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Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC Publisher: Square Enix Developer: Deck Nine Release: March 26, 2026 Rating: Mature Life is Strange: Reunion lives up to its name in more ways than one. Players return to Caledon University, the setting of the previous game, Double Exposure, to unravel a new mystery alongside much of that game’s cast. Max Caulfield’s time-rewind powers from the first Life is Strange are back in full force. And, of course, fan-favorite character Chloe Price makes her grand return to the series after over a decade-long absence. Retreading these familiar grounds offers nostalgic fun and some effective emotional beats. However, Max and Chloe’s swan song also lacks the exciting freshness of its predecessor, and its core mystery takes some frustrating missteps. Reunion is a direct follow-up to Double Exposure, taking place nine months later. It's the least newcomer-friendly entry due to how much its events hinge on having played the 2024 adventure and, to a lesser extent, the first Life is Strange. Although Reunion opens with a cinematic recap of Double Exposure’s pivotal moments, character development and characterization of its cast are largely lost. The game doesn’t spend much time re-establishing the snoopy journalist Loretta or the sly and secretive Vinh, and my interactions with these characters were largely colored by knowing how they behaved in Double Exposure. If you haven’t already, I highly recommend playing the last game before embarking on this new journey. Reunion’s plot centers on Max returning to a Caledon engulfed in a fire that kills her friends and students; she jumps backward in time three days to try to prevent this destruction. I was immediately disappointed with how Reunion quickly walks back a big element of Double Exposure’s shocking finale. Perhaps in an effort to keep newcomers on a similar level of familiarity, a reveal involving the larger cast with huge implications for the future is essentially retconned in an extremely unsatisfying way. It more or less resets most of the cast to where they were before Double Exposure’s ending, making interactions in Reunion overly familiar and devoid of interesting character growth. Reunion's new characters, like the school's villainous new president, don't fare better and are woefully one-dimensional. I was also bummed that the endgame status of one particularly special student is not followed up on in any major way, despite multiple teases. Double Exposure’s final big decision, which also had wild implications, also winds up going nowhere significant and is hardly elaborated on. Those complaints aside, it’s great to hang out with Max and her best friend Moses again. They remain a delight thanks to strong dialogue and even better performances, and this extends to Chloe and other core characters, too. Double Exposure’s reality-hopping shenanigans paved a good excuse to bring Chloe Price into the fold, a character who, depending on how you ended the first Life is Strange, may be coming back from the dead. My biggest fear coming into Reunion was that Chloe would feel shoehorned, and I’m happy to say that’s not the case. The story justifies her presence both logically (as well as multiverse stories can, at least) and thematically, and I enjoyed getting to know an older, more mature version of her character. Chloe still has her signature rebellious streak, but I like how Reunion softens her in the way growing up tends to. Chloe’s supernatural existential crisis offers some poignant moments, and I like how this thread weaves into the similar plight of Max’s frenemy, Safi. But it ultimately takes a backseat to the less intriguing, more convoluted main plot of preventing the school fire. Splitting time playing as Max and Chloe and using their respective talents to interrogate suspects has enjoyable moments, but it is overall less stimulating than Double Exposure’s more engaging reality-shifting puzzles. Rewinding time with Max was never a deep mechanic in the original game, and that remains the case here. It largely boils down to redoing actions or conversations that go awry (sometimes multiple times) until you find the one correct path, with interesting moral dilemmas, such as whether to erase someone’s memory to keep them in the dark, arising less often than I hoped. Chloe, meanwhile, has her backtalking mechanic from Life is Strange: Before the Storm, which I didn’t love then and still don’t now. This involves choosing the correct responses in a row (typically two or three) based on knowledge of events to manipulate characters as you need. Again, it’s fairly shallow, and there are surprisingly few of these sequences given how much time you spend playing as Chloe. The unfortunate downside of Max and Chloe sharing gameplay time is that neither character’s mechanics has enough time to grow in complexity. Regardless of who you control, you’ll explore familiar locations, like the Caledon school grounds and the Snapping Turtle bar, alongside a couple of new areas to gather and inspect clues to build cases against potential suspects. Your accusations can be wrong, and you can miss helpful items; doing so leads to different outcomes, and I appreciate how this adds real stakes to my sleuthing. However, I didn’t always feel as hands-on with the investigation as I would like. For instance, one crucial clue implicating a character was simply given to me toward the end. I never found this clue myself – it just appeared on the evidence board as if I always had this information – so the resulting revelation feels hollow and unearned. The mystery is a bit messy overall, to the point I lost the thread a couple of times on how or why a character could be involved. It only coalesces towards the finish line into a somewhat satisfying conclusion (the one I got, at least) despite taking a few narrative leaps to get there. The primary draw of Reunion is seeing Max and Chloe reconnect and make up for lost time. The game delivers on that front; their heartfelt interactions sometimes made me forget the game’s other shortcomings. The manner in which Deck Nine sends these two off into the sunset – again, the version I unlocked – is truly wonderful. The rest of the package is overwhelmingly familiar to Double Exposure and takes a step backward in some cases. As much as I love Max and Chloe, everything around them seems to fall apart when they come together; Reunion is, sadly, no different. Score: 6 About Game Informer's review system View the full article

When Thick As Thieves, the upcoming stealth game led by Deus Ex/Thief director Warren Spector, was first revealed, it was billed as an asymmetrical immersive sim that featured PvPvE gameplay. However, developer Otherside has announced that it’s abandoning that approach and is redesigning the game to focus squarely on single-player and co-op play. Thick As Thieves was first announced during The Game Awards 2024 and is set in the Scottish city of Kilcairn during an alternative version of the 1910s, where magic and technology co-exist. In the original pitch for the game, players attempt to pull off heists by exploring the city to track down clues, observe character behaviors, and use technology and magic to infiltrate guarded areas while outsmarting three human-controlled thieves pursuing the same goals. Similar to games like Deus Ex and Dishonored, Thick As Thieves is an immersive sim allowing players to manipulate its mechanics for creative problem-solving and could be played solo, in co-op, or in asymmetrical multiplayer. You can watch the game's most recent showcase from Day of the Devs 2025 below. In a Steam post, Otherside writes that as development progressed on Thick as Thieves, “we found that we were having more fun with solo and co-op play.” “So, we’ve taken a decision we feel is right for the game: Thick as Thieves is now focused on two-player co-op and single player,” says Otherside. Otherside states this change in direction allows them to “double down” on Thick as Thieves’ dynamic stealth gameplay. “We’re already seeing how this has strengthened the moment-to-moment action, whether you’re playing solo or with a partner in co-op,” Otherside writes. “We’ve had some fantastic moments while testing the game. Now we’re putting all our energy into making things even better as we build up to launch.” The team does not touch on whether this change will affect the release timing for Thick as Thieves, which is slated to launch later this year for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game is slated to receive a new trailer as part of the Triple-i Initiative, a recurring indie game showcase, next week on April 9, so we'll likely learn more then. View the full article

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC Publisher: Limited Run Games, Konami Developer: Limited Run Games Release: March 27, 2026 Rating: Everyone 10+ Collecting and celebrating older video games can be a challenging pursuit. Compilations that do so must balance the desire to preserve the original intent and structure of the games presented, while making them palatable and enjoyable to experience today. Marvel Maximum Collection mostly hits the mark, supplying fans a look at some of the most memorable and important comic book games of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and showcasing how Marvel’s position as a pop-culture juggernaut predated terms like the MCU. These are lovingly recreated games from yesteryear, and the inclusion of several quality-of-life features makes them more approachable. But are these games actually good? The answer to that is more complicated. X-Men: The Arcade Game is the undisputed heavyweight here, and it’s great fun. Old-timers will recall the multiple cabinet sizes in which this game would appear, including a massive six-player beast of a machine from which the shouted roars of Colossus would echo to every corner of the arcade. Maximum Collection players get to select which of these versions to play, and also add in friends online for those massive six-player battles. X-Men devoured quarters like few other games of its time, but the vibrant visuals, delightfully yet poorly translated dialogue, and flashy combat were simple and joyous fun. That remains the case today, and I love the chance to share that experience with friends and younger family who might have missed those heady arcade days. Captain America and The Avengers doesn’t hit those same highs; the visuals don’t pop in the same way, the action isn’t as explosive, and the punches just don’t land with the same panache. Even so, it’s fun to see the wealth of comic-book cameos, and it’s amusing as the game bounces to sequences in increasingly outlandish locations like under the sea and deep in space. Like several of the titles in the collection, we also get versions that appeared on multiple platforms. And while I can’t say I like the 2D platforming action of the NES version, it’s certainly great to see it represented. Spider-Man/Venom: Maximum Carnage and Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety were both satisfying console brawlers in their day. The former feels more impactful overall, with visuals that leap off the screen, and a notably thrilling 16-bit soundtrack. Still, its single-player limitation holds it back from the way most would want to experience a beat ‘em up. Separation Anxiety adds a second player option, but neither the story nor the fights feel quite as visceral. Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade’s Revenge was always a strange beast of a game. The webcrawler joins the likes of Gambit and Cyclops in a tour through several strangely crafted levels built by villain Arcade. Wolverine’s run through a level of playful (murderous) toys is an especially amusing concept. Sadly, both the controls and action across the game just don’t hold up all these years later. Everything feels too fiddly, the level designs too arbitrary, and the deaths too cheap. I got a kick of nostalgia remembering my attempts as a kid, but that nostalgia was mostly for the frustration the game always created. Again, it’s the chance to dive into all the versions of the game that is the real draw, including early portable games. With that said, I question why anyone would care to make their way through the Game Boy version just for fun. Silver Surfer rounds out the collection. Some will proclaim this game as exceedingly hard, but really, it’s just not very good. Silver Surfer goes through a series of shooting levels, and constantly spawning enemies immediately kill you and send you back to start again. Here, the extra cheats may be especially worth trying out. With some variation of a god mode on, you can experience the whole game and see all the places you would have died (which will be plentiful) while also getting to experience a truly awesome chiptune musical score, as well as some imaginative destinations across the universe. Cheats like those that will get you through Silver Surfer are generally available across all the games, ensuring you can see what they offer without extreme difficulty, unless that’s what you’re looking for. You also get a quick rewind function and save states, which make everything even more approachable. I also like the display tweaks, which let you see everything in a sharp, modern presentation or, optionally, add CRT and scanline filters for that old-school TV-in-the-basement vibe. A music player and some digital archives are also worthwhile historical additions; in the latter case, it’s mostly instruction manuals and advertisements, so don’t expect too much insight into the original design or development, beyond one cool document exploring the early brainstorming for Maximum Carnage. It’s silly to fault a historical compilation for including games as they originally existed. The Maximum Collection gets just about everything right, but there’s really only one game in the mix that I’d hold up as a true classic of its genre. Beyond X-Men, the experience here is likely for those hunting nostalgia or players with a particularly keen eye for understanding the early days of superhero video games. If that’s the sort of thing that makes your interior Colossus roar, you can expect a solidly good time. Score: 8 About Game Informer's review system View the full article

Score Tractor Racers for free via Epic Games Store! Tractor Racers is a 3d single-player racing game where players take ... View the full article

You may not have believed it when Capcom announced the news yesterday on April Fool’s Day, but it has brought the original Resident Evil trilogy to Steam. That means Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2, and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis are now available on Steam. Capcom also tossed in Breath of Fire IV as a bonus. The announcement is the latest celebratory gesture for Resident Evil’s 30th anniversary this year. Each game features quality-of-life enhancements to support modern operating systems and current controllers. Other than these vague tweaks, these are very much the PS1 games you remember. The same goes for Breath of Fire IV, the 2000 RPG that had never been ported to any modern platform in North America until now. You can purchase all four games for $9.99 each, and they’re currently on sale for 50 percent off ($4.99) as part of a special launch discount. For more on Resident Evil, be sure to read our review of the series' latest entry, Requiem, here. View the full article

Ready to slice some robots like butter? Grab Clone Drone in the Danger Zone for free on the Epic Games ... View the full article

Developer Ludogram Games (Monsters are Coming: Rock & Roll, Firebird) has announced Ascenders: Beyond the Peak, a new mountain-climbing adventure that features roguelite progression and turn-based gameplay, with a Lovecraft-inspired twist. Players lead a team of climbers as they ascend a mountain cursed by mysterious, sinister forces. Success means carefully guiding your team, tethered together by a rope, across obstacles to reach the summit. Team composition matters, as climbers have different classes determining the tools and techniques they bring to the expedition. Highlanders, for example, can shove enemies off the cliff. Scouts can reposition themselves using a grappling hook, and Sappers can use explosives and firearms. The short, tactical climbs are riddled with environmental hazards, including ice sheets, unstable rocks, and bramble, which drain the team’s endurance. Climbers can be lost during the journey, and players will need to make tough decisions when one character’s peril endangers the entire team; it may be necessary to literally cut someone loose to progress the expedition at the expense of that climber's resources. The ascent itself is broken up into a roguelite-style branching path, with each stop representing a section of the climb and potentially other destinations. Reaching the summit rewards artifacts from a lost civilization, which can be used to upgrade your camp or traded to other factions. These artifacts can also be used during climbs to make them easier, though how is unclear. The choice-driven narrative will push players to make decisions such as which mountains to tackle, which factions to align with, and other choices that determine one of multiple endings. Ascenders: Beyond the Peak is launching into Steam Early Access during Q3 2026. View the full article

Goat Simulator developer Coffee Stain has closed its mobile-focused Malmö studio. Read more View the full article

MechWarrior 5: Clans developer Piranha Games has reportedly conducted a round of layoffs. Read more View the full article

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has rejected Nintendo's patent that involves an in-game character summoning a sub-character to aid it in battle. Read more View the full article

To celebrate its 25th anniversary, TOMAK : Save the Earth Regeneration is free on Epic Games Store until April 16! Love Story ... View the full article

Happy April Fools' Day! Exciting for some and stressful for others, today is one of the most fun (and treacherous) days to be on the internet, as people and companies on every social media site set out to bamboozle one another. Luckily for the video game community, most developers and publishers are aiming for silly jokes this year most of which are pretty transparently not real. We've gathered some of the biggest gags below, and we'll be updating the list throughout the day, so be sure to check back in as the hours go on for more updates. The Witcher: Project R.O.A.C.H.Roach, Geralt's horse, is one of the best characters in The Witcher franchise. To celebrate that trusty steed, Developer CD Projekt Red is unveiling Project Project R.O.A.C.H., a rideable controller to really immerse yourself in the world of The Witcher. To learn more about the (fake) product, watch the trailer below and check out the controller's official website. Pragmata: A Secret Mega Man Game?Pragmata, an upcoming third-person shooter from Capcom, is a brand new IP, but that hasn't stopped some from theorizing the game is secretly connected to one of the most iconic gaming franchises of all time: Mega Man. The game isn't out, so we have no way of knowing whether or not this fan theory would be confirmed, but with Capcom's April Fools' joke this year, which shows protagonist Hugh in a goofy Blue Bomber suit, we can probably assume the link isn't real. PowerWash Simulator 2: Date the DirtFans on the internet can and will fall in love with any fictional character, no matter how barebones their appearances are, which makes wacky dating sims a popular April Fools' prank. PowerWash Simulator is really taking advantage of that idea with Date the Dirt, a fake game where you romance human versions of different kinds of dirt. The trailer below is safe for work, but be warned: it's pretty dirty. Pokémon Pokopia: Copycat ChallengeThis one is actually a real in-game event. If you open up Pokémon Pokopia today, you can play the Copycat Challenge. Correctly answer enough quiz questions and you'll get an inflatable Sudowoodo decoration. An event is happening now in Pokémon Pokopia – the Copycat Challenge! Event Period ends April 2 at 4:59am PT. Some Pokémon may imitate the way other Pokémon speak and quiz you. Pass the quiz and you’ll receive an inflatable Sudowoodo—so be sure to talk to lots of different… pic.twitter.com/eTJki6uhUg — Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 1, 2026 Landfall Day: Peak, Haste, and Content Warning UpdatesLandfall is an indie studio with a rich history of releasing games on April 1, and most recently did so with Content Warning. As a result, the company has deemed April Fools' Day to be Landfall Day, and hosted a livestream with updates about three of its recent games. First, Haste and Content Warning, two PC exclusives, are coming to consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch), while Peak is getting a special update. The help button, which allows you to reach a hand out to your climbing buddies, is now a kick button, letting you launch your friends to their inevitable doom. 🟦LANDFALL DAY🟦 KICK replaces HELP in Peak 🏔️ Because today is not the day for friends. pic.twitter.com/io1cpJNGmt — Landfall (@LandfallGames) April 1, 2026 SEGA: It's bluer nowSega claims it has made its logo 3% more blue. We can't really see the difference. Can you? We’re excited to announce that we’re making our SEGA logo 3% more blue. We hope you enjoy this upgrade. Please take a moment to familiarise yourself with the new look. pic.twitter.com/6IrI7hdSIS — SEGA (@SEGA) April 1, 2026 Square Enix: Party ChatSquare Enix is officially (not) launching a show called Party Chat, which brings together iconic characters from the storied studio's past to talk about their experiences. Unfortunately and hilariously, the series has started with a conversation between Namazu and Moogle, and neither speak a real language. Payday 3: Non Payday Character ModeThe Payday developers have unveiled an exciting new mode, where players will be able to live normal, sad, boring lives instead. Even for April Fools' Day, this trailer really goes to some wild places. Cairn: Climb A Human?Short and sweet, this April Fools' prank shows a new climbable surface in Cairn, revealed to a lukewarm response. View the full article

Depths Of Horror: Mushroom Day is free on Steam until April 6! Depths Of Horror: Mushroom Day is a 3D first-person ... View the full article

IGN Entertainment, the parent company of GamesIndustry.biz, has put tickets on sale for consumer event IGN Live, which returns to Los Angeles on 6-7 June. The event includes two days of livestream showcases including exclusive game reveals, new trailers and celebrity interviews, and a showfloor featuring hundreds of playable games. Read more View the full article

Social VR gaming platform Rec Room has announced its closure on June 1, 2026. Read more View the full article

Everybody grieves differently. After a tragic accident turned John Johnson's life upside down, he made it a daily routine to visit his wife's headstone in the Lavender Town Cemetery. In early March, however, Johnson tells us his life was turned upside down yet again. After placing bouquets of flowers all around his wife's grave, a wild Cubone appeared. Johnson is distraught, to say the least. "It says this is its home now," Johnson told Game Infarcer. "Home?! That's my wife's grave!" Johnson currently lives alone. The car accident that took his wife's life has left him emotionally fragile and financially challenged: his wife was the primary earner in their household, he tells us. As a result, he's sold much of the furniture in his home just to make ends meet, but it sounds like Cubone isn't too happy with its living situation either. "Cubone came up to me and said, 'My home could be a little comfier.' What an insane thing to tell me," Johnson told us. "This guy asked for 'less humidity,' but I'm not gonna apologize for crying about my dead wife." As the weeks have gone on, however, the two seem to have grown closer. "I brought Cubone a hamburger patty made entirely out of beans as a prank, but apparently it’s into that," Johnson would later say. "Cubone also lost someone, I guess. So we have that in common." The next day, however, their relationship quickly soured. "One second, I'm telling Cubone I miss my wife, and the next it's digging up her grave so I can wear her skull? No way. I called the cops. That little creep is Officer Jenny's problem now." Later that night, Johnson went home. Thinking the incident was behind him, he got ready to relax, placing his three favorite things on the coffee table – a glass of whiskey, a Nintendo Switch 2, and a Blu-Ray of John Wick. When he came back from the bathroom, however, he was shocked. "A man just spontaneously appeared in my house! And he looked just like me, sad and everything," Johnson says. "He says this is his 'habitat' now. But as long as he's not trying to mess with my wife's skull, I guess it's okay." Johnson is unaware that his new roommate is a Ditto. He seems happier, though, so Game Infarcer decided not to tell him. More “Real News” From Game Infarcer 2026Game Infarcer: Nintendo and NVIDIA partner for headache-inducing 3DLSS 5Game Infarcer: Super Monkey Ball Devs To Incorporate AiAi Into All Future Titles: ‘There Shouldn’t Be Humans Involved’Game Infarcer: Online Shooter Announced, Launched, And Shut Down Over Duration Of Writing This HeadlineGame Infarcer: Xbox Project Helix Patent Reveals Potential DNA Splicing Technology: ‘Now You Are An Xbox’Game Infarcer: Hideo Kojima 'Shocked And Disappointed' Capcom Rejected His Mega Man Robot Master Contest SubmissionsGame Infarcer: FBI Boss Throws Grace Ashcroft Pizza Party For Confronting Horrific Past Trauma, Postpones PromotionGame Infarcer: New ‘Windy And Wavy’ Palworld Update Introduces Three New Pals View the full article

Organisers of this year's Develop:Brighton conference have announced Ustwo Games as its first keynote speaker. Read more View the full article

South Korean developer Shift Up has acquired Unbound, a new studio founded by industry veteran Shinji Mikami. Read more View the full article

Build a Rocket Boy CEO Mark Gerhard has addressed the end of the developer's publishing agreement with IOI Partners, stating that it "likes being able to control [its] own destiny as an independent studio." Read more View the full article

This is a bit unusual, but it seems that Dice Eater: A Supernatural Mystery Card Game is going free for ... View the full article

Vornyca is free on Epic Games Store until April 4 2026! Vornyca is a Sci-fi action adventure game with 2D exploration. Check ... View the full article

Toby Fox is one of the most well-known auteurs in indie games, known for creating Undertale and Deltarune. Despite his works' widespread popularity, he's a very private person, hiding his face from the internet, only doing occasional interviews, and having a relatively restrained social media presence. So when he addressed backlash from Latin American fans this weekend, it was especially significant. Fox works with a small team, where he has a lot of creative control. According to his recent statement, the reason he hasn't had his work translated into more languages (like Spanish or Portuguese) is because he wants to be sure translations "match" his "vision," and he only speaks English and Japanese. Why address the Latin American fans in the first place? On Saturday, March 28, Fox posted on X to help promote the Japanese translation of OFF (a remake of a game that inspired Undertale), since he helped with new version's soundtrack. Fox's post includes Japanese text and English text, the latter of which reads, "OFF has an official Japanese translation now. The trailer is cool even if you don't speak Japanese." But since the topic of translations came up, many replies included people from Latin American countries, frustrated that neither of Fox's games have received localizations into their native languages. It's especially notable in Undertale's case, as the game has been out since 2015. Fox doesn't typically address the people in his replies, but in this case, he followed up with a post to Bluesky the following day, March 29, sharing two screenshots of larger text posts with the caption, "A message for my fans in Latin America." The March 29 post makes three points, which include the translation controversy and other related issues. Firstly, Fox says that despite the upcoming Undertale concert series not scheduling any stops in Latin America, he has little influence there, though the organizers have "heard the enthusiasm" from fans. Secondly, Fox acknowledges that, despite preferring otherwise, Fangamer (Undertale's merchandise distributor) will not ship to Latin America, as the company says it's "prohibitively expensive." While Fox says "it would be amazing" if Fangamer found a way to make it work, he also says that he prefers to work with Fangamer "exclusively," so unless the company finds a workaround, the merch will likely not come to Latin America at all. Finally, Fox addresses the lack of Spanish and Portuguese translations of Undertale, insisting that the languages aren't uniquely left out – the game is only available in English and Japanese. Fox goes on to say the following: I know it sucks that there are no other official translations for UNDERTALE. But I want to make it clear that this isn’t because I have a grudge against other countries. It’s because, if I release something official, I want it to match my vision. I was only able to do this for the Japanese version because I know Japanese myself, and I worked very closely with our brilliant translator to thoroughly check the text. I am not against official translations for other languages if we could make it work the same way… In the past I have looked into various options with my publisher, 8-4, but nothing has come of that yet. Maybe I should try a different approach. Fox also says Deltarune is unlikely to receive more translations either, writing, "it’s just not feasible from a development standpoint to support other languages right now, since it would make the game take longer to come out..." Fox then goes on to praise unofficial fan translations, saying he's "very happy" they exist, and that they can exist without being "officially" perfect. Based on the replies and reactions to the post, the statement is controversial, to say the least. While some defend Fox and his desire to keep the development team small, others say Undertale's massive success more than justifies the time and cost of adding more languages. Some also say it's unrealistic to expect such specific creative control over a translation, and that any official localization is better than none. At the time of writing, Fox has yet to post online again. For more of Toby Fox's elusive public statements, check out this interview freelancer Ana Diaz did with the developer in The Outer Worlds 2 issue of Game Informer from last September. View the full article

In 2023, The Super Mario Bros. Movie not only set the box office on fire to the tune of more than $1.3 billion worldwide, but also aptly demonstrated the potential of a larger Super Mario Bros. cinematic continuity. The first film wasn't perfect, but it told a fun, heartfelt, and appropriately nostalgic story featuring the biggest stars of the Mario franchise, demonstrating that respect for the source material can go a long way towards making a strong video game adaptation. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie carries forward the momentum of the first entry, wasting no time in getting to the action, jokes, and onslaught of game references and character appearances, but in the process, sacrifices some narrative cohesion. Warning: While I try to remain as spoiler-free as possible, certain elements of the narrative and characters are mentioned throughout this article. One cameo, which was spoiled by official marketing, is discussed in this review. While The Super Mario Bros. Movie focused a large chunk of its plot on the origin of Mario as an unsuccessful plumber in Brooklyn and how he winds up in the Mushroom Kingdom, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has no such setup to worry about. After a brief scene that introduces Rosalina and sets the stage for the story to come, the rest of the movie is almost all gas and no brakes. This results in a somewhat breakneck pace that is at once exhilarating and, at times, exhausting and difficult to keep up with. After reacclimating the audience with the main characters Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, and Bowser, as well as introducing a few new faces, including Bowser Jr. and Yoshi, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie launches fans into a spectacular tour through much of Mario's history. This whirlwind voyage includes references to Super Mario World, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Odyssey, and, oddly enough, a sequence heavily devoted to Super Mario Bros. 2 (Super Mario USA). As a fan of the Mario franchise for more than three and a half decades, I relished in these, at times, rapid-fire references, even as some of them made little contribution to the grander narrative. Despite those references to other Mario games, this is absolutely a Super Mario Galaxy-centered movie. From the intricately rendered Comet Observatory and recreation of the Star Festival (this time as Peach's birthday) to the fun use of launch stars and glimpses of recognizable planets from both Galaxy and Galaxy 2, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie lives up to its namesake. The set dressing and cast may spread the love to a variety of Mario adventures, but the narrative backdrop and many of the visual and audio cues are definitively Galaxy. While on the topic of the audio, one of the biggest complaints many had about The Super Mario Bros. Movie was in its utilization of licensed music when game music would have fit better; the most stark example of this was a scene that took place in Donkey Kong Country that used A-ha's "Take on Me." The Super Mario Galaxy Movie features minimal licensed music, save for one brief sequence where it feels organic. This allows the excellent score by Brian Tyler, who continued working in conjunction with legendary composer Koji Kondo, to shine; I smiled on multiple occasions when I heard small musical flourishes and sound effects from the various eras of Mario and Nintendo's history, though I sometimes wished for just a few more notes of some songs. Honestly, the decision to rely on the original Mario music rather than licensed tracks might be the biggest improvement this sequel makes over its predecessor. And thanks to the already-cinematic quality of Galaxy's orchestral music, it feels right at home in a grand-scale blockbuster film such as this. Speaking of the way this movie sounds, the voice cast is largely terrific. Chris Pratt and Charlie Day come across as more confident in their roles as Mario and Luigi, respectively. Jack Black continues to be a perfectly cast force of nature as Bowser, and Anya Taylor-Joy still perfectly captures the essence of Peach. New additions Benny Safdie and Brie Larson can join Jack Black on the list of inspired casting in this franchise, while Donald Glover is unrecognizable (but good) in his limited capacity as Yoshi. I say limited capacity because, while featured prominently in the marketing and story, Yoshi is kind of just along for the ride with little groundwork laid for why, or interesting things to do. Mario and Luigi find him early in the story, and he's instantly part of the group (to the point that Toad even makes a snarky comment about it). This is indicative of the larger narrative thinness of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie; yes, there are plot points, motivations, and pivotal events that occur, but so much of the story feels stitched together in the loosest possible way to take the characters – and, by extension, the audience – from one destination or set piece to the next. The same could be said of Fox McCloud, who is an enjoyable, albeit shoehorned-in addition to this film. As a Star Fox fan since 1997, I had a genuine "pinch me" moment when a high-profile Hollywood production launched into a brief explainer of who Star Fox is. However, it's fair to say that Fox is a completely inessential addition to the cast, and by having the marketing spoil his inclusion just one week prior to release, a genuinely shocking reveal turned into a predictable game of "When will he show up?" Unfortunate marketing aside, Glen Powell delivers an excellent performance as the leader of Star Fox, and the movie's characterization of Fox, which leans more into his arrogant flyboy side than his stoic leader side, injects additional fun into the adventure. Though the story sometimes feels disjointed, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is a movie made or broken by its moments. And in that regard, Universal and Nintendo hit a homerun. Each scene is lovingly crafted and visually stunning, and the movie delivers more than its fair share of smiles throughout, regardless of your age or when you got into Nintendo. This is a movie that is undeniably made with children in mind – and some of the jokes certainly remind you throughout – but if you've ever picked up a controller and turned on a Mario game, this movie is also for you. The novelty of finally seeing a faithful adaptation of Nintendo's mascot on the big screen may have faded, but the thrill of watching Mario and friends go on a sprawling adventure remains as compelling as ever. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is still the joyful experience of the first movie and continues to respect the source material in ways most other game adaptations fall short, but it's the cinematic equivalent of a theme-park ride. You'll pay for your ticket, sit in the chair, and at the end of it all, you're likely to emerge with a smile on your face. But just like those theme park rides, the experience can feel fragmented, and the events therein can feel arbitrarily pieced together. Still, at a certain point, you have to ask yourself, "What are you really hoping to get out of an animated, family-friendly Mario movie?" The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is unlikely to receive any nominations for its storytelling, but it's a crowd-pleasing continuation of one of the best video game movies of all time. And for me, that's exactly what I needed it to be. 8.5 View the full article

Though Magic: The Gathering's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set was only just released earlier this month, Wizards of the Coast is preparing to release the next set, Secrets of Strixhaven. The beloved mage school in the universe of Magic: The Gathering, known as Strixhaven, is a setting Wizards of the Coast has played around in before, and this set promises a return to the hallowed halls of the unique five colleges that make up the school when it launches on April 24. Ahead of its launch, we have an in-depth look at various cards, commander decks, bundles, and more that you can expect in Magic: The Gathering – Secrets of Strixhaven. Before paging through our myriad galleries featuring cards and more below, check out the official Magic: The Gathering – Secrets of Strixhaven trailer below: If you want an even more in-depth video discussing this new set, check out the overview trailer here. Okay, onto the cards! Magic: The Gathering – Secrets of Strixhaven Card PreviewBelow, we'll have various galleries to scroll through, showcasing cards, variants, commander decks, bundles, and more. Main SetMain Set These cards will be available in various bundles, booster packs, collector boosters, and more. CommandersCommanders These are the various Commander cards that will be available to play with as part of the set's pre-constructed Commander Decks. Booster AltsBooster Alts These are the alt-art cards that will be available in regular booster packs and collector's booster packs. Bonus SheetBonus Sheet These Bonus Sheet cards are essentially Strixhaven-themed reprints and will be available in packs and bundles. Bundles and Commander DecksBundles and Commander Decks These are the bundles and Commander Decks available for purchase as part of the Secrets of Strixhaven set. The full set launches on April 24 and we're excited to jump in! As I wrote in my last Magic: The Gathering set preview (for TMNT), this type of feature is new for us here at Game Informer – many of us here on staff play Magic: The Gathering but we, as a website, haven't covered it all too much (though we do post videos about it from time to time on TikTok and Instagram Reels). Part of that is, well, Magic: The Gathering is a paper card game and not a video game. But we recognize that many of our audience's interests overlap between video games and tabletop/board/card games, so we're doing our best to bring you more coverage like this. I'd love your feedback – what can Game Informer do to improve its Magic: The Gathering coverage? Do you like this preview style? Do you like the galleries? Do you want more details? Less details? Let me know in the comments below! View the full article

Claim your Hero Polaris key in Hero Wars and receive gold, emeralds, an extra hero, and more rewards! Please note ... View the full article