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An open letter attributed to "93 employees and ex-employees" of Build A Rocket Boy has accused the studio's leadership of "longstanding disrespect and mistreatment of your staff." The open letter is accompanied by news that members of the Game Workers branch of the Independent Workers of Great Britain (IWGB) union have commenced legal action over mishandling of redundancies at the company. Read more View the full article

Azerbaijan-based developer PolyDream Studio has raised $500,000 in funding. Read more View the full article

Claim your free gift pack code to unlock in-game items for Vampire Master, including Treasure Tickets and more! View the full article

Warner Bros. has greenlit a sequel to A Minecraft Movie, which is set to premiere on July 23, 2027. Read more View the full article

Ubisoft reportedly scrapped an Assassin's Creed game set after the American Civil War due to "online backlash" of Yasuke in Shadows and an "increasingly intense" political climate in the US. Read more View the full article

Los Angeles-based studio Heart Machine has announced an unspecified amount of job cuts. Read more View the full article

Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Publisher: Skybound Games Developer: Quarter Up Release: 2026 Rating: Mature When I visited Skybound Entertainment to get my hands on Invincible VS ahead of its June reveal, I emerged impressed by the technical proficiency and over-the-top action the 3v3 fighter delivers within a product that feels genuine to the source material. And it makes sense, seeing as how the team is made up of writers, artists, and talent involved with the show and comic, as well as developers who previously worked on the Killer Instinct reboot. As the roster continues to build out, with the director of the Global Defense Agency, Cecil Stedman, this tag-team fighting game is looking to be more and more of a dream project for fans of the series like myself. Though I didn't get my hands on Cecil's gameplay like I did with Invincible, Atom Eve, Bulletproof, and Thula back in May, I was given an advance screening of a gameplay trailer. Cecil looks surprisingly technical, with a lot of devices, teleportation, and even summoned ReAnimen mixed into his gameplay style. "It would have been really easy for us to just have him be a 'Man in the Ear,' but we wanted to do something more than that," narrative director Michael Rogers says. "Cecil is a fan favorite of a lot of people on the team, myself included, and the way we figured it out was just being inventive. I had a wishlist of things that I wanted in the game from a story perspective, and that was teleportation, the White Room, ReAnimen, and all of those things were things that our combat designers already had on their brain." Cecil joins a roster that already includes Invincible, Omni-Man, Atom Eve, Bulletproof, Thula, Rex Splode, and Battle Beast. If you're a fan of Invincible, you'll pretty quickly realize that Cecil is the first character without superpowers. "If you look at it from a gameplay perspective, you have all these different archetypes from grapplers to strikers to rush-down powerhouse characters that push you to corners, and then you have mid- and long-range characters," executive producer Mike Willette says. "The concept of Cecil, what he does is he manipulates and he can stay on the outside. So, in his kit, we have a lot of long-range weaponry, from his GDA tech, like his sonic mine, to the ReAnimen that he can call in, to the White Room, the orbital strike, the Flaxan weapons; he has all this stuff available to him. So, for him, he's just setting up the battlefield. He's setting up traps and things that you have to get around. [...] He can't fly, he doesn't have a double-jump, so he takes advantage of his GDA tech and costing the taxpayers all that money by teleporting all around the stage." The Mysterious Story ModeIn the Invincible series on Amazon's Prime Video service, Cecil is voiced by actor Walton Goggins. While J.K. Simmons has been confirmed to reprise his role as Omni-Man in the game, Quarter Up hesitates to confirm anyone else in the cast. However, voice acting plays a prominent role before, during, and after the fights, as characters exchange quips, but it will, in theory, play an even bigger role in the story mode, about which, to this point, Quarter Up has not revealed many details. Though we've known the game will have a story mode for quite some time, details have been extraordinarily scarce, with the team declining to discuss much about it during my initial interaction with them. That's why, when I spoke with the developers again last week, I used it as an opportunity to ask them for everything they could tell me. "The idea is that it's a standalone narrative set in the Invincible universe," Rogers says. "We wanted story mode to feel like an episode of the show that you would play; that was our approach with it. I was lucky enough to work with Helen Leigh, who's one of the writers from the show, and a close collaboration with [co-creator] Robert Kirkman. [...] We wanted to create this sort of specialized, specific, standalone piece of story that also feels like it fits and is right at home in the universe." Rogers also hints that there's a very specific reason tied to the story regarding why Cecil is playable. "I felt like it was a good time to bring up story mode again because being able to bring him out of the 'Guy in the Ear' and put him actually on the fight line, it gave us a lot more to play with in the story," he says. "I don't want to spoil too much because we love our surprises in the Invincible IP, but there's a reason why he's playable. In fact, every playable character that we've revealed thus far has a role of some sort in the story." Though Quarter Up stops short of confirming what era of the Invincible show this playable "episode" known as Invincible VS takes place quite yet, the team did write with a specific era in mind, which is perhaps best reflected in the character Invincible, Mark Grayson. "I think that definitely informs how we write a character and what sort of aspects we bring, especially to Mark, a character that's evolving constantly across the IP," Rogers says. "We wanted to make sure that Mark felt like the right Mark, and in the right time and space. You can see from the gameplay we've released for him, he's got some of that whimsy that you see in a younger Mark space, but he's also got a little more of that seriousness that you sometimes see in Mark as he's growing as a superhero and learning." A New Hero (or Villain) EmergesBefore I leave the call, Willette goads Rogers to "tell him about the super secret thing." That super secret thing is that Quarter Up worked in close collaboration with Skybound Entertainment to create a completely new character for Invincible VS. "We're going to have a brand-new character who has not appeared anywhere in the Invincible VS universe, in story and in the game," Rogers says with a smile. "Honestly, it was so exciting to be able to bring someone brand new and bring them into this, into the story, and into the universe. I'm bursting to tell you more, but I will be in so much trouble." Though Rogers couldn't talk much more about the original character that will appear in Invincible VS, he does share that the team worked closely with the team behind the other parts of the IP to ensure it feels like an authentic inclusion. However, art director Dan Eder was able to speak a bit more about the surprise inclusion of this character and the team's overall approach to authenticity. "Across the board, the creators are heavily involved in this project, and I think that's one of the privileges of being first-party [to Skybound]," Eder says. "We're a part of Skybound, so we have the right access to them, and they are super hyped about the game; they were involved from day one. A lot of the major decisions, we brainstorm with them, with the new character, with some of our existing characters, or certain story elements, and so we want to get their first impression and first reactions, and then we go from there. Who knows these characters better than the people who created them? We want to make sure that it's an authentic experience, but also that we're able to have our own special footprint when it comes to the game and how we show another side of the characters that you wouldn't have been able to see in other media." Invincible VS arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2026. For a more in-depth overview with hands-on impressions, check out our deep-dive hands-on preview here. View the full article

The massively successful A Minecraft Movie is, unsurprisingly, getting a sequel, and we already have a premiere date. A Minecraft Movie 2 is coming June 23, 2027, and sees the principal creative minds behind the first film returning to the fold. As reported by Deadline, Jared Hess is returning to direct the sequel and is also developing the screenplay with returning writer Chris Galletta. The film will be produced by Legendary Pictures’ Mary Parent and Cale Boyter, in addition to Roy Lee, Eric McLeod, Kayleen Walters, Torfi Frans Ólafsson, and actor Jason Momoa, who portrayed Garrett "The Garbage Man" Garrison in the first movie. A teaser image has also been released, posted below. There’s currently no word on casting, but the first film starred Jack Black (as the series' protagonist Steve), Jason Momoa, Emma Meyers, Danielle Brooks, Sebastian Hansen, and Jennifer Coolidge. The plot centers on four misfits who are pulled into the world of Minecraft and must find a way back to the real world with the help of Steve, an expert crafter. A Minecraft Movie premiered in the US on April 4, 2025, at No. 1 in the box office with a domestic opening weekend gross of $163 million. It went on to earn $424 million throughout its theatrical run in the US, giving it the highest domestic box office gross of 2025. The film is also the third-highest-grossing film of 2025 overall, boasting a worldwide total that’s nearing $1 billion ($957.8 million as of June 30), behind only Disney's live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch and the Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2. Although the film garnered a mixed reception from critics, the general audience seems to have enjoyed it: On Rotten Tomatoes, A Minecraft Movie currently has a 48 percent critic score but a very positive 86 percent audience score. The film also became a viral phenomenon on TikTok thanks to the popular "Chicken Jockey" meme that likely helped encourage viewers to see the movie in theaters to participate. [Source: Deadline] View the full article

At Game Informer, writing game reviews is one of our primary functions. As such, we cover hundreds of titles each and every year, hoping to turn you on to your next favorite game. However, within that field, a select few rise to the top as the games we most highly recommend. While you're always welcome to peruse our reviews page for the latest and greatest (and sometimes worst) games on the market, we've gathered our highest-scoring reviews of 2025 right here. When Game Informer was re-launched in March of this year, we made it a point to review many of the games we missed, but we couldn't cover them all. As such, some critically acclaimed games, such as Split Fiction, aren't on this list, as we were unable to review them while playing catch-up. However, we have reviews for most of the biggest games of 2025, and you can see the ones we think are the most worthwhile below. Be sure to bookmark this page and check back frequently, as we'll continue to update it as more titles earn review scores on the top end of our review scale. 10 Hades II Hades II is the pinnacle of the roguelike genre, a position I previously granted its predecessor, but one that its sequel has handily earned. Read review Platforms: Switch 2, Switch, PC Release Date: September 25, 2025 9.5 Blue Prince Blue Prince harnesses the innate, burning curiosity one feels when seeing a closed door at the end of a hallway and crafts it into an unforgettable experience. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac Release Date: April 10, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), September 29, 2025 (Mac) Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector Buoyed by the excellent returning dice gameplay, incredible sci-fi writing, and a fantastic score, Citizen Sleeper 2 is a worthy sequel, even if its UI and finale didn’t quite match the heights of the rest of the package. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC Release Date: January 31, 2025 Doom: The Dark Ages With the Shield Saw and other great additions, id Software gives us something we didn’t know we wanted, proving once again that this legendary series can still evolve in ways we haven’t even dreamed of. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: May 15, 2025 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II KCD2 is challenging, demanding, and often unforgiving. But, like the sharp blades I smithed in-game, through fire, it forges an exciting, surprising, and unforgettable fable. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: February 4, 2025 Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound Across its 12-hour runtime, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound seamlessly blends gorgeous pixel art, inventive level design, and sublime gameplay to create one of the best retro throwbacks I’ve ever played. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Release Date: July 31, 2025 9.25 Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles Final Fantasy Tactics is back to prove the grandfather of so many tactics titles hasn't lost a single step. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Release Date: September 30, 2025 Ghost of Yōtei Ghost of Yōtei impresses. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5 Release Date: October 2, 2025 Is This Seat Taken? Is This Seat Taken takes a beautifully simple premise – sitting people in chairs – and iterates on it in consistently creative and exciting ways. Read review Platforms: Switch, PC, iOS, Android Release Date: August 7, 2025 Monster Train 2 The realm of indie roguelikes is competitive and crowded, but despite years of tough competition, Monster Train 2 has strongly reasserted its series as one of the leaders of the pack. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC Release Date: May 21, 2025 Shinobi: Art of Vengeance Shinobi: Art of Vengeance should serve as a blueprint for delivering a retro-facing experience of an absentee franchise while still leveraging modern technology and game design conventions. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Release Date: August 29, 2025 The Roottrees Are Dead Find every blood relative in a mysterious family tree in this engrossing puzzle game. Read review Platforms: PC Release Date: January 15, 2025 9 Absolum Combining classic fantasy brawler mechanics, top-notch art and music, and a roguelite progression loop add up to an incredibly fun cooperative adventure. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC Release Date: October 9, 2025 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 I was eager to see the expedition's conclusion, but I did not want it to end. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: April 24, 2025 Donkey Kong Bananza Donkey Kong and Pauline’s adventure is a showpiece for Nintendo’s new console, and it meets the incredibly high standard the developer has been setting for itself since the ’80s. Read review Platforms: Switch 2 Release Date: July 17, 2025 Hollow Knight: Silksong Hollow Knight: Silksong is beautiful, nuanced, and deeply rewarding, but it’s also tuned to be grueling in ways that aren’t always fun in the traditional sense. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Release Date: September 4, 2025 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle The Great Circle reminds me of why I fell in love with Indy in the first place and should be a template for how to craft new interactive stories in this legendary series. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC Release Date: December 8, 2024 (Xbox Series X/S, PC), April 17, 2025 (PlayStation 5), 2026 (Switch 2) Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Metal Gear Solid 3 didn’t necessarily need a remake, but now that it’s here, I’m not sure I will ever be able to go back to the original versions. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: August 28, 2025 Peak A brilliant climbing adventure that stands out as a delight in a year of self-serious major game releases. Read review Platforms: PC Release Date: June 16, 2025 8.75 Death Stranding 2: On The Beach Death Stranding 2 is a game with faults and annoyances, but it also makes big, expensive swings and is trying to establish its own unique genre, often successfully. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5 Release Date: June 26, 2025 Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fantastic reminder that the franchise that began on the Super Nintendo in 1994 is a real competitor for Nintendo’s best 2D platforming series, an extremely competitive landscape. Read review Platforms: Switch Release Date: January 16, 2025 Monster Hunter Wilds The Forbidden Lands are an enticing new playground for the series, and I look forward to spending dozens more hours uncovering Monster Hunter Wilds' secrets. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: February 28, 2025 Mouthwashing Mouthwashing is an existential horror show with unique visual effects, brutal dialogue, and surreal consequences that kept my eyes locked to the screen for the entire three-hour playtime. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC Release Date: September 26, 2024 (PC), 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) 8.5 And Roger While I wouldn’t wish the plight of And Roger's protagonist on my worst enemy, I would happily recommend this experience as another strong example of video games' strength as a storytelling medium Read review Platforms: Switch, PC Release Date: July 23, 2025 Assassin's Creed Shadows In Assassin's Creed Shadows, playing as Yasuke and Naoe is as powerful as the Shoguns that ruled during this era of Japan, even if the story doesn't match the gameplay's towering heights. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Mac Release Date: March 20, 2025 Battlefield 6 Battlefield 6 hits the ground running with a 64-player multiplayer suite full of dazzling sandboxes just waiting to be leveled, but not every part of the package is as effective. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: October 10, 2025 Borderlands 4 Though many of the series’ core elements remain intact, Gearbox has refined and reconfigured them in such ways that Borderlands 4 rises beyond anything the series has accomplished to this point. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC Release Date: September 12, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), TBA (Switch 2) Dying Light: The Beast Dying Light: The Beast can feel a touch safe at times with a serviceable story, but the high-flying parkour and gorgeous graphics are top-notch. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC Release Date: September 19, 2025 EA Sports College Football 26 Like a standout freshman bursting onto the scene, College Football 25 was a pleasant surprise, but College Football 26 aptly demonstrates it wasn’t just beginner’s luck, delivering an equally impressive sophomore effort. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S Release Date: July 10, 2025 Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii An absurd tone with surprising pockets of earnest pathos, fun characters, and bombastic action are all present and accounted for here. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC Release Date: February 21, 2025 Marvel Rivals With a huge roster of free playable characters , a satisfying gameplay loop, and the fast matchmaking, Marvel Rivals executes a simple concept with skill and finesse. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PC Release Date: December 5, 2024 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), September 12, 2025 (PlayStation 4) MLB The Show 25 MLB The Show 25 delivers perhaps the most well-rounded package of any of the mainstream sports video games, making for a title I first fired up during Spring Training and could very well still be playing when the World Series rolls around. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch Release Date: March 18, 2025 NBA 2K26 The absolute glut of content is impressive and intimidating all at once, and NBA 2K26’s on-the-court performance is so good that it’s worth the annoyances that come with the franchise. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Release Date: September 5, 2025 Revenge of the Savage Planet The first game was a fun one-off experience, but its sequel is a far more complete and rewarding package that left me hungry for more savage planets to explore. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: May 8, 2025 Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Though there’s substantially less content and replayability than its primary contemporary, Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is concise and effective in its mission, offering the most well-rounded kart racer of the year. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Release Date: September 25, 2025 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC), 2025 (Switch 2) Sonic X Shadow Generations The potent combination of Sonic and Shadow Generations makes a strong case for being the best package of 3D Sonic content we’ve ever seen. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Release Date: October 25, 2024 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC), June 5, 2025 (Switch 2) South of Midnight South of Midnight's decent combat and platforming are elevated to great heights by stellar visual and musical presentation, resulting in a game I can't stop smiling about. Read review Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC Release Date: April 8, 2025 Star Wars Outlaws Moving between planets and wandering Outlaws’ dense cities is where the adventure shines, but shooting your way through your current gig so you can make it to the next is also compelling, if sometimes a little simple. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PC Release Date: August 30, 2024 (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC), September 4, 2025 (Switch 2) Sword of the Sea Sword of the Sea moves at the pace of a magical swordsperson speeding across sand dunes on a floating blade at 170 miles per hour, and it never gives you a reason to look away. Read review Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC Release Date: August 19, 2025 For more of our top reviews from recent years, head to the links below. 20242023202220212020201920182017201620152014 View the full article

Skate Story, a game about a glass demon's quest to eat the moon, is right around the corner. Today, publisher Devolver Digital announced it would be coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Switch 2 on December 8. You can check out the announcement trailer below: The game features some fascinating visuals, with a hazy lo-fi filter and an abstract take on Hell. By eating the moon, the Devil will give you your soul back, and based on this trailer, the path to the moon is paved with a lot of curbs and rails to grind on. According to a press release, the game has over 70 tricks to learn, and by doing so, you can unlock new boards, wheels, gear, and more. The journey is accompanied by an intense soundtrack from the band Blood Cultures, which features heavy synthesizers and light, distant vocals, and additional tracks composed by John Fio. If you want to try the game for yourself, there's a Steam demo available right now. View the full article

Claim your free Rogue Journeyman Bundle for Albion Online on Epic Games Store! Each bundle includes the Rogue Adventurer vanity ... View the full article

Nintendo has updated the library of games in its SNES portion of Nintendo Switch Online, but one addition is more significant than most. Mario & Wario, a 1993 puzzle spin-off of both the Mario and Wario series has come west for the first time in history. It's joined by two other games, Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind and Fatal Fury Special, and you can check out all three in the video below. Mario & Wario was developed by Game Freak, a studio primarily known for its world-famous Pokémon series. In fact, much of the team behind Pokémon Red, Blue, and Green is credited on Mario & Wario as well; both games are directed by Satoshi Tajiri, feature art from Ken Sugimori, and include music from Junichi Masuda. In the game, you control a fairy named Wanda who helps Mario navigate various obstacles while his eyes are covered with Wario's various traps, including barrels and giant eggshells. Like Mario Paint, Mario & Wario uses a mouse peripheral as its main controller, and the player clicks the screen to manipulate the environment and safely bring Mario to his goal. On Switch 2, you can use a Joy-Con 2 to play, but for Switch 1, you'll need a USB mouse plugged into the console. Meanwhile, Bubsy in: Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind is the first in the Bubsy series, a mascot platformer from 1993. While modern attempts to revive the character have been largely unsuccessful, this first outing was received very well, with Game Informer's staff at the time giving it an average score of 8.75 and putting it on the cover of our ninth issue. Fatal Fury Special, on the other hand, is an enhanced version of Fatal Fury II, including more characters and faster animations. All three games are available on Nintendo Switch Online for Switch 1 and 2 starting today. For more NSO games, check out our complete list of the games currently on the service. View the full article

Gravity Circuit is free right now on the Epic Games Store! This action-packed 2D platformer offers satisfying combos and 12 unique ... View the full article

Reviewed on: Xbox Series X/S Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Publisher: Electronic Arts Developer: Battlefield Studios Release: October 10, 2025 Rating: Mature Following Battlefield 2042’s troubled launch, EA rallied the troops (DICE, Criterion, Ripple Effect, and Motive), establishing a unified front with Battlefield Studios. Fortunately, the veteran task force hit the ground running with Battlefield 6, reintroducing the franchise’s tried-and-true traditions, such as an operator-less role system, a manageable 64-player limit, and an original single-player campaign. Most maps are dazzling sandboxes just waiting to be leveled, firearms feel impactful with detectable recoil patterns, and a bevy of demanding progression challenges keep the grind loop fresh. But like in most hard-fought victories, not every wartime decision yields a winning result. Battlefield 6 pushes the limits of cinematic sensory overload to great effect, even in multiplayer. After narrowly escaping detection by an enemy squad, I sneak into a sniper’s lookout and pile-drive him into the ground with my sledgehammer. Rifle caked with blood, I peer out of a nearby window only to be met by the business end of a tank cannon. I dive, though it’s too late; the rocket pierces the building’s thin walls, and the floor caves beneath me. Suddenly, a brave medic drags my body out of the rubble to patch me up, bullets whizzing past us and cracking against the pavement. Adrenaline-pumping war stories like mine are commonplace, making heady firefights or daring escapes all the more personalized and unforgettable. As a globetrotting soldier, you’ll battle in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, under Cairo’s scorching sun, and amid the ever-burning oil fields of Iran, among other arenas. For the most part, these locales are awe-inspiring, brimming with destructible, multi-floored structures, ranging from urban museums to remote construction yards. As a New Yorker, I was floored by the East River views I got from an attack chopper as Dumbo’s ritzy brownstones crumbled into dust below. Contrarily, Liberation Peak, with its mountain-side villages and military installations, and Iberian Offensive, a war-torn district in Gibraltar, failed to impress, featuring dreary, grayscale environments and unremarkable points of interest, like parking lots and rocky outcroppings. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a moment of solace to even take in such sights, because the action is so satisfyingly frenetic. Battlefield Studios’ newly implemented “Kinesthetic Combat System” smartly augments mobility and gunplay. When I missed my chance to spawn in a tank at match start, I grappled onto its backplate, avoiding the early-game marathon that previous entries in the series are notorious for. Wanting to drop on an unsuspecting enemy from an elevated vantage point, I recklessly leapt from the ledge and, with a perfectly-timed button press, rolled as I hit the ground, limiting fall damage and closing the distance for a melee takedown in seconds. Moreover, peeking/leaning as well as mounting weapons on practically any surface empowered me to make smarter rotations and prioritize optimal sightlines. I enjoyed contending with the mental gymnastics of mindlessly rounding corners or rushing chokepoints, giving every tactical decision the appropriate weight. Classic modes like Conquest, Rush, and Breakthrough make a welcome return, offering the same high-octane, all-out warfare experiences that endeared fans to the Battlefield IP many moons ago. These awesome playlists remain fundamentally unchanged and for good reason: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, Battlefield 6 introduces a new way to play with Escalation, a territorial tug-of-war where two teams clash to control a smattering of points on a map until the number of contestable objectives dwindles. Escalation deftly redefines Conquest’s ruleset by funneling players toward one last, epic battle. Whenever a match neared its end, the electric medley of desperation and excitement was palpable. Team Deathmatch, Domination, and King of the Hill offer small-scale options for troopers who prefer intimate engagements, especially with shotguns and SMGs. Saints Quarter, the infantry-only map made for these modes, might be the next great close-quarters arena akin to Battlefield 3’s spectacular Noshahr Canals, but spotty spawn points still give rise to cheap instadeaths. At least Portal’s return is slated to assuage my concerns with these less-enticing peripherals through detailed scripting tools that players can use to upload anything from custom horde modes to zany obstacle courses, which still astonishingly award experience. Like the upcoming battle royale mode, I didn’t get any hands-on time with the latest iteration of Portal, so it’s tough to gauge how successful it’ll be this go around, but giving the community game-editing capabilities is always an ambitious creative choice. Teamplay remains essential to progression, and this is best exemplified by Battlefield 6’s overhauled class system. Each role – Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon – has its own signature trait (passive), weapon, gadget (tactical ability), and active ability (ultimate) that level the playing field. I appreciated having improved aim-down-sights speed with LMGs while playing Support, but Assault’s access to deployable ladders added newfound levels of verticality that led to more eliminations and, consequently, significant lead changes. Training Paths (specializations) also make role selection nuanced. The Engineer’s Anti-Armor path increased my rocket count by two, allowing me to handily turn armored motorcades into scrap metal, and when I opted for the stone-cold assassin approach with Recon, I benefited from the Sniper path, which incentivized landing headshots, as victims couldn’t be revived. I loved experimenting with each class, tinkering with gadgets and paths to help catalyze much-needed momentum swings. Daily, weekly, and career challenges drip-feed unlockable rewards, including numerous attachments, dog tags, badges, and more. Even though Battlefield 6 touts lengthy progression systems, a swath of XP boosts and accessible tasks, like simply netting assists or traveling long distances, nicely balances legendary assignments like nailing a clip-worthy “rendezook” (destroying an enemy aircraft with an unguided rocket while exiting and reentering your own). A fresh assortment of vertical grips, charms, and playercards should make up for the battle scars, but don’t expect to look chic when running and gunning. Weapon, vehicle, and character cosmetics are shockingly uninspired, with several amounting to basic camo designs. At first glance, a whopping 30 woodland skins might seem enticing until you realize the minute differences between them. I know war is hell, but after many hours of exemplary service, I ought to look good while waging it. Battlefield 6’s weakest link is its narrative. Alongside a hardened crew of Marine raiders supervised by a mysterious CIA liaison, I begrudgingly took the fight to private military company Pax Armata after it violently ousted NATO. In one mission, I hopped out of a transport plane, a thick bed of clouds giving way to a piercingly beautiful afternoon sun. However, the dazzling spectacle was short-lived, as I tried and failed to recall why I was even there in the first place. Major themes, namely, survivor’s guilt, embracing leadership, and expendability, are buried beneath weak dialogue, wooden cutscenes that often stripped control from me during the most exciting action sequences, and a frustratingly bland villain. Beyond completing challenges, there aren’t enough compelling reasons to endure the story. Having a curated single-player offering should add more breadth to the overall package, but this particular element is only puddle deep. There’s nothing quite like trudging through slick mudfields, down metropolitan streets, and past eroded craters as shells lay waste to abandoned farmsteads, scorching the last vestiges of greenery. The latest entry in the Battlefield series is an amalgamation of immersive moments like this. I only wish some of the postwar rewards matched my many acts of valor and that the campaign reflected the grittiness of its multiplayer counterpart. Despite some military blunders, Battlefield 6 has successfully turned the tide. Score: 8.5 About Game Informer's review system View the full article

This year marks the 15th anniversary for MachinesGames and to celebrate the milestone, the developer is releasing a new update for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle tomorrow, on October 10. It will add the heavily requested New Game+ feature to the game, which includes a new ending sequence, a new but classic Indy outfit, and additional voice-over languages. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launched on Xbox Series X/S and PC last December, and it hit PlayStation 5 earlier this year. Players on every platform can expect this free anniversary update tomorrow, and you can get a look at the new features in a special trailer below: As you can see, the main highlight of the update is New Game+. Once you've completed the main story, New Game+ will be available right from the main menu. All you have to do is select a save slot containing a completed playthrough of the story, and a New Game+ menu will appear. MachineGames says, "Because you'll be significantly stronger this time around, we recommend bumping your difficulty up," and notes you can adjust this during the initial New Game+ setup. As for what carries over, you will have all collected and unlocked Adventure Books as well as any unspent Adventure Points, local currency, and Medicine Bottles. If you complete the story in New Game+, you'll unlock a "brand-new ending sequence after the credits," MachineGames says. Elsewhere in the update, you'll receive the new Cairo look from Raiders of the Lost Ark. To wear it, just visit the Outfit tab in the Options menu, and you can select the Cairo outfit at any point whenever Indy isn't wearing a disguise. Finally, this anniversary update includes "Voice Language Select," so now you can mix and match any of the nine available voice languages with any of the fourteen text languages. There are also several general fixes in this update, which you can read about here. This update hits the game tomorrow, on October 10. In the meantime, read Game Informer's Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review, and then read our behind-the-scenes look at how MachineGames crafted the game's unique and immersive menu. What do you think the new ending sequence will be? Let us know in the comments below! View the full article

Claim your free gift code for Portal Worlds and unlock several in-game items and bonuses! View the full article

A group of former ZeniMax Online developers have announced the formation of Sackbird Studios. Read more View the full article

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, PC Publisher: Dotemu Developer: Guard Crush Games, Supamonks, Dotemu Release: October 9, 2025 Rating: Everyone 10+ While the brawler genre is most commonly remembered for scenes of vigilante street fighters beating up gang members or superheroes unleashing their powers, another long-established legacy includes a decidedly more fantastical backdrop, where wizards and warriors battle their way across a scrolling screen, mount fire-breathing dragons, and fling out spells. If that flavor has always appealed to you, I’ve got good news: Your long quest is finally over – Absolum is the platonic form of this simple but endearing structure. You have many hours of glorious hacking and slashing ahead. Absolum casts players as spellcasting adventurers in a fantasy world overrun by a tyrant, fighting to restore balance and dispel an overarching and incomprehensible evil. Within the familiar story framework, the developers manage to present nuanced and compelling world-building, with a sense of captivating history. Alongside a gorgeous hand-drawn cartoon-style aesthetic, I was consistently eager to see more of the fiction unfold. The game also deserves a special call-out for one of the most hummable adventure musical scores of the year – I would sometimes choose my level pathing purely to listen to a favorite tune again. Taking cues from some of the most successful roguelites of recent years, Absolum builds death and rebirth into the narrative's conceit; the heroes ceaselessly throw themselves into danger and premature defeat, only to level up and try again. I like the way new quests, characters, and conflicts gradually layer themselves in, easing the sense of repetition through consistently new twists. Each run is also kept fresh by the unique power combos you can craft and the paths you trace across the map. For the former, your selection between a cast of four characters each exhibits unique strengths, which are further enhanced as you pick up different rituals over the course of a run. Maybe this time is the elven warrior beefed up with chain lightning, and the next is the clockwork assassin powered by tidal waves and necromancy. The options for light buildcrafting are intriguing, even as additional global upgrades are purchased between runs to elevate your abilities further. I do wish there were more precise explanations and numerical values attached to each character’s playstyle, but time playing each helps to answer those questions. Players can split off onto numerous different paths over the course of a full run, each with varying backdrops of level, enemy encounters, and bosses. Even those layouts begin to change things up, with additional quests and dynamic events that keep you guessing. The effect is that even after battling through 30-plus completed runs, I was never bored or trapped in repetition. Absolum rewards experimentation with different characters, builds, and pathing through an attempt, and I was finding fresh experiences even after dozens of hours. The brawling mechanics themselves are straightforward to pick up, but incredibly satisfying to master. The frenetic battles demand aggressive attacks, juggling enemies, and building long combos. With time, the mastery of dodges, deflects, and finishing moves lets you take on some intense and titanic battles, from undead dwarven kings to cosmic horrors from another dimension. Absolum is great fun all by yourself, but it also allows you to bring a friend along for some companionable co-op, either locally or online. Both options perform admirably, and the game is all the more fun with another fantasy hero at your side. While a further expansion to three or four players might have led to overwhelming on-screen action, it does feel like a missed opportunity not to allow for larger parties. But even as a partner deal, it’s one of my favorite cooperative experiences of recent years. Online multiplayer is handled with a clever twist, where story progression is limited to whichever player is further behind (to avoid spoilers), even as both players maintain their overall power levels and global ability unlocks as they play. I also applaud the freeform approach to an assist mode, which allows players to customize both damage output and damage received to set the difficulty precisely as desired. The default challenge is significant but not insurmountable; however, more story-focused players should appreciate having an easier route to game completion. Unfortunately, this assist mode is disabled in online multiplayer. Absolum is a game I’ve wanted to play since I was a kid. We get simple, approachable brawling battles, high production values in art and music, and a richly imagined fantasy world, all wrapped around a narrative that makes replay and progression worth coming back to advance again and again. It’s not a game that is going to change anyone’s opinions about the genre, but it is a brilliant implementation of a very old formula into something that feels modern, deeply replayable, and unmistakably fun. Score: 9 About Game Informer's review system View the full article

Double Eleven founder Lee Hutchinson is stepping down as CEO, with Kimberley Turner and Mark South leading the indie studio as co-CEOs. Read more View the full article

Nintendo of America is seeking $4.5 million in damages against Redditor James C. Williams, also known as 'Archbox'. Read more View the full article

Powerhoof's The Drifter took home Game of the Year at the Australian Game Developer Awards 2025, as well as Excellence in Art, Excellence in Narrative, and Excellence in Sound Design. Read more View the full article

Fragbite has divested Playdigious to venture fund Griffin Gaming Partners for $12.2 million (€10.5 million). Read more View the full article

A global non-profit co-operative of game devs, universities, and associated companies, the Sustainable Games Alliance (SGA), has launched the Sustainable Games Standard, the "first global emissions reporting framework created specifically for the games industry." Read more View the full article

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has achieved over 5 million copies sold since launching on April 24. To celebrate, developer Sandfall Interactive has announced a new update is in the works for the hit RPG. This update is currently in development and will be free to all players. It will add new features, the most significant of which is a brand new environment filled with new enemies and other surprises. Fans can also expect new boss battles designed to challenge late-game players. The update will also introduce quality-of-life improvements such as new text and UI localizations in Czech, Ukrainian, Latin American Spanish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian. Sandfall promises other surprises will be part of the update, which currently has no release window. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game is among our favorites of the year, so we’re happy to see it not only performing well commercially but being bolstered with new content. For more on the game, check out our interview with the game's composer and our list of games to play if you enjoyed Expedition 33. View the full article

NBA 2K26 was the best-selling premium game of August 2025, rocketing into the best-selling games of the year list, charting at fifth place. It was also the month's best-seller on both PlayStation and Xbox. Read more View the full article