Bottling the kinetic energy of a first person shooter video game and successfully transferring it to the tabletop is a herculean task. Publisher Glass Cannon Unplugged is up to the challenge, presenting Apex Legends: The Board Game in the form of an overstuffed box that spills cardboard and plastic onto the table like a body lit up by a VK-47 Flatline. This analog translation defies the odds, legitimately capturing some of the visceral action of its namesake with unique and clever design work.

Apex Legends the video game is a hero shooter battle royale. It has a full lineup of protagonists with their own suite of abilities and playstyles. This identity is likewise the heart of the board game adaptation, forming the basis for its team-based skirmish action. Characters such as Bangalore, Mirage, and Bloodhound all make an appearance, with each of their roles expertly captured and adapted to the turn-based setting. Everything is powerful and awe inspiring, and it feels extraordinarily faithful to the property.

The standard format is either two-versus-two, or three-versus-three, with each player fielding a single character. While there are a bevy of miniatures skirmish games on the market, including popular titles such as Kill Team, Infinity, and Star Wars: Shatterpoint, none offer this particular style of team-based small-unit approach. Distinctly, this is not a game of armies or squads – it’s one of personalities and legends. The result is an altogether different tone, one charged with dynamic abilities that form the centerpiece of a violent gunfight on a fully rendered board.

The board is quite the looker. Verticality is a core tenet of gameplay, as players are able to scale and fight from 3D cardstock buildings. Other elements pop off the map, including cardboard trees and boulders, loot containers, and even fully operational ziplines. The environment is active and responsive. It feels every bit a playground, albeit one with shrapnel and taunts whizzing by your dome.

This dedication to elevation fuels the aggressive FPS-style play, but it also is the root of Apex Legends: The Board Game’s primary challenge. I’ve mentioned the game’s bloated componentry, which contributes to a lengthy setup time, but all of these options and details add up to a relatively complex system. The central turn-to-turn action sequence is surprisingly simple and direct. One team activates all of their characters with each committing to two actions.

This board game defies the odds, capturing the visceral action of its namesake with unique and clever design work.

But that streamlined activity fragments into many intricate pieces. Line of sight is a strong example. Measuring from center square to center square and assessing any blockages is standard for this style of game. But when you consider elevation, all of a sudden there are three pages of lengthy examples displaying potential situations. Thankfully, the rulebook's diagrams do a good job of illustrating what you need to consider, but the downside is that line of sight can be difficult to assess on the fly and it can slow down the pace of play.

It's also tough to remember the difference between some of the keywords, such as "adjacent" versus "neighboring." Terrain items and cards use a similar library of tags that must be referenced. There are specific timing windows for reactions and a sub-system for handling abilities and cooldowns. None of these are overly burdensome on their own, but taken together they can become tricky to navigate. It’s important to understand that this is not a board game for beginners. Instead of going for wide appeal with a similar approach to Mass Effect: The Board Game, Apex Legends aims to satisfy hobbyist gamers familiar with sophisticated systems. If a 40-page rulebook scares you, then you’re not going to hack it on this battlefield.

The most interesting element of Apex Legends: The Board Game is also the most convoluted. Instead of a sophisticated physics engine handling the shooting mechanism, this game opts to zoom in on the firefight and simulate multiple factors, including recoil, stability, and rate of fire. Most games opt for a handful of dice and some quick arithmetic, but Apex Legends uses a sideboard and a dedicated set of cards to resolve gunshots.

It’s actually a pretty stellar system. Different guns have various rates of fire. They list a number of cards that are drawn from the shooting deck and placed alongside a track. Each card is placed in a slot representing an individual shot. Cards drawn later in the sequence have more recoil affecting their ballistics, which results in an escalation of penalties. The penalty is applied to the strength of the randomly drawn card, and then compared to the necessary hit value on the weapon.

That’s the quick and dirty explanation. In reality, it’s more nuanced as each drawn card also has a possible icon which can inflict headshots, bonus hits, or cause an automatic miss if the target is behind cover. Weapons that hit exceedingly hard with slower rates of fire – such as a shotgun or sniper rifle – may draw multiple cards to a single shot slot, thus avoiding the recoil penalties the system tries to emulate.

This can be a wonky process to resolve – it’s certainly slow going with new players. Until you get used to it, this is another part of the game that stunts the tempo of action. Obviously this is a cost of modeling the video game with a high level of detail, but it can be an outright turnoff as it highlights the shortcomings of board games and their inability to obfuscate and resolve math.

But this level of detail isn't all bad. What you sacrifice in momentum, you gain in realism. This system acutely captures the unique qualities of various firearms. Sub-machine guns spray several weak shots. Battle rifles fire tighter groupings and hit with power. Light machine guns spray all over the place but can level a building. Weapon attachments are mixed in with the loot, allowing you to alter a firearm’s properties mid-game. This includes optics, barrels, magazines, and stocks. It’s exceedingly cool and really juices up the impact of scavenging for supplies in the battle royale mode.

The end result is a weapon system that actually boasts gunplay. No other board or miniatures game I've played has so meticulously modeled this key feature of first person shooters. It’s a fantastic accomplishment and absolutely the standout feature.

Beyond this wonderful feat, Apex Legends: The Board Game offers several other killer features. Characters are expertly modeled. They have asymmetric tactical abilities and ultimates that affect the battlefield in various ways. You can pop smoke, call in airstrikes, and deploy drones. Each character is also paired with a unique deck of cards that can be played to tweak actions and react to opponents’ maneuvers. This creates a nifty fog of war, although again, at the cost of possibly slowing down the pace of play.

Another crowd pleaser is the variety of modes on offer. The battle royale option is the key offering, including a distillation of the final moments of the video game’s finale. This includes a barrier that closes on the battlefield, forcing combatants into tighter and tighter area. But there are also deathmatch, VIP, and capture the flag options. Each of these is fully realized and not at all an afterthought.

For those sickos who can’t get enough, this game also will be arriving with expansion products for additional characters as well as a new board and environment. Most notably, there is a sophisticated solitaire / co-op addition that adds AI behavior trees to each of the core game’s protagonists. This mode works fairly well, producing mostly logical enemy actions that sometimes surprise and dazzle. Again, much like the rich base game ruleset, it can be a sluggish pace to familiarize yourself with this additional layer of rules, but it certainly settles down once you’ve become comfortable.

As a first-person shooter airdropping to your tabletop, Apex Legends: The Board Game is a solid effort and certainly a success. There are challenges involved and the tempo can really drag as players learn the systems and assess the wide swath of options on their turn. Once familiarity sets in and the game starts collapsing towards that 60-90 minute estimated playtime, the bliss of gunplay coupled with dynamic action and a multi-faceted loot system truly shine.

Where to Buy

• Get it at Miniature Market

One of the best days of the year is finally here: the Steam Summer Sale has arrived at last. If you're unfamiliar, the Steam Summer Sale is one of the two biggest sales available on the platform annually, with the other occurring around the holiday season in December. You can expect to save big on PC games both new and old, which makes the sale a perfect time to buy games in bulk.

This year's Steam Summer sale is set to run through July 10. Some of the top-reviewed games of 2025 are included as part of this sale, in addition to newer PC ports from publishers like Square Enix or PlayStation. We've sorted through the sale and picked out some of the best deals you can find this year. Don't miss your chance to save as much cash as possible on these PC games.

Steam Summer Sale - The Best Deals Today

One of the best deals I recommend checking out is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth for $41.99. With the main story and side content combined, there is easily over 100 hours of content in this RPG. This game just made its way to PC in late January, and it's one of the best RPGs to release in the last five years. If you haven't yet played Final Fantasy VII Remake, you can grab both games together in the Twin Pack for $59.99.

Additionally, you can save $10 off The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered. While this just released in April by surprise, you can already save 20% off and dive hundreds of hours deep into this iconic Bethesda RPG. Bethesda also has a solid deal on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and now is the best time to jump in and prepare for The Order of Giants DLC.

You can also save on three major 2025 indie games: R.E.P.O., Schedule I, and Blue Prince. The latter sits as one of the highest rated games of the year, offering a unique house of puzzles to solve. Schedule 1 puts you in the shoes of a drug dealer, and the game is still one of the most played Steam games of 2025. Finally, R.E.P.O. is a wonderful time with friends that is sure to cause both laughs and headaches. All of these smaller games are generally great to stream to your phone if you want a more mobile experience.

If you're looking for deep discounts, I recommend Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and Star Wars Battlefront II. Each of these games is 90% off, and you can pick all three for a grand total of $14. Star Wars Battlefront II is an especially good deal, as there has been a major resurgence in online players as of late.

One of the smaller discounts available is for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. While you'll only save $5 during the Steam Summer Sale, this is the lowest we've seen this game yet. If you've been on the fence about picking this one up, it's not likely to dip much further until late this year, especially since it is one of the highest-rated games of the year.

Amazon Prime Day Arrives at the End of the Steam Sale

Audible is Amazon’s way of piping books directly into your ears, and honestly, it’s a pretty great deal.

While you can buy titles one by one, the real value is in the Premium Plus trial, currently running for three months at just $0.99 per month, or completely free for Prime members as part of Amazon’s early Prime Day promos (this offer also applies in the UK).

Another one from Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier, and Press Reset does a great job of reminding us about the people behind the games we love, and includes sections about huge titles like Bioshock Infinite, Dead Space, and more.

It’s unflinching, and not always an easy read (or listen), but it’s a very, very important one nonetheless.

But IGN, I'm Not Eligible for the Free Audible Deal!

Look, there's always a small your-mileage-may-vary disclaimer with these types of Prime Day promotions, but fortunately it's easy to check if you qualify: log into your account, and if you see the $0.99/mo / free banner right on Amazon's Audible page, then you're eligible for this promotion.

Not seeing the offer? Hard luck, but I come bearing additional resources to ensure you can still get free access to audiobooks. This is for everyone, to be fair, as that Audible access does have an expiration date (three months, if you weren't paying attention up till now).

Libby and Borrow Box. Use them. Join your local libary and get a membership number, throw in into either of these apps and sign up to waiting lists for your next read. Top tip? Have a browse to see if you can find any other local libaries that accept membership digitally, and without proof of address. That way you can look at inventory elsewhere as well.

Is Audible Worth It?

If you do find yourself looking to enjoy more audiobooks, there are two membership options for Audible. Standard lets you pick one audiobook as long as you’re a member, while Premium Plus let’s you do the same except you can keep it. The latter also includes access to the Plus library, accessible as much as you’d like.

Premium Plus is Audible's highest tier plan and normally costs $14.95/mo, so scoring it for free right now is a proper Prime Day deal, Prime membership requirement and all. It's a good option for those without Prime as well, of course.

When it comes to queer representation in movies just having a token character isn't enough. In 2025 we may thankfully be past the queer characters always being the scary monsters purely because of their otherness, but we still need to see more complicated roles for the LGBTQIA+ individuals we see on screens. Whether funny, feral or straight f***ed up, more multifaceted characters are a win for stories and the community. We spoke to some stars of the horror genre about why it’s an important issue for the entertainment industry. In case you missed IGN Live, we had a blast in LA earlier this month hosting a two-day fan-based extravaganza with tons of interviews, watch parties, giveaways, and exclusives. (Catch the highlights here.) As the event happened in June, which is also Pride Month, one of our special segments near and dear to my heart was our Pride Panel: Queer Horror Corner, hosted by IGN’s Amelia Emberwing.

To help elevate queer voices in our industry, we invited special guests Michael Varrati (horror filmmaker) and Nicole Maines (actress, Supergirl and Yellowjackets) to join us on stage and talk all about queer cinema; from the troubled past of queer character representation to the hopes and dreams they have for the future. During the panel, we also sprinkled in some surprises, including an indie horror trailer and never-before-seen interview clips with up-and-coming queer creator, Lovell Holder (The Surrender, Lavender Men). If you plan to watch our panel (you should!) or read the highlights below, you can expect everything from hard truths queer people have faced in the industry to many light-hearted moments (what character would you rewrite as queer?) and even some laughs.

Queer Representation Needs More Nuance

During our panel, Nicole Maines made a great point that stuck with me right off the bat: We just need to approach queer characters as real people. We’re past the portrayal of trans characters in movies being painted as only villains and monsters. And, queer voices deserve to be heard without it defining the character’s role; it can just be a small part, and that’s refreshing. Speaking on the panel, she said she wants to see, “Queer characters who are f***-ups and are sometimes the bad guy and have problematic tendencies. It shows how we are multifaceted people. We have flaws, and things that make us awesome. We are human. To be flawed is to be human.”

Maines talked about her role as Dreamer in the TV series, Supergirl, who is a trans character. “One of the things I loved about Dreamer (Nia) is that (being trans) was not the end-all, be-all of her character. That was not the most important thing that was going on in her day. She was a narcoleptic girl failure who could just not seem to figure out the scope of her powers. And that's interesting and that's something that we don't get to see a lot with trans characters.”

• READ: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West novel by Gregory Maguire’s (44% off on Amazon right now)
• WATCH: Lavender Men film: Watch the trailer here and rent on Prime Video or on Apple TV.
• WATCH: Varrati’s “There’s a Zombie Outside” indie horror is also free to stream now on Tubi.

Also mentioned:

• READ: Sapphic vampire novels. Check out Carmilla (1872) by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, one of the earliest vampire fiction stories ever written.
• WATCH: Scream (1996) movie: Stream on Max or Rent/Buy on Prime Video. (Here's where to watch all Scream movies.)
• DONATE: Now is a great time to find out more about LGBTQIA+ orgs and get involved. Here are a few organizations highlighted from our guests to get you started. Equality California, The Trevor Project, and The Ali Forney Center.

Lindsey (she/her) is IGN's Director of Audience Development and Commerce. She's been at IGN since 2021 and has a background in SEO, especially in the gaming, entertainment, and tech media spaces. Find her on Twitter at @LindseySalzer.

Some of the most popular new LEGO sets from June are already hard to find in stock and available now. The Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter book nooks, as well as the Minifigure Vending Machine are all on backorder over at the LEGO store. The Lord of the Rings: Balrog book nook is luckily still available, though. You can still purchase and reserve your set, but they won't ship for a bit.

The book nooks are great sets to liven up your bookshelf, and the LEGO minifigure vending machine is impressive in that it actually functions like a real vending machine. Just insert the coin, turn the knob, and out pops a minifigure in one of those plastic bubbles. We built the minifigure vending machine, and said that it's "fun and satisfying build" when it's fully put together.

LEGO's New Sets Released in June Are Already on Backorder

If you've been wanting any of these three sets, you'll have to wait a bit. The Harry Potter Hogwarts Express book nook ships the earliest (as early as July 11), and is limited to three per customer. The Minifigure Vending Machine and Sherlock Holmes book book both advertise as shipping in 60 days, but it's hard to say when exactly that is. When I add the vending machine to my bag, it says it will ship by September 18, while the Sherlock Holmes book nook has no date attached. The vending machine is limited to five per customer and the Sherlock Holmes book nook is limited to three, but who is actually buying that many anyway?

The vending machine and Sherlock Holmes book nook are suggested for builders aged 18+, as some of these builds can be a little complicated. There are dozens of LEGO sets for adults, and they all make great gifts or display models. I have the LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System that, along with my physical game collection, makes a great focal point on my shelf.

Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.

While just about every phone you can get your hands on nowadays will be able to play some games, several key features distinguish a fine gaming phone from a great one. Powerful processing is one piece of the puzzle. Being able to sustain high performance levels is also a must – you don’t want to deal with a phone that can only run smoothly for a few minutes before it slows down and scorches your hands. Extra memory and storage are also clutch for gaming phones, providing a means for multitasking even while you have a game running and giving you plenty of space for games. Some gaming phones, like the RedMagic 10 Pro, even offer extra upgrades for gaming, like additional shoulder buttons and enhanced touch sampling rates. (Though you could also pick up a dedicated phone controller.)

Of course, the display is also a big piece of the puzzle. If you can’t see your games, you’re going to have a hard time playing them. A bigger, brighter display helps, as does a boost in refresh rate for smooth motion. An added benefit of a bigger phone is that your thumbs won’t cover as much of the display when you’re using touch controls. i've been testing and reviewing gaming phones for years now, so with all these details in mind, here’s a look at the best smartphones that also excel when it comes to gaming on the go.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Gaming Phones:

1. RedMagic 10 Pro

Best Gaming Phone

2. OnePlus 13

Best Everyday Phone for Gaming

3. iPhone 16 Pro Max

Best iPhone for Gaming

4. iPhone 16e

Best Budget iPhone for Gaming

5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6

Best Foldable Gaming Phone

6. OnePlus 12R

Best Budget Android for Gaming

What We’re Looking Forward to:

The RedMagic 10 Pro is truly an excellent gaming phone. But with all the performance it pumps out of the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip inside, it got me wondering just what the kind of performance could do if it were funneled into the same kind of games we all play on PC. When I’m not testing phones, I’m often testing laptops, and I’ve tested the MSI Claw 8 AI+ for Lifehacker. What’s been interesting to see is how the divide between the PC and phone hardware has been narrowing, both because the phone chips are speeding up considerably and because Windows has made a push toward ARM (the same architecture used by phone processors) alongside the introduction of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite SoCs for Windows systems.

With that narrowing divide, I’m constantly checking to see where there’s the closest overlap. For instance, the RedMagic 10 Pro actually performed quite close to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ in Geekbench 6’s single-core and multi-core test. It falls a bit further behind in raw GPU performance, though with just 78% of the performance in Steel Nomad Light. But bear in mind that the MSI Claw 8 AI+ is a powerful handheld that outstrips the Steam Deck considerably in 3DMark, by even more than it beats the RedMagic 10 Pro in Steel Nomad Light (one of the more demanding tests). All that is to say, the RedMagic 10 Pro could make a viable handheld when paired with a phone controller.

Now, there are certainly plenty of great games for Android, but there’s a whole world of PC games that it would be wonderful to throw all of the RedMagic 10 Pro’s horsepower at. But you can’t. And that’s where the upcoming RedMagic 10S Pro gets exciting. As reported by TechSpot, the RedMagic 10S Pro may support some form of Windows emulation to run PC games. While I’d expect there to be some performance penalty as a result, I don’t think even a 25% penalty would be enough to stop the phone from offering excellent performance in games like Hades or Dead Cells — the kind of indie titles that excel on gaming handhelds. And since the new RedMagic 10S Pro is packing a Snapdragon 8 Elite Leading Version chip, it should offer a slight bump in performance over its predecessor.

While this currently remains in the realm of conjecture, as I don’t have my hands on the new phone (yet) and can’t be certain it will even offer the sort of emulation suggested, it’s still an exciting prospect. Even better would be if someone (like Valve) would adapt Steam OS to support some of this mobile hardware. Heck, it might not be long before Windows can run natively on these phone SoCs.

What to Look for in a Gaming Phone

Once you're certain you're a prime candidate for a gaming phone, here's exactly what to consider when you're on the hunt for one. While the best smartphones on the market tend to have some of what it takes to be a decent gaming phone, proper gaming phones tend to have some considerable advantages. You’ll find unseen benefits under the hood, upgrades to the screen and battery, and even extra controls to help give you the edge while gaming.

• Processors: This is a key area for gaming phones as they effectively define how well a phone can run a game. Top-tier chips like those from the Snapdragon 8 family (e.g., Elite, Gen 1/2/3) tend to be strong performers in games, and the recent Snapdragon 8 Elite has shown itself an absolute beast when it comes to gaming. Apple’s iPhones also tend to have pretty high-performance chips, with any model within the last year or two often providing more than enough speed for the latest games.

• Cooling and heat management: While a fast processor is a good start, running games is demanding and generates heat. Gaming phones generally make a point of managing that. Paying attention to sustained performance is a key part of how we test phones’ gaming potential. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra may have great performance in a short benchmark, but it slows down considerably as it heats up. Meanwhile, a top-notch gaming phone like the RedMagic 10 can lag behind Samsung in some benchmarks, but proves itself capable of sustaining its performance for the long haul thanks to powerful heat management in the form of an active cooling phone — something most everyday phones won’t have.

• Power: Sometimes it’s not about hardware when it comes to smartly managing heat. You should be on the lookout for pass-through power when shopping for a gaming phone. This feature lets you plug in your phone and have the chipset draw power directly from the outlet, skipping the battery and avoiding the extra heat this would create while also letting you game nonstop without worrying about running out of charge. But again, this isn’t something you can count on every phone offering.

• Display: Most gaming phones will give you a solid display for gaming. This will include a high resolution and refresh rates ranging from 120Hz to 165Hz or above. Most often, these will be OLED displays, giving you rich contrast and limited motion blur. While many games have framerate caps at 60fps, not all do, and the extra frames can make a world of difference in the perceived smoothness of a game. Quite a few gaming phones also offer high touch sampling rates, ensuring your inputs are registered quickly, and with games often calling for split-second reaction times, this can make a difference.

• Gaming-specific features: Finally, good gaming phones often find ways to make themselves extra useful in games. This often comes in the form of extra software that’s not always pleasing or easy to use, or extra buttons on the phone that let you use more than just your thumbs as inputs. Even with just a pair of shoulder buttons on a gaming phone, you end up with double the input methods you’d have otherwise, and the ability to move, aim, jump and fire all with separate fingers in online FPS games, for instance, makes a big difference.

Gaming Handhelds vs. Gaming Phones

Deciding on a portable gaming device truly depends on your lifestyle, the type of games you want to play, and how you want to play them.

A gaming phone is ultra-portable and easily pocketed. However, it’s still a highly capable machine that does more than game, offering all your typical smartphone features, including quality cameras, navigation, and communication. Gaming phones also better support cloud streaming for Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox games. Many gaming phones even have cooling solutions to prevent thermal throttling and some handy triggers. If you’re not a fan of touch controls, you can always grab a phone controller and get an experience much closer to a gaming handheld.

Gaming handhelds, like the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch, are substantially bulkier but still easy to toss in a bag and take on the go. Unlike gaming phones, they are pretty much used solely for gaming, so you get responsive joysticks, triggers, and buttons with these options.

As for actual games, there’s a considerable rift. Android and iOS get plenty of games, and it’s becoming increasingly common to find the same titles on mobile and PC, though the mobile versions are often scaled back in some ways. Gaming handhelds get access to pretty much all of the PC games out there because they are, in fact, gaming PCs (except the Nintendo Switch, of course). Some PC games won’t run well (or run at all) on the low-powered hardware of the gaming handheld, though.

Both gaming handhelds and gaming phones can tap into cloud gaming platforms like Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass. In these, the performance of the phone and handheld don’t matter nearly as much as the quality of their internet connection. In that sense, phones can get an advantage as they offer both Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity (though a very good 5G connection is all but essential to try game streaming).

Battery life can be a tossup. Gaming phones tend to have sizable batteries, run efficiently, and can easily last through the day even with a bit of gaming sprinkled in – otherwise, what use is it as a phone? Gaming handhelds tend to last just a few hours, with the Steam Deck offering pretty poor battery life as an example. And topping up the battery on the go will be easier for the phone, which won’t require a high-wattage charger.

Cost is a big question. The Steam Deck starts at $400 and the original Nintendo Switch is even less than that. Most gaming phones cost more. But some gaming handhelds are landing with prices closer to $1,000, and that far outpaces some of our favorite gaming phones. Plus, most of us need a phone whether we get a gaming handheld or not. The fact a gaming phone can pull double duty should weigh into its value.

The limited access to games may be the deciding factor, as even with cloud gaming as an option, some games simply won’t be available for gaming phones. If everything you want to play is available on mobile or cloud gaming, then it’s worth testing the waters of cloud gaming with your current phone and then, if you like the experience, considering a gaming phone as your next device. If you can’t play the games you want the way you want, then a handheld may fit the bill.

Mark Knapp is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything electronics and gaming hardware. He has over 10 years of experience in the tech industry with bylines at PCMag, Reviewed, CNET, and more. Find Mark on Twitter @Techn0Mark or BlueSky at @Techn0Mark.

In my opinion, the Amazon Kindle is one of the best electronic devices ever. Maybe the only piece of tech I use more than my Kindle is my phone, but even then, I have the Kindle app if I decide I just want to stick some knowledge into my craw. If you're on the hunt for a good deal on Kindle devices before Prime Day kicks off on July 8, there are a few discounted bundle deals available at the moment that are worth a look.

Our favorite deal right now is on the Kindle Essentials Bundle, which has dropped to $146.97 from its $161.97 list price and sets you up with a Kindle, fabric cover, and power adapter. With this deal, you're saving $15, which is worth taking advantage of while it's available. You can see that deal and a few more good ones below.

The Best Kindle Deals Right Now

Kindle is one of the devices you're most likely to find on sale during Amazon events like Amazon Prime Day (which is coming up soon on July 8) and Black Friday. The available Kindle lineup has expanded quite a lot over the years, too. Amazon will oftentimes sneak Kindle deals into its Deal of the Day or offer a bonus deal like free Kindle Unlimited or other Amazon services as well.

Kindle Unlimited

If you own a Kindle, it's absolutely worth investing in Kindle Unlimited. Right now, Amazon Prime members (who haven't already used up their free trial) can sign up to get 3 months free before its $11.99/month price kicks in. This is an awesome early Prime Day deal to take advantage of, so jump on it while it's still available.

But you may be wondering: what is Kindle Unlimited, and is it really worth it? The answer is... absolutely, dear reader. With this, you'll get unlimited access to millions of digital titles, audiobooks, and magazine subscriptions. That way you can read all of the latest bestsellers, classics, biggest hits, and more in the realm of books and comics. What better way to get started on your Kindle adventure?

Current Kindle Bestsellers

Wondering where to start once you pick up your new Kindle? Have no fear, we're here to help with that, too. Below, we've listed out the current Kindle bestsellers so you can start up an exciting new book right away. Some of these titles can be read for free if you're a Prime member or as part of Kindle Unlimited, or they can be purchased if you'd like to own them.

• Till Summer Do Us Part by Meghan Quinn - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $5.99 to purchase
• Quasim III: King Inferno by Jahquel J. - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $9.99 to purchase
• Death Row by Freida McFadden - $0.99 to purchase
• The Tenant by Freida McFadden - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $4.99 to purchase
• Severed Heart by Kate Stewart - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $8.99 to purchase
• Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $14.99 to purchase
• Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $11.99 to purchase
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - Free with Kindle Unlimited, $14.99 to purchase
• Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah - $2.99 to purchase
• Abscond: A Short Story by Abraham Verghese - Preorder for $1.99

Best Kindle Book Deals

If you want to see the latest and greatest Kindle book deals available, there's an excellent variety to pick through. Whether you're looking for new comics to dig into or just want to sink into a thrilling novel, there's always great book deals available for Kindle users. We've listed just a few of our favorites below, but if you want to see the full list of available deals, head to Amazon's Kindle deals page here.

• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - $12.99 (usually $20)
• Age of Ultron - $6.99 (usually $34.99)
• Strange Academy: Year One (Strange Academy (2020-2022)) - $6.99 (usually $39.99)
• Marvel-Verse: Rocket & Groot - $2.99 (usually $9.99)

Why a Kindle Is Worth the Investment

I've been rocking the Kindle since the earliest model was available, and not only do I prefer it to any other method of reading, I've found myself reading more than I would have with traditional paper books. Not that there's anything wrong with reading from a traditional book, I just personally appreciate the ease of use and form factor afforded me by the Kindle.

Since the Kindles use e-ink instead of traditional screens like your phone or iPad, they can be read in just about any lighting. In fact, the pages look like actual paper pages, so any artificial light or even bright sunlight are no factor when using the Kindle. It only uses energy when you turn the page, use the backlight or leave Wi-Fi turned on, so if you go into Airplane mode you can go weeks, even months, between charging your Kindle. Generally I go long enough to completely forget where I put my charging cable.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelance writer who works with the Guides and Commerce teams here at IGN.

With contributions from Seth Macy.

The cancellation heard, and mourned, around the world. Nickelodeon’s stop-motion animated series Tiny Chef made a heartbreaking announcement on Wednesday — but the way they did it? Well, it’s one for the books.

The series, which ran for three seasons on the network beginning in 2022, took to their social media accounts to release a video of the Tiny Chef himself taking a call from a network executive to find out his show had been cancelled. The stop-motion character even tried to reason with the exec by reminding him, “But we won an Emmy!”

Sadly, it wasn’t enough. After telling the exec “I love you, too” — a phrase that just really stabs you in the heart after the short conversation — Chef hung up and tried to continue working. However, the heartbreak was just too great; he dropped his duster and began to cry, moving to sit on his bed and let the tears flow.

In the caption for the post, the show’s creators — Rachel Larsen, Ozlem "Ozi" Akturk, and Adam Reid — gave their own thoughts and personified Chef in the process, hammering home how hurt he is by the decision.

“Tiny chefs cooking show has officially been cancelled (very unexpected) and without the support of a major network we need crowdfunding to keep cookin’ over here,” the post read.

“We want to thank @nickelodeon for giving Chef two blamazing seasons and all the besties he made there. Chef wouldn’t want anyone to blame his friends over there, he’s just deeply sad he doesn’t get to continue hosting a show he adores.”

The team also confirmed they are crowdfunding to keep the show alive on social media platforms — and surely if another network or streamer tried to pick the show up, they would jump at the chance.

But either way, fans have rallied behind Chef and his show in a way that really took the internet by storm. And honestly, it’s not hard to see why. The video, which has a whopping 2.6 million views on Instagram, is a perfect bite-sized look at how grief sets in when you have to close a door you didn’t want to shut. Truly human and achingly real, the small taste of the character and the show has bewitched fans and non-fans alike, which seems to bode well for the future of our new friend and his show.

Here’s hoping the little guy can get back in the kitchen ASAP.

Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.

Elden Ring Nightreign is close to a month old now, and FromSoftware has been rolling out enhanced versions of its bosses. The first one, Gaping Jaw, was an absolute terror. But in the first 24 hours of players facing off with the second Everdark Sovereign, the Darkdrift Knight, they don't seem quite so overwhelmed.

Fulghor, Champion of the Nightglow is the latest Everdark Sovereign fight. To take on the fight, you'll have to beat the base-level Darkdrift Knight expedition. He's available to battle until, presumably, the next Everdark Sovereign rotates in; the hefty centaur replaced the shadow-drop enhanced Gaping Jaw battle, which was no slouch.

As for Fulghor? Players don't seem to be having as tough a time with the stomping warrior. That's not to say he's outright easy; bosses are still, broadly, challenging in Elden Ring Nightreign. But it seems like, compared to the first Everdark Sovereign fight, players aren't struggling as much with this one.

While Adel, the Gaping Jaw fight, had some big flashy moves and surprise on its side, Fulghor is comparatively chill. He does start the fight with his Venom-like arm appendage out, and his mid-fight transition sees him ascend into the sky and gain a normal arm back, allowing him to unleash a bunch of explosive, shiny attacks.

Still, it's a bit more subdued than the literal storm and lightning frenzy that Gaping Jaw could whip up. "I feel as though Fulghor is easier but it's just more fun to do. Chasing a boss for 20 minutes to get a few hits in is boring," one Reddit user said. "Feel as though Fulghor could have been harder or had flashier moves, but I'm having way more fun repeating runs against him than Adel."

Conversely, some like the flashiness of Adel compared to the (again, relatively) subdued enhanced Fulghor. "I liked the specific attacks Adel had like the tornado where you have to jump stream into the eye or you take constant damage," another user said. "This seemed well thought out. The new attacks of Fulgor are pretty easy to understand even the first time youre seeing them."

A true foe, at least for some players, were the servers. Around the launch of Fulghor, players started reporting disconnect issues, and you can them in other posts and replies.

But unless you're this player specifically, you might not have as much trouble with the enhanced Darkdrift Knight as you might think. Still, there are more enhanced fights to tackle either way. Per Bandai Namco's announcement post, there's still a Sentient Pest Everdark Sovereign on the way. Other bosses are also due to get their enhanced versions over time, too.

We’ve got plenty of Nightreign tips and tricks to help you take down all the eight Nightlord Bosses, and if you’re wondering how to unlock the two locked Nightfarer Classes, check out How to Unlock the Revenant and How to Unlock the Duchess, plus How to Change Characters.

Eric is a freelance writer for IGN.

It looks like I'm in the mood for nostalgic throwbacks, practical travel gear, and low-key upgrades for everyday life today. How about revisiting iconic games like Bioshock 1-3 and Mafia 1-3? Or perhaps McFarlene Spider-Man is your bag? There's even a (surprisingly) great Friends-themed coffee mug for under $7, there’s a bit of something here for everyone.

Featured in this article

I'm also weighing up a INIU portable charger that's compact enough to toss in a pocket but fast enough to power your phone. If you're traveling or just trying to get better rest, the WAOAW 3D contoured sleep mask seems like a solid pick with its soft feel and light-blocking design. And if you’re into Disney or LEGO, the Up House set is both fun to build and easy on shelf space. Plus, the upcoming Thunderbolts 4K combo is now up for preorder if you’re collecting Marvel releases. Let's get into it:

Coke Zero Sugar 12 Pack

Doritos Variety Pack

WAOAW Sleep Mask w/ 3D Eye Cups & Adjustable Strap (Black)

Thunderbolts* - UHD Combo + Digital

Mafia X Bioshock Game Bundle

INIU 10,000mAh 45W USB Power Bank

LEGO Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House, Classic Disney Celebration

Silver Buffalo FRIENDS Central Perk Black Ceramic Mug

Spider-Man By Todd Mcfarlane: The Complete Collection

Donkey Kong and Pauline Amiibo Preorder

Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2)

Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Switch 1)

Tunise Rechargeable Portable Neck Fan

Symphonic Journeys Pokémon Red & Blue - IGN Exclusive Vinyl

Lies of P (Steam)

Lies of P: Overture

Borderlands 4 PC Preorders

September 12th is closer than you think, so get Borderlands 4 preordered from Green Man Gaming and secure your preload on Steam. Randy Pitchford reckons that it's co-op mode will be "The best ever", too.

Pokémon TCG Classic

The Sam's Club Pokémon TCG Classic deal is back, and it's massively undercutting other big box retailers and the secondary market. Just for comparrison, the top four cards from this set, Charizard, Blastoise, Venusaur and Mewtwo, are worth the same price as this discounted offer. This deal is well worth it and should be snapped up as soon as possible.

Pokémon TCG Stock Updates

As usual we're looking at over-inflated pricing at big box stores, but it's a dependable source of sealed product for trainers looking to add to their collections or rip open boosters. Although we'd recommend checking out secondary market prices first, as big retailers are now regularly selling over market value now too. I've already done the hard work for you:

TCG Player and eBay Pokémon Sealed Product

The Most Expensive Japanese Black Bolt White Flare Cards

The most expensive cards from Pokémon TCG's Black Bolt and White Flare sets are already commanding serious prices in Japan. Top of the list are the Special Illustration Rares of Zekrom ex and Reshiram ex, both featuring intricate, hand-drawn artwork and fetching well over ¥20,000 (around $130–$150 USD) on the secondary market.

Also climbing fast are the new BWR (Black White Rare) cards and the full-art Victini promos from the themed file sets. With stunning clay and knitted art styles also making their debut, collectors are pushing prices up across the board, especially for low-population, high-style secret rares.

This Weeks Pokémon TCG Crashers and Climbers

With Black Bolt and White Flare wrapping up the Scarlet & Violet era, all eyes are now on what’s next—and Mega Evolution is officially back. The Japanese Championships 2025 confirmed MEGA Symphonia and MEGA Brave as the first entries in the new Mega Expansion Packs, launching August 1 in Japan. These sets reintroduce Mega Evolution ex cards in a powerful new form, now Stage 2 Pokémon worth 3 Prize Cards when knocked out. Cards like Mega Gardevoir ex, Mega Venusaur ex, and Mega Lucario ex are leading the charge, and collectors are already snapping up classic Mega cards in anticipation of their return to the spotlight.

MTG Live Preorders

Preorders are now live for Magic: The Gathering’s next major set, Edge of Eternities, ahead of its August 1 release. You can lock in Play Booster Boxes, Bundles, Commander Decks, and Collector Boosters, with prices already dipping below MSRP in some spots. With some chunky lore, borderless cards, and premium packaging teased, now’s a good time to grab your picks before stock tightens closer to launch.

MTG Stock Update

There's the usual suspects of insanely priced boosters such as Theros Beyond Death, but there's also some discounts such as 9% off a box of Assassin's Creed collector boosters and a massive 32% off a booster box of Lord of the Rings set boosters.

MTG Final Fantasy Chase Cards

I was going to say how insane MTG Final Fantasy's popularity is, but it's completely understandable. Whilst sealed stock is going up in value and becoming harder to get, there's plenty of option for the most in-demand cards for your deck or collection.

MTG Aetherdrift Chase Cards

Aetherdrift is one of Magic: The Gathering’s more experimental sets, blending high-speed vehicle mechanics with a bold visual style. Released as part of the Universes Beyond series, it introduced new archetypes and card types designed to shake up both casual and competitive formats.

3 Months for $0.99 Audible Deal

3 Months Free Kindle Unlimited

Sound Explosion Software Bundle

Alienware AW3423DWF Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor

The Legend of Zelda Master Sword by Proplica

Monster Hunter Wilds PS5 and Xbox Series X

Monster Hunter Wilds has hit its lowest price yet for the standard physical edition on PS5 and Xbox Series X at just $55.99, down from $69.99. This latest entry takes the series into a fully voiced narrative, dynamic biomes, and crossplay multiplayer. If you’ve been waiting for a price drop to jump into the Forbidden Lands, this is a solid time to grab a copy.

Symphonic Journeys Pokémon Red & Blue - IGN Exclusive Vinyl

Elden Ring Nightreign Official Strategy Guide

Donkey Kong Bananza

amFilm Switch 2 Tempered Glass Screen

Disney is officially working on a live-action Lilo and Stitch 2 following the success of its first remake, which premiered last month.

The House of Mouse confirmed its plans to develop another movie in its popular Lilo and Stitch movie series with a video on Instagram. It’s a bit fluffier than your usual sequel confirmation, as it shows its blue alien mascot driving around a Walt Disney Studios before finding inspiration in the number two. No further details about Lilo and Stitch 2, including its plot, cast, or release date, have been revealed.

"Should’ve known he couldn’t keep a secret," Disney says in its celebratory June 26 post. "A 626 day surprise: #LiloAndStitch 2 is now in development!"

The live-action Lilo and Stitch remake premiered May 23, 2025, and quickly became quite the box office success. Just before it crawled its way into theaters, Disney was already considering what sequels could look like. Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman went as far as to say, “It feels like it’s going to work very well, and it’s the kind of property that lends itself to more,” at the time.

If anything, it’s a surprise it’s taken this long to see a green light for a live-action Lilo and Stitch 2. Just one week after its premiere, the 2025 remake had managed to pull in $610.8 million globally. That number has only increased to be just shy of $1 billion mark at $914,396,949 (via Box Office Mojo).

Warning! Spoilers for Lilo and Stitch (2025) follow:

Disney’s live-action Lilo and Stitch remake features a very different ending from the animated original film, but that doesn’t mean it can’t still set up a sequel. This time around, Lilo's older sister Nani leaves Lilo (and Stitch) behind in Hawaii and instead travels out of state to study marine biology. An ending sequence does show that, thanks to some alien technology, the two may not be seperated for long.

Additionally, a late-movie sequence shows an alien computer screen that features other notable experiments that were prominently featured in Lilo and Stitch: The Series. These include Experiment 624 a.k.a. Angel, Experiment 625 a.k.a. Reuben, and Experiment 627. Each could play a major part in Lilo and Stitch 2, with the series itself providing plenty of material to pull from for not only one sequel but potentially many others as well. There's also the original animated sequel, Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch has a Glitch, which arrived as a direct-to-video installment in 2005.

We gave the 2025 live-action Lilo and Stitch remake an 8/10 in our review, but not everyone was so pleased with how it turned out. Some fans were quick to hop online and share their disatisfaction with it's new ending for Nani and Lilo, with many feeling it opposes some of the original film's most important themes. You can read more about our thoughts on Ohana, as well as other moments in the film, here.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Bad Influence is a new manga-style sci-fi series from Webtoon. Created as a collaboration between HiHi Studios (co-founded by streamer Valkyrae and Range Media’s Kai Gayoso) and start-up Otherly Productions, Bad Influence follows a woman named Nel who rebels against the oppressive regime ruling over her dystopian home. As the series makes its debut on Webtoon, IGN can exclusively debut the entire first issue for your reading pleasure.

Check out the slideshow gallery below to read Bad Influence #1:

Bad Influence is drawn by artist Jor Ros and co-written by Orson James and Roman Calais. Here's Webtoon's official summary of Bad Influence:

In Bad Influence, the city of Weisshorn is a surveillance city, where life is a never-ending parade–literally. Mascots smile from every screen, propaganda loops in cheery jingles, and the people are kept docile by distraction. At the center of it all is Oswald, a charismatic dictator with a showman’s flair and a deep need to control the story everyone lives inside.

The series follows the adventures of Nel — a hot-headed and haunted young woman, who isn’t buying the dream sold to the masses. Nel joins a rebel gang to take the system down. But the deeper she digs, the weirder it gets. She unearths glitches, ghosts, and truths that no one wants uncovered. Reality’s falling apart. And Nel might be next.

“BAD INFLUENCE is about a reluctant rebel fighting back against the system,” said James in a statement. “Weisshorn is a broad-smiling dystopia where control is asserted through entertainment. The system doesn't just rule with fear — it distracts, dazzles, and scripts your life through spectacle. If everyone’s smiling, how bad can it be? It’s the surveillance state dressed up as a theme park.”

“Nel’s rebellion is an act of self-discovery,” added Calais. “Nel isn’t just fighting the regime — she’s trying to figure out who she is beneath the roles she’s been forced into. Life in Weisshorn is a mess of lies and trauma, and Nel’s ready to break out. But she’s not the chosen one. She feels lost, confused. Nel carries herself like a fighter, but behind that is a young woman patching over the cracks of doubt and insecurity with stubbornness and sheer will. And, in this world, holding it together might be the most radical act of all.”

The first three chapters of the series are now available as part of the Webtoon Originals program, with new chapters to follow each Thursday.

In other comic book news, the Phillipe Labaune Gallery is showcasing the work of Paul Pope, and DC has revealed the many variant covers for September's Batman #1 relaunch.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.

Kojima Productions fans can’t stop talking about Death Stranding 2: On the Beach load times, with many calling them the "fastest" they’ve "ever seen in a video game."

Hideo Kojima’s strand-game sequel launched to stellar reviews, including our own, where we called Death Stranding 2's post-apocalyptic take on Australia “hauntingly beautiful.” While there are many elements to praise, it’s the visuals that have been almost unanimously celebrated. Death Stranding 2 is quite the visual showcase, so seeing loading screens last less than a second before dropping protagonist Sam Porter Bridges into wide-open fields is quite the sight to behold.

Videos of players showcasing the quick load times have already flooded social media feeds since early access launch arrived June 24, and the results are hard to deny. Pressing the “Continue” button on the main menu presents a flash of a black screen before picking up exactly where players left off. Loading another save while already in-game presents similar results. Some of the phrases being thrown around include “blink or you’ll miss it,” “instant,” and “the fastest load times I’ve ever seen.”

Kojima’s secret to the unbelievable load times in Death Stranding 2 has yet to be revealed, but one popular X/Twitter post has a theory.

“Okay but actually how the f**k,” user @RealBugAubrey said. “Either everyone else is not so secretly terrible at their job or Kojima Productions is making deals with spirits and demons.”

Death Stranding 2 has the fastest loading time I've EVER seen in a video game.

Don't blink or you'll miss it. It's literally instant.#DeathStranding #DeathStranding2 pic.twitter.com/2PWkNN92JI

— KAMI (@Okami13_) June 23, 2025

It’s been mentioned already but the load times in Death Stranding 2 are unbelievably fast, like the fastest I’ve ever seen in any game ever.

Genuinely how did they do this?? pic.twitter.com/GmxbaF3ijH

— Synth Potato🥔 (@SynthPotato) June 26, 2025

The essentially non-existent Death Stranding 2 load times are only impressive because so many other games on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S still feature loading screens that can last for up 30 seconds or even minutes long. Even without sitting down for a side-by-side comparison, many believe Death Stranding 2 might feature the most impressive load times for a game of this caliber ever. However, there are a few other shining examples that players believe might give Sam Porter Bridges a run for his money.

Insomniac Games’ 2023 title, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, famously features similarly fast loading times on PS5, with players able to teleport to any location in New York City. All it takes is holding a button, which the developer has clarified doesn’t hide its own secret loading function.

On the Xbox side of things is Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which many fans have noted features a main menu screen that is the actual game itself.

"Right on par with Indiana Jones new game - both seem to load the actual save file in the background as it boots up, so selecting to continue just essentially reveals the game in progress," one Reddit user said.

Indiana Jones: https://t.co/DOBj7maJk4 pic.twitter.com/LSSQ269mI2

— Luiz (@diasluizzz) June 24, 2025

It’s sparked some debate among those seeking to defend their favorite video game, but one thing is clear: many major games are starting to ditch loading screens altogether. We’ll have to wait and see just how long it takes before loading screens vanish from most games entirely. In the meantime, you can read up on why Nintendo is mentioned in the Death Stranding 2 credits. You can also check out how some players are reacting to its infamous "I won't do it" dialogue option.

Check out our Death Stranding 2: On the Beach guide for a full main story walkthrough, complete with checkmarks to track your exact progress, plus guides for Sub-Orders, Standard Orders, and Aid Requests - plus even more secrets and a cheat code! If you’re just jumping into the game, we have plenty of tips for what to do first, how to survive in combat, and how to make it through Brutal difficulty if you’re playing on the most challenging setting.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).

Summertime has arrived, and plenty of great video game deals along with it. There are quite a few Xbox deals, in particular, that are worth checking out at the moment. With big sale events like Amazon Prime Day on the horizon as well, there are bound to be many more to come as we get closer to the sale's start day on July 8. Until then, though, some of our favorite Xbox deals at the moment include discounts on Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Sniper Elite: Resistance, and Monster Hunter Wilds (which has hit its lowest price yet at Amazon), but these just scratch the surface of what's out there.

If you're looking to stock up on new Xbox games or accessories, we're here to help. Here are the best Xbox deals available right now.

Best Xbox Game Deals

If you're looking to stock up on new Xbox games, there are quite a few on sale right now that are worth checking out. Some of our favorite deals at the moment are from Woot's Video Game Super Sale, which includes discounts on Metaphor: ReFantazio, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Sniper Elite: Resistance, but there are so many more to look through. Monster Hunter Wilds has even hits its lowest price yet at Amazon. You can check out those deals and more of our favorites above.

What's Coming Soon to Xbox Game Pass?

Game Pass has a nice rotation of new titles to play every month. If you're curious about what's in store for the end of June and start of July, we've got you covered. The Xbox Game Pass June Wave 2 lineup is:

• Star Trucker (Xbox Series X|S) – June 18 Now with Game Pass Standard
• Wildfrost (Console) – June 18 Now with Game Pass Standard
• Rematch (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S) – June 19 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Volcano Princess (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 24 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Against the Storm (Cloud and Console) – June 26 Game Pass Ultimate
• Warcraft I: Remastered (PC) – June 26 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Warcraft II: Remastered (PC) – June 26 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Warcraft III: Reforged (PC) – June 26 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
• Call of Duty: WWII (Console and PC) – June 30 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
• Little Nightmares II (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 1 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard
• Rise of the Tomb Raider (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 1 Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, Game Pass Standard

Best Xbox Accessory Deals

Outside of games, there are a few different Xbox accessory deals that are worth your time and money as well. Walmart's offering a nice discount at the moment on the Elite Series 2 controller, while Amazon's got the 1TB Seagate Storage Expansion Card on sale. Woot has a couple of nice accessory deals to check out, too.

When Should I Buy an Xbox?

In general, it is advisable to keep an eye out for sales and restocks throughout the year, as availability has improved since the initial launch of the console. Unlike the Nintendo Switch, there is no specific recommendation to wait for a sale regardless of the time of year. Instead, it's a good idea to monitor various retailers and online platforms for restock announcements and promotional offers.

However, certain events like Black Friday or other holiday seasons may bring about unique bundles, discounts, or promotional deals specifically for the Xbox Series X. These bundles may include additional games, accessories, or exclusive limited editions. While quantities for such promotions might be limited, they can provide an opportunity to get more value for your purchase.

It's worth keeing in mind that Xbox recently increased console prices as well, which you can read more about here.

Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S?

Choosing between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S ultimately depends on your gaming preferences, budget, and specific requirements. Let's compare the two consoles to help you make an informed decision:

1. Performance: The Xbox Series X is the more powerful option, offering native 4K gaming, higher graphical fidelity, and faster loading times. It has more advanced hardware, including a larger storage capacity. On the other hand, the Xbox Series S targets a lower price point and offers a less powerful performance, targeting 1440p resolution gaming and upscaling to 4K.

2. Price: The Xbox Series S is more affordable compared to the Xbox Series X. If budget is a significant factor for you, the Xbox Series S provides a cost-effective option while still delivering a next-generation gaming experience. For example, the Series S can play Starfield at 1440p 30fps (vs 4K 30fps on Series X).

3. Storage: The Xbox Series X comes with a larger internal storage capacity, allowing you to store more games directly on the console. The Xbox Series S, however, has a smaller storage capacity, which means you may need to manage your game library more actively or rely on external storage solutions.

4. Disc Drive: The Xbox Series X includes a disc drive, enabling you to play physical game discs and enjoy a wider range of media options, including Blu-ray and DVD playback. The Xbox Series S, in contrast, is a digital-only console, meaning you can only play games downloaded from the digital store.

5. Graphics and Performance: While both consoles support ray tracing, the Xbox Series X provides a more immersive and visually impressive experience due to its superior hardware capabilities. If you prioritize cutting-edge graphics and want the best performance available, the Xbox Series X is the preferable choice.

Consider your gaming preferences, budget, and whether you prioritize top-of-the-line performance or cost-effectiveness. If you have a 4K TV, want the most powerful console, and are willing to invest more, the Xbox Series X is the recommended option. If you have a lower budget, a 1080p or 1440p TV, and don't mind sacrificing some performance, the Xbox Series S offers excellent value for money.

With how expensive gaming is getting in 2025, we're trying to save you as much money as possible on the games and other tech you actually want to buy. We've got great deal roundups available for all major platforms such as Switch and Xbox, and keep these updated daily with brand new offers. If you're trying to keep costs down while maintaining your favorite hobby, stay tuned for more incredible discounts.

Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.

There are many ways to play games these days. Consoles and gaming PCs are still popular options with loads of power, and gaming handhelds have surged lately, but the ability of everyday phones and specialty gaming phones to tap into all sorts of games is hard to ignore. It’s a device you likely have on you all day, every day, and that alone can make it an ideal gaming device. But how do you ensure you’re getting a phone that can game well? That’s what we set out to explore when we test phones, whether they’re mainstream options or those niche options designed specifically for gaming. Here’s an inside peek at the testing we perform to sift the wheat from the chaff.

Benchmarks

Benchmarks are a staple in hardware testing. They hit a machine hard with a heavy workload and provide a simplified score or metric (like average frames per second) at the end of the test. The results provide a key reference for directly comparing the performance from one device to another.

For all phones, I run Geekbench 6 to measure single- and multi-core CPU performance. I also run Geekbench 6’s GPU test using Vulkan on Android and Metal on iOS. Since gaming combines both CPU and GPU performance, we also run some gaming-specific benchmarks, including 3DMark’s Wildlife Extreme, Steel Nomad Light, and Solar Bay (for compatible phones) tests. These 3DMark stress tests both the CPU and GPU, but with a different balance. So, a phone with a strong CPU and modest GPU, for instance, may perform well in Wildlife Extreme but underperform in Solar Bay compared to a phone with a modest CPU and strong GPU.

I run each benchmark several times and average the results. This helps ensure consistency, but it can also help reveal inconsistency. A phone may be able to perform well in the first run of a benchmark, but if heat builds up too quickly, it’s very common to see performance drop.

Game Tests

Benchmarks are generally designed to push a device to its limit, often beyond what is practical in everyday operation, so I also test phones with actual games available today. These remain demanding, of course, but powerful phones generally won’t struggle with them. In the past, this has included games like Call of Duty Mobile, Sky: Children of the Light, and Genshin Impact. Recently, Wuthering Waves has proven a suitable challenge for the latest phones. I attempt to run the game at its highest graphics settings with a 60fps frame rate limit (the max available). I play 30 minutes, watching for any hitches in performance or inability to maintain a steady 50-60fps in both the short and long term. If a phone struggles significantly with this, I may reduce the graphics settings and resume testing, noting the settings level ultimately tested at.

At the end of this playtest, I also evaluate the external temperature of the phone, looking for hotspots and the temperature around the edges where I hold it. After all, a phone that runs games incredibly fast may not be worth much if it also burns your hands in the process.

After gaming, I also switch back and forth between apps to see how much the phone's memory retains and to check whether it’s possible to step away from a game briefly and then resume play without needing to reload the game.

Additional Testing

Beyond the benchmarks and gaming tests, each phone is evaluated on its everyday operation, the quality of its screen (clarity, brightness, color, smoothness, etc.), wireless connectivity speeds, day-to-day battery life, physical design, special features, and camera quality.

While gaming phones tend to offer quality displays and solid battery life, they can struggle when it comes to features and design. So even though my process for testing gaming phones and non-gaming phones is largely the same, I end up weighing them differently.

What Are the Best Gaming Phones Right Now?

IGN's overall top pick for the best gaming phone right now is the RedMagic 10 Pro with its excellent performance and a great display. Below are the rest of our top-reviewed options for gaming in 2025.

Mark Knapp is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything electronics and gaming hardware. He has over 10 years of experience in the tech industry with bylines at PCMag, Reviewed, CNET, and more. Find Mark on Twitter @Techn0Mark or BlueSky at @Techn0Mark.

The appeal of a console like the Nintendo Switch 2 or gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go S, etc., is obvious: They provide a portable gaming platform you can bring anywhere so you can enjoy games wherever and whenever you want. But you’re already carrying a phone around with you everywhere you go. What if it could check the same boxes that a gaming handheld does?

That’s the question that might send you down the gaming phone rabbit hole. Depending on what you’re after from your gaming hardware, there’s a good chance a gaming phone could be a good fit for you. But first, you’ll want to understand what makes a standout gaming phone so different from your typical smartphone, what limitations a gaming phone will still have, and how you plan to use it.

What Makes a Great Gaming Phone?

A gaming phone is going to have all the same core elements as an everyday phone, but it will likely have souped-up versions and extra hardware enhancements to help it perform better at its core task: gaming.

On the iPhone side of the fence, the best gaming phone will pretty much just be the latest Pro model, as it will include the most potent system-on-chip and highest quality display of the options Apple makes.

On Android, it gets more complicated. Many flagship phones will feature the latest Qualcomm or MediaTek chipset, so it might seem like they should all perform on an even footing. To some extent, they can perform quite close to one another. In our phone tests, we often find the same system-on-chip performing neck-and-neck to one another in short tests. But in longer, more demanding tests, we get to see just how the gaming phones’ enhancements help set them apart.

Sustained performance

When we test phones, we put them through long-lasting gaming and benchmarks that give them plenty of time to see their temperature climb and their performance tank. A phone that can run a benchmark once at 30fps might sink down to just 15fps after running that benchmark 20 times. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra demonstrated this well; its performance halved over the course of 3DMark’s Steel Nomad Light stress test. By contrast, the RedMagic 10 Pro implemented active cooling, allowing it to run the same benchmark and see its performance only sink by 21% over the course of the test (or even hold stable at a slightly lowered ceiling). That sustained performance is crucial for longer gaming sessions. The last thing you want from a gaming phone is to start playing and watch your game get slower and slower as you go.

Heat management and ergonomics

It’s not just the heat of the chipset tanking performance that matters. Where that heat goes is also important for a gaming phone. Unless you’re using a phone controller, you’re going to be holding the phone in your hands while you play. The heat generated by the phone can result in hotspots and go beyond merely uncomfortable to touch. Gaming phones tend to have enhanced cooling systems that aim to prevent heat buildup in the first place located in spots that keep it away from the areas of the phone you’re likely to hold while gaming. The Asus ROG Phone 9 positions its chipset at the center of the phone, for example. A gaming phone ought to have rounded corners as well so that hard edges don’t stab into your palms.

A fast screen

60Hz is a thing of the past on great phones. Gaming phones, even on the affordable end of the spectrum, almost invariably offer at least 120Hz refresh rates. That helps make everyday use feel smooth, but it’s especially applicable to games for more detail in motion. That’s not the only element of speed that matters here, though. Gaming phones also tend to have an elevated touch sampling rate. This helps register touches on the display sooner, which may be hard to detect in practice but can make a difference in fast-paced games where every millisecond counts.

A big battery

A super-powered phone with a massive display could be wonderful to game on, but if it’s carrying a tiny 4,000mAh battery, it probably won’t be all that useful for gaming in general. Playing games sucks down a lot of juice between the screen being on and chipset running at high speeds. Combine that with the burden of regular use throughout the day, and you could be running for a charger frequently if you try to game on a phone with a small battery. Most good gaming phones will feature a sizable battery pack. For example, the RedMagic 10 Pro offers one of the biggest batteries we’ve seen in a phone that wasn’t outlandishly thick with its 7,050mAh pack.

Additional features

Scoring high marks in the areas above can set up a phone for success while gaming. But to go above and beyond, a gaming phone should have a few extra features tailored to enhance the gaming experience or provide even more options while playing. This can include bonus software or hardware features, like OnePlus’s HyperRendering tool for upscaling and frame interpolation. Many gaming phones will feature dedicated shoulder buttons to give gamers more input methods. Support for pass-through power is also a common and useful tool for gamers, as it lets the system-on-chip draw power directly from a cable connection, skipping the battery and the extra heat generation that comes with it.

Gaming Phone Limitations

Getting a gaming phone to serve its core purpose tends to come with some trade-offs. Some of those are because the design necessitates it, and others are simply because a manufacturer can only put so much into a phone before its price spirals out of control.

Missing features

A few features of modern smartphones you’ve probably come to expect aren’t always present on gaming phones. Wireless charging might be absent. That extra layer of coiled wire necessary for wireless charging not only takes up precious internal space, but can get in the way of the phone’s ability to transfer heat into the back of the chassis. To make up for it, a lot of gaming phones will at least support very fast wired charging (like the RedMagic 10 Pro’s 100W charging). Water protection can also fall short of competitors. A gaming phone that uses active cooling won’t have the same sealed chassis that other devices do, so it’ll be exposed to potential ingress of water and dust.

Cameras

The camera system on many smartphones can be one of its biggest selling points; take the triple-sensor arrays on the iPhone 16 Pro or OnePlus 13, or even the quad-sensor array on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, for instance. Meanwhile gaming phones tend to divert their efforts elsewhere. The Asus ROG Phone 9, despite costing as much as these competitors, offers a much more meager camera system with one wide camera, one ultra-wide, and a throwaway macro lens. It’s a similar story for the RedMagic 10 Pro. Even if the amount of cameras tacked onto a gaming phone is the same as a mainstream phone, we’ve yet to see one come near the quality of the mainstream competition.

Game selection

Even if a gaming phone has gobs of power to run games, it is still limited to the selection of games available on its native operating system (more than likely, that’s Android). While there are tons of games available on mobile, you’ll still be missing out on many of the biggest games around. AAA games tend not to launch on mobile platforms. There are means of playing PC and console games on your phone via cloud gaming and game streaming, but these rely almost entirely on the quality of your wireless connection and can run on very modest hardware – meaning, a gaming phone provides little benefit over any other phone. The performance of phones has leapt substantially recently, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we started to see more attention given to mobile, but until then, the benefits of a powerful gaming phone will be limited to the selection of games available directly on the phone itself.

Does a Gaming Phone Make Sense?

Ask yourself this series of questions before buying a gaming phone. If you answer any of them with a “no,” then you’ll probably be able to skip a gaming phone and opt for a normal smartphone instead.

Do you like to play games available on Android and iOS?

If so, then a gaming phone might make sense. If most of the games you want to play are on PC or console, though, there’s little reason to get a gaming phone, as it won’t provide any particular benefit. For PC games, a gaming handheld may make more sense. For console games, you’ll likely be looking at game streaming or cloud gaming.

Do you play games with intense graphics?

Realistic 3D graphics can be a heavy lift for gaming hardware, and that’s when the performance of a gaming phone might come in handy. But many mobile games aren’t terribly demanding. Games like Among Us, Hearthstone, Stardew Valley, Subway Surfers, etc., don’t seriously tax recent smartphone CPUs and GPUs. If that’s your preferred gaming fare, then you can probably get by perfectly fine with a normal smartphone.

Do you like to dial up graphics settings to the max and game for long stretches of time?

Even though they’re not made specifically for gaming, recent flagship phones like the OnePlus 13 can still perform wonderfully in demanding games. It’s the extra performance and thermal management of gaming phones that helps them outperform their mainstream counterparts when it comes to going balls to the wall, sustaining performance for extended periods, and maintaining acceptable temperatures while doing so. But if you just jump into a game here and there for 5-10 minutes at a time and don’t care about cranking up graphics settings or the differences between 30fps and 60fps, plenty of phones are up to the task.

If you answered yes for those last three questions, then a gaming phone could be a smart pick. You’ll get stronger performance, longer battery life, and fewer heat issues than you would from most everyday smartphones. In any other case, you’ll probably be better served by a standard smartphone, gaming handheld, cloud gaming, or some combination of the three.

Which Gaming Phone Should You Buy?

IGN's overall top pick for the best gaming phone right now is the RedMagic 10 Pro with its excellent performance and a great display. Below are the rest of our top-reviewed options for gaming in 2025.

Mark Knapp is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering everything electronics and gaming hardware. He has over 10 years of experience in the tech industry with bylines at PCMag, Reviewed, CNET, and more. Find Mark on Twitter @Techn0Mark or BlueSky at @Techn0Mark.

Gareth Edwards, director of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, has said he's "very happy to move on" rather than return to a galaxy far, far away.

Rogue One received mostly positive reviews when it launched in December 2016, while spin-off Disney+ series Andor has become one of the franchise's most critically-acclaimed projects ever.

Still, Edwards, whose next project Jurassic World: Rebirth launches on July 2, has said he is unlikely to ever return to direct another Star Wars project. "I'm very happy to move on and do my thing," Edwards told Business Insider.

"It's the thing that was in my life before I knew what a film was," Edwards said, suggesting he still held a fondness for the Star Wars series in general. "It's like your mom; it's like something that's a part of you. I'm always fascinated by what they're doing. I never stop loving that trilogy."

Despite Rogue One's reception, production on the film — as with fellow Star Wars spin-off Solo — experienced a few bumps along the way. Indeed, Rogue One required five weeks of reshoots after principal filming wrapped, with additional story and a tweaked ending added by Tony Gilroy, who also joined the project as a second-unit director. (Gilroy, of course, also then went on to create Andor.)

"I'm very grateful that people say nice things," Edwards said of Rogue One's general reception among audiences now. Does he concur that the film is the best Star Wars project under Disney's ownership? "I don't agree with it, but I appreciate it," he noted.

Keen to see what Edwards is up to now? Well, the latest Jurassic World: Rebirth trailer involves a prickly scene with a Spinosaurus that's well worth a watch — though it probably also deserves a spoiler warning.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Get your webbing ready, because you’re going to want to swing by your local theater this fall to see Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy when it returns for a limited weekend showing courtesy of Fathom Entertainment.

The engagement begins on September 26 with Spider-Man, but the next day has a special treat. On September 27, theaters will screen Spider-Man 2 — but in a new 4K edition of the extended cut, newly retitled Spider-Man 2.1. This is the first time that the cut, which includes deleted and extended scenes, will be screened theatrically. Finally, the trilogy will conclude on September 28 with screenings of Spider-Man 3.

“The success of Spider-Man in 2002 helped launch the modern era of superhero films. To this day, Tobey Maguire’s take on Spider-Man resonates across generations,” Chief Executive Officer of Fathom Entertainment Ray Nutt said in a statement issued to Variety.

“At Fathom Entertainment, we celebrate fandom and I am delighted that ‘Spider-Man 2.1’ in 4K will make its theatrical debut, a true gift for longtime fans and a thrilling discovery for new ones.”

The engagement will have encore screenings the following weekend, October 3-5, just in case you miss the original weekend or need to get in for a second marathon.

Fathom has been doing a lot of cool theatrical rereleases engagements lately — and it has even more on the horizon. It rereleased Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in June and has Clueless coming up after that. Additionally, it plans to show Rocky IV, The Sound of Music, Sunset Boulevard, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in the near future.

Tickets for the Spider-Man trilogy engagement go on sale on July 25.

Photo credit: CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images.

Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.

A Fortnite player who consistently cheated in competitive tournaments has been handed a huge fine and banned from the game "forever," developer Epic Games has said.

Sebastian Araujo from Lomita, California, was sued by Epic after participating in 839 cash tournaments within just four months, while using a device designed to evade Fortnite's anti-cheat detection.

According to Epic, which won its legal action against Araujo this week after he attempted to ignore the lawsuit, the player's winnings amounted to "at least $6,850." That's no small amount, but his fine now is 25 times higher: an enormous $175,521.

How has Epic landed on such a figure? Court documentation shared with IGN shows the developer demanded the statutory minimum $200 fine for each violation of the game's copyright for all 839 tournaments Araujo took part in — for a total of $167,800. The remainder of the fine is then mostly attorney fees and costs.

"While the Court notes the amount sought by Plaintiff exceedingly surpasses Defendant's alleged actual gain, $6,850, Defendant took significant measures to conceal the true scope of his cheating activities by creating multiple fake accounts and employing a hardware spoofer to circumvent detections," the court documentation reads.

Further examination shows Epic had pushed for an even higher fine — with an additional $100,000 penalty in statutory damages for copyright infringement — though it's here that the judge decided this amount would have been "excessive" versus Araujo's actual ill-gotten gains.

If it feels like Epic is making an example out of Araujo, then it wouldn't be the first time. Back in February 2025, Epic humiliated another Fortnite tournament cheater by forcing them to post a public apology video acknowledging they had cheated, and were similarly now banned for life.

As with that case, the money Araujo must now pay will be donated by Epic to Child's Play, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing access to toys and games.

Both cases follow a promise made back in November 2024, when Epic said it was "ramping up legal action against both players who cheat and cheat sellers," as it sought to bolster "competitive integrity in tournaments."

This latest public announcement, eye-watering fine and lifetime ban are all likely designed to act as deterrants for any other players with ideas of doing the same.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

It’s easy to forget these days that actor John Cena has his roots elsewhere — but the now beloved movie star recently opened up about whether or not he’d ever return to the WWE after his upcoming retirement tour.

"There is no way," Cena recently revealed on Good Morning America. "There is absolutely... I don't want to speak in absolutes, because I don't want to close any opportunity, but I made a promise to the fans who've allowed me to be here for a quarter of a century. They allowed me to sit with you today. I wouldn't want to disrespect them like that. This is an event — when people attend, it's very exclusive."

The wrestler, who is considered one of the greatest of all time, also noted that he didn’t want to “ruin” the connection he’s built with fans throughout his career for the “selfish gain” of picking back up again after announcing his decision to step back from the sport.

What’s the worst Terminator movie of all time? Fans have debated this question for years. James Cameron’s 1984 thriller The Terminator, and its blockbuster follow-up, 1991’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day, are considered two of the greatest sci-fi films ever made, and neither should be considered here. But that still leaves four Terminator sequels to sort.

Here are all the Terminator films released so far:

• The Terminator October 26, 1984
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day July 3, 1991
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines July 2, 2003
• Terminator Salvation May 21, 2009
• Terminator Genisys July 1, 2015
• Terminator: Dark Fate November 1, 2019

So, this really comes down to four movies: Terminator 3; Salvation; Genisys; and Dark Fate, all of which were poorly received. Terminator fans have been ordering this list of films from best to worse for years, but now Arnold Schwarzenegger, The Terminator himself, has had his say — although I think his answer is packed full of bias.

The 77-year-old actor and former Governor of California declared a winner (loser?) on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen while promoting Fubar Season 2.

"I would say the worst was probably the No. 4, because that was done during the time I was governor and I was not in it," Schwarzenegger said.

That’s Terminator Salvation, which stars Christian Bale and Sam Worthington but not, as Arnie points out, Arnie himself. Well, Arnie didn’t act in the movie — a CGI version of Arnie as the Terminator turns up briefly to throw Bale around a room. It's the best bit of the film.

“How do you do a Terminator movie without me being in the Terminator movie?” Schwarzenegger wondered. “It doesn’t make any sense. It’s impossible!”

Not only was Terminator Salvation poorly received, but it made less money at the box office than expected. It wasn’t until 2015 — six years later — that another Terminator movie came out (the similarly poorly received Genisys), this time with Schwarzenegger in it. But that made little difference to the film's reception, which was savage. Salvation is currently the only Terminator film to date not to feature Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In the interview, Schwarzenegger joked that in response to Salvation, he threatened to pass a law while governor forbidding movies that “suck.”

“I called immediately,” he laughed. “I said, ‘I’m gonna pass a law that says it’s forbidden to do movies that suck!’”

In truth, Schwarzenegger’s pick here comes as no surprise, and it’s not even the first time he’s criticized Salvation. Whatever your pick, it seems there’s little life left in Terminator, despite similar 80s and 90s sci-fi franchises such as Alien and Predator enjoying a resurgence. The last movie Cameron directed in the franchise was Terminator 2: Judgment Day. He had no involvement with the three sequels that followed but returned as a producer on Terminator: Dark Fate — a movie he said he was "reasonably happy" with, though he admits it might have worked better without the original stars.

In 2022, Cameron said another Terminator reboot was "in discussion," but nothing was set in stone, and we’ve heard nothing since. He said at the time: "If I were to do another Terminator film and maybe try to launch that franchise again, which is in discussion, but nothing has been decided, I would make it much more about the AI side of it than bad robots gone crazy."

Photo by Tolga Akmen/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images.

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.

I have been shopping Amazon's Prime Day sale every year since it first started back in 2015 and professionally writing about the deals it brings for almost as long. Finding the best discounts during a sale as vast as this can be difficult, especially if you're going in blind. Some of the biggest price cuts are hidden in coupons, promotions, and lightning deals that can shift at the drop of a hat. Amazon is even adding new midnight deal drops into the mix this year, only furthering the mayhem.

That being said, there are a few things you can keep in mind to find the best Prime Day deals available in 2025 without going over budget. With a bit of planning ahead and the help of a deal-hunting expert, you can come out of Prime Day feeling like you've won something. With higher tariffs set to resume in August, there's a lot riding on this year's Prime Day deals if shoppers want to save as much as possible this year.

1. Set a Spending Budget

Whether you're doing holiday shopping way early or just looking to buy a few items you've been needing this summer, budgeting is perhaps the most important thing you can do ahead of Prime Day. Online retailers like Amazon set up their pages to ensure you spend as much money as possible, and if you aren't careful, your cart can quickly become a lot fuller than you originally planned. Deciding how much you can realistically spend during Amazon Prime Day is a great way to limit yourself.

2. Make a List of What You Actually Want to Buy

One of the biggest dangers of deals shopping on Prime Day is that Amazon will customize your experience to maximize how many purchases you make in one session. One second you're browsing the best TV deals and the next second you're buying a whole pile of discounted socks and an electric toothbrush. This can quickly become expensive if you aren't careful, so making a list of things you specifically want to buy on Prime Day ahead of time is a great way to combat this. And if a Prime Day deal doesn't seem as good as Black Friday pricing, then it's okay to wait a few more months to make that purchase.

3. Compare Sale Prices and Check Historical Pricing

One of the dangers of shopping Amazon Prime Day sales is that you end up looking only at Amazon. Just because something is currently discounted on Amazon doesn't mean it isn't cheaper somewhere else or won't drop in price later on. You can usually compare prices on products across various retailers with a simple Google search. Most of the major retailers also price match if you can find it cheaper somewhere else. Both the Walmart Deals event and Target Circle Week will be running concurrently with Prime Day this year, and they will often match or lower prices on products to compete with what Amazon is putting on sale during that two day period.

4. Don't Hesitate on a Good Lightning Deal

Prime Day can be a fairly competitive time for consumers, especially when it comes to lightning deals. Although there are some deals and sales that stay consistent throughout both days during Prime Day, many of the biggest discounts may only exist until they are fully claimed. If you see a really good deal on something, you should try to snatch it up before it's gone. Lightning deals can appear on just about every item during Prime Day, but some of the most common ones are on physical media, TVs, phone accessories, and workout equipment.

In addition to ligtning deals, 2025 will also bring new midnight deals drops every day of the sale. Amazon has stated you can expect these to be brand-themed from popular companies like Levi's, Samsung, and Kiehls and that the deals will only last one day or until stock is depleted.

5. Do Your Own Research

If you have a general idea of what you want to buy on Prime Day but don't know specifically what brand or product to get, it's very important to take the time and do your own research. This can be done fairly with a few simple Google searches such as "best TV for gaming" or "best budget gaming laptop". From there you should be able to narrow down the brands and models that fit your needs best. You should apply this same thinking once you find a decent deal on a product by looking up professional reviews of those products. This will usually give you a better idea of what you're buying versus relying on Amazon reviews that are built into the shopping experience.

6. Follow a Trusted Source on Social Media

There are many deals that come and go fairly regularly, and unless you plan on keeping tabs on all of the major retailers ongoing, you may end up missing out on some great discounts and lightning deals. It may be overwhelming to keep up, but one way to avoid this is to follow a trusted deals source on the social media platform of your choice. This can help you stay up to date on the latest Prime Day deals without having to constantly dig for them yourself.

7. Don't Forget to Check for Coupons

A fairly common mistake online shoppers can make on Amazon is to miss obvious savings simple because they forgot to check a box before putting something in their cart. Amazon will often have coupons available that make a sale even better, so make sure you check the price details before you make a purchase. There will also sometimes be really good promotions, like Amazon's buy one, get one free sales that they often run as early Prime Day deals that you won't want to miss.

8. Follow Safe Shopping Guidelines

What do we mean by "shop safely" exactly? When you're busy adding things to your wish lists and to your online carts for Prime Day and beyond, you may be eager to quickly check out and move onto the next thing. Before you make your online purchases, here are some safety tips to consider:

• Ensure there's a secure connection in your browser's URL field, especially if you're on public and/or free Wi-Fi. (In Chrome, there's a locked icon for example to the left of the URL 🔒).
• As always, be cautious of new phishing and spam emails landing in your inbox. Don't trust any email that looks off to you whatsoever, and avoid clicking any links in emails that appear even somewhat spammy. It's getting harder to recognize what's real from what's a scam, so be careful, especially during popular deals days like Amazon Prime Day.
• Another piece of advice when online shopping is to ensure your auto-populated passwords and your security settings are up-to-date in whatever browser you use. As a Google user, you can manage your passwords and strengthen your security at Passwords.Google.com, which we'd definitely recommend doing before you get to shopping! You can also consider selecting "Sign in with Apple" or "Sign in with Google" when relevant for creating accounts so you don’t have to create yet another new login. Lastly, there's always 2-Step Verification, a proven way to protect your Google account when logged in and keep the internet safer from cyberattacks in general.
• Another autofill-related tip is to try using virtual card number (in Chrome), which allows you to use your autofill payment card information when checking out. Google will allow the option to generate the unique virtual card number which keeps your actual payment card number hidden. This can be especially important when making a transaction on a new site you haven't visited prior.

Jacob Kienlen is a Senior SEO Strategist and Writer at IGN who has spent a good chunk of his career finding deals on tech and physical media online. He has been professionally working in commerce journalism since 2017 when he first broke into the industry.