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I’ve spent enough time building, testing, and troubleshooting PCs to know what’s worth your money and what isn’t. These days, I stick with gear that delivers top performance out of the box and holds up during long gaming sessions and workdays. That’s why I game on a custom-built MAINGEAR RUSH PC, paired with Glorious peripherals whilkst dreaming of an epic OLED display setup. These aren’t just products I’ve tested. They’re what I personally use every day.
Today’s roundup includes deals on that very same MAINGEAR build, the OLED ultrawide monitor I think is the best value right now, and the keyboard and mouse I rely on for everything from ranked matches to writing sessions. I’m also including a few wishlist-worthy monitors and collectibles that are worth a look while they’re on sale. If you care about clean performance, reliability, and products that feel built with intention, this is a list for you.
I use this exact PC every day, and I wouldn’t game on anything else. It runs quietly, handles everything I throw at it, and looks incredible on my desk. I picked the Night Drive Artist Series because I wanted a rig that felt personal and custom, and MAINGEAR absolutely delivered. It’s built around AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the Radeon RX 9070 XT, which means I can max out any game at 4K and still get smooth performance. These aren’t just top-tier parts. They’re installed and tuned with care.
When I first unboxed it, I could tell this wasn’t just another prebuilt. The case design has a glossy finish that looks better than any other chassis I’ve owned. Inside, every wire is routed cleanly, and the ten RGB fans keep airflow strong and temperatures cool. I didn’t need to touch a thing before diving into my game library. No bloatware, no setup headaches. Just clean performance from the start.
I think what really sets MAINGEAR apart is the BIOS tuning they do before shipping. I’ve built my own rigs before, and I know how easy it is to leave performance on the table when settings aren’t dialed in. This PC came fully optimized. RAM was running at full speed, fan curves were smart, and the GPU boost settings were already perfect. I felt like someone had built it specifically for the way I game.
Customer support matters to me, especially with a high-end purchase. When I had a small issue with an older build’s RGB sync, they walked me through a fix without any hassle. They even followed up later to make sure it was resolved. That kind of service makes me want to keep buying from them.
This system is also ready for the future. I can upgrade the GPU or add more storage without dealing with proprietary hardware. If I wanted to send it back for an upgrade, MAINGEAR would handle that too. It’s a system built to grow with me, not something I’ll need to replace in two years.
In my opinion, if you care about gaming performance, reliability, and build quality, this PC is worth every dollar. I use it daily for gaming and work, and I have no plans to switch to anything else.
This monitor caught my attention because it offers something I haven’t seen before. The G90XF takes your standard 4K 165Hz gaming monitor and adds AI-powered 3D effects. I think that’s a cool way to breathe new life into games I’ve already played. You also get a 300 dollar Amazon Gift Card when you buy the right bundle, which makes this an even better deal.
The screen itself has a 1ms response time and FreeSync support, so games stay smooth and responsive. Built-in dual speakers and edge lighting help add to the immersive feel, and the Reality Hub feature makes it easy to jump into supported 3D games.
If you want to try something different with your display setup and still want top-tier specs, this is a solid option. I think it would pair well with a high-end PC like MAINGEAR.
If you’re writing your own game scripts or planning a novel, this Humble Bundle is packed with helpful tools. It includes guides like Plot Whisperer, Grammar Sucks, and Write Like Hemingway. I’ve used similar titles for game writing and storyboarding, and they’ve helped me stay focused and organized.
You get all 44 titles in DRM-free formats like PDF and ePUB, and you can use them on your phone, tablet, or desktop. Buying this bundle also supports Worldreader, a nonprofit focused on literacy.
For the price, I think it’s one of the best digital resource bundles out there. It’s great for gamers who want to improve their writing or storytellers looking to sharpen their skills.
I’ve tried ultrawide monitors before, but this 57-inch Mini LED display takes it to another level. It runs at DUHD resolution, which means 7680 by 2160 pixels, and has a 120Hz refresh rate with a 1ms response time. That’s exactly what I want for smooth gaming without sacrificing detail.
The curved design keeps everything in view, and the wide 32 to 9 aspect ratio is great for open-world games or multitasking. It also supports HDR1000 and has a KVM switch, so you can use it across multiple systems without constantly swapping cables.
If your desk can handle the size, this is a dream monitor. I’d love to pair this with my MAINGEAR build for single-screen immersion that still lets me keep Discord, OBS, and Steam open on the sides.
I think this Ellie statue captures the character perfectly. It’s a detailed resin bust that stands about 7.5 inches tall, showing her in full survival mode with a handgun drawn. It’s made by Dark Horse with input from Naughty Dog, and the quality shows. The sculpt is clean, the paint is sharp, and the expression feels true to the character.
If you’re like me and enjoy collecting gaming memorabilia, this is one to preorder early. It comes with a certificate of authenticity and will ship in August. I like that it’s not overly large, so it fits easily on a desk or shelf next to your gaming setup.
This is one of those collectibles that feels personal. If you’ve spent time in that world with Ellie, having this on display adds something special to your setup.
I’ve been eyeing the OLED G9 for a while, and this price drop makes it a serious deal. For gaming, this monitor has everything I want. It’s huge at 49 inches and has a 32 to 9 aspect ratio that wraps around my field of view. The Dual QHD resolution makes games look sharp, and the OLED panel brings out every detail with deep blacks and vibrant color.
What makes this great for gaming is the combination of a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time. I’ve played on high refresh rate monitors before, but this one takes smoothness to another level. It makes a real difference in fast-paced games like Apex Legends or Call of Duty. Input feels instant, and motion stays crisp even in intense firefights.
Glare-Free tech is another reason I’d recommend it. I play in a bright room, and reflections usually ruin the experience on glossy screens. With this monitor, I can stay locked in no matter the lighting. At 500 dollars off, I think it’s one of the best display upgrades for serious PC gamers right now.
D 2 Wireless has been my go-to mouse for a while now. It’s lightweight at just 66 grams, which helps me stay fast and precise in games like Valorant and Apex. The shape fits my hand perfectly and doesn’t cause fatigue, even during long sessions.
The sensor is spot-on. It tracks every movement accurately, and the wireless connection has never lagged or dropped out on me. I switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz depending on what I’m doing. When I’m playing, it’s on 2.4 for the fastest response. When I’m working, I use Bluetooth to save battery.
I wouldn’t use anything else right now. It gives me the performance I need without costing a fortune, and it pairs perfectly with the GMMK 3 Pro on my desk.
This is the keyboard I use every single day. From gaming to editing and writing, it’s the one I trust. I went with the GMMK 3 Pro HE because of the Hall Effect switches. They let me adjust actuation sensitivity so I can set my preferred trigger point per key. That’s been a game-changer for FPS games where fast reactions matter.
It’s also wireless with a solid 2.4GHz connection that’s never given me issues. The aluminum frame feels strong and stable on my desk, and the 75 percent layout saves space without removing any of the keys I actually use. I also like that I can swap out the switches if I ever want to change the feel.
I’ve used a lot of gaming keyboards, but this is the one I keep coming back to. It’s fast, reliable, and comfortable, and I honestly think it’s one of the best gaming investments I’ve made.
This is one of those sets where I blinked and it was sold out the first time. I’m glad it’s back and actually on sale. You get a shiny Charizard ex, Charmander and Charmeleon promos, a display figure, and ten booster packs. That’s a solid value for under 50 bucks.
In my opinion, this is the kind of product that works for both collectors and anyone trying to build out a fire-heavy deck. The packaging alone makes it feel like a gift, even if you’re just giving it to your future self. You get the following packs:
- Stellar Crown
- Twilight Masquerade
- Paradox Rift
- Temporal Forces
- Obsidian Flames
I want this just to display it. This controller has matte green armor, silver spikes, a sinister red thumbstick, and buttons labeled in the Sentinel alphabet. I’m convinced it could survive a drop from orbit.
It’s still a standard Xbox and Bluetooth controller underneath all the theatrics, so it’ll work across consoles, PC, and cloud. I think it’s the best kind of extra. Completely over-the-top, but still totally usable.
I don’t even play vinyl and I still want this sitting on my shelf. The music from Last of Us is unforgettable, and this set leans all the way into the emotion. It includes four colored records, a slipcase that looks like it’s been through some stuff, and two beautiful lithographs.
Gustavo Santaolalla’s soundtrack is about as iconic as game music gets. In my opinion, if you felt anything during that main theme, you’re going to want this in your collection.
I think this box is for anyone who loves both strategy and structure. It comes with nine booster packs, a full-art promo of N’s Zorua, a mountain of energy cards, dice, sleeves, and even a collector’s box with dividers. It’s basically a starter kit for organized chaos.
It’s not the cheapest trainer box out there, but the amount of content here definitely gives it an edge if you're all in on the Scarlet & Violet era.
This bundle is a steal. For fourteen bucks, you’re getting eight quality indie games, and at least three of them could easily stand on their own. I picked it up for Gato Roboto, which is exactly what it sounds like: a cat in a mech suit.
In my opinion, this is ideal for anyone who wants games that actually let you explore and experiment. The titles are highly rated, weird in the best way, and don’t take up 80 gigs of storage. It’s refreshing.
Alright, I’ll be honest. This one’s a bit of a wildcard. You get one booster pack, randomly selected, and that's it. The listing makes it clear you don’t get to pick the pack art or contents.
I wouldn’t build a collection around this, but if you need to nudge your cart over the free shipping threshold or just like rolling the dice, this might do the trick.
This bundle skips the extras and gets right to the point: six booster packs from the latest expansion. If you're just here for the cards and not the fluff, this is a clean, solid option.
I like using these as a supplement to the bigger trainer boxes, or as a low-effort gift for a Pokémon fan who definitely already has more cards than they need.
This bundle brings back the original 151 Pokémon with modern mechanics and new artwork, making it a highly sought-after product among longtime fans and collectors. It’s marketed as a great way to access the set without buying a full booster display box, and it consistently sells out quickly. Still, at nearly twice the standard retail price, it’s worth thinking twice unless you’ve had trouble finding it elsewhere.
Currently the number one best-seller in collectible booster packs on Amazon, Surging Sparks includes over 250 cards, new Pokémon ex, ACE SPEC cards, and more than 50 cards featuring special illustrations. With solid pull potential and a modest price point, it’s an easy recommendation for casual players and serious collectors. Each pack contains 10 cards and is eligible for fast, free Prime shipping.
Available now for pre-order, this officially licensed Joel bust from Dark Horse and Naughty Dog stands 8.5 inches tall, reaching 11 inches at the top of the hatchet. The statue features detailed texturing on Joel’s flannel, backpack, and face, all set on a battle-worn concrete base with moss and bullet holes. It includes a certificate of authenticity and is scheduled to ship in August 2025. Ideal for collectors and fans of The Last of Us looking to lock in a centerpiece item.
This newly released tin includes five booster packs and one random foil promo card featuring either Kyogre ex, Xerneas ex, or Dialga ex. Inside, you’ll find a mix of packs from recent expansions including Surging Sparks, Temporal Forces, Stellar Crown, and Obsidian Flames. It’s a solid mid-tier pickup for anyone looking to expand their collection with newer sets in one convenient package.
This bundle features seven well-reviewed indie RPGs including Disco Elysium, Citizen Sleeper, Broken Roads, Roadwarden, and both Pillars of Eternity games. With ratings as high as 94 percent positive on Steam, the value here is undeniable for turn-based and narrative RPG fans. Plus, 15 percent off Citizen Sleeper 2 is included as a bonus coupon. The deal supports Care.org and is available for the next 15 hours only.
Marked down from $15.99, this pack is part of the Scarlet and Violet expansion and comes in assorted packaging. Each blister contains 10 cards, with a chance to pull some of the newer generation cards and artwork styles. While the pack style you receive is random, this is a good opportunity to sample the set at a much lower price than usual.
This is the first time I’ve seen the ETB for a reasonable price without having to buy it from someone’s backseat eBay hustle. Nine booster packs, full-art N’s Zorua promo, card sleeves, energy, dice, the works. I’ve seen this box selling for $90+ since launch, so $70.31 from Amazon is genuinely solid. Lillie’s Clefairy ex is still floating around $180 and N’s Zoroark ex has dropped to $13, which tells me the hype has deflated and we’re in “buy because it’s fun” territory again. I like it here.
This is the low-frills version for people who just want to open packs without pretending they’re going to organize their collection. Six Journey Together boosters and none of the ETB fluff. Honestly, this is how I like to test a set when prices cool off. You still have a shot at cards like Salamence ex SIR, which tanked from $250 to around $106, or a sub-$20 N’s Reshiram. Even if you pull nothing, at least you didn’t overpay trying to win the cardboard lottery.
I threw one of these in my cart last week just to hit the free shipping minimum. One pack, random art, decent discount. There’s no reason to expect anything big, but the price is finally low enough that I don’t feel bad if I just pull a Furret. And if you happen to land something like Articuno’s Illustration Rare (now $18.69) or Wailord (around $14.55), it’s a nice win from a $10 impulse buy.
I don’t know how many people wake up wanting ten train simulator add-ons, but if you’re one of them, today is your day. For $15, you get Train Sim World 5’s Starter Pack plus nine routes and loco add-ons. Antelope Valley, Cajon Pass, Thameslink, Santa Fe F7—the whole diesel buffet. It’s Steam keys, it supports CALM, and the value is so off the rails (pun fully intended) that I bought it just to mess around with the Railpool BR193 Vectron. Don’t judge me.
This is one of those “tech that doesn’t make sense until you try it” products. It’s a smart LED floor lamp with AI-generated lighting modes, music sync, voice control, app scheduling, and a vibe for every mood. It’s absurdly bright at 2300 lumens, and it looks clean in any corner setup. The AI stuff isn’t just fluff either. Say “I want relaxing light” and it’ll give you ten preset scenes. I think it’s great if you want one light to do everything without fiddling with settings for half an hour.
These are the same AI bulbs as the ones in the floor lamp, but in classic 75W-equivalent LED form. They’re bright, colorful, and weirdly helpful if you’re too tired to fine-tune your lighting manually. The music sync is fun, the AI scenes work well, and the voice commands actually feel smart instead of gimmicky. I bought a set of these last month and haven’t touched the wall switch since. At $8 per bulb, it’s kind of a no-brainer.
I picked up Surging Sparks because six booster packs under $50 is lower than what Amazon has been charging recently (It's still above MSRP though) Honestly, I wanted something new to crack open. It’s part of the latest Scarlet & Violet expansion, so if you’re trying to keep up with current sets or just enjoy the chaos of pulling a good card, this one’s a smart grab.
This one’s for the collectors who care as much about presentation as they do the pulls. Iono’s Bellibolt ex Premium Collection comes with six packs, a full-art promo, and a display sheet that’s more elaborate than it needs to be — in a good way. It's also a cool way to snag Journey Together packs with a fantastic promo card.
I think anyone who's replayed Mass Effect more than once knows exactly why these statues are tempting. I pre-ordered Jack immediately because, well, it felt necessary. The line includes Shepard, Tali, Legion, and others, and they look good enough that I’ve already made space for them on the shelf. If you're still quoting Garrus unironically, these are for you.
Paldean Fates is priced a double MSRP, but it's also very hard to come by in 2025. I grabbed it because the baby shiny sub-set is awesome, but if you just want to grab the single cards from this set, it might actually save you money.
This bundle has some of the better narrative indies from the last few years. I paid the $12, added the games to my backlog like I always do, and immediately booted up The Pale Beyond. It’s a strong lineup if you like character-driven games and don’t mind occasionally being emotionally wrecked by minimalist storytelling.
I think of this one as the all-in-one box for when you want cards and a bunch of gear you probably won’t use but still want around. Nine booster packs, a promo, sleeves, dice, and enough extras to make you feel like you’re doing more than just opening packs. It’s a solid option if you like having a little structure with your chaos.
I hesitated on this one, then immediately remembered it includes 18 booster packs and a playmat. It’s definitely a big spend, but if you’ve been waiting for a premium bundle that actually justifies the price, this checks out. I picked it up more for the experience than the individual cards, and that’s the right way to approach it.
I grabbed Shining Fates Pikachu V mostly because I never actually opened it when it first dropped, and now seemed like a good excuse. Four booster packs, a Pikachu promo, and the oversized card that ends up somewhere near your desk — standard stuff, but still a nice throwback if you missed it the first time around.
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.
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Star Wars Celebration 2025 has seen a slew of new announcements so far, including a theatrical film starring Ryan Gosling that will hit theaters in 2027. And now, fans of the Star Wars animated universe have something to look forward to: a brand-new series featuring fan-favorite villain Darth Maul.
Revealed as part of the Lucasfilm Animation panel at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord is coming to Disney+ and features Sam Witwer returning as Darth Maul. Witwer previously voiced the iconic villain in both Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Witwer's voice was also featured in the closing scene of Solo: A Star Wars Story.
Sam Witwer, star of the upcoming Maul - Shadow Lord surprises fans at Star Wars Celebration. New animated series coming 2026 to @disneyplus. pic.twitter.com/AMeszrLfqu
— Star Wars (@starwars) April 18, 2025
The new series is set after after the final season of The Clone Wars and will see Maul "plotting to rebuild his criminal syndicate on a planet untouched by the Empire."
The Star Wars Celebration panel featured new footage revealing the show as dark and gritty. In the clip, we see Maul break a force sensitive Twi'lek out of prison and offer to train her. We also see Maul slice up multiple characters with his double-ended lightsabre.
Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord debuts on Disney+ in 2026.
GTA fans, here is something for you today. Modder ‘Holydh’ has released a VR Mod, with support for 6DOF motion controls, for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Definitive Edition. As such, you will now be able to experience San Andreas in first-person mode and in VR. Going into more details, this VR Mod supports all … Continue reading GTA: San Andreas Definitive Edition just got a 6DOF VR Mod →
The post GTA: San Andreas Definitive Edition just got a 6DOF VR Mod appeared first on DSOGaming.
Mobile gaming obsession Monopoly Go is teaming up with Star Wars to add a little science fiction sauce to its real estate dice-rolling. The collaboration, announced today at Star Wars Celebration in Japan, will run from May 1 - July 2 and takes inspiration from events from Skywalker Saga and The Mandalorian.
As well as giving some beloved Star Wars characters a cute cartoon makeover, the Star Wars season on Monopoly Go will add a Star Wars Go sticker album to fill, podracing in the Mos Espa Grand Arena, and collectible in-game items like tokens, shields and emojis. Plus you get to enjoy the weirdness of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Han Solo, R2D2, Yoda, Anakin Skywalker and Qui-Gon Jinn hanging out Mr Monopoly, AKA Rich Uncle Pennybags.
It's not the first time Monopoly Go has done a mash-up, last September Marvel characters got Monopolized with Spider-Man, Wolverine, and the Avengers all making an appearance.
Publisher Scopely also recently acquired the Pokémon GO, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now teams as part of a deal with Niantic.
According to a report from our sister site GamesIndustry.biz, Monopoly Go was ranked the top game for consumer spending in 2024, bringing in a "gold toilets for everyone on the team" $2.47 billion jackpot. In 2024 Scopely also reported 150 million downloads and 10 million daily users.
Rachel Weber is the Senior Editorial Director of Games at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, and French Bulldogs. Those extra wrinkles on her face are thanks to going time blind and staying up too late finishing every sidequest in RPGs like Fallout and Witcher 3.
Star Wars Celebration 2025 is now in full swing, and that means companies like Hasbro are making announcements regarding upcoming collectibles. Fans of The Mandalorian will be happy to know Hasbro continues to focus on that live-action series in a big way. At their Celebration panel today, Hasbro revealed the next two figures joining the Star Wars: The Vintage Collection lineup - Moff Gideon and Cobb Vanth.
IGN can exclusively debut the first images of these two Star Wars figures. Get a closer look in the slideshow gallery below:
Like all Vintage Collection figures, these two are designed at a 3.75-inch scale and come with packaging inspired by the classic Kenner Star Wars figures.
Moff Gideon is inspired by the character's appearance in the Season 3 finale of The Mandalorian, where he wore his indestructible Dark Trooper armor. The figure includes an electro-staff and a blaster accessory.
Cobb Vanth, meanwhile, is technically based on the character's appearance in The Book of Boba Fett rather than The Mandalorian. This figure depicts the good sheriff after he's given up his beskar armor and prepares to duel Cad Bane. The figure includes both long and short blaster accessories.
These Vintage Collection figures are priced at $16.99 each and will be available for preorder on Hasbro Pulse, Amazon, and other retailers starting on Friday, April 18 at 12pm PT.
For more Star Wars fun, see all the amazing toys revealed at Star Wars Celebration 2023. And while you're at it, why not check out the many Star Wars collectibles available on the IGN Store?
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.
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Star Wars Outlaws fans will be able to head back into the game for a new tale of space smuggling on May 15, when the second story pack for the Ubisoft game will be released on all the game's current platforms. It'll be free for season pass holders, otherwise you're going to need $14.99 in credits to join Kay Vess and Nix on a new adventure.
A Pirate's Fortune gives players the chance to join forces with Hondo Ohnaka, head of the Ohnaka Gang. Hondo will be a name familiar to Star Wars: The Clone Wars fans and readers of the 2017 comic book series Star Wars: Darth Maul, and has even done time as one of the animatronic characters at the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge attraction. This time around he'll be Kay's ally as she takes on Stinger Tash and her gang, the Rokana Raiders, checks out a mysterious tomb and does some smuggling for the Miyuki Trade League. If you haven't quite finished the main storyline quests in Star Wars Outlaws you'll need to get that done to be ready to jump into the new content on May 15.
The news was announced during a panel at Star Wars Celebration in Japan today, where Ubisoft also revealed that Star Wars Outlaws would be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 on September 4 a few months after the handheld's June 5 launch.
Rachel Weber is the Senior Editorial Director of Games at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, and French Bulldogs. Those extra wrinkles on her face are thanks to going time blind and staying up too late finishing every sidequest in RPGs like Fallout and Witcher 3.
Ubisoft had already confirmed Star Wars: Outlaws as one of the games that will be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, but today we learned the space adventure won't be a launch title when the new Nintendo handheld is released on June 5, instead arriving a few months later on September 4.
If you missed it on PS5, XBox and PC, Star Wars Outlaws is set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and follows Kay Vess, a small time criminal who finds herself with a death mark from a cartel against her name. Our reviewer gave it a 7, saying it was "a fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration, but it’s hindered by simple stealth, repetitive combat, and a few too many bugs at launch."
Ubisoft didn't have many details to share beyond reiterating that the title would be available on Nintendo Switch 2 and confirming when, but at least we can update the Switch 2 Games List. With American and Canadian gamers locked in pre-order limbo as Nintendo assesses the impact of the new tariffs introduced by the Republican administration, any news on Nintendo Switch 2 games getting released is a welcome distraction.
The news was announced during a panel at Star Wars Celebration in Japan today, where Ubisoft also gave fans a look at the second story pack headed to Star Wars: Outlaws, titled A Pirate’s Fortune. The add on will see Kay joining allying with Hondo Ohnaka to take on Stinger Tash, leader of the Rokana Raiders. Star Wars: Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune will be released on May 15.
Rachel Weber is the Senior Editorial Director of Games at IGN and an elder millennial. She's been a professional nerd since 2006 when she got her start on Official PlayStation Magazine in the UK, and has since worked for GamesIndustry.Biz, Rolling Stone and GamesRadar. She loves horror, horror movies, horror games, and French Bulldogs. Those extra wrinkles on her face are thanks to going time blind and staying up too late finishing every sidequest in RPGs like Fallout and Witcher 3.
Lucasfilm has officially announced Star Wars: Starfighter, a brand-new film directed by Deadpool & Wolverine's Shawn Levy that stars Ryan Gosling and will be released in theaters on May 28, 2027. Oh, and it takes place five years after the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
The news was revealed at Star Wars Celebration and it was confirmed that production on the film will begin this fall.
We didn't learn much else about Star Wars: Starfighter besides that Gosling will be playing a brand-new character, but it should help in putting Memorial Day 2027 plans in place for Star Wars fans.
In a heartwarming moment, however, Gosling revealed his mom sent him an old photo of his childhood Star Wars bedsheets when he landed the role.
Ryan Gosling, star of the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter, reveals his childhood love for a galaxy far, far away. pic.twitter.com/jA8vR7F6bv
— Star Wars (@starwars) April 18, 2025
Star Wars: Starfighter will be part of the new wave of Star Wars films alongside The Mandalorian & Grogu and movies from Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, James Mangold, Taika Waititi, and a trilogy from Simon Kinberg.
Oh, and if the name Star Wars: Starfighter sounds familiar to you, it's because it was a game released back in 2001!
For more, check out all the other big news from Star Wars Celebration's The Mandalorian & Grogu panel, including our breakdown of the footage shown from the film and that Ahsoka Season 2 filming begins soon.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.
Star Wars Celebration is taking place in Japan this year, and IGN is attending all the exciting panels! Follow along below for live updates from The Mandalorian & Grogu panel:
The Lucasfilm panel kicked off with the company’s president Kathleen Kennedy and chief creative officer Dave Filoni taking the stage alongside the iconic droids C-3P0 and R2-D2. Filoni told the crowd that they’ll start shooting Ahsoka Season 2 as soon as he gets off the plane from Celebration.
Kennedy and Filoni also confirmed that Star Wars films by James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Taika Waititi and a new trilogy by Simon Kinberg remain in ongoing development.
Deadpool & Wolverine director Shawn Levy then took the stage to announce that his Star Wars film begins shooting this fall. The director said it’s a standalone adventure film that takes a few years after Star Wars, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.
Levy also said most of the rumors about the film swirling around online are very inaccurate but that one is true: Ryan Gosling stars in the movie. The Fall Guy star then took the stage to surprise the fans in the audience.
Gosling recalled how his mom sent him an old photo of his childhood Star Wars bedsheets when he landed the role.
The Levy-Gosling film will be neither a prequel nor a sequel and will explore a period of time not chronicled in other Star Wars projects. It will feature a whole new cast of characters.
The movie will be titled Star Wars: Starfighter and will hit theaters May 28, 2027.
Director Jon Favreau joined Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy and Dave Filoni onstage at Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo to tout their upcoming film, The Mandalorian & Grogu.
Favreau confirmed that the movie will be in IMAX, which is notable since its origins are on the small screen. He said that sets had to be adjusted accordingly to scale.
The movie will feature some familiar faces from Star Wars lore, including Zeb Orrelios from Rebels and the explorer droid BD-1 from the games Fallen Order and Jedi Survivor.
Pedro Pascal took the stage along with Sigourney Weaver. Weaver, the sci-fi icon from the Alien and Avatar franchises, told fans of her Star Wars casting: “I got real lucky.”
Weaver admitted she hadn’t watched The Mandalorian before being cast in the movie but when she finally did she fell in love with Pascal’s title character and added, “Of course, Grogu stole my heart.”
Favreau then brought Grogu out onstage before screening footage from the film for attendees, but with the caveat that it’s still too early for a proper trailer.
The footage includes shots of an Imperial ship prepared to engage, Mando battling Flame Troopers, AT-AT walkers collapsing in the snow, and then our first look at Weaver’s character, who appears to be someone contracting Mando for a job.
Weaver’s character is seen at a table with Grogu. She says “very messy” and “You work for us, We need you.”
Grogu is seen swimming and later making items, including a droid, levitate.
Much of the action in the footage appears to take place on a snowy planet.
The Mandalorian & Grogu opens in theaters May 22, 2026.
For everything else Star Wars Celebration, make sure to check out details of the newly announced film, Star Wars: Starfighter, and so much more this week as more reveals are announced, right here on IGN!
Welcome to an absolute mixed bag of legends, oddballs, and underappreciated gems at a considerable discount. Whether you’re chasing sprawling RPGs, high-octane action, or quirky genre mashups, I've found something to tempt your wallet (and mine, to be honest). I say get 'em before they're goneski.
In retro news, I'm celebrating the 14th birthday of Portal 2, one of the funniest video games ever made. I still have vivid memories of being guided by the artificial unintelligence of Wheatley (Stephen Merchant) while hungering for any new audio log from eccentric, gold-plated a-hole Cave Johnson (J. K. Simmons). The icing on the cake (that was a lie)? A rock solid 2P split-screen co-op mode.
- The World Ends with You (DS) 2008. Get
- Portal 2 (PC) 2011. Get
- Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap (PS4, XO) 2017. Get
- FFX/X-2 HD Remaster (NS) 2019. Get
Contents
Nintendo Switch fans can snap up Persona 5 Royal for a sharp discount. Listen closely and you’ll notice that series composer Shoji Meguro slipped in sneaky leitmotifs that reference earlier Persona games. Meanwhile, Golf Story is just A$3, and yes, it’s the delightfully Aussie indie RPG that mixes pixel art, putting greens and crime drama into one bizarrely wholesome adventure.
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Or gift a Nintendo eShop Card.
Over on Xbox Series X, Persona 3 Reload has been redone from the ground up in Unreal Engine. Unlike its original 2006 version, you can now control your entire party (a sore spot for longtime fans). You’ll also find The Witcher 3 Complete going cheap, which includes both expansions (which feel long enough to be games unto themselves).
Xbox One
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Or just invest in an Xbox Card.
On PS5, Judgment is a criminally underrated Yakuza spin-off starring a former boyband icon turned actor. And Stellar Blade, despite its early controversy, comes from the same Korean studio that almost made a game based entirely around acrobatic pole vaulting. I love werid games. Would've played.
PS4
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PS+ Monthly Freebies
Yours to keep from Apr 1 with this subscription
Or purchase a PS Store Card.
PC players can’t miss Lords of the Fallen, a Soulslike that quietly lets you switch between realms in real-time. Or there's Black Desert for next to nothing. It's a game known less for its combat and more for having possibly the most detailed hair simulation in MMORPG history.
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Or just get a Steam Wallet Card
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Audiophilia for less
Do right by your console, upgrade your telly
Adam Mathew is our Aussie deals wrangler. He plays practically everything, often on YouTube.
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For a limited time, Best Buy is offering the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless gaming headset for PC, PS4, and PlayStation 5 for just $139.99, or a whopping 50% off the $280 list price. This is $50 less than SteelSeries' Easter Sale deal price of $189.99. The Arctis Pro is a top-end SteelSeries headset (in fact, its flagship model before the Nova Arctis Pro was released), and one of only two models with swappable batteries.
The Arctis Pro was the highest-end gaming headset in SteelSeries' repertoire until its successor, the Arctis Nova Pro, was released. It boasts some great features you don't see in other gaming headsets, like a separate standalone base station with volume knob and OLED display, simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz WiFi pairing, and probably the best one: the hot-swappable battery system. This way, you get wireless freedom with no waiting to recharge. SteelSeries includes two batteries: one that's in use in your headset and the other that's charging in the base station.
The Arctis Pro features as good of a build quality you'll find in a SteelSeries headset. The headband is made of a lightweight steel and aluminum alloy construction and the suspension headstrap is very comfortable for marathon gaming sessions. The ear cushions are made of an AirWeave performance fabric similar to the ones found on the new Arctis Nova Pro. The ClearCast boom microphone can be retracted when not in use. Audio quality is great thanks to the premium 40mm speaker drivers with high-density neodymium magnets that reproduce hi-res audio up to 40,000Hz.
The Arctis Pro was replaced by the Arctis Nova Pro in 2022. The current best price for a brand new pair of Nova Pros is $270 on Amazon. Although it's an excellent headset that we reviewed favorably and features significant upgrades like active noise cancellation and USB Type-C charging, it most certainly isn't worth nearly double the cost of the Arctis Pro.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Just yesterday Amazon surprised us by dropping preorder listings for a Fallout season one 4K steelbook. It is fairly unusual for a Prime Video original series to get a physical release and many of our readers jumped at the chance to preorder a copy for themselves. At $39.99, it was a pretty good price for a new 4K steelbook in 2025.
Unfortunately, the listings for the 4K steelbook, Blu-ray, and DVD options for the series are no longer available on Amazon. It's unclear if Amazon is planning on bringing back the listing anytime soon, but you can check the links below to see for yourself if they have returned by the time you're reading this.
More Amazon Listings - 4K UHD | Blu-ray | DVD
Although all of the listings are no longer showing a product for Amazon, there surprisingly is still a listing live at Walmart right now. It's only for the DVD version, but if you still want to get a preorder in, that is your only option right now. It will most likely come back on Amazon, but the fact that it was suddenly pulled could mean they may raise the price. Amazon does have a preorder price guarantee, so if you got your preorder in before the listing disappeared, you might still get it at that price. But that could depend on whether or not preorders get cancelled.
After some bonus goodies to kit out your monsters in Creatures of Sonaria? We've got you covered. Below, you'll find all of the active codes in Roblox's kaiju survival game, allowing you to redeem plushies and other rewards.
Currently, there are no active Creatures of Sonaria codes in April 2025. As soon as that changes, we’ll update this page, so check back soon for updates.
To redeem Creatures of Sonaria codes, launch the Roblox Experience and, once you’re in, follow the steps below:
If your Creatures of Sonaria code isn’t working, it’s likely due to one of two scenarios. The first is that the code was inputted incorrectly. Creatures of Sonaria codes can either be in lower case or upper case, so make sure you have the code inputted correctly before you hit redeem. You can even copy and paste the codes directly from this article over to Roblox if you want to make sure you’re inputting them correctly.
The other possibility is the code has expired or you’ve already used it. If you’ve already used it, you’ll get a message below the bar reminding you the inputted code has already been redeemed. If you’ve inputted your code and the message says it's expired, it means the code's no longer available to use.
If you’re looking to scout out some extra Creatures of Sonaria Codes, you should check out the game's official Discord server. The devs frequently post the latest news and updates in the server's announcements channel, including when they add redeemable codes.
You can also follow Sonar Studios on X, where they usually post when major codes go live.
Creatures of Sonaria is a survival game with a unique twist. Instead of playing a human enduring a hostile world, you start off as a weak monster that must scavenge for food and water while avoiding threats. As you start to acclimatize to your harsh habitat, you age up, becoming more powerful and capable of taking on tougher hazards, as you hunt other monsters, survive deadly weather events, and more.
Featuring a wide range of creatures you can control and collect, cooperative play with friends online, and a large open-world to explore, Creatures of Sonaria is a sprawling experience that will test whether you truly have what it takes to survive.
Callum Williams is an IGN freelancer covering features and guides. When he's away from his desk, you can usually find him obsessing over the lore of the latest obscure indie horror game or bashing his head against a boss in the newest soulslike. You can catch him over on Twitter at @CaIIumWilliams.
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As if they could resist putting Alicia Silverstone back in the yellow and plaid. The iconic actress is reportedly set to reprise her starring role as Cher Horowitz in a Clueless sequel series for Peacock.
The series is currently in development with the streamer, according to Variety, and the exact plot details are being kept quiet. The only details we have at this point are Silverstone’s involvement, the fact that the show will be a continuation of the story told in the original 1995 film, and the creative team. Additionally, we know this new attempt at a Clueless spin-off is different from the one that Peacock was planning to do back in 2020.
Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, best known as a team for co-creating the original Gossip Girl series as well as executive producing the reboot series, will write the series alongside Jordan Weiss. The trio will executive produce the series as well alongside Amy Heckerling, the original writer-director of Clueless, and Robert Lawrence, the film’s original producer. CBS Studios and Universal Television will also produce.
This is definitely not the first small screen adaptation of the 1995 comedy. Following its success with moviegoers, a television version of the film aired on ABC and UPN from 1996 to 1999 with Rachel Blanchard — instead of Silverstone — in the lead.
Silverstone recently reprised her Clueless role in a 2023 Super Bowl commercial for Rakuten — so it’s clear she’s been itching to get back into Cher’s closet. We don’t blame her one bit.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Let's make this simple: You want to know if there are any post- or mid-credits scenes in Sinners. The answer is yes, in a big way, since it has one of both.
Check back on this page Friday for a full spoiler breakdown of the movie!
Set in 1932, writer-director Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (review) involves twin brothers Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan) returning home to the town of Clarksdale, Mississippi, after seven years away in Chicago. World War I veterans who then made a living as criminals – it’s mentioned they worked for Al Capone – the two are now opening a juke joint in an old sawmill they bought from a local named Hogwood (David Maldonado).
But you know what? There are vampires in this town.
It sure does! In fact, the film has one of those mid-credit scenes that actually feels like the proper final scene of the movie itself rather than just a fun bonus. To use a comparison from Ryan Coogler’s pals at Marvel Studios, where he learned a thing or two about credits scenes, this is like the one in Spider-Man: Far From Home with J. Jonah Jameson’s news report, where it would be a genuine shame to miss if you leapt out of your seat immediately.
There's also a post-credits scene, but we'll avoid digging in on either of them until Friday. So be sure to check back here for that discussion, including with commentary from Coogler himself...
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LG's most popular current generation OLED TV has been discounted starting today. Right now Amazon has dropped the price of the 65" LG Evo C4 4K OLED TV to $1,396.99. The LG Evo C-series of TVs - including this model - have consistently been our favorite high-end 4K TVs for HDR movie watching and current generation console gaming.
The C4 is the 2024 model in LG's C-series OLED lineup. The LG Evo C5 hasn't yet been released, but it was showcased during CES 2025. At least on paper, the improvements of the C5 seem to be incremental, with no major ground breaking updates that would make you want to hold off until its launch. More importantly, the C5 will probably release at a very high retail price which will take months to get down to a level that's competitive with other TV deals.
The C4 uses LG's Evo panel, which offers higher brightness levels than traditional OLED TVs. Compared to a standard LED LCD TV, an OLED TV offers superior image quality, near-infinite blacks, near-infinite contrast ratio, and near-instantaneous response times. Because of these advantages, the Evo OLED TV excels at displaying 4K HDR content in all of its intended glory. LG OLED TVs particular have been out for years and benefit from several generations of optimizations.
The LG C4 also has all the features you'd want in a gaming TV as well. It has a native 120Hz panel that can be pushed to as high as 144Hz and all four HDMI ports are 2.1 spec for running games in 4K at up to 120fps on a PS5 or Xbox Series X without any tearing. The C4 also supports variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low latency mode (ALLM). The C4 is also easier to install than its predecessors; the rear cabinet housing is made of a composite fiber that weighs 36 pounds.
If you bought a brand new TV over the holidays and you're looking for an inexpensive audio solution to pair it with, then check out this oustanding deal from Woot (owned by Amazon). Right now the certified refurbished Bose Smart Soundbar 550 with 1 year Bose warranty is selling for just $169.99, a huge 66% discount from its original $499 list price. Amazon Prime members get free shipping, the rest of us pay $6. It's easily one of the best soundbars you can get at this price, especially if you're looking for Dolby Atmos support, and you get the same warranty as buying new.
If you don't mind going a generation back, you can pick up a 2023 65" LG Evo C3 4K OLED TV for just $1,196.99 with free shipping on Amazon. This is a better deal than what I saw during Black Friday. The 2024 C4 has minimal incremental upgrades over the 2023 C3, with the most noticeable improvements being an upgraded processor, newer WebOS smart interface, support for DTS audio, and a higher 144Hz refresh rate.
Looking for more options? Check out all of the best TVs of 2025.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Nixxes has released Title Update 1.2 for the PC version of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new update brings to the table. Patch 1.2 updates AMD FSR to version 3.1.1 and resolves excessive jitter on Steam Deck when using FSR Frame Generation. … Continue reading The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Patch 1.2 Released & Detailed →
The post The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Patch 1.2 Released & Detailed appeared first on DSOGaming.
A new set of trailers aired today during the Galaxies Gaming Showcase 2025 event. So, below you can find the trailers for Covenant, Painkiller, FBC: Firebreak and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Covenant is a new first-person dark fantasy combat game from former Halo, Call of Duty, Destiny and Doom devs. From what we know, the … Continue reading New trailers for Covenant, Painkiller, FBC: Firebreak and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 →
The post New trailers for Covenant, Painkiller, FBC: Firebreak and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 appeared first on DSOGaming.
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Fear not, friends — a new series of Taskmaster is just around the corner. The beloved British panel show, which has recently blown up in the U.S. because of how incredibly TikTok-able it is and how incredibly easy it is to watch for free, has released a trailer for series 19 of the show. Luckily for fans, they even dropped the series’ release date.
In the minute-long sneak peek, fans get a glimpse of the show’s classic style, but featuring a new cast of comedians in the hot seats. Fatiha El-Ghorri, Jason Mantzoukas, Mathew Baynton, Rosie Ramsey and Stevie Martin are the stars of series 19, with Mantzoukas being the only non-English comic on the panel.
In line with the show’s usual fare, the trailer shows them participating in all manner of crazy challenges, throwing out hilarious jabs left and right, and, of course, making wonderfully hilarious fools of themselves. “It’s just such a quirky show,” Alex Horne, creator of the show and assistant to host Greg Davies, says at the end of the clip, and man, that pretty much sums it up.
For those of you who aren’t familiar with the comedic genius of this game show, the official synopsis reads thus: “Taskmaster tyrant Greg Davies, with the help of his loyal assistant Alex Horne, sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians. Unaware of what awaits them in each wax-sealed envelope, only one competitor can become the victorious owner of His Royal Task-ness’ golden head and be crowned the next Taskmaster Champion.”
According to the description on the show’s YouTube trailer, the show will be returning to its native Channel 4 on May 1st. The show will continue to air on Thursdays on Channel 4 throughout the season, but will also release episodes via YouTube for worldwide viewing the following day. In the meantime, you can watch essentially all of Taskmaster going back 18 seasons, plus the variations of the show in New Zealand and Australia, on YouTube as well to tide you over while you wait. Let the games begin!
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Vampires are a cornerstone of horror cinema, arising even before Universal opened Dracula’s coffin in Hollywood’s relative infancy. Since then, we’ve seen vampires of every iteration — the glittery heartthrobs, the ugliest creatures, the prankster roommates, and countless other reinventions. There have always been vampires lurking in shadows, and there will forever be batty wings flapping under the moonlight. Our task here is to highlight the best of the best vampire movies throughout history, covering period highlights as horror movements came and went faster than Drac stepping into the sunlight.
As always, there are personal favorites that haven't squeaked their way onto this list but still deserve recognition. Movies like Suck, The Transfiguration, Byzantium, Blood Red Sky, and Blade deserve to be in the conversation when fans discuss their favorite vampire movies, and we’d love to hear some of your suggestions! After reading our selections below, hit the comments with some vampire movies you rank as crowning achievements in vampire cinema.
But for now, let’s take a bite out of this massive subgenre. Here are the 25 best vampire movies of all time. You can also look at the best monster movies for more picks.
Criterion has dubbed Vampyr a horror classic with good reason. Danish filmmaker Carl Theodor Dreyer implements what little technological advancements benefitted cinema at the time to create a black-and-white vampire mystery that operates in absurdist brush strokes. Most notably, Vampyr heavily uses shadows that maneuver with free will, giving a dreamlike state to supernatural influences. It’s no Nosferatu, but it exemplifies how vampire flicks can differentiate themselves through translucent visual effects and more ghostly disorientation even in days when techniques were limited. You can never stifle ambition, which will always find a way.
The “Vibe Check” on Brad Michael Elmore’s Bit passes with flying (neon) colors. Nicole Maines stars as a transgender teenage girl who moves to Los Angeles and falls in with a badass crew of vampires (run by cooler-than-everyone Diana Hopper as Duke) who do not allow men in their undead club. Elmore’s indie oozes LA’er attitudes from messaging to sexy nightlife scenes — complete with a needle drop of Starcrawler’s “I Love LA” — and boasts 10 times the style of contemporary vampire flicks with 10 times the budget. It feels authentic in thematic messages, ambitious yet wholly operating within its means, and still has some nice bloodletting for more hardcore horror fans despite execution that might favor younger audiences. A film that’s never shy about what’s on the tin and even holds its feminist message accountable is better for its slick-supportive-seductive ways.
Robert Eggers no longer has to chase his white whale. The filmmaker’s ultimate passion project, Nosferatu, is as technically stunning and hideously moody as you’d expect. Jarin Blaschke’s meticulous arthouse cinematography deservingly earned one of the film’s four Oscar nominations, a testament to Eggers’s dedication to precise and unrivaled craftsmanship. Bill Skarsgård disappears under festering cosmetic makeup as he transforms into the predatory Count Orlok, while Lily-Rose Depp shines as his writhing, at times possessed muse. Nicholas Hoult, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Willem Dafoe are all fantastic supporting players as Eggers reworks Henrik Galeen’s and Bram Stoker’s literature into his own sublimely atmospheric interpretation of Nosferatu’s curse. It’s gothic, gorgeous, and grotesque in ways only Eggers can accomplish.
Yes, 2011’s Fright Night remake earns an entry while the beloved 1985 original does not. Why? Because 2011’s Fright Night, starring Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, and Toni Collette, is an upgrade in fierceness and pacing, and separates its performances from the originals enough to exist without competing against its elders. There’s no comparison between Peter Vincents or Jerry Dandriges — Farrell operates like a shark smelling blood and David Tennant is the Midori-drunk Vegas showman dealing with darker demons. The '85 version’s practical effects are superior without argument, but Fright Night (2011) gets more credit everywhere else. It’s dreadfully predatory from the get-go and never relents.
Vampirism can represent numerous metaphors — for example, vampirism as addiction is popular — and in Bloocksucking Bastards, vampires invade office spaces. The horror comedy starring Fran Kranz and Pedro Pascal is about a sales office slowly turning into nocturnal sales agents of doom. The soul-sucking drain of cubicle life becomes quite literal because vampires can be more productive than humans who sleep, take lunch breaks, and so forth. What starts as a spooky Workaholics episode eventually reveals the satirical staying power of a Mike Judge comedy, as Bloodsucking Bastards unleashes undead corporate warfare with supply closet tools used as weapons. For the horror comedy fans in your life who love “Worksploitation” horror (exploitation flicks about day jobs), this is one cold call you should answer.
The Lost Boys is a Peter Pan riff with more neck biting and less innocence. It's quintessential '80s horror at a crossroads between bloody eruptions and glitter usage, infamous for its inclusion of "Sexy Sax Man." Kiefer Sutherland's gang of vampiric Santa Carla misfits ride dirt bikes and play mind tricks by making others think they're eating insects, but there's also a mean streak to The Lost Boys. Director Joel Schumacher's vision is as extra as the '80s would allow, and vampire makeup designs aim to stir frights — it's a boardwalk hangout flick with surprisingly gruesome vampire traits that audiences will never forget for its sense of over-the-top style.
Chances are you don’t even know Yannis Veslemes’ Norway exists — it sat around waiting for U.S. distribution from about 2014 until 2021. Maybe that’s because it’s hard to describe this Eurotrash take on vampirism about a bloodsucker who says he’ll die if he stops dancing. It’s a period piece about 1980s nightclubs and their underbellies that turns vampires into rave-loving party animals who befriend prostitutes and end up entangled in Nazi conspiracies... The music beats as loud as Veslemes’ artistic ambitions since sequences are treated like glitzy music video segments where blood can be any vibrant color. Everything from miniatures to Michel Gondry-esque daydreams thrive. I promise you will never see a groovier, more fleet-of-foot vampire hallucination than Norway.
Guillermo del Toro’s debut is as del Toro as they come. Cronos is an alternative vampire movie about a golden insect mechanism, a scarab that grants eternal life, and vampirism in its least traditional forms. You’ll glimpse a baby-faced Ron Perlman acting as a mob goomba, and minimal bloodsucking except for del Toro’s entire impetus for writing the story of Cronos — his lead character licking nosebleed juice off a bathroom floor like an addict. It’s del Toro’s way of encountering the curse of vampirism, which pivots into more curiosity about everlasting life than how someone consumes fresh blood to stay alive. You can see del Toro evolves his passion for humanizing monsters from Cronos onward and channels his rebellious spirit when bucking genre conformity.
One or two more slots on this list and Wesley Snipes’ first Blade movie would appear. As is, Guillermo del Toro’s Blade 2 represents the comic book franchise here as a rare sequel that outshines its original. Del Toro’s flourishes are an upgrade from industrial blood rave aesthetics since landscapes are more colorful, vampires become terrifying creatures, and mercenaries gun their way through monstrosities using high-tech weapons. Blade 2 benefits from del Toro’s characterization of the macabre and adoration of practical effects, all of which are precursors to later del Toro works like Hellboy and Crimson Peak — without losing a drop of Snipes’ bad-mama-jamma Blade attitude.
The feral intensity of Stake Land can feel like a direct response to Twilight, as this film was released only about two years after the infamous young adult vampire romance. Jim Mickle and co-writer Nick Damici (who also stars) approach vampires with an apocalyptic lens, where survivors now wander infested territories trying to find safe havens like in Zombieland — except trade humor for beastly tension. Damici’s playing a vampire hunter who takes a mentee under his wing, teaching him tricks while navigating vampire hordes who thrash, gnash, and rip at throats. Dystopian wasteland vibes are paramount, and action is relentless, making Stake Land one of the more effective responses to vampires as love interests in a post-Twilight world.
Only Lovers Left Alive is too cool for school as Jim Jarmusch takes on vampirism with a carefree indie rock attitude. Hiddleston fits the role of a reclusive shut-in with the grace of a sedated Joey Ramone, while Swinton’s go-with-the-flow grace is intoxicating. The additions of Mia Wasikowska and Anton Yelchin inject a bit of chaos into bloodsuckers who embrace moody, musical hangout chemistry, while Jarmusch uses his film to equate vampirism to drug addiction and humanity’s intensifying corruption. It’s rebellious, punk-rock, and hipster without the stigmatic pretension, driven by tortured yet enviable performances that even pull off wearing sunglasses at night.
In the conversation of “Best Comic Book Adaptations,” you best not forget David Slade’s 30 Days of Night. Josh Hartnett and Melissa George anchor a cast of Alaskan townsfolk submerged in darkness for 30 days and fending off a roving vampire gang. Danny Huston epitomizes vampires as creatures worth fearing, as primal and animalistic as horror fans have encountered. 30 Days of Night is magnificently monster-forward and never for a second lets audiences catch their breath, hinged on a glorious turning point in horror cinema where attitudes were still bleak as midnight, yet gore-heaviness evolved from mindless to punctual. Hence the graphic nature of 30 Days of Night, where vampire mercilessness is an accent to the already frigidly suspenseful survival scenario.
Bill Gunn’s experimental vampire romance stands out for multiple reasons, first because it’s one of the only Black vampire films — especially in 1973. Duane Jones and Marlene Clark play lovers united by bloodlust once the former turns the latter, as Gunn utilizes essences of the Black experience to convey the imprisonment of vampirism. Sam Waymon’s score provides this ritualistic drum-beating that’s sometimes drowned out by vocal screams of anguish, which becomes a disorienting source of unease, even when providing a soundtrack for lovemaking scenes. Images of nooses, pools of bright red blood being lapped by humans, and this naked approach to showing vampirism as the antithesis of religion all embrace the sins of humanity with such pronounced rawness. Race, horror, and society collide in a time when vampires mainly were whitewashed European interpretations — the importance of representation strikes again.
Interview With the Vampire is a sexy, hunky, indulgent treat that starts in 1791 Spanish Louisiana and finishes with Guns N’ Roses playing over the end credits. Tom Cruise is a diabolically dapper Lestat, Brad Pitt a dreamily conflicted Louis, Christian Slater a beefcake journalist — the hunkiness of Interview is off the charts even before mentioning Antonio Banderas. Kirsten Dunst brings a supporting turn as a child stuck in a youthful body forever, confirming that the performances across the board are transformative as a vampire family bickers and feeds throughout decades. There are oodles of presence from Louis’ extravagantly decorated plantation to New Orleans penthouses to Paris’ Théâtre des Vampires (the film was received an Oscar nomination for Best Art Direction). Plainly and confidently, they don’t make ‘em like this anymore — flamboyant, unafraid of queer subtext, and excessively ornamental down to minute details.
Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire is a separate TV show that was released in 2022, but offers a different take on the same story.
Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s From Dusk Till Dawn is a crime thriller that stealthily turns into a sleazy vampire lockbox midnighter. It’s got everything from Salma Hayek delivering a blistering dance number to overwhelming vampire numbers as Titty Twister strippers tear apart drunk patrons. What starts as an insidiously dark kidnapping scenario quickly becomes a guns-blazing horror brawler with Mexican influences and an exciting approach to monster mania. George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, and more turn to holy water balloons and jackhammer stake machines to exterminate vampires with extreme unholy violence — with an emphasis on practical effects by some of the best in the business.
Count Dracula’s debut in Universal’s classic monster run is all about atmosphere, massive stage settings, and the gothic architecture modern vampire films don’t have the nerve to challenge. Bela Lugosi sets the Eastern European template for “I v’ant to suck your blaaahd!” types of Counts to follow, and there’s a reason. Tod Browning’s Dracula is all about rubber bat puppets, painted backgrounds, and minimal technological advancement of the '30s — yet its moods are still infinitely more fascinating than most modern vampire takes. Gothic architecture, cobwebs throughout stone castle basements, and the shadowy black-and-white wash fit Dracula’s hypnotic horrors while Lugosi uses his gaze like a tractor beam. It’s everything we could ask for in a vampire film, especially when selling vampire films beyond drained bodies and sharp teeth (at a brisk 75 minutes).
See more of the best horror movies of all time.
In 2014, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night was handily any filmmaking newcomer's most accomplished horror debut. Ana Lily Amirpour's black-and-white Iranian vampire flick possesses such a colorful personality, with a standout performance from Sheila Vand. Amirpour's style blends skateboarding, indie rock, and homages to classic vampire cinema with a modern bite. Vand's loner seeks romance while stalking denizens of Bad City by night, as Amirpour marries sweet fantasies with cruel fates and spaghetti Western influences. It's a vigilante story, a tale of hopeless romantics, and has a taste for wicked men — all while Amirpour valiantly establishes herself as an eye-catching filmmaker who's since made good on such promises.
In the pantheon of horny vampire flicks, Tony Scott's The Hunger — starring Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie, and Susan Sarandon — would have 3 AM Cinemax specials hotly bothered. Any vampire movie that starts with Bauhaus's "Bela Lugosi's Dead" earns immediate kudos, and it's all gravy afterward. Deneuve's killer queen promises her lovers eternal life, but as Bowie's 18th-century cellist finds out, said eternity doesn't extend to physical features as he suddenly begins an accelerated aging process. Enter Sarandon's gerontologist, and the love triangle birthed from deception and sealed with bloody kisses as hungers for sustenance or sexual pleasure run rampant. So sultry, so seductive, and so chaotic as only the late Scott brother could deliver.
Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi spoof vampire films as spectacularly as Rob Reiner's rock n' roll mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap spoofs backstage heavy metal docs. What We Do in the Shadows is a tour through vampire cinema's history with a goofball's sense of humor that's not without exaggerated scenes of sloppy feeding habits. It's not only one of the better vampire films or even horror comedies since its release, but one of the best flat-out comedies since 2014. It's endlessly quotable, knowledgeable about its fanged subjects, and genuinely hilarious. Werewolves, not Swear Wolves!
Make sure to check out the spin-off What We Do in the Shadows TV show for even more laughs.
Alfredson adapts John Ajvide Lindqvist’s novel by toning down horror elements and vampire conventions to stress the relationship between outcast children. 12-year-old Oskar and his neighbor Eli form a compassionate bond when Oskar’s victimization by bullies and Eli’s hidden vampirism force an unlikely connection. Society drives both children into the dark and urges them to survive by their own means, which becomes the crux of this tender and tragic love story that never subdues its nastier realities about vengeance or feeding. Let the Right One In is a tremendous vampiric achievement in terms of 2000s releases and all-timer quality.
Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark is an unconventional vampire western that ditches capes for rancher hats. It’s got more in common with The Texas Chain Saw family values than Count Dracula’s Transylvanian heritage and dares introduce blood transfusion as a successful counter to undead transformations. A stacked cast including Bill Paxton and Lance Henriksen play vampires who strike fear when feeding on bar patrons, using their pack mentality to survive as nightwalkers prey on the unfortunate. The sunburnt southern vibes and contemporary rawhide grit are a bright atmosphere to this road trippin’ vamp tale, standing apart without sacrificing the viciousness horror fans expect.
With rankings come controversy, and placing Afflicted this high on this will certainly bring questions. Here's the point — Derek Lee and Clif Prowse's Afflicted is a feral evolution into found footage territories that blends the worlds of don't-look-down parkour action and bloodsucking salvation. Lee stars as the "afflicted" friend who's turning into a vampire while Prowse aids in his transformation, as the filmmakers use GoPro perspectives to give a ridealong experience into vampirism. Between Lee's physical performance as he contorts in agony to the high-flying acrobatics as Lee's monster flees from pursuers, Afflicted is one of the most innovative vampire flicks of the 2000s.
The curl of Count Orlok’s talon-like fingers, his hunchback shadow ascending the staircase... Max Schreck disappears under makeup effects that never glamorize vampire afflictions. Nosferatu remains an O.G. vampire influencer that proves black-and-white, silent cinema can still deliver compelling horror tales. F. W. Murnau adapts an unauthorized iteration of Bram Stoker’s Dracula that is an embarrassment of atmospheric riches as the bushy-eyebrowed Orlok lurks from behind shadows to reveal his jagged, toothy grin. Vampires have rarely been scarier a century later — unlock your inner historian and honor your elders.
Park Chan-wook's take on vampires, taboos, romance, and shame is a knockout. Characters all thirst for something, which Chan-wook explores through conventional and alternative vampire experiences. A Catholic priest turns vampire, and a disenchanted wife seeks forbidden everlasting romance in her own grasp of change — what happens next is artfully unhinged as chaos welcomes kidnappings, killings, and contemplations of eternal imprisonment. Chan-wook delivers thoughtful vampire riffage that gets dangerously creative. Ending shots in horror don't get much better than Thirst, either.
Francis Ford Coppola adapts Bram Stoker’s Dracula with supreme decadence as a gothic horror creature feature that's also a sumptuous blockbuster experience. Coppola famously demanded only on-set and in-camera effects could be used, which resulted in an astonishing feast for the eyes, from werewolf costumes to projected arteries pulsating atop Winona Ryder. Gary Oldman’s bellowing command over his adversaries as Count Dracula and Anthony Hopkins’ hilariously blunt take on Van Helsing are triumphant performances — not to forget whatever accent Keanu Reeves attempts for Jonathan Harker or Tom Waits losing his mind as Renfield. Coppola preserves the spectacle nature of Old Hollywood while overblowing every facet of his Dracula production as only the '90s would allow. It doesn’t get better, nor has it ever been better, than Bram Stoker’s Dracula when it comes to vampires in cinema.
See our list of the best Keanu Reeves movies for more of his work.
And that's our pick of the 25 best vampire movies of all time! What do you think of our picks? If we missed your favorite, let us know in the comments. You can also rank the best vampire films yourself using our tier list tool below!
Looking for more vampire content? We've got you covered with the best vampire anime to watch and the classic top 10 vampire movie deaths.
New vampire movies are constantly coming out. Late 2024 saw the release of Robert Eggers' Nosferatu remake and we've got a few more vampire films to look forward to this year.
Here are the vampire movies coming down the pipeline:
Note: This story was updated on April 17, 2025, with our latest picks for the best vampire movies. It was originally published in 2022.
During today's Mario Kart World Direct, we got a closer look at a number of new tracks, features, and racers, including Penguin. We've known Penguin was in the game since its reveal last week, but today's Direct decided to feature this blue cutie in a very meme-specific way...by repeatedly throwing him off cliffs.
This happened not once, but twice during the Direct, as fans have pointed out on social media. On one occasion, Penguin simply misjudges a curve and sails neatly off over an icy landscape:
Even Nintendo is deliberately dropping blue penguins off of icy ledges.#MarioKartWorld #MarioKartWorldDirect #Nintendo #Switch2 pic.twitter.com/0eMsUE24Jz
— Jonathan Leung (@VGMaps) April 17, 2025
But in a second, even more on the nose move, a Penguin in Free Roam drives straight off a cliff into the sea below while music from Super Mario 64 toodles away in the background:
29 years later and we still chucking penguins off of cliffs like in Mario 64#MarioKartWorld pic.twitter.com/7klPg5rZkM
— 🔥FireShadow64🔥(DROP THE PRICE) (@FireShadow64) April 17, 2025
If you're confused as to why this is noteworthy, allow me to draw your attention to a long-standing community meme of Penguin from Super Mario 64. In Super Mario 64, players discovered years ago that it was possible to collect a Power Star from Mother Penguin by returning Baby Penguin to her, then to take Baby Penguin after the star appears and take them away again...or even drop them off a cliff:
This bit has been memed into fame for over a decade by the Mario community, so it's extremely funny to see Nintendo acknowledge it even if it's in a somewhat subtle, plausible-deniability kind of way. Is this a horrendous thing to do? Society still hasn't come down cleanly on one side or another of the Penguin-cliff debate. At least Mario Kart World gives Penguin a nice little water vehicle so they can just keep going once they've landed.
Today's Mario Kart Nintendo Direct wasn't exactly the font of new information many were hoping it would be, but we still got word on some interesting new stuff: more new characters, courses, items, and features, as well as a close look (courtesy of Penguin and others) of the new open world Free Roam mode, which will let players drive around anywhere in the world without restraint.
You can catch up on everything announced right here.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her posting on BlueSky @duckvalentine.bsky.social. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Absolute Batman's first 6-issue arc came to a close this past March, with April's issue #7 set to introduce a new take on the iconic villain Mr. Freeze. If keeping track of single issue comics isn't your thing, trade paperpack collections are a must-have for those looking to get completed stories and physical media. Absolute Batman Volume 1: The Zoo, written by comics legend Scott Snyder with art by Nick Dragotta, collects issues one through six and is currently available for preorder. It releases on August 5.
It's available at a number of different retailers, but is currently discounted at Amazon. You can get the paperback for edition for $16.19 (10% off) and the hardcover for $23.24 (7% off).
Absolute Batman is the start of DC's new All In publishing intiative that gives renowed creators free reign with these characters that started in late 2024. Without the confines of a pre-established continuity, writers and artists are able to take more creative liberty with the characters and truly make them their own. If you're not sure where to start with the Absolute Universe, check out our reading guide and release schedule.
IGN's Jesse Schedeen sat down with the creators to discuss what's to come now that they've wrapped their first arc. Absolute Batman drops hints to iconic villains like Bane and the Joker throughout, and writer Scott Snyder says " . . . this Joker is already really terrifying by the time he meets Batman. But his relationship with Batman is part of something that really evolves as the series goes.” Time will tell how this cryptic message will bear fruit.
A benefit to purchasing Absolute Batman Vol. 1 on Amazon, along with any other product, is their preorder price guarantee. Per Amazon's policy, this ensures that you'll always pay the lowest price for whatever you purchase. So even if the prices drop below what's outlined here, you'll pay that price no matter what. How nice!
Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.
The Heroes and Villains-themed Disney Destiny is set to make its maiden voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on November 20, 2025, and Disney just revealed a ton of new info on the latest cruise ship about to join its fleet.
There is a lot to look forward to on the Disney Destiny, including a Lion King dining experience, a Hercules Broadway-style show, and so much more, and we're here to break down everything you need to know.
Heroes and Villains are the name of the game for the Disney Destiny, and Disney wants its guests to be "inspired, encouraged, and empowered" by these characters during their journey. This sense of wonder will begin the moment you step on the Disney Destiny and are greeted by the Grand Hall and a one-of-a-kind statue of Black Panther. The Grand Hall will also feature 360-degree lighting effects that will, at times, take on the colors of some of our favorite characters to build the mood and immersion even more.
As for who we may see, Disney has revealed Loki will be up to his mischievous ways and will attempt to declare himself ruler of the ship and will cause chaos with "grand proclamations, questionable storytelling, surprise competitions, and more."
Creuella de Vil will also take center stage as she will let guests "put their personal style to the test on [her] very own wretched runway or take part in a bit of treble-making as they create a lyrical tribute to her marvelousness."
Furthermore, Cruella is the inspiration for De Vil's piano lounge that will have exclusive drinks like the Fashionista and Fearless Sir Galahad alongside and a "Hollywood Regency-inspired aesthetic." Oh, and a piano that looks just like a dalmatian.
The Villains don't get the only spotlight, however, as The Sanctum will take inspiration from Doctor Strange and some of his artifacts like the Cloak of Levitation and spell books from the library of Kamar-Taj. This lounge will have drinks and food, and you can check them out below.
Lastly, the Disney Destiny will be the first Disney cruise ship to feature a Marvel character on its stern as Spider-Man and his Spider-Bots will grace the filigree on the back of the ship.
These are just a few examples of the heroes and villains that will be the stars of Disney Destiny, and they will join such others as Dr. Facilier, Maleficent, Hades, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Captain Jack Sparrow, Bruno, and more.
Disney Hercules, the Destiny's Broadway-style show, has us very excited as The Tale of Moana on the Disney Treasure was one of the best shows we've seen on land or at sea. This adaptation of the beloved Disney classic will feature all the music and characters you know and love alongside new additions like the song, 'Shooting Star,' which was actually cut from the original film.
Hercules himself will be played by Corey J. Bradford, who recently wowed guests at a Disney Destiny media preview with his rendition of 'Go the Distance,' and he will be confronted once again by the terrifying Hyrdra, who is being brought to life by award-winning puppet designer Michael Curry.
Disney Hercules will be just one of the shows featured in the Destiny's Walt Disney Theater alongside Frozen, A Musical Spectacular and Disney Seas the Adventure.
Guests will also be able to enjoy shows and games inside of Saga, the central hub for "daytime family activities and adult exclusive evening entertainment." Saga's architecture is inspired by Wakanda, and will feature encounters with Maleficent, Match Your Mate, Family Time Game Show, a new Aquamouse story with villains, and more.
While the Disney Treasure had the incredible Plaza de Coco dining experience, the Disney Destiny is getting its own version inspired by The Lion King. The legendary songs and moments from this Disney classic will be just one part of a night to remember at Pride Lands: Feast of the Lion King.
Storytells Mwongozo and Shaha will be taking us through the story of the great Simba, and other performers will help bring these moments to life with costumes, props, authentic African instrruments, and more.
As for the meal itself, Disney aims to "balance the wide-ranging flavors of African cuisines with familiar fare that will satisfy the whole family." Such highlights include Nala's Roasted Pork Tenderloin, Pan-seared Berbere-spiced Roasted Chicken, Cape Malay Shrimp Curry, Heirloom Tomato Kachumbari, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Warm Chocolate Malva Pudding, and even drinks like the Can You Feel the Rum Tonight? and the Slimy Yet Satisfying.
Other dining experiences on the Disney Destiny include Worlds of Marvel with Rocket and Groot, 1923, Palo Steakhouse, Enchanté by Chef Arnaud Lallement, The Rose, the Pirates of the Caribbean-inspired Cask & Cannon, Cafe Megara, Cafe Merida, and more.
The Incredibles will also be getting there own themed sweets shop with Edna A La Mode Sweets, which will be the place to get handmade gelato, ice cream, cookies, candies, and specialty treats.
There is still so much more to learn about the Disney Destiny, and we'll be updating this article and more as new details are revealed!
While you wait, be sure to read our Disney Treasure Ultimate Guide as the Destiny is its sister ship, check out more official details on the Disney Destiny and see much we loved the Haunted Mansion Parlor on the Disney Treasure as it will also be on the Destiny.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.
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