PC so you can play them if you ever get one. Look at the list below to see the frankly ridiculous list of free games that have been available.

GameDateTomb Raider I-III RemasteredMay 21-28, 2026Down in BermudaMay 21-28, 2026Batman: The Telltale Series - Shadows EditionMay 14-21, 2026SunderfolkMay 14-21, 2026Trash GoblinMay 7-14, 2026Arranger: A Role-Playing AdventureMay 7-14, 2026Firestone Online Idle RPG: Epic Games Store gift bundleApril 30 - May 7, 2026Oddsparks: An Automation AdventureApril 30 - May 7, 2026DoombladeApril 23-30, 2026The Stone of MadnessApril 16-23, 2026Prop SumoApril 9-16, 2026Tomak: Save the Earth RegenerationApril 9-16, 2026Clone Drone In the Danger ZoneApril 2-9, 2026Hyper EchelonMarch 26 - April 2, 2026HavendockMarch 26 - April 2, 2026Electrician SimulatorMarch 19-26, 2026World of Warships: Tachibana PackMarch 19-26, 2026IsonzoMarch 12-19, 2026Cozy GroveMarch 12-19, 2026Idle Champions of the Forgotten RealmsMarch 5-12, 2026Turnip Boy Robs a BankMarch 5-12, 2026My Night JobFebruary 26 - March 5, 2026Boxes: Lost FragmentsFebruary 26 - March 5, 2026Stalcraft X: Starter PackFebruary 19-26, 2026Return to AshFebruary 19-26, 2026The Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the DarkFebruary 12-19, 2026Nobody Wants to DieFebruary 12-19, 2026Pixel Gun 3D Poison Retro Set DLCFebruary 5-12, 2026Botany ManorFebruary 5-12, 2026Definitely Not Fried ChickenJanuary 28 - February 4, 2026Rustler: Grand Theft HorseJanuary 21-28, 2026Styx: Shards of DarknessJanuary 14-21, 2026Styx: Master of ShadowsJanuary 14-21, 2026Bloons TD 6January 7-14, 2026WildgateJanuary 1-7, 2026Total War: Three KingdomsJanuary 1-7, 2026Chivalry 2December 31, 2025Trine: Classic CollectionDecember 30, 2025ViewfinderDecember 29, 2025SKALD: Against the Black PrioryDecember 28, 2025Cassette BeastsDecember 27, 2025We Were Here TogetherDecember 26, 2025Disco Elysium: The Final CutDecember 25, 2025The Callisto ProtocolDecember 24, 2025Bloodstained: Ritual of the NightDecember 23, 2025Paradise KillerDecember 22, 2025Sorry, We're ClosedDecember 21, 2025Blood WestDecember 20, 2025EternightsDecember 19-20, 2025Jotunslayer: Hordes of HelDecember 18-19, 2025Hogwarts LegacyDecember 11-18, 2025The Jackbox Party Pack 4December 4-11, 2025The Darkside DetectiveDecember 4-11, 2025Universe For SaleNovember 27 - December 4, 2025Godzilla Voxel WarsNovember 20-27, 2025ZoetiNovember 20-27, 2025Zero HourNovember 13-20, 2025Songs of SilenceNovember 13-20, 2025ScourgeBringerNovember 13-20, 2025Felix the ReaperNovember 6-13, 2025Idle Champions of the Forgotten RealmsNovember 6-13, 2025Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the PitOctober 30 - November 6, 2025Bendy and the Ink MachineOctober 30 - November 6, 2025Fear the SpotlightOctober 23-30, 2025Samorost 3October 16-23, 2025Amnesia: The BunkerOctober 16-23, 2025Albion Online: Rogue Journeyman BundleOctober 9-16, 2025Gravity CircuitOctober 9-16, 2025NightingaleOctober 2-9, 2025Firestone: Online Idle RPGOctober 2-9, 2025Jorel's BrotherSeptember 25 - October 2, 2025Eastern ExorcistSeptember 25 - October 2, 2025Samorost 2September 18-25, 2025Project WinterSeptember 18-25, 2025Monument Valley 2September 11-18, 2025Ghostrunner 2September 11-18, 2025The Battle of PolytopiaSeptember 11-18, 2025Monument ValleySeptember 4-11, 2025Make WayAugust 28 - September 4, 2025MachinariumAugust 28 - September 4, 2025Strange HorticultureAugust 21-28, 2025Kamaeru: A Frog RefugeAugust 21-28, 2025Hidden FolksAugust 14-21, 2025Totally Reliable Delivery ServiceAugust 14-21, 2025Road RedemptionAugust 7-14, 2025112 OperatorAugust 7-14, 2025KeylockerJuly 31 - August 7, 2025PilgrimsJuly 31 - August 7, 2025Legion TD 2July 24-31, 2025Sid Meier's Civilization 6: Platinum EditionJuly 17-24, 2025Sky RacketJuly 10-17, 2025Figment 2: Creed ValleyJuly 10-17, 2025FigmentJuly 3-10, 2025Backpack HeroJuly 3-10, 2025Sable

June 26 - July 3

The Operator

June 19-26, 2025

Two Point Hospital

June 12-19, 2025

Ogu and the Secret Forest

June 5-12, 2025

Deathloop

June 5-12, 2025

Limbo

May 29 - June 5, 2025

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands

May 29 - June 5, 2025

Gigapocalypse

May 22-29, 2025

Sifu

May 22-29, 2025

Deliver At All Costs

May 22-29, 2025

Happy Game

May 15-22, 2025

Dead Island 2

May 15-22, 2025

Touch Type Tale

May 8-15, 2025

Deadtime Defenders

May 8-15, 2025

Super Space Club

May 1-8, 2025

Chuchel

April 24 - May 1, 2025

Botanicula

April 17-24, 2025

Firestone: Online Idle Rpg

April 17-24, 2025

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realm

April 10-17, 2025

River City Girls

April 10-17, 2025

Cat Quest 2

April 3-10, 2025

Neko Ghost Jump

March 27 - April 3, 2025

Cat Quest

March 27 - April 3, 2025

Jurassic World Evolution 2

March 20-27, 2025

Mortal Shell

March 13-20, 2025

Them's Fightin' Herds

March 6-13, 2025

Mages of Mystralia

February 27 - March 6, 2025

Garden Story

February 20-27, 2025

World War Z: Aftermath

February 20-27, 2025

F1 Manager 2024

February 13-20, 2025

Humankind

February 6-13, 2025

Beyond Blue

February 6-13, 2025

Undying

January 30 - February 6, 2025

Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery

January 23-30, 2025

Escape Academy

January 16-23, 2025

Turmoil

January 9-16, 2025

Hell Let Loose

January 2-9, 2025

Kingdom Come: Deliverance

January 1-2, 2025

Sifu

December 31 - January 1, 2025

Redacted

December 30-31, 2024

Orcs Must Die 3

December 29-30, 2024

Kill Knight

December 28-29, 2024

Hot Wheels Unleashed

December 27-28, 2024

Ghostrunner 2

December 26-27, 2024

Control

December 25-26, 2024

Dredge

December 24-25, 2024

Dark and Darker: Legendary Status upgrade

December 23-24, 2024

Wizard of Legend

December 22-23, 2024

TerraTech

December 21-22, 2024

Astrea Six-Sided Oracles

December 20-21, 2024

Vampire Survivors

December 19-20, 2024

The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria

December 12-19, 2024

Bus Simulator 21

December 5-12, 2024

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

December 5-12, 2024

Brotato

November 28 - December 5, 2024

Beholder

November 21-28, 2024

Snakebird Complete

November 14-21, 2024

Castlevania: Anniversary Collection

November 14-21, 2024

Deceive Inc.

November 7-14, 2024

Ghostwire: Tokyo

October 31 - November 7, 2024

Witch It

October 31 - November 7, 2024

Moving Out

October 24-31, 2024

Kardboard Kings: Card Shop Simulator

October 17-24, 2024

Invincible Presents: Atom Eve

October 17-24, 2024

Outliver: Tribulation

October 10-17, 2024

Empyrion: Galactic Survival

October 10-17, 2024

Bear and Breakfast

October 3-10, 2024

The Spirit and the Mouse

September 26 - October 3, 2024

The Last Stand: Aftermath

September 19-26, 2024

Toem

September 19-26, 2024

Super Crazy Rhythm Castle

September 12-19, 2024

Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland

September 12 - 19, 2024

Football Manager 2024

September 5 - 12, 2024

Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts

September 5 - 12, 2024

Wild Card Football

August 29 - September 5, 2024

Fallout: Classic Collection

August 29 - September 5, 2024

The Callisto Protocol

August 22-29, 2024

Gigantic: Rampage Edition

August 22-29, 2024

World of Warships starter pack

August 15- 22, 2024

Death's Gambit: Afterlife

August 15-22, 2024

Cygni: All Guns Blazing

August 8-15, 2024

DNF Duel

August 8-15, 2024

LumbearJack

August 1-8, 2024

FIST: Forged in Shadow

July 25-August 1, 2024

Maid of Sker

July 18-25, 2024

Arcade Paradise

July 18-25, 2024

Floppy Knights

July 11-18, 2024

The Falconeer

July 4-11, 2024

Sunless Skies: Sovereign Edition

June 27-July 4, 2024

Rumble Club

June 20-27, 2024

Freshly Frosted

June 20-27, 2024

Redout 2

June 13-20, 2024

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms

June 13-20, 2024

Marvel's Midnight Suns

June 6-13, 2024

Chivalry 2

May 30-June 6, 2024

Farming Simulator 22

May 23-30, 2024

Dragon Age: Inquisition GOTY Edition

May 16-23, 2024

Circus Electrique

May 9-16, 2024

Orcs Must Die 3

May 2-9, 2024

Industria

April 25-May 2, 2024

Lisa The Painful: Definitive Edition

April 25-May 2, 2024

Town of Salem 2

April 18-25, 2024

The Big Con

April 18-25, 2024

Ghostrunner

April 11-18, 2024

The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition

April 4-11, 2024

Thief

April 4-11, 2024

Islets

March 28-April 4, 2024

Call of the Wild: The Angler

March 21-28, 2024

Invincible Presents: Atom Eve

March 21-28, 2024

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

March 14-21, 2024

The Bridge

March 14-21, 2024

Astro Duel 2

March 7-14, 2024

Super Meat Boy Forever

February 22-29, 2024

Dakar Desert Rally

February 15-22, 2024

Lost Castle

February 8-15, 2024

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

February 8-15, 2024

Doors - Paradox

February 1-8, 2024InfinifactoryJanuary 25-February 1, 2024LoveJanuary 18-25, 2024Sail ForthJanuary 11-18, 2024Marvel's Guardians of the GalaxyJanuary 4-11, 2024A Plague Tale: InnocenceJanuary 3, 202420 Minutes Till DawnJanuary 2, 2024Escape AcademyJanuary 1, 2024GhostrunnerDecember 31, 2023Saints RowDecember 30, 2023Snakebird CompleteDecember 29, 2023Cat QuestDecember 28, 2023Cursed to GolfDecember 27, 2023Human Resource MachineDecember 26, 2026The Outer WorldsDecember 25, 2023Ghostwire: TokyoDecember 24, 2023Fallout 3: Game of the Year EditionDecember 23, 2023Art of RallyDecember 22, 2023Melvor IdleDecember 21, 2023DNF DuelDecember 20, 2023Destiny 2: Legacy CollectionDecember 14-20, 2023PredecessorDecember 7-14, 2023GigaBashDecember 7-14, 2023Mighty Fight FederationNovember 30-December 7, 2023Jitsu SquadNovember 30-December 7, 2023Deliver Us MarsNovember 23-30, 2023Surviving The AftermathNovember 16-23, 2023EarthlockNovember 16-23, 2023Golden LightNovember 9-16, 2023Turnip Boy Commits Tax EvasionNovember 2-9, 2023Tandem: A Tale of ShadowsOctober 26-November 2, 2023The Evil Within 2October 26-November 2, 2023Eternal ThreadsOctober 19-26, 2023The Evil WithinOctober 19-26, 2023QUBE Ultimate BundleOctober 12-19, 2023Blazing SailsOctober 12-19, 2023Godlike BurgerOctober 5-12, 2023SoulsticeSeptember 28-October 5, 2023Model BuilderSeptember 28-October 5, 2023Out of LineSeptember 21-28, 2023The Forest QuartetSeptember 21-28, 2023911 OperatorSeptember 14-21, 2023SpelldrifterSeptember 7-14, 2023Cave Story+August 31-September 7, 2023Homeworld: Deserts of KharakAugust 24-31, 2023Dodo PeakAugust 18-24, 2023Black BookAugust 18-24, 2023Europa Universalis IVAugust 10-17, 2023Orwell: Keeping an Eye on YouAugust 10-17, 2023Bloons TD 6August 3-10, 2023Loop HeroAugust 3-10, 2023Severed SteelJuly 27-August 3, 2023Homeworld Remastered CollectionJuly 27-August 3, 2023Murder by NumbersJuly 20-27, 2023The Elder Scrolls OnlineJuly 20-27, 2023Train Valley 2July 13-20, 2023GrimeJuly 6-13, 2023The Dungeon of NaheulbeukJune 29-July 6, 2023The Hunter: Call of the WildJune 22-29, 2023Guacamelee 2June 15-22, 2023Guacamelee: Super Turbo Championship EditionJune 15-22, 2023Payday 2June 8-15, 2023Midnight Ghost HuntJune 1-8, 2023Fallout: New Vegas - Ultimate editionMay 25-June 1, 2023Death StrandingMay 18-25, 2023Sims 4 DLCMay 11-18, 2023Second ExtinctionMay 4-11, 2023Kao the KangarooMay 4-11, 2023Against All OddsMay 4-11, 2023Poker ClubApril 27-May 4, 2023BreathedgeApril 27-May 4, 2023Beyond BlueApril 20, 27, 2023Never AloneApril 20-27, 2023MordhauApril 13-20, 2023Second ExtinctionApril 13-20, 2023ShapezApril 6-13, 2023Dying Light: Enhanced EditionApril 6-13, 2023The Silent AgeMarch 30-April 6, 2023TuncheMarch 30-April 6, 2023Chess UltraMarch 23-30, 2023Warhammer: 40,000: Gladius - Relics of WarMarch 16-23, 2023Call of the SeaMarch 9-16, 2023Rise of IndustryMarch 2-9, 2023DuskersFebruary 23-March 2, 2023War PipsFebruary 16-23, 2023Recipe for DisasterFebruary 9-16, 2023City of GangstersFebruary 2-9, 2023Dishonored: Death of the OutsiderFebruary 2-9, 2023Hell is OthersJanuary 26-February 2, 2023AdiosJanuary 26-February 2, 2023Epistory - Typing ChroniclesJanuary 19-26, 2023First Class TroubleJanuary 12-19, 2023Divine KnockoutJanuary 12-19, 2023Gamedec - Definitive EditionJanuary 12-19, 2023Shadow Tactics: Aiko's ChoiceJanuary 5-12, 2023Kerbal Space ProgramJanuary 5-12, 2023Eximius: Seize the FrontlineDecember 30-January 5, 2023Dishonored: Definitive Edition December 30-January 5, 2023Mortal ShellDecember 28-29, 2022Severed SteelDecember 27-28, 2022FIST Forged In Shadow TorchDecember 26-27, 2022Death StrandingDecember 25-26, 2022Metro Last Light ReduxDecember 24-25, 2022EncasedDecember 23-24, 2022FalloutDecember 22-23, 2022Lego Builder's JourneyDecember 21-22, 2022Wolfenstein: The New OrderDecember 20-21, 2022Them's Fightin' HerdsDecember 19-20, 2022SableDecember 18-19, 2022Costume Quest 2December 17-18, 2022Horizon Chase TurboDecember 16-17, 2022Bloons TD 6December 15-16, 2022Wildcat Gun MachineDecember 8-15, 2022Saints Row IV Re-electedDecember 8-15, 2022RPG in a BoxDecember 1-8, 2022Fort TriumphDecember 1-8, 2022Star Wars: SquadronsNovember 24-December 1, 2022Dark DeityNovember 17-24, 2022Evil Dead: The GameNovember 17-24, 2022Shadow Tactics: Blades of the ShogunNovember 10-17, 2022Alba: A Wildlife AdventureNovember 10-17, 2022Rising Storm 2: VietnamNovember 3-10, 2022FilamentNovember 3-10, 2022Warhammer 40,000: MechanicusOctober 27-November 3, 2022SaturnaliaOctober 27-November 3, 2022Evoland Legendary EditionOctober 20-27, 2022Fallout 3: Game of the Year EditionOctober 20-27, 2022DarkwoodOctober 13-20, 2022ToeJam & Earl: Back in the GrooveOctober 13-20, 2022Slain: Back from HellOctober 6-13, 2022Rising HellOctober 6-13, 2022The Drone Racing League SimulatorSeptember 29-October 6, 2022Ark: Survival EvolvedSeptember 22-29, 2022GloomhavenSeptember 22-29, 2022Spirit of the NorthSeptember 15-22, 2022The CaptainSeptember 15-22, 2022Realm Royale Reforged Launch BundleSeptember 8-15, 2022Hundred Days - Winemaking SimulatorSeptember 8-15, 2022Submerged: Hidden DepthsSeptember 1-8, 2022Shadow of the Tomb RaiderSeptember 1-8, 2022Destiny 2: Bungie 30th Anniversary PackAugust 25-September 1, 2022Ring of PainAugust 25-September 1, 2022Doom 64August 18-25, 2022Rumbleverse - Boom Boxer PackAugust 18-25, 2022Cook, Serve, Delicious 3August 11-18, 2022UnrailedAugust 4-11, 2022Lawn Mowing SimulatorJuly 28-August 4, 2022Shop TitansJuly 21-28, 2022TannenbergJuly 21-28, 2022Wonder Boy: The Dragon's TrapJuly 14-21, 2022Killing Floor 2July 7-14, 2022Ancient EnemyJuly 7-14, 2022Geneforge I - MutagenJune 30-July 7, 2022Hood: Outlaws & LegendsJune 30-July 7Iratus: Lord of the DeadJune 30-July 7, 2022Car Mechanic Simulator 2018June 23-30, 2022A Game of Thrones: The Board GameJune 23-30, 2022SupralandJune 16-23, 2022ManeaterJune 9-16, 2022Wolfenstein: The New OrderJune 2-9, 2022BioShock: The CollectionMay 26-June 2, 2022Borderlands 3May 19-26, 2022Redout: Enhanced EditionMay 12-19, 2022PreyMay 12-19, 2022Jotun: Valhalla EditionMay 12-19, 2022Terraforming MarsMay 5-12, 2022ParadigmApril 28-May 5, 2022Just Die AlreadyApril 28-May 5, 2022RiverbondApril 21-28, 2022InsurmountableApril 14-21, 2022XCOM 2April 14-21, 2022The Vanishing of Ethan CarterApril 7-14, 2022Rogue LegacyApril 7-14, 2022City of BrassMarch 31-April 7, 2022Total War: WarhammerMarch 31-April 7, 2022Demon's TiltMarch 24-31, 2022In Sound MindMarch 17-24, 2022Cities: SkylinesMarch 10-17, 2022Black Widow: RechargedMarch 3-10, 2022Centipede: RechargedMarch 3-10, 2022Cris TalesFebruary 24-March 3, 2022Brothers - A Tale of Two SonsFebruary 17-24, 2022WindboundFebruary 10-17, 2022Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible LairFebruary 3-10, 2022Daemon X MachinaJanuary 27-February 3, 2022RelictaJanuary 20-27, 2022Galactic Civilizations 3January 13-20, 2022Gods Will FallJanuary 6-13, 2022Tomb Raider Reboot TrilogyDecember 29, 2021-January 6, 2022Salt and SanctuaryDecember 29-30, 2021Moving OutDecember 28-29, 2021Mages of Mystralia December 27-28, 2021ControlDecember 26-27, 2021PreyDecember 25-26, 2021Pathfinder: KingmakerDecember 24-25, 2021VampyrDecember 23-24, 2021Mutant Year Zero: Road to EdenDecember 22-23, 2021Second ExtinctionDecember 21-22, 2021Loop HeroDecember 18-21, 2021The Vanishing of Ethan CarterDecember 19, 2021Remnant: From the AshesDecember 18, 2021Neon AbyssDecember 17-18, 2021Shenmue IIIDecember 16-17, 2021Prison ArchitectDecember 9-16, 2021Godfall: Challenger EditionDecember 9-16, 2021While True: Learn[]December 2-9, 2021Dead by DaylightDecember 2-9, 2021The Hunter: Call of the WildNovember 25-December 2, 2021Kid A Mnesia ExhibitionNovember 18-25, 2021Never AloneNovember 18-25, 2021Guild of DungeoneeringNovember 18-25, 2021Tiny Tiny's Assault on Dragon KeepNovember 9-16, 2021Aven ColonyNovember 4-11, 2021Darq: Complete EditionOctober 28-November 4, 2021Among the SleepOctober 21-28, 2021Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a PulseOctober 14-21, 2021PC Building SimulatorOctober 7-14, 2021Europa Universalis IVSeptember 30-October 7, 2021The EscapistsSeptember 23-30, 2021TharsisSeptember 16-23, 2021Speed BrawlSeptember 16-23, 2021ShelteredSeptember 9-16, 2021Nioh: Complete EditionSeptember 9-16, 2021Yoku's Island ExpressSeptember 2-9, 2021AutomachefAugust 26-September 2, 2021Saints Row The Third RemasteredAugust 26-September 2, 2021Void BastardsAugust 19-26, 2021Yooka-LayleeAugust 19-26, 2021Rebel GalaxyAugust 12-19, 2021MinitAugust 5-12, 2021A Plague Tale: InnocenceAugust 5-12, 2021Train Sim World 2July 29-August 5, 2021MothergunshipJuly 29-August 5, 2021Defense Grid: AwakeningJuly 22-29, 2021VerdunJuly 22-29, 2021Offworld Trading CompanyJuly 15-22, 2021ObductionJuly 15-22, 2021IroncastJuly 8-15, 2021Bridge Constructor: Walking DeadJuly 8-15, 2021The Spectrum RetreatJuly 1-July 8, 2021Horizon Chase TurboJune 24-July 1, 2021Sonic ManiaJune 24-July 1, 2021Hell is Other DemonsJune 17-24, 2021Overcooked 2June 17-24, 2021ControlJune 10-17, 2021FrostpunkJune 3-10, 2021Among UsMay 27-June 3, 2021NBA 2K21May 20-27, 2021The Lion's SongMay 13-20, 2021PineMay 6-13, 2021Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms (DLC)April 29-May 6, 2021Hand of Fate 2April 22-29, 2021Alien: IsolationApril 22-29, 2021Deponia: The Complete JourneyApril 15-22, 2021Ken Follet's The Pillars of the EarthApril 15-22, 2021The First TreeApril 15-22, 20213/10: Season TwoApril 8-15, 2021Tales of the Neon SeaApril 1-8, 2021Creature in the WellMarch 25-April 1, 2021The FallMarch 18-25, 2021Surviving MarsMarch 11-18, 2021Wargame: Red DragonMarch 4-11, 2021Sunless SeaFebruary 25-March 4, 2021Absolute DriftFebruary 18-25, 2021Rage 2February 18-25, 2021Halycon 6: Starbase CommanderFebruary 11-18, 2021For the KingFebruary 4-11, 2021Metro: Last Light ReduxFebruary 4-11, 2021Dandara: Trials of Fear editionJanuary 28-February 4, 2021Galactic Civilizations IIIJanuary 21-28, 2021Star Wars Battlefront II: Celebration editionJanuary 14-21, 2021Crying SunsJanuary 7-14, 2021Jurassic World EvolutionJanuary 1-7, 2021Tyranny - Gold editionDecember 10-17, 2020Pillars of Eternity - Definitive editionDecember 10-17, 2020Cave Story+December 3-10, 2020The World Next DoorNovember 19-26, 2020Elite DangerousNovember 19-26, 2020The Textorcist: The Story of Ray BibbiaNovember 12-19, 2020Dungeons 3November 5-12, 2020Blair WitchOctober 29-November 5, 2020Ghostbusters: The Video Game RemasteredOctober 29-November 5, 2020Costume Quest 2October 22-29, 2020Layers of Fear 2October 22-29, 2020Amnesia: A Machine For PigsOctober 15-22, 2020Kingdom: New LandsOctober 15-22, 2020Rising Storm 2: VietnamOctober 8-15, 2020AbzuOctober 8-15, 2020PikunikuOctober 1-8, 2020RollerCoaster Tycoon 3September 24-October 1, 2020Football Manager 2020September 17-24, 2020Stick it to the ManSeptember 17-24, 2020Watch Dogs 2September 17-24, 2020Where the Water Tastes Like WineSeptember 10-17, 2020Railway EmpireSeptember 10-17, 2020Into the BreachSeptember 3-10, 2020Shadowrun CollectionAugust 27-September 3, 2020HitmanAugust 27-September 3, 2020God's TriggerAugust 20-27, 2020Enter the Gungeon August 20-27, 2020Remnant: From the AshesAugust 13-20, 2020The Alto CollectionAugust 13-20, 2020Wilmot's WarehouseAugust 6-13, 2020Superbrothers: Sword & Sorcery EPJuly 30-August 6, 2020BaronyJuly 30-August 6, 202020XXJuly 30-August 6, 2020Next Up HeroJuly 23-30, 2020TacomaJuly 23-30, 2020Torchlight 2July 16-23, 2020Killing Floor 2July 9-16, 2020Lifeless PlanetJuly 9-16, 2020The Escapists 2July 9-16, 2020HueJuly 2-July 9, 2020AER Memories of OldJune 25-July 2, 2020Stranger Things 3June 25-July 2, 2020PathwayJune 18-25, 2020Ark: Survival EvolvedJune 11-18, 2020Samurai Shodown NeoGeo CollectionJune 11-18, 2020OvercookedJune 4-11, 2020Borderlands: The Handsome CollectionMay 28-June 4, 2020Civilization VIMay 21-28, 2020Grand Theft Auto VMay 14-21, 2020Death ComingMay 7-14, 2020CrashlandsApril 30-May 7, 2020Amnesia: The Dark DescentApril 30-May 7, 2020For the KingApril 23-30, 2020Just Cause 4April 16-23, 2020Wheels of AureliaApril 16-23, 2020Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and PunishmentsApril 9-16, 2020Close to the SunApril 9-16, 2020Gone HomeApril 2-9, 2020Drawful 2April 2-9, 2020HobApril 2-9, 2020Totally Reliable Delivery ServiceApril 1-8, 2020World War ZMarch 26-April 2, 2020Torment x PunisherMarch 26-April 2, 2020FigmentMarch 26-April 2, 2020Watch DogsMarch 19-26, 2020The Stanley ParableMarch 19-26, 2020A Short HikeMarch 12-19, 2020MutazioneMarch 12-19, 2020Anodyne 2March 12-19, 2020GonnerMarch 5-12, 2020Offworld Trading CompanyMarch 5-12, 2020Inner SpaceFebruary 27-March 5, 2020FaeriaFebruary 20-27, 2020Assassin's Creed SyndicateFebruary 20-27, 2020AztezFebruary 13-20, 2020Kingdom Come: DeliveranceFebruary 13-20, 2020Ticket to RideFebruary 6-13, 2020CarcassonneFebruary 6-13, 2020Farming Simulator 19January 30-February 6, 2020The BridgeJanuary 23-30, 2020HoraceJanuary 16-23, 2020Sundered: Eldritch EditionJanuary 9-16, 2020Darksiders Warmastered EditionJanuary 1-9, 2020Darksiders 2 Dethinitive EditionJanuary 1-9, 2020SteepJanuary 1-9, 2020Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible LairDecember 31, 2019Hello NeighborDecember 30, 2019The Talos PrincipleDecember 29, 2019Shadow Tactics: Blades of the ShogunDecember 28, 2019Hyper Light DrifterDecember 27, 2019FTL: Faster Than LightDecember 26, 2019Totally Accurate Battle SimulatorDecember 25, 2019CelesteDecember 24, 2019Ape OutDecember 23, 2019Little InfernoDecember 22, 2019SuperhotDecember 21, 2019Towerfall AscensionDecember 20, 2019Into the BreachDecember 19, 2019The Wolf Among UsDecember 12-19, 2019The EscapistsDecember 12-19, 2019Jotun: Valhalla EditionDecember 6-12, 2019Rayman LegendsNovember 29-December 6, 2019Bad NorthNovember 21-29, 2019The MessengerNovember 14-21, 2019RuinerNovember 7-14, 2019Nuclear ThroneNovember 7-14, 2019Costume QuestOctober 31-November 7, 2019SomaOctober 31-November 7, 2019Layers of FearOctober 24-October 31, 2019Q.U.B.E.2October 24-October 31, 2019Alan Wake: American NightmareOctober 17-24, 2019ObserverOctober 17-24, 2019Surviving MarsOctober 10-17, 2019MinitOctober 3-10, 2019Metro 2033 ReduxSeptember 26-October 3, 2019EverythingSeptember 26-October 3, 2019Lego Batman TrilogySeptember 19-26, 2019Batman: Arkham CollectionSeptember 19-26, 2019ConariumSeptember 12-19, 2019AbzuSeptember 5-12, 2019The End is NighSeptember 5-12, 2019CelesteAugust 29-September 5, 2019InsideAugust 29-September 5, 2019FezAugust 22-29, 2019Hyper Light DrifterAugust 15-22, 2019Mutant Year Zero: Road to EdenAugust 15-22, 2019GNOGAugust 8-15, 2019For HonorAugust 2-9, 2019Alan WakeAugust 2-9, 2019This War of MineJuly 25-August 2, 2019MoonlighterJuly 25-August 2, 2019LimboJuly 18-July 25, 2019TorchlightJuly 11-18, 2019OvercookedJuly 4-11, 2019Last Day of JuneJune 27-July 4, 2019Rebel GalaxyJune 20-27, 2019Enter the GungeonJune 13-20, 2019Kingdom: New LandsJune 6-13, 2019City of BrassMay 30-6, 2019RimeMay 23-30, 2019Stories UntoldMay 16-23, 2019World of GooMay 2-16, 2019TransistorApril 18-May 2, 2019The WitnessApril 4-18, 2019OxenfreeMarch 21-April 4, 2019Slime RancherMarch 7-21, 2019Thimbleweed ParkFebruary 21-March 7, 2019Axiom VergeFebruary 7-21, 2019The Jackbox Party PackJanuary 24-February 7, 2019What Remains of Edith FinchJanuary 11-24, 2019Super Meat BoyDecember 28, 2018-January 10, 2019SubnauticaDecember 12-27, 2018

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Windrose developer Kraken Express realized that your PC's solid-state drive was overworking itself to death on the pirate ship, so the studio has released a new update to give your SSD a chance to finally relax on the deck.

Ship metaphors aside, Eurogamer has reported that Kraken Express dropped a new update for its super-popular pirate sim Windrose on April 30 to address some save-file issues. The problem was that, when the game hit early access on April 14, it was overworking the SSD by writing too much data to the disk. According to TechSpot, Windrose was reading and writing 30MB/s when your character was roaming around, and upwards of 108GB of data per hour during normal play sessions.

If you liken your SSD to any other piece of technology--like a battery in a controller or phone--then the more it's used, the more wear and tear it experiences until it dies. With the game reading and writing (which essentially is just retrieving and saving) that much data, players worried about the health of their solid-state drives. That worry has been assuaged, though, thanks to Windrose's latest update, Patch Version: 0.10.0.4.268-9d2ca277.

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Oscar-winning actor Sally Field has a message for people who don't play The Legend of Zelda games, and that is, "What the hell is the matter with you?!"

She said this in an interview with Jake Hamilton after the journalist asked Field to recall a story working with the late actor Robin Williams on 1993's Mrs. Doubtfire. She said one of her favorite memories was playing Zelda games with Williams in her rented home when they were making the movie. "We'd play the early games of Zelda together. Zelda, the computer game, that I still play with my grandsons. Even when my grandsons aren't there, I pretend they are there. I play them," she said.

Field then turned to her Remarkably Bright Creatures co-star Lewis Pullman to ask if he had ever played the Zelda games. When he said he hadn't, Field said, "What the hell is the matter with you?! It's so fun." For his part, Pullman admitted he has been "missing out" on one of gaming's most legendary franchises.

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Mortal Kombat 2 comes to theaters on May 8, and the reviews for the movie are split down the middle. One of the movie's producers, Todd Garner, has now reacted to the divisive review scores and said he is baffled that people who don't appreciate a given genre are allowed to review a film in that genre.

"Some of these reviews are cracking me up," he wrote on social media. "It's clear they have never played the game and have no idea what the fans want or ANY of the rules/ canon of Mortal Kombat."

Garner also pointed out one specific review that mentioned Kano and his bionic eye. "Why the fu** do we still allow people that don't have any love for the genre review these movies! Baffling," he said.

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Depending on the day, if you asked me what my favorite game of all time is, I would tell you it's The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. One of the greatest Zelda games and arguably the one that best nailed the classic formula, it holds a special place in my heart. Parts of it feel timeless, and I think for me, they always will. But if I'm honest, other parts are certainly products of their time and have not aged as gracefully. Combat in those early Zelda games was a means to an end, not the focus. So it's satisfying to find a game like Alabaster Dawn, which spiritually carries the inventive fantasy spirit and colorful characters and puzzle aspects that I love so much about Zelda--but also makes combat feel really, really good.

This isn't the first time that developer Radical Fish Games has impressed. Its 2018 release CrossCode was similarly a retro-styled action-RPG, and it has enjoyed a reputation as a standout indie game. Alabaster Dawn is an iterative step, but it feels like it takes lessons learned from that earlier experience to craft something that still feels fresh in 2026. This is a developer confidently hitting its stride in its sophomore effort, and even in early access, it looks and feels great.

With CrossCode, Radical Fish showed a knack for creating fantasy worlds that feel fully fleshed out and lived in, with lots of little details and sharp writing that lets you learn about the setting naturally, without overexplaining it. But where CrossCode was a sci-fi story set in the distant future, Alabaster Dawn is high fantasy, introducing its own spin on the genre's tropes.

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Star Fox fans had their hopes briefly raised today when Nintendo revealed a surprise Star Fox Direct, only to discover that the new game for the Switch 2 is doomed to be yet another remake of Star Fox 64. What's more, the uncomfortably realistic character redesigns have not gone down well with Star Fox's fanbase--but at least the meme game is on point.

The news of yet another Star Fox 64 remake has been met with some incredulity among fans, considering Star Fox will be the third remake Nintendo has made for Star Fox 64--which itself is a reboot of the original Star Fox. With only 10 total games in the franchise, half of them are now essentially the same game.

Recent leaks out of Nintendo had claimed a new Star Fox game was in development, giving fans hope that a sequel was on its way to refresh the long-neglected franchise. It's possible that a new game is still yet to be announced by Nintendo, but fans are starting to feel that the series will forever be haunted by the singularity of Star Fox 64.

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Take-Two is a powerhouse publisher behind a number of successful franchises like GTA, NBA 2K, Civilization, Borderlands, and BioShock, but not everything that Take-Two touches turns to gold.

In an interview with Game File, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said the company is unlikely to get back into MLB-licensed baseball video games because it's "too small a market" and Take-Two wants to place bets on games that are more likely to make money.

"We had a tough history with MLB," Zelnick said. "It's no secret there [that] we lost a great deal of money with them. And I don't like losing money."

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It was only about a year ago when I learned that not everyone gets goosebumps from listening to music. There's a French word for it--frisson--which describes the feeling some get when music or other powerful stimuli trigger a physiological response. This rush is felt in only about 50% of people in the world, it turns out. I used to think it was all of us. That's probably a big part of why music means so much to me, because I'm in the lucky camp that gets to enjoy this positively overwhelming response when the right song hits at just the right time. Mixtape is an adventure game that leans into this magical sensation, pairing its heartfelt, often hilarious moments with a sweeping soundtrack to create a coming-of-age story I'll never forget.

Mixtape is the second effort from Beethoven & Dinosaur, a small Australian team that includes some former rockstars who pivoted to game dev and brought their love for music with them. In it, you play the music-obsessed Stacey Rockford, whose headphones may as well be an organic appendage. Inspired by movies like Superbad and the works of John Hughes, the driving force of the '90s-set story is Stacey's attempt to make it to a killer beach party with her best pals Slater and Cassandra in tow.

The morning after this party, Stacey is off to chase her dream as a music supervisor--basically a professional mixtape maker for Hollywood projects--so this is her and her friends' last hurrah together, whether they're ready for life to drag them into adulthood and see them go their separate ways or not. While relatively small, these stakes are deeply relatable, revealing a lot of big, honest emotions across the four-hour runtime.

The starring trio is incredibly well-written and all three foster empathy and investment from the very start of the game, as they coast down the hills of their town on skateboards, calling out cars to dodge and doing flip tricks over trash cans. As Stacey breaks the fourth wall, announcing to you, the player, the song she picked for the moment, you understand she's no phony. She knows her stuff when it comes to music, but her decision to leave town for New York has driven a wedge in the friend group, who once made plans for a lengthy west coast road trip that's now up in the air.

Mixtape does so much so well, but one of the things I love most about it is its emotional honesty. Sure, as an adult with the benefit of hindsight, a friend moving away isn't the end of the world. But when you're a kid, it's your whole world blowing up. For Stacey, Slater, and Cassandra, they're on the verge of so much changing, and their comfortable routines are being thrown out, exchanged for the ambiguous world of growing up. Though the trio often joke around and give off a level of youthful sarcasm, they're also capable of letting down their emotional barriers and spilling how they feel.

It endears me to each of them and their journeys, whether it be Stacey's bold career-planning maneuvers, Cassandra's desperate desire to wiggle out from beneath her cop-dad's iron fist, or Slater's somewhat untapped potential as a musician himself. How they stand up for each other, challenge each other, and even just how they, for lack of a better phrase, dick around, feels authentic, and it mesmerized me in each scene. Even then, sometimes it's the things they don't speak that affected me the most. Through it all, excellent performances bring these characters and others to vibrant life.

The structure of those scenes is another tremendous highlight. As the night unfolds and the friends remain hellbent on hunting down some alcohol and/or weed for the party, you'll spend hangout time in each of their bedrooms. There, flashbacks unfold to the tune of Stacey's carefully curated mixtape, designed with the explicit intent to become the soundtrack to their grand finale in town together.

Though the game often carries a punky, middle-finger of a spirit, the soundtrack is eclectic, from favorites like Devo and Siouxsie and the Banshees to lesser-known (to me anyway) standouts like Harpers Bizarre and Stan Bush. You won't be shunned for not knowing them all, as Stacey acts as the studio's proxy, providing a bit of musical history with each entry when she breaks the fourth wall a la Ferris Bueller. I loved hearing these new-to-me tracks nearly as much as I loved revisiting some all-time favorites, like The Cure.

Each of these flashback moments is given relatively light gameplay mechanics, often bespoke for just a singular sequence and then quickly disposed of. Like the studio's previous game, The Artful Escape, Mixtape isn't meant to challenge most players on the sticks. Though occasional fail states exist, like if you crash into a car on your skateboard, there's no penalty for messing up. It just rewinds instantly and resumes. This is a game that uses the language of games to tell its story, not test you. And thanks to the story perfectly marrying a killer soundtrack and clever mechanics together, it hits just right.

In one moment, you may be toilet-papering the principal's house, then in another, you'll be stumbling through a video store as the employee calls out to you beyond the fog of your drunken stupor. And this must be the first game to ever let you control a pair of French-kissing tongues, swapping spit and twisting in a fervor of adolescent hormones.

In one of my favorite sequences, the kids fly high above the town, soaring out of the forest, over the nearby lake, and into town, deriding their high school as they coast over the pool of yellow buses. It's all set to the tune of Atmosphere by Joy Division--by my estimation, one of the greatest bands there ever was. Of course, the kids didn't really learn to fly that night, but it sure as hell felt that way to them. How lucky we must be to have had moments in our lives where we felt the same. Mixtape is telling you its story, but it trusts you'll recall moments of your own that resonate.

As great as the game feels and sounds, it also looks exquisite. Built in Unreal, it takes advantage of the engine's impeccable lighting. Coated in a hyper-stylized cartoonishness, it still manages to give its characters the emotiveness their excellent performances deserve. This puts the game on full display, averting the all-too-common video game problem of a great story and performances let down somewhat by wooden character models.

Every frame is a rad painting, and like the gameplay controls, the perspective shifts often, giving each scene what it needs. In one scene, for example, in which the kids flee a party crashed by the cops, you'll seamlessly transition from a traditional third-person perspective to the view from the news helicopter above, watching the runaways take their out-of-control shopping cart onto the interstate.

Broadly speaking, Mixtape is an adventure game, if only because that's often the bucket one might drop a game like this into--a game where the rules of establishing and then iterating on gameplay don't apply. Not one of these moments frustrates or overstays its welcome, with the minor exception being the time spent in the kids' bedrooms, when you're allowed to peruse for a bit and trigger missable dialogue by interacting with objects in each space.

Collectively, it's less like you're playing a game with a great soundtrack and more like someone has turned a soundtrack into an interactive experiment. It had to be a game, and that's partly what makes it so much more affecting than if this were a movie, but still, the music leads. Mixtape is whatever it needs to be in each moment, and the studio makes a strong case for why it must be that way.

By tying each memory or moment to a particular song, Mixtape delivers on its main idea: Music isn't something we do; it's something we are. When we work out, we put on the playlist that gets us ready to run through a brick wall. On our wedding day, we play a song that reminds us of when we first met or whose lyrics speak to our journey. When we scream the words to our favorite songs in a venue of 300 sweaty strangers, it bonds us to one another in a way nothing else does or even could do. Music can behave like a time machine, carrying you to a place and time as though you're there again. Stacey gets this intimately, as does Beethoven & Dinosaur, quite obviously.

Music can make us feel incredibly powerful or cathartically vulnerable. And when the right song hits at the right moment, it may just send a happy shiver down your spine, which is how I spent much of my time with Mixtape, and why I'll never forget it.

It was only about a year ago when I learned that not everyone gets goosebumps from listening to music. There's a French word for it--frisson--which describes the feeling some get when music or other powerful stimuli trigger a physiological response. This rush is felt in only about 50% of people in the world, it turns out. I used to think it was all of us. That's probably a big part of why music means so much to me, because I'm in the lucky camp that gets to enjoy this positively overwhelming response when the right song hits at just the right time. Mixtape is an adventure game that leans into this magical sensation, pairing its heartfelt, often hilarious moments with a sweeping soundtrack to create a coming-of-age story I'll never forget.

Mixtape is the second effort from Beethoven & Dinosaur, a small Australian team that includes some former rockstars who pivoted to game dev and brought their love for music with them. In it, you play the music-obsessed Stacey Rockford, whose headphones may as well be an organic appendage. Inspired by movies like Superbad and the works of John Hughes, the driving force of the '90s-set story is Stacey's attempt to make it to a killer beach party with her best pals Slater and Cassandra in tow.

The morning after this party, Stacey is off to chase her dream as a music supervisor--basically a professional mixtape maker for Hollywood projects--so this is her and her friends' last hurrah together, whether they're ready for life to drag them into adulthood and see them go their separate ways or not. While relatively small, these stakes are deeply relatable, revealing a lot of big, honest emotions across the four-hour runtime.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

New entries in the BioShock series used to arrive at a fairly consistent rate ever since the first game was released in 2007, but ever since work on BioShock Infinite and its expansions wrapped up, the franchise appears to be in limbo. That's not for a lack of trying, as back in 2019, 2K Games established Cloud Chamber to lead the charge on new BioShock games. Since then, nothing has been seen of the project, while layoffs at Cloud Chamber saw the departure of studio head Kelley Gilmore and former Diablo boss Rod Fergusson taking over.

In an interview with Game File, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick spoke about being "deeply disappointed" about how Take-Two Interactive hadn't made a new BioShock game in over a decade, but he expressed hope for the future of the franchise.

"I think finding the right creative purchase was hard, as it turns out," Zelnick added when quizzed about current attempts to revive BioShock. "I think we, in retrospect, wasted a lot of time and money chasing down some creative alleys that turned out to be dead ends."

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Star Fox (Physical Edition)

$60 | Releases June 25

Preorder at Amazon ($50) View at other stores Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Walmart ($50) Preorder at GameStop Star Fox (Digital Edition)

$50 | Releases June 25

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After nearly a decade, Nintendo's Star Fox series is making a big comeback next month on Switch 2. Preorders are now live for Star Fox--a remake of the classic N64 game Star Fox 64--and it'll be available either as a $60 physical edition or a $50 digital version. It looks like Amazon and Walmart will have the best deal, as they're price-matching the physical edition with the $50 digital version, saving you $10 in the process.

Star Fox (Physical Edition)

$60 | Releases June 25

A space combat game featuring Fox McCloud--who made a memorable cameo in the recent Super Mario Galaxy Movie--and his allies Falco, Slippy, and Peppy, Star Fox sees players leap into an Arwing fighter jet and defend the Lylat system from invading forces. Nintendo has described the remake as a modernized adventure that features a complete visual overhaul, and the game is also enhanced with all-new cinematic cutscenes, new and returning game modes, additional Switch 2-specific features, and more.

Like most Nintendo first-party releases, the complete Star Fox game will be included on the game cart.

Preorder at Amazon ($50) Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Walmart ($50) Preorder at GameStop Star Fox (Digital Edition)

$50 | Releases June 25

If you're looking to save a few bucks and you don't mind ditching the physical cartridge format, you can grab a download code for Star Fox priced at $50.

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This isn't the first time that Star Fox 64 has been remade, as Star Fox Zero reimagined the classic game for the Wii U console back in 2016. Like the N64 original, the new remake is a rail shooter game where you'll get to pilot the Arwing jet, unleash laser fire, and do a good ol' barrel roll to evade danger. The new Switch 2 features include added mouse controls, and a second player can hop into the Arwing gunner seat while you focus on flying.

One of the other additions to the game is a Battle Mode for head-to-head action against other players who take control of Star Wolf, challenge modes for an extra layer of replayability, and support for GameShare. Star Fox is one of several Nintendo first-party games on the way, as Yoshi and the Mysterious Book arrives on May 21 and Splatoon Raiders will be released on July 23.

Don't forget, you can also catch Fox McCloud in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie when it hits Blu-ray soon. Preorders are live for the standard 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD releases, and there are also steelbook and collector's edition versions to grab.

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Show More Check Out More Deals And Preorders Links (2)

Star Fox (Physical Edition)

$60 | Releases June 25

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Walmart Preorder at GameStop

Star Fox (Digital Edition)

$50 | Releases June 25

Preorder at Amazon

After nearly a decade, Nintendo's Star Fox series is making a big comeback next month on Switch 2. Preorders are now live for Star Fox--a remake of the classic N64 game Star Fox 64--and it'll be available either as a $60 physical edition or a $50 digital version. It looks like Walmart will have the best deal, as it's price-matching the physical edition with the $50 digital version, saving you $10 in the process.

Star Fox (Physical Edition) $60 | Releases June 25

A space combat game featuring Fox McCloud--who made a memorable cameo in the recent Super Mario Galaxy Movie--and his allies Falco, Slippy, and Peppy, Star Fox sees players leap into an Arwing fighter jet and defend the Lylat system from invading forces. Nintendo has described the remake as a modernized adventure that features a complete visual overhaul, and the game is also enhanced with all-new cinematic cutscenes, new and returning game modes, additional Switch 2-specific features, and more.

Like most Nintendo first-party releases, the complete Star Fox game will be included on the game cart.

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy Preorder at Walmart Star Fox (Digital Edition) $50 | Releases June 25

If you're looking to save a few bucks and you don't mind ditching the physical cartridge format, you can grab a download code for Star Fox priced at $50.

Preorder at Amazon

This isn't the first time that Star Fox 64 has been remade, as Star Fox Zero reimagined the classic game for the Wii U console back in 2016. Like the N64 original, the new remake is a rail shooter game where you'll get to pilot the Arwing jet, unleash laser fire, and do a good ol' barrel roll to evade danger. The new Switch 2 features include added mouse controls, and a second player can hop into the Arwing gunner seat while you focus on flying.

One of the other additions to the game is a Battle Mode for head-to-head action against other players who take control of Star Wolf, challenge modes for an extra layer of replayability, and support for GameShare. Star Fox is one of several Nintendo first-party games on the way, as Yoshi and the Mysterious Book arrives on May 21 and Splatoon Raiders will be released on July 23.

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The Blood of Dawnwalker Day One Edition

$70 | Releases September 3

Preorder at Amazon Preorder at Best Buy

The Blood of Dawnwalker Collector's Edition

$200 | Releases September 3

Preorder at Bandai Namco Store

A new game from former Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 developers, The Blood of Dawnwalker, launches soon for PC and console. Set in a dark fantasy world where vampires are real and plotting against humanity from the shadows, fans of swords and sorcery can pick up a stylish Day One edition of the game for $70 or a $200 Collector's Edition. Here's a closer look at what you'll find in each version.

The Blood of Dawnwalker preorder bonuses

Locking in your preorder for any edition of The Blood of the Dawnwalker will unlock the Sangoran Wayfarer's Armor set, protective gear adorned with an emblem of a nameless smith who traveled across the continent in pursuit of inspiration. This gear can also be acquired later in the game, but preorders will grant it to a player immediately, giving them an early boost when they start playing The Blood of the Dawnwalker.

The Blood of Dawnwalker Day One Edition

$70 | Releases September 3

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