Theres something wrong with this town; its immediately apparent as soon as I arrive. Ive recently fled my humble desert hometown after my uncle was raided by the cops and his criminal enterprise was seized. Im working on rebuilding the empire here in the sleepy town of Hyland Point, but there are a few problems to deal with. First of all, I need to learn the ropes of how to grow weed, cook meth, and maintain a customer base. Secondly, a rival criminal organization firebombed my RV. Finally, the cops remain a constant hassle. Thats just life in Schedule 1, a surprisingly expansive drug dealing simulator with some wacky twists, all created by a solo developer.Schedule 1 has risen through the Steam ranks and maintains popularity because it has a really satisfying core gameplay loop. Much like Palworld, the first big surprise hit of 2024, Schedule 1 liberally borrows from other simulator games and different genres. I can play single-player, in which case I handle every element of the operation: growing, packaging, selling, expanding. Or I can rope in up to three friends and we can each handle part of the business.Every part of the Schedule 1 drug empire is built around a minigame, most of which are satisfying. For instance, I dont particularly care for cooking meth, but I find managing the supply chain to be satisfying. If I run into any downtime during gameplay, no worries I stole a TV from my motel room and it has some minigames on it, like Snake, Pong, or a game where I play an egg in sunglasses with his balls hanging out. Now this is gaming.Image: TVGS via PolygonEarly on, the main obstacle I have to worry about is the police. Occasionally, an officer will search me, looking for anything illegal. They set up blockades between neighborhoods, demanding to search my vehicle if I hit one. The cops are barely a problem for me, though; I have a 100% success rate at just sprinting away from them at top speed. Even if I shoot an officer, theyll forget everything after a couple of minutes. Weirdly enough, the thing they are firmest on is the town curfew. After 6 p.m., everyone has to get inside, or risk being arrested. Ive found myself hiding in a bush or scared off my patio by a police patrol, who treat curfew-breaking as the worst possible sin. Its like living in a weird Footloose town, except everyones constantly smoking a joint.Life in Hyland Point feels like a very simplified take on the Grand Theft Auto franchise, complete with crass jokes. For instance, a local dining establishment across from my starting motel room is called Taco Ticklers. One customer is tragically dubbed Peter File. These jokes are so unsophisticated, theyre single entendres. If youre not a fan of cheap, lazy jokes, then youll likely find yourself irritated by Schedule 1. The other night, I buckled down to experiment with mixing variants and creating new weed strains, most of which had names like Big Cum or Magic AssBlaster. The graphics are similarly simplified and cartoony, like a basic claymation setup or a 3D episode of South Park. A lot of work has gone into designing the steps of creating drugs via Schedule 1s minigames, but an opening screen warns me that none of it is accurate to real-world processes. Regardless, its satisfying to tinker in my workshop, creating weed with incredible new properties. Eventually, I become a living god in Hyland Point, and my disciples are smoking the dankest blunts imaginable. Some let me sprint faster than any car, and one strain variable even lets me fly. I can buy cars from the local auto dealership, but theres not much point when I have a pocketful of magic weed.Image: TVGSMuch like the aforementioned Palworld, I think this game will eventually become stale and Ill put it back on the shelf. Schedule 1 is an early access game that just came out, and so there are things that just feel incomplete. The police are toothless, the rival syndicate who blew up my RV in the start of the game has yet to reemerge, and the developer maintains a Trello that lists potential ideas ranging from sewer network to weather to cartel fighting.I suspect Ill find myself returning to Schedule 1 as it receives patches, since the core gameplay is so satisfying. While my co-op server has gotten relatively far into creating illicit substances like high-end meth and cocaine, my solo game has stalled as I save up enough money for a larger property. Eventually, Ill have conquered everything Hyland Point has to offer. For now, Im just enjoying the ride, and I expect that trip will only grow richer in time.Schedule 1 is available on Steam for $20, and theres a demo available for free. Ill continue to follow its developer, who goes by Tylers Video Game Studio, as this game already has a lot of strengths. Even if the novelty will eventually wear off, Im content for now to let Tyler cook.Schedule 1 was released March 24 in early access on Windows PC. The game was reviewed on PC using a download code purchased by the author. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about Polygons ethics policy here.See More:

Grand Theft Auto 5 is making its way back to Xbox Game Pass on April 15 after being removed early last year.The long-in-the-tooth crime simulator will be made available to folks with either a Standard or Ultimate subscription. If youre on PC, an active membership will also grant you access to Grand Theft Auto 5s recently released Enhanced edition, which boasts ray tracing features like ambient occlusion and global illumination, support for AMD FSR1/FSR3 and NVIDIA DLSS 3, faster loading times, and a whole lot more.Of course, with Grand Theft Auto 5 also comes access to Grand Theft Auto Online, including all expansions up to Oscar Guzman Flies Again.Grand Theft Auto 5 first launched on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2013, but continues to show impressive staying power even in the face of the impending Grand Theft Auto 6 launch later this year. And if youre a lapsed player, it feels like now is the perfect time to reacquaint yourself with one of the best, most expansive games in the series.

Microsofts Game Pass subscription service enters 2025 bigger than ever, after finishing 2024 by adding two massive day-one blockbuster games: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.The service has recently been bolstered with the fruits of Microsofts acquisition of Activision Blizzard and its not just about Call of Duty. Classic Blizzard titles like Diablo and StarCraft are really fleshing out Game Pass back catalog selection, especially for PC users. Blockbuster titles are well represented with the likes of Assassins Creed, cult favorites like the Yakuza series have popped up, and Game Pass has continued its strong tradition of curating the best of the indie world with games like Cocoon and The Case of the Golden Idol. Thats a lot of free video gaming to be done!Here are the 25 PC and Xbox Game Pass games that you should be checking out if you subscribe to Microsofts flagship service.[Ed. note: This list was last updated on April 2, adding We Love Katamari. It will be updated as new games come to the service.]How we pick the best games on Game PassWith the sheer size and the bounty of choice it offers, Game Pass can be a bit overwhelming to digest. But were here to help. The Polygon staff plays a lot of video games, and everything in this list comes personally recommended by at least one of us. We determined what should be on our list of the best games on Game Pass by looking at the quality of each title, but also with an eye for breadth and variety so you should find something on the list youll enjoy, no matter what genres of game you like, how much time you have, or what vibe you are after.AvowedImage: Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game StudiosYou can scarcely get a better demonstration of what Game Pass is all about than Obsidian Entertainments role-playing game Avowed. Its the kind of game that used to fill release schedules: an original story and a competent, characterful take on a beloved genre, made by an experienced team, with a scope thats just enough to feel satisfying, but not too much to overwhelm. But in 2025, games like this are rare, squeezed out by bloated mega-productions in well-known franchises.Their savior comes in the form of Microsofts publishing model and its Game Pass offering, both of which are crying out for medium-sized hits to keep rolling. Avowed slots in perfectly, showcasing not just Obsidians well-known writing talent but also some of the most striking art and well-honed combat the studio has ever produced. Its also just a fun place to be until the next one comes along. Oli WelshAvowed is available via Game Pass on Windows PC and Xbox Series X.The Case of the Golden IdolImage: Color Gray Games/PlaystackAre we ready to call Color Gray Games The Case of the Golden Idol one of the greatest detective games of all time yet? Often compared to Return of the Obra Dinn, and not just for its historical setting, this fabulously intricate point-and-click mystery unravels a sinister conspiracy across 40 years as 12 apparent murders in the 18th century, centering on the titular golden idol, an object of power, intrigue, and maybe magic.The grimly hilarious and grotesque illustrations lay out crime scenes of great complexity in the games exploring phase, where you collect information and clues. In the thinking phase, you fill out details of the crime and the participants in a virtual notebook, but youll probably need to use a real notebook of your own to stay on top of the intricate logic puzzles within the cases, and the sophisticated echoes between them. A richly rewarding and atmospheric puzzle classic. OWThe Case of the Golden Idol is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Cities: SkylinesImage: Colossal Order/Paradox InteractiveTheres a reason Cities: Skylines is often held up by literal city planners as the pinnacle of the genre: It doesnt fall into the trap most city-builders do of treating all its resources and systems as mere data points on a list, gaming by way of a spreadsheet. Cities: Skylines is the real deal, letting you get into the weeds of urban micromanagement and understanding how and why metropolises morph in response to the needs of their citizens. (Its also proof that planned cities are a crime against humanity.) Cities: Skylines forces you to grapple with the beautiful, messy truth of what your citizens are: people. In other words, Eric Adams, please play Cities: Skylines! Ari NotisCities: Skylines is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Citizen SleeperImage: Jump Over the Age/Fellow TravellerCitizen Sleeper is a hyper-stylized tabletop-like RPG set in space. In a capitalist society, you find yourself stuck on a space station. Youll need to manage your time, energy, and relationships to survive the collapse of the corporatocracy and the anarchy that follows. Youll roll dice and make decisions to get paid and help those around you.Aside from its interesting setting, Citizen Sleeper features a vibrant cast of impactful characters, making each interaction memorable. It follows an excellent trend of table-top inspired games to encourage you to find your own objectives, and to revel in the story when things fall apart. Its packed with tense decisions, great writing, and striking visuals. Ryan GilliamCitizen Sleeper is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.CocoonImage: Geometric Interactive/Annapurna Interactive via PolygonA mysteriously beautiful, exquisitely paced puzzle adventure from some of the minds behind Limbo and Inside, Cocoon shares those games wordless delivery and stark aesthetic. But its more abstract and contemplative, and perhaps even more involving. Its a game of pocket universes, one inside another, inhabited by buglike techno-organic life-forms including the player character, a scurrying little beetle-thing. The conceit is that you can step up out of one reality and move it around another on your back, in a gently glowing sphere that also interacts with the world around it, before diving back in or swapping it for another entirely.Like so many puzzle adventures, its essentially a game of locks and keys, plus the occasional ingenious boss fight. But like the very best of them Fez, for example, or Portal Cocoon plays games with perception and reality that rewire your brain in pleasantly tortuous ways. OWCocoon is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.ControlImage: Remedy Entertainment/505 GamesBefore Alan Wake 2, the Remedy Entertainment renaissance began in 2019 with this astonishingly confident and technically adept action-adventure set in a strange, modernist nightmare. Part spy thriller, part cubist horror, Control is a game about what happens when architecture turns against you. As Jesse Faden, an agent of the Federal Bureau of Control, you explore the confounding, bigger-on-the-inside Oldest House, the paranormal headquarters of the FBC, which is under attack from a malevolent force intent on corrupting reality itself.This is all pretty heady stuff, and Remedy delivers it with its usual cinematic eye, technical polish, and storytelling prowess. (The game is loaded with references that connect its universe to that of the Alan Wake games, if you want to join some dots.) In combat, Control is a pretty enjoyable third-person shooter, but the real fun is in the nonlinear exploration of the Oldest Houses impossible spaces. OWControl is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Crusader Kings 3Image: Paradox Interactive via PolygonImagine if Succession unfolded between the years 867 and 1453, in the throne rooms, banquet halls, and torchlit back corridors of European castles. Monarchs rise and fall, small-time fiefdoms become bona fide kingdoms, and nonmarital children exact revenge after decades of being shunned. Crusader Kings 3 is the story of the Roy family if we could pick any character, see them through to their death, and assume control of their orphaned heir at which point, we can completely alter the course of the dynasty through petty gossip and underhanded murder attempts.In Paradox Interactives vast suite of grand strategy games with complex systems that give way to thrilling emergent storytelling, none have made me cackle with glee quite as much as Crusader Kings 3. In one playthrough, I wed my firstborn son to the daughter of a powerful neighboring king, only for said daughter to declare a holy war on me one decade later. In another, I strong-armed one of my vassals into remaining loyal, shortly before knighting his cousin and sworn rival; I didnt want to be a jerk, but my characters were jerks. I was just following the script down the path of least resistance.Much like Succession, Crusader Kings 3 is at its best when tensions finally boil over between the emotionally stunted members of a dysfunctional family. Unlike Succession, though, Crusader Kings 3 never has to end. Mike MahardyCrusader Kings 3 is available via Game Pass on Windows PC and Xbox Series X.Diablo 4Image: Blizzard EntertainmentA Diablo title getting saved by a game-changing patch is almost part of the expected narrative for Blizzards series of dark, frantic action RPGs now. Diablo 4 was neither as broken nor as interesting as Diablo 3 at launch, so the rescue job performed by the brilliant recent fourth season, Loot Reborn, is in its way all the more impressive. If you tried the game at launch and felt underwhelmed, its now well worth a second look which couldnt be easier, since it was the first major Activision Blizzard title to be added to Game Pass after the company was acquired by Microsoft.Loot Reborn essentially made the game much more forgiving and rewarding to play, with better, more usable loot dropping more often, and boosting your character in ways that are easy to feel and understand. The gameplay loop has been tightened, the crafting and customization have been clarified and deepened, and the revamped Helltides are hugely compelling and fun world events that bring players together. Beyond the new stuff, theres just a colossal amount of game here to get stuck into, not to mention regular updates and a major expansion coming soon. Its time to get involved. OWDiablo 4 is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Doom (2016)Image: id Software/Bethesda Softworks2016s Doom builds off of one of the oldest franchises in gaming history with speed, acrobatics, and an absolutely killer soundtrack. Doomguy moves extremely quickly, swapping between a variety of guns, grenades, melee attacks, and a giant chainsaw to blow up demons off of Mars. The game is bloody, metal as hell, and surprisingly funny. Doom makes you feel like a god, capable of clearing any hurdle the game could throw at you, and it doesnt offer a single dull level in its lengthy campaign. RGDoom (2016) is available via Game Pass on Xbox One and Xbox Series X.Fallout: New VegasImage: Obsidian Entertainment/Bethesda SoftworksIf youre new to the Fallout universe, perhaps introduced to it by Prime Videos hit TV show, and want to try the games, then Game Pass has you covered: The entire series is playable on Microsofts subscription service. But a tricky choice lies ahead: Where to start?Theres not much in the way of continuity to worry about, with most games starting from scratch to offer a new perspective on the setting. Fallout Tactics and 76 are genre-bending offshoots. Fallout 4 is the most up to date of the single-player RPGs, but few would argue its the best. The first two PC games, developed by Interplay and Black Isle, offer a dark, bleakly comic vision that never quite translated to their Bethesda-made sequels, but theyre also pretty old and clunky to play by modern standards.The answer has to be Fallout: New Vegas, a Fallout 3 spinoff made not by Bethesda but Obsidian Entertainment a studio that can trace its lineage back to the Black Isle days, so its no surprise that it gets closer to that mischievous, outlaw tone. Its a rough game, but an immensely charming one with personality to spare and superb writing. If you can look past its lack of polish, youll find one of the most engrossing role-playing games ever. OWFallout: New Vegas is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Forza Horizon 5Image: Playground Games/Xbox Game Studios via PolygonForza Horizon 5 is the latest racing game to land on Xbox and Game Pass. Its a visual feast filled with some of the most realistic-looking cars youve ever seen. But anyone who loves any of these Forza games will tell you that the Horizon series is so much more than its graphics.Horizon 5 takes place in a fictionalized Mexico, and gives you the freedom to drive around a massive map in whatever car you want. You can drive a nice sports car while off-roading, or drive a hummer off a massive ramp. Forza Horizon 5 gives you the freedom and choice to drive how and where you want inside a legion of incredible cars. RGForza Horizon 5 is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Halo: The Master Chief CollectionImage: 343 Industries/Xbox Game StudiosThe Xbox brand might never have taken off without the Halo series, the first-person shooters that helped to popularize local competitive multiplayer on consoles before taking the party online after the launch of Xbox Live. The Master Chief Collection package includes multiple Halo games, all of which have been updated to keep them enjoyable for modern audiences.But whats so striking about the collection is how many ways there are to play. You can go through the campaigns by yourself. If you want to play with a friend but dont want to compete, there is co-op, allowing you to share the games stories with a partner, either online or through split-screen play. If you do want to compete, you can do it locally against up to three other players on the same TV, or take things online to challenge the wider community.These are some of the best first-person shooters ever released, and theyre worth revisiting and enjoying, no matter how you decide to play them. Sharing these games with my children through local co-op has been an amazing journey, and this package includes so many games, each of which is filled with different modes and options. Its hard to imagine ever getting bored or uninstalling the collection once its on your hard drive.This is a part of gaming history that continues to feel relevant, and very much alive. Ben KucheraHalo: The Master Chief Collection is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Hi-Fi RushImage: Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks via PolygonRhythm games, for players who prefer to shoot, dodge, punch, and jump on their own time, can be a tough sell. But such is not the case with Hi-Fi Rush, the action game from Ghostwire: Tokyo developer Tango Gameworks. It provides an array of visual cues to help rhythmically challenged players, but crucially, it doesnt require that protagonist Chai attacks according to the games metronome. Instead, its rhythm elements are an optional layer to interact with, offering score chasers something to aspire to. For everyone else, the games vibrant world, rock n roll storytelling, and entrancing traversal stand well enough on their own. Its a cathartic triumph of a game. MMHi-Fi Rush is available via Game Pass on Windows PC and Xbox Series X.Indiana Jones and the Great CircleImage: MachineGames/Bethesda SoftworksLots about this triumphant adventure starring everyones favorite action-archeologist is surprising but not everything. Not surprising: that MachineGames, the Swedish studio known for the Wolfenstein series and formed by key Starbreeze personnel who worked on The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and The Darkness, should excel at Nazi-punching action and robustly entertaining licensed fare. In a sense, this is exactly what MachineGames has been training for.Still, it is surprising how well an Indy game works in first person, and its surprising how uncompromised the games vision seems to be (considering the general fate of licensed games). Most importantly, the game itself is a constant surprise; its not quite the linear action-fest you expect it to be, instead being filled with excellent puzzles, stealth, immersive-sim influences, and quiet, contemplative walking-simulator moments. Arguably a better Indiana Jones experience than the last movie or two. OWIndiana Jones and the Great Circle is available via Game Pass on Windows PC and Xbox Series X.InscryptionImage: Daniel Mullins Games/Devolver DigitalPolygons favorite game of 2021, Inscryption is a wonderfully creepy and sly creation that continuously plays with your expectations. It starts out as a roguelite card game, played within a shack you cant escape: this horror-inflected, escape-room setting then gives way to other genres, graphical styles, and modes of play you definitely wont be expecting. Theres even a whole layer of Inscryption that takes place outside the game, in an ARG-style puzzle and all the conversation around it that delves deep into the games mysterious lore. Developer Daniel Mullins just keeps peeling back the layers, and each reveal is an unsettling delight.If youve managed to avoid Inscryption spoilers over the past three years, we recommend you leave it there and dont read any deeper on the game. Just go straight to your Game Pass library and download it. Its an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind experience. OWInscryption is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.JusantImage: Dont NodJusant is a wonderfully chill rock-climbing adventure from Dont Nod, the French studio that created Life is Strange. Unlike that dramatic, dialogue-heavy series, Jusant is a near-wordless game of exploration, but that doesnt mean it has no story. A nameless young protagonist scales a huge tower of rock in the middle of a parched desert. People used to live there when a sea raged below, but theyve now dispersed. Accompanied by a cute little water blob creature, our climber uncovers the secrets of this civilization and gradually brings life back to the tower as they ascend.To go with its gorgeously desolate art and relaxing vibes, Jusant is absorbing as a pure traversal game, with a simple but satisfyingly tactile climbing system. The pad triggers represent hand grips, so you squeeze out a soothing, see-saw rhythm as you plot your course up, up, always up. A game to clear the head. OWJusant is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the GoddessImage: CapcomA true original from a big publisher of a kind thats vanishingly rare these days, Kunitsu-Gami sees Capcom taking a break from Street Fighter, Monster Hunter, and Resident Evil to let is hair down and party like its the mid-2000s the height of the PlayStation 2s golden era when Japanese publishers felt they could make a video game out of literally anything. In this case, its a combination of ritual Shinto dance, tower defence tactics, gruesome traditional folklore, and straightforward hack-and-slash action.And what a bewitching combination it is. The game sees you guide a swordsman as he protects a priestess who is dancing to cleanse a cursed hillside; you rescue and recruit villagers, turning them into military units, then battle waves of extraordinarily drawn monsters. Kunitsu-Gami sacrifices scale for focus; its a game that makes a virtue out of tight constraints, creating tension and satisfying gameplay loops out of its claustrophobically small stages, spooky day-night cycle, and simple strategic options. One of the great unsung gems of 2024. OWKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Lonely Mountains: Snow RidersImage: Megagon IndustriesOne of the gems that helped define the Game Pass service in its first couple of years was 2019s Lonely Mountains: Downhill, a perfect little time-attack game about riding a mountain bike down forested slopes. Its the sort of unassuming but deep game that makes a great addition to a subscription catalog; it has chill vibes and is simple to pick up, but the steep skill curve has the power to take over your life completely. I think it was probably my most-played Game Pass game in 2019 and 2020.Five years later comes a sequel that applies an almost exactly similar formula to skiing. Once again, Snow Riders offers gloriously tactile controls. The rasping skid of ski across powder is just as satisfying as that of rubber across gravel as you speed down the switchbacks, although there are some tricky new control dynamics to get your head around. Once again, its all about living with the crashes and refining your technique through instant restarts. Once again, the developers at Megagon Industries are among the few to understand that extreme sports can be as much about enjoying peace and quiet in beautiful, natural surroundings as they are about pulse-pounding excitement. A brilliant arcade palate cleanser. OWLonely Mountains: Snow Riders is available via Game Pass on Windows PC and Xbox Series X.Octopath Traveler 2Image: Acquire, Square Enix/Square Enix via PolygonSquare Enixs HD-2D engine gorgeously and evocatively updates the classic pixelated look and cute character designs of 16-bit role-playing games, and its been used for new retro titles like Triangle Strategy and for remakes like Live A Live and the forthcoming Dragon Quest 3. The best of the lot, though, is Octopath Traveler 2, 2023s retro RPG sequel. Both Octopath Traveler games are on Game Pass, but the second game is marginally better, and wed recommend starting there. While it shares its structure with the 2018 original eight disparate protagonists come together and explore individual storylines that are only loosely linked Octopath Traveler 2 is a completely free-standing narrative, so you dont need to know anything going in. Its a more compelling and tightly organized suite of stories in a richer world than the first games, hiding some surprisingly dark themes and moments within its classical medieval fantasy setting.What both games have in common is an absolute peach of a turn-based battle system based around breaking enemies by targeting their elemental weaknesses, then using boost points to supercharge attacks and maximize damage against broken enemies. Its got a hugely satisfying rhythm to it, and ramifications that tie neatly into party composition, equipment choice, and more. Its a streamlined, beautifully balanced RPG design that can take its place alongside the 90s greats. OWOctopath Traveler 2 is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.PentimentImage: Obsidian Entertainment/Xbox Game StudiosPentiment is the most immediately striking and recognizable game on this list. Inspired by the art of classic manuscripts, Pentiment sucks you into its beautifully designed version of 16th-century Europe, when books were still being written by hand in monasteries.You play as Andreas, a young artist looking to make his fortune in an ever-changing world. And as you explore a small village and the grounds surrounding it, and go to work drawing magnificent pictures in custom manuscripts, youll meet new people and further flesh out Andreas personality and background.The story will take you through murder, scandal, and a variety of other dramatic events in Andreas life. But the plot is secondary to the games incredible style and dialogue. RGPentiment is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Slay the SpireIn Slay the Spire, I play as one of three unique characters, in order to fight my way through a randomly generated map filled with battles, treasure chests, and RPG-like encounters. Combat is similar to that of a turn-based RPG, but instead of selecting attacks and spells from a menu, I draw cards from each characters specific pool of cards. These cards allow me to attack, defend, cast spells, or use special abilities. Each character has their own set of cards, making their play styles radically different.I also learned to buck my expectations for the kinds of decks I should build. The key to deck-building games is constructing a thematic deck where each card complements the others. In card games like Magic: The Gathering, this is easy enough to do, since you do all your planning before a match not in the moment, like in Slay the Spire. Since Im given a random set of cards to build a deck from at the end of each encounter, I cant go into any run with a certain deck-building goal in mind. I have to quickly decide on long-term deck designs based on what cards are available to me after a battle. The trick with Slay the Spire is to think more creatively and proactively than the typical card game requires. Jeff RamosSlay the Spire is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Stardew ValleyImage: ConcernedApe/ChucklefishStardew Valley is quaint, but in the best way possible. You start the game by inheriting a farm from your grandfather, and you then move to a sleepy town to take over the diminishing acres. For the next 10, 20, 50, 100-plus hours, you work to turn that farm into a modern utopia.This is easily the most relaxing game on Game Pass. All you do is plant seeds, care for animals, mine some rocks, and befriend the villagers. Theres plenty of drama to be had with the Wal-Mart-like JojaMart and an army of slimes trying to stop you from mining but at the end of the day, youre still going to pass out in your farmhouse and get ready to plant more strawberries the next morning. RGStardew Valley is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders RevengeImage: Tribute Games/Dotemu/NickelodeonTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge is already a classic Turtles brawler. If you couldve overheard a bunch of kids talking about their dream TMNT game while playing the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade cabinet at a local pizza bar in 1989, or Turtles in Time in 1991, this is the Turtles game theyd be imagining.But over 30 years later, Shredders Revenge implements some features that distinguish it from the days of the coin operated arcade. Theres a world map, side-quests, new heroes, experience points, and online matchmaking that help modernize the throwback trappings. Shredders Revenge manages to balance itself nicely between the world of retro and revamp.With only 16 episodes, its the perfect Game Pass game to jump into with some pals at a sleepover as long as theres pizza, of course. RGTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.Vampire SurvivorsImage: PoncleVampire Survivors wants you to become the bullet hell.The only control you have over the game is what character you select, what items you choose during your run, and where your character moves. Depending on your weapons of choice, knives, whips, flames, magic bolts, bibles, or holy water fly out of your character in every direction, decimating hordes or pixelated movie monsters, earning you cash for your next adventure.Though extremely simple on its face, Vampire Survivors is one of the best games of 2022. It perfectly walks the line between peaceful and stressful, requiring the perfect amount of attention for success. It also facilitates growth through skill and through roguelite progression, ensuring that each run is a bit different from your last. RGVampire Survivors is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal ReverieImage: Bandai NamcoKeita Takahashi is one of the great video game surrealists, and the sequel to his 2004 cult hit Katamari Damacy is one of his greatest achievements despite the fact he didnt really want to make it. Or maybe because he didnt. Katamari Damacy is a completely original, wildly strange and funny game about rolling up giant balls of junk so your imposing dad, the King of All Cosmos, can use them to replace the stars in the sky, which he has accidentally deleted. When publisher Namco Bandai asked Takahashi to satisfy fan demand and turn around a more-of-the-same sequel inside a year, he reluctantly agreed, but of course he was a little subversive about it.In We Love Katamari, your Sisyphean task is to roll up progressively larger balls of random stuff not to remake the firmament, but just because a crowd of fans is asking you to. The whole game is Takahashis sly but not ungenerous comment about the futility of its own making. But, unfortunately for his point, and fortunately for us, its absolutely brilliant; if anything, its even more deliriously fun than the original. And the music is rad. I love this game so much, and this 2023 remaster has everything you need to enjoy it today and more besides. OWWe Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie is available via Game Pass on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.See More:

About 15 hours into Assassins Creed Shadows, it was finally time to take a journey I had been avoiding. Six-ish hours of gameplay earlier, I had unlocked second playable protagonist Yasuke, and saw in the gorgeous objective screen that he had two objectives tied to his narrative, in Omi. Like many other open-world RPGs, Shadows encourages you to fully explore the areas you unlock early, and I had a fun time assassinating and decapitating various foes in the games first two regions: Izumi Settsu and Yamashiro. But as far as I could tell, I was mostly done there, and ready to make a journey that would finally take me to some new parts of the games world.That trek from my closest available fast-travel point to Omi was 3,000 meters away. Thats fine, I thought. Itll be quite a journey, but Im sure Ill discover some things to interact with or explore on the way. I was very, very wrong, and ended up coming away from the end of my session wondering if Id ever pick the game up again.All journeys in Shadows are made longer by the games ambitious but flawed fealty to matching real terrain as closely as possible. It is nearly impossible to take shortcuts hills are too steep to climb, forests are too thick to cut through. The environments are beautiful, but the paths to your destination are very limited, which takes a lot of the fun out of exploring. Even more critical is the lack of ways to engage with the world around you, such as the beautifully rendered wildlife and the lush landscapes of feudal Japan.Image: Ubisoft Quebec/Ubisoft via PolygonThis is a tricky line, as modern open-world RPGs (including the Assassins Creed franchise) have struggled with overcrowded maps, extraneous mechanics, and empty checklists. But it seems Ubisoft overcorrected here, especially because Shadows also doesnt show any objective on your map unless you know exactly where it is. To find that out, you usually have to spend one of your (quite limited) scouting resources, so you have to actively choose which objective you want to pursue instead of just seeing whats close to you. And as much as I like the visual design of the objective screen, theres no way to sort the missions by location, so its very easy to miss whatevers actually closest to you. (Or if there are things to do on, say, a 3,000-meter trip.)On my nearly hourlong journey to Omi, I encountered a few random skirmishes between soldiers and barbarians that I could choose to get involved in, and one opportunity to paint local wildlife. I didnt engage with the former, because there was no narrative or mechanical reason to do so, but I did take advantage of the latter its one of the systems I do like about the game. But that was it, and it felt representative of two of my biggest issues with Shadows: For a world so vast, it feels surprisingly empty, and there are very few ways to tangibly interact with the environment or the things that live there. The painting minigame is a great example, but there are very, very few instances of it in the world. The last thing these games need is more systems, but thinking on how Red Dead Redemption 2 and Ghost of Tsushima handled making the world more interesting, I found myself wishing I could do something like catalog all the flora and fauna I encountered on my trip. It would have made it feel like an actual journey, and not a slog, and that I was actually interacting with this world I was traversing through.Image: Ubisoft Quebec/Ubisoft via PolygonThen I got to Omi, and my frustration only grew. The missions for Yasuke served as introductions to a character I had already been playing for a long time, complete with tutorials for weapons I had been using for hours. Its a puzzling decision, as when you unlock these missions to begin with, you are nowhere near Omi, so it seems unlikely many players will just beeline there. These are the risks of an at-your-own-pace narrative that doesnt want to cheat with travel, I guess. All told, the reward at the end of my 3,000-meter journey was about an hour of cutscenes and walk-and-talk missions, complete with three (three!) different instances of the animation of the seasons changing, and tutorials for things I already knew. (Thats another issue with Shadows: The two mission types seem to be exclusively talk to this person so they can tell you to talk to another person or sneak into this place and kill everyone there.)That sounds OK if youre really gripped by Shadows narrative, but Im not. I feel like Ive seen more interesting versions of similar stories before (in part because the games sprawl makes the pacing of the narrative extremely fractured). At the end of the night, I realized Id spent more than two hours playing Shadows, and I felt like I got absolutely nothing out of that time besides empty progress.This problem isnt unique to Shadows; its something many games in the genre struggle with. But a better way is possible Avowed drops you right into the world and the gameplay and keeps you going without making you feel like youre filling time (playing Shadows directly after Avowed did the former no favors), and I hear Atomfall is much the same. Ive been enjoying Shadows stealth and combat, and its quite fun when Im actually playing it. I just wish I didnt feel like I had to fight the game (or the number of hours in a day) just to get to those points where Shadows lives up to the promise of a game where you can switch between two equally skilled but very different killers on your quest for bloody revenge in a gorgeous environment.See More:

After watching A Minecraft Movie in the theater, I decided to stick around and see whether a post-credits scene would show up. Perhaps after Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess and his writing team told the story of Steve (Jack Black), his new friends from Chuglas, Idaho, and their adventures running around the Overworld and The Nether, we would see a glimpse of The End or another part of the Minecraft world. Maybe Hess would take the opportunity to mimic Marvel Studios (and Paramount!) and tease the creation of a MCCU (A Minecraft Cinematic Universe, of course).While most people filed out of the movie theater as soon as the story ended, Im glad I stayed behind, because there was a twist that was worth the wait.Does A Minecraft Movie have a mid-credits scene?It does, and it features a cameo youll miss if you head out the second the credits start. Chuglas school vice principal, Marlene (Jennifer Coolidge), has just cooked breakfast for her new villager beau. Her ex-husband, the school art teacher Mr. Gunchie (Hiram Garcia), arrives to beg her for a second chance. But the villager who has previously only spoken in gurgles and warbles says he and Marlene are deeply in love. He delivers a monologue with the sonorous voice of Matt Berry (of What We Do in the Shadows fame), talking about how her love has enabled him to speak. She, meanwhile, now speaks in villager. If that wasnt enough of a treat, theres another scene that plays after the credits conclude.Does A Minecraft Movie have a post-credits scene?Sure enough, its all the way at the end of the credits when the theater lights turn on. Steve (Jack Black) has returned from Minecrafts Overworld, and gone back to the house he abandoned, which has apparently been sold in the meantime. He knocks on the door. The new homeowner, a woman with red hair and a green shirt, greets him kindly, though she keeps her back to the camera her face is never seen. Steve introduces himself, and she asks whether hes coming back because of the old chest he left in the attic. She welcomes him in, and introduces herself as Alex.Alex was the second default Minecraft player skin to be introduced, after Steve. She appears in Minecraft promotional material and splash art, serving as a blank avatar that players can project themselves on. While A Minecraft Movie establishes that Steve was in the Overworld long enough to create tons of stuff, including a theme park, Alex has been in the real world all this time. The teaser suggests she may show up if theres a sequel.While A Minecraft Movie tells a complete story, this post-credits scene does set up a potential hook for a new adventure. We dont know whether thatll involve a return to the Nether or the introduction of The End, but it seems like a safe bet that Alex and the mysterious chest left in her attic will figure in somehow.See More:

During an hourlong presentation on Wednesday, Nintendo bombarded prospective Switch 2 buyers with information about the new console and its games, including a torrent of ports from third-party publishers. But, once the dust had settled, it was easy to succumb to a creeping anxiety. Where were all the first-party launch titles from Nintendo itself? Mario Kart World looks great, but is it $79.99 great?Yes and no. Depending on how you define a launch game and how you define a Switch 2 game the Switch 2 will launch with anywhere between one and nine Nintendo games. You dont have to expand these definitions to the absolute limit to realize that the Switch 2 is launching with relatively strong first-party support compared to Nintendos past systems. But it is true that Nintendo is approaching this launch a little differently.First, a little historical perspective: In the last 20 years or so, new Nintendo consoles have launched with only two or three first-party games. For example, the Switch had The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, 1-2-Switch, and Snipperclips, a small eShop game. Further back, the Wii had the admittedly killer Zelda: Twilight Princess and Wii Sports double-header; the DS the more dubious pairing of Super Mario 64 DS and Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt.In terms of Nintendo-made exclusive games, the Switch 2 has two titles on day one: Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. But the latter is a download-only virtual guide to the hardware that most people wouldnt consider a full launch title. So yes, compared to previous systems, it looks a little light.If Donkey Kong Bananza were being released six weeks earlier, few would dispute that this is one of Nintendos strongest launch lineups ever. Image: Nintendo EPD/NintendoBut consider Donkey Kong Bananza, which is set for release on July 17 just six weeks after the launch of the console. This is clearly a major new Nintendo platformer, and given what we know about Nintendos conservative approach to finishing games and setting launch dates, it seems likely the game would be ready to hit the June 5 launch day if Nintendo wanted it to. (It could well be finished already.)Its probable that Nintendo shifted Bananzas launch date back as a deliberate marketing strategy, perhaps to extend the hype window beyond launch, perhaps to cover a second wave of stock. Or perhaps out of concern that Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza might cannibalize each other if launched together, because theyre both major titles. This is a key point. If we consider Bananza a launch title, and I think its only right to, then the Switch 2 is launching with two brand-new, exclusive Nintendo games of the highest order which is arguably a first.First-party support for Switch 2 goes even further when you consider Switch 2 Editions of existing Switch games. The system launches with enhanced versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, followed quickly in July by Super Mario Party Jamboree, which has received a pretty extensive update tailored to the consoles GameChat features and camera. In August, Nintendo will release an expanded version of Kirby and the Forgotten Land with a whole new storyline. Some of these upgrades, especially the Mario Party and Kirby releases, seem substantial enough to be compared to the Deluxe Switch versions of Wii U games like Mario Kart 8 and New Super Mario Bros. U.Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is coming out in August, and adds a whole new adventure to the Switch classic. Is it a launch game or not? Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo(You can only get to nine first-party launch games by including the three GameCube reissues, exclusive to Switch 2, on Nintendo Switch Online: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX. This is pushing it, I admit, although I would bet these will be some of my most-played games in my first weeks with the new console.)Through the rest of 2025, well get Drag x Drive, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, Kirby Air Riders, and Switch 2 Editions of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokmon Legends: Z-A. All in all, across Switch 2 exclusives and Switch 2 Editions, Nintendo announced 12 titles coming in 2025 during Wednesdays Direct.Thats a lot of games by any measure. (Certainly compared to the first-party support given to Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 in their first nine months on the market.) It just looks different, partly because Nintendo is choosing to spread out its release dates, and partly because Switch 2 Editions are a more diffuse concept than the ports and remasters that have been Nintendos stock-in-trade on previous consoles. Nintendo is certainly hedging its bets a little with two of its biggest 2025 games, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokmon Legends: Z-A, also coming to the Switch. But however you cut it, Switch 2 first-party support is a lot stronger than it might have seemed at first.See More:

After many months, if not years, of leaks and speculation, its finally official: Nintendo has announced and fully revealed its next console. Its called Nintendo Switch 2, and as the name implies, its a very similar design to the Switch a hybrid handheld console with detachable controllers that can be connected to a TV via a dock.While it may seem an obvious move, the iterative system is an unusual strategy for Nintendo, which has often chosen to innovate with its new hardware, finding new control systems and new forms of play. But, with 150 million units sold after eight years on the market, the Switch is Nintendos second most successful gaming system ever (after the Nintendo DS), and the third-best-selling console of all time. So perhaps its not surprising that the company decided, for once, that its previous console design wasnt broken and didnt need fixing. Switch 2 also launches into a changed market, where players have come to expect that they will be able to carry their game libraries forward from one machine to another, which precluded a radical change.Whether the Switch-owning masses will move over to Switch 2 is now less clear. Nintendos announced price for Switch 2, which starts at $449.99 ($150 more than the original Switch), and marquee games like Mario Kart World, which costs $79.99, means that upgrading could be prohibitively expensive for Nintendo fans (and parents of Nintendo fans).Heres everything we know and everything we think we know about Nintendos next console.What is the latest Switch 2 news?Nintendo announced key details like pricing, a release date, and a lineup of Switch 2-exclusive games in April during a Nintendo Direct showcase dedicated to its new console. The company also revealed a new Zoom-like video communication feature, GameChat, which is accessed by a new C button on the Joy Con 2 controllers and powered by a video camera and the Switch 2s built-in microphone.Those controllers also function like computer mice. Mouse controls be used in certain games like Drag x Drive, a wheelchair rugby sports game; Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, a first-person shooter-adventure; and strategy game Sid Meiers Civilization 7.Nintendo also announced a handful of new Switch 2 exclusive games, like 3D adventure Donkey Kong Bananza; Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a hack-and-slash prequel to Tears of the Kingdom; the virtual exhibition Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour; and something new from Elden Ring developer FromSoftware, The Duskbloods.The company also confirmed enhanced versions of original Switch games for Switch 2. These Switch 2 Edition games offer improved visuals and, in some cases, new game content. Some Switch games will also just run better on Switch 2 by dint of the successors more powerful hardware.Finally, Nintendo Switch Online is getting classic GameCube games, but only for subscribers of the premium Expansion Pack tier and only on Switch 2. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soulcalibur 2, and F-Zero GX have been confirmed for the classic game subscription service.What is Switch 2s release date?Nintendo will release Switch 2 on June 5, 2025, the company announced in April.What is Switch 2s price?Nintendo Switch 2 starts at $449.99. That price includes the system, a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers, the Nintendo Switch 2 dock, an ultra high-speed HDMI cable, an AC adapter, and controller accessories. Nintendo is also selling a Nintendo Switch 2 bundle that includes a digital copy of Mario Kart World for $499.99.International pricing for the base Switch 2 SKU is set at 469.99 for Europe, 395.99 in the U.K., and 49,980 yen in Japan.At $449.99, that makes Switch 2 the most expensive Nintendo console at launch, not accounting for inflation. The Switch launched at $299 in 2017, and its official sticker price hasnt dropped since. This is in line with the changing trends in pricing for many consumer electronics. Due to chip shortages, inflation, and the slowing pace of advances in tech, this generation of consoles has not come down in price the way previous generations did so dont expect big price drops for Switch 2, either.With the Switch 2s higher price, Nintendo will face uncomfortable comparisons to the new wave of PC handhelds (a Steam Deck OLED is $549; an Asus ROG Ally is $499) and risk pricing itself out of its traditional family market.There is also the question of whether the tariffs imposed by the U.S. on many countries could impact the price of the Switch 2. The same day that Nintendo announced the Switch 2s price and release date, the Trump administration announced sweeping tariffs on a number of countries, including Vietnam. Nintendo began manufacturing the Switch in Vietnam in 2019, during the last Trump administrations trade feud with China, and has plans to ramp up production at a new factory there. Based on the brief, hourslong window between Nintendos announcement and the U.S. presidents massive new tariffs, Nintendo hasnt had much time to respond to the proposed tariffs.What games will Switch 2 have?Nintendo announced a handful of first-party games and showcased an even longer list of Switch 2 games from third-party partners during a Nintendo Direct showcase in April.Mario Kart World is Nintendos flagship launch game for Switch 2. The follow-up to the bestselling Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will feature a huge roster of racers, up to 24 competitors per race, and a more open-world design, letting (and encouraging) racers to go off-track.Donkey Kong Bananza, coming to Switch 2 in July, stars Donkey Kong in a new 3D action-adventure game thats all about digging and destruction.Kirby Air Riders is a sequel to GameCube game Kirby Air Ride and is, once again, directed by Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai.Drag x Drive is a sports game based on wheelchair rugby (aka murderball) that shows off the mouse- and motion-control capabilities of the Joy-Con 2 controllers.Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is a virtual tour of the Switch 2 hardware, presented like a teeny tiny museum.The Duskbloods is a new multiplayer action game from developer FromSoftware, and exclusive to Switch 2. It has strong Bloodborne vibes.Nintendo also announced upgraded Switch 2 Edition versions of Switch games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Pokmon Legends Z-A, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Metroid Prime 4 will also get a native release on Switch and Switch 2.Third parties will bring a long list of games, both new and old, to Switch 2. Big names coming to Switch 2 include Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, Fortnite, Street Fighter 6, Star Wars Outlaws, Madden NFL, and NBA 2K.RelatedWill Switch 2 be backward-compatible?Yes, the Switch 2 will be backward-compatible! Before it even officially announced the Switch 2, Nintendo confirmed that Switch software will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch. It added that Nintendo Switch Online the online multiplayer service that also includes a large catalog of retro games will be available on the Switch 2, too. With many users hoping or outright expecting to carry forward their game libraries to Nintendos next console, as has become the norm with the latest generations of Xbox and PlayStation consoles, the news comes as a big relief.That said, Nintendo did warn that certain Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendos compatibility list shows that more than 180 Switch games may not play properly on Switch 2. The company also says that free updates to improve playability on the Nintendo Switch 2 system will be released for select Nintendo Switch games, so things could change before launch.Nintendo Accounts will carry over to the new console, and Switch 2 owners should have access to original Switch software they currently own. Following Nintendos announcement of the new Virtual Game Card system, it now appears that the Switch 2 will support swapping Switch games with original Switch using this system.Regarding hardware backward compatibility, Switch 2 will be backward-compatible with some Switch accessories, including the Pro Controller and Joy-Cons.What new features does Switch 2 have?As previously reported and now confirmed by Nintendos video, the Switch 2 features detachable Joy-Con controllers like the Switch. The Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically, as opposed to sliding into rails on the Switch 2 body. It has been reported that the Joy-Con 2s also have more reliable Hall-effect sticks, something Nintendo has yet to confirmed. Theres a new square button on the right Joy-Con 2, the C button. The Joy-Con 2s also feature a small optical sensor on their inner edge that allows for mouse-like controls.The console features a second USB-C port on its top, like the one on its lower edge for charging and connecting to its dock. This will allow it to be charged while its being used in tabletop mode, propped up on its new, U-shaped stand. But it could potentially be used to connect new accessories, like a camera or even a second screen.How powerful will Switch 2 be? What are its tech specs?Nintendo Switch 2 is powered by a custom processor made by Nvidia, Nintendo says. According to leaked details gleaned from the consoles motherboard, its supposedly utilizing a custom Tegra T239 processor which should put the system on par, power-wise, with consoles like Sonys PlayStation 4 and Microsofts Xbox One.Switch 2s new screen is 7.9 inches, bigger than both the original Switch (6.2 inches) and the Switch OLED (7 inches). The new display also got a bump in resolution to 1080p (from 720p) and supports a variable refresh rate (VRR) up to 120 Hz. The system supports HDR10 support. When docked, Switch 2 can output resolutions up to 1440p at 120 Hz, and 4K at 60Hz.Switch 2 has 256 GB of flash storage, considerably more than the original Switchs 32 GB. Storage can be expanded with an SD card; Switch 2 supports up to 2 TB microSD Express cards, which offer much faster read speeds.Switch 2s battery will last around 2 to 6.5 hours depending on the games you play. Thats actually a tiny bit less than the launch Switch 1 models, which can run from 2.6 to 6.5 hours, and considerably less than the updated models that last 4.5 to 9 hours. RelatedInside the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware specsCan you pre-order Switch 2?You will be able to pre-order Nintendo Switch 2 starting April 9.Nintendo will hold another Nintendo Direct presentation on April 17, an event dedicated to Switch 2 launch game Mario Kart World.While it hasnt announced one yet, Nintendo also typically holds a Nintendo Direct in mid-to-late June. If it follows tradition, there could be more Switch 2 games revealed this summer.Nintendo will also hold Nintendo Switch 2 Experience events around the world throughout April, where members of the public will be able to go hands-on with the machine. These events will take place cities around North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.Polygon will continue to update this story as new details develop.See More:

President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs on foreign goods Wednesday, with the reportedly arbitrary levies exceeding 60% in some cases. While the tariffs were long expected, one business analyst told CNBC that the administrations plans are worse than the worst case scenario. With most tabletop games produced overseas, many in China, the impact could be devastating. Developers and publishers are sounding the alarm.The games you play are likely to become much more expensive. Nearly 20 organizations that Polygon spoke with said that profits will be severely impacted. Many said jobs will be lost, companies shuttered, and games that have been in development for years may simply never come to market.Tabletop gaming, which includes board games, card games, and role-playing games, has enjoyed a roughly two-decade renaissance brought on in part by crowdfunding. Nevertheless, much of the industry consists of individual creators, sole proprietors, small family businesses, and remote teams of creatives. The Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) said Thursday that the impact of these tariffs will be nothing short of a disaster.The latest imposition of a 54% tariff on products from China by the administration is dire news for the tabletop industry and the broader US economy, GAMA said in a news release. As an industry highly dependent on producing goods overseas and importing them into the US, this policy will have devastating consequences.Tariffs are essentially taxes on consumers, not on the countries where the products are produced, it continued. Publishers will be forced to pass these costs along to their customers or face the prospect of ceasing operations. Nearly a third of all US consumer goods including clothes, food products, appliances, cars, and entertainment items like games are imported. This means higher prices across the board as all these products will need to increase prices to compensate for these new Trump Taxes.Tariffs are essentially taxes on consumers. [] Publishers will be forced to pass these costs along to their customers or face the prospect of ceasing operationsIt went on to add that as prices rise domestically, discretionary spending will necessarily decrease, further constraining consumer spending on games.This one-two punch is likely to put many of our members out of business or force them to downsize and lay off employees to survive, GAMA concluded.The U.S. has a very small industrial capacity for manufacturing tabletop games especially board games. That was made clear in a statement issued Thursday by Steve Jackson Games CEO Meredith Placko.Some people ask, Why not manufacture in the U.S.? Placko said in an impact statement. I wish we could. But the infrastructure to support full-scale boardgame production specialty dice making, die-cutting, custom plastic and wood components doesnt meaningfully exist here yet. Ive gotten quotes. Ive talked to factories. Even when the willingness is there, the equipment, labor, and timelines simply arent.Nearly a dozen organizations expressed dismay in emails to Polygon. A member of the leadership team at an established tabletop role-playing publisher said uncertainty instigated by the incoming administration had impacted their revenues since at least January. Now the tariffs are poised to deliver a knockout blow. They asked for anonymity, citing concerns over reprisals from other U.S.-based businesses.The news is bad from every angle, but especially so for card games and RPGs printed in China, they said. The choice seems to be either 1) a massive price hike to pay the new import taxes, or 2) go to a direct sales model that removes the hobby distributors from the equation.Distributors are the connective tissue that helps keep GAMAs nearly 5,000 independent member retailers stocked with the latest games. Without their involvement there may be fewer titles on store shelves, causing further stress on an industry still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.The situation is especially problematic for companies that have used crowdfunding. Their products were bought and paid for years ago with backer dollars on platforms like Kickstarter, Gamefound, and BackerKit. Now as they near the final push to manufacturing, through overseas logistics networks, and into the hands of eager consumers, what little margin was available has all but vanished.In the short term, I just have to eat these costs to fulfill the Kickstarter, said Joshua M. Simons, founder of Broken Door Entertainment, who baked in an extra margin in anticipation of the tariffs. He says it wasnt enough. In the short term, I just have to eat these costs to fulfill the KickstarterThe tariffs will erase 20% of my expected profits off this initial print run, making it much harder to get my next round of products developed, Simons said. That hit to my budget means I will probably only be able to afford making one product instead of two for the rest of this year.As spreadsheets begin to bleed red, its the capricious nature of the Trump administration that continues to bedevil small businesses like Hit Point Press.Right now, HPP is prepping for our next Humblewood Kickstarter campaign launch next week, said CEO and founder Ricardo Evangelho. This news has me revising everything in advance of the campaign. But even then, with how things are going, we cant be sure that even this adjustment is correct. Trump could come out tomorrow with additional tariffs which makes everything uncertain.We have high hopes for this next campaign, Evangelho continued, but if everyone is afraid of buying because they dont know the final cost, I have concerns well raise what we need to continue building to the scale we currently are.Still other publishers are literally stopping the presses, terminating the production of games already promised to consumers.I had to cancel a print run of one of our board games this morning, said Michael Addison, whose Nerdy Pup Games is currently supporting the TTRPGs for Trans Right Bundle with the inclusion of Rebels of the Outlaw Wastes. Were basically putting all manufacturing on hold. We currently make both board games and TTRPGs. Theres a chance we are simply done making board games for the foreseeable future.Tariffs on China arent the only problem. Dozens of other international trading partners have also had tariffs levied against them.We had been looking at printing in either South Korea or Vietnam instead of China but with the all encompassing nature of the planned tariffs, I have no idea how feasible that would be, said Liana MacKenzie, owner of Valorous Games. She said the company may be forced to begin publishing digital-only content in the short term. Were entirely self-funded through my day job and whatever we can earn through conventions, so not having a physical book is not at all ideal but that may just be where were at.Others, like Coyote & Crow founder Connor Alexander, say this might simply be the end for now.[The proposed tariffs on China] will essentially kill my company, Alexander wrote in a deeply pessimistic post on Bluesky. In a follow-up email to Polygon, he sounded only slightly more hopeful: Im not panicking yet. Emphasis on yet.[The proposed tariffs on China] will essentially kill my companyIn its statement, tabletop trade organization GAMA was clear that the time to act is now before the tariffs have been firmly locked into place, and before more game publishers bow out of the industry entirely.GAMA will continue to oppose this policy and calls on Congress to show common sense and work together to avoid wrecking the US economy in a misguided tariff war that is neither necessary nor needed, the trade organization said in its news release. We urge all US members to contact their representatives and senators to step in and vacate this damaging policy. You can find your representative and senators contact information at house.gov and senate.gov. Please write or call them to express your concerns and demand action to protect our industry and the broader economy.See More:

Looking for a creative new game to play? You can currently pick up the Lego board game Monkey Palace on Amazon for only $27.23 thats 32% off its typical price of $39.99.Designed for two to four players ages 10 and up, Monkey Palace has players take on the role of monkeys building a tower out of Lego bricks with the goal of earning banana points. Using a combination of different types of Lego blocks, players work together to build up the existing structure, while additional game mechanics give players opportunities to block the paths of opponents or gain rewards to boost their own ascension.Monkey Palace$27$4033% off$27$27 at AmazonThough the process of figuring out the best building strategy can be frustrating at times, the collaborative, creative elements of Monkey Palace result in an overall very rewarding experience, as expressed in our 2024 review.Theres a tangibility in Monkey Palace that supercedes even the desire of winning. Sure, we kept score and celebrated our wins as much as rued our losses, but ultimately what we enjoyed more than anything was the 3D creation at the end something organically co-created together. I suspect after several games the shapes start to feel similar, such is the case with how the system encourages a gradual slope, but we still appreciated having something that we built together. And unlike other board games, I didnt find myself immediately tearing down the board and putting everything away. In fact, our most recent game remains intact, a temporary centerpiece for our kitchen table.At less than $30, this Monkey Palace deal seems like a good opportunity to snag a game and art project all in one.See More:

The Nintendo Switch 2s hardware is no longer a secret, which means we can finally see how it stacks up against the Steam Deck. Nintendo dropped a full list of the specs after its Switch 2 Direct, and there are a few surprising features that make it more of a direct competitor to Valves handheld than we thought.Nintendo confirmed a number of games coming to the Switch 2, including ports of Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Split Fiction. The Steam Deck can already play those games right now, giving us a pretty good idea of what the Switch 2 will be like when it releases in June.Heres how the Switch 2s hardware specs compare to the Steam Deck.System sizeGraphic: Polygon | Source images: Nintendo, ValveNintendo stretched the Switch 2s overall size out a little bit to accommodate its larger screen. Its now about 4 inches tall and 9.4 inches long (with Joy-Cons attached). That means its a little smaller than the Steam Deck which is about 4.6 inches tall and 11.7 inches wide.Screen sizeGraphic: Polygon | Source images: Nintendo, ValveSwitch 2s new screen is actually bigger than the screens on both versions of the Steam Deck. Switch 2s new LCD screen is 7.9 inches while the Steam Deck LCDs is 7 inches and the Steam Deck OLEDs is 7.4 inches. Valve has the upper hand when it comes to screen technology with the Steam Deck OLED which gives it an edge for HDR but Nintendo has made sure to keep the screen a priority in the Switch 2s design.Screen resolutionSwitch 2s screen resolution is 1080p, an upgrade from the Switchs 720p screens. Its also an upgrade over the Steam Decks resolution, which is 1280x800. At such a small screen size on both handhelds, however, the differences will pretty minimal. You might notice games running smoother with the Switch 2s screen being able to hit up to 120 Hz though. The Steam Deck LCD can only reach 60 Hz and the Steam Deck OLED 90 Hz.When docked, the Switch 2 can output up to 4K at 60 frames per second to a TV. The Steam Deck can do 4K too, but it can also double the fps to 120. And even though its pretty unrealistic, it can actually output 8K at 60 fps.All that said, picture quality on the Switch 2s LCD screen wont be able to match the clarity of the Steam Deck OLEDs screen. Expect images on the Switch 2 to have blacks that look more gray and duller colors than what youd see on Valves device.CPU/GPUGraphic: Polygon | Source images: Nintendo, ValveEven though Nintendo has fully revealed the specs of the Switch 2, its Nvidia graphics and processing chip are still shrouded in some secrecy. According to leaks from someone getting their hands on the Switch 2 motherboard, the system will run on a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 processor. Analysts predict itll reach a similar power level as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. If thats true, the Switch 2 will be slightly faster than the Steam Deck OLEDs Zen 2 processor, but when you take into account its rumored 12 GB of memory compared to the Steam Decks 16 GB of memory the differences will be minimal.StorageWhen it comes to storage, the Switch 2 is a little better than the Steam Deck. Switch 2 has 256 GB of universal flash storage (UFS) storage, and there are no other versions of the hardware with more. That makes it even with the Steam Deck LCD, and half as big as the base Steam Deck OLEDs 512 GB capacity. Its not exactly a fair fight in terms of price, but the Switch 2 cant compete with the more expensive version of the Steam Deck OLED, which has 1 TB.You can expand the Switch 2s storage with a microSD Express card up to 2 TB. This is important because microSD Express cards are much faster (and more expensive) than the microSDXC and microSDHC cards that the Steam Decks support. As far as potential transfer speeds go, Nintendo wins.Battery lifeSwitch 2s battery life will last around 2 to 6.5 hours depending on what games you play. The Steam Deck LCD is rated for around 6 to 12 hours, and the Steam Deck OLED can last from 2 to 8 hours. Battery life is really tricky to compare because it can vary so much, but on average the Steam Deck will have you reaching for the charging cables a little less often.PortsGraphic: Polygon | Source images: Nintendo, ValveNintendo surprised us with not one, but two USB-C ports on the Switch 2. And just like the previous model, itll have a 3.5 mm headphone jack (take that, Apple!). The Steam Deck only carries one USB-C port along with its headphone jack and, unlike the Switch 2, it doesnt have a fancy kickstand.PriceNintendo put a pretty steep price on the Switch 2, but its actually not that far off from the Steam Deck. The Switch 2 will cost $449.99 for just the console, and $499.99 for the console and a digital copy of Mario Kart World. The Steam Deck is a bit cheaper if you go for the LCD version at $399 which is the closest version to Nintendos console.As soon as you step up to the Steam Deck OLED, Nintendos console becomes the cheaper one of the two. The Steam Deck OLED starts at $549 and jumps up to $649 for the 1 TB version. But this is also where the Steam Decks specs start to diverge from the Switch 2, so its not exactly a fair comparison.See More:

A slew of new amiibo were quietly revealed in addition to all the Switch 2 info shared on April 2, confirming details gleaned from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filings a month ago.The new figures, based on characters from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Street Fighter 6, will launch alongside the Switch 2 on June 5. Six Sage descendants Tulin, Yunobo, Riju, and Sidon represent the Zelda franchise, while Street Fighter newcomers Luke, Jamie, and Kimberly join the previously released Ryu and Ken figures as part of the fighting games amiibo offerings.amiibo figures of Tulin, Yunobo, Riju and Sidon from The Legend of #Zelda: #TearsOfTheKingdom are releasing on June 5! Each one can unlock a fabric for Links paraglider, as well as weapons and materials for your adventure. pic.twitter.com/fG9dBiQftP Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) April 2, 2025As with past releases, all of these new amiibo will unlock special content in their respective games. A figure based on Minerus Construct from Tears of the Kingdom is also planned for the future.Despite an FCC filing indicating the new Joy-Con 2 controllers would maintain amiibo support on Switch 2, it was unclear whether or not Nintendo intended to release more figures. That sound you just heard was collectors and completionists groaning in agony over learning theyll need to continue getting up early to hunt down limited supplies of these silly little plastic doodads.

During Wednesdays Switch 2 Direct, Nintendo revealed that some games for the original Switch could be upgraded to enhanced Switch 2 Editions by purchasing an upgrade pack. This isnt surprising, coming from a company that has long loved to repackage old games for new consoles and sell them to fans a second (or third, or fourth) time. But it left some observers feeling that Nintendo was nickel-and-diming its fans and its a strategy that comes with risks. When launching a console thats fully backward-compatible with its predecessors games, console makers have some tricky choices to make. One of the trickiest involves how to handle pricing and upgrades when there are versions of the same game for both platforms particularly if the platform holder is increasing the price of games on the new system (as Nintendo is).Both Sony and Microsoft were faced with this conundrum when they launched their most recent consoles, and they made very different choices. Microsofts policy is both generous and simple: Any Xbox One games are upgraded to Xbox Series X editions automatically and at no extra cost. If you own the newer console, you can rest easy that you are always playing the best version of the game without thinking about it, and without shelling out for it.Sonys policy is a bit less generous, and much more confusing. Some upgrades from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 versions of games are free. (Quite a few, to be fair.) Many are not; it costs $10 to upgrade a copy of Marvels Spider-Man or Grand Theft Auto 5 to the PS5 version, for example. Sometimes this upgrade path was only available for a limited time. Sometimes its not available at all, and your only option, if you already own the game on PS4, is to buy it all over again on PS5.How much would you pay for a smartphone Zelda guide? Image: Nintendo EPD/NintendoUnderstandably, this messy, costly system didnt go down well with PlayStation players. When Horizon Forbidden West was announced with no upgrade path, fans were so upset that Sony was forced to back down, offer a free upgrade, and pledge to always offer upgrades in the future (albeit for a price). This is the minefield that Nintendo is now stepping into.There are a few caveats, however. Firstly, Nintendo did not announce pricing for its upgrade packs, and how players feel about the upgrades will depend to a large extent on where this pricing lands. Also, will the upgrade to the Switch 2 Edition of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which improves performance and comes with some companion-app features, cost the same as the Switch 2 upgrade for Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which adds a whole new expansion to the game? Maybe, maybe not. To complicate things further, the Switch 2 Edition upgrades for Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom will be included in a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, but others wont.Thats not all. Nintendo is also offering a second tier of free Switch 2 patches for games like Super Mario Odyssey and Pokmon Scarlet and Violet. These dont count as full Switch 2 Editions, but they will improve playability and may improve performance or add support for features such as GameShare, depending on the game.As with PS5, its quite a confusing picture especially since we dont yet know pricing, or how third-party publishers will choose to handle Switch 2 Editions. (On PlayStation, many if not most opted to offer free upgrades.) But there is one important factor that distinguishes Nintendos strategy from Sonys.How much would you pay for Switch 2 Camera features in Super Mario Party Jamboree? Image: Nintendo EPD/NintendoThe only enhancements offered by many PS5 upgrades were in terms of visuals and performance: higher resolutions and frame rates, ray-traced lighting, or new performance and quality modes. Players felt they were being asked to spend $10 per game to unlock the power of the console they had already bought.Nintendo seems to have a policy that visual upgrades arent enough for a Switch 2 Edition. The Zelda games come with the (admittedly not very compelling) Zelda Notes companion features. Super Mario Party Jamboree has a new play mode, and makes extensive use of Switch 2 features like mouse controls and the camera. Kirby and the Forgotten Land has a whole new story. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has mouse controls. It seems clear that Nintendo always wants to add value in a Switch 2 Edition, either through additional content, use of the Switch 2s unique features (beyond its increased processing power), or both. Some of these releases Kirby and Mario Party especially would seem to be on a par with the Switchs Deluxe editions of Wii U games like Mario Kart 8 and New Super Mario Bros. U. (Theres one exception to this rule: The Switch 2 Edition of Pokmon Legends: Z-A does not feature any upgrades beyond a visual one, at least for now.)That should make the upgrade pack cost, however much it may be, easier to stomach. (Charging for upgrade packs will surely make all that extra development time easier for Nintendo to stomach.) Its a fairer proposition than Sonys, if hardly a less confusing one. But Xbox owners and PC gamers, for that matter, who never have to worry about such things would be justified in feeling quite smug by comparison.See More:

Marvel Rivals is almost ready for its second season, and developer NetEase Games just revealed the theme: Hellfire Gala. The developer released a new trailer on Thursday giving players a preview of the season, including what heroes and villains are on the way, a few skins we might be able to expect, and even who the main bad guy will be this time around. As dedicated X-Men fans will know, the Hellfire Gala was originally a one-time in-universe event (but went so well, it came back in each of the next two years) where the residents of Krakoa opened up their enclave for a single evening to show off mutant culture and a new team of X-Men. It also happened to feature some incredible fashion in the style of the real-world Met Gala. In other words, we should probably expect a few X-Men heroes and villains with this new season, but nearly everyone on the roster should be getting some fancy new threads.And the trailer for the new season seems to back up this guess. The starsof the preview is undoubtedly Emma Frost, who usually puts the Gala on in the comics as well, but we also see several members of the Marvel Rivals roster decked out in some fancy new outfits. Theres Wolverine in a suit, Magneto looking like a military general dressed for a ball, and even Doctor Doom seems to be hanging out in the background of a few shots. However, all the festivities are cut short when Ultron himself appears with a robot army, ready to take out everyone attending the Gala.Marvel Rivals Hellfire Gala season is set to begin on April 11.

Perhaps one of the more unexpected announcements to arrive out of the Nintendo Switch Direct is that the Nintendo Switch 2 will have a camera peripheral to supplement the consoles new group chat feature. While the Switch 2 will be compatible with third-party USB-C webcams, the peripheral manufacturers at Hori are already producing their own adorable version of a camera for the Switch 2 modeled after the Piranha Plant.Specifics surrounding the carnivorous camera are a bit slim. It isnt currently advertised on the manufacturers website, and it has only been spotted in the wild at European retailer Mediamarkt, which has the product listed for around $44, about $6 cheaper than the first-party model advertised by Nintendo. It appears that the stem will be detachable from the base and is flexible, to ensure you have the best possible angle. However, the coolest feature is that its mouth can be closed as a privacy shutter for the camera when not in use. Nintendos official camera for the Switch 2 has a similar feature, but Im glad were already starting to see weird peripherals for the new console taking root.

While watching the big Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, Im sure I wasnt alone in expecting the long-awaited follow-up to Super Mario Odyssey. When the final trailer kicked off with lush, cartoony environs, it seemed clear that the expectation was about to become reality. But nope, Nintendos big surprise game was actually Donkey Kong Bananza, a new 3D adventure game starring the king of the Kongs.But is this just a palette swap? Maybe the developers wanted to make a new 3D platformer, but to mix it up they slotted in Donkey Kong instead of Mario. Effectively, is this the sequel to Mario Odyssey weve been waiting for? Big time not.After having spent 30 minutes playing the game at Nintendos press event Wednesday, I can say that Donkey Kong Bananza might be the most fuck everything up game Nintendo has ever made. Seconds into controlling Donkey Kong, I was set loose in a mine staffed by very sad chimpanzees. And no, I wasnt there to save them. Apparently this next generation of DK is very obsessed with Bananium, a mineral that looks a heck of a lot like gold and I guess tastes like bananas. Image: NintendoImage: NintendoImage: NintendoImage: NintendoThe gameplay consists of Donkey Kong just sprinting through the mine breaking literally everything around him. Hes busting holes in walls, hes throwing huge boulders hes a very mobile, very hungry wrecking ball. There was very little platforming involved, in fact, with much more of a focus on wrecking shit. Every button and trigger but one results in some wrecking-shit variant. Theres the standard horizontal punch, theres a ground slam, theres a ground drum (for sending nearby pickups into the air for collection), theres a grab and throw for hurling boulders. You are just marching around the environments fucking shit up.This can feel a bit chaotic and actually resulted in some motion sickness, requiring me to turn down some of the sensitivity settings but it was a blast. The meditative platforming you might find in a Mario game has been replaced by something entirely different, and entirely in line with Donkey Kongs persona. Dude loves bananas and wrecking shit.The game does have some purpose to it. Sometimes you are given mini objectives to keep things moving, like using exploding boulders to open up new pathways. And there are a ton of collectibles hidden within the walls and underground to uncover. The levels appear to be quite large and seemingly filled with a number of different paths you can go down, making Bananza feel much more in line with what youd expect from a major first-party Nintendo release. But all of that felt secondary to the pure joy of destroying the world around me.I cleared out a particularly gold-filled area, only to look back on the chaos I had wrought. It was like a tornado had whipped through the heart of the mine, and no one was spared.See More:

Nintendo held off announcing the price of the Switch 2 in its big Switch 2 Direct on Wednesday. Instead, perhaps in preparation for the inevitable sticker shock, the $449 price point was slipped into a news release tucked away in a bevy of other facts. Nintendo also announced that a limited-supply bundle that comes with a copy of Mario Kart World would retail for $499.99. The Mario Kart sequel runs $80 as a standalone game.Even with rampant inflation of the U.S. economy, the Switch 2 remains one of Nintendos most expensive consoles ever. Further, its crossing the once-sacred $70 price point for games a relatively ubiquitous price for AAA games that most major studios generally adhere to. (That price point has crept up over the years, with first-party Switch 1 games going for $60 in most cases.)In the wake of Nintendos pricey announcements, weve seen reactions from folks all across the internet, and even in our own personal group chats with friends, land all over the place. In January, we predicted that the console would be sold at $399, and in our reader survey, almost 57% of you agreed with us. Just 9% of our respondents predicted that the Switch 2 would cost $449. So now the question stands: Will you buy a Switch 2 for $449.99?With Switch 2 pre-orders set for April 9, the Nintendo Switch 1 still retails for $299.99 the same price as when it launched. The Switch OLED still goes for $349.99, and has also never been discounted. A Switch Lite continues to go for $199.99. Nintendos Switch 2 competitors, like the Valve Steam Deck and the ROG Ally X, retail for anywhere from $399 to just under $600, depending on how much storage youd like.So tell us: Will you buy the Switch 2? Vote in our poll and sound off in the comments to make your case.

If you were handed a Nintendo Switch 2, you might not initially realize it. Sure, it might feel a little bigger in the hand, but otherwise the experience of holding Nintendos long-awaited follow-up feels familiar, with all the pluses and minuses that go along with that.Delving a bit deeper, though, the improvements do become apparent. You just have to hunt for them.When in handheld mode, the Switch 2 is about an inch wider and a half-inch taller than the original Switch. This increased size allows the Joy-Con 2 controllers to hug the new 7.9-inch screen, which is also noticeably bigger than the original Switchs. While playing Mario Kart World, I really appreciated the increased screen real estate, allowing me to soak up the image of a cow on a motorcycle doing backflips over Donkey Kong. But I was surprised to find that the increased size really helped with the ergonomics of the device as well.Its no secret that the original Nintendo Switch was a one-way ticket to Hand Cramptown. I cant say that the Switch 2 will alleviate all of the issues people had when playing games in handheld mode, but I have some hope. Because the Joy-Con 2 controllers are a bit longer, I was able to fully grip the controller without my pinkie and ring fingers dangling uselessly under the console. More fingers on the device itself means more support and therefore less wrist and hand strain when playing for long periods of time. Photo: Russ Frushtick/PolygonUnfortunately this is entirely subjective, as someone with smaller hands might not have the same experience. In fact, Polygons Chelsea Stark felt that the comfort levels were pretty comparable between the original Switch and the Switch 2, but did note that she really felt the weight difference (the Switch 2 is about 34% heavier, at 1.18 pounds with both Joy-Cons attached).I found the increased size of the new Joy-Cons to be beneficial in other ways. If youve ever played a multiplayer game using a single Joy-Con tilted on its side, you understand misery. On the Switch 2, that experience is measurably improved on a few fronts: For one, the added size makes it so the buttons and analog stick arent right on top of each other, and your hands arent quite so smashed together as they were when holding the teeny tiny original Joy-Con. The tiny, rectangular trigger buttons in this solo Joy-Con mode are also elevated and far easier to press, so drifting in Mario Kart will be that much more viable in this setting. Is it as good as holding your own dedicated controller? It is not. It still feels weird and off-set, a consequence of having to work for both handheld and solo Joy-Con play, but itll work in a pinch.Size improvements have also been made to the analog sticks and face buttons, which are both slightly larger than they were before. When using Joy-Con 2s in the new grip controller, it didnt feel like I was totally hamstrung not having a full Pro Controller like I would have been with the original Switchs grip. I still dont think Id want to play a 60-hour Zelda adventure using just the grip (mostly because swapping between the right analog stick and face buttons still feels unnatural because of the way theyre stacked), but it might allow me to eke out some more play time before having to call it quits.Image composition: Polygon | Source image: Russ Frushtick/PolygonThere are also more subtle differences that make using the Switch 2 far more enjoyable than the original. Connecting a Joy-Con 2 to the screen using the new magnet attachment feels incredible, as it clicks securely into place without the slight wiggle you might have felt with the original Switchs rail system. Theres also a significantly stronger rumble hiding within the Switch, capable of boosting the feedback with a lot more fervor than before.But, with these improvements, its hard not to feel like theres a pretty significant downgrade in comfort and playability when sticking with the stock Joy-Con 2 over, say, the new Switch 2 Pro Controller. If you play a lot of games, it does feel like the Pro Controller will be a mandatory purchase. Thanks to the new kickstand and the larger screen size, tabletop play does become a much more viable option than before.After eight years, I was hoping more would have been done to make the ergonomics of Switch 2 a dramatic improvement. The goal of allowing the Joy-Con 2s to function in a variety of circumstances (attached, in one hand, sideways as a mini controller, and even as a mouse), probably has a significant impact on making something comfortable to hold for long periods of time. Which is to say: Third-party accessory manufacturers will once again swoop in with all sorts of zany grip solutions to make the Switch 2 a cushier experience. Its just a shame that Nintendo wasnt able to solve all of these problems on its own.See More:

Mario Kart World answers the question, How do you follow Mario Kart 8? While the previous entry became fully stuffed with new and throwback racetracks, playing Mario Kart World at Nintendos hands-on Switch 2 preview event blew up all my assumptions of what a Mario Kart track can be and what the future could hold for the franchise. The arcade racer hasnt yet strayed from its format, but thats about to change when Mario Kart World is released alongside the Switch 2 on June 5. In the time I spent with Mario Kart World during the preview event, I most enjoyed all the times I wasnt strictly racing. I was just driving and vibing. We loaded up for a massive game of Knock-out Tour, where 24 folks compete in a marathon-style race across ever-changing terrain. But because I happened to be one of the first to pick up a console, I spent a long time waiting for everyone else but not idly. Instead, I was able to drive wherever I wanted across the landscape. Photo: Russ Frushtick/PolygonFirst, I drifted down a snowy road, feeling how my heavy cars tires dug in the deeper snow off the track. I vaulted across a ramp, soaring longer and farther than I ever had in a Mario Kart game before. I weaved through busy highways, which were a mix of normal vehicles and some extra-large Nintendo variants, some spewing gold coins in their wake. I even whipped around quickly and drove against traffic to get a closer look at a mushroom diner sign that I had missed on my last pass by. As an aside: Mario Kart World seems packed with Nintendo nostalgia, and primed for poring over by superfans. The world is full of small Easter eggs you might not see while racing by, or other drivers you may pass on the road. (I yelled in delight when I got passed by the penguin from Mario 64!) But in Knock-out Tour, I had the option to take roads at my own pace, which feels luxurious, instead of throwing a race for the sake of seeing some detail.Comparisons to Forza Horizon 5 seem apt, as it feels like Im just cruising around until the event starts. While there may not be as robust driving options Mario Kart is still an arcadey game! I enjoyed the drive. I wanted to see what was around the next bend, with so many terrain and track types merging together seamlessly. It also takes off the pressure of responding to items or dealing with the actual race. One of my longstanding criticisms of Mario Kart is how it isnt always your fault if you lose, and thats still true on the extremely long Knock-out Tour. I was knocked out pretty early partially my fault for picking a character based on aesthetics. (Sorry to the beefcake biker version of Bowser; youre very heavy!)But it did make me curious and excited to try out the Free Roam mode advertised in Wednesdays Direct, which seems to offer a lot more variety in driving. (Youll also drive between courses in a cup, but the hands-on demos only rotated me through single tracks.)There are so many other things to appreciate: the weird new items, which I havent seen all of yet; the surprisingly deep bench of characters available as drivers. But I cant wait to cruise around uninhibited and take them in at my own pace. See More:

After a brutal year for the video game industry, 2025 is looking brighter and much busier if only because Rockstar Games plans to release Grand Theft Auto 6 in 2025, and Nintendo promises to deliver the Switch 2 and a bunch of new games to launch with it.Those arent the only highly anticipated sequels coming in 2025. Video game fans can also expect Ghost of Yotei, Elden Ring Nightreign, Death Stranding 2, Doom: The Dark Ages, Borderlands 4, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Monster Hunter Wilds, Pokmon Legends: Z-A, and Slay the Spire 2. Beyond sequels, there are some other big bets on the calendar for 2025, like Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, Judas, Riots fighting game 2XKO, and South of Midnight. Suffice it to say, its currently looking like a big year for new video game releases.Game release dates are always in flux, though, so Polygons guide to the new video games coming in 2025 will be regularly updated with new titles, release dates, and (inevitable) delays.New video game releases for 2025JanuaryDynasty Warriors: Origins Image: Omega Force/Koei TecmoYs Memoire: The Oath in Felghana (PS4, PS5, Switch) Jan. 7Freedom Wars Remastered (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch) Jan. 10Hyper Light Breaker Early Access (PC) Jan. 13Aloft (PC) Jan. 15Blade Chimera (PC, Switch) Jan. 16Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch) Jan. 16Dynasty Warriors: Origins (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Jan. 17Tales of Graces f Remastered (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) Jan. 17Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the mist (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) Jan. 22Guilty Gear Strive (Switch) Jan. 23Ninja Gaiden 2 Black (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Jan. 23Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) Jan. 23Synduality: Echo of Ada (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Jan. 23Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (PC) Jan. 25Carmen Sandiego (Android, iOS) Jan. 28Eternal Strands (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Jan. 28Marvels Spider-Man 2 (PC) Jan. 30Sniper Elite: Resistance (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) Jan. 30Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) Jan. 31FebruaryMonster Hunter: Wilds Image: CapcomKingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Feb. 4Rift of the NecroDancer (PC) Feb. 5Civilization 7 (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) Feb. 11Urban Myth Dissolution Center (PC, Switch) Feb. 12Warriors: Abyss (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Feb. 12Warriors: Abyss (Switch) Feb. 13The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak 2 (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch) Feb. 14Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) Feb. 14Avowed (PC, Xbox Series X) Feb. 18Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 1 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Feb. 18Ninja Five-O (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch) Feb. 25Glover (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) Feb. 27Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) Feb. 28Monster Hunter Wilds (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Feb. 28MarchAssassins Creed Shadows Image: Ubisoft Quebec/UbisoftCarmen Sandiego (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) March 4Two Point Museum (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) March 4FragPunk (PC, Xbox Series X) March 6Slime Heroes (PC, Xbox Series X) March 6Sorry Were Closed (PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) March 6Split Fiction (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) March 6Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars (PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One) March 6Rise of the Ronin (PC) March 10Wanderstop (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) March 11Out of the Park Baseball 26 (PC) March 14WWE 2K25 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) March 1433 Immortals Early Access (PC, Xbox Series X) March 18Lost Records: Bloom & Rage Tape 2 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) March 18MLB The Show 25 (PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) March 18Assassins Creed Shadows (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) March 20Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Switch) March 20Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) March 21Bleach Rebirth of Souls (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X) March 21Breakout Beyond (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) March 25JDM: Japanese Drift Master (PC) March 26AI Limit (PC, PS5) March 27Atomfall (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) March 27Disney Villains Cursed Caf (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) March 27Karma: The Dark World (PC, PS5) March 27SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered (Android, iOS, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch) March 27The First Berzerker: Khazan (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) March 27inZOI (PC) March 28Post Trauma (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) March 31Killing Floor 3 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) TBAAprilSouth of Midnight Image: Compulsion Games/Xbox Game StudiosThe Last of Us Part 2 Remastered (PC) April 3Sand Early Access (PC) April 3South of Midnight (PC, Xbox Series X) April 8Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days Early Access (PC) April 9Monster Energy Supercross 25 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) April 10Star Overdrive (Switch) April 10Lushfoil Photography Sim (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) April 15Bionic Bay (PC, PS5) April 17Koira (PC, PS5) April 17Mandragora (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One) April 17Neighbors: Suburban Warfare Early Access (PC) April 17Once Upon A Puppet (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) April 23Sunderfolk (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) April 23Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) April 24Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X) April 24Tempest Rising (PC) April 24The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy (PC, Switch) April 24Days Gone Remastered (PS5) April 25The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time (PC) April 25Forza Horizon 5 (PS5) April 29Skin Deep (PC) April 30Ratatan (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) TBAMayElden Ring Nightreign Image: FromSoftware/Bandai NamcoHigh on Life (Switch) May 6Metal Eden (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) May 6Revenge of the Savage Planet (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X) May 8The Midnight Walk (PC, PS5, PSVR 2) May 8The Precinct (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) May 13Doom: The Dark Ages (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) May 15Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One) May 16Dune: Awakening (PC) May 20Roadcraft (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) May 20Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) May 21Blades of Fire (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) May 22Onimusha 2: Samurais Destiny (PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One) May 23to a T (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) May 28Elden Ring Nightreign (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) May 30Lost Soul Aside (PC, PS5) May 30JuneMario Kart World Image: NintendoArcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer (Switch 2) June 5Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster (Switch 2) June 5Civilization 7 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2) June 5Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition (Switch 2) June 5Deltarune (Switch 2) June 5Fast Fusion (Switch 2) June 5Fortnite (Switch 2) June 5Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Switch 2) June 5Hitman World of Assassination Signature Edition (Switch 2) June 5Hogwarts Legacy (Switch 2) June 5Mario Kart World (Switch 2) June 5Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour (Switch 2) June 5Nobunagas Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition (Switch 2) June 5Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S (Switch 2) June 5Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2) June 5Street Fighter 6 (Switch 2) June 5Survival Kids (Switch 2) June 5Split Fiction (Switch 2) June 5The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2) June 5The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2) June 5Yakuza 0 Directors Cut (Switch 2) June 5Five Nights At Freddys: Secret of the Mimic (PC, PS5, PSVR2) June 13Tron: Catalyst (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) June 17Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X) June 19Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (PS5) June 26System Shock 2 25th Anniversary Remaster (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) June 26Tamagotchi Plaza (Switch) June 27Broken Arrow (PC) TBAStellar Blade (PC) TBAJulyDonkey Kong Bananza Image: NintendoPatapon 1+2: Replay (PC, PS5, Switch) July 11Tony Hawks Pro Skater 3 and 4 (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) July 11Donkey Kong Bananza (Switch 2) July 17The Wandering Village (Switch) July 17Shadow Labyrinth (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) July 18Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV (Switch 2) July 24No Sleep For Kaname Date From AI: The Somnium Files (PC, Switch, Switch 2) July 25Wild Hearts S (Switch 2) July 25Tales of the Shire (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) July 29AugustMetal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Image: KonamiGradius Origins (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) Aug. 7Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar (PC, Switch) Aug. 27Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Aug. 28Kirby and the Forgotten Land Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World (Switch 2) Aug. 28Shinobi: Art of Vengeance (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X) Aug. 29SeptemberHell is Us (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Sept. 4Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion (PC, PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X) Sept. 5Terminator 2D: No Fate (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X) Sept. 5Borderlands 4 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Sept. 23OctoberDirective 8020 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) Oct. 2Double Dragon Revive (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X) Oct. 232025 video games with no release dateGrand Theft Auto 6 Image: Rockstar Games2XKO (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Absolum (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch)Anno 117: Pax Romana (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)ARC Raiders (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)ArcheAge Chronicles (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch)Baby Steps (PC, PS5)Ballad of Antara (Android, iOS, PC, PS5)Battle Vision Network (Android, iOS, PC)Big Walk (PC)Borderlands 4 (Switch 2)Cairn (PC, consoles TBA)Cronos: The New Dawn (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Crimson Desert (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Cuffbust (PC)Deltarune: Chapter 3 & 4 (PC, PS4, Switch)Demonschool (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Digimon Story Time Stranger (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Dispatch (PC, consoles TBA)Drag x Drive (Switch 2)Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X)Dreams of Another (PS5, PSVR2)Dying Light: The Beast (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) summer 2025Edens Zero (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition (Switch 2)Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Everybodys Golf: Hot Shots (PC, PS5, Switch)Exoborne (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Faraway (PC)FBC: Firebreak (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) summer 2025Forestrike (PC, Switch)Ghost of Yotei (PS5)Grand Theft Auto 6 (PS5, Xbox Series X) fall 2025GreedFall 2: The Dying World (PS5, Xbox Series X)Hades 2 (Switch, Switch 2)Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era (PC) Q2 2025Hollow Knight: Silksong (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Hunter Hunter: Nen Impact (PC, PS5, Switch)Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Switch 2)I Hate This Place (PC)I, Robot (PC, PS4, PS5, Swich, Xbox One Xbox Series X) spring 2025Instinction (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Judas (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link (Android, iOS)Kingmakers (PC) Q2 2025Kirby Air Riders (Switch 2)Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess (Switch 2)Little Nightmares 3 (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Lost Hellden (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X)Lost Rift Early Access (PC)Lous Lagoon (PC, PS5, Switch)Lunar Remastered Collection (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Mafia: The Old Country (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Marvel Cosmic Invasion (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X)Mecha Break (PC, Xbox Series X)Menace (PC) Q3 2025Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch)Mewgenics (PC)MIO: Memories in Orbit (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Mistfall Hunter (PC, Xbox Series X)Mixtape (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Monaco 2 (PC)Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Mouse: PI for Hire (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X)Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Ninja Gaiden 4 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) fall 2025Nitro Gen Omega (PC)Nivalis (PC)No Rest for the Wicked (PS5, Xbox Series X)One Piece Pirate Warriors (PS5, Xbox Series X)Painkiller (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) fall 2025Paralives (PC)Pathologic 3 (PC)Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch)Pioner (PC)Pokmon Legends Z-A (Switch) late 2025Pony Island 2: Panda Circus (PC)Possessor(s) (PC)Professor Layton and the New World of Steam (Switch, Switch 2)R-Type Tactics I II Cosmos (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X)Reanimal (PC, PS5, Switch 2, Xbox Series X)Rematch (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Replaced (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)RoboCop: Rogue City - Unfinished Business (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) summer 2025Rockbeasts (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X)Rusty Rabbit (PC, PS5, Switch)Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution (PC, PS4, PS5, Switch)Slay the Spire 2 (PC)Sleight of Hand (PC, Xbox Series X)Solarpunk (PC)Splitgate 2 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Star Wars Outlaws (Switch 2)Subnautica 2 Early Access (PC, Xbox Series X)Terminator: Survivors (PC)The Alters (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)The Eternal Life of Goldman (PC, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X)The Legend of Baboo (PC, Xbox Series X)The Lonesome Guild (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) fall 2025The Outer Worlds 2 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)The Sinking City 2 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)The Wolf Among Us 2 (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Time Flies (PC, PS5, Switch)Tiny Lands 2 (PC)Usual June (PC)Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) first half of 2025Wheel World (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X) summer 2025Wildgate (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)Winter Burrow (PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X)Witchbrook (PC, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X) winter 2025Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X)See More:

A public poll to determine the most influential video game of all time, held by the U.K. screen arts academy BAFTA, has returned an extremely surprising (if not totally unworthy) result: Shenmue, Yu Suzukis wildly ambitious 1999 Sega Dreamcast game about one young mans search for justice (and capsule toys).Shenmue beat more routinely canonized classics like Doom, Super Mario Bros., Half-Life, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time to claim the title. Those four games made up the rest of the top five. Minecraft came in sixth place, Tetris in 11th, Final Fantasy 7 in 17th, and Grand Theft Auto 3 placed a lowly 19th.Theres evidence that BAFTAs poll was subject to some brigading among passionate game fans; Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, a (by all accounts very good) role-playing game that has barely been out for two months, came in 7th place, just ahead of Super Mario 64. Still, theres no disputing the worthiness of most of the games in BAFTAs top 21, even if the order is a little idiosyncratic.Shenmue was a passion project for the Sega producer Suzuki, the creator of Out Run and Virtua Fighter. The most expensive game ever made at the time, its a boldly realistic take on the humdrum daily life of Ryo Hazuki, a teenage martial artist out to avenge his fathers murder in the 1980s. It features incredibly detailed environments, a day-and-night system, NPCs who obey their own schedules, dozens of minigames and quite a lot of just waiting around.Shenmue was certainly ahead of its time, although its debatable how influential it has been on other games certainly in comparison to something like GTA 3. Conceived as a multi-part epic, it was a commercial failure, and though Shenmue 2 came out in 2001, it would be 18 years before Suzuki got to continue his story in the crowd-funded Shenmue 3.Responding to the accolade in a statement, Suzuki said, I am deeply honoured and grateful that Shenmue has been selected as the Most Influential Video Game of All Time. At its inception, we set out to explore the question, How real can a game become?, aiming to portray a world and story unprecedented in scale and detail. This distinction serves as a powerful reminder that the challenge we embraced continues to resonate with and inspire so many people even today. It is truly the greatest of encouragement.Above all, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the fans around the world who have continued to love and support Shenmue. Your passion and encouragement have guided this journey every step of the way. And the story is not over yet, there is more to come! Thank you very much!BAFTAs poll was conducted as a prelude to the BAFTA Games Awards, which take place next week on April 8. In a similar poll last year, the public selected Tomb Raiders Lara Croft as the most iconic video games character of all time, ahead of Mario, Sonic, and Hitmans Agent 47.Heres the full ranking of the top 21 most influential video games of all time, according to BAFTAs poll:ShenmueDoom (1993)Super Mario Bros.Half-LifeThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeMinecraftKingdom Come: Deliverance 2Super Mario 64Half-Life 2The SimsTetrisTomb RaiderPongMetal Gear SolidWorld of WarcraftBaldurs Gate 3Final Fantasy 7Dark SoulsGrand Theft Auto 3The Elder Scrolls 5: SkyrimGrand Theft AutoSee More:

On top of the improved graphical performance for the Switch 2 versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, there will be a suite of new features in the Nintendo Switch phone app, including an achievement system and, strangely, a voice navigation assistant.The new service inside the Switch app is called Zelda Notes. It only works for the Switch 2 versions, and is designed to provide a more streamlined gameplay experience, according to the overview trailer.The app has achievement-like medals you can earn for doing things like traveling long distances, defeating enemies, collecting rupees, and other metrics. Medals are tracked globally and you can view what other players have earned compared to yourself in the app, too.All I can say is that its a very Nintendo move to add achievements to only two Switch 2 games that exist solely on a service inside of an app. You could speculate on whether this means Nintendo is gearing up to finally make its own version of achievements in the year 2025, but we all know within ourselves that this is probably a weird one-off thing well never see again.Another major feature of Zelda Notes is voice navigation, which looks a lot like a GPS assistant that can tell you where to find things like Koroks, Skyview Towers, Shrines, and more. In the short demo, a player selects a map icon on their phone and the voice calls out directions to a Korok hidden under a rock in Tears of the Kingdom.To me, its an odd feature to include for two open-world games about the joys of exploring and discovering things. Theres no shame in using guides when youre stumped, but Im not sure these games would be as much fun if you spent the entire time being told where to go. It makes more sense to use it for finding something in a pinch or cleaning up what you missed. Honestly, Im having trouble trying to think of who Nintendo thinks this is for.One of the things you can use the navigation assistant to find are a bunch of new voice memories from Zelda, King Rauru, and Master Kohga. These short audio diaries are scattered around the world and let you hear the characters thoughts on locations and moments in Hyrules history. All the Zelda lore heads out there will have a new reason to boot up their old save files.The app also lets you share blueprints for your Tears of the Kingdom builds a feature that wouldve been nice two years ago as well as gift items to other players, edit screenshots, roll for small daily in-game bonuses, and get rewards for scanning amiibo.The Zelda Notes service will go live inside the Nintendo Switch app on June 5, the same day the Switch 2 launches, along with the upgraded versions of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.See More:

Dropouts hit D&D actual play anthology series, Dimension 20, has covered a lot of ground over the course of its run. But with the premiere of its 25th season, Titan Takedown, the D20 crew has got something that may surprise even long-time fans: A post-credits segment.So if youre looking forward to the first episode of Titan Takedown this week, this is your warning: Dont close the player once the credits start rolling to watch Make Some Noise or Very Important People, stick around.And if youve already been there, done that, and watched the footage read on, because we asked Dimension 20 host Brennan Lee Mulligan how it all came together.[Ed. note: This piece contains spoilers for the post-credits scene of Titan Takedowns first episode.]When Polygon spoke to Mulligan, he said that the post-credits segment in which D20 veterans Brian Murphy and Ify Nwadiwe appear in costume and character as Greek mythology-themed wrestling commentators was all about giving Dropouts biggest wrestling buffs a chance to join in on this collaboration with the world of WWE.We had a ton of huge wrestling fans that are amongst the cast and crew, Mulligan told Polygon, and there were these ways to generate really fun additional content that would get fans excited, and also allow multiple hands to touch this project. I wanted [spoiler] involved, I wanted [spoiler] involved, I wanted [spoiler] involved. Were creating a bunch of really fun additional content for fans of the show. To celebrate the show and also ham up the world-building of these incredible Ancient Greek wrestler heroes, the world-building of the season. It was a joyful project that also got to expand the family of people working on the show.Mulligan understandably didnt want to spoil upcoming extras, so weve omitted the specifics of who all is involved, but suffice to say: Its not just Murphy and Nwadiwe whove gotten an invite to the party. Fans can expect more Dropout stars to drop in on Titan Takedown during the rest of its four-episode season.