2025 is almost over, so it’s time to talk about the worst-optimized PC games of the year. Unlike other sites, we tested the latest versions of these games. We didn’t rely on our original reviews. I mention this because some devs have fixed their games since launch, even if they were in terrible shape on … Continue reading Worst Optimized PC Games of 2025→
In December 2024, SOFTSTAR ENTERTAINMENT revealed a remake of Sword and Fairy 4. And now, a year later, its first official gameplay trailer has been leaked online. Although SOFTSTAR ENTERTAINMENT has not shared any press release for it, we finally get an idea of what this upcoming remake will be like. For starters, the game … Continue reading First official gameplay trailer for Sword and Fairy 4: Remake→
This review contains spoilers for Fallout Season 2, Episode 3, “The Profligate,” which is available to stream now on Prime Video.
“I think I just started a war.” Yeah, Maximus, I think you did.
Killing off Kumail Nanjiani’s Paladin Harkness just a single episode after he was introduced is a bold move, but a shock that thrillingly caps off a great episode full of snarling factions, long-awaited fan service, and some huge decisions that not only have major consequences for the Mojave wasteland, but also provide deep, fascinating insights into the hearts of two of our leads: Maximus and The Ghoul.
Let’s start with our noseless gunslinger, who after treading water for a couple of hours is suddenly on the move to some real interesting places. Left by Lucy last week to sweat it out with a leg full of radscorpion venom, The Ghoul has a remarkably vulnerable moment with the ever-faithful Dogmeat. His musings on how many planks you have to remove from a boat until it’s not a boat anymore, muttered as he rips oozing chunks out of his own thigh, is a sort-of-ship-of-Theseus metaphor for his own life. His soul has lost too many planks, and it’s a new milestone for what’s left of Cooper Howard to admit that, even if he’ll only say it to a dog. Lucy’s Christmas Carol sermon from last week has clearly been ticking away in his mind – he’s dedicated two centuries to finding his family, but will he be worth a damn when he finally does?
Perhaps The Ghoul really can change, though, if his rescuing of Lucy is anything to go by. Her choice to help the tunic-wearing woman last week led her right into the den of Caesar’s Legion, who naturally did what any bloodthirsty Romans would do: strung her up for crucifixion. The Ghoul goes significantly (and uncharacteristically) out of his way to save his travelling companion from such a fate, betraying his former uneasy allies at the NCR. As much as she may annoy the living heck out of him, it seems like The Ghoul may have developed some genuine (low level) affection for Lucy.
While Walton Goggins is undoubtedly the headliner of the Lucy/Ghoul double act this week, Ella Purnell does get a solitary sparkling moment in the spotlight before she’s Life of Brian’d. Her argument with the Legion’s leaders is really good fun, particularly her fast-fired, enjoyably educated objections to their prima nocta clause (although if we’re honest, the “I’m not even a virgin, and that’s not even including all of the cousin stuff” is the real winning punchline here). Lucy has clearly hardened into someone who has no intention of being torn down by the wasteland, even when her opponent is much bigger and scarier than she is.
And scary they are! Horrible cutthroats who butcher the woman Lucy saved within seconds of them entering the camp. But they’re a wonderful contradiction of incredibly cruel and impossibly silly. We’ve got a bunch of Roman cosplayers, wearing sunglasses and wielding machine guns, who have dedicated themselves to a man pretending to be Julius Caesar. Second in command is Macaulay Culkin, who’s having an absolute riot in the role. His aloof, classical theatre tone, perfectly shaved head, and dedication to the Legion’s rules makes him a deadly serious joke. I certainly hope this isn’t the last we’ve seen of him.
As I’ve mentioned in prior reviews, I’m really pleased that showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet have made the faction interplay that defines the Fallout: New Vegas video game such a key part of this season’s fabric. That continues here with the introduction of the game’s NCR rangers, although they’re sadly afforded much less screen time than the Legion. Now barely more than a handful of troops, their desperate fight for survival is interesting, but so far little explored.
The Ghoul's soul has lost too many planks, and it’s a new milestone for what’s left of Cooper Howard to admit that.
There’s a chance that die-hard fans may find the presentation of the NCR and the Legion somewhat frustrating because of how thinly drawn their direct links to the game are. With the show taking place a decade and a half after the events of Fallout: New Vegas, many will have hoped or even expected it to establish a “canon ending” for the game. But it seems those answers aren’t coming – while these are undoubtedly the factions we met in the digital world, brought to life with exceptional understanding of the material, the Legion’s double-Caesar civil war and the NCR’s continuing rivalry with them doesn’t directly relate to any of the game’s multiple endings. Both factions squabbling in the dirt, miles away from the Vegas Strip, does suggest that if there even is a canon ending to the game, it’s the one that saw you fight for an independent Vegas (or, less likely, carried Mr. House to victory). But Wagner and Robertson-Dworet have wisely decided to leave the key events of New Vegas' finale shrouded in mystery. Still, it’s fun to wonder what happened to the original Caesar, whose death has split the Legion into rival gangs: was he killed by the courier, or did he die from that brain tumor?
While the Legion wages its playground-sized war, the real thing is brewing over at Area 51. Maximus goes on a fantastically messy journey this week, once again crushed and reshaped by the bullies that rule his life. Belittled by Quintus for suggesting they kick-start the very war that his master has been plotting, Maximus finds an unexpected ego boost in the man he would assassinate. Paladin Harkness butters him up with tales of how he’d be leadership material over in the Commonwealth – silver-tongued lies delivered by Kumail Nanjiani, who’s having the time of his life. But you can see why Maximus falls for them; he may be made of matchsticks, but it’d take an iron will to resist the Paladin’s maverick charm. It’s just a shame Nanjiani and his Han Solo-schtick didn’t get to stick around longer.
It’s amusing to see just how easily-influenced Maximus is across this episode. First he wants to kill Harkness, then he walks into his arms after Quintus tells him off. He sees right through Harkness when it becomes clear all the Paladin wants is to take the Cold Fusion relic for the Commonwealth, but falls back under his smooth-talking spell the moment the pair get to goof off and play croquet with a Super Sledge hammer and a Securitron robot. He is so incredibly weak of character and so easily manipulated by external forces, which is exactly what makes the episode’s final, fatal hammer blow so exciting. Finally, we see Maximus make a decision that’s all his own, one that comes from his own sense of justice. And by killing Paladin Harkness to save the ghoul children, we can see that the good, moral man that his father always hoped he’d grow up to become is somewhere inside him.
Of course, I can’t move on from Maximus’ story without mentioning the wonderful walking joke that is Johnny Pemberton’s Thaddeus. His new life as a ghoul has turned him into some kind of Dickensian slave driver, with an army of kids twisting off soda bottle caps in an effort to fill his coffers. This kindergarten factory scores the best joke of the episode: two dozen eight year-olds cheering “Most kids are dead by this age!”
Finally, this week’s trip to pre-war America is surprisingly uneventful considering both the killer stakes established in the premiere and its absence last week. House’s appearance feels a little thin and lacking in bite, but it’s enough to demonstrate that he’s already clued into Cooper and Moldaver’s plans. He is The Man Who Knew, after all. Cooper, however, is very much a man who doesn’t know, clueless as to who this moustachio’d man that looks almost identical to the famous Robert House is. This certainly clarifies that Justin Theroux’s identity is supposed to be a mystery, and only further demonstrates what a bad idea the prior announcement of his casting was.
There’s still good stuff in the past, though, but it’s all in character, not plot. Charlie Whiteknife’s veteran award acceptance speech frames Cooper as a soldier who deeply cared for the people around him, emphasising a stark contrast with the man he’ll be 200 years into the nuclear-scorched future. Later, Charlie explains that he won his award for saving people, not for the kills that heroic act required. The implication, of course, is that Cooper should kill Robert House to save humanity from annihilation.
But there’s more to that flashback than just Cooper’s torn conscience. We see reflected in Charlie’s words The Ghoul’s choice. He’d do pretty much anything to protect the people he loves, even something bad. Which, of course, wasn’t sending the NCR to their deaths in order to save Lucy. No, that’s not the man Cooper Howard becomes. For all his personal admissions of having lost too many planks, he’s still content to be a pile of wood. Lucy is surely the price he’ll pay to save his family. And he’s not found his family yet, so Lucy has to live. Wherever this selfish decision takes him, it’s sure to be a fascinating direction.
It's no secret that Dragon Quest is one of the most important RPG series of all time. Inspired by Wizardry, the Enix-published Famicom game has inspired thousands of famous RPGs. The genre simply wouldn't exist the way it does today without Dragon Quest.
Last year, Square Enix finally released Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, the long-awaited remake of Erdrick's adventure. Today at Amazon, you can save over 60% off an Xbox Series X copy, which is perfect for collectors and new adventurers alike.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake for $22.23
As its name implies, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake utilizes Square Enix's HD-2D art style, which looks absolutely incredible. The blend of modern art design with crisp 2D sprites is endlessly charming, and the lighting systems in place really do wonders. Despite being the third game in the series, it is recommended that players begin with Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake before jumping ship to I & II. This is due to Dragon Quest III being a prequel.
In addition to the new visuals, DQIII HD-2D Remake also packs in numerous new features. For one, there is brand-new story content involving Ortega, the father of the protagonist. You also gain access to the new Monster Wrangler vocation, which is a ton of fun to try out. Beyond this, much of the game has voice acting, and an orchestrated soundtrack helps bring the world to life.
If you're a fan of both turn-based combat and the RPG genre, you owe it to yourself to experience one of the medium's defining entries. At $22, this is a steal for a game that easily packs in 60+ hours of content.
Noah Hunter is a freelance writer and reviewer with a passion for games and technology. He co-founded Final Weapon, an outlet focused on nonsense-free Japanese gaming (in 2019) and has contributed to various publishers writing about the medium.
I always like to think New Year’s Eve is for reflection, but in practice it is also when my willpower collapses and my wishlist wins. While everyone else is arguing over fireworks positions and sparkling wine, I am quietly locking in deals I will absolutely be playing into January. This batch feels like a proper end of year send off, stacked with games that reward long nights and bad sleep decisions.
In retro news, I'm using this fire flower to ignite a 30-candle cake baked for Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, a SNES must-own. If it were any other series, Yoshi’s Island would just be a long-forgotten spin-off. But since this is Nintendo we’re talking about, this SNES game made a much bigger impact on the wider Mario universe, with the features Yoshi’s Island introduced still influencing Nintendo games of today.
I can remember being thoroughly delighted with Yoshi's moveset expanding him from being a simple steed to a flutter-jumping, ground-pounding, and egg-chucking hero in his own right. Likewise, the shift from obstacle course platforming to collectathon progression was right up my kleptomanic alley. Throw in a bold crayon-based art style, and I was coloured Tickled Pink with the entire package.
Aussie birthdays for notable games.
- Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (SNES) 1995. Get
On Switch, these picks balance absurd value with games that feel perfectly at home in handheld mode, whether you are planning ten minutes on the couch or three hours you did not schedule.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (-90%) - A$7.90 A shockingly good tactics sequel that smooths out the combat, adds real freedom, and proves the Rabbids can behave when Miyamoto is watching.
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit Rem. (-83%) - A$10.10 Criterion’s high speed classic with Autolog still doing half the trash talking for you.
It Takes Two (-50%) - A$29.90 A co-op masterclass that constantly reinvents itself and absolutely refuses to let you play alone.
Burnout Paradise Rem. (-83%) - A$6.70 Open world crashing at its peak, with takedowns that still feel illegally satisfying.
Unravel Two (-70%) - A$8.90 Gentle platforming built around cooperation, whether that second Yarny is a friend or your own stubborn hands.
Gris (-82%) - A$4.20 A wordless, watercolour journey through grief that still lands emotionally every single time.
On Series X, this batch leans hard into cinematic scale and systems heavy RPG design, the kind of games that quietly eat entire weekends.
Metaphor: Refantazio (-50%) - A$57.40 Atlus finally cuts loose from Persona’s school gates and builds a lavish fantasy RPG with politics, time pressure, and absurdly stylish menus.
It Takes Two (-80%) - A$11.90 One of the best co-op games ever made, built entirely around communication and shared problem solving.
Triangle Strategy (-60%) - A$36.30 A tactics RPG obsessed with consequences, branching politics, and hard choices that actually stick.
Red Dead Redemption II (-75%) - A$22.40 Still Rockstar’s most detailed world, right down to horse behaviour and campfire conversations you will miss if you rush.
Star Wars: Dark Forces Rem. (-50%) - A$22.40 A respectful polish of a cult shooter that laid groundwork for Jedi Knight long before lightsabers stole the show.
What's Big on the Radar? Headed out the door quick
Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that's worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.
Modder ‘xoxor4d’ has released Update 1.1.5 for his amazing RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod for Grand Theft Auto 4. So, let’s see what this update brings to the table. For those who did not know, this RTX Remix enables real-time Path Tracing in GTA 4. This is a must-have mod for everyone who has a … Continue reading Grand Theft Auto 4 RTX Remix Update 1.1.5 Released→
Amazon has been dragging its feet when it comes to charging realistic prices for trading card games, especially with Pokémon TCG. Magic: The Gathering is playing out differently, however. We're seeing healthy competition between Amazon and TCGPlayer during today's price check, so there's plenty of options to explore at the best prices.
Today's highlights also include preorders for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Lorwyn Eclipsed, plus a scary movie exclusive pre-order you won't want to miss.
TL;DR: Best Deals Today
With Amazon, you're getting Prime delivery, with products shipping out either the same day or landing at your door within 24 hours. Whilst you don't get the same speedy shipment with TCGPlayer merchants, you're likely buying from them for the cheaper price points and big savings over big-box Amazon. Let's get into it:
Get 20% Off All eSIM Plans at Roamless
Cheapest at Amazon: MTG
Commander Masters is the best set to get into if you love playing Commander and getting hold of legacy card reprints that are ideal for the format. It's not cheap, but Amazon currently has the best pricing for Set and Draft booster boxes. If you missed out on the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set when it dropped earlier this year, the game edition of Cloud Strife's Commander Deck, Limit Breaker, is at market value on Amazon right now. That just means you're getting it for a fair price compared to the secondary market, whilst being able to take advantage of that sweet Prime shipping.
Cheapest at TCGPlayer - MTG
TCGPlayer is still holding the top spot for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Play Booster Box preorders. It's a full $20 cheaper from its merchants right now, a saving worth getting over Prime shipping. The same goes for the Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box, a full $30 cheaper over Amazon's price.
Fair enough, Amazon has its preorder price guarantee, but that only counts if they drop the price before release. You can't price match other retailers with this guarantee, so if you see a steep discount on a preorder elsewhere, take your chances.
Get a Free Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) With Any Total Wireless Phone Plan
From now until January 7, or while supplies last, a Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2025) can be yours for no cost, and a trade-in isn’t required.
Cheapest at Amazon: Pokémon TCG
It’s great to see popular sets like Surging Sparks and Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Boxes crop up for less on Amazon, with the former being below market value alongside the Destined Rivals triple booster.
Cheapest at TCGPlayer: Pokémon TCG
It’s strange to see Silver Tempest sealed product showing up on Amazon right now. Perhaps we’ll see more Sword & Shield-era reprints on store shelves? Regardless, TCGPlayer has the Silver Tempest Elite Trainer Box for far less than Amazon, and the same goes for the Prismatic Evolutions ETB.
TCGPlayer also has the best deal on Destined Rivals Booster Bundles, currently sitting at $52.50. That means you get double the booster packs compared to the three-pack booster deal in the last section for less than double the price. TCGPlayer really has the no-brainer deals right now.
Scream (1996) Limited-Edition Steelbook (4K UHD) Available to Pre-order at 19% Off
Amazon is offering 19% off the Scream 4K UHD pre-order right now, set to release on February 17. A classic!
Skytech Gaming PC Holiday Sale
Considering we’ve just entered a memory chip shortage across the board, with even DDR4 RAM going for silly money, getting an RTX 5060 build with 32GB DDR4 for $1,079 is a great deal. You’ll have solid 1080p gaming with either an Intel i5-14400F or AMD Ryzen 7 5700 processor to boot. Personally, I’d go for the Crystal build. It costs the same and gives you far more room for bigger GPU upgrades down the line.
If you’re looking to go all-in with 4K gaming out of the box for under $3,000, the $2,799.99 Aqua build comes with a gorgeous clear white and blue case, complete with CPU liquid cooling, an RTX 5080, 32GB DDR5, and the absolute beast that is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D.
Christian Wait is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything collectable and deals. Christian has over 7 years of experience in the Gaming and Tech industry with bylines at Mashable and Pocket-Tactics. Christian also makes hand-painted collectibles for Saber Miniatures. Christian is also the author of "Pokemon Ultimate Unofficial Gaming Guide by GamesWarrior". Find Christian on X @ChrisReggieWait.
If you’ve been itching to switch your wireless service provider but don’t want to deal with the hassle, T-Mobile makes changing your carrier super simple. You won’t have to jump through hoops, wasting half a day figuring things out online or worse, in a store. Instead, you should have a new line with T-Mobile in 15 minutes or less. And T-Mobile is the carrier to switch to, as it offers great value while delivering the best mobile network in the US, according to Ookla of Speedtest Intelligence® data. When you use T-Mobile’s “Easy Switch” tools to get connected online in under 15 minutes, you’ll probably be wondering about getting a new phone. For a limited time, you can enjoy incredible iPhone deals without the hassle of trading in your old device. Same-day delivery on a new phone may even be available.
Editorial Note: This article is brought to you by T-Mobile.
Highlighted Deal: Get Up to Four Free iPhone 17 When You Switch to T-Mobile
Unlike other carriers, T-Mobile places a heavy focus on the customer experience, and that starts the moment you begin to make the switch. The easy-to-navigate T-Life app delivers personalized recommendations for plans, so you don’t need to spend hours figuring out what you need. After that, it guides you through the entire setup process. It’s so simple that you can do it between meetings at work or while chilling at a coffee shop. If you don’t have the app, it’s just as easy to change providers on the T-Mobile website, or you can always head into one of T-Mobile’s thousands of store locations.
You can score the iPhone 17 for free when you switch your number from a competing service (Verizon, AT&T, Spectrum, etc.) and opt for T-Mobile’s Essentials Plan, and no trade-in is required. With each line you add to the plan (up to three additional lines total), you can get a new iPhone 17 for free. That’s a pretty awesome deal for four iPhones, especially given the top-tier smartphone has a starting price of $799. Just note that a one-time $35 connection charge per phone applies, and the phone discount will be paid via a bill credit over a 24-month period.
Additional T-Mobile iPhone Deals: No Trade-in Needed
You can get a new iPhone Air or iPhone 15 Plus for free when you switch to T-Mobile. Just bring your number to a new line on an Experience Beyond plan. (Via 24 monthly bill credits.) Terms apply.
Free iPhone Air
iPhone 15 Plus (Online Exclusive) at $0 Down
For the iPhone 15 Plus offer, you'll need to add a line to the Experience More or Experience Beyond plan at T-Mobile. Go5G Next and Go5G Plus members also qualify for this online-only offer. T-Mobile is offering $0 down and then $10/month for 24 months when you switch. Terms apply.
Danielle is a Tech freelance writer based in Los Angeles who spends her free time creating videos and geeking out over music history.
A Stranger Things actor has pushed back on claims there is a secret 'Snyder cut' of Season 5, as a petition calling on Netflix and the show's creators the Duffer brothers to respond garners hundreds of thousands of signatures.
Randy Havens, who plays school teacher Mr. Clarke on Stranger Things, wrote on his Instagram Stories on December 28 that “there's no secret Snyder cut of the show," adding: “please don't believe everything some random ass tells you on the internet."
Havens’ comment is a reference to the successful fan movement that led to the release of the director's cut of Zack Snyder's DCEU superhero movie, Justice League. Zack Snyder's Justice League released in 2021, four years after the original version made its theatrical debut, complete with new visual effects, new editing, new material, and a much longer runtime.
Ahead of the Stranger Things Season 5 finale on New Year’s Eve, Havens appeared to respond to an unverified, fan-made Google Doc detailing allegedly shortened storylines that had gained attention on social media. The Change.org petition that calls on Netflix to release the alleged “unseen footage” has over 350,000 signatures, at the time of this article’s publication.
The most-liked comment on the petition comes from someone who seems convinced that this footage was cut from Season 5 for nefarious reasons. “We have been waiting since 2022 to see this last season,” they wrote. “To be robbed of scenes by Netflix which really could have gelled the show all together is absolutely unacceptable, and I speak on behalf of all fans that we have been betrayed for the show we love. We don’t sit down and do nothing, we need to show the Duffer brothers, Netflix, and especially Shawn Levy. We want our full episodes, we want the scenes which change everything. We want our show back.”
This comes amid huge viewing figures for Season 5 on Netflix, but also a mixed response from fans. As we’ve reported, Stranger Things is suffering from review bombing after Season 5 Episode 7 met with lower audience scores than the Netflix series has typically seen. But some fans are striking back with 5-star reviews in a bid to reverse the trend.
While the fifth and final season of Stranger Things has sparked complaints from some fans about the exposition-heavy writing, the varying quality of the actor's performances, and the plot armor some of their characters seemingly enjoy, Episode 7, called ‘The Bridge,’ has become the focal point of a vociferous debate that has spilled over into review aggregate websites.
Stranger Things fans have slammed the petition and the Google Doc that appears to have inspired it, while praising Havens for hitting back on social media. "What?? The unconfirmed Google Doc isn’t true?? How could it be!" said one fan. "This is so embarrassing oh my god," said another. Added one fan: "I’m glad someone said something. The mass psychosis of everyone saying release the Volume 2 files was getting pretty annoying ngl."
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
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