Sometimes you want to play alone, whether your game of choice is a relaxing solitaire session or an engrossing, cinematic campaign. We get that. Still, some of the best gaming-related experiences come from moments shared with other people. After all, an excellent multiplayer mode makes a video game endlessly replayable and enables good times with local friends or strangers across the country—as long as the servers stay up. Our list of the best multiplayer games casts a wide net that includes console and PC games, competitive and cooperative titles, casual board games and serious esports fare, and, of course, battle royales, shooters, and fighters. If you're interested in playing a game with at least one other person, you'll find something that catches your eye here. These are the best multiplayer video games that you and your friends should play right now. Apex Legends From the ashes of Titanfall rose the best battle royale game. Respawn’s Apex Legends combines unbelievably fluid movement with impeccable gunplay and innovative team communication features. Each character’s unique abilities open strategic options on the expansive battlefield. Among Us Among Us (for iOS) 4.0 Excellent Among Us is more of a social experiment than a game. You and your friends play as crewmates attempting to repair a spaceship, but some players are deadly impostors who are picking off others. Constant lying and manipulation turn even the friendliest relationships into pure paranoia.  Clubhouse Games Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (for Nintendo Switch) 4.0 Excellent This compilation contains more than 50 classic games that have stood the test of time, including bowling, backgammon, and billiards. You can have fun with friends or family, but beware getting so heated that you'll never want to speak with them again. Online play ensures the good (and frustrating) times aren't limited to your immediate vicinity. Counter-Strike 2 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 4.0 Excellent Counter-Strike is a founding father of multiplayer online shooters, and Counter-Strike 2 continues the legacy. In this long-awaited update to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, you’ll find a massive community always ready to hop into Terrorist versus Counter-Terrorist tactical team action. Plus, it’s free! Death Stranding Death Stranding: Director's Cut (for PlayStation 5) 4.0 Excellent Hideo Kojima’s freaky odyssey about time rain and babies in jars is also one of the most fascinating and unconventional multiplayer games in recent memory. As you traverse the harsh wasteland, you can leave behind useful items, such as ladders and reports, that other players can use in their sessions. Destiny 2 Destiny 2 (for PlayStation 4) Destiny 2 is the looter-shooter that gives other looter-shooters envy. You gather the shiniest guns, the sickest armor, and show off your gear in front of fellow Guardians. Party-up and shoot your way through alien enemies and strongholds with Bungie’s perfect first-person shooter controls. The first taste is free, and regular, new content releases give you many reasons to keep gunning. Destiny 2 (for PlayStation 4) review Diablo IV 4.0 Excellent No action-RPG out-Diablos Diablo IV, a title that expands the familiar loot-grinding mechanics with massive, demon-filled zones. In terms of character builds, Diablo IV review Dota 2 Dota 2 (for PC) 4.5 Excellent What began as a mere mod has since become one of the most popular esports in the world. Dota 2 sets the standard for the MOBA genre, that strange hybrid between real-time strategy and team sports. New heroes give players constantly changing choices to consider. If you put in the effort to get really good at this game, the sky's the limit.  Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (for PC) 4.0 Excellent The King of Fighters series is great, but Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves resurrects the SNK fighter that started it all. Familiar faces like Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui battle real-life guest characters like DJ Salavatore Gannaci and soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo in this excellent take on fundamental, 2D fisticuffs. Rich mechanics add depth to both offensive and defensive play, while comic book-inspired graphics give brawls a distinct visual identity. Crossplay multiplayer shines with rollback netcode. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (for PC) review Fortnite Fortnite (for PC) 3.5 Good Do you really need someone else to tell you about Fortnite? Originally a free battle royale mode for a failed multiplayer game, Fortnite became an absolute phenomenon. Every day, millions of children leap from the in-game battle bus to shoot each other and build elaborate structures, while dressed as their favorite brands. You can also hang out and watch concerts or (for some reason) documentaries on social issues.   Forza Horizon 5 Forza Horizon 5 (for PC) 4.5 Excellent Forza Horizon 5 appeals equally to serious automobile racing enthusiasts and anyone who just wants to drive aimlessly through beautifully rendered Mexican landscapes. Although largely similar to past entries, the new EventLab lets you create clever, custom courses to enjoy with friends. Halo Infinite Halo Infinite (for PC) 4.5 Excellent Halo single-handedly saved the Xbox, and proved that multiplayer shooters could thrive on home consoles. Halo Infinite doesn’t just reinvent the single-player campaign, it continues Halo’s history of excellent multiplayer modes, from capture the flag to random weapon fiestas. Plus, you can play for free, so finish the fight. Halo Infinite (for PC) review Jackbox Party Pack The Jackbox Party Pack 8 (for PC) The annual Jackbox Party Pack games consistently deliver the most hilarious social multiplayer experiences you’ll ever play. Design wacky t-shirts, come up with witty quips, and try to figure out which friend is faking it. Anyone can play, as long as they have a phone. With unique streaming features, even your audience can join the party. League of Legends League of Legends (for PC) 4.5 Excellent Free from any previous mod baggage, League of Legends is arguably the more accessible game when it comes to the MOBA heavy hitters. Still, it takes skill to master every champion and lead your team to victory. The League of Legends universe is expanding into other game genres and Netflix shows, so now’s the time to get caught up.  League of Legends (for PC) review It Takes Two In many ways, marriage is the ultimate multiplayer game. It Takes Two is a cooperative adventure that tasks two people with controlling a couple as they complete wacky challenges to repair their strained relationship. You’ll never know true love until you and your partner escape a giant cuckoo clock together. The King of Fighters XV The King of Fighters XV (for PC) 4.0 Excellent For finely tuned 2D fighting, look no further than The King of Fighters XV. Building off intriguing ideas introduced in previous entries, KOF XV gives you a massive character roster and an expressive, creative fighting system. Tournament features, multiplayer party modes, and rollback netcode make this one of the series' best entries. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (for Nintendo Switch) 4.5 Excellent Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is absolutely everything you could want from Nintendo’s hugely popular kart racing series. It features gorgeous visuals, inventive tracks, and a revamped battle mode. In fact, Nintendo is still selling new courses, years after the game's 2017 debut. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is so spectacular not even the blue shell can stop it.  Minecraft Minecraft (for PC) 4.5 Excellent Minecraft gives young people an unparalleled sense of freedom as they explore and build worlds, brick by brick. In fact, multiple builders can join the same game world for cooperative mining and crafting. Take it a step further by setting up your own Minecraft server, so you and friends can construct a private paradise.  Monster Hunter Rise Monster Hunter Rise (for Nintendo Switch) 4.5 Excellent Monster Hunter Rise finally makes hardened haters see the glory of Capcom’s monster-slaying series. You can craft new weapons and armors by defeating a monster menagerie inspired by Japanese mythology or swing through the air with new wirebug techniques. No beasts will stand in your way as you go beast hunting with friends. Mortal Kombat 1 Mortal Kombat 1 (For PC) 4.5 Excellent With Mortal Kombat 1, the famously bloody fighting game finally breaks free of its infamously stiff gameplay mechanics. Finishing foes has never been more fun thanks to high-flying air combos and custom tag-team Kameo fighter attacks. This reboot is as entertaining to play with friends as it is to watch with horrified onlookers. Mortal Kombat 1 (For PC) review Rocket League Rocket League (for PC) 4.5 Excellent “Cars playing soccer” is such a beautiful premise for an arcade sports game, and Rocket League perfectly pulls it off. Sure, you can just put the pedal to the metal and bash into the ball, hoping it goes into the goal. But the high-flying physics system creates enough depth for sensational tests of skill. The free-to-play season structure means you’ll always have a reason to return.  Rocket League (for PC) review Splatoon 3 Splatoon 3 (for Nintendo Switch) 4.0 Excellent Only Nintendo could take the well-worn shooter genre and turn it into a game about punky squid kids squirting ink at each other. By making battles more about covering turf than blasting opponents, Splatoon 3 is a friendlier and more accessible shooter. However, you’ll need to stay on your toes with so many unique weapons and traversal options. Splatoon 3 (for Nintendo Switch) review StarCraft II StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void (for PC) 5.0 Outstanding StarCraft II is the best strategy game since chess. Whether you play as Terran, Zerg, or Protoss armies, you have access to perfectly balanced units for overcoming any opponent during real-time clashes. The StarCraft II trilogy even introduces free, cooperate multiplayer modes, so veterans can introduce newcomers to the fight. Street Fighter 6 Street Fighter 6 (for PC) 5.0 Outstanding Street Fighter 6 is worthy of its iconic name. With its bold new style (graffiti in motion!), expansive new modes (worldwide online Battle Hub!), exciting new roster (Kimberly!), and competitive new gameplay systems (Drive Gauge!), Street Fighter battles are more hype than ever. It's a multiplayer gaming masterpiece. Street Fighter 6 (for PC) review Streets of Rage 4 Streets of Rage 4 (for PC) 4.0 Excellent Streets of Rage 4 breathes new life into the aging beat ‘em up genre thanks to complex combat and stunning illustrated graphics. If smacking goons in solo fashion gets boring, team up with a friend for chaotic co-op action. You can even unlock retro versions of classic characters. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (for Nintendo Switch) 4.5 Excellent Super Smash Bros. Ultimate combines countless characters, stages, modes, and music tracks to create the most incredible video game crossover of all time. It’s also a phenomenal platform-fighting game, speeding up the addictive combat and rebalancing advanced techniques. No matter how seriously you take it, no video game can scratch that satisfying multiplayer itch like Super Smash Bros.  Tekken 8 Tekken 8 (for PC) Tekken 8 is the latest and greatest entry in the venerable 3D fighting game franchise. Prove your worth at the King of Iron Fist Tournament by nimbly sidestepping, laying down painful combos, and activating new Heat Smash attacks. For the true Tekken multiplayer experience, fight your dad and throw him down a volcano. Tetris Effect: Connected Tetris Effect: Connected (for Xbox Series S) 4.5 Excellent Tetris Effect: Connected makes the perfect puzzle game even better. Alongside traditional competitive Tetris multiplayer modes, Effect lets you team up for cooperative “Connected” journeys where you and your partners clear lines on the same massive board. Combine that with trance-inducing audiovisual stimuli, and you’ll never look at blocks the same way again. 

Don't Feel Like Fighting? Check Out These Other Terrific PC Games Brawlhalla Brawlhalla (for PC) 3.5 Good The Blue Mammoth Games-developed Brawlhalla is a free-to-play fighting game—available on PC, console, and mobile—that builds upon Smash's wild, character-focused gameplay by introducing unlimited wall-jumps and various other movement options that facilitate fun combat.The expanding character roster also features the likes of G.I. Joe's Snake Eyes, WWE's Randy "Macho Man" Savage, Tomb Raider's Lara Croft, and Street Fighter’s Chun-Li. Many of these licensed fighters require spending cash, but that's fine; it's worth spending $20 for all current and future characters, because this platform-fighter is just that exciting. Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (for PC) 4.0 Excellent Capcom continues resurrecting its classic titles for modern audiences with Capcom Fighting Collection 2. This compilation features cool deep cuts not found in previous entries, including Power Stone and Project Justice. Along with the nostalgia, you'll enjoy new upgrades like online multiplayer (but no crossplay) and revamped display options. If you've had your fill of Street Fighter, this is a great way to broaden your fighting game horizons. Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (for PC) review Dead or Alive 6 Dead or Alive 6 (for PC) 3.5 Good Dead or Alive 6, much like its immediate predecessor, is one part fighting game, one part fashion show, and one part schlocky action movie. Individually, each of the game's widely differing elements might not stand up to scrutiny. After all, DOA 6 isn't the best fighter, doesn't offer the deepest character customization, and doesn't quite reach the Tekken series' level of story insanity.Still, Dead or Alive 6 is a fun and surprisingly strategic PC game that offers enough freshness to warrant playing with its new Break Blow and Break Hold tools. Plus, the game's familiar Triangle System and Danger Zones are highly entertaining, too. Divekick Divekick (for PC) 3.5 Good Iron Galaxy Studios' Divekick is the most hipster fighting game ever created. It's the product of the indie scene that mercilessly parodies fighting games and their die-hard community, yet demands that you be part of the underground circle to fully get all of the references and in-jokes.It's an odd game, but an interesting one if you open your mind to the insane concept of a two-button fighter based entirely on the idea of jumping and kicking. And 20-second rounds. And one-hit kills. And a line of scrimmage. Yes, Divekick is a fighting game freak show, but one worth checking out. Dragon Ball FighterZ Dragon Ball FighterZ (for PC) 4.0 Excellent Beside Fist of the Northstar and Jo Jo's Bizarre Adventure, there are few anime properties that are as intrinsically suited to the fighting-game treatment as the Dragon Ball series. Spanning multiple series, movies, and generations of characters, Akira Toriyama's manga-turned-anime-turned-game series is all about buff monkey men, humans, aliens, and androids trading blows in actual earth-shattering battles.The series' latest video game adaptation, Dragon Ball FighterZ, ditches the Xenoverse games' arena-brawling model in favor of 3-vs.-3, tag-team fighting on a 2D plane. The gameplay shift is just one of the many reasons Dragon Ball FighterZ is being held aloft as one of 2018's notable titles. Its beautiful design, intense combat, and accessible control scheme add up to a game that anyone can jump into for Super Saiyan thrills.Plus, you can kick Cell through a mountain. Dragon Ball FighterZ (for PC) review Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (for PC) 4.0 Excellent The King of Fighters series is great, but Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves resurrects the SNK fighter that started it all. Familiar faces like Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui battle real-life guest characters like DJ Salavatore Gannaci and soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo gather for this excellent take on fundamental, 2D fisticuffs. Rich mechanics add depth to both offensive and defensive play, while comic book-inspired graphics give brawls a distinct visual identity. Crossplay multiplayer shines with rollback netcode. Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (for PC) review Garou: Mark of the Wolves Garou: Mark of the Wolves (for PC) 4.5 Excellent Upon its 1999 release, Garou: Mark of the Wolves—a surprisingly deep and visually stunning entry in the long-running Fatal Fury series—was hailed as SNK's wondrous response to Capcom's Street Fighter III. Nearly 20 years later, SNK has finally given the fighting game the proper PC treatment by releasing it with numerous additional graphics options, leaderboards, and rollback, online versus play.Despite removing and downplaying some series-specific elements, Garou doesn't feel any less of a Fatal Fury game, however. It's set in the Southtown, and it features multiple fighters with classic Fatal Fury lineages, whether it's blood relationships to, or martial-arts tutelage from, older characters. Kim Kaphwan isn't in the game, for example, but his sons continue his legacy of swift, combo-heavy tae kwon do kicks.The result is an excellent game that boasts beautiful animation, Just Defend parries, and the strategic T.O.P. system that delivers increased attack damage, limited health regeneration, faster super-meter build up, and an exclusive special attack when your activate the mode. Guilty Gear Strive Guilty Gear Strive (for PC) 4.0 Excellent The Guilty Gear series reigns as the king of anime-style fighting games due to its gorgeous art style, and a rich, demanding, and lighting-quick combat system. Unfortunately, its oceanic depth and mountainous skill ceiling proved inaccessible to the causal player—until now. With Strive, developer Arc System Works streamlines the series’ unique combat mechanics to make them more newcomer-friendly, while retaining the older games' creative richness. Strive comes with fewer extra modes than its predecessors, but there is a lot to love in this PC game, including astounding visuals, impressive character play styles, and snappy, lag-free online play courtesy of top-tier, rollback netcode. Strive is an approachable series entry that shakes up the Guilty Gear formula in the best ways possible. Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- (for PC) 3.5 Good Guilty Gear is a niche series within a niche genre, one that's enjoyed a cult following since its first appearance in 1998. With Xrd -SIGN-, developer Arc System Works ditches the series' 2D sprites in favor of 3D cel-shaded graphics in an attempt to expand its audience. Likewise, series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari sought a more approachable play style that maintains the depth and high skill ceiling that long-time Guilty Gear fans love.Still, Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- keeps the series familiar fighting action (Roman Cancels, Bursts, and Dusts) that enables creative offensive and defensive play. Guilty Gear Xrd -Sign- (for PC) review Killer Instinct Killer Instinct (for PC) 4.0 Excellent When Killer Instinct debuted for Windows 10 in March 2016, it represented the latest chapter in the continued PC fighting game renaissance. With its arrival, Microsoft's one-on-one game of fisticuffs joined the likes of Guilty Gear, The King of Fighters, Street Fighter, and other high-profile series that now grace the personal computer.Killer Instinct has a combo-heavy engine that caters to both novices and pros, incredibly detailed graphics that boast ridiculous particle effects (everything explodes!), and an over-the-top, NBA Jam-like announcer who screams your accomplishments ("C-c-c-combo Breaker!") at the top of his lungs.Killer Instinct is part of Microsoft's Play Anywhere initiative. So, if you buy Killer Instinct from the Microsoft Store, you'll also be able to play it on Xbox One at no additional cost. It has cross-platform play with Xbox One, too, thus expanding the online player base. There's a Steam version, too. Even better, the game's ridiculously good netcode ensures smooth play across the globe. Killer Instinct (for PC) review The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match Final Edition The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Final Edition (for PC) 5.0 Outstanding The King of Fighters '98—with its hops, rolls, blowback attacks, and meter-filling Advance and Extra modes—is one of the best fighting games ever made, so it's no surprise that developer SNK has returned to the title many times since the game's original release.In 2008, SNK celebrated the game's tenth anniversary by porting the team-based fighter to the PlayStation 2 as The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match, a game loaded with extra characters (including the almighty '96 Boss Team!), stages, moves, and gameplay modes. Now, a tweaked Ultimate Match is available for purchase under the title The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Final Edition.This version adds numerous graphics options and good, but not great, online connectivity that lets you battle other KOF fans around the globe in 3-vs.-3 action. The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Final Edition (for PC) review The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match (for PC) 4.0 Excellent Like The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match Final Edition, The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match is a dream match that eschews a storyline so that developer SNK could include as many characters as possible—even some that are canonically dead, like crime boss Geese Howard. As a result, Unlimited Match boasts one of the largest fighting game rosters of all time, with a 66-character strong lineup.King of Fighters 2002 Ultimate Match continues the series tradition of excellent combat. Although it lacks KOF '98 UMFE's three radically different fight mechanics (Advanced, Extra, and Ultimate), Unlimited Match has a lone system that resembles Advanced Mode. This fighting style gives you plenty of offensive (Dash, Run, Hops, Super Jumps) and defensive (Guard Cancel Strike, Guard Cancel Roll Throw) options for setting up or evading traps. Excellent rollback netcode lets you play people around the world without hiccup. The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition (for PC) 4.0 Excellent The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition brings SNK's incredibly dense, 3-vs.-3, team-based fighter to the PC via Valve's video game marketplace. It's an all-around excellent fighting game, and one of the best in SNK's rich catalog.If you've rumbled with friends and foes in the version that appeared on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, you'll feel right at home here: The intricate combat mechanics, meter management, and the best sprite-based graphics ever seen in a fighting game are brought over successfully in this Steam port.Even better, The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition contains all the console DLC and the King of Fighters XIII: Climax arcade features. Similar to The King of Fighters '98: Ultimate Match Final Edition, The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition has decent online play, but you can expect some hiccups. The King of Fighters XIII: Steam Edition (for PC) review The Last Blade The Last Blade (for PC) 4.0 Excellent SNK put weapons-based, 2D fighting on the map with 1993's delightful Samurai Shodown, but the developer went on to refine the idea of sword-based combat four years later in a somewhat lesser-known Neo Geo title: The Last Blade.Released to the Steam platform with several contemporary bells and whistles, The Last Blade boasts excellent swordplay, a dozen exquisitely designed characters, and a gorgeous anime- and manga-style presentation that make its 19th-century Japanese setting one of the most beautiful in fighting-game history. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite (for PC) 3.5 Good Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite has taken its fair share of flack since its reveal, and the venom is not at all unwarranted. The initial trailer for the tag-team fighting game featured dull, washed-out graphics, and Capcom highlighted the new novice-friendly, auto-combo options that are designed to help casuals bust out cool-looking moves in an otherwise hardcore genre. As a result, fight fans were highly skeptical of the game, as was I.Fortunately, my Infinite sentiments changed upon logging several hours with the game. The Infinity Stone hook and the move to 2-vs.-2, tag team action make Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite an incredibly fun PC game to play in both casual and hardcore sessions.Still, Infinite has presentation and MCU-focused roster issues that prevent it from rising to the very top of the fighting game elite. Mortal Kombat XL Mortal Kombat XL (for PC) 4.0 Excellent When NetherRealm Studios released the blood-drenched Mortal Kombat X to consoles in 2015, the one-on-one fighting game continued to evolve via free and paid updates that added characters, balanced the roster, and improved online play. However, the High Voltage Studios-ported PC version of the game received zero post-launch support, much to the dismay of hardcore Mortal Kombat fans.Thankfully, that changed with the Mortal Kombat XL update, a version of MKX that finally gives PC gamers all the extras that console-based fight fans have enjoyed for some time now. I dislike the idea of paying more money for PC content released long after the console version, but it's hard not to love the additions, which include even more fighters, stages, costumes, and gore.Paid DLC added plenty of guest fighters, which has becoming commonplace in the fighting game circle. They include the Predator and Friday the 13th's Jason Vorhees. The King of Fighters XV The King of Fighters XV (for PC) 4.0 Excellent Developer SNK took KOF XIV's core, revamped the MAX meter, added the Shatterstrike counter system, and gave the character models an eye-catching redesign to create one of the best fighting games in recent history. KOF XV features an updated fighting engine that facilitates fast-paced, creative combat, and near-flawless rollback netcode that will keep you knuckling up with online rivals for hours on end.The game's dense with options. You can play the narrative-driven Story mode, use DJ Station to listen to more that 300 music tracks culled from SNK's rich, decades-long game library (many compositions unlock as you play Arcade mode), engage in casual and ranked online battles, view leaderboards, and check out match replays. In a community-fostering move, SNK included an esports-friendly tournament mode tailor-made for locals and majors like Evo. You can save 15 custom teams, set up brackets and rulesets, and register up to 32 entrants. It's a great touch. In addition, KOF XV lets you join online lobbies to play against others or simply spectate. Mortal Kombat 11 Mortal Kombat 11 (for PC) 4.5 Excellent Mortal Kombat 11 is far more than the guts and gore titles on which the series built its fame. The narrative sequel to Mortal Kombat X, Mortal Kombat 11 uses time travel to pit characters against their rivals in the past in order to alter the present. Whatever.Mortal Kombat 11 continues the series tradition of chop-socky action and otherworldly mysticism to lay the foundation for military operatives, ninjas, gods, and monsters to punch each other squarely in the face. With its character customization, HDR10 support, smooth animations, and new offensive and defensive meters, MK11 is the best Mortal Kombat game to date. Mortal Kombat 11 (for PC) review Samurai Shodown Samurai Shodown (for PC) 3.5 Good Clashing swords, blood spurts, and tense, measured play define Samurai Shodown, SNK's beloved weapons-based fighting game series. This series refresh, the simply named Samurai Shodown, carries those elements to PC after the game first appeared on console. If you've waited this long in hopes that Samurai Shodown would add many PC-exclusive extras, you may be disappointed; this is largely the same game that appeared elsewhere. Still, Samurai Shodown's unique, defense-orientated gameplay makes it a fighting game to check out for sword-swinging, blood-letting action. Prep for lengthy load times, though. Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection (for PC) 4.0 Excellent Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection, SNK and Digital Eclipse's follow up to the delightful SNK 40th Anniversary Collection, contains all the SamSho games that appeared on the original Neo Geo, plus production art, SNK staff interviews, and a true surprise—an unreleased title that only briefly saw a location test. Overall, Samurai Shodown Neo Geo Collection is a wonderful piece of playable history, with the only blight against the PC game being its mediocre online components. Skullgirls 2nd Encore Skullgirls 2nd Encore (for PC) 4.5 Excellent Skullgirls 2nd Encore, the update to Reverge Labs's critically acclaimed original game, takes cues from many highly regarded fighting titles and blends it with the series' unique, cartoony, art deco-influenced visual style.However, Skullgirls 2nd Encore's graphics aren't all that separate it from the competition. The indie fighter boasts a Capcom vs. SNK-style ratio system that lets you select up to three characters to battle up to three rival characters, as well as a Marvel vs. Capcom-style assist system. The fighter also has a built-in system that automatically stops infinites, those annoying and abusive combos that never end. SNK vs. Capcom: The Match of the Millennium SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium (for PC) 4.5 Excellent With Match of the Millennium's rerelease, the secret best fighting game in the SNK vs. Capcom crossover series finds a new audience. Featuring an 18-character default roster (Athena, Chun-Li, Dan, Felicia, Guile, Haohmaru, Iori, Ken, Kyo, Leona, Mai, Morrigan, Nakoruru, Ryo, Ryu, Sakura, Terry, and Zangief), and three deep groove systems that replicate beloved the companies' beloved fighting game engines, SNK vs. Capcom: Match of the Millennium sees two fighting game universes collide in marvelous fashion.That would be more than enough variety, but Match of the Millennium offers additional goodies. It features standard Sparring, Survival, and Time Attack fighting modes. Olympics, however, is the most intriguing mode, as it lets you indulge in several non-fighting game minigames. For example, you can blast Metal Slug's Mars People in a first-person shooting mode or guide Ghost 'N Goblins' Arthur across pits to snatch up treasure. The Versus points that you earn here unlock extra super moves for the default and secret characters. These contests have the depth of early mobile phone games, but they're a nice diversion from the standard fighting game action.Match of the Millennium is a genuinely entertaining and rich fighting game that combines challenge and strategy with a hefty helping of lighthearted humor. SoulCalibur VI SoulCalibur VI (for PC) 4.0 Excellent The weapons-based combat series has seen its ups and downs over the years, but with SoulCalibur VI, developer Bandai Namco has taken what's worked in the past—swift, strategic combat and robust character customization—and paired it with the new Reversal Edge and Soul Charge battle mechanics to create an engaging PC fighting game that'll shine in all sorts of battles, whether they're between buddies or on big esports stages like Evo.Combat is crisp and rewarding, with a universal control scheme that makes it a breeze to pick up a new character. Each fighter has a horizontal attack, vertical attack, kick, block, parry, sidestep, guard-crushing Break Attack, and Critical Edge super attack. This control scheme will feel familiar to anyone who's played recent SoulCalibur titles, and it leads to some tense combat moments as you attack and defend. Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (for PC) 4.0 Excellent Film aficionados rely on The Criterion Collection to take vital classic and contemporary movies and present them in thoughtful, information-filled packages for modern audiences. Until very recently, the 40-year old video game industry lacked its own Criterion Collection, letting important pop culture contributions slip into oblivion due to incompatible hardware and software formats, expired licenses, and plain neglect. Thankfully, the games preservation experts at Digital Eclipse have taken up the task, blessing gamers with titles that celebrate classic titles via accurate emulation and a bounty of production-related extras and modern touches. The company's first foray into the fighting game genre is Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection.This collection doesn't include Street Fighter: The Movie, the Street Fighter EX titles, or X-Men vs. Street Fighter, but you will find all the core arcade releases. The lineup includes Street Fighter (1987), Street Fighter II (1991), Street Fighter II: Champion Edition (1992), Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting (1992), Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (1993) Super Street Fighter II Turbo (1994), Street Fighter Alpha (1995), Street Fighter Alpha 2 (1996), Street Fighter III: New Generation (1997), Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact Giant Attack (1997), Street Fighter Alpha 3 (1998), and Street Fighter III 3rd Strike: Fight For The Future (1999).Even better, you don't just get the games. This collection includes a sprite/animation view, design documents, a historical timeline, and a jukebox. In short, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is a love letter to one of the most important video game franchises of all time. Street Fighter V: Champion Edition Street Fighter V: Champion Edition (for PC) 3.5 Good In February 2016, Street Fighter V arrived on PC with many flaws that detracted from the stellar gameplay, including awful server instability, no true single-player mode, and a surprisingly limited multiplayer Battle Lounge. However, over the course of the last few years, developer Capcom released several updates that addressed (most of) those issues while also adding new stages and playable characters.Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, with its fresh and returning characters, new fight systems (like the cool V-Skills and V-Triggers mechanics), interactive stages, Cinematic Story Mode, and cross-platform play with PlayStation 4 owners, finally makes the one-on-one fighting game a title to pick up even for gamers who don't have Evo dreams. Street Fighter V: Champion Edition (for PC) review Street Fighter 6 Street Fighter 6 (for PC) 5.0 Outstanding Following Street Fighter V's lukewarm reception, Capcom had much to prove with Street Fighter 6. Thankfully, the developer not only righted the previous title's wrongs, but exceeded expectations by including nearly everything that fans would want in a contemporary fighting game.The title's powered by the new Drive Gauge, a meter that's full and ready for action at the beginning of each round. With the Drive Gauge, you can unleash the Drive Impact, Drive Parry, Drive Reversal, Drive Rush, and Overdrive moves (read our review for a breakdown of each one). It, along with the Dynamic and Modern control schemes, gives you more combat flexibility than any previous Street Fighter game. The result is one of the best fighters ever crafted, one that enables hype-fueled moments in casual and competitive play. Street Fighter 6 (for PC) review Tekken 7 Tekken 7 (for PC) 4.5 Excellent Tekken 7, like the main-line Tekken games that came before it, is a tale of fathers and sons attempting to murder each other to purge the Mishima clan of the Devil Gene, a magical bit of DNA that transforms certain people into hell spawn.The excellent combat accentuates the narrative ridiculousness. Like its predecessors, Tekken 7 is a fighting game that features simple, limb-mapped controls, massive character move sets, and numerous juggles that let you keep a combo flowing, if you're skilled enough to input the correct move at the right moment. With Tekken 7, the series receives super moves (Rage Arts) and enhanced, special attacks that can blow through an opponent's attack (Power Crush).Tekken 7 is an incredibly tense game of jabs, feints, and sidesteps, because any hit may lead to a long combo sting. Factor in characters with move sets that emulate real martial arts, interactive stages that let you knock people through floors and walls, and terrific slowdown effects that happen when both fighters' health bars are in the red and they perform close-quarter melee attacks, and you have a fighting game that's essentially an interactive martial arts flick. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (for PC) 3.5 Good Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 pits Marvel's superheroes against Capcom's video game characters in a frantic 3-vs.-3, tag team brawl. The 48-character headcount is impressive, but it's the individual characters and visual aesthetic that truly make the game shine (unlike its Infinite sequel).Marvel's side has several popular and obscure characters, including Captain America, Iron Man, Iron Fist, and She-Hulk, and Spider-Man. Capcom's side mainly comprises characters from the company's fighting and action games, including Final Fight's Mike Haggar and Street Fighter's Ryu. The comic book-style graphics, with their bright colors and heavy black lines, gives Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 an eye-popping look.In terms of gameplay, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 builds upon its Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds predecessor by including a three-button control scheme, the momentum-changing X-Factor mechanic, and retooled aerial combat. Ultra Street Fighter IV Ultra Street Fighter IV (for PC) 4.5 Excellent Ultra Street Fighter IV marks Capcom's fourth version of Street Fighter IV and the third version available on the Steam platform. Like vanilla Street Fighter IV and Super Street Fighter IV, Ultra's combat is centered on Focus Attacks, a move that lets your character tank a blow and unleash a counterattack.This final iteration adds five new characters (Decapre, Elena, Hugo, Poison, and Rolento), six new stages, a YouTube upload option, Edition Select (which lets you pick different versions of characters, based on their past Street Fighter IV iterations), and Double Ultra (which makes a character's Ultra Combos available simultaneously, in exchange for reduced damage).It's Street Fighter IV's best and meatiest update, though some balance issues prove a bit irritating in play. Still, Ultra Street Fighter IV is an excellent, competitive one-on-one fighting game.

Fighting fans rejoice, the latest fighting collection is here and it’s no less impressive than their previous two outings. Capcom Fighting Collection 2 includes eight games: Capcom Vs. SNK 1 and 2, Capcom Fighting Evolution, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, Power Stone 1 and 2, Project Justice, and Plasma Sword (or Star Gladiator 2 as it is called in Japan). Like previous collections, every game here is a port of their arcade versions, albeit with some small additional content and tweaks. A range of convenience features and bonus museum artwork is included as well, forming a competently made package containing cult-classics and fan-favorites from the early 2000s era. Unlike the first Capcom Fighting Collection, this one isn’t dominated by one long-dormant franchise, but has a balanced spread of titles. Let’s start with the basic features of the collection as a whole, most of which were present in the first Capcom Fighting Collection. All eight games have new training modes built into them that show button inputs and allow you to customize dummy opponents with a variety of parameters. The real highlight of training mode are the hitbox indicators on each fighter. However, hitboxes are exclusive to the four Street Fighter games. "The real highlight of training mode are the hitbox indicators on each fighter." The same suite of convenience features grace this collection as the previous one. Difficulty can be adjusted for each title by eight points, allowing newcomers to complete even the tougher games in the collection. And considering all titles included here are their arcade versions, they each have timers on the character select screens. Well, at least there’s an option to select between four countdown speeds in the settings. Still, it would’ve  been nice to have a ‘no countdown’ option as well. Other options include the max amount of rounds, attack power, game speed, the inclusion of secret characters, as well as other settings specific to each particular title. One returning convenience feature I’m slightly disappointed by is quick save. You’re only given one quick save total throughout the entire collection. So if you want to continue your Project Justice story mode while keeping your single player progress through the other games simultaneously, tough luck. One returning feature I’m not disappointed by, however, are one-button specials. Every title, with the exception of Power Stone 1 and 2, has one-button specials and one-button supers to streamline the rather intimidating combos. The Power Stone games don’t have a vast moveset like the other six in the collection, so it’s fine that those don’t get the one-button special treatment. Of course, for competitive players, one-button specials are omitted in ranked online play. Speaking of which, the online offerings with this collection are rather impressive thanks to the reworked rollback netcode. Online modes consist of casual, ranked, and custom matches. There’s even a high score challenge where players can climb the leaderboards with their skill. Unfortunately, a big disappointment with online returns from the first collection: there’s still no crossplay between platforms. You think after the criticism the first collection got, they’d figure something out for part two, but nope; you’re stuck playing online matches with others on the same platform. The good thing is that local multiplayer is as smooth as ever, with instantaneous drop in/drop out play on the same console.   "Extensive galleries return for each title in the collection within Museum mode." And for the longtime fighting game fans, extensive galleries return for each title in the collection within Museum mode. There’s an average of 100 pieces of art for each game included here, ranging from promotional posters to highly detailed design documentation and scene scripting. I’m a big fan of these kinds of legacy features in collections, but can’t help wanting a bit more when it comes to the presentation of the galleries. Maybe it’s asking too much, but providing textual insights and commentary on the characters and design docs would’ve been a stellar addition. That’s just one reason among many why Mega Man Legacy Collection remains my favorite collection of the past decade; the presentation of historical context with each gallery piece really got me invested into the series. Another little pie in the sky wish I have is the ability to download music tracks from the game to a flash drive. The in-game music player features full soundtracks of these games, which is awesome, but the potential is neutered a bit without a download option. Oh well. Adding to the nostalgia further are the inclusion of eight different filters that can be applied to any of the games. They emulate a wide range of CRT monitor types as well as pixel smoothing options and different resolution types. All in all, this collection provides a lot of legacy features for hardcore fans to get excited about. I just wish there was more commentary and explanation provided to better explain that rich history. Now on to the games themselves. This collection has slightly less niche titles than the first one, with cult classics like Power Stone and Street Fighter Vs SNK debuting on modern platforms for the first time. The previous collection included two more games than the eight featured here, and we still don’t get Street Fighter III included. Oh well, there’s always Capcom Fighting Collection 3 for the other bucket list games, right? All the games here are the arcade port versions featuring none, or very little, of the console additions and extras. As we’ll see, some games are affected by this more than others, with Project Justice, for example, retaining its robust Story Mode, but most ditching their console modes entirely. Though this collection features less games than Capcom Fighting Collection 1, what’s here is more substantial and beloved than the first collection’s offerings. I mean, CvS and Power Stone are well worth the price of admission alone for many fighting game fans. "The central mechanic that differentiates Capcom Vs SNK from other fighting games is the team-based ratio system." Capcom Vs SNK 1 and 2 are here in all their arcade port glory. Unlike, say, Power Stone, the original arcade versions of CvS have less input lag and load times than their console versions. The central mechanic that differentiates Capcom Vs SNK from other fighting games is the team-based ratio system. It’s quite fun to customize your team in these games. Think of ratios as power rankings, with four ratios being the max threshold for a team. This allows players to set up 1v1 matches by choosing a four-ratio fighter, or go all-in with a team of four one-ratio fighters across the two franchises. Capcom Vs SNK 2 has the more robust iteration of the ratio and groove systems but caps a team to three fighters instead of CvS 1’s four. Unlike CvS 2 fixed ratios, players get full freedom on how many ratio points to attribute to each fighter. What’s poetic about CvS 2 in particular is it was the first fighting game to feature supported cross-platform online play between the PS2 and Dreamcast with the use of KDDI multi-matching. Good luck convincing players that it was possible to have cross-plat support in 2001 but not in 2025 with this collection. What’s cool about CvS 2’s inclusion in this collection is the addition of the EO (easy operation) standard version. There’s also a lot of different EX settings to fiddle with including secret fighters like Evil Ryu and a newly remixed sound setup. Next up we have the black sheep of the collection: Capcom Fighting Evolution. For one, the load times in between bouts is noticeably longer than other titles in this collection. Another point of critique is the lackluster stage backgrounds and music. I admit that I find the game rather charming, especially regarding the different styles of play representing the fighters’ respective franchises. I mean, there are no less than six unique fighting styles represented here, which can lead to some chaotic, and broken, matches. Still, there’s no denying the level of quality is lower here than the masterful stage design and performance of the two Capcom Vs SNK titles. This collection adds two new playable fighters who were previously just bosses within Capcom Fighting Evolution, so that’s a neat addition specific to this collection. "Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper most represents classic Street Fighter out of the various games here." Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper (there’s a mouthful) is the last of the 2D fighting games in this collection. The unique mechanic with this game is the ‘ism’ combo styles, with X-ism being the more simplified Street Fighter 2 style of the three. There’s no double tap run or dodge at all here, which I admit impacted my enjoyment a tad. Since this is the arcade version, there’s no World Tour mode that the console versions enjoyed. What we do get for the first time are playable Shin Akuma and Final M. Bison fighters. Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper most represents classic Street Fighter out of the various games here, so if you’re just seeking some old-fashioned 1v1 bouts, this game will satisfy. Now for something completely different, the two Power Stone games. If you’re totally unfamiliar, think 3D Super Smash Bros. and you have the right idea. Power Stone 1 is a ton of fun that gamers of any skill level can enjoy. The way you interact with the 3D stages really makes Power Stone stand out from other fighting games. You can pick up various props in the stage and just toss it at opponents, as well as use a litany of items from rocket launchers to swords. The namesake of the game is the transformations from collecting three power stones in the stages. Hitting your opponent hard enough ejects their stone and gets you ever closer to a devastating transformation. There’s not a lot of complexity with combo chains or super meters here. No, most of the strategy lies in how you use the environment acquire power stones. There is a notable drawback with this version, though. The arcade version lacks the Adventure Mode of the beloved Dreamcast version, but like other games in this collection adds two new fighters that were previously bosses. Now onto the sequel. Since this is the arcade version of Power Stone 2, there’s only the single mode available to play: the four-player ‘castle-climb’ set of matches. Even the training ‘mode’ hardly counts as truly separate since it’s just the training settings overlaid over the castle-climb matches. The console version’s item store and Adventure Mode are omitted here, completely negating all the money you accumulate through the castle. The silver lining is the bundle of non-arcade features like custom match rules and last man standing. But yeah, for me, the real drawback from Power Stone 1 is the forced four-player bouts. Power Stone just doesn’t work as good with more than two players because attacks track to the nearest fighter, which makes team play frustrating due to the friendly fire. Still, the arenas are far more dynamic than the first game with auto-scroll stages and obstacles like boulders and bosses dotting progression. Power Stone 2 is a very fun and frenetic game, but the arcade version’s lack of modes is disappointing. Project Justice is the only game in this collection with a full story mode, and it just so happens to be my favorite game in the collection. Each school team has their own storyline, portrayed through manga styled text boxes amid scene backdrops, and dynamic 3v3 team-based play featuring some truly zany squad attacks, many of which are uniquely tailored to the team you choose. There’s just a lot of polish in the animations and smooth controls here that make this a must-play game in the collection. And for the curious, no, this version doesn’t include the fighter creator from the Dreamcast version, but it does have pre-made fighters from the creator tools at least. "Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein is what happens when a fighter goes full sci-fi with their 3D fighters." The final game in this collection is another 3D fighter by the name of Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein. The emphasis on lightsabers…I mean, plasma weapons here is amusing, giving the game a Soul Calibur kind of flair. The game controls smoothly and features a wide range of combos and special attacks, lending it some good replay value. Though, the single-player Arcade Mode doesn’t have much of a story, it does have a cool opening cinematic and some neat sci-fi stages to fight through. Like the other games in the collection, two new fighters are playable for the first time here. All in all, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a substantive library of beloved titles in the fighting genre. They’re all optimized well and feature rollback netcode with online play accompanied by a suite of quality of life features. For those who enjoyed the first Capcom Fighting Collection, this second one is a no-brainer. The two Capcom V. SNK games and Project Justice offer enough quality team-based gameplay to make up for the collection’s other shortcomings. This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 Physical Edition $40 | Available Now See at Amazon See at Walmart See at Best Buy See at Target Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is now available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The eight-game collection earned an 8/10 in our review and costs $40. Like last year's Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, physical editions are only available for PS4 and Nintendo Switch.Launch editions of Capcom Fighting Collection 2 for either platform are bundled with an exclusive comic book. Capcom did the same thing with Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection, and this has likely once again contributed to stock shortages on launch day. The PS4 version, in particular, is difficult to find in stock right now, but you can place an order for the PlayStation physical edition from Amazon.Capcom Fighting Collection 2 - Check stock at:AmazonBest BuyWalmartTargetOnly the initial batch of Capcom Fighting Collection 2 physical copies will include an all-new Capcom vs. SNK comic made by Udon Entertainment in honor of the crossover series' return in this new collection. Continue Reading at GameSpot

Steel clashes and war drums thunder as a new age of battle dawns — one that will test even the mightiest Slayer. This GFN Thursday, DOOM: The Dark Ages — the bold medieval-inspired prequel to DOOM and DOOM Eternal — is available for GeForce NOW premium members, aka Ultimate and Performance members, to stream from the cloud at launch. Premium members can also slay in style with a free in-game reward. The stage is set and the crowd is buzzing — Capcom: Fighting Collection 2 is joining GeForce NOW at launch. Plus, get ready to take to the skies with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 coming to the cloud this week. And catch the latest GeForce NOW updates rolling out to members starting this week. The updates include quality-of-life improvements, following performance enhancements like 120 frames-per-second streaming for SHIELD TV to keep the cloud gaming experience at its best. It’s all part of another thrilling GFN Thursday, with five new games joining the cloud. Stand and Fight Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. DOOM: The Dark Ages is a dark fantasy and sci-fi single-player experience that delivers the searing combat and over-the-top visuals of the DOOM franchise, powered by the latest idTech engine. As the super weapon of gods and kings, shred enemies with devastating favorites like the Super Shotgun while wielding a variety of new bone-chewing weapons, including the versatile Shield Saw. Players will stand and fight on the demon-infested battlefields in the vicious, grounded combat the original DOOM is famous for. Take flight atop the new fierce Mecha Dragon, stand tall in a massive Atlan mech and beat demons to a pulp with the newly enhanced glory kill system. Only the Slayer has the power to wield these devastating tools of mayhem. Experience every gory detail, thunderous shield bash and demon-splitting kill in the cloud. No downloads, no waiting — just pure, uninterrupted DOOM action, wherever members want to play. SHIELD your eyes. GeForce NOW Ultimate or Performance members can now claim the DOOM Slayer Verdant skin reward, a fierce, ruthless-looking armor set that’s built for relentless slaughter. Those who’ve opted in to GeForce NOW’s Rewards program can check their email for instructions on how to redeem it. It’s available through Sunday, June 15, first come, first served. Step Into the Ring The fight continues. Capcom’s new fighting collection hits the stage — and the cloud. Choose from fan favorites like Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001 and Project Justice, as well as 3D action titles like Power Stone and Power Stone 2 in this collection of eight classic fighting games. Each can be played online or in co-op mode. Get back in the ring and duke it out in battles that everyone rumored but no one believed. Chase victory by streaming on GeForce NOW. Ultimate and Performance members enjoy higher resolutions and lower latency compared with free users for a true cloud-gaming edge. Game On Streaming from a powerful GeForce RTX gaming rig in the cloud enables GeForce NOW to deliver continuous improvements and new features that enhance members’ streaming experiences. This week, update 2.0.74 is rolling out, bringing several enhancements to the cloud. Members will see an upgraded library syncing feature for those using PC game subscription services like PC Game Pass and Ubisoft+, making it even easier to jump into games. Supported titles for these game services will now be automatically added to members’ “My Library” after resyncing their Ubisoft, Battle.net and Xbox connected accounts in the GeForce NOW app. This update follows the recent performance boost for SHIELD TV users in SHIELD Experience 9.2.1, now supporting up to 120 fps 1080p streaming for GeForce NOW Ultimate members. Those who prefer higher resolution over frame rates can continue streaming at up to 4K 60 fps. With such ongoing updates, GeForce NOW is making cloud gaming more seamless and accessible across devices. Fly Your Way Fly anywhere with the cloud. GeForce NOW brings a groundbreaking aviation experience to the cloud with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Members can experience the game that redefines aviation simulation with unparalleled realism and global exploration. Pursue dynamic aviation careers through missions like Medevac, Search and Rescue, and Aerial Firefighting. Plus, compete in thrilling events such as the Red Bull Air Races. The game introduces advanced physics, enhanced aircraft systems and a groundbreaking flight planner for immersive gameplay. Explore an exceptionally detailed digital recreation of Earth, featuring handcrafted airports, landmarks, dynamic biomes, and real-time air and maritime traffic. With stunning visuals, diverse wildlife and realistic weather systems, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 offers unmatched experiences for pilots and adventurers. Ultimate and Performance members can play with GeForce RTX 4080-level performance with the highest frame rates and lowest latency. Ultimate members can elevate their adventures at up to 4K resolution and 120 fps for the most immersive rides in the sky. Fired Up for New Games It’s hammer time. Manage a medieval forge in Blacksmith Master, launching this week in the cloud. Find and hire the best staff and equip them with the right tools to optimize the business and train their skills over time. Design the shop for the best throughput, fulfill orders from across the kingdom to unlock new capabilities, and seek out new opportunities in the market as customers come looking for a variety of historically inspired items — from weapons and armor to tools and cooking utensils. Perfect the craft to become the Blacksmith Master. Look for the following games available to stream in the cloud this week: The Precinct (New release on Steam, May 13) Blacksmith Master (New release on Steam, May 15) Capcom Fighting Collection 2 (New release on Steam, May 15) DOOM: The Dark Ages (New release on Steam, Battle.net and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass, May 154) Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Steam and Xbox, available on PC Game Pass) What are you planning to play this weekend? Let us know on X or in the comments below. Would you rather fight 1 demon the size of a castle or 100 normal-sized demons all at once? — NVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) May 14, 2025

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube812k Yes, you read that headline correctly. Cookie Clicker, the infamous idle game about clicking a cookie, is coming to Switch, fresh out of the oven, on 22nd May. We'd imagine that you will be familiar with Cookie Clicker already. This one was initially released by one-man dev Julien 'Orteil' Thiennot back in 2013 and quickly built up a huge following thanks to its addictively simple gameplay loop: click the cookie to get more cookies. If you've never sampled it before, then we'd wager that synopsis sounds a little dry. But trust us, it's the ultimate time sink. Each cookie you gain gives you the chance to get even more cookies, with unlockable auto-clickers and a whole host of other weird and wonderful ways to keep the baked goods rolling in.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube812kWatch on YouTube The Switch version was teased on Orteil's BlueSky account, and the corresponding eShop page revealed it would be arriving next week for just £4.29 / $4.99 — a small price to pay to risk losing all your free time. Here's the official rundown of the game's features and a handful of eShop screenshots from publisher DashNet, so you can see what you're letting yourself in for: * Collect cookies and spend them to earn even more cookies * Over 600+ upgrades * Pet your dragon* Mini-games * Unlock heavenly perma-upgrades * Music by C418 Images: DashNet Look, we can't imagine that this will be rocketing to the top of our Game of the Year lists come December, but it runs the risk of scoring highly in the 'Most Played' category if we're not careful. Just one more Do you have fond memories of Cookie Clicker? Will you be picking it up on Switch? Click down to the comments and let us know. Related Games See Also Share:0 0 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Switch 2 Games And original Switch, of course Here's A Look At The Back Of Mario Kart World's Switch 2 Box Art The race begins next month The First Review For Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Is In A fantasy score? SNK Announces ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 5 And Vol. 6 For Switch Update: Multi-language release confirmed Review: 1000xRESIST (Switch) - A Sci-Fi Narrative Masterpiece, Hair To Hair You can (not) Resist

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube812k If you were a fan of Hello Kitty Island Adventure and all its New Horizons-inspired cosiness when it arrived on Switch earlier this year, then boy, do we have a surprise for you. The life-sim's first major content update has sidestepped its planned release date and landed on the Nintendo hybrid a week early — what a treat. The 'Friends, Furniture, and Frozen Peaks' update arrived on Steam last month, with dev Sunblink adding a 22nd May release date for the Switch version. It seemed to be full steam ahead on the later launch until yesterday evening, when the studio appeared on Twitter to make the surprise announcement that the update is, in fact, available right now. What's more, it's free!Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube812kWatch on YouTube The update crams in a lot of content, with a new area to explore, friend gifting, new quests and puzzles and (the biggest addition of them all) furniture stacking. The full list of everything included was shared on the Island Adventure Steam page, and we have gathered it all together for you to check out below. Hello Kitty Island Adventure - 'Friends, Furniture, and Frozen Peaks' Update (14th May 2025) More Fun with Friendship We improved gifting to make friendship even more fun! The more hearts a gift has, the more friendship you’ll get for gifting it! No more odd outlier gifts. Craft the best gifts to become friends faster!Furniture Stacking Next time you’re sprucing up a cabin, try placing an item on a table while in Edit Mode. No, seriously, this is our new favorite thing.Item Overflow Didn't make it to Friendship Island today? No worries! Items and pick-ups now accumulate over three days to better fit whatever playstyle you choose.New Area - Blizzard Peak & Snow Village A new story takes you and your friends back to Icy Peak, discovering a whole new side of the mountain along with a temperamental weather contraption.Chilly Chambers Slide your way to success in new, frosty puzzles around Icy Peak. You might have to get a bit pushy to claim the rewards inside.Sparkles Introducing Sparkles! These special Sparkles appear all around the Island at their own pace — collect and exchange them for game tickets, so you can play mini-games without waiting for reset.Flower Power Garden in the clouds with Roseanne for the fluffiest, puffiest flower yet. Explore extreme environments with Nina to grow flowers in the most challenging places on Friendship Island. These special flowers unlock unique effects to make your garden even more beautiful.Flowery Furnishings Play the Crane Game to collect the fabulous floral Merry Meadows furniture set–and bring the Merry Meadows to all of your cabins!Call Friend Phone a friend (to join you!) – your tablet now has a ‘Call Friend’ function that lets you connect and companion together with Hello Kitty and Friends from anywhere on the Island.New Visitors Retsuko's friends and co-workers are ready to visit Friendship Island for a well-deserved getaway! Pekkle and Keroppi have buddies and pals who will need cabins, too. And don't forget to set up cabins for Hello Kitty's Grandparents.New Quests Who will become the Island Champion? How will Retsuko balance work and her vacation? Can you soothe the storm on Icy Peak? Most important: is Pochacco's workout outfit cuter than Badtz-maru's superhero get-up? Find out the answer to these questions and more with dozens of new stories and quests! We had a great time with Hello Kitty Island Adventure when it arrived on Switch earlier this year, stating, "it brings a fresh experience that is likely to subvert the expectations of any Animal Crossing expats looking for their next cosy fix," in our review. We weren't alone in our admiration either. The game went on to shift an impressive half a million copies in its first 30 days. Never underestimate the power of Sanrio, eh? New Fur-izons The physical Switch version is out this month Will you be checking out this Hello Kitty Island Adventure update? Let us know in the comments. [source store.steampowered.com] Related Games See Also Share:0 1 Jim came to Nintendo Life in 2022 and, despite his insistence that The Minish Cap is the best Zelda game and his unwavering love for the Star Wars prequels (yes, really), he has continued to write news and features on the site ever since. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Updates Its User Agreement To Crack Down On Emulation Offenders may find their Switch bricked Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Switch 2 Games And original Switch, of course The First Review For Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Is In A fantasy score? SNK Announces ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 5 And Vol. 6 For Switch Update: Multi-language release confirmed

A Dream(cast) collection So what did other outlets have to say: Nintendo World Report - 8/10 "Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is another mix of great hits, fun curiosities, and a few games that feel more like filling out a roster than anything. That said, Capcom vs. SNK and Power Stone are more than worth the price of entry alone, and fighting game fanatics will at least enjoy experiencing some oddities that they wouldn’t have otherwise." Gaming Bible - 9/10 "Capcom Fighting Collection Vol. 2 boasts an impressive roster of games and pairs well with the first collection for a varied, comprehensive trip through Capcom’s fighting game history, and even then, it doesn’t feel like the journey through time is over yet." But Why Tho - 9/10 "Overall, while not every game in Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is equally balanced or polished, the variety and care taken in preservation make it a standout retro bundle that’s definitely worth the price. The new additions also make it more accessible and approachable to modern players." Siliconera - 8/10 "Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is great for many reasons, ranging from being a means of preserving fantastic games, easily play Power Stone, and reminding people the Rival Schools series existed. The roster of games available is sound" CGMagazine - 8/10 "Capcom Fighting Collection 2 doesn’t change much in terms of presentation and performance compared to past releases. Still, this latest compilation goes beyond Street Fighter and highlights some of the more eclectic titles from Capcom’s deep catalogue of fighting game standouts." A fantasy score? That's a wrap Exciting news for SEGA fighting fans Will be checking out this latest Capcom collection on the Switch? Let us know in the comments. Related Games See Also Share:0 1 Liam is a news writer and reviewer across Hookshot Media. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of many iconic video game characters. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment... Related Articles Nintendo Updates Its User Agreement To Crack Down On Emulation Offenders may find their Switch bricked Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Switch 2 Games And original Switch, of course The First Review For Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Is In A fantasy score? SNK Announces ACA NEOGEO Selection Vol. 5 And Vol. 6 For Switch Update: Multi-language release confirmed